Back to work

Well I went back to work. I'm now working second shift at Netapp. Pretty cool place to work. So my miles should be much more consistent now that I am riding 10 miles each way. I actually started October 27th!!

The other part of the American Tobacco Trail

Ok so today I did as I said I was going to do. Go And search out the other end of the ATT. So now that I have done this I have ridden the whole thing now. This part I was on today is the oldest part but they just recently repaved it so it was a nice ride. A little annoying the way they have you cross roads. Sometimes they have you crossing right at busy intersections. I saw two different people not even stop. One that tried to keep going when I was waiting for traffic. She did stop but not till she had entered the road. Now tell me again about how these paths are supposed to be safer when people don't want to stop at the road crossings? Just amazes me the way people ride their bicycles. Here are pictures from today.

At least this trails ends somewhere. Just within site of the Durham Bulls Ballpark.

I'm Still Here

I haven't posted here for so long.I lost my job 7 months ago and now I have just been riding. You would think that with all this time on my hands I would ride more. But that is not the case. Oh I'm riding further on each ride just not 5 days a week. My miles are way off to say the least. Not working does depress you and sometimes I find I need to force myself out and ride. I need to stay on top of this so that when I go back to work I will be able to actually get there. Though in 7 months I've had 5 interviews but I haven't been hired. I'm always being told someone more senior then you was hired. I mean I have 18 years experience as a UNIX System Administrator. What they really mean is we found someone much younger and willing to work for much less. I just want to know when did I become old? It just snuck up on me. That is what I get for staying in shape. I don't feel old and I don't act old but I did become old. Well I rode some of the American Tobacco Trail today and here are some pictures. Oh and I have 45,265 miles on the bike now.

A picture of what the trail generally looks like in Wake County, Chatham County, and Durham County.

The trail must have ended at the last road crossing but there was no signs or anything just a sign that said authorized users only so I figured it continued on. I was wrong.

Just down the hill here it become impossible for me on my road bike to continue. Turns out that the trail did end back at the road. If you ride a couple of miles on the highway you can pick the trail back up for a few more miles I think. Maybe tomorrow I'll look for the other end.

40,000 Mile mark

I reached 40,000 miles on this bike last night!

Wednesday Morning

Well I passed 37,000 miles on this bike yesterday. And today marks the Seventh year that I have riden this good old Trek 520. Let see what have I replaced in seven years?

2 Front Wheels
1 Rear Wheel
Numerous Chains ( Meaning I did not keep count )
4 Sets of Cleats
4 Pairs of Shoes
Gallons of lube.
3 Sets of Handlebar tape

I'm getting two years out of each of my tires now. Thanks to my rotation schedule of Putting the new tire on the front and puting the older front tire on the back to replace the rear. Of course now that I have these perfect tires they are discontinued so who knows what will happen with the next tire I get. Best thing was this tire was only 15.00. Now I'll need to find another tire I like.

Anyway the stats for this morning ride:

13.01 Miles
48:36 Time
16.06 Average Speed
79 Cadence
31.08 Max Speed

Friday Morning

Cold ride but not as cold as yesterday.

9.82 Miles

37:24 Time

15.76 Average Speed

78 Cadence

32.54 Miles

36,241 Total Miles on Bike

Friday Morning

Quite cold today only 15F. that may not seem cold to some but when your normal Summer temps top 105 every year this is cold. Milestone today passed 36,000 on this bike this morning.

9.81 Miles
39:24 Time
14.95 Average Speed
78 Cadence
26.40 max Speed
Total Miles on this bike, Trek 520, 36,004

Monday Morning

Well I broke another chain this morning. Considering I have only broken a total of 3 chains in 35 years this year has turned out to be a bad year for me and chains. This is my second chain this year. So 34 years 1 chain this year 2 chains. The broken chain almost caused me to crash. I was just cresting a hill and I had been standing pounding on the pedals when suddenly the bike front end went all squirrelly and after I regained control I realized that my feet just spun very easily. I must have broke it as I was sitting down but it caused me to push the handlebars one one side sending me down the road very precariously. The good thing was that I did not go down, did not bang down on the top tube, and I had my trusty tool set with me so that I could fix the chain and keep going.

