The roads up here are totally gravel covered for most of the winter, so it’s really hard to get a ride in. However, Sara and I signed up for Cycle Oregon this year, so we had to start figuring out ways to leave winter not completely out of shape. We landed on X-country skiing. And it’s awesome.

I took Cameron up yesterday, towing him behind me in his chariot while he slept, and I went for 4.2 miles. Which, considering I started this in late January, and I haven’t gone for two weeks because I’ve been sick, is pretty friggin good if I do say so myself. Here’s the route…turns out if I throw my bike GPS into the back of the Chariot it keeps track of the route pretty well.

As I get older, it seems that I start caring less what people think about me.  It’s not in the, "dude, I’m so cool, I’m wearing this T-shirt by a band you’ve never heard of," way, but more in the, "I completely realize I’m going to look like a fool, but my comfort just trumps that."

The first hump was probably the spandex cycling pants.  Sure, you may look cool in a rarefied group of people, but the vast majority of people look at you and chuckle, if you’re lucky.  Next came the recumbent bike.  Sara inherited my old one, so I’ll write more about the new fancy one later. 

Most recently came these sandals, inspired originally by an article in BoingBoing.  I inherited annoying foot issues from my Dad (which I will lovingly pass on to Cameron…circle of life baby) including a big toe that kinda wants to point up, and arches that are so high that my footprint is made up of the front of my foot, and then the heel…they aren’t connected.

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So, I was all ready.  Water, panniers for my business PO Box, yeah, I’m sure I didn’t forget anything.  Until, after stopping to give a guy bad directions, I jumped on the pedals again, and the rear wheel came out from under me.  Huh.  Turns out the rear wheel quick release was gone.

I had taken it off to use it on the recumbent for awhile, but never put it back on.  Bad move.  I turned around immediately and rode back super-slowly.  Bad day, bad ride.  No injuries, but I didn’t get to go very far.

sup