2008 Stats

Total Miles 4499mi

Geared 1985mi (44%)

• Jill 828mi (18%)
  
• Bridget 1157mi (25%)
  

Singlespeed 1991mi (45%)

• Eyowen 78mi (1%)
  
• Molly 908mi (20%)
  
• Cecelia 1005mi (22%)
  

Stationary 523mi (11%)

New member of the family Eyowen November 22, 2008

R.I.P. Cecelia November 18, 2008

Last Ride for Cecelia?

Cecelia started to show her age (20+ years) more than just cosmetically this afternoon. The bearings in the bottom bracket are loose and for now Bridget will be commuting. The bearings made some creaking noises last week but I couldn't pinpoint the source until now. The lights and fender along with her own front wheel were swapped after getting home. It will be a rush to get another less expensive option into service before the snow and salt hit the road.

It was somewhat colder this morning but I'm still not fully into all my layers or options for staying warm. If the temp is the same or lower tomorrow I'll add another layer to the bottom half, the top half was just fine. I picked up some winter cycling gloves and they are much warmer than the mitts I had been using. Nice long cuffs with velcro closures, palms with grip, soft thumbs for drying your eyes and a couple of loose fingers for braking make them really handy.

 

November 198 miles

11-18

Cecelia:11 miles

Ethel:3 miles

70 push-ups

70 sit-ups

Everybody Has A Win

The last place Northwood team got their first win yesterday and I couldn't have been happier. They are a hard working bunch but just could not get that first W. I had one parent from the opposing team tell me she was pulling for them because they were the only one without a win and she was on the team that struggled early last year. The got the winner with only 20 seconds left so it was a great way to do it. After 7 games they are only 7 points out of first so they still have a chance to have a good season. The other 5 teams are very close and no one knows who will win when they get to the rink. Sunday's 3 games were all decided by a sinlge goal (2 in the last 30 seconds) and other than 3 ties it doesn't get any better. 

November 184 miles

11-17

Cecelia:12 miles

Ethel:4 miles

70 push-ups

70 sit-ups

11-16

Cecelia:3 miles

11-15

Cecelia:5 miles

Ethel:5 miles

60 push-ups

60 sit-ups

TGIF

I could say tgif about any Friday but after 3 straight Saturdays at work this one is very welcome. I started the day with a visit to my family doctor and sat for nearly an hour for a 5 minute visit, got a flu shot, reviewed what we already knew and headed for work. I had a few shop jobs I was not looking forward to and chaos welcomed me at the door. Seems a few invoice went through without GST. An easy fix but a few tense moments. I reviewed all the customer files and corrected another tax error but nothing major. There must be a night shift or some other gremlin in our systems because I set things one way today and tomorrow they seem to change themselves. I stayed through lunch and headed home at four, tired and with a bit of a headache. The ride home felt great as the sun was shining for a bit and just to get out an hour early was nice. Cecelia has forgiven me for leaving her out Thursday night but she managed to bite me on the way into the basement, though technically it was Bridget's wheel skewer that grew teeth so maybe she's mad at me too.

Ginko is coming over early Saturday and we're heading for breakfast, something to look foreard to as we haven't seen him this week.

November 155 miles

11-14

Cecelia:8 miles

Ethel:3 miles

60 push-ups

60 sit-ups

Oops

I did something yesterday I haven't done all year, left a bike outside over night and unlocked. I remembered as I was leaving to pick up Sal from work, the car was in for some service so AJ had driven her to work, but then forgot her again. Needless to say when I went out this morning Cecelia was not impressed with being left out in the cold and rain. To make it up I switched over Bridget's front wheel as the bearings in Cecelia's were about done. I've been wanting to get into Petrie's and take Farzum up on his offer to guide me through building a new wheel but weekends are pretty much taken up by hockey and with another $300 sunk into the car extra funds are slim til month end. All is forgiven for now. I was almost afraid to look out this morning expecting her to be gone.

