Winter Bike Commuting

I’ve been biking for years, first on a mountain bike and then on a road bike. When I first started about 10 years ago – I bought a cheap mountain bike – a Murray. It’s a tank, heavy steel, big fat knobby tires, cheap gears, but at the time it was fine; I loved riding through the woods and even on the road.

I finally bought a road bike when I was planning a 100 mile ride on the eastern shore of Maryland – the Seagull ride. That ride did it I got hooked on biking particularly road biking, even if I did crash at the 60 mile point and ended up in riding to the hospital in an ambulance. I was lucky I looked a lot worst than I was; the thing that I remember most vividly was how painful it was being strapped to a board for the ambulance ride. Every bump seemed like a ditch the size of a bus.

But enough of that, one of my 2011 New Year resolution was to ride to work on my bike no matter the weather. I geared up for foul weather and even got the old mountain bike in shape for the worst days. I was fairly certain I would only have to deal with cold and rain, and a little snow. Washington’s winters are generally mild; or rather they were until last year.

As usual I was wrong, the weather has been offal, but I had a resolution to fulfill – I couldn’t bale on it after less than one month. I road home in a white out the night before last – I made it all the way without getting off my bike. When I left the office there was less than 1 inch of snow on ground and the roads were wet and a little icy but not too bad; by the time I got home an additional inch and a half had fallen.

I was thrilled that I made it – it was fun, challenging, and exhausting. I’m going to keep it up – although maybe work on finding a better used mountain bike but nevertheless push on. At the same time I guess I should issue a stupidity alarm. I am tempted to say that this verges on the stupid. Granted I was prepared for the weather, I was light up like a Christmas tree – complete with flashing light, my bike was equipped with big knobby tires, and warm cloths, but you can’t control the drivers – they present the real danger. My neighborhood has more than its share of enormous pick-ups and drivers with excess macho. Don’t get me wrong so far they have been much more patient and considerate of me of the road than they are in good weather – they probably think I’m touched.

However, Washington is what it is, a transient population with a high percentage of people not accustom to foul weather driving – the unpredictability of my companions on the road and their uncertain ability to control their massive hunks of steel (more plastic these day, but you get my point) is my one fear.

Well, I will have to admit to another concern – going down hill on a snow covered road – not as much fun as when it is dry.

Despite my misgiving about the intelligence of my resolution I will continue biking to work, but for those of you that would like to join me on the road I will offer a few words of caution. Be careful, use flashing lights, keep your glasses clean, assume that the gas drivers are a hair’s breath away from being out of control, and don’t be reluctant to dismount and walk when it the weather outpaces your skills on the bike. Hell, it’s a ball riding, even in foul weather; but it is no fun being in the emergency room.

Top Photo: Decked out in my bad weather biking gear - if this doesn't embarrass my sons I give up!

Middle & Bottom Photos: Snow Storm as seen from my front porch upon arrival at home from my bike commute.

Traveling to Peru

November 16, 2010

Well, I am finally on my way to Peru. In fact, I’m writing on the plane. I am on the first leg of the trip – Miami and then on to Lima from there. I am staying in the Miraflores neighborhood.

This trip should be more interesting; more relaxed than the trip to Australia or Chicago – both of which were bears – very productive bears but too busy to be anything other than work.

I am spending 2 full days in Lima; not much pressure of this part of the trip – mostly meet and greet, show the flag and make sure that as many people remember us as possible. I do have a dinner meeting on Thursday night with the Clinton Foundation representatives for Peru. It should be interesting they are dedicating big money to Peru and rumor has it that they are frustrated with the lack of progress – loads of dedicated money not being spent – everything too slow. I can help them spent the money.

After Lima I’m off to Arequipa, Arequipa is the main event of the trip. I am giving a lecture on technological procurement to health ministry officials, local ophthalmologist and the heads of a couple of Hospitals. I have known the main players in Arequipa the longest; some of them have become friends. It was the group from/Arequipa that were behind making me an honorary member of the Peruvian Ophthalmology Society.

I am hand carrying about 6 thousand dollars in technology for the Arequipa group. Hand carrying is a NGO (Non Government Organization) way of saying smuggling. The duties are so onerous in the developing world that you practically have no choice; unless you are either willing to pay a bribe or get a Certificate of Donation processed. These countries are trying to protect the local business men; the problem is their mark-up can easily double the price and that is after customs are paid. The most notorious country is Egypt – they require the NGOs to purchase all items from in-country vendors regardless of where it is manufacture red – it’s outrageous – this is free equipment, paid for by the NGO. So we use the euphemism ‘hand carry’ to cover suitcase technology. It has never been a problem; US customs once in Miami gave me a lecture 3 or 4 years ago, but that has been the only time it was ever an issue.

After Arequipa I go to Piura for a couple of days – it is in the far north, desert country. It is so far north that the inhabitants refer to themselves as Piurians not Peruvians. Finally back to Lima and then home. I will miss Thanksgiving by a day.

Andrew is having one of the Mike’s over for dinner and Rob and Vickie are coming, so the house will still be full. I am sure it is not decided yet and won’t be until the day before Thanksgiving but Marilyn and Andrew are playing with the idea of not having turkey and the usual fixing. I can’t say I blame her – it is a ton of work; but for me it just would not be Thanksgiving without the usual traditions. Mind you the usual traditions usually do not involve much on my part – Marilyn would say that I have a tradition of not doing any work that day so my opinion is not relevant.

On the way to the Metro (Metro sucks by the way – the last Metro scandal involves the escalators – it seems they bought the model that has the worse service record – are you surprised?) this morning

Miami to Lima - Several hours later

I just finished dinner; it’s a good thing I’m from Pittsburgh and don’t have a discriminating palette, despite the questionable cuisine, I like dining on a plane; I eat slowly (no where to go) and listen to music and every once in a while I have a glass of wine to smooth out the trip.

The trip from Miami to Lima is a little over 5 hours – not so bad. I have music and the Kindle to keep me busy. The one thing about these trips that burn my ass is putting the seat back. Most airlines make people bring the seat back to the upright position at least for meals – not the case tonight. The only saving grace is aisle seats; I’d have a hard time if I was locked into one of those casket-like middle or window seats.

In some ways I am a little glad not to be home for Thanksgiving – I always fixed Mike (my dog – passed a couple months ago) a plate, I’ll miss that, it was special for him. Of course, that was before he took over the kitchen with rotating chefs – now if you want to talk about a discriminating palette. Mike in his old age acted like a diva New York food critic, and your Marilyn made it a daily act of mercy to read his mind and prepare just the right meal to satisfy Mike ‘The Dog.’ This bizarre behavior must have something to do with latent Catholicism.

I just flew over Panama - another trip across the equator. I’m getting a little tired of typing on a ‘V’ shaped computer screen and keyboards – the seat in front of me is reclined. One last thing before I leave for the evening – I finally got a blackberry smart phone. The advantage is that it has international ‘push’ email and international chat; also international calling, but too expensive to answer except in an emergency.

More later.