Over the past couple days on my rides to and (mostly) from work, I’ve noticed a sharp increase in the number of people on bikes. It’s encouraging to see that I’m not the only one making the change. I didn’t make it in on my bike today due to not being up and home in time to get ready, but I’ve done without my car for 13 days of commuting since June 25th. That’s 430 miles on my bike to save 520 miles on my car ($70 at $4/gal). I’m also quite a bit tanner and firming back up after my couple months of slacking.

It’s amazing to see the camaraderie that’s forming. Yesterday after coming up the hill from Lincoln Ave., some guy with WY plates did some whacked out 270 degree U-turn style flip around right in front of me. He clearly didn’t see me, and I stopped a couple feet away where he muttered a quick “sorry.” I wasn’t really pissed about it since I saw it coming and never got close enough to be in real danger. What happened next was completely unexpected. I started hearing random shouting from at least half a block away at the guy, and then another guy on a bike coming the other way calmly yelled at the guy “hey man, what the hell’s goin’ on, you need to get a fuckin’ brain man.” Outstanding.

Sorry about how long the Seattle photos are taking, I’m going to sit down and sort through at least the next day (probably the most photo-intensive day of the trip) tonight.

Today was day 12 of biking to work. I’ve now saved 480 miles on my car (16 gallons of gas, $64) in commuting alone – that doesn’t count some small errands. I passed 600 miles on my bike since June 1, 2008 on the way in to work today. June 1 was a 101 mile day, but even without it I’ve had a good 6 weeks of riding. Today was of course ridiculously hot. Buckley AFB (east of town, largely separated from the heat island of the city) recorded 93F. Broomfield was at 95F. It felt warmer than that downtown, and my sunglasses were splattered with salt from dried sweat within 5 minutes of heading out from work this afternoon. Thankfully, it’s cooling off the next couple days.

I have conducted some research on bee velocities this morning as a follow up to yesterday’s kamikaze bee attack. It seems that bees can fly on the order of 15-20mph. Add that to my speed just under 25mph and a slight headwind and we can see that the bee targeted and attacked at a net speed of approximately 40mph. Impressive.

Update to the update: we now have an artists’ rendition of what took place

As I was riding my bike home (for the 6th consecutive business day, starting with Bike to Work Day last Wednesday), going along at 24.8mph, I felt a sharp pain on the inside of my left elbow. I looked down and there was a bee stuck in there. Frig! I slapped at it a few times to make sure it was dead and gone, then started pulling the stinger out. Son of a bitch it hurt. I looked down and saw I was down to about 23mph, so I stepped it back up and then finished the job. I couldn’t stop, I was making record time (54:27 ride time).

Ouch.

THE END

Wednesday was Bike to Work day. Preparation started Sunday with a proof of concept ride in. Nate broke a spoke and so we had a bit of a detour for repair. Wednesday went well, especially the free breakfast right across the street from the office. That evening biking to work was discussed, and after a couple beers a goal to not fill up the car with gas prior to going on vacation (a couple weeks) was made. Things get a little fuzzy, but it somehow turned into trying to bike to work as much as possible. It’s not too bad, doing it I get two full-hour workouts each day, and it only takes up an extra hour of my time (which would be spent half sleeping and half doing nothing). On top of that I save on the order of $6 a day in gas alone, not to mention the wear and tear on the car.

By and by, it looks like this ridiculous stunt will end up featured in the next round of the company newsletter.

Today was the day of the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, down in Castle Rock, CO. There are several course options, ranging from very short up to 50, 65, and 100 miles. My roommate Nate brought up the event, and signed up for the 65 mile (aka metric century) option on Wednesday. I had intended to do the same, but a couple beers and a little machismo let to me signing up for the full blown century ride, complete with 3,500′ of cumulative elevation gain. Oops.

I was out of bed at 4:30 this morning, threw down some breakfast, and we were on the road about 5am. We followed the convoy of Subarus with bikes in/on/behind them all the way down, got our registration packets, and started pedaling at 6:10am. Not long in, we came to the first substantial hill, and the pain kicked in for the first time. I was thinking I’d probably be better off just not taking the turnoff for the Century, and doing “just” 65.

I blew past the first aid station at mile 8 (seriously?), and started feeling pretty good. I had figured it out, I just needed to get the blood pumping and I’d be good to go. Another 14 miles and I was rethinking things. The first text message in a series of many to Nate – 7:46 am, aid station #2 (22.4mi):

At aid station. Thinking metric

As I was leaving the station, I sent the next text message:

If you check this let me know and I’ll try to hold up

Keep in mind the longest ride I’d done before today was on the order of 27.5 miles in one shot. After some fruit, refilling my water bottles with energy drink, etc, I started feeling better. Two miles later, I made the fateful decision to turn left, sending myself on a detour on the order of 35 miles long. The next text message came an hour and a half later, at aid station #3 (36.9mi):

Disregard. On century course.

I was starting to tire, but every aid station gave me a chance to jam bagels, fruit, gu, and energy drink in my mouth, and to rest for a few minutes. What followed was an absolutely gorgeous ride through the plains out to the east of Black Forest. The clouds were creating spectacular lighting – I wished I had my camera (though I’m glad I didn’t, I didn’t need any more weight or distraction). This is an area I may have to return to for a nice ride someday. There was an unfortunate headwind/crosswind most of the way, which drained me even faster than I otherwise would have been. The text message from aid station #4 (48.3mi), 10:10am:

OMFG

Such powerful emotion conveyed in four simple letters. The climb continued from this point, although it was largely through the forest so the wind at least was broken a bit. An hour later at the next aid station (61.2mi), Nate’s phone received this gem:

Kill me now

The hills had been getting to me, and I was wondering if I could finish at all at this point. They constantly rolled on and off, too short to gear down and pick up any real speed, but long enough to hurt on the way up. Around mile 67, I went blind from sweat, possibly mixed with sunscreen, running down into my eyes. They seared any time I tried to open them, and wiping was less than worthless. I rode blind for a couple minutes, then pulled off the side and sprayed my eyes out with water. At the next aid station (68.2mi) I saw that Nate had finished the 65 (and felt spectacular – his words, not mine) and sent me a note saying the last hill wasn’t as bad as the map showed. I certainly hoped so; I also hoped I was just about to the top of it. I (incorrectly) remembered almost constant downhill from around that point.

I got more and more drained as the constantly rolling hills continued, and eventually reached what I thought was the final hill. I tore down at 30-35mph, thrilled that it was finally over. Then I reached the true final hill. It was a long, constant, painful gain at roughly miles 89-92. I had to stop several times, dismount, and lean on my bike just to breathe and let my legs get a little bit of energy back. At some point Nate had asked if I was alive via text. This is the final text, sent from near the top of the hill (but not quite there). It was 1:37pm, and my bike computer said 93.0 miles:

Ducking liar. Seven miles out

Thankfully, I finally reached the top of the final hill, put it in top gear, and rode the tailwind most of the way back. The final stretch has you going under the highway, and up one last, very small hill – then you turn off into a gentle downhill, and coast across the finish line. Pure agony:

My computer said 101 miles, with a total ride time of 6h50m. I hit the brakes, clumsily unclipped and unmounted the bike, and painfully hobbled the bike back to the car. I’m still in pain, and expect to be at least tomorrow, probably through mid-week. I’m amazed that I stuck with it, as painful as it was, and I’m glad to have done it.