November 144 miles

11-13

Cecelia:11 miles

Ethel:4 miles

60 push-ups, 60 sit-ups

11-12

Cecelia:4 miles

Ethel:3 miles

60 push-ups, 60 sit-ups

11-11

Cecelia:12 miles

Ethel:3 miles

60 push-ups, 60 sit-ups

Snow & Ethel

Sounds like a movie title, snow & Ethel, the next super cops. But no, snow is what I woke up to on Saturday morning and headed into for the trip to work. I took the long (5 miles) way as it felt really good, probably because it wasn't rain. Ethel is the e-bike and I dragged her out last night for a quick spin to make sure she made it safely through a summer of neglect. 

I bumped up the work outs to 60 push-ups and sit-ups daily rather than ever other. The plan is to add 2 to every week. Have to cut back on the input now as I've been eating way too much since finishing the ride in June.

November 107 miles

11-10, Cecelia:15 miles, 60 push-ups

11-10, Ethel:3 miles, 60 sit-ups

11-09, Ethel:3 miles

11-08, Cecelia:12 miles, 50 sit-ups

Beavers Moving to Town

Lunch time today came and we had just worked through another mystery with the new software. I didn't really feel the need to eat so I jumped on Cecelia and went for a quick 40 minute ride down to the bike path and then up through the college to the university. The rivers were really swollen with all the rain we've had. It was nice to ride without the rain suit and with a bit of sunlight.

Along the river near the college I had noticed some trees brought down by beavers. There is no sign of a dam yet but I'm sure these trees were are going to show up somewhere along there soon. I never thought I'd see deer in this part of town so whose to say it can't be a beaver. 

  
November 74 miles

11-07, Cecelia: 17 miles, 50 push-ups

Beware the Crocodile

AJ added another trophy to the crowded bookshelf in his room last weekend with the Thunder Bay Flag Football Championship. Seems whatever he plays he'll win the big one sooner or later.

Miles are a bit hard to come by this week as the rain won't let up. My ride home tonight was wet and windy and heading into the wind was stinging. The rain suit does its thing and once I get inside I'm still dry.

I got on the scale for the first time in a while and am still hovering at 235, X-90. Hard to believe after the snacking I got into since Halloween. Putting me in charge of the treats is like having the crocodile babysit the baby wildebeast, somethings going to get eaten. Push-ups and sit-ups are going well and I guess Ethel will get dusted off some time soon. Six seasons of the Sopranos are waiting for another look over the winter.

This link to this video was all over web news sites so I checked it out, sounds like a big step in cancer research and hopefully more effective treatment someday soon.


November 57 miles
11-06, Cecelia:8 miles, 50 sit-ups

Surprise Surprise Surprise

In the who would've thought it possible category, a black man in the Whitehouse, gas goes under $1/litre and city council unanimously approoves improvements to infrastructure for cycling. I'm not sure I can take all these surprises at once. I hope Mr. Obama can take the Americans on more historic adventures as we all know we'll be following right on their tails through good or bad. Gas prices continue to tumble, somehow we're not quite as cheap as the provincial average of .87 but who would have thought it could drop this far this fast. Not that it makes much of a difference to me. And finally when I took on the survey project that was part of the presentation to city council I never dreamed we'd see any real action or that I might someday actually ride on the improved trails or bike lanes. I just hope that issue number two doesn't change the mind of our council. Low gas prices won't last long and they have been known to do a 180 on an issue or two in the past.

I have to say that daylight savings time really bites. So far the mornings have been only moderately brighter and even Tueday when the sun was shining it was down before I got home at 5:30. I had to run the lights on the way home tonight. I'm not real sure where the savings are, I was already good with dark mornings but now I get it at both ends. Just a matter of time I guess.

Days 1 and 2 on the new software were a nightmare as people who thought they were ready froze under the gun. Things that were supposed to be easy weren't. I spent hours running back and forth putting out fires and trying to keep my own work going. I got lots done today and found a few more features that we needed work arounds for. Tuesday balanced where Monday didn't, until we remembered that Saturdays sales were included. The one big advancement on the new software is I can trace any transaction back and find out who, what and where it all goes wrong.  

