32nd ride - Friday, 3/31/2017 (Michelle's birthday)

Total mileage for 2017: 397.6

Today ended up being an absolutely crazy ride. A few days ago I was discussing GPS to measure mileage for cycling with my friend Doug Tidd (who got me started this whole cycling craze). Heretofore I've always measured my mileage with the gmaps-pedometer on the computer after returning home, because I didn't have a smart phone. But I realized earlier this week that, since Michelle generously and kindly gave me an iPhone for Christmas, that option was now open to me. So I got the app MapMyRide on the phone, and planned to use it today.

When I started out, it began just fine, and I tucked the phone into the side pocket of my coat and set off. But just as I was approaching Lohr Rd., to leave our complex, I heard it fall out and clatter to the ground. Grateful for acute hearing, I retrieved it and found it to be undamaged, but felt that I should not return it to the pocket, so I tucked it inside the coat, against my belly.

As I rode along, all seemed fine, but I got to thinking that perhaps I should put the phone somewhere more secure, like in the pouch of my hoodie. So, as I neared Ann Arbor - Saline Rd., I stopped, got up, and opened my coat -- and the phone was gone. Absolutely sick about this, I assumed that it must have fallen out somewhere not long after I tucked it inside my coat, so I wheeled around and headed back to our complex, keeping my eyes peeled. But I saw it nowhere along the way back to the spot in question, so I turned around and returned to Ann Arbor - Saline Rd., praying and watching as carefully as I could ... and saw nothing.

To say that I was "distraught" about having lost the phone is quite an understatement ... but then, as I returned to the spot where I had turned around, I spied the phone, lying untouched and undamaged in the middle of the sidewalk! It must have fallen out the first time, when I removed my coat, and I neither heard nor saw it—thus confirming the nickname of "Blindo" by which Michelle so often calls me because of my inability to see what should be obvious. Quickly checking it, and finding that my ride so far had taken about 22 minutes (this included the time that it was sitting on the ground while I rode back to look for it) and had been about .85 miles, I put it into the pouch of my hoodie—more securely positioned this time—and set off again.

I had planned to do several loops of a route that takes me by our former church, Westminster Presbyterian, and did one such route. (The map of it below is a screen capture from that same gmaps-pedometer app that I mentioned earlier.) But as I neared the end of it, I entertained a vigorous mental debate as to whether I should accept one loop as good enough for today, or press on, since there was really no reason not to. However, in the end, on a cold and clammy day (39°), I decided to accept the shortened ride with gratitude.

Then came the final weirdness, however. When I pulled up in front of our garage and took my phone out to end the ride and check my stats, the time and distance were the same as they had been when I retrieved the phone! I don't know whether it's positioning against my belly prevented it from receiving the GPS signal from the satellite, or whether I somehow paused or suspended it when I picked it up again. Fortunately, though, I was able to use my watch to time myself, and revert to my former computer method of figuring the mileage, to determine that I rode 6.7 miles in 59 minutes I hope I can figure out this peculiarity of MapMyRIde next time I use it! And the mixups left me just shy of 400 miles for the year—but at least I know I should easily make that tomorrow when I ride. But I was a little over 500 miles by the end of March last year, so I have some catching up to do!

31st ride of 2017 - Tuesday, 3/28/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 390.9

Today's riding conditions were decidedly shy of "pleasant," at 45° under a thick, gray, gloomy, unbroken layer of clouds—but at least there was no precipitation, and only a little wind. I managed to grind out consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, riding the 18 miles in 2:16. I'm glad to be home now, though, and warming up!

30th ride of 2017 - Monday, 3/27/2017

 Total mileage for 2017: 372.9

I could not ride over the weekend, due to a busy schedule. Saturday we had a big family celebration of our milestone birthdays (my 60th, on March 17, and Michelle's 50th, on March 31). This was a wonderfully festive occasion, but was a complete surprise to me. Then yesterday was the music concert at our church, in which I played a piano solo as well as our handbell choir playing, and then afterwards we hosted my sister (who spent the night with us due to her early morning flight out of Metro today to return to Georgia).

Today was truncated, too—I had hoped to do consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (and really wanted to do three). However, a late start due to some morning errands and commitments, and then the need to cut it short in order to get to a musical commitment this afternoon, meant that I could only ride a single round trip to Marsh Park. Awfully mild weather, though—54° when I began at 11:15, and 55° when I finished. I covered the 10 miles in 1:18.

The musical commitment that I mentioned has to do with the fact that I've developed a tradition of composing pieces for the Emerson Orchestra to play in concert (Emerson being the school where Michelle teaches)—pretty much annually now. (I think this year's is the ninth I've written, dating back to 1998.) And it's taking place this Thursday night; orchestra director Leslie Capozzoli has, for the last several, invited me to guest conduct them, and the dress rehearsal is at 2:00 p.m. today. So I needed to allow myself time to clean up, look over my score a bit, and get to the school

29th ride of 2017 - Friday, 3/24/2017

 Total mileage for 2017: 362.9

Continuing with my quest to build up my stamina for the 6-day, 250-mile PALM ride that I'm doing in late June (Pedal Across Lower Michigan—it goes from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron), I rode consecutive round trips today to Marsh Park. I had for a time considered doing three ... but then as I thought about, I realized I had only bumped it up to two this week, and couldn't ride Wednesday due to schedule and could only do one yesterday due to the weather. So it seemed more prudent to leave three for next week.

