Firsts.

A few "first of..." moments:

1. Bike commute to the new office
2. Bike commute of 2016
3. Bike ride below freezing since last winter

For a brief couple of weeks last year, I lived ridiculously close to work, and I rode my bicycle darn near every day. We've moved offices twice since then, settling into our current (and hopefully permanent) digs at the end of October. 

Back in May, during bike to work week, I got a sneak peak of Overland Park's Bicycle Route improvements, including a plan for new bike lanes and sharrows. Most of those improvements have been made, and pretty much my entire commute is covered by those, until I get to Leawood city limits about a mile from my office. Even then, you could ride on far worse Leawood streets than Tomahawk Creek Parkway. It was a pleasant ride at just over six and a half miles.

Round trip

For the next month, I live less than 3 miles from my office. I am making the most of it.

Trails

I don't ride on the multi-use paths around here very often. There is a trail right next to my office, though, as evidenced here, it's popular. It's hard to see it in the photo, but there's a distinct path of worn-away grass leading off the concrete 30 feet from the door of my office building, down to the paved path below. I've never bothered to see where the trail leads until today.



It's not a bad trail. It weaves through much of the large office complex I work in. Unfortunately, it doesn't really connect to any of the major trails, not that any of Johnson County's long trails are anywhere near my home. This eventually dumped me out up the road on part of my usual homeward commute route, although with a turn, it could have sent me over to Antioch via 127th. I'm sure this path works really well for some people. I'm not one of them.


This morning, I talked to the OP volunteers about the bicycling survey they hosted online a few months ago. I wondered if my responses would have mattered since my home zip code indicated I don't live in Overland Park. I was assured that anyone who took the survey is presumed to ride in or through Overland Park, and all suggestions were welcome and considered. There will be a formal presentation on the city's bicycling plan later this year, probably toward the end of summer.

Bike To Work Week: Day Two

I didn't make it out yesterday. I did this morning, however, despite being a bit chilly feeling for the middle of May. While hanging out with the city's volunteers, we counted three other cyclists that didn't want to stop. Three had preceded me at the rest stop, however briefly, and another gentleman hung out for a few minutes while I was there, for a grand total of five bicyclists on the roster. Thursday's a no-go for me (too many errands to run before work) but I might be on the bike again tomorrow, and maybe I'll see some friends at city hall Friday morning.

Spring Forward!

... Actually? I feel pretty darn good. Mid-40's this morning? The bike beckons.

CPAP

How the doctor described it:

What it's really like:

Operation HTHU: The Suffer-ring

As I rolled out this morning, I made a promise to myself: No more granny ring. I've spent far too long in the small chainring on The Twelve. My new route has more hills, but it's not spectacularly hilly. I can do this. Mission accomplished, and my average speed is back up a bit, too, no surprise.

The rat maze.

he bizarre maze of residential roadways between 103rd and 91st streets still messes with me. I can honestly say I have never taken the exact same route twice, riding to work or riding back home. Part of it is me trying to find the friendliest route. The other part is me just missing turns. For instance, Knox crosses Connell about 8 different times, and one of those times, I should probably turn. I always miss the turn, if I even find myself on Connell in the first place.
  

Also, I've been having trouble working out since I started the new heart meds a few weeks ago. It feels like my body runs out of steam a lot quicker than usual. The cardiologist said that the stuff I'm on has been known to knock dozens of beats-per-minute off a person's maximum heart rate (that is, the fastest one's heart is able to beat under strenuous exercise) and that he wouldn't worry if my max HR had gone from the 180s down to the 150s or so.

Today, I wore my heart rate monitor and went full-on King Of The Mountain sprint on 108th street as it veers south and uphill to become Lamar Ave.


Nope. Ticker's still working fine.  I saw low 180s, but by the time I could get my camera out, I'd slowed down a bit. I guess my fatigue just means I had better harden the hell up. I'm working on that.

It's Limited Warren T!

Always good to see Warren out and about.