Well I had 3,691 miles on this chain. It will be replaced tonight!!

Today's stats:

Miles: 9.74
Time: 36:07
Average Speed: 16.18
Average Cadence: 76
Max Speed: 29.57
Total Miles on bike: 35,794

Monday Morning

9.78 Miles
34:15 Ride time
17.14 Average speed
31.09 Max Speed

Well I finally changed out my rear tire. I combined it with a lot of work that was needed. I had a really in bad shape rear wheel that needed to be replaced along with my front brakes so I did all that work this past weekend. Here is the history of that rear tire.

Total miles on tire 10,876.97 Miles
Originally placed on front wheel on 9/14/2006
Moved to Rear wheel on 11/01/2007 with 5,437 miles on it.
Rode it another 5448.74 Miles while on the rear wheel.
So I rode on that wheel since 9/15/2006 which is 2 years 1.5 months with no flats!

Thursday Morning

11.77 Miles
41:30 Ride Time
17.02 Average Speed
32.54 Max Speed

As you can see to the left I have 10506.91 miles on the rear tire. I have not had one flat in all those miles either. Not bad for a $10.00 tire. Of course this is 10/09/2008 in the morning. The chart to the left is generated from my home web site so when I enter my rides into my system at home the totals show up here when the page loads. So after I enter this evenings ride it will be higher.

Tuesday Morning

Well I finished out last month with 707 miles for the month.

13.03 Miles
45:41 Time for ride
17.12 Average Speed
34.04 Max Speed

Thursday

Well last night I went past 33,000 miles on my Trek 520! Still love the bike. In my opinion it is the best made hands down. I have also added some stuff to make some updates here automatic. The bicyle totals area is now being generated from my personal website every time this page loads. So once I enter my ride info into my database it shows up here too!

Wednesday

Broke a link on my chain today but it was a good break. Only broke once side and I was able to turn around and head home limping all the way. Rode easy so as to not snap the chain since it only had a one sided link in the chain. When the bike shop opened I went and bought a new drive train. Changed out the parts that they actually had and now while I wait on the middle chain ring I am riding the large chain ring. Not the best situation but better then not being able to ride. Hopefully it will be here in a day or two.

14.68 Miles
15.58 Average Speed
56:32 Ride Time
28.63 Max Speed

Monday Bike To Work Week Day #1

Crummy start to the week. It is much cooler, requiring a sweatshirt, and damp. But then again it is Monday and this year Mondays have not been the best. Other then that it was a nice ride.

9.82 Miles
17:39 Average Speed (Tail wind)
33:53 Time to ride
30.84 Max Speed

Friday Evening

The weather has been real nice lately. Cool in the mornings where I still need a longsleved shirt sometimes still a sweatshirt. But the afternoons have been getting warmer again tee shirt weather.


8.63 Miles
34:20 Time for ride
15.09 Average Speed
25.39 Max Speed

Monday Morning

Cold this morning again. Only 38 degrees out.

9.86 Miles
40:57 Time
14.44 Average Speed
28.74 Max Speed

Nice picture from my neighborhood showing the trees are blooming and spring is just around the corner!

Friday Morning

Nice ride this morning. Temperatures have been rising all week. It was about 45 this morning. Been in shorts from Tuesday. Afternoons have been better in the high 60's low 70's. I hope this weather hangs around from now on. But knowing how it is it won't. It is the nature of the weather beast.

9.85 Miles
35:59 Time to ride
16.43 Average Speed
32.30 Max Speed

Thursday Morning

A good ride this morning a bit cold and windy but fun none the less.

12.00 Miles
50:47 Time
14.18 Average Speed
27.59 max Speed
80 Average Cadence

Monday Morning

Cold this morning 30 degrees. But uneventful

9.72 Miles
38:18 Time for ride
15.22 Average Speed
27.73 Max Speed

A picture on Avent Ferry Rd By Food Lion heading towards Centennial Campus

Tuesday Morning

Nice ride a bit warmer this week. 47 degrees. So I was able to wear shorts again.

12.24 Miles
47:05 Time
15.60 Average Speed
34.98 Max Speed