I really like my Rivendell bicycle and riding it makes me happy

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William

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Aug 8, 2012, 5:19:38 PM8/8/12
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It's a hilly 40-mile commute from my home in El Cerrito to my offic in South Hayward.  I deliberately take the long way through the hills (Grizzly-Skyline-Redwood Road) to get more exercise, avoid more cars and enjoy the scenery.  It was a stunningly beautiful morning.  My A. Homer Hilsen rode spectacularly well.  I'm always in a far better mood in the office when I've ridden in.  I feel truly blessed to be the owner of such a fine bicycle and to have my health and fitness that allows me to enjoy it.  I hope some day to work less so I can ride more.  Riding my bicycle makes me feel good.  

Brian Hanson

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Aug 8, 2012, 5:56:35 PM8/8/12
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Me too :)  I love taking the long way round to work (15 miles vs 8) these days.  It helps that less folks are on the trail in the longer section I'm taking. 

Brian (alternating on the AHH and Hunqa these days)
Seattle, WA

On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 2:19 PM, William <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:
It's a hilly 40-mile commute from my home in El Cerrito to my offic in South Hayward.  I deliberately take the long way through the hills (Grizzly-Skyline-Redwood Road) to get more exercise, avoid more cars and enjoy the scenery.  It was a stunningly beautiful morning.  My A. Homer Hilsen rode spectacularly well.  I'm always in a far better mood in the office when I've ridden in.  I feel truly blessed to be the owner of such a fine bicycle and to have my health and fitness that allows me to enjoy it.  I hope some day to work less so I can ride more.  Riding my bicycle makes me feel good.  

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PATRICK MOORE

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Aug 8, 2012, 5:58:15 PM8/8/12
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Hardly epic, but I did ride 14.37 miles to the PO today; direct route
is about 3 miles; both figures rt. 2003 Curt.
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"When in Rome, do as they done in Milledgeville."

Flannery O'Connor

-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
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3wheelin

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Aug 8, 2012, 5:44:00 PM8/8/12
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William,
I couldn't agree more. I Love riding my Sam or Homer along the river
early in the morning. I stop a lot and watch the deer play in the
fields, and enjoy the fact that I am lucky enough to own such fine
bikes. I go a lot slower than i used to when I owned carbon, but now i
always look forward to my rides and enjoy every second in the
saddle.....I even have baskets and fenders now...and think they're
cool..............funny what a fine bike can do to your mental
attitude...

Michael Hechmer

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Aug 8, 2012, 7:10:05 PM8/8/12
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Some years ago, before I retired, a local radio station interviewed me as part of a public service effort to promote bike commuting.  When they asked why I did it, I said because I really enjoy it.  They prompted me about loosing weight, about heart health, about saving gas.  When I kept saying that those were all great benefits but I commuted because I liked it, they refused to air the segment!  Personally I don't think anyone will stick to it if they don't enjoy it.  

Put your joy into it!

Michael

jimD

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Aug 8, 2012, 9:05:26 PM8/8/12
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Great story.
I commute pretty regularly. I do it for the same reason you do, it really is fun.

If circumstances cause me to drive to work several days in a row I start to realize that riding the bike isn't 
real 'convenient'.  Driving is 'convenient' and a real drag.

So there's a bit of a catch-22. Folks need to do their bike commute enough to get past the 'not so convenient' factor 
and get to experience the fun factor.

Also, some people seem to have an irrational fear of sweat.  The common belief seems to be that any physical effort must be followed by a hot shower. Unless it is super hot I get by without showering (don't tell anyone).  
Maybe I've just been lucky and the sweat police have yet to catch me.

Cheers,
JimD


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Peter Pesce

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Aug 8, 2012, 10:08:26 PM8/8/12
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Michael-

I guess "Local Man Does Something Because He Enjoys It" just isn't considered news! :)

Pete in CT

Stonehog

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Aug 8, 2012, 11:11:48 PM8/8/12
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I found that getting past the first month is the hard part. This got me up to 3-4 days of commuting per week. After that, I started to dread the days I had to drive. 

