Make That Four...

times I've ridden the bike since getting back from CO. We had a whopper of a storm this afternoon, but the skies were clear blue afterwards, so I figured it was a good time to try to start the bike (it's been almost three weeks since starting, and last time I almost couldn't get it to start). It didn't take very long at all to get it cranking, so I decided to take it out for a stretch. Went up into the mountains and decided to eat at an Outback steakhouse in Hendersonville, NC for a treat. Got home five minutes ago, with 76 miles put on the bike. Not a bad stretch!

Not Much Gnu Here

Last year we had a hot June and a fairly mild July and August. Not so this year. The past week has had multiple days with heat indices over 100. By 9:30 at night, the heat index is still typically in the mid nineties. All of that tends to zap the "want to" out of riding to work, since there's a stop and go broiler to face on the ride home.

So instead of getting out on the weekends and riding, I totally flaked out last Saturday, but the previous Saturday, as well as yesterday, I was at my mom's house to engage in verbal badinage with the plumber/painter/electrician while helping to change out five existing ceiling fans, replace two ceiling fixtures, add a ceiling fan, and pull wire for recessed lighting that hopefully will get finished next Saturday.

Two Saturdays back, it was decent enough to take Riley to mom's and let him hang outside all day. Yesterday, the temp was forecast at 97, and it ended up being 98, with a heat index of 106, so the pup stayed home in the a/c.

Yesterday was also the day to pull wires in the attic. I didn't have a thermometer up there, but we estimate it was between 140 and 150 up there. I don't remember the last time I sweat that much. Not dampness, not perspiration, not your ordinary sweating. Three seconds up there and every pore was wide open, and it was hard to see with the drops flicking off your eyelashes. It was like being in cocoon of heat, all enveloping and all encompassing. Add to that dust from the cellulose insulation, tight spots accessible only to those who aren't claustrophobic, and stupid wall cavities filled with batts that prevent feeding wires in a civilized manner.

Today has been mostly spent in recovery, and my body hates me.

July 5 Ride

Yeah, not much on this one. A total of 60 miles, all on local roads, no pictures and my butt was sore when I got home. Yeesh.

Prolly need to get the chain adjusted. I'm hearing a crunchy noise right when I take off, that I'm hoping is slop from the chain. Hence my short ride.

Did see The A-Team, however. Definitely passable :)