Eye of the Tiger

I had what I think is my best ride ever home from work today. I felt fast and my time says that I was fast:

https://www.strava.com/activities/341362132

It is interesting to me, because I got three flat tires over the last two days. Last night there was a huge thunderstorm with hail. I waited inside my office, worried that I would have to ride in the mess. However, it went by very quickly and also drained very fast, so that when I rode home around 6:00, it was clear blue sky, the air smelled great, and I was making excellent time. However, near the end of my ride, I could tell there was something wrong with my tires. I checked and I had a flat in my front tire, with at least 4 goat head thorns in my tire. Goat head thorns are similar to a push pin or tack and they do exactly what you think riding over one of those would do - they are the bane of most bike riders and they grow along the Jordan River Park trail. Now, I believe that these thorns were blown out on the trail by the storm, but I also believe that when the city cuts the weeds along the trail, that thorns are spewed out on the trail as well. I believe this because they are not careful about weeds being blown onto the trail - perhaps they do some cleanup on this, but I haven't personally witnessed it.

As it turned out, I had thorns in my back tire as well, so I had to replace two tubes that night (I will attempt to patch repair them later). This morning, I decided I would avoid the Parkway, but I made a tactical error when I continued down about 2400 South, instead of turning left on Redwood Road and proceeding to 2100 South. That eventually led me to about 1400 West and the frontage road along 2100 South. I guessed (correctly) that I would have to backtrack all the way back to Redwood Road, so I made the foolish decision to go on part of the Parkway (which was right by). I got another couple thorns in the front tire within 100 yards. Fortunately, I was able to make it into work and I had bought another spare tube (something I always try to have with me for each ride).

I got it all repaired and then rode back, this time turning left on 900 West and going down to 2100 South. I felt that I was making good time here, but especially when I turned onto 2100 South. Then the song Eye of the Tiger was going through my mind and that I why I chose the posting name, and also the image. My favorite animals are cats, with Tigers being my absolute favorite. I thought about that on the way home - Leopards are also one of my favorite cats and I suppose that there are fewer Leopard fans in the world (unscientifically based on the number of Leopard sports teams vs. Tiger teams).

It was a great ride and I am very pleased with the results that I had. I also want to comment that one of the best smells in the world to me is the smell of grass and/or wheat that has been rained on. I also love the smell of freshly cut grass; I was able to smell the former on the ride into work today - heavenly.

Bike ride into work

What a difference 25 PSI to 55 PSI makes! I started out my ride today and noticed the back tire felt a bit low. I checked and sure enough. I could tell an immediate difference and it was a fun ride in to work.

For the last couple of years, I have been riding my bike to and from work during the summer. Last year I started sometime in May and ended sometime in October. This year I started in early June - the full record of my rides is on Strava - I have included the latest ride this morning here:

Ride from home to work in the morning June 23 2015

The first couple of rides each year are pretty difficult as I acclimatize myself to the rigors of the ride. However, the ride is mostly flat, which makes a big difference.

One thing that I have been working on the last couple of days is stressing my legs in preparation for climbing routes. The way I do this is I stand up and peddle hard for a certain distance - I choose a land mark and go as hard as I can until that landmark. I do this several times during the ride. Also, for any actual hills (there are a couple, primarily the overpass of I-215), I push it going up. The last couple of days I have been able to push up that overpass in a count of 50 (meaning at the start of the incline to the top).

Riding a bike like this is very enjoyable. I enjoy looking at the scenery, especially our beautiful mountains and the Jordan River. I have seen a few snakes, many different species of birds, and even a crayfish once.

There are 4 really annoying things on the ride:

• Seasonally, there are bugs (probably aphids, gnats, or flies) that swarm on the trail, particularly the Jordan Parkway. One time it literally felt like it was raining bugs. When I gets bad, I have a neckerchief that I put over my face - it is one of my old Webelos Scout neckerchiefs. 
• On the trail, there are goat head thorns. These are the bane of any bike rider. I have some protections built into my tires (tire liner and sometimes the slime in the tubes). However, these thorns are always a hazard and I tend to get a few flats each year from them. 
• Parts of the trail have graffiti and other man-made issues. Currently there is some pretty vile stuff on the Jordan Parkway trail by the Highway 201 underpass. I am going to report this to the graffiti team at Salt Lake. 
• I have found that certain lights are almost always a problem. 
• I wait at the 5600 West light almost every-time, both to and back. Also, this is probably the most unsafe stretch for bikers as there isn't much of a shoulder and most car drivers don't pay much attention here. 
• There is a traffic circle about 2700 South and maybe 5200 West (right by the Neil Armstrong Academy). I have noticed that consistently West bound traffic will stop for bikers, but East bound traffic will just blow by. 
• The Bangerter Highway crossing is not designed for bikers particularly (except maybe recently - I think there may be a pressure plate that I have hit that triggers the light). In the past, when there is no traffic, I have had to wait until a car that is going the same way as me triggers the light. Also, the wait is 1-2 minutes and I almost never hit the light either way. 
• The 200 and 300 West intersections on 800 South are notoriously short or out of sync with other lights. I have been within 20 yards of the light (200 West), had it turn green, and then go yellow just as I am approaching. 
• West Temple has a long wait for East-West Traffic. Also, I have been there (more then once) when the light doesn't get triggered and had to wait through a whole other cycle. 

All this said, I really enjoy biking in Salt Lake City. Wearing proper equipment, being vigilant of other bikers, pedestrians, and vehicle traffic is extremely important. The exercise is great and I beat the time that it takes to get home via TRAX and MAX (the light rail and bus system in Salt Lake City). I use those methods in the winter.