Trendy things: Hi-Viz is cool with the kids

Made the rounds at the Waterfront and got more "Get on the bike trail!!" directions.

I'm noticing a trend amongst those who blurt out this type of advice or beep at me:

• On their way to McDonald's.
• On their way to GetGo for smokes.
• In a pickup truck.
• Looks like a Duck Dynasty or Honey Boo Boo cast member.

*Shrug* Just observations.


Another trend I'm noticing is how popular hi-viz has become with the kids. From sneakers to clothing.

Since I fit into a youth large (essentially a women's medium), I decided to shop in the boys section of a department store today when I saw a large number of brightly colored wicking clothing. You'll often find me scouring the men's departments for smalls and the kids' racks for larges. It's all the same.
The good thing is, I don't feel quite so dorky blinding people with my clothing.


New unfinished mural spotted!

Tangents, jerks, saddle sores and flobby arms

I rode over to the Strip in the morning to re-stock my fruit baskets.

Long-winded fruit/food tangent commences:

I went nuts with the pears and got 3 different types. I've really developed a taste for pears in the past year; prior to that, I wanted nothing to do with pears. I'm weird that way. Hubby is always commenting about my proclivity to add new and exciting things to my list of things that I like to eat and drink. I'm adventurous that way. I love spicy things, horseradishes, odd relishes. I even developed a love of whiskey recently thanks to Terry.
Yeah, I know... pears aren't all that spicy or adventurous, but it freaks Hubby out: "Hey, I like pears now." "But, I've never seen you eat a pear in all the years we've been together." "Yep, I like pears. Find me pears."
Hubby does most of the grocery shopping, loves to bake... and I fix the toilets, hook up the DVD player, computers and maintain my own bike. We have a bit of role reversal going on there.

Tangent over. You're welcome.

I had some issues with motorists though:

WTF, dude?

Not cool, Massachusetts plate #585 VC7!

Grrr.

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This happens to me every time I try to cross or observe other pedestrians trying to get across this intersection.

OK, I'm not sure if he IS in fact, going through a red light, but he's failing to yield!

I need to study the lights being given to traffic more closely. I wonder if they're getting a red arrow, or just a yellow arrow? Either way, traffic constantly fails to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk who have the walk signal. This would make a perfect intersection for a sting to net the scofflaws endangering pedestrians.

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*tap**tap* Is this thing on? *tap**tap*

Officer nods and returns my morning greeting.

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On my lunch hour I happened upon the work of a riverbank cleanup! Thank you volunteers!

So many tires!

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A Farewell to (covered) Arms

For some time after my weight loss, I've been self conscious of my upper arms. I don't like baring them; I've got an extra-skin-issue there in addition to other places. Wearing sleeveless things was something I shied away from. I needed to cover my wrinkly flying squirrel arms. However, ever since I've been working out my arms, a temptation to go sleeveless grew and now that I ride more I'd like to ventilate as much as possible.

Yesterday, I rode in a sleeveless shirt and it felt great. After stopping at REI and finding sleeveless jerseys on the clearance rack, I said: "Screw it, I don't care if someone's eyes widen when I lift my arm."

Yes, I have flobby arms! Deal with it!

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Saddle, Sore.

http://mollyhurford.com/saddle-sore/

This was an evening seminar taking place at the new Kindred Cycles shop in the Strip.
I left after work and had time to kill before the class started. I needed food. Dinner? Where to go? The seminar was taking place at 25th and Penn, so many restaurants there! I decided on Salem's Market and Grill at 28th and Penn. I actually used to work in this very building... from 1992 to 2002. I spent many, many hours there. It's very odd to see a photofinishing factory converted into a market and cafeteria.
The building itself is wrapped in wonderful mural artwork.

When you get inside, there's the market on one side... this part of the building used to house giant paper and film developing tank machines and darkrooms. The cafeteria area contained offices and the cutting floor where all the prints were cut from large rolls of paper and matched up with their negatives.

My office was where a Good Humor ice cream freezer now sits

I got the falafel and smothered it in Cock Sauce.

I love, love, love Sriracha. The Oatmeal has an entire section for The Cock Sauce's devoted ones.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/sriracha

We're THAT serious about our Cock Sauce.

Whooops, another tangent about food. Sorry.

On there way there I encountered TWO MORE jagoff motorists!

Another failure to yield at the SAME intersection:

I'm in my brand new Beemer, I can't be bothered to yield!

And a right hook close call:

I see this one coming and slow down.

He's getting an earful from me at this point.

You, sir... are a jerk.

I went off on another tangent, didn't I? Yeah, sorry about that.

WARNING! GORY FEMALE ISSUES BELOW. TURN BACK IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH.

OK, so the seminar was great. This new bike shop is located in a gorgeous old restored building. They mainly sell Kona brand bikes. The couple that runs it is awesome. They provided beverages of all sorts. I had some Cabernet. 
Ms Hurford spoke mainly about preventing saddle sores... something I've not yet experienced and don't plan to. Chamois care and feeding, monthly issues, pregnancy, etc... I learned a few things about chamois care: too much soap is bad and to wash bike shorts inside out. 
Also, don't hang out in your sweaty bike shorts for hours after riding. Take 'em off. Well, change into something else... I mean... don't go nekkid. 

Stuff I already knew and adhere to:

• No underwear with bike shorts! You're gonna get intimate with your chamois, get used to going commando.
• Never double up on bike shorts.
• Going commando when you're off the bike is a good thing, you shouldn't keep your junk wrapped up tightly in moist drawers all the time. Let your stuff feel a breeze once and a while. A long skirt is great for commando days.
• Chamois cream is awesome. I've tried http://chamoisbuttr.com/her-chamois-buttr/ and http://www.madalchemy.com/products-page-2/products/chamois-creme/la-femme-chamois-creme/ both have lavender, which I'm utterly in love with.