November 49 miles
11-05, Cecelia:6 miles 50 push-ups

11-04, Cecelia:15 miles 50 sit-ups

11-03, Cecelia:9 miles 50 push-ups

Quiet Sunday

Sal and I had brunch with the Wicklunds who are in town for another wedding. I got dropped at the Gardens with Cecelia for the last 2 games and of course everyone wanted to drive me home because it was raining. In the last game of the day a rare penalty was handed out, even more so because the penalized player was a 6 year old girl. She is without a doubt one of the best of the first line players and she was devastated by the call. Most often first time offenders are confused but don't break into tears until mom or dad show up in the penalty box to make sure they are ok. Then they break out because they assume they have done something really awful. She was in tears before she even stepped in. I sat with her and told her how she was a real hockey player now that she had a penalty but she wanted nothing to do with the game from that point on. I waved over her mom, who is one of the coaches and a former university player. I even told her mom used to get lots of penalties, no go. She refused to go out when her time was up and unfortunatley it was her last shift. Our referee-in-chief felt really bad, next time he gets to sit there with her. I called a couple of hours later and she has recovered but I don't think we'll see her back in the sin bin too soon.    

November 19 miles

11-02, Ceclelia:1 mile

Are You Happy Deer?

Today's title is not a mis-spelled bit of sarcasm, though the 7 bags full of leaves in our front yard will certainly make a special someone who has been hinting happy. Jill and I rode over to Mission Marsh after raking the yard and met the happiest deer on the island, the only buck I've ever seen there. His family was everywhere and was only outnumbered by the deer watchers. They were stopping all over the road tossing apples, oblivious to traffic all around. I pulled over and politely waited but the island's residents and OPG workers late for a shift just barrel through, not that I blame them. 

After riding Cecelia almost exclusivley for October, Jill felt so smooth and light. I forgot all about shifting for the first bit and getting comfy with the bar setup took a few miles. The new bars on Cecelia have taught me one thing, my arms can be a strong part of pedaling if I pull as I push with my legs. Monday it will be back to the push-up and sit-up regimen as my back feels good to go again. Increased upper body strength and a decreased middle are the goal.

Inventory went pretty well and we are up and running for the new year on Simply Accounting. We still have lots to learn, some more than others but I think it will work out fine. Not having 2 systems to keep fed with information will be a relief.

AJ showed off his costume in an attempt to get Ginko to sing a song last night. It didn't work on him but apparently the patrons at Jacks thought it was great, he hauled in almost $200 in tips during his shift from 10 til closing last night. Nice going Mr. Chiquita.

 

November 18 miles

11-01, Cecelia:6 miles

11-01, Jill:12 miles  

Shadows Chasing

This morning I was in an odd mood. I noticed my shadow as I passed beneath streelights, sneaking up from behind and then passing me only to fade under the glare of the next light and then make another pass. You get accustomed to your shadow riding along next to you more or less just there, but when the sun is an hour from the horizon it is a dynamic thing, always changing and moving around you. Lower lights near the college bike path caused it to pass rapidly, riding through a crescent causes it to approach from various angles. I noticed other lights as my early morning ride went on. Tailights of unseen cars travelling along the river reflected onto the water making them appear to be moving across the surface. My headlight on the darkest parts of the bike path shining a 6 foot spot 15 feet in front of me, giving just enough light to jar the memory of each crack and bump in the pavement. The glare of headlights on approaching cars robbing me of my night vision. The low light of cars behind me, hopefully seeing the blinking red of my tailight. 

2008 4089 miles

October 424 miles

10-31, Cecelia:13 miles

Nice Day for A Ride

With the temp heading for the 20's I grabbed some water and a camera at lunch, traded mitts for riding gloves and shed a few layers so that I could catch a long ride after work. Cecelia and I headed north with the wind at our backs and ended up circling Boulevard Lake before heading home. The head wind and the setting sun made the trip home a bit long but it felt good to get a longish ride in.I wish I had traded the jeans for shorts. I kept reminding myself that whenever the sun is directly in front of me and going down, I'm all but invisible to my 4 wheeled companions on the road. It sure is good to hear that Ontario is planning a 'no cell' law for drivers.

October 411 miles

10-30, Cecelia:26 miles

10-29, Cecelia:16 miles

Fall Colours and Chrome

The switch to simply Accounting is progressing at work, it has to as we go live next week. I have the inventory in and quantities enetered so we are paralleling both systems looking for problems. We are finding them almost hourly but so far have not come across any 'showstoppers' as Jason calls them. It is just a different way of doing things and after 20 years on the old system it is taking some getting used to and imagination to come up with methods of doing what we have come to take for granted in new ways.

