July 8th, 2010
Yeah, it’s hot out there. And for the most part, we’ve been ridin’ in it. So, why don’t I just give it a rest, given the ungodly temps? Well, in another week or two—when our truck comes out of “surgery”—I’ll probably be on my way to visit family for a week, where I won’t be able to ride at all. And I have to ride. Because I love food. Because I have a sweet tooth. Because the pounds ain’t comin’ off by themselves. And, oh yeah, I do love to ride. More likely, though, it has to do with the way I am. I’m a feast or famine kinda gal. You either can’t tear me away from something or I ignore it altogether. So… .
Here sits my bike right off the W&OD trail, at our self-prescribed halfway mark. Weather-wise, there was a tradeoff today. Lower temperatures, higher humidity. But it was only an hour ride, on mostly flat terrain, so it wasn’t a killer. And there was plenty of water… .
May 26th, 2010
A conversation the other evening prior to our bike ride in a neighboring hood:
ETH: “I don’t think I can keep up with you the whole way, so if you see me drop off, find me later along the loop*.”
W: “Okay.”
I managed to keep up with him for a few miles, tackling an awful hill (I’m not a climber), then continuing on one of our familiar routes for another mile or so before I started to lag behind, and the distance between us grew farther and farther. My last glimpse of him was a swoosh of black spandex and white tee as he turned the corner and spun out of site, heading for another round, possibly on that killer hill. So, I casually rolled toward the loop to get in whatever miles I could before he tired and came to retrieve me for the ride home.
I rode the loop repeatedly, up its slight but manageable climb and down its precarious, yet exhilarating, hill. I racked up four or five miles (pocket change!) until…uh-oh…raining. So I stopped at one of the intersections, the one where we usually enter the loop, and I popped open my water bottle while I waited for him to arrive, expecting him to ride up at any moment. And he did. IN THE TRUCK. With Lucy in tow who was probably wondering, “Where we goin’?”
And I’m thinkin’ you mean I’ve been PUTTING IN MILES, and you’ve been AT HOME?!
W: “What happened? I waited for you at the light for a long time! I thought we were on our way home!”
ETH: *see second paragraph above*
*A one-mile-plus oval stretch with a good downhill and only one stop sign, suitable for mindless spinning. Can’t forget that stop sign, though.
I’ve taken liberties with my title, which was inspired by John Gray’s book, “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus,” and in doing so, I think I now qualify for the First Anniversary Giveaway over at Secret Forest. Please stop by and pay him a visit, if not to enter his contest, then at least to wish him a Happy Blogiversary and take a look around. Hurry, though, as I believe the contest ends this week.
May 5th, 2010
While on the bike path yesterday, I stopped alongside to practice panning with the camera, and I caught this commuter. W jokingly said that I should post this and tell everyone that it’s me. Hey! What’s that supposed to mean!? Actually, there’d be no mistaking the two of us…’cause my bike’s red…and hers is blue. There. Anyway, in the words of Judy Tenuta, “It could happen!” Yeah, I could look like this…someday, but maybe I never will. And that’s fine, ’cause my attitude toward biking is that—like the Chinese proverb says—the journey is the reward.
Today’s ride may be on the Custis Trail that branches off of the W&OD, which we were on yesterday. It’s the route I took when I worked in DC…five years ago…and haven’t ridden since. It has three huge hills. And I’m lousy on hills. So, be prepared for more pics from alongside the path.
May 4th, 2010
This is just a tiny section of my favorite bike path, the W&OD Trail. I’m facing east, and right out of view is the intersection of Washington Street and Rt. 66 in Falls Church, which is walking distance from the East Falls Church metro. The total distance of the trail, which spans from Shirlington to Purcellville, is almost 45 miles.
October 10th, 2009
All was quiet this morning–except for Lucy, of course–when I heard thumping and knocking coming from the basement…so I investigated. And what the…??? Yes, the bike apparently had had it up to its handlebars with me and decided to drag its dusty and neglected self upstairs. I know. I was just as surprised as you. I mean, who would have guessed that bikes don’t like basements? Isn’t that where they’re supposed to live? And how was I to know? It never said a word. Anyway, like it’s not enough that it’s now encroaching on our living space, it now wants to stay upstairs and go out on rides. Geesh, and I thought Lucy was pushy.
Okay, so I told the bike we’d start out on the trainer on the back porch, just to get reacquainted before taking it on the road. It agreed, as long as it can roll to The Pretenders’ Learning to Crawl, which I’m on board with, as it has some great tunes for spinning. But the bike is also demanding blog time…stories and stuff about it. I said to take it up with Lucy, as the blog is pretty much her domain. I assume they hashed it out as the last time I saw Lucy, she was standing there barking at it.
So, to make a long story short–although it’s a little late for that–expect to see the bike pop up on the blog now and then. And I’m wondering, who’s in control here anyway?
April 27th, 2009
I spotted these two in the Ballston area of Arlington, Virginia, possibly on their way from the Custis bike trail, that is a good short-cut from Washington, D.C., to the W&OD trail. I used to take both trails to get into the city when I was working there and the Custis trail is a good workout. Hilly and twisty, it was fun to try to catch, or run from, other commuters on the path. It’s the only thing I miss about working in the city!
And hey, it is Mellow Yellow Monday, so here are some yellow cars, yellow awning, yellow walk sign…
Want to see more than cars and stuff? Then follow the link to see a whole lot of other beautiful yellow things!
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YogaforCynics
