Jack's Electric Bicycle

Weekly Wrap 11.3.06

Weekly wrap 11.3.06

This week’s total mileage: 67 miles

This week’s mileage on e-bike: 11

This week’s mileage on a regular bike: 56

Total mileage since July 10, 2006: 772

Total e-bike mileage since July 10, 2006: 507.5

Total regular bike mileage since July 10, 2006: 264.5

Gas savings this week: 4 gallons

Gallons saved since July 10, 2006: 38.2

Price of gas today: $2.57

Gas savings since July 10, 2006: $142.80

Flat tires since July 10, 2006: 3

RAIN RIDING

When I woke up this morning the rain was pouring down. The electronic rain gauge measured about an inch since midnight and the forecast called for more of the same.

I briefly considered using the automobile, but I didn’t want to be a pussy just because of a little rain. So I put on the appropriate cycling attire – rain pants, light-weight rain jacket and my LL Bean StormChaser shoes.

Being that the road bike doesn’t have fenders, I used the red 10-speed Peugoet. It’s a smooth ride.

So it’s pouring down rain and I’m out riding my bike on the streets of McKinleyvile like a silly fool and guess what? It didn’t really matter. I was plenty dry – at least on the outside.

It turns out that the real moisture menace is not from the rain, but from the sweat that comes from being wrapped in clothing that doesn’t breath. When I’m wearing regular cotton clothing the sweat evaporates before I even notice I’m sweating. But with my rain gear it’s like I’m covered in Saran Wrap. There’s moisture buildup.

The solution, from what I can tell, is to make sure I only wear the rain jacket when it’s actually raining. And when it’s raining and I’m wearing the jacket, I need to simply slow down my pedaling cadence.

Or maybe Santa Claus will bring me some rain gear with lots of flaps and vents.

Either way, it’s not a big deal. I traveled 11.5 miles today, visited some folks, conducted business, took photos and did so in the rain.

HAMMOND BRIDGE

I was crossing the Hammond Trail Bridge today and smelled paint. Time to investigate the graffiti art underneath.

The “mural,” shown in a previous post, was recently re-painted. At the top of this post is a photo (with my bike, of course) of the new mural.

They put a lot of time and effort into it. I suspect they also spent a lot on paint.

I give the new mural two thumbs up. Nice job.

That said, I would like to give them a bit of free advice: Although the urban graffiti style art is interesting and colorful, why not break out of the genre and paint something revolutionary and different? There’s a certain lock-step conformity to this graffiti style. Break the rules.

Better yet, they should paint a mural of my bike!

posted by Jack Durham @ 6:04 PM