Tuesday, December 31, 2013

NEW YEAR’S EVE ROAD-BIKE RIDE

One of the better sights during this morning's bike ride
There were only two of us on today's road-bike ride, Sandy S and myself.

From the car-park area, we rode our road bikes to Einstein's Bagel Shoppe in Weston, enjoyed a sandwich made with cheese, eggs and hot peppers (Spicy Elmo), rode through Weston, cut across a country road to Western Pembroke Pines and Miramar, and then rode on mostly sidewalks and trails back to the car-park, crossing I-75 via Sheridan Street.

This morning's ride was a fun end-of-the-year ride with a valued friend!

Monday, December 30, 2013

DAY BEFORE NEW YEAR’S EVE ROAD-BIKE RIDE

This morning’s group road-bike ride was typical of most of our weekday bike rides, meet at the meet-up spot in Cooper City, maneuver our way to Weston’s Einstein’s Bagel and Coffee Shoppe on Weston Road taking mostly back-roads and horse trails, BS each other over coffee and snacks at Einstein’s, and then ride back to Cooper City taking a different, more interesting route.

Today being a day when all the school children were out of school, the traffic was notably much lighter than regular weekdays. That’s a good thing!

The weather was ideal for bike riding: temp’ in the low seventies, cloudy with a slight mist in the air, and a northern breeze that kept us cool while waiting for traffic signals to turn green.

Thank you, Tom, Sandy, Stephen, Wally, Ron and Gary for another fun bike ride.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

WATER-BOY, MTB ESCORT BIKE RIDE


Christmas morning was a perfect time to go out for a training run and escort bike ride. With the exception of a couple of walkers walking around the lake, plus the security guy that was riding his golf cart around the mall’s parking lot, nary a person or car was to be seen. Correction, we did spot a couple that was going into the local pet shop to feed the animals. I wonder if they were paid double-time for their good-deed duties.

At 72 degrees, it was a superb time to be outdoors. The cool breeze coming in from the north added to the exceptional weather.

Too bad the ride and run was a short one, for I do believe my wife and I could have continued on for many more miles with smiles.
 

Monday, December 23, 2013

GREENWAY GROUP RIDE

After riding two miles on my road-bike to the meet-up spot to hook up with the guys, Rey, Ed, Greg, Stephen, Tom, Sandy, Gary and myself headed towards the bagel shoppe in Weston. The ride to the bagel shoppe is approximately 12 miles, give or take a few feet. This was Greg’s first ride since crashing his bike back in early September.

Ed, Rey and Gary headed back to the car park early while the rest of us stayed behind chatting about dentists, spiders and clowns, and anything else that crossed our demented minds. We also discussed tentative plans to ride the Withlacoochee Trail in Northern Central Florida this coming spring.

On the way back to the meet-up spot, the strong SE wind significantly reduced or normally blistering, record-setting speed. The wind on the New River Greenway was especially strong. The greenway runs parallel to Interstate Highway 595.

This morning’s ride was another fun ride with fun people.

May the force continue to be with us!
 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

MIRAMAR/BASS CREEK ROAD MTB RIDE

After leaving my estate shortly after 8 a.m., I headed south towards Miramar hoping that I would be able to find the Bass Creek Road Bridge that crosses Interstate Highway 75. I chose that particular bridge because of the wide bike lane and the fact that there are no on-ramps or off-ramps. Safety is my middle name!

I did find the bridge and I also found a wide asphalt bike trail that runs between 172nd and 178th Streets as well as Pines Boulevard and Miramar Boulevard. Large sections of the bike trail ran through a tropical island that reminded me of Gilligan’s Island. I believe I even spotted Ginger Grant walking her white poodle. Gilligan was nowhere to be found.


Heading home via Sheridan road was a breeze, a pesky breeze that was blowing in from the southeast between 15-20 mph. Thanks to the weekend traffic, which was surprisingly light, crossing the normally-busy Sheridan Street Bridge was easy as pie.

This was a lovely winter ride on my mountain bike, one that convinced me beyond a doubt that I live in a tropical paradise.

Did I mention that the average temperature was a comfortable 76F?
 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

WATERBOY BIKE RIDE


While my marathon-running wife did a training run/walk in the mall's parking lot and in CB Smith County Park, I rode my road bike alongside her.
 
Whenever she would ask for the water or Gatorade, I would ride beside her and then hand her whichever bottle she requested. 
 
Doing it that way, she doesn't have to carry a bottle in her hands while running.

 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

ATLANTIC OCEAN, A1A, 37-MILE MOUNTAIN-BIKE RIDE

Starting out early this morning with no particular direction or route in mind, I headed eastward from my home so the wind would be at my back during the second half of my solo mountain-bike ride. I figured there would be nothing better than to have the ocean wind pushing me westward whenever I began to tire during the backside of the sub-tropical 37-mile ride. I was right!
For the most part, on the way to the ocean I remained on Griffin Road’s undulating sidewalks, making many stops at cross walks, intersections and driveways. A lot of time was wasted at those!

