Thursday, September 8, 2011

"Cold" Front

Despite the fact that the vast majority of Texas is on fire, here it's actually gotten cooler.

This is, of course, relative. It's amazing how much cooler 91 degrees feels after 107.  I set my mind to commuting Wednesday, and was delighted to find that the temperature as I left the house was in the 60s.

Have I mentioned that it's been in the 80s overnight for the last three months or so?

Like a kid on Christmas morning, I actually woke up early.  Made myself a good breakfast, and hit the road.

I rode quickly through town, smiled at the first shades of sunrise making their way across the bay, and even better: arrived at work, for the first time in recent memory, without being bathed in sweat.

And it seems to have kicked off a new health consciousness.  At the very least, I'm drinking water again instead of downing a 20 oz. Dr. Pepper whenever I feel the urge.  And I'm using my work breaks to walk around the block instead of surfing the 'Net.

The heat's creeping up a bit again, but my plan is to ride again Friday.  Perhaps fall back in to my routine.

And definitely hoping for another cold front!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Technical Difficulties

Well, a vacation (Europe for two whole weeks with Grandma & little cousin) and some technical difficulties (my computer absolutely DIED), but: I'm up and blogging once more. What's more: I have had a religious experience.

On a bike.

Barcelona Bike Share
Barcelona is a city of bicyclists, but it's a city gone mad with bicycles. There are bikes in the street, bikes in the bike lanes, bikes on the sidewalks, bikes on the Metro. It was a perfect example of "why all bicyclists should ride in the street" instead of on sidewalks packed with pedestrians of all speeds, abilities, and powers of observation. Aside from the packed thoroughfares, Barcelona also has a beautiful bike share (which I couldn't use because I don't have a chip-and-pin credit card) and numerous bike rentals (though the sign we followed led to a store whose single employee said they didn't rent bikes).

Next we ventured to Narbonne, which was MUCH smaller and had an amazingly well staffed Tourist Information Center. While my companions took off for the Narbonne Plage, I plunked down 10 Euro and hit the road on two wheels. After cruising the city center for a bit, I happened across the "trail" along the canal--a lovely, idyllic little ride that produced a plethora of pictures--before coming to the end/beginning of my adventure. The paved path ended, but an obviously well traveled dirt path remained.

Fork in the Road
I've got hours before they're back, I reasoned, I might as well keep going! I rode along the canal, occasionally passing walkers, runners, or fellow bicyclists, but more often alone. The path was pleasantly shaded by huge trees, and as I got further outside of town I was riding along beside vineyards and terra-cotta-tile roofed cottages. I could see mountains in the distance. I was passed by a boat heading in to town, everyone waving merrily.

I came upon a large farmhouse that looked like it'd been there forever, and finally a map to help me get my bearings. A sign post proclaimed that Narbonne was 6,5 km back the way I'd come while Gruissan was 7,5 km from the fork. I left the dirt path for the first time and took to tiny roads surrounded by fields. I rode over a rickety little bridge, paused to snap a picture of a fairy tale tower rising from the trees, and felt utterly at peace. This is what a bike ride should be like, I thought; no glances over my shoulder in paranoia because I'm riding with texting drivers....just the breeze and the sun and the steady whirr of wheels over the road.

And now I have a new goal: to bike across France. Not, perhaps, the entire country. But starting with a trip through the Loire Valley. Or the Cote d'Azur. Regardless of what path I choose, I'm sure it'll be wonderful--though I don't know if anything can surpass my surprise Narbonnaise ride this summer.

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Spokespeople Weekly Wednesday Ride

Wednesday night I managed to make a Spokespeople ride for the first time, and it was just as fun as I thought it would be!

Around 20 of us started the ride at Seawall Food & Spirits, hauling our bikes down the seawall to the cafe and enjoying the breeze and minimal shade. We made introductions over giant (and apparently delicious) sandwiches and icy beverages, and banded together in keeping the seagulls from stealing each others' food. I had an ice pop in deference to the heat, folding and unfolding my Dahon for interested parties while in turn admiring their cutely painted cruisers.

The Spokespeople Wednesday crew
We then had a nice, leisurely ride down the bayfront (we paused at the loading dock for the group photograph seen here), around the museums, and through the Watergardens to one of the Spokespeoples' gracious sponsors, Brewster Street Ice House. We sat out on the patio eating, drinking, talking, and laughing as the sun went down and it finally started to cool off. We also picked up a couple of latecomers, including the gal with shirts; of course I had to buy one to fit in!

The lights came on for our after-dark ride from Brewster's back across downtown. Our motley crew of well-lit cruisers, road, mountain, and BMX bikes wound its way to the House of Rock, where they even let us bring our bikes inside! We got free water and sodas to sip on while we chatted, and listened to a drum competition being held that evening before finally heading back out.

Since our next (and final) destination was just down the street, we took a much longer route: back through downtown, back along the bayfront, out on to the T-Head, and finally to Cassidy's Irish Pub.

By this time it was 10:30 so I headed home, but I'll probably become a fixture on at least the Wednesday rides. It is a fun, different kind of ride...more social than a lot of group rides are. And it definitely helps remind people in Corpus Christi that cyclists are here, which is always a good thing. PLUS it brings attention to downtown and is helping encourage activity there, too.

