The commute

The weather has gone from cold to 80 in the afternoon. The sun is out, the shy is bright. The commute is a delight, thanks for asking. It must be time to remove the mudflap.

Miles per gallon

I just listened to the March 14 Scientific American podcast as I rode into work. Near the end they did a story on Nick Goddard, who figured out how many calories are in a gallon of gas, and how far he could ride on that energy. Then he did it. A bit over 633 miles it turns out, though he thinks his heart monitor was telling him he burned more than he did. He thinks the distance is really closer to 900 miles. I'm not sure this has even a little real world significance, but it's almost interesting.
I guess this is old news now, but it's new to me.

#!@^% Noise

My right pedal (Cannondale Coda) is not dancing well with my shoe. There's a creak I can't get rid of. I've greased the cleat inside, reset it. I yelled at it. The only thing that works so far is turning up the iPod. I'm going nuts. More grease inside where the cleat connects? Wax on the pedal? New pedals and cleats. Oh the humanity...
Please offer suggestions
Update Massive amounts of lithium grease and endless repositioning may be helping. Hard to say if it will stay. Film at 11.

Why I ride

I was happy. Fat and happy. Then my wife Tricia started riding her mountain bike to school. Then she wanted - and bought - a nice road bike, and the next thing I knew I was riding to work too. It's turned out to be fun. The only thing really missing from my life (other than 30 pounds) is

1. A bunch of money for bike parts
2. A bit more money for bike tune up
   
3. Cash for tires and tubes
4. Money spent on bike clothes
5. Money spent on smaller bike clothes
6. Money spent on still smaller bike clothes

I guess all I really need now is a jersey for Tricia that says "Don't you wish your girlfriend could ride like me?"

Well. Maybe a new bike too.