Rained today... I'm okay... in case you were worried...

So, since I was running early this morning* I stopped by Starbucks for a Triple Espresso on Ice** and to sit and read my book***. Anyhow, I was sitting there about 10 minutes when BOOM! PSSSH! the skies of Kansas let loose with all their fury. It had been lightly misting on my way in but my first thought was "Crap, I shouldn't have stopped 0.25 miles from work..."

Luckily, though, it tapered off to a mild sprinkle before I needed to brave it to get to work on time. I was damp, but dried off in no time.

Doesn't my life sound exciting? ;)

* Due to getting up earlier and getting faster.
** Even my just-turned-three son knows I take my Espresso iced, he corrected a barista the other day when she handed me me "espresso" (it was iced, she just didn't say it was iced when she handed it to me).
*** My reward for getting up earlier and getting faster.

Missed a Day

Well, I successfully made it through all of Bike to Work Week. Monday was a vacation day (recovering from my wife's graduating on Sunday), Tuesday I rode, today... not so much... I was completely exhausted when my alarm went off. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

5 out of 5!

Well, I successfully rode in all five days this week. Of course, shortly after I got to work I had to ride home to meet the AC guy. Unfortunately it was a 15 min fix... so my buddy at work said he'd cover so I didn't have to come back in. Also, I've ridden quite a few errands this week too.

Day 4 - Rode In

One more day to knock out the week. My leg's are feeling the fact that I hadn't biked for a while and they haven't had a rest day. Of course, my routes not that long so they should adapt fast.

Day 3 - Yay Me!

If you sound it out, the title rhymes. Anyhow, I was exhausted but rode in anyway. In reality, it's my own fault I'm exhausted. My wife and I have been staying up rather late and I've not been getting enough sleep to really recover... however it shouldn't take long for my body to adapt. I consider pushing through today to be part of the adaptation.

One More Thing (or maybe two, depends on how you look at it)

Wore my Nau pants that I've had for a while as well as my Rockport / Adidas Torsion Banstead dress shoes. The shoes were actually really comfortable on the bike... the pants not so much. The material is much thicker than the Rail Riders Backcountry Khakis, also they have a DWR coating. Altogether, in this weather they were really hot even while rolled up. So, the RRBKs still reign surpreme for roll-to-knicks length pants.

BtWW - Day 2

2 days down, 3 to go. I met another bike commuter today. Tim, he works at the Garmin satellite building and he was able to show me a couple of shortcuts / off-the-beaten-path routes that really helped. Coming home they're not quite as handy as they are going to work, but going to work they help a lot.

Chilly Start to Bike Week

Bit chilly this morning, but wearing a wind breaker actually made me warm / sweat towards the end of my commute. I've been working on a couple of guys in the office and hoping they'll manage to ride into work this week. However, they'd have much longer commutes than I would.

Oh, and I may have found a nicer route to work... it was pretty good today. The only part that I didn't like was that I had to ride the sidewalk on 135th in order to access the bike trail (the access is only on the south side)


View Route to Work v2 in a larger map

My Favorite Ride to Work Pants

Rail Riders Backcountry Khakis

From the MFR, my interpretations in italics

Soft Oxford Textured Allure' Nylon
= No Wrinkles @ the Office when I roll the legs back down
Even Waist Sizes
= Better than generic S/M/L
Jean Fit
= Me Like
Articulated Knees
Gusseted Crotch
= WIN!!!
Deep Front Pockets
= Stuff is on top of your thighs so it doesn't pinch your hip
2 Zippered Back Pockets
= No snagging the saddle
Dries Instantly and Packs Small
Great Fit!
= Especially since they come in 30" inseam for my short-ish legs!

I snagged these on sale last fall, but I'm going to be paying full price for another pair.

FYI - I ride to work in my "office clothes". Pants like these + Merino Shirts + Ibex Balance Running Shorts is all I need.

2 Days & Counting

Today was a bit chilly, but man I'm glad I rode in. I plan on getting in a full week even before Bike to Work Week.

New House = New Route!

Okay, so I've not been posting because I've not been riding. There are good and bad reasons for this. The bad is that I've not been motivated, the good is that MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE! We got a heck of a deal too... anyhow, with the new house comes a new route and with Bike to Work Week coming up, I figured I ought to get off my duff. Anyhow, the ride was great, part of it was on the Olathe Extension of the Indian Creek Trail... anyhow, the route works great. I'm linking to it in my links on the side bar and, if this works. Embedding it in this post.


View Route to Work (Public) in a larger map

PS - Google maps is placing it at ~6 miles vs ~ 5 miles by car.