UP Junction Hollow

Sunday I rode after being cooped up in the office all day doing data entry.... just as it was about to rain. I took the raincape and endured a downpour on the South Side Eagle trail. The humidity was atrocious after that. I found that my buff works wonderfully as a humidity-barrier as far as protecting my hair from poofing up.

Rode out to the Waterfront, turned around and headed to Oakland for dinner with Hubby, but not before running into Yale again. He was wearing a "TRAIL MONITOR" shirt, and I imagine he was heading over to the Steel Valley trail where he's a board member.
I headed UP the Junction Hollow/Schenley Park trail for the first time. I anticipated a rough climb, but when I got to the top, I said "That's it? That wasn't too bad!"

I dined with Hubby at his favorite Indian buffet, left in another storm and rode back into town and made my way through the gauntlet of Arts Festival goers.

The raincape selfie

I think I like the sleeveless jersey. Ventilation!

The road grime splatters well in the rain.

An Arts Festival recycling receptacle.

Art Festival Obstacle Course!

This, at the bottom of a hill will cause a crash.

The result of my crash: tis but a scratch.

The Bike MS- Escape to the Lake

This is my employer's major fundraiser, a 2-day 150 mile bike ride from the Pittsburgh area up to Lake Erie with an over night in Meadville or Edinboro. This year I was given a new task that I'd never been asked to do in previous years: Team photographer! Well, secondary team photographer. Sometimes, the teams' photos aren't wrapped up before the photographer needs to run to the start line and get shots there as they let the first waves out. So, I was needed to finish the teams off. Normally, I'd be filing waivers, which caused an enormous crick in my neck from two hours of tilting my head to one side to look at the rider numbers on each waiver. Very boring, tedious and painful work that didn't allow me to even glance up at the cyclists. I actually had to fill out an 'injury report' because I couldn't move my neck one year after a morning of waiver filing. Wow.

This year, I actually KNEW some of the riders and was delighted I'd get a chance to interact with them. Oh joy!

I might need a zen mantra too if I were riding
150 miles in *JEANS*.

Team Thick Bikes!

After a long day, I was able to get over to Point State Park for the 'I Heart My Bike' theft prevention program with Bike PGH!
They record your bike's serial number and vital info with a photo of you and your trusty steed in case it gets stolen.

It also makes an awesome Facebook profile picture.

A Noob, a NewYorker and a New Climb

I must look like I know where I'm going. 
I went out for a morning ride Wednesday and encountered a young man new to commuting by bike on the North Shore. He asked me how to get over to First Ave. Ironically, I was going that way and offered to show him. He expected there to be a connector between Point State Park and the Mon Wharf, but I explained that was in the planning stages. He said he was reluctant to get out in traffic and rode the sidewalks mostly up the Boulevard after he got his bearings. *cringe*
I've never been on the Eliza Furnace Trail early in the morning, so it was interesting to see all the Oakland and South Side commuters coming in to town and observe the makeup of this group. Some had lots of bags and panniers, some were already dressed in work clothes.
On the EFT I saw BurghMan rollerblading. We gave each other hearty greetings. I've only seen him in his full suit and cape once. He was just wearing a BurghMan tee shirt today. I like the fact that he wears a rear-view mirror on his helmet and waves you past on his left. Most rollerbladers couldn't give a hoot about anyone trying to pass them and weave all over the trail with earbuds in.

Under the Smithfield Street Bridge, a man on a nice road bike stopped me and asked how he could get to the GAP, he explained with an accent that he was here on business from NewYawk and wanted to ride our trails while he had down time. I gave him his options and wished him well. Afterwards, I was kicking myself for not giving him my BikePGH map! Arrgh!

On my way back between the Science Center and the Casino, there were two idiots on motorized dirt bikes. I gave them a "WTF are you doing?!" gesture and I hope I don't see them again.