I expect the group will grow, and I hope it does! Everyone involved is so enthusiastic! Maybe one day we can take over downtown a la Sunday Streets!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Car Free Weekend

Had a lovely weekend by bike, despite the absurd heat.

Friday night I took a spin around the neighborhood, simply because I haven't yet since my move. I can bike straight down the main road to the bay, cruise along the parkway for a few miles, then turn around and come back. Part of the ride is even on a nice little hike & bike trail which (bless them) has water fountains here and there.

Saturday morning I slept late, then got up and biked to the bank. I also shopped a bit, but didn't find anything I couldn't live without (I'm searching for a dress for the upcoming trip to Europe), so headed home. I was then supposed to head out with the SpokesPeople at 2pm, but I (to my eternal shame) fell asleep in front of the TV. What a waste of a Saturday! I made up for it by biking to Target and Camille's for an ice cream bar, dropped by Lowe's for a bike mount, then home again to wrestle with getting the bike mount installed.

Sunday morning I biked to lunch with my mom & sister, went BACK to Lowe's for a longer drill bit, and finally got that darned bike mount installed! It definitely frees up a bit of floor space in the garage, which I'm slowly but surely getting organized.

According to MyTracks on my phone, I biked 25 miles this weekend. AND I didn't even get a sunburn!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Paris, London, San Antonio...

A few years ago I went to Paris with my grandmother, and fell in love with the Velib idea: bikes available to borrow at locations all over the city, an easy ride from one to the next. I was also dismayed to find out that my American credit cards wouldn't work in the automated kiosks (you can now purchase a ticket online, however, which makes me want to go back even more).

It's spread both internationally and domestically, and has now spread to a city quite close to me: San Antonio.

This is a FANTASTIC idea. For one, San Antonio's downtown area is fairly condensed. The Alamo, the Riverwalk, La Villita, Hemisfair Park & the Tower of the Americas, are all pretty close to one another...though perhaps far enough apart that you wouldn't want to walk.

Nor would you want to give up your drove-around-the-block-three-times-trying-to-find-an-empty-parking-space steps from the Riverwalk.

So a bike share is PERFECT.

My last trip to San Antonio I was surprised by how many cyclists were whizzing around downtown. They continued steadily even after dark, as tourists stumbled back to their hotels, a stream of lights bouncing along on two wheels in front of the Alamo.

I can't wait to join them!

Monday, May 23, 2011

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."

The good news: more and more states are moving towards bike-friendliness.

The bad news: Texas still ranks #41. On bike to work day I had a car pull up next to me and honk for no reason except, apparently, to see if he could get me to react. A friend had a truck pass him, pull in the bike lane, and suddenly stop just to try & make him crash. A cyclist in Alice was hit Wednesday and left on the road.

Do I deny that there are cyclists who don't follow the rules as they should? Definitely not; they are, in fact, one of the main reasons I usually ride alone.

But I beg drivers to think of it this way: if I'm on a bike, it means I'm not another car on the road. It means less traffic, so you get where you're going faster--and without speeding! What safety for cyclists really means is safety for everyone.

Also: It's 2MC season again! I've kicked it off with 16 miles the first week, hoping to bike more this weekend!

Friday, May 20, 2011

It's Bike to Work Day!

There's a new crew in town, and that crew is the SpokesPeople. I have, unfortunately, missed every single one of their rides so far, but when I saw they had organized a "Bike to Work Day" event on Facebook, it was the kick in the pants I needed.

This brings the number of bike commuters at work to three, possibly four (and how cute is that white cruiser, I ask you?), which I like to joke is all of us in town (according to the official report, Corpus Christi has 0% female bike commuters).

So last night I checked my lights, trunk, and tires and went to bed early so I could make my first ride from the new house.

It was muggy as all get out, but it made me remember how nice it is not to be stuck in my little gasoline-powered bubble. No A/C, no radio, just me and the waves and the birds.

It doesn't get better than that.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Back from the Wars!

So. I've been MIA for a while.

It's been a busy year!

I shopped for and bought a house, moved, and changed jobs all within a few short months. I've also been planning a trip to Europe with family (and of course included a bicycle tour of Barcelona!).

One of the biggest selling features of my house? The garage.

Living in an apartment led me to the purchase of my delightful, folding Dahon Cadenza. A full sized bike that can fold up and be hidden in a closet? BRILLIANT!

My next place, a townhouse, had a patio that I initially planned to keep the bike on. Unfortunately it was a very WET patio, so the bike was moved inside under the stairs--and I bought a cruiser to keep it company.

But this house has an actual garage! I can pull my car in, the lawnmower, my bikes, garbage & recycle bins. I'm in the market for a bike lift to free up a bit of floor space, but all in all things fit rather well!

While my new house is a bit further out than the old places, it's still convenient to the nearest road with bike lanes (few and far between here in Corpus), and I can easily get to the grocery, etc. It'll be even easier once they finish up all the construction surrounding the new Wal-Mart, which apparently involves ripping up every road, sidewalk, and cross walk in a three mile radius. I'll be especially pleased if they add bike lanes to the street the Wal-Mart is on, though I kind of doubt it...