Tagged “musings”
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2021 Bikes
COVID doesn't make biking to work easier.
Year Distance Bikes to Work Start End Comments 2021 5090 km ? ? ? 2019 6956 km / 4322 miles 160 Feb 4 Dec 10 2018 6860 km / 4263 miles 144 Feb 19 Dec 5 2017 9258 km / 5753 miles 179 Feb 20 Dec 7 2016 7530 km / 4679 miles 158 Feb 29 Dec 8 2015 6393 km / 3973 miles 139 Mar 10 Nov 6 2014 5978 km / 3603 miles 124 Mar 21 Nov 7 2013 4377 km / 2736 miles 104 Apr 2 Nov 8 2012 5450 km / 3406 miles 120 Mar 13 Oct 26 2011 4763 km / 2977 miles 106 Mar 27 Nov 4 Bike to Work bike only 2010 4849 km / 3031 miles 95 Apr 7 Nov 3 2009 3356 km / 2013 miles 79 Apr 17 Oct 22 2008 3211 km / 2006 miles 73 Mar 30 Oct 16 -
Happy New Year! 2019 bicycling statistics
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2019 | 6956 km / 4322 miles | 160 | Feb 4 | Dec 10 | | 2018 | 6860 km / 4263 miles | 144 | Feb 19 | Dec 5 | | 2017 | 9258 km / 5753 miles | 179 | Feb 20 | Dec 7 | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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2018 Biking year in review
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2018 | 6860 km / 4263 miles | 144 | Feb 19 | Dec 5 | | 2017 | 9258 km / 5753 miles | 179 | Feb 20 | Dec 7 | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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2018 - Here we go again
Yep, so it's 2018, time to update the table.
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2018 | tbd | 3 | Feb 19 | tbd | | 2017 | 9258 km / 5753 miles | 179 | Feb 20 | Dec 7 | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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2017 Bike to Work
Final results!
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2017 | 9258 km / 5753 miles | 179 | Feb 20 | Dec 7 | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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Bikes to work....so far
The updated year so far.
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2017 | 8xxx km | 170 | Feb 20 | TBD | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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2017 Biking so far
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2017 | 7xxx km | 140 | Feb 20 | TBD | | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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Extreme Makeover - Home Edition - Erie
Interesting how the Ward Family's home on "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition" shows up at "8th wonder of the world" on Google maps.
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2016 Biking
(Assuming I don't bike tomorrow.)
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2016 | 7530 km / 4679 miles | 158 | Feb 29 | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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2016 Biking
Not completely official, but this is what is done so far
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2016 | 7503 km / 4662 miles | 158 | ? | Dec 8 | | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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Biking 2015
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2015 | 6393 km / 3973 miles | 139 | Mar 10 | Nov 6 | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3603 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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Random thoughts
After reading some blogs about minimalism and the like, I'm feeling the need to become more focused in life. I need to start thinking more about what I'm doing, rather than living under cruise control. Not to say that I haven't been doing that before, but that it's probably worth it to become more conscious about life.
Maybe I need to think more about blogging. Writing about these thoughts instead of thinking. Making a more tangible touch on the world rather than just thinking about things.
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Bike to work 2015 YTD
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2015 | ??? | 105 | Mar 10 | xx | | 2014 | 5978 km / 3623 miles | 124 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
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Bike to Work Roundup - 2012-2013
|+ Year |+ Distance |+ Bikes to Work |+ Start |+ End |+ Comments | 2013 | 4377 km / 2736 miles | 104 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 | | 2012 | 5450 km / 3406 miles | 120 | Mar 13 | Oct 26 | | 2011 | 4763 km / 2977 miles | 106 | Mar 27 | Nov 4 | Bike to Work bike only | 2010 | 4849 km / 3031 miles | 95 | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | | 2009 | 3356 km / 2013 miles | 79 | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | | 2008 | 3211 km / 2006 miles | 73 | Mar 30 | Oct 16 |
2013
- 4377 km / 2736 miles
- 104 bikes to work
- Started Apr 2, ended November 8
2012
- 5450 km / 3406 miles
- 120 bikes to work
- Started Mar 13, ended October 26
2011
- 4763 km / 2977 miles (bike to work bike only)
- 106 bikes to work
- Started March 27, ended November 4th
2010
- 4849 km / 3031 miles covered
- 95 bikes to work
- Started April 7, ended November 3rd
2009
- 3356 km / 2013 miles covered
- 79 bikes to work
- Started April 17, ended October 22nd
2008
- 3211 km / 2006 miles covered
- 73 bikes to work
- Started on March 30th, ended October 16th
- Covered the distance from Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA (and a bit into Illinois)
- Based on working every day for 52 weeks, this comes out to be 28% of the time! Actually, a bit higher if you take away holidays, vacations, etc.
