Tuesday morning Biking

[threadwalker]

Sally(1) and I took BART to Orinda and we went up Wildcat Canyon.

Don't know what it is? 40+ minutes of uphill switchbacks climbing the Berkeley hills to the peak.

I am stunned I was able to do it. And I had a backpack full of food and clothes, too. So I was 10+ lbs heavier than usual. I rock. And it was another gorgeous ride.

Some chick cyclist fell over onto a rock and into some weeds when she tried to stop at the stop sign above Tilden. It was pretty much a graceless topple. Yeah, that was me too. More like "meeting a rock" than "rocking out". My heart rate was 180+, think-brain had shut down, and lizard brain forgot how to get my feet out of my pedals. Yup, I've got it in spades in the enthusiasm department, but not much going in the skill department. Sally is fine, I'm scraped and bruised.

The ride down Shasta was exciting. I was going too fast and my rear tire almost skidded out from under me when I tried to stop. That got me to slow down.

Overall: Orinda BART station to Work: 1 hr, 15 min.
Woot Factor: getting to the top
Techno-comment: Love the Heart Rate monitor. Glad I finally read the directions so I could use it.
Next bike upgrade: new computer. My onboard AI system can only handle one function at a time, ie. time or odometer or speedometer or trip mileage. And it chooses which one it's displaying at its own discretion. I knew how fast I was creeping up the hill until it decided to start telling me what time it was. Nice, but not super-useful when I'm trying to gauge improvement.

We think this will be our Tuesday morning routine.

Need to figure out when I have to leave so I can catch a BART train that permits bikes. Cuz I won't have the time to repeat the trip to go home. (yet!)

(1) my sturdy ride.

Comments

[aastg.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I do know Wildcat Canyon. Between the ages of about 12 through 20 I knew the northwest end like the back of my hand: it borders East Richmond Heights and El Cerrito. Tough hiking though - good for you!

[ossobucco.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I miss BART. And I miss California. And I miss Shasta. I used to hike there all the time.

"Who is this?" you're asking. A random LJ traveller -- I hit the "random journal" button and landed here. Hi! :-)

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

greetings from California!

[ossobucco.livejournal.com]

Thanks -- today is a sunny, warm California day here in Ottawa, Canada, so it feels like "home".

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

I have been to Ottawa a few times, but only fall/winter.

However, I used to spend my summers in Syracuse, which is only a few hours away, right? It was a LOT more humid than what I'm used to.

Your posts are pretty funny. You should stop challening the maximum flush capacity of the toilette. As an engineer who's worked with a lot of utilities, it's entertaining to clog/break things, but always a bummer to have to fix them.

[ossobucco.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. God. You came to Ottawa in the winter? Are you crazy?!? Hell, I'm a native and I can barely stand it! Gimme a Palo Alto winter any day of the week.

I haven't flushed anything untoward down the toilet in awhile. Thanks for reminding me. I miss plumbers' butt. I have to pay good money to indulge that particular fetish.

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

They were business trips. I love to travel, so it was okay. Visiting bad weather is fine because you know you're going home. I am spoiled and I love it.

hahaha! Bay Area weather is "non"-weather to everyone born elsewhere. I'm not sure Palo Alto has winter. It rains a bit, sometimes there are flood warnings, the eucalyptus drop their leaves, and people forget how to drive their mercedes as they slide through redlights. Does that really count as weather?

[ossobucco.livejournal.com]

I lived in Palo Alto for two years -- and always had a giggle when my son's teachers thought it was "too cold" when it was in the 50s. Some kids came to school in little ski jackets. My kid was trying to rip off his shirt. LOL.