Brian ( currently nursing a sore hamstring and hating the motorcycle commute)
Seattle

Joe K

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Aug 8, 2012, 11:33:47 PM8/8/12
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Thanks, William. So nice to see the simple joy of riding expressed.

My rides aren't usually that long, but I enjoy every one.

Joe

On Aug 8, 11:11 pm, Stonehog <stone...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I found that getting past the first month is the hard part. This got me up to 3-4 days of commuting per week. After that, I started to dread the days I had to drive.
>
> Brian ( currently nursing a sore hamstring and hating the motorcycle commute)
> Seattle
>
> On Aug 8, 2012, at 6:05 PM, jimD <rasterd...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Great story.
> > I commute pretty regularly. I do it for the same reason you do, it really is fun.
>
> > If circumstances cause me to drive to work several days in a row I start to realize that riding the bike isn't
> > real 'convenient'.  Driving is 'convenient' and a real drag.
>
> > So there's a bit of a catch-22. Folks need to do their bike commute enough to get past the 'not so convenient' factor
> > and get to experience the fun factor.
>
> > Also, some people seem to have an irrational fear of sweat.  The common belief seems to be that any physical effort must be followed by a hot shower. Unless it is super hot I get by without showering (don't tell anyone).
> > Maybe I've just been lucky and the sweat police have yet to catch me.
>
> > Cheers,
> > JimD
>
> > On Aug 8, 2012, at 4:10 PM, Michael Hechmer wrote:
>
> >> Some years ago, before I retired, a local radio station interviewed me as part of a public service effort to promote bike commuting.  When they asked why I did it, I said because I really enjoy it.  They prompted me about loosing weight, about heart health, about saving gas.  When I kept saying that those were all great benefits but I commuted because I liked it, they refused to air the segment!  Personally I don't think anyone will stick to it if they don't enjoy it.
>
> >> Put your joy into it!
>
> >> Michael
>
> >> On Wednesday, August 8, 2012 5:19:38 PM UTC-4, William wrote:
> >> It's a hilly 40-mile commute from my home in El Cerrito to my offic in South Hayward.  I deliberately take the long way through the hills (Grizzly-Skyline-Redwood Road) to get more exercise, avoid more cars and enjoy the scenery.  It was a stunningly beautiful morning.  My A. Homer Hilsen rode spectacularly well.  I'm always in a far better mood in the office when I've ridden in.  I feel truly blessed to be the owner of such a fine bicycle and to have my health and fitness that allows me to enjoy it.  I hope some day to work less so I can ride more.  Riding my bicycle makes me feel good.
>
> >> --
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> >> To view this discussion on the web visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/t0ic97mPXVYJ.
> >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
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Mike

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Aug 8, 2012, 11:43:09 PM8/8/12
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Last Sat it was over 100 degrees here in Portland. I was working all day with a fair amount of the day spent in my windowless office. Normally my commute is about 4 miles and I do it in my work clothes.  I knew it was gonna be hot so I packed shorts and a t-shirt and rode home through Forest Park and then across the St Johns Bridge. It was really nice to be in the park at dusk. Saw only a few runners. It was so quiet and peaceful, a nice way to wind down from work

--mike

Matt Beebe

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Aug 9, 2012, 5:02:25 AM8/9/12
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Good post William.    My ride to work is about 17 miles, and I do it everyday.     The shortest route would be 12 miles but has heavy automobile traffic so I never go that way.    I leave early in the morning, before dawn mostly, and ride while the sun is rising and auto traffic is at a minimum.   I regularly see some wildlife along the way-   deer, foxes, coyote, wild turkeys, and the occasional fisher or owl.     In the past year I have been seeing more cyclists as well.   I love it even in the dead of winter.   On the ride home the traffic is heavier but it is still better than not riding.    If I lived too far from work to ride, I would move, or find a different job.




On Wednesday, August 8, 2012 5:19:38 PM UTC-4, William wrote:

pb

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Aug 9, 2012, 1:33:26 PM8/9/12
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OK...  I'm impressed.  Do you round-trip it?
 
