The Art of Being

Disclaimer: I have not perfected this feat, but do think that it probably is an art.

Today is cool and pretty windy. Late in the morning, I figured that since it was dry, I could go for a bike ride before going to the MN History Center.

I did the same ride as Friday, which is actually 16 miles, not 15, for those of you keeping track - - ooh la la. The first half was cool (literally, with some snow flurries), but dreamy, because the wind was at my back. The second half was pretty challenging.

I remember that the force of gravity is 9.8 meters per second squared. (Thanks Sister Bernadone, and thanks for teaching me math on the side. I suppose I should be grateful that you tried to set me up for the prom, but you had bad taste in boys.) I don't remember how to calculate my speed down a slope (and I probably don't have all the relevant data), but I know that some bursts of wind were stronger than the weight of me, my bike, and the pull of gravity. In other words, I had to pedal to get down a decent hill.

I'm grateful for the hard workout because I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed these days - I know, ridiculous, compared to other people's obligations and issues - and the exercise distracted me and made me tired.

The exhibit at the MN History Center was excellent, although disturbing. It was crazy to see 151-year old photos of the places I was riding this morning. If you are a Minnesotan, I strongly suggest you go to the museum before the exhibit closes in September. If you question my nerdy opinions, my friend Erika can vouch for the quality of the exhibit. There are related exhibits throughout the state to commemorate this historical event.

I'm now going to try to practice being, rather than doing, since doing will start up again tomorrow morning. It's hard, but I think I can achieve this goal, with a little work. (Oh, but that's doing, not being...)

Speaking of goals, check out my progress: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyMS150.

Glorious Bike Ride

So, if you read the previous post, you know that I went for my first outdoor ride of the year on Thursday. It was pretty short (9 miles), pretty wet, and pretty sandy. By the creek, to Lake Harriet, along 42nd back to the house. It was exciting because it was my first ride, but not remarkable otherwise. 

After work on Friday, I got out for a second ride. It was about the same temp (45-50), but sunny, and, well, Friday, so it was a drastically more fun ride. I also kicked it a bit, working up a sweat on my 15-mile ride to Minnehaha Falls, historic Fort Snelling, Mendota, Lilydale, over the 35E bridge, along Shepard Road to Ye Olde Ford Plant, and back home. 

Here's the photographic evidence. Because I was taking a self portrait once I got back home, I had to concentrate hard, and I look serious. But serious with flushed cheeks! And an unzipped jacket and gloves off. 

American Cycling Gothic

Fifteen miles isn't a huge ride, but pretty good for my second ride of the year and at the end of a work day. It was so great to be outside. Everyone I saw was happy and cheerful, and even outgoing, which doesn't come naturally to most Minnesotans. When I rode by the fort, I was trying to imagine what it would have been like for the soldiers who were there about 150 years ago when they encountered such a nice spring day. They probably stunk from months without bathing, and probably were able to soak up the warmth and clean themselves up a bit. 

I then was trying to envision what it would have been like for the Dakota who were interred (the polite way of saying imprisoned) on Pike Island - just below the fort and visible during much of my ride - after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The U.S. government unilaterally voided its treaties with the Dakota in April of 1863 and began expelling the Dakota from the state. Amazingly horrible behavior. Those who survived the winter would only find that springtime led to the opening of the river, which was the way in which many of them were removed. 

I shook off dreary thoughts, but resolved to go to the MN History Center on Sunday (tomorrow) to visit the exhibit to learn more.

Riding along the southern tip of Pike Island, I counted twelve (and I think there were more) fishing boats in the water at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, and was amused about how many people were celebrating the nice day with a fishing trip. I continued along the river and, when I looped up to cross the Mississippi via the I-35E bridge, took this photo of downtown St. Paul in the distance. This is a stretch of river where I row with my boat club. MBC readers: I saw a huge eagle near the regular spot. 

