June 30, 2006
What a great day for a bike ride! Around 5:30pm on Friday, June 30, the weather was beginning to cool down as I rolled into Loring Park. What a site! Gathered around the fountain that greets you at the park entrance were about 200 people, ready to become traffic. On this last friday of the month, the “happy coincidence” of bike riders assemble all across the nation in metropolitan areas as a show of solidarity for people-powered transport. This was now my third Critical Mass ride, and has now become my favorite. This one I will remember for a long long time.
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June 29, 2006
I got new pedals for my bike!!
Actually, it’s been a venture into bicycle repair for me lately. Not only did I get new pedals, but since my tune-up, I had to have my front bracket tightened, and my rear wheel re-aligned. No more click-click-click in my left pedal, and no more squeaking of my back tire rubbing against the brake!
I celebrated my good fortune of warrantee repair by taking an extended bike ride around town, of course. After eating my dinner in Boom Island Park, I headed across the Stone Arch Bridge to find a slew of people riding on Segways! These machines still look a little funny to me for some reason, even though I think they are kindof cool!
I also snapped a photo of a sign that I found somewhat humorous from a language perspective. It exemplifies a danger I had never imagined! LOL.
Total Distance Today: 18 miles.
June 24, 2006
I took a more leisurely ride onto Nicollet Island in Minneapolis the other day. I had no earthly idea where I was going to end up, or how far I was going to ride, but it turned out to be one of my more spectacular bike rides!
I really liked this photo here, that I just barely snapped, and then it was gone. Something about the light hitting the bridge at the right angle, then reflecting in the water, turned the reflection into almost a vivid highway - just floating there. It’s fascinating how I feel like I was there at just the right moment to see this image in the water. Amazing!
I really enjoyed riding on this island in the heart of the city. Very peaceful and beautiful. So I guess my advice to everyone is to take some chances and head out to uncharted places. You never know what you will find.
Check out my other Nicollet Island Photos on Flickr!
June 19, 2006
The tune up of the bike went well. Gotta love a 90-day free tune up service. However, the bike shop is ordering me a new pedal because mine is going THUNK THUNK THUNK every time the left pedal comes to the top of it’s revolution. The bike has a year warrantee, so I don’t think it will be too big of a deal.
I had a near collision on the Midtown Greenway the other day. My speed craving had me coming down an exit ramp very quickly, and I had to land off the exit in a soft patch of dirt alongside the bikeway. It was bumpy, but I managed to stay upright on the bike, but ended up banging my left leg and maybe slightly spraining my wrist at the thumb. Next time, I will use breaks. Another “Duh Scott” moment.
Been biking around town for lots of fun and frolic lately. I went to the new Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis over the weekend, and it is SPECTACULAR. I promise to go again and bring my camera!
Summer I’m finding is construction season everywhere. This makes traveling by bicycle as challenging as motorized travel. It’s only extremely difficult if a bicycle trail is under construction or closed. Then I have to think of an alternate route on the fly, and if I do, hopefully it’s out of the way of traffic.
Many thanks to those helping me with fundraising for my bike trip down the Oregon Coast. So far I’ve raised about $200 of the $800 I’m needing! Many thanks to those who’ve helped out!!
June 14, 2006
It’s been an interesting week biking. I feel like I’ve crossed into another level of riding. Maybe it’s me getting to know my bike and feeling the body mechanics of bicycling, but I’ve noticed that I like to bike much faster these days.
It’s been great learning to grip the handlebars with my fingertips more underneath, so I can feel more like I’m “lifting up” rather than pushing down. This has completely made a difference in balance and agility when leaning forward to really push to climb hills. Last night the hill on 6th Avenue to University (right after the Stone Arch Bridge) felt great. I was able to just lean into the hill climb and attack it rather than shifting to easier gears! Things are progressing!
I’m falling in love with my Breezer once again too, which is good! It’s turning into a very very good companion indeed! Still considering a second bike sometime down the road, but I don’t have to do it now.
Tomorrow I take my bike in for its 90-day tune up at The Hub, where I bought it. I’ll be lonely for it over the weekend…
June 12, 2006
With the Oregon Coast bike ride coming up in about a month and a half, I’ve now added a link to the side bar of my blog talking about how others can support me for the ride. I’ll be fundraising for my travel to and from portland, bike rental, and other gear that I’ll need to purchase for the trip. All together, these expenses will be approximately $800.
I won’t be asking for much, and you can get really great gifts from me for donating $10, $25, or $50 for these expenses. I’ll be giving those who donate, pieces of original art in the form of picture postcards from the trip, large photos of the Oregon Coast, and 20-page picture booklets from my own photos of the tour.
Not only will this ride be a physically challenging one for me, but I’m hoping that the people I meet and the places I see will give me many things to bring back to my own community in Minnesota.
I would love your support! I’ve done other fundraising for causes like the Minnesota AIDS Walk in the past, but none that puts me in the middle of something extremely challenging and hopefully - extremely life changing - as this trip promises to be.