My commute is 35 miles with about 3000 feet of climibiong, and I have difficulty motivating myself to do it on any kind of a regular basis.  Damn.  I have to get on it again.
 
Peter

Robert F. Harrison

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Aug 9, 2012, 2:15:28 PM8/9/12
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It's great you enjoy your commute...a little more than I'd care for, but it sounds stunning.

I have a 1 miles commute which I do everyday, rain or shine. I head straight to work in the morning, still dark out, but I do manage to toss in a few miles on the way home so that I feel like I've had a bike ride. 

Bob

On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 11:19 AM, William <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:
It's a hilly 40-mile commute from my home in El Cerrito to my offic in South Hayward.  I deliberately take the long way through the hills (Grizzly-Skyline-Redwood Road) to get more exercise, avoid more cars and enjoy the scenery.  It was a stunningly beautiful morning.  My A. Homer Hilsen rode spectacularly well.  I'm always in a far better mood in the office when I've ridden in.  I feel truly blessed to be the owner of such a fine bicycle and to have my health and fitness that allows me to enjoy it.  I hope some day to work less so I can ride more.  Riding my bicycle makes me feel good.  

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William

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Aug 9, 2012, 3:38:44 PM8/9/12
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I have done the round trip a few times.  I live one mile from a BART station on either end, also, so usually I'm just doing the bike and BART commute.  I'm lucky enough to work at the same company as my wife.  We carpool in together in the morning with a bike on the roof.  She leaves early and I work the full day.  I bike and BART home.  Every Friday (she doesn't work Fridays) I do the long ride in.  In a good week, I'll do it Friday and another day.  

Rick

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Aug 9, 2012, 5:17:45 PM8/9/12
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My commute is a little short of five, four of that on a path until I
get into downtown and some heavy traffic. I always try to do it if
it's possible -- sometimes I have to leave the office and go too far
for the bike --- so it winds up being about three days a week. I'm
fortunate to have a gym in the basement with a shower for when I get a
bit sweaty, which is usually the case in Atlanta in the summer. (I set
my high-temp commuting record this year with a return leg at 105;
comparatively moderate Georgia winters have kept my low at 18).

The best part is always the ride home. Its the perfect way to get the
kinks out and shed the work day worries before meeting back up with
the family. Sadly, I was required to drive today . . .

Rick.

jimD

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Aug 9, 2012, 10:49:38 PM8/9/12
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35 miles and 3k feet of climbing?
Now that IS inconvenient.
It really isn't a commute it is more like an expedition.
Way to go!
JimD
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SteveD

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Aug 10, 2012, 11:43:04 AM8/10/12
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My commutes these days have been hit and miss  because I've been working mostly from home the past three weeks. When I do ride into the office (Redmond from Seattle), it's 4.5 miles going (using the MS bike shuttle to get across the 520 bridge), and about 10 miles coming back home, taking the 520 trail to 92nd Ave. This commute is quite different from a year ago when a rode a 16-mile round trip from my house to Elliott St, year-round.

Anyway, I really enjoy taking the Atlantis instead of a car for a lot of reasons, one is that I definitely feel ready to go once I get into the office; just feel a lot more alert after the ride. Another is I really love being free from all the car traffic.

Now that I'm working from home, I'm trying to get my butt out of bed early to do a 17-mile round trip to Log Boom before going up to my Command Center to start work. So far, I've been remiss; no excuses.

-Steve
Seattle




On Wednesday, August 8, 2012 2:19:38 PM UTC-7, William wrote:

Manuel Acosta

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Aug 10, 2012, 12:26:36 PM8/10/12
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Will, I love that route. That was the daily route everyday. Are you planning to do any randonneur events anytime soon? Legs feel good to jump on one.

William

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Aug 10, 2012, 2:30:51 PM8/10/12
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Manny,

You should do the Santa Cruz 300k on the 11th.  You'll kill it.  Oh, that's tomorrow?
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