After riding underneath Interstate 95, I rode on the hilly, scenic terrain that lies on the south side of the Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale Airport. I had a ball riding up and down the steep inclines.

From there, I switched to Old Griffin Road and then Stirling Road until I crossed over the Intercostal Waterway, which is a sight to behold all by itself. You can bet that I stopped midway on the bridge for some photos.

The return ride was on sidewalks as well, mostly on the north side of both Hollywood and Pines Boulevards. While riding through downtown Hollywood, it was apparent that I startled a table full of visitors whenever I rode somewhat close to their sidewalk breakfast table. That’ll teach them for not sharing their food with hungry me. At that point of the ride, I was famished.

The highlight of the ride, of course, was when I rode along Hollywood Beach’s famed beach boardwalk. People wearing scanty bathing suits soaking up the sun were in abundance, as were outdoor café’s full of breakfast goers and coffee sippers. 

There were also hordes of walkers, runners and bikers sharing the boardwalk with me. Who could blame them, for the temperature was steady at 80F with a comforting 10 mph ocean breeze. Perfect!

How can it be that the north is experiencing such bad weather, while here in South Florida we are enjoying weather to almost die for!?

Monday, December 9, 2013

ESCORTING MY WIFE WHILE SHE RUNS

While my wife did a training run in the mall's parking lot and the county park, I rode alongside her on my road bike handing her the water bottle whenever she was thirsty. 

I also rode up to her whenever she wanted a small piece of Shot Bloc, raspberry flavor.

Friday, December 6, 2013

GROUP ROAD BIKE RIDE

Bob hanging out in the LBS
Ron checking out a new bike
After biking three miles to the meet-up spot, I then joined Sandy, Tom, Ron, Gary and Stephen for a ride to Einstein’s Bagel Shoppe. After sitting and chatting for nearly an hour at the coffee shoppe, we rode back via some new bike lanes that I never knew existed. Ron went ahead to the LBS for some bike repairs, so the five of us briefly joined Ron at the bike shoppe whenever we were finished with our bike lane ride.

Two of our riders basically led our group this morning, with Tom taking the initial lead most of the way to the coffee shoppe and then Stephen taking over the lead from the coffee shoppe back to the meet-up spot.  It was Stephen that led us towards the newly discovered bike path.  Good job, Stephen and Tom!   

Our average pace to the coffee shoppe was something like 16.5 mph, but then our pace decreased considerably because of the narrow bike lanes and strong 18 mph east wind.

It was a fun ride with a bunch of great guys! Hopefully, we’ll do it again this coming Monday.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

HERALD BL’DG MTB RIDE

After working out in the gym for 45 minutes on most of the upper and lower body weight machines, I saddled up on my mountain bike for a casual 15-mile ride around the neighborhood. 

I rode on sidewalks and paths, no roads! It’s safer that way when cycling alone.

Noticeable in the self photo is that our weather was perfect for any type of outdoor activity.  Average temp: 78F  

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

TRAVELING, WEIGHT TRAINING AND RUN TRAINING


It’s amazing how lackluster one can begin to feel when they must defer working out due to various responsibilities of life, such as traveling to a faraway state to assist a family member, taking a couple of days off to undergo a needed epidural injection in the lower back area, and then sort of hang out at home to be with our new local resident that will be sharing her life with us in our humble home in the sub-tropics of South Florida.

We are overly pleased to have my youngest daughter, Diane, share every facet of her life with us under the same roof. She is an absolute pleasure to live with. She is currently re-acclimating herself to life in the tropics versus life near the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It’s goodbye snow, hello sunshine.

The epidural injection, which amounted to six injections in the lower back area, went really well. For sure, moving my body about without intense pain in a Godsend! Even though the pain and discomfort has now subsided, at least for now, I must realize that any physical exertion, like working out, must remain limited. I may not feel the pain, but the back is still a mess.

Despite the limited workouts the past 10 days, I’ve still been able to do two weight machine workouts in our fitness center and one short escort bike ride.  Come hell or high water, I am determined to keep up the gym workouts. The results of doing three weight machine workouts per week the past two months is beginning to show, on the scale and when gazing into the mirror.
 
Janet, on the other hand, has maintained her run-training in good fashion. While I did the traveling, she stayed home with the cats, did her run training, and also reported to work nearly every day that I was gone. She’ll be more than ready to tackle that half marathon in Disney World this coming January.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Run, Walk, Ride and Flat Tire

After being out of town for six day helping my youngest daughter move from Eastern Tennessee to South Florida, I volunteered to escort my wife on my mountain bike while she did a training run.

I ended up with a flat rear tire, so I had to pedal extra hard the last mile and a half (while there was still some air in the tire) to make it home without having to walk the bike.

Why is it always the rear tire!?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/411369932
 

Alternating run/walk routine with no specific time to walk or run!

My husband ended up with a flat tire on his mountain bike half way into my training run/walk. He handed me the water bottle and then hightailed it home while there was a little bit of air still in the tire.

My run went really well despite my escort having to leave me. Average pace for this run/walk was 13.33 minutes per mile. I’ll take it!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/411353158