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2011 Bike to Work Roundup
2011:
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4763 km / 2977 miles (bike to work bike only)
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106 bikes to work
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Started March 27, ended November 4th
2010:
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4849 km / 3031 miles covered
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95 bikes to work
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Started April 7, ended November 3rd
2009:
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3356 km / 2013 miles covered
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79 bikes to work
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Started April 17, ended October 22nd
2008:
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3211 km / 2006 miles covered
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73 bikes to work
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Started on March 30th, ended October 16th
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Covered the distance from Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA (and a bit into Illinois)
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Based on working every day for 52 weeks, this comes out to be 28% of the time! Actually, a bit higher if you take away holidays, vacations, etc.
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2011 Bike to work progress
2011:
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3690 km / 2300 miles
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80 bikes to work
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Started March 27
2010:
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4849 km / 3031 miles covered
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95 bikes to work
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Started April 7, ended November 3rd
2009:
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3356 km / 2013 miles covered
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79 bikes to work
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Started April 17, ended October 22nd
2008:
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3211 km / 2006 miles covered
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73 bikes to work
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Started on March 30th, ended October 16th
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Covered the distance from Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA (and a bit into Illinois)
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Based on working every day for 52 weeks, this comes out to be 28% of the time! Actually, a bit higher if you take away holidays, vacations, etc.
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End of the biking season for 2010, start for 2011
As 2011's bike to work season rolls around, here are the statistics for 2010's Bike to Work season:
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4849 km / 3031 miles covered
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95 bikes to work
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Started April 7, ended November 3rd
For 2009:
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3356 km / 2013 miles covered
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79 bikes to work
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Started April 17, ended October 22nd
For 2008:
* 3211 km / 2006 miles covered
* 73 bikes to work
* Started on March 30th, ended October 16th
* Covered the distance from Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA (and a bit into Illinois)
* Based on working every day for 52 weeks, this comes out to be 28% of the time! Actually, a bit higher if you take away holidays, vacations, etc.
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Happy New Year!
Have a safe, prosperous, and healthy new year!
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End of the biking season for 2009
Well, I gave up a few weeks ago. Here are the statistics for 2009's Bike to Work season:
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3356 km / 2013 miles covered
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79 bikes to work
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Started April 17, ended October 22nd
From 2008:
* 3211 km / 2006 miles covered
* 73 bikes to work
* Started on March 30th, ended October 16th
* Covered the distance from Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA (and a bit into Illinois)
* Based on working every day for 52 weeks, this comes out to be 28% of the time! Actually, a bit higher if you take away holidays, vacations, etc.
Looks pretty close. I think I could have started a bit earlier. I quit as late as I could due to the length of the days. Plus, I biked some extra distance to get the miles up!
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Last bike to work?
I just crossed the 2000 mile mark for the year. Very cool. With all the snow on the ground and the darkness lasting later into the morning and starting earlier in the evening, it's becoming more and more difficult to keep going. I'll refrain from declaring bike commuting season over for at least a few more days, but I'm rather pessimistic at this point.
As Dylan Thomas wrote:
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
A poem obviously written about bicycle commuting.
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Dean Kamen developing stirling engine powered vehicle...again
According to this article at Gizmag.com, Dean Kamen is working (yet again) on the revolutionary personal transport vehicle that runs on a stirling engine, powers a battery, and saves the world. Well, after the fiasco (?) that was the Segway, I'm not holding my breath. Sounds clever, though.
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Stuff that haunts me - Jim Bailey
Jim Bailey was a stuntman who appeared on "That's Incredible" in the early 1980s. His big thing was being dragged by cars while sliding on (I believe) titanium blocks, a shower of sparks flying behind him. On April 1, 1981, in Hawaii, he was killed when he fell from an airplane when the strap holding him under it broke.
The news reports:
Australian stuntman Jim Bailey, known as ”The Human Torpedo,” fell 500 feet to his death from an airplane while making a film for television Wednesday, authorities said.
