cogdogblog

Back In the Saddle

Completely unrelated to technology... Today, after two months of excuses and ignoring the messages from Mirror Mirror on the Wall, I got back on the bicycle for my 11 mile commute to work.

And today's weather was so... optimal? Here in Phoenix we are expecting a record high of 112 F, and once you add in the summer moisture lurking in the air, plus the car fumes it feels something like 192 degrees. Actually the morning was quite comfortable, at 6 AM it was only 87 and believe it or not, that felt cool while the sun was still hiding on the horizon.

This morning I was only cut off twice by large SUVs, drivers completely oblivious to anyone in their wake, about an average rate. And a bonus- I had an opportunity to deal with a driver who was convinced the world was his ash tray-- waiting at a red light to cross a busy intersection, I could see the driver of a van waiting to turn left was almost at the end of his cigarette. Surely enough, we dropped his smoking butt 18 inches from where I was standing, and I got to say, "Excuse me! Excuse me! I think you dropped something, do you want it back?"

I cannot repeat his reply.

The real test is the ride home, when it will still be about 110, the road radiating enough heat to cook a meatloaf. If there are no blog posts tomorrow, I might have disappeared into the hot asphalt.

Seriously, I do some of my best thinking while pedaling, and feel great about stretching my brain, getting some aerobic activity, and not using up natural resources.

And the real test- will I ride tomorrow?