Carmaggeddon Day #44: Path to destruction
November 8, 2019 § 10 Comments
I tried to figure out how much I’ve been riding since I quit driving back on August 17. Closest I could figure was, “A bunch.”
But how bunchy?
Before going to bed I whipped out my analog Stravver and wrote down the most recent rides I could remember. I’m sure I’ve left several off, but the total is about 620 miles in the last 15 days, or a touch over 300 miles/week. It also leaves off my epic commute to Rancho Cucamonga and a slew of other rides before that.
That is nothing if you are Napoleon Moore, who rides 100 miles+ per day, or if you’re Shirtless Keith, who logs over 18,000 miles a year.
But if you are me, it is a lot of miles and it means you are tired and dragging around bags under your eyes that look like you’ve lost a bad fistfight. I suspect it’s because I’m slow, old, weak, riding a heavy bike with fat tires and lugging a Kryponite + cable, but it’s probably also got to do with the fact that in addition to all that bike riding there is a pile of work that goes along with it. Another thing about commuting in LA: You hit lots of lights and so there is a bunch of starting.
Today I only have about 30 miles on the menu, but I’ve got 150+ coming up over the weekend. I don’t hate my bike yet, but I look at her differently.
Here are some #fakestats:
- Daily calories burned: 3,000-5,000
- Daily hours on bike: 2-6.
- Daily calories consumed: As many as I can get in my mouth.
- Tires replaced: 1.
- Flats: 0.
- Mechanicals: 1/2, when my rear derailleur got badly out of whack and Boozy P. had to fix ‘er up.
- Number of times hit in shin by rock: 1.
- Late appointments: 0.
- Miserable commutes: 0.
- Cups of ice cream at Union Station: 6
- Bicycle falling off incidents: 0.
- Pants waist: 30.
- Weight: Nothing fits.
- Riding lights: 9.
- Regrets: 0.
END
Cycling in the South Bay 
0 falling off incidents. That is the right number to achieve. Keep it there.
Everybody falls off eventually!
Used to work with a fellow who had piloted a gunship in ‘Nam. I had asked him why he didn’t become a pilot after the war. He said a helicopter is like a bicycle in that you go along fine most of the time, but eventually you crash.
So I became a cyclist.
I should have been a helicopterer.
i almost commuted to work today… keep at it!
There is no almost … wait, there is!
Ebike for the big commutes to avoid burnout? I have 1 that i ll ride when i don t feel like beating myself up for an errand, and its great. Torque sensing retrofit is cheap and awesome. I prefer to ride without a motor usually but when i have to haul the kids, or i m wrecked its the best thing. I decided to never buy another ICE product again a couple years ago, and ebikes can bridge the gap fairly well. I m also quite focused on the maintenance on our remaining Car after my personal car died.
I will get an ebike some day. But not today!
When I got my current 80 mile/week commute (plus modest recreation), I was surprised that I did not go back to my old high school / svelt body, but just ate more. Now I know – double that, and …
Haha!