Initially, authorities said Baily was performing for ABC-TV’s ”That's Incredible,” but the show's producer denied having any connection with the accident.
Witnesses, including members of the Maui Fire Department and the rescue unit, said Bailey, a resident of Brisbane, Australia, was suspended underneath a single-engine Ballanca by a strap and belt when the belt broke. He hung onto the strap for a few seconds before falling.’
The video of him holding on for a few seconds continues to haunt me. Moonbuggy's web page has the video, if you choose to be haunted as well.
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Recursive bedtime story
My son wanted a bedtime story. Here it is.
Once upon a time, there was a boy named William. He told his dad that he wanted a bedtime story. "Go to sleep," said his father. "Please?" asked William. "Oh, okay," said his father, "here it is."
Once upon a time, there was a boy named William. He told his dad that he wanted a bedtime story. "Go to sleep," said his father. "Please?" asked William. "Oh, okay," said his father, "here it is."
...
I did it three levels, and he got the idea.
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Frosty the Snowman = T1000?
When watching Frosty the Snowman tonight, it occurred to me that Frosty has the same physical properties as the T1000 from Terminator 2. When Frosty melted into a pool of water, Santa opened the door, cooled the air, and brought Frosty back to life.
Food for thought. Or not.
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Resolution: be a nuisance
This article on Planet Green brings up some very good points about improving the environment - or, less environmentally minded, the selection at your local store. I hadn't thought about using the suggestion box for a while. However, last year, I made a comment at our local grocery chain that I had wanted them to stock Orangina, an orange drink that is pure heaven. After a week or so, I did receive a call, and was told unfortunately that they didn't have a deal with that supplier. I was surprised, though, because I never really expected anyone to act on that information. I keep forgetting that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
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Blog action day - poverty
As today being "Blog Action Day" where, in theory, all bloggers pick a subject to write about, this year being "poverty", here are a few random thoughts of how to solve poverty.
Having traveled to India, I realize that poverty in India is different than in the United States. In India, people have a lack of food, cleanliness, and organization that people here have. However, besides the lack of food, people learn to live with poverty and the sort of anarchy that goes along with it. Folks are expected to live with their family in the same house, and to share the expenses of maintaining the house and the family.
Looking back, it seems that the value system is different. Here, where the family is disintegrating and people are expected to take care of themselves (i.e. you are expected to move out at around age 18), the expenses are much higher. The support system here isn't the same as in India, and it's purely a cultural phenomenon.
One other thing - people in the United States are always competing with their neighbors (i.e. "being better than the Joneses"). If people would stop being commercially driven to make purchases that are unnecessary because their neighbor (or "neighbors" on television) show how glamorous owning things are, then money would be spent on more important things. Like healthy food.
Of course, we are in a credit crisis, aren't we? Always trying to be better than the Joneses.
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India
I recently returned from a trip to India! It is an amazing country, with lots of things that are quite different from the US, but many things are the same. Here are some things that stick out in my mind:
- Coffee and tea are much stronger than anything I have ever tried. That must be why the Indians always mix milk with their drinks.
- Indian food is great...but after two weeks, it became quite repetitive. I guess that's the same for anywhere. The food wasn't as "hot" as I had expected (I was in Bangalore), and even somewhat bland from time to time.
- Disease is quite common. I spotted quite a few people with polio.
- Motorcycles are very common. The pollution is pretty intense. Biking and walking are methods of transportation for those who want to take their lives in their own hands, even more so than here.
- Cows and dogs are everywhere.
- The common language is English, not Hindi. I had practiced some Hindi for about a week prior to my trip, and it was useless in the area I was traveling.
- People are desperate for work. They find niches (housework, drivers, etc.) that you would never find in the US.
- Nothing looks the same. Cars, buildings, everything is customized into brilliant colors. After returning to the US, everything seems drab.
- Women are protected to the extreme with a parental-style culture. For example, if you are leaving work late, they will call you at home to make sure you arrived safely.
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Stuff That Still Haunts Me
Found a video of the death of stuntman James "Bullet" Bailey. He was a stuntman that you may remember from the 1980s TV show "That's Incredible!". He was the fellow that was dragged on titanium blocks behind a car, throwing sparks all over the place. I remember watching a documentary about his life and death by falling from an airplane when the strap holding him under the fuselage broke. The image of him holding onto the undercarriage still sticks in my mind.
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