Downtown St. Paul from Lilydale

I had to walk my bike through two pretty icy spots, but otherwise had pretty dry paths with few other people. I did see a guy on a bike who was kind of slow and weaving, taking a lot of breaks. When I was taking a photo, he rode by me and I asked him if he was okay. I thought his blood sugar was low, or something, due to his stopping and weaving. It turns out, he's just a slow rider who weaves and takes a lot of breaks, but we had a nice little chat. On the way back home, near the now-defunct Ford plant, I got a great view of things on the Minneapolis side of the river, due to the lack of foliage on the trees. 

After the ride, I spent the entire night prepping for my second fundraising tea party, which happened today. I forgot (again) to take a picture of all of the food when it was on all the pretty dishes on the table, but did take a picture after the fact, so that you can get a sense of the production. 

My tea party ware, also known as the Eileen Lundberg Collection

Most of my tea party dishes belonged to Eileen Lundberg, my friend Kristin's mom. One of the tables that I use for each tea party belonged to my friend Marcy's grandmother, and some of my dishes that I use for this belonged to my Grandma G. Thanks, Kristin and Marcy, for giving me these things. I'm glad we're able to celebrate the memory of these fine women by eating good snacks and drinking hot beverages. 

Thanks to all of you who attended the parties and donated to the MS Society to help me meet my fundraising goal. I'm at 61%. This is so excellent. Thank you for your support in all ways! I don't think that having the tea parties is the most effective way of fundraising, especially considering how much all the food costs me out of pocket and that I could just donate to the MS Society, but they sure were fun.

I'm not sure when my next ride will be, but I hope it will be soon.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyMS150

Now We're Getting Fancy

Last night, Travis noted on our team's Facebook page that we need to start riding next week, if we haven't been riding yet, to follow the MS Society training plan for the June ride. To help with this, he took my crummy .pdf calendar in the team Google docs folder (with all the maps I uploaded/made) and made a Google calendar. I think I will link the maps for group rides to the calendar. Ooh-la-la.

So, you say we need to start riding next week? Well guess who rode her bike yesterday?!? Woohoo!

For the record, a substantial amount of snow is still on the ground (see photo below; snow makes a good kick-stand!) and there is a ton of sand on streets and bike paths, wide and deepish puddles on bike paths, and water and potholes on city streets. The rain we are supposed to get Saturday will help with sand and snow, but the ground is frozen, so the water has a dilemma: pool in a comfy spot, or find an unobstructed storm sewer?

I took a picture of my wet and dirty bike. I'm not sure whether you can get a good view. I should've cleaned my bike before putting it away... I hope I can ride a short bit tonight. It is supposed to rain on Saturday and maybe snow on Sunday.

Oh, and we aren't just fancy with our technology. No, no, no. I've been waiting to mention this special development, planning to unveil it when the time was right. What is it? Are you ready? Ok.

It might be hard to see (I accidentally deleted the zoomed-in photo and now it is dark out). On the full-sized photo of my bike,check out my new handlebar wrap job! (The bike shop did it.)  It is so symmetrical! So not unravel-ish! So not white with smudgy hand prints! And, despite this being a family-friendly blog, I can't resist saying that it is even a little bad*ss!

Let the training begin!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyMS150

Springtime(ish) Gambling

Each spring, I feel like I should earn a Junior Meteorologist badge, or perhaps pull out some scarves and rings to go along with my reading of tea leaves, as I try to figure out when is a good time to ride. There's so much to consider.

You've got this type of information, which suggested a few days ago that Sunday afternoon might be a viable riding option. Now, it isn't looking like so much fun, but maybe today or Friday after work will be a good time to pull out my bike for the first time this season.

(I was going to ride to work yesterday, but there was too much ice in the 22-degree morning for my comfort level, although the 44-degree afternoon would have made for a great ride home.)

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. When we do our spring training rides and we're trying to figure out whether the rain is a real threat (downpour the whole time? occasional drizzle?), I have found this to be a good tool.

I wanted to keep it a secret so that everyone just thinks that I'm very astute when it comes to the weather, but that wouldn't be fair. This is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.


