Tag Archives: Bike

Good Evening!!

02 Thursday Jun 2022

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Like I said earlier today, I’m still here. I kept thinking that I needed to post something but as always, I got busy with something else. I’ve got a bit of bad news to share. The breathing problems that I’m having are not caused by my heart or fluid in my lungs. What’s worse is that they don’t know why I’m having these issues. I can’t walk into my home and climb the one flight of stairs without becoming winded.

Not so long ago I was riding my bicycle twenty miles a day. Not any more. My son now is riding my bike where he lives. At least my bike is getting some mileage on the tires.

365 Day Photo Challenge 145/365 “Weather Day”

27 Wednesday May 2015

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On a normal afternoon during this time I would be on my bike getting some mileage in.  Unfortunately this is what is happening as I write.  I’ve ridden twice in the rain and both times it didn’t end well.  The first time I wrecked, popped my front tire and scraped the skin off my left arm and my right knee.  The second time was a little worse when I bent the rear rim, busted both tubes and spent several in the ER checking doing some xrays.  As you may have guessed I”m a little concerned when it comes to me riding in the rain.  My problem was going too fast in a turn and I got too close to the edge of the road while going down hill and over corrected.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll be able to get some saddle time in.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 144/365 “GoPro While Cycling”

26 Tuesday May 2015

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I’ve recently started recording my riding with a GoPro that have on my handlebar.  I have it mainly to record my ride to show just how stupid some motorist can be.  I’ve also found another use by recording all those dogs that are supposed to be either on a leash or in a fence that I have to deal with.  Since I’ve been recording I’ve only caught one dog biting my front tire while I was trying to get up a hill.  The owner of that dog has been notified and has since been put back in her fence.

I’ve also found another used for my video’s by an unlikely source.  I posted a picture about a house that had caught on fire right after I past it.  The next door neighbor of the house caught me as I rode past it last night and asked if I taped each ride.  I acknowledge that I did and she wanted to know if I happened to see a car at the house as I passed the night of the fire.  Once I get home I delete the files if nothing eventful happens.  It just so happens that nothing eventful happened while I was on my ride that night so I deleted everything so I didn’t have anything to review.  I guess I’ll start keeping the video for a couple of weeks now before deleting them.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 127/365 “Failed Attempt; Well Sort of”

09 Saturday May 2015

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I took my twin daughters to a band banquet tonight. The event was held at the McWane Center in downtown Birmingham.  It seems that they have a banquet hall that was affordable for the students.  The girls thought is was unnecessary for us to attend being that they only recognize the seniors but they did need transportation to and from the event.  What a perfect time for me to get some good shots of downtown Birmingham at night.

My first stop after dropping the girls off was the Alabama Theater.  That place was packed.  It looked like by the amount of little girls entering the theater in TuTu’s that there was a dance recital going on.  To many people going in and out of the place to get a good HDR image plus there not a parking space in site.

The next stop was the new Railroad Park.  Same thing.  No parking and they had some event going on there as well.  Too much traffic to have to deal with. The next stop was across town to a Methodist church that everyone seems to like to take pictures of.  A wedding was about to take place and the bride and groom was having their picture taken out front.  Strike three.

Near Railroad Park is a set of tunnels that someone had put lights in that change color.  It’s a popular place for photographers to take pictures.  I was bound and determined to take some shots there no matter what it took.  I got there and I found a parking place.  My thought was to get in a position to get the tunnel in frame as well as getting a trail of brake lights going into the tunnel.   I got out of the truck, with camera in one hand and the tripod in the other I started for the tunnel.  I got to a position to where I thought I could get some decent shots when my phone goes off.  It’s one of my daughters.  They’re standing outside waiting on me to come and pick them up.  Needless to say that I didn’t get a shot off tonight. The good news is that I was able to spend time with my daughters even if it was just for a few minutes.

I was able to get my bike to the shop.  I inspected it before loading it up on the bike rack and noticed that one of the spokes was loose.  I don’t own the tools to tighten the spokes nor did I have the time to try and true the wheel myself so I took it to the shop.  I’ll pick it up on Monday.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 120/365 “A Beautiful Day to Ride”

02 Saturday May 2015

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Today was absolutely gorgeous.  Beautiful blue skies with just a few passing clouds with just a slight wind.  It took me a little longer to do my 21 mile route because I kept seeing people that I knew that wanted to talk.  I enjoyed my visits with everyone.

I recently changed the bar tape on my bike.  The bike came with white tape but it soon turned gray with all the dirt and and chain oil from changing flats. I decided that I didn’t want white so I went with red.  The jury is still out on whether or not I like it.