HEY! I'M GOING TO GET EVEN MORE GRAPHIC, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO KEEP READING?

After reading her book, I see this is written from a racer's perspective and not geared (PUN!) towards a commuting or touring cyclist. Still, very helpful information in the book for all cyclists. There's a section on tampon use, which is suggested for racing cyclists and to tuck the string properly as to reduce 'rope burn'. I, on the other hand highly recommend a menstrual cup. You can go hours and hours without bothering with it. You just need to find a bathroom with soap and running water, which might prove difficult on some routes. I got one within the past year and wish I had started using it years ago. I love it and using it while cycling is a dream because generally, you spent less time messing with it. You only need to change it 2 times a day, maybe 3 or 4 on that heavy day. I don't worry about anything while it's in. The menstrual cup manufacturers have 2 sizes: one for those who have never given birth or under 40. The other size (the larger one) is for those who have given birth vaginally or are over 40. I had a dilemma when I read that and had to decide on a size. Sorry, but I refuse to believe that just because I'm over 40 that my vagina has become so stretched out... I mean, baby-head width? NO! I went with the smaller size and I'm thankful I did, it would not have fit properly had I chosen the larger size.

On the whole, a good experience. I'm very glad I went.

Murals in a new light and re-learning a route.

The Pirates have introduced a new set of animated introductions for each player and they incorporate Pittsburgh's murals!




Here's the one they use for Andrew McCutchen:

It's the "The Two Andys" mural on Smithfield Street. Awesome stuff.

I spent Sunday breaking free from the house. Hubby was due to be extra cranky as he had to do a 36 hour fast before an invasive procedure on Monday that I would have to drive him home from. I'll leave that up to the reader's imagination.

Before I rode, I cleaned and re-lubed Ruby's chain, cassette and rear derailleurs with the ParkTool cleaner. I was kicking myself for letting it go so long as I noticed rust and a squeaking noise when I rode last. The rust is gone now and there are no squeaks to be heard.

As I started out, I noticed the Buffleheads were back! I had the good camera too! Only a few of the original 20 remained, but they bobbed about a bit before taking flight for me.

First, I wanted to learn the route from Oakland down to the Eliza Furnace trail on the South Side. Vannevar and S had shown me once before, but I needed to go at it alone to truly learn it. It's a complicated route, some of it is marked and the rest, you're left to fend for yourself. I didn't do too badly. I missed my Neville St turn but eventually got there backtracking via side streets. I wound up heading up Juno St before I realized I'd gone the wrong way and turned around.

I made it!

On the way there I got some shots along Gold Way of the Troll under the Bridge.

Someone gifted him a 40

Then I went to a new favorite restaurant. Amazing Cafe.

Black rice and veggie curry with a Clean Green to wash it down. Nom.

After lunch I headed past the Eagles nest and a plethora of cyclists out on the trail. Wow, it was crowded! I got to the Waterfront and stayed on the roads as suggested.

I needed something to read while waiting for Hubby's procedure tomorrow. I parked at Barnes and Noble's bike rack and headed in for the bathrooms and book heaven.

What should I get? Re-read a classic? Stimulate some brain cells?

Nah. I like the movies better.

Mindless fluff! Yes!

Then I headed back to the South Side and REI for the bathrooms, a rest and a drink. I was sucked in by a pannier I'm hoping will work for baseball game trips. I also got a new bell. The cowbell fell off on my ride today and the bell I was using was barely audible.

It doubles as a tote bag.

I saw all manner of bike on my travels today: a tandem recumbent, a tandem (that I was impressed to see take a tight turn on one of our switchbacks), lots of regular recumbents and even a disabled persons' bike:

On my way back there were more birders checking out the Buffleheads and I stopped to chat with them, we remarked at how gorgeous they were.


No beeps other than a thank you beep when I let someone pass on Gold Way which is a very narrow street. My ongoing saddle and numb fingers issues are grating on my nerves (pun intended). The new gloves helped lessen but not eliminate the numb fingers.
33 miles on a lovely day.

Small, barely detectable ways.

Yesterday, I'd stopped listening to the negative voice in my head that said I shouldn't take E and S up on their offer to let me ride with them. The voice told me I'd just be the clueless noob that was slowing them down. So I asked if I could tag along on a ride, and these generous folks obliged.

S took us to an amazing mural tucked away in Lawrenceville.

E suggested a trip through Allegheny Cemetery. I've always wanted to go there. It's one of those places in Pittsburgh that every Pittsburgher should visit and I had been a bad Pittsburgher for far too long.
I could spend hours with the camera there. I did get these shots of a Civil War memorial.

After we left this stern maiden, there was a hill. A long hill. I had no idea where it would end, it seemed to keep going forever. I was struggling and just wanted to get off the bike and walk it as I had so many times as that tubby kid in Norwood unable to get up Seneca hill on her 3 speed. Another one of those voices in the back of my head started yelling at me with a bullhorn in drill sergeant fashion. She didn't say nice things and I think I heard her drop the f bomb. However, she got me up the hill. I was winded and slightly embarrassed by my lack of stamina; I dare to whine about this on the day of the Dirty Dozen.

I think I did as well as any noob might, I did miss a hand signal and caused E to endanger himself to get me herded safely across a lane. I also ride in the door zone far too much. I need to knock that nonsense off.
I also took note of my escorts' keen eye for dangers along the way, such as traffic control boxes that one might ride into and drainage holes and potholes. They silently pointed to them.

So, I learned much and made new generous friends, including meeting someone they'd stopped to see in Oakland for gadgetry goodies.

19 miles, a new record. A new, higher bar has been set.



View Saturday Nov30 2013 in a larger map


YTD Miles: 448
Today's BMI: 27.4