When I left at 11:15, it was a lovely sunshiny day of 56° (though i battled a healthy wind from the SSW at 18 mph); but when I finished it had climbed to 67°! The 18-mile ride took me 2:13. I haven't yet decided about riding tomorrow; it's supposed to rain most all day, but I may throw on my poncho and do it anyway.

I like to ride with my two spinners (or, as my 4-year old grandson Danny, shown below, calls them, my "tornadoes") flying from the back of the trike. But I believe I've reached the conclusion that I'll need to indulge that desire only on a nearly calm day. Any wind at all tangles the two of them, leaving them merely a limp mass of colored fabric. I took a picture of the single one today when I was at the park, but the wind was blowing it forward rather than streaming out behind as it does when I ride.

28th ride of 2017 - Thursday, 3/23/2017

 Total mileage for 2017: 344.9

After a very full day yesterday (including a 150-mile round trip back to Olivet, where I used to teach, to settle some business with my retirement funds), that kept me from riding, I was glad to get back to it today. In fact, I had hoped to do at least 2 round trips to Marsh Park, and possibly 3.

However, riding in bright 35° sunshine with a healthy wind (14 mph out of the east)—I was quite grateful for the sunshine, but much less so for the temperature, and for the wind (which brought the wind-chill down to 31°), I found that all I had heart for was a single round trip, and completed this chilly 10 mile ride in 1:16. (I could not think of riding for speed, but only to press on with discipline.)

As I rode, I mused on how, although it is technically spring now, winter is releasing its grip on us only reluctantly!

27th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, 3/21/2017

 Total mileage for 2017: 334.9

Today was the first full day of spring, and it certainly lived up to its billing. I rode in sunny conditions, 52° when I started and 56° when I finished. I was fighting a bit of wind that varied between a gentle breeze and a pretty healthy gust.

On the way out on my first round trip I stopped at a pond which my trail (then going over one of its several boardwalks) skirts, just west of State Rd., and took this picture.

For the second consecutive day, I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, and today covered the 18 miles in a slightly slower time than yesterday (2:20 vs. 2:12), due to the wind.

26th ride of 2017 - Monday, 3/20/2017

 Total mileage for 2017: 316.9

For the next three months, I'll be working to build up my stamina, In late June (24th-30th), I'm registered to ride PALM (the Pedal Across Lower Michigan), and while no individual day will be a challenge beyond me (since my longest day's ride so far is 50 miles), stringing six long days together consecutively will be a good challenge for me. Their site shows the mileage as 41-46-45-44-41-31, and here is a map of the route.

Riding just shy of 250 miles in 6 days will be a challenge—but I fully expect the biggest part of that challenge to be the mental aspect. This is precisely what I experienced when I ran marathons in 1984 and 1991 (the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota both time). Not that running 26.2 miles was anything to sneeze at ...  but I found the contemplation of the feat to be tougher than the actual physicality of it.

So today was a first dipping of my toe in the water toward building up my endurance. I went out at 11:15 and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since Feb. 22, completing the 18 miles in 2:12. I'm happy to note also that the snow and ice which impeded the sidewalk that takes me down to the beginning of the trail is now wholly gone (one hopes until November or December).

Today was a "milestone" day, in that I went over 300 miles for the year. I'm a little behind last year, as last year I reached the 300-mile plateau on March 11. In fact, I reached 400 on March 18, and 500 on March 29. So I clearly have some catching up to do. But I'm game for the challenge.

25th ride of 2017 - Saturday, 3/18/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 298.9

I had hoped to celebrate my 60th birthday with a good ride. But the day ended up being too busy, between celebrating with my daughter and grandchildren last night, and watching Michigan's victory in the NCAA basketball tournament in the early afternoon. The picture below shows our group just before leaving dinner—from left to right, my daughter Christy, my grandchildren Izzy and Danny, and Michelle and I. So I granted myself a day of rest, and was then glad to get back to it today.

We had a social engagement this evening, so by the time I could get out to ride at 4 p.m., there was only time for a single round trip to Marsh Park. And my mileage for it slightly exceeded the usual, because I took a slightly different and longer route to get down to the trail, in order to avoid the still uncleared patches of sidewalk. Thus I rode 11 miles today, in 1:24, beneath gray, cool skies -- 39° when I began, and 38° at the end.