Jill's blog had some great pictures of the plants around Juneau turning so I thought I would add one here. Scroll down her blog as she made a visit to the Grand Canyon and hiked across it, some nice pics of that as well. This shot was taken near the cancer Hope park along the bike path where it crosses Balmoral. Most of the leaves are off the trees after a few days with high wind but these plants still look great. Just wish the sun had been out to really make the colours snap. Cecelia appears in her current all weather setup. Riding in this cooler weather is great as long as I wear enough layers.

I've been using Google's new browser, Chrome for about a month now and have changed over about 95% both at home and at work. I find it very fast compared to Firefox and it leaves Explorer in its dust. Recommended and free. Another free download that helped tune up AJ's laptop is Malware Bytes. It's great for getting out stubborn adware. It was recommended by one of the Northwood coaches who runs the local 'Nerds On Site'.

 

October 369 miles

10-28, Cecelia:16 miles

Just in Time for Halloween

I grabbed the phone camera last night after having everything hooked up at the Northern Nights sleep clinic. The mess of wires in my hand come from the sensors glued to my legs, shoulders, chest, chin, temple and who knows how many locations on the back of my head as well as the mic on my neck and the breathing straps around my chest and stomach. The computer monitors just about everything including eye movement and there's a camera above the bed so it's tough to fall asleep. I ended up having to put on my mask at about 2am as the apnea is still happening. We got the pressure dialed in and with the new mask it will be all systems normal as far as sleep goes. I have to say the staff at the clinic has to be the best medical staff on the planet. Friendly and professional, everything moves through so smoothly it amazes me every time. They should put on clinics for other medical offices, and not of the sleep variety. 

I got home this morning with just enough time to throw some breakfast in my pack and grab Cecelia for a quick ride to work. By lunch the wind had picked up and I had to put on an extra layer and switch to the polar buff. I'm loving the feel of the 'new' Cecelia, a poorman's 'cross bike.

Some cycling math. These are estimates based on two known numbers and one estimate. 

4000miles/12mph=333.3 hours (miles/average speed)

333.3hrs x60=19,998 minutes

19,998 minutes x 80 rpm (a guess)=1,199,880 revolutions of the crank

October 353 miles

10-27, Cecelia:12 miles

Delayed But Done

Pedalling past the 4000 mile marker got held up by the weather. I got my commutes in Friday but didn't really want to get wet on the way home. I stopped in at Petrie's and picked up a roll of bar tape for Cecelia. I took off the H bar and put on Molly's original bar that I had cut down. When I tried it on Molly it seemed far too narrow but then I was used to the big wide bar on Bridget. Confused, me too. As with most changes to the cockpit of a bike, she feels very different and since I'll be spending most of my saddle time with her that's a good thing.  

Saturday morning dawned wet but I was in no mood to be denied again so Cecelia got thrown out in the rain and I put on the wetsuit and headed for work. I got a ton of data entered into the Simly database and felt great when noon came. I took the long way home and had the distance I needed to crack 4000 miles or 6437 km. Cecelia was thrilled to get the big ride after spending so much time in the basement. I think next year I'm going to track k's.

Off to the sleep clinic. 

October 341 miles

10-25, Cecelia:10 miles

10-24, Cecelia:16 miles

20 to Go

It doesn't seem possible but sometime Friday I plan to crack 4000 miles on my bikes in 2008. Who gets the honour has yet to be decided. Molly is still waiting for tires and Cecelia is just plain tired so it will be up to Bridget or Jill to finish it off. The forecast is looking uncertain but even if I have to wait til Saturday I'll still be happy with the results. 

Conquer Cancer announced today that events will be held in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal along with the 2nd in Toronto. I would sure love to ride into the Rockies out of Calgary but I think raising donations to go to Alberta would be a tough sell. 

20 miles to 4000

October 315miles

10-23, Cecelia:15 miles

10-22, Cecelia:15 miles

A Visit From Mr. Murphy

On Sunday I get re-checked for sleep apnea so today I bought Sal a present, a new mask. Turns out they were on sale, only $130, what a bargain. I really don't feel any different when I sleep without it but she says I'm still annoying so I thought I should get the new mask before (a) the test and (b) she kills me in my sleep. 