If you are interested in supporting me, please visit my fundraising page.
Thank you all for your continuing support!
-Scott
June 9, 2006
Yesterday I felt compelled to try to check out some other bikes at a few bike shops in town. After riding a great Fisher Zebrano S hybrid bike in Madison, I was wondering if I should think about trading in or selling my Breezer. I went to three bike shops, and none of them had the Zebrano. One had a great Marin Larkspur bike that rode well enough. One shop was so busy that nobody could help me, and another didn’t have a bike my size in a street hybrid. I guess summer gets busy.
The more I rode around on my Breezer, the more I realized that I did like it for these kinds of trips - going around town to do errands, shopping, etc. The lights, the fenders, the back rack and the front basket attachment, and it’s ease is just really nice for my day to day biking. I don’t have to pay attention to the weather, can wear anything I want on it, and it’s just simple. After some deliberating, I decided I wasn’t going to get rid of it.
However, I think I will begin saving money to put towards a 24-speed hybrid bike that is more suited for longer distances. I just won’t buy it right now. Perhaps after the trip I’ll have a need!
Much of my deliberation, I’ve now realized, was part of my “coming back mentally” from Madison. I’m so glad I took the trip in the way I did. It really stretched my perception and experience of the city. As well, it helped to plant new thoughts in my mind about my bicycle choices. Part of it was just missing the experience. Coming back to home takes a little longer emotionally sometimes. This really makes me wonder how I’ll feel after coming back from the Oregon coast in August.
I took my Breezer out at about midnight last night for a ride to downtown Minneapolis. Unfortunately, I felt like this was probably the safest time to travel by bike downtown. Traffic was almost non-existent on some streets. At this hour, no traffic, cool weather, and darker buildings, I felt so much more connected again to the city. And - once again, my bike felt much more of a natural ride. I’m thinking that my body just becomes adapted to whatever bike I may be riding after a time.
Since I rode about 15 miles yesterday and late last night, it felt great to sleep in until about 10am this morning. Even in Madison I woke at about 8am daily. The sleep helped a lot. Today is a bit overcast, so I’ve decided to rest, do other projects, and to write.
So, if anyone out there is savvy at finding deals, keep a lookout for me on good prices for the following bikes in a 19 or 20 inch frame.
Gary Fisher Zebrano S
Marin Larkspur
Marin San Rafael
Total Distance Yesterday: 15 miles.
June 7, 2006
My last day in Madison was a bit overcast, as the weather forecasters were calling for storms by 3pm. I decided to change my Greyhound tickets to the earlier bus departing at 2:20pm so that I wouldn’t have to be stuck walking or biking in a storm to catch the bus.
I was able to fulfill one more goal of the trip, by doing Tai Chi on the rooftop of the Monona Terrace Convention Center. When I lived in Madison, this was always something I wanted to do, but never got around to doing. The cooler weather made for an easier time doing the movements, and it gave us all some great motivation for our final exercise of “swaying in the wind like trees”. At the end of the class, the teacher came up to me and used me as an example for a point he was making about relaxing your body in order to be more stable. He had me tense up and stand aggressively, and showed students how he could push and topple even a big guy like me who had all of his muscles clenched. Then he put me in a stance and had me relax and ground myself calmly in the pose, relaxing into any muscle tension. He tried pushing me over this time but was unsuccessful.
The point of the exercise was to illustrate that in life, while so many stressors and experiences come upon us continually, that by maintaining a relaxed and grounded poise within ourselves, that we are less likely to topple and fall. I really enjoyed this class, and the metaphor of the exercise especially.
After a few moments of gazing across Lake Monona, I descended the elevator to the ground level where I had parked the rented bike. I had to wipe away a few tears while I unlocked the bike, as I was feeling a bit sad that my trip was ending. I felt like I was saying good-bye to a wonderful new friend.
I know I’ll be back.
One of the bike routes I didn’t get to take was the 18-mile commuter trail that originates at Camp Randall, circles down past the Madison beltline highway and comes back up to downtown. There is also a new portion of a bike trail being constructed that is aptly called “The Missing Link“, and I will save that one for next time too.
Special thanks are in order for this trip.
First, to my wonderful partner, Michael, who tagged along with me for a very short, less than 48-hour trip. He needed to return to work on Monday. To our friend Jason, who was so wonderfully hospitable to us. A home cooked meal on Sunday night was a wonderful touch! To Tim, my great tour guide, I will need to find a fun “object d’art” for you at some point as a thank you! To Jon and the staff at Motherfools, you all rock! I was glad to have a place to rest and geek out on my laptop! To the Madison Hostel, you run a wonderful refuge for weary travelers, and I will keep coming back. The inexpensive private room downtown was so incredibly comfortable and homey. You just don’t get that at a motel. And finally, to Machinery Row Bicycles, who rented me the best bike! The Gary Fisher Zebrano hybrid is one that I’m now considering buying for myself now! I was also glad that all of the rental bikes at Machinery Row come with a rear rack. This was so important for my commuting purposes.