I’ve got a new goal, well sort of.  My son will graduate from college in December of this year.  I’d like to see myself at least 25 pounds lighter than I am right now.  More if possible.  That’s a lot of riding and treadmill time but I think I can do it.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 98/365 “Friday! You’re Finally Here!!”

10 Friday Apr 2015

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It seems lately that all I’m doing is waiting on Friday to get here only to find that my weekends are filled with me doing things for other people.  I guess I’ve been doing it for so long I can’t say no.  I have a photo shoot tomorrow evening and a meeting on Sunday afternoon and I just received a phone call from my mom wanting us to join them and my rest of my family for a weenie roast for my Autistic nephew.

My twin daughters will be volunteering at a Botanical club tomorrow morning and my wife will be taking them to the event while I hope to get in a bike ride before I have to leave for my meeting.  My son, who is on his way home tonight from college, will be leaving sometime tomorrow afternoon going back to college.  He’s only coming home to retrieve a suit that we had cleaned for him.

It’s been raining off and on here all day today.  I was able to get in 15 miles this evening after I ate supper.  I can’t wait until the days get a little longer so I can get my full 20 miles in.  I’m planning on doing at least 23 to 25 miles and I’m hoping to attach my GoPro so I can film some of the more exciting parts of my ride.

Have a great weekend everyone!

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 81/365 “No Miles Since Saturday”

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

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With rain on Sunday, errands on Monday and a meeting late this afternoon  I just haven’t had time to get back on my bicycle.  I was able to get on my treadmill for about thirty minutes this evening.   Tomorrow looks promising although the darkness will sneak up on me and I will not get my full 20 miles in.  I’ll be lucky to get about thirteen before it gets too dark to see my way home.

No word on any of the stuff that was taken while he was at home for spring break.  He did receive a phone call from the detective but was not able to get back in touch with him to find out what he wanted.  My son is very upset over this.  He said that he gets a sick feeling in his gut everytime he goes into his room.  The good news is that he will not have to pay for the repairs to the door.  It seems that it’s the apartment’s place to have it repaired at their expense.  That’s a relief.  We’re already going to have to replace everything that was stolen and we didn’t need any extra expense.

Sorry for not posting any new stuff lately.  Just haven’t been anywhere to take any pictures.  I’m planning on getting out this weekend and shooting some.  There is an air show this weekend.  Maybe I’ll go there.  We shall see.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 60/365 “Workout”

02 Monday Mar 2015

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This is me about two years ago.  I’ve since gained some of my weight back being that my boss didn’t think I could make in to work in time if I got called in while on a bike ride.  Now that I’m no longer on call I don’t have to worry about it. I can’t put all the blame on my boss being that I could have done a lot of other things to keep my weight off.  Anyway, tonight I started what I hope is a long term workout program.  I started slow, only thirty minutes on my treadmill at a slow 2.9 mph and then I got on my bike trainer for 15 minutes doing about 20 mph.  I may not have done much but at least it feels like I worked out.  I’m looking forward to warmer weather so I can get out and hopefully get back to riding my 20 miles a day.

The photo above was taken after my first 50 miler.  I know for a fact that I wouldn’t look that excited if I had to ride that ride today.  I’m so out of shape.

“Life Goes On!!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 55/365 “Ready for Some Bike Rides”

24 Tuesday Feb 2015

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We’re supposed to get up to six inches of snow tomorrow between 6 am and noon.  My employer refuses to acknowledge the fact and is not closing.  Even though all schools, county and city, within a hundred mile radius has closed.  Last year we had a system come through so quick that 1700 people got trapped at work because they couldn’t get home.  You would think that our company wouldn’t just go ahead and close to keep that from happening again but I guess the all mighty dollar is more important.

I’ve got several bike rides that I’ve signed up for this year.  None of which are century rides.  Right now I don’t think I could do a half century because I’m so out of shape.   The weather here has been so crazy that I haven’t had a good weekend to get out and ride. This weekend doesn’t look good either.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 53/365 “Spring is Coming”

22 Sunday Feb 2015

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I’m really trying to be positive and think that spring is just around the corner.  It’s hard to do these days when everyday you turn on the news to find that there is another round of cold arctic air with more potential freezing rain and/or snow on the way.

I am looking forward to the day when I can get outside and do some hiking and maybe wet the line of a fishing pole.  I’m looking forward to the day of riding by bicycle and getting some much needed exercise.  I’m an outdoor person and having to stay inside these past few months has given me a bad case of cabin fever.  When spring time finally shows her head, you’ll be hard press to find me inside.  Look for me in the woods or on the roadway on my bicycle.

“Life Goes On”