smooth riding

Today was sweet! Combining fitness with the commute, amazing.... I really don't know why more people don't do not do this, especially with the great weather. I have noticed a new feeling for the environment, the city , the people and the community. Cars are great way to get around, but they disconnect you a bit from the surroundings, in my opinion.

How goes it?

Ride home. Sure there are prettier parts of the city, but this is how it looks in Cleveland..E 55th Street


Red Line Platform, University Circle Cleveland OH (that is the bike)

Week2

Back in the US. Hmmm.... interesting what I see now.

Currently, my friend Gasper is here from Slovenia, so he is using my mountain bike. So, I am in full commute with the folding bike, the one pictured on one of the parting posts from the Occidental blog. Honestly, to travel on northeast Ohio roads you need a mountain bike, the roads are a bit rough, nevertheless I took the Boardwalk. It is a bit weaker bike and I need to be a bit more careful and ride a bit less aggressive. However, I think this bike is faster, I made the rout today to the train in 1 hour. Nice! I guess tonight is an indians games also, so there are typically restrictions on bringing bikes on the train before a sporting event. One of the drivers even told me so, but I responded back to him, it isn't a bike! It was in folded mode, like a transformer! So, needless to say, I was able to bring the bike on the train at 18 25 with no issues!

Getting home in 1 1/2 hours in this fashion is nice. It really breaks the day up nicely. It is very easy to leave work at work when you just put 11miles behind you pedal by pedal. I remember in the past coming home and feeling drained and tired, less in the summer, but nevertheless, the feeling of drowsiness and "do nothing feeling". Now I am home, cooking dinner and I am ready to go out or whatever, do home work or something! Feels great!

Now, let me get some dinner and I will get with you later!

First real ride!

No pics, we were moving too fast! Today Rick and I (the guy who went on the North Holland trip with me) went on return commute ride together. We left work about 16 30 and did the 11 or so miles(17 or so km) in about 1 hour 10 (keep in mind I ride a single speed Mountain Bike). We zig zagged in and out of residential streets keeping off the main car commuter roads. It was very pleasant. We got down to the train platform about 17 40 just in time for the 17 44 train going west bound. I took the train two stops and Rick took it almost to the end of the line on the far west side. From there I rode another 3 miles (5km) home. I felt so pumped!

This ride today was the realization of what Rick and I have been talking about doing for almost two years. You might ask, what took us so long? Upon interspection, I really feel that driving to work in Cleveland (if you live in Cuyahoga county) is like eating a fast food burger; simple, compact, no surprises, efficient (if your car is running good), and is easy to digest(mentally). Where as commuting by public transport is like eating bugs for protein. You don't want to do it, it is nasty, it kind of feels weird as it goes down into your stomach, but in the end is functional for staying alive. Maybe that is a bit harsh, but I think that is the first impression that probably 99% of the car commuters have when thinking of travelling in this fashion.

Really, I felt the same way. Just the other day, but when Rick and I got down to the platform we looked at each other and said, "that was easy!"

Cycling into work is great too. I am not a sports fanatic or a athelete in training, just a guy who likes to drink beer, eat frites with mayo and I love burgers! So... what to do with all these calories?? I don't know!! Excercise or something, maybe but that is like putting in overtime hours at the office. So, I figured to continue with the habits I picked up in Holland, and just get it done. Just ride, walk, take the bus/train. Be mobile on my own, without the four walls.

Now the only thing I need is a big chain! To lock my bike, I observed how the riders in NYC do it, they get a chain that is like huge and wrap it around their waist when they ride, and as a security measure, I think you need a mig welder to break the thing.

Prototype Commute

Dumped the car and walked to work. Well, that wasn't the plan, I really wanted to go by bus, but anyway have a look at Highland Heights. Pretty sweet, eh?