2009-12-01
About a year and half ago, I replaced my heavy cruiser with a light-weight single speed bicycle. The idea at the time was to make it easier for me to implement the five mile rule: if it is within five miles, ride a bike or walk. (fortunately everything in Petaluma is within five miles of anything else in Petaluma)

There was one time that I drove my car to the car wash and maybe a car-pool or two with some friends, but for solo trips, it is walk or ride the bike, and all of the trips have been to a destination within 5 miles of my home ( that's 8 kilometers for my metric friends).

Many were the days towing groceries across town in the trailer, or pedaling to my favorite location of solitude along the river for some music practice.

At some point in the Spring of 2009, someone thought it would be a good idea to steal the speedometer off of my bicycle. Damn. Having grown accustomed to knowing how far I travelled when riding, I promptly purchased a new speedometer.

Today the new speedometer passed the thousand mile mark and I couldn't help but reminisce upon the various sights, sounds and people that made so many of my Summer bicycle trips so memorable. Thank you.

Now stop reading, and go ride to the store.
Comments
2009-12-04 oswaldkelso:
Hi jezra
I found it very interesting that you chose a single speed bike. I had a look at Petaluma but couldn't really tell if you have much in the way of hills. About 3 months ago I started riding my bike to work, with a view to giving up my car. 7.5 - 8 miles each way depending on the route. But I'd be brave to use a single speed bike though. I travel from a hight of approx 130m to a low of 50m then up to 85m. Without doubt it is the gradient not much more than the actual hight that's a killer. (for an oldie like me anyway) Are you super fit or is Petaluma flat.
2009-12-04 jezra:
Petaluma is very flat sea-level flood plain, and I have learned to zig-zag around the few steep inclines that are in the city. Rarely will I encounter an elevation change of more than 20 meters, although every now and then I'll climb a hill for fun.

You may be interested in http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ for determining distance and height of your routes.
2009-12-08 oswaldkelso:
Thanks for that. I used it to get an accurate distance. The ability to unlink the snap to feature, then draw a straight line where my off road and, no road, short cuts go, was great.

I have two routes one to work where it's mostly down hill (just under 7.5 miles).

One back slightly longer (just over 7.5 miles) but longer. On this route as it does not drop to the lowest point. I hate having to go to the bottom of a hill, just to have to climb it.

Thanks
Name:
not required
Email:
not required (will not be displayed)
Website:
not required (will link your name to your site)
Comment:
required
Please do not post HTML code or bbcode unless you want it to show up as code in your post. (or if you are a blog spammer, in which case, you probably aren't reading this anyway).
Prove you are human by solving a math problem! I'm sorry, but due to an increase of blog spam, I've had to implement a CAPTCHA.
Problem:
9 minus 0
Answer:
required
subscribe
 
2019
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2009
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2008