If I owned friction today I would have sold it for a pack of gum, and I only chew gum when I fly, reluctantly. Anything that could go wrong did, twice. We are two weeks from switching over to a new software and hardware setup and our early 90's dot matrix printer (dont' even know what that is do you kids) decided today would be a good day to retire. Heck it has worked there only a few years less than I have and I've been ready to retire for a decade, it was due. As that happened 6 walk-in customers showed up at the same time. We have entire days, sometimes a week when we don't see 6 walk-ins. Picture us scrambling to find and complete hand-written invoices, while trying to reprogram another printer, change over the 3000 foot ribbon, machine rotors and flywheels, and answer the phones without doing serious damage to any of the above or each other. I would have happily chewed the entire pack. Getting on the bike at 5 and leaving the day behind was like slipping into Lake Superior on a really hot summer day, and the beer I had when I got home tasted too good to be legal. I can't wait for tomorrow, to end that is 

 

60 miles t0 4000

October: 285 miles

10-21, Ceclia:15 miles

Northwood's regular season got off to a good start on Saturday with a 0-0 tie to open things up. A couple of 7-3 games followed but there were some key players missing so we'll see how the balance is as we go. The one player whose parents refused to be moved up a line because 'he hasn't even scored a goal', got 5 in two games. 

I went to a meeting at Con College and rode home down the bike path in the dark at about 8pm Sunday. I had Celcelia with a tailight, bar light and the helmet light I use in the mornings on the way to work.  First I came across a pair of eyes lit up by my 'head'light that jumped off the path and then sat in the bush staring at me as I went by. I think they belonged to a cat but could only see the eyes blazing. Next I cane across 2 sets of eyes but these were up higher off the ground. I slowed not knowing what they belonged to. As I got closer I could make out an adult deer and a yearling just off the path. I got about 10 feet away before they decided they would trot away. Very spooky the way they eyes shine in the lights especially with no moonlight at all.

 

75 miles to 4000

October 270 miles

10-20, Cecelia:15 miles

10-19, Cecelia:4 miles

10-18, Bridget:3 miles

10-17, Cecelia:16 miles 

10-16, Cecelia:14 miles

Long Weekend

Saturday I spent a lot of hours posting both games and practices to the net. 60 games and 84 practices went up and were available for download by NHL parents and coaches. I spent 3 hours at the rink handing out paperwork to the coaches and making sure things went smoothly. I hit the library for another book, I'm really enjoying reading. I had to wake AJ to bring my keys. No not for the car, I locked my bike before realizing I had left the keys at home. He needed to get up for a meeting anyway.

Sunday dawned a decent enough day with a projected high of 18 so I decided since Sal was going to be getting prep done at the club I would make the ride to Mom and Dad's. After about 30 minutes I stopped at Uncle Frank's and removed a layer of clothes as it was getting warm, nothing like shorts and short sleeves. As I passed the prison farm about 100 Canadian geese squawked overhead and I was able to watch them spiral down into the field for a rest. I was wishing I had brought a better camera but was prepared to stay the night so there was really no more room in my pack. That may be why my back has been sore for 2 days. As I approached Mink Mountain Road I came to the spot in the picture that despite the lack of any sun was a colourful feast for the eyes. I took this same picture the first time I made the trip out as I knew I could make it once I reached this spot and it brings back a warm memory every time I go past this spot. When I ride I'm always in a hurry and hate to stop for anything let alone pictures, then kick myself for not having more pictures.

Monday was spent very carefully as my back was trouble all day, probably should not have done the push-ups. Sal was up to her usual holiday ritual of whipping up a huge meal for the troops, all 5 of us. We got Mike and Mel online with video for a bit so if felt a little like they were here for a bit, not quite the same. 

Thunder Bay managed to vote in the losing party again. At least we can say we tried to change things. I think one of the spoofs by the Air Farce guy said Canada spent $300 million to end up in the same minority fix. Unless things change overnight they sure haven't changed by bedtime. Carry on Mr. Harper, we're behind you 41%.

127 miles to 4000

October:218 miles

10-15, Cecelia:16 miles, 52 push-ups (then back said no mas)

10-14, Cecelia:12 miles

10-13, 99 push-ups

10-12, Bridget:32 miles

10-11, Cecelia:4 miles, 65 sit-ups