24th ride of 2017 - Thursday, 3/16/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 287.9

In light of being unable to ride outside since Saturday due to snow and cold, I was absolutely ecstatic to be able to ride today. The conditions were pretty tolerable—a mild 35° sunshine—but the wind (from the west, at 12 mph, bringing the wind-chill down to 29°) served as a clear reminder that winter is not yet wholly banished!

I rode a round trip to Marsh Park, in the slow time of 1:26. However, that time was partly attributable to the fact that, not having ridden outside in a while, and with the cold we've experienced, the air pressure in my tires was down. So airing them up before tomorrow's ride becomes a must on my To Do list.

I rode down to the beginning of the trail as I always do, on the sidewalk along the east side of Lohr Road. However, it had several; nasty patches that remained uncleared. I was able to make it through, but on the way home I crossed Lohr Road at Ellsworth and road the sidewalk up the west side, which, while not 100% clear, was significantly better.

23rd ride of 2017 - Saturday, 3/11/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 277.9

This afternoon's ride wasn't anything spectacular, but I'm glad that I made myself do it. After another Michigan win in the Big Ten basketball tournament, I went out about 3:30, and rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1:15. It was nice to ride under a bright, sunny sky sprinkled with only a few clouds ... the sunshine helped (a little) to take some of the edge off the 29° temperature.

22nd ride of 2017 - Friday, 3/10/17

Total mileage for 2017: 267.9

I had originally planned on riding this morning, but in the end I decided to first watch Michigan's Big Ten basketball tournament game at noon (which they won, in overtime), and then ride. I allowed myself to settle for another single round trip to Marsh Park today, riding in a stiff, cold wind (19 mph out of the west, which brought the balmy 29° temperature down to a wind-chill of 16°). The miles are adding up, but all too slowly ... I will be glad when spring arrives for good, allowing me to build up my mileage and my stamina. Today I rode the 10 miles in 1:18 (like yesterday).

21st ride of 2017 - Thursday, 3/9/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 257.9

Thanks be to God that yesterday's ferocious winds (resulting in about 670,000 power outages in southeast Michigan!) have abated. Still, the weather was a factor in today's ride‚the 39° temperature, while not too bad, was enough to convince me to restrict myself to a single round trip to Marsh Park, and I finished this 10 miles in 1:18.

20th ride of 2017 - Tuesday, 3/7/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 247.9

Much of today was marked by rain, and gray gloomy conditions—but bright sunshine was forecast for late afternoon. So, acting on this, I spent the majority of the day reading and working on music projects, and planned to ride after we got Michelle home from school. This ended up being a good plan, as I rode in brilliant 48° sun throughout (though I battled a healthy wind from the southwest, which I think was approaching 20 mph for much of the ride, but by the time I finished had abated to nearly nothing). I went to Marsh Park, and then on the way home turned south on Wilson Rd. and took my loop down around Saline High School, finishing the 12.6 miles in 1:34.

19th ride of 2017 - Monday, 3/6/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 235.3

Much of today I have been happily engaged in musical pursuits, thus constricting the time available to me for riding. A friend from church, Kahle (pronounced like the vegetable - kale) has given me a recording of a song he has written and sung, and basically has asked me to transcribe it into conventional notation, and to add a few handbell licks per his request.

So I didn't go out to ride until 1:00, later than usual. Glad to be back on my weekly routine of maintenance, I first aired up the tires, and then headed off, hoping to ride two round trips. But it was extremely damp (both water on the ground from the nearly morning-long rain we experienced, and humid) and fairly windy as well (a wind from the south, the direction into which I ride the first 3 miles of my usual trip, at 17 mph. So, given these conditions, I felt justified in restricting myself to a single round trip, and accomplished these 10 miles in 1:12, just slightly faster than yesterday.

18th ride of 2017 - Sunday, 3/5/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 225.3

This morning I went out at 7:00 a.m., bundled against the 26° cold, and rode a round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1:13. Funny—I saw only one other person on the trail the whole time, a woman who looked somewhat displeased to be there, walking her dog.

17th ride of 2017 - Wednesday, 3/1/2017 (Ash Wednesday)

Total mileage for 2017: 215.3

This morning I went out at 8:15 and rode 20.5 miles, fairly slowly (2:42). I did a round trip to Marsh Park, and then when I went back there the second time, on the way home I turned south onto WIlson Rd. and took my familiar loop down around Saline High School. It was quite damp (terribly humid air, and a lot of moisture on the ground—but at least I avoided any new showers), and fairly cool—50° when I started, and 54° when I finished. This is certainly not cool objectively, for March 1 in Michigan, but the humidity made it feel quite cool and clammy.

I was so delighted to be able to ride again, after the flat rear tire I had yesterday (that I was able to get fixed at Wheels in Motion because of my friends Tom and Doris Granum and their willingness to loan me their van). And also, it's a great relief to have the cap back in place on the inside of my left handlebar. TerraTrike sent me a new one, which I installed yesterday, so that I no longer have to contend with my left thigh scraping across the exposed metal with every pedal upstroke.

Also, I recently made up the following graph, and look forward to seeing it grow over the years ahead.