Bicycling Adventures

Bicycles are wonderful things - they get us out in nature, allow us to reach interesting destinations by the power of our legs, and provide us with a fun means of exercise. This blog is a chronicle of my cycling adventures, a biking journal of sorts where I post about my daily rides as well as longer adventures. But it's also for anyone who loves cycling - submissions are welcome!

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8/4/15 Ride

Route:  SW Commuter trail, UW Arboretum, Wingra Creek path, Monona Lake Loop, SW Commuter Trail Bike:  Freedom Total Distance: 17.6 miles Total Time:  61 min Average Speed:  16.7 mph

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7/27/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  59 min Average Speed:  17.3 mph

I felt like a lazy sack of potatoes again tonight...ugh what is up with that lately?!

Also, saw a guy riding a frickin’ segway down the bike path today, complete with a neon green helmet and a “sharknado” shirt. o.O  Pretty strange sight! But seriously, wtf dude? This is recreation trail... weird.

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7/23/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  59 min Average Speed:  17.3 mph

I felt like a sack of potatoes tonight, no idea why, but ugh did I feel sloooww!

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7/21/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  57 min Average Speed:  17.8 mph

It was a beautiful evening for a ride, and I love this trek through wild farmland. :)

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7/19/15 Bike Ride

Route:  SW Commuter trail, UW Arboretum, Wingra Creek path, Monona Lake Loop, Capital City Trail Bike:  Freedom Total Distance: 22.6 miles Total Time:  1 hr, 21 min Average Speed:  16.6 mph

Ugh, after a week-long hiatus, it felt soooo good to get back out there!

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7/12/15

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  56 min Average Speed:  17.9 mph

Whew, I was flying today! Stress will do that for your average speed... Although I’m sure the clean gears and newly lubed chain didn’t hurt either. ;)

Pics from today are here.

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Woo! Gave my bike a thorough cleaning today: degreased all the gears, washed the frame, re-lubed the chain. My girl is such a beauty when she’s all cleaned up nice. :D

And now she rides as silent as a leaf on the wind. It’s amazing.

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7/7/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  60 min Average Speed:  17.0 mph

Just out to feel the wind on my face today. :)

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7/5/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  61 min Average Speed:  16.5 mph

Slow and steady pace again today, still rehabbing that gluteal muscle. It’s already feeling better; I think I’ll give it a rest day tomorrow.

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Tried something new yesterday and recorded a small part of my ride with my phone (which is mounted onto my bike frame.) This is a small piece of Capital City Trail that goes through the outskirts of the city before hitting the countryside. Still lots of trees for being in the city - I love this trail!

Also, you really can’t tell in the video but I am actually going 16-18 mph (25-29kph) here! I slow down a little on the hill.

(Sorry it’s so fuzzy, iPhones aren’t meant for action videos, I need to try this with the GoPro!)

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7/4/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Capital City Trail, Monona Lake Loop, SW Commuter trail Bike:  Freedom Total Distance: 20.0 miles Total Time:  1 hr, 15 min Average Speed:  16.0 mph

Kept the pace slow & steady on purpose today because 1) it’s pretty warm and humid out, and 2) I pulled a glute muscle yesterday helping a friend move and did not want to further strain it. Plus, it’s a holiday. :)

Pics from today in this silly post.

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Here's a super dork, wishing you a Happy 4th of July from the shores of Lake Monona. A little warm, but otherwise a gorgeous day outside!!

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6/30/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  60 min Average Speed:  17 mph

Ugh, I felt like a lead weight today. :-/  Not sure if it’s because I didn’t eat a big enough lunch or if my legs were tired from yesterdays ride but the rude headwind I hit on the way back did not help... Not a great ride today, but that’s ok. The next one will be better. :)

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6/29/15 Bike Ride

Route:  SW Commuter trail, UW Arboretum, Wingra Creek path, Monona Lake Loop, Capital City Trail Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  22.4 miles Total Time:  1 hr, 19 min Average Speed:  17.0 mph

Woooo! New best time for this route! That’s really fast considering the number of hills I have to go up on this route. I never expected to see that 17mph average speed. :D

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6/24/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  59 min Average Speed:  17.3 mph

Same ride as yesterday. I wanted to go longer because it was a gorgeous day outside but I was short on time. Still it’s always so good to get out! :)

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6/23/15 Bike Ride

Route:  Badger State Trail, there and back again Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  16.9 miles Total Time:  58 min Average Speed:  17.4 mph

I noticed that my average speed for this route has gradually increased over the past month or so. Part of the reason I started this blog to journal my rides is because I always feel like I bike the same speed, but now I have proof that I am actually improving. It’s surprisingly gratifying to realize. :)

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6/21/15 Bike Ride

Route:  SW Commuter trail, UW Arboretum, Wingra Creek path, Monona Lake Loop, Capital City Trail Bike:  Freedom Total Distance:  22.4 miles Total Time:  I hr, 21 min Average Speed:  16.6 mph

Note: Freedom is in desperate need of a good bath. Need to put that on the agenda for next weekend.