To everyone out there reading:
Go to Madison and rent a bike if you can! I can see why it’s rated so high as a bicycle friendly city. Take advantage of this, and spend some time “people-powering” yourself around the town. I think you will find it incredibly enjoyable!
June 6, 2006
Pictured here is a trail on the shores of Lake Mendota, which took me to the near west side of Madison for a voice lesson. I think I took Wendy, my teacher, by surprise as I rolled in on a bicycle and not a car.
The voice lesson went very well. I feel like I’ve gotten over the hill in trusting and working with the “new voice” I started hearing around 2001. She really noted my progress in the tone staying very forward and not getting caught behind the nose and head anymore. I sang the song “Let Beauty Awake” from Ralph Vaughn Williams’ “Songs of Travel” song cycle. I’m really learning to relax into my breath, and let the energy just take the voice where it needs to go. It’s exciting. I feel like I’ve come so very far since that first day I came to see her. But, even more valuable is that we’ve come to know each other over that period of time, and we catch up on many things in our lesson.
She and I talked about my biking, my studies at Saint Mary’s University, and life in general. She uttered the word that my advisor, also named Wendy, has uttered to me to describe what’s going on. “Synthesis.”
I feel like I’m learning things so very deeply in my life. Things are deep in my heart, my body, my soul. The biking, the experiential learning, the independent nature of my studies, and my singing too - they are all growing and developing from a deeper place in me. The feeling of gliding down a hill effortlessly, and the feeling of soaring through a phrase with high G’s and A’s with my voice - they are so both like flying to me. It was great to experience this in a lesson.
Coming back from my voice lesson was much easier, as I discovered that the bike path I should have taken, almost extends from her street, through the university, to downtown Madison. Talk about convenience! I stopped to take a few pictures of Lake Mendota before going back to the hostel to unwind.
I also had a great time developing a better friendship with my friend Jason. He made me dinner one evening, and accompanied me for pizza and a bike ride the next night. The Twin Cities can get so busy and fast at times. I really can’t remember the last time I went to a friend’s house where we just simply made dinner, then did the dishes, or just casually decided to grab a pizza slice or two and then go for a bike ride. There is a calm and laid back attitude in Madison that I’m severely missing in my life here in Minneapolis.
After the bike ride in the evening, and the biking to and from my lesson with Wendy, I calculated the mileage on my bike map. Twenty-seven miles! Whoa! The bike I was riding was a huge help. I’m seriously considering a SECOND bike. Color me obsessed. But really - why not? I know couples and individuals with two cars, three or more televisions, more than one computer. Two bikes for two different kinds of riding tasks really isn’t too much of a stretch, is it?
More to come in the next post about my last day in Madison!
June 4, 2006
If there is a thought that sums up my trip thus far to Madison, it is that I was able to re-discover the beauty of this city. I never biked around this town when I lived here, and I think it’s a shame. I’ve only gone around one lake so far, and the trail was beautiful!
I may also re-think my choice of bicycles in the future. I rented a 24-speed hybrid bike, and I absolutely love it! I can climb hills faster and easier, and I don’t tire as soon as on my Breezer. It’s not as “pimped out” as my bike, but for pure utility and ease of ride, I may have to consider a bike like this in the future.
My friend Tim took me on a 13-mile ride around Lake Monona the first day I was in town. He’s a natural storyteller, so his interpretation of Madison History, trails, and the various “Objects d’Art” as he called-them along the path was both humorous and enlightening.
Sunday was a day of spending time with Michael and our friend Jason. I was able to catch a nap after Michael left for home. A $41/night private room at the Madison Hostel is such luxury at a low price. I’m right off of the Capitol Square, and a 30-second downhill ride to a trail that takes me to my favorite coffee shop, Motherfools. It’s so comfortable at the hostel.
Sunday evening was quiet, and I decided to take a bike ride at midnight. I traveled from the square down to Olin Park to catch a beautiful view of the capitol building and Monona Terrace across the shore of Lake Monona. Breathtaking and stunning.
This evening’s 10-12 mile ride made me feel as if I were falling in love all over again with the city of Madison. I lived here from 2000-2002, yet I feel so blessed to now rediscover her from a new perspective. I am beginning to feel a kind of “understanding of the terrain” when I travel by bike. There’s a connection that you just can’t feel in your car. I have no windsheild, no obstructed view of the stars above me at all angles, no sound of my car engine blocking out the sounds of nature. I feel as if I can breathe in the entire city, and feel as if I am a living part of it. It’s an exhilarating feeling!
Monday I travel to the west side of Madison for a voice lesson with my teacher, Wendy. I’ve not seen her in 6 months since last I was in Madison. Vocally, I guess I’ve been resting. So many other joys of life have been flowing in feeding my creativity, that I just hadn’t thought that it was time to have another lesson. Lessons with Wendy are like life coaching sessions or therapy. Things unlock. I let go of things. I open myself up, and she is able to find ways for me to vocally produce Art. I’m looking forward to it!
Two more days left in Madison! I’m already feeling this trip is too short.