Isn't it cool? So, at 7 a.m. Saturday, there will be a greater likelihood of rain. At the same time, the chances of it being a heavier rain increase. We might even get a little thunder. 

Ride on.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyMS150 

First Outdoor Ride of the Year?

I've been a little quiet with this blog over the past week partly because I'm cranky about the ice and snow and people don't enjoy my whining. At least that's what my parents told me day in and day out for probably 15 years. We used to have a game my family would play in the car: "Let's see how long Maggie can go without talking." It closely resembled the other family game called, "Maggie will get a quarter if she doesn't talk until we get to Chicago."

I digress.

I also have been relatively quiet this past week because I prepared for, and hosted, the first of my two tea parties. The second one will be this weekend. I'm still not sure how it works, fundraising goal-wise, but they are fun nonetheless.

Speaking of fundraising, due to a surge yesterday in response to info I posted on Facebook, I'm now at 52% of my goal. Excellent! Thanks!

Now all I have to do is hold up my end of the bargain and get on that dang bike! It will happen. And soon. I'm very anxious to ride, and will have to be an eager rider, since the 150-mile bike ride is just over two months away, and the 250ish-mile ride is just over three months away, and much training will need to happen in that compressed timeframe.

The high temps all week are going to be 38-45, which is excellent. I have been driving along different routes, paths, etc. where I normally ride, scoping out the ice. (I will not ride on ice.) The mornings are cold, so what melted the night before freezes. We are almost to the point, though, where the melting is happening away from the road.

I think I might try riding to/from work some day this week. I think I found an ice-free route. Regardless, I'm thinking that the forecasted warm temps and possible rain on Saturday might clear things up for a ride on Sunday. I've got a tentative date with this new riding partner, who, based on the photo below, looks to be at a similar skill level.

Woohoo! Bike rides! Outside! I'm so excited, I can't really sit still.

Couldn't make it to a tea party? Got an IRS refund? Excited to help get me the last 48% of the way? Here's my link, which you're welcome to share with others: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyMS150

Bikes and Cars - a Harmonious Combo?

As an occasional bike commuter and frequent rider on city streets, I ride somewhat aggressively to stay safe. I follow the law, but will take up a whole lane at times if that will keep me from getting side-swiped. I will always go through a roundabout like a car, rather than try to cross it on a bike path. I will use arm gestures to indicate where I'm going, and will shout at cars as warranted. I rarely curse loudly enough for others to hear.

As a driver in a city with a ton of cyclists, I'm always looking out for bikes and drive as though they are always on the road. Because they are, even in the middle of snowstorms. And I criticize drivers who don't do the same: the guy in the pick-up driving in the bike lane for a mile, the lady talking in her cell phone during an entire rush hour and holding the phone with a hand that would otherwise be used to switch on her turn signal, the college student texting, etc.

And then there was this joker yesterday - he had not brushed the many of inches of snow off his car. He used his windshield wipers only. Snow blanketed the side windows and the rear window. I don't know how he saw any cars - or cyclists who don't have a bunch of metal and fiberglass shielding them from impact.

Is there a way to reach these people? So far, all I can come up with is getting more people on their bikes. The more people and their family members ride, the more aware they will be as drivers.

(Note: the light turned green in this photo right when the shutter closed, and the phone was immediately put down.)

"The longest road out is the shortest road home."

I don't know if this Irish saying is always true. I can think of plenty long trips back home on my bike.

On the way back from my parents' cabin, I was daydreaming about some of my favorite bike routes. I was thinking about a fun one from the north side of St. Paul to White Bear Lake. I remembered, though, that like many spring rides, it rained and my map, which I tend to tuck in the leg of my shorts (see photo, from another ride), turned into paper mache pulp.

I then got pretty pumped, remembering that this fall I bought a map holder for my bike that I haven't used yet.

I cannot wait for the snow to melt so I can get on my bike! Erin go braugh!