TNSR 11.13.2014

 Last night was about a 13 mile bike ride for me. It was like 34 degrees outside. It was cold. I went to TNSR with Jack. Some other people were there. We ended up breaking away at the first park stop because it was getting late, we were starving and far away from home. I had to stop to get this shot on the Congress bridge, because I see it all the time but always in a large group and can't take pics easily or I'd lose everybody.

View from Congress

Bikes stacked in back of VW van

We biked to Kerbey Lane cafe' and ate a delicious meal. Then, rode home in the van. I was SO happy to finally get home and lay my head on a pillow, wrapped up in a blanket like a taquito. Suffering in the cold makes you REALLY appreciate the warm indoors.

Kerbey Lane cafe- I ate migas and french toast, but this description reminded me of my sister Sarah a.k.a. Sloppy Joe.

Commuting all week in the cold...

I commuted all week in the cold weather on my single speed bike. So glad that John got me some really comfy cycling gloves, and this thing to put around my head to help with the wind. My new helmet had  some cool earmuffs.

It was really fun finding a route home without using a map. I just used my instincts, which unfortunately made me ride on the access road for about a minute, but after that, I found my way home just by the feel of the ride, or whatever. The ride to the bus was about 6 miles total, the ride home the one day I took my bike the entire way home was about 15 miles. 

I made plans with people after work on my bicycle, so that I would have to commute, so I really only rode my bike to work M, T, and Th, and Rode home on Monday. Maybe next week I can get a little better at doing the entire commute without taking rides home, etc.

Tuesday night Julie picked me up from work and we went to karaoke. We didn't sing. I got to see her new boots. These boots deserve their own blog entry! I am inspired to get new boots to keep my feet warm. I think this winter will be fun as long as I am dressed properly, and so far so good. I just need to toss that yellow hoodie I got and get some wind breaker stuff. 

Nov 8th Tour De Greune- 48 miles

On Saturday, 11/8, we signed up for Tour De Greune in New Braunfels/Greune , TX and rode about 50 miles in the hill country. The day started around 6am and the ride ended around 3 or 4, I don't quite remember. 

Jack, Me and John before the hilly ride.

We got a hotel close to this race, but that didn't even matter because the traffic on River Road was pretty horrific. We waiting in traffic for about and hour even though we were less than a mile away. It was pretty ironic that people who beat traffic by riding a bicycle were waiting to ride bicycles in a car in traffic. 

Here are some shots from the dam. This is the dam view. Very pretty.  The ride was probably the most hills I have ridden non-stop to date. There were people on elliptical bikes, some serious roadies on their fancy bikes, and people who were riding tri-bikes. I think that's the name of the bike, the one where they pedal with their hands. It was a pretty beautiful awesome day, and I am glad I finally got to ride further than my furthest. 

John

Levon

Jack

Me at the finish line

Sunday 11.2.2014 Ride- The Daily Show and Brass House

Rode about 30 miles. Started out going to a friend's apartment to watch The Daily Show's week in Austin. We ate hot wings and pizza. It was my dream come true. I love hot wings and Jon Stewart and riding bikes. I wish he was getting David Letterman's spot more so than Colbert, but who knows. Maybe he just needs to stay right where he is. They did a great job making fun of Austin and Texas, it was great.

After that, rode downtown to watch some cool singing stuff at a nice swanky bar. Rode back home, all on the single speed and didn't suffer that much. The gear ratio was changed to make it easier to ride, and the handle bars were replaced. Overall, it was a good Sunday. I finally got my mileage back up to the 60s, hopefully I'll hit 100 this week.

Draughthouse, Epoch's , Home, Jenni

Yesterday was sweet. I get invited to parties, but I usually have to bail for one reason or another. I didn't end up going to the Halloween party at night, but during the day I got to ride my bike around my area and hang out with a cool friend from the olden days.

I met Jenni and her boyfriend Adam at Draughthouse, pedaled there. Draughthouse is a bar that looks like a house from Holland or something. It's located in the middle of neighborhoods, around the 40th streets, but also near the medical district area. Inside it is really dark and they only have local and/or good beer. If you ask for a Miller Lite or even a Fireman's 4, they will look at you with a weird face.

We had beers and free bratwurst sausages that they were giving away for the hell of it. It was a nice sunny day on their back porch, and it was nice catching up with my friend again. I went to high school with her and only see her every 4 years or so since she lives in Fort Worth and went to college in Denton.

After Draughthouse, I pedaled to Epochs to have coffee with them, they drove there and we got there almost at the same time. I was riding really fast though so that they wouldn't be waiting for me long.

Afterwards, I pedaled home and relaxed with them, had a couple of beers. I guess altogether it was about 10 miles.

Halloween Ride- Thursday Night Social Ride 10.30.14

Thursday Night Social Ride came and went. It was fun. I got off at work at 6pm, the ride started at 8pm downtown, so I rushed out of work to go buy a costume and makeup (waited in the longest line in the history of Halloween shops). I wanted to be zombie Stawberry Shortcake. I got home and the outfit did not fit me. So, I found an old Snow White costume from when I wanted to wear it to Ren Faire, and tore it up, made it look like a real zombie princess. 

I got ready by 7:15ish/7:30 and rushed downtown on my bicycle with my friend Anthony to meet everybody at the ride. We were so late, but we ran into the ride on the street when they were taking off, so we made it just in time. 

Altogether, it was about a 26 mile night. I was pretty disappointed in how little people dressed up this year. Last year, it was a HUGE costume ride, like there were people who went all out with unicorn horns, wigs, tutus, people went all out. My favorite costume last year was this guy with a saxophone, long curly black wig, leather pant and no shirt. He played his sax enthusiastically at every stop light. But this year, it just wasn't the same. I feel like maybe 20 out of 200 of us dressed up this year, and last year it was more like 140 out of 300 dressed up. Regardless, it was lots of fun for me to be incognito somewhat, (even some of my friends didn't recognize me).