On my agenda for the day was to practice riding up 18th Street on the South Side after work. It was part of an upcoming Critical Mass ride that I was considering going on. I knew 18th Street was steep and looking at the altitude stats for that climb raised an eyebrow with me. I would definitely need to practice this climb.
Then, I saw a Facebook post by an experienced, strong rider that said "I was huffing and struggling up 18th Street". Jeez, what am I getting myself into?
I looked at the Strava info on the 18th Street climb vs a climb I'm used to: Polish Hill.

• 18th Street is 1.1 miles of 6% grade
• Polish Hill is .4 of a mile on a 7% grade.

I calculated this would take 16-17 minutes to climb going by my Polish Hill time.
Dang, this is going to be hard.

The weather was set to downpour on me. I rode over to the OTB cafe in my raincape and pondered the rain and if it was such a good idea to ride an unfamiliar hill in a thunderstorm or, at best, a hard rain. I noshed on seitan wings safely ensconced in the back of the bar and watched the baseball game and stalled while the storm blew over.

Encouraged by "Riders on the Storm" and a radar map with not so many red blobs on it, I set out to climb that hill.

I didn't feel a burn in my legs until I stopped to take a picture of the South Side Slopes mural:



My time was 14:41. It wasn't so bad a climb, actually. It just took forever...

I'm not in last place!

If it were warmer, I might not be saying that. The downhill was... WHEEEEE!

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.

_______________________________________________

*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.

The Pampered Cyclist and mitzvahs

I hadn't ridden yesterday and needed to get out, badly. I started at base and headed out to Lawrenceville via the Millvale/Heritage trail. I found a pile of decorative hunks of cement under the 40th St bridge. I wondered where they came from.

I had wanted to stop at the Bead Bazaar, but they weren't open just yet. I stood in a laboriously long line at LaGourmandine. I finally got my croissant. I also got a almond croissant with the intentions of bringing it home to Hubby. But, after having a taste of it, there was little chance this bit of deliciousness was going to last long in my possession.

Rode through the Allegheny Cemetery

Many Memorial Day flags still present.

A welcome sign at the top of the hill on a warm day.

I rode out to the Waterfront after stopping at REI to check out the clearance stuff and re-fill my water bottles.

PEDICURE!

best. red. ever.

 I realized I hadn't received a professional pedicure in probably 2 years and I was in dire need of it. They apply some sort of callous melter and wrap your feet in hot towels while the chemicals eat away at your dead skin and then they take a thing that looks suspiciously like a cheese grater and file away copious amounts of excess flesh. For someone with bad knees and flexibility issues, paying someone to attend to your feet is a glorious thing. Having a man massage your calves and feet if freaking awesome too. Why on Earth have I not treated myself to this in recent years?
My only disappointment was that they didn't have my favorite, signature OPI color: "I'm Not Really A Waitress".  









I noticed there are far fewer Eagle Watchers. Has everyone had their fill? Bored with the birds? Too hot today?

Stopped at Big Dog to try iced coffee

I discovered I don't care for iced coffee. Perhaps, like hot coffee, it's an acquired taste. I may try it again with more cream and sugar.

Mitzvah #1
On the way back, a family was riding towards me and the older boy, probably 6 years old took a nasty spill. Kids that age are still learning that if you yank the handlebars too much in one direction, you're gonna have a bad time.
I offered my supply of band aids to his parents, wished them luck with the wailing child and scurried away quickly from the screeches of "I'm bleeding!! I'm bleeding!!"
Note to self: restock the bike bag with band-aids.
Mitzvah #2
I also zipped past Yale and waved to him as he was pumping up a tire for some kids.

I noticed a tandem coming towards me on the North Shore, they always catch my eye. Oh, the front rider has an Escape to the Lake jersey! What? He's waving to me? Hey, it's Chris and Elizabeth!
I wonder if they'll be riding the tandem next weekend.


27.3 miles, much self-pampering, kicked down to the top 40 in the NBC and a nice sunburn on my back... because I can't reach back there with the sunscreen!