And to this it was almost ruined...

Dentist office called me this morning to tell me my cleaning appointment will be tomorrow.

However, they no longer provide for my new insurance company that I have (thanks new job).

So..no appointment tomorrow morning. Bicycle Riding will continue as scheduled :-).

Awesome.

Wednesdays Biking Lesson: Sunglasses

Five years ago, my best friend Brendan, bought me these sunglasses.

They are the most expensive pair of sunglasses that I have ever owned or have. Because of this, I hardly ever would wear them for fear of them breaking, getting lost or someone just getting eff'd up.

The cool thing about these glasses, is that they come with interchangeable lenses. And it came with two other sets (one set being yellow, the other being orange). I had no idea what each of the colors did, so I never really did anything with them and always have just worn the DARK glasses.

I needed eye protection while riding, so just out of curiousity today, I took the Dark lenses out and put the yellow lenses in.
WOW! Does it brighten morning up!! I had no problems seeing things while riding before the sun came up! It was awesome. so I look up what the color lenses do on the web-site:
"Vibrant lens that increases visual acuity in low light or flat conditions."
It was awesome. I might start even wearing them when I drive at night. LOL.

So I see that Brendan bought me these glasses (from his bike shop) for a purpose I guess.
Now I'm just going to be more paranoid about loosing them because the power of 'awesomeness' they hold. :)

The Plan: Week 2 - Three Days and Gas Reduction Plan

This week - Ride Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (Wednesday and Friday I have appointments at lunch so I will need the car).

Weekend we'll ride to Lenny's at some point. Car will be used for our Orlando trip on Saturday for the show (My Morning Jacket) for the Greek's last birthday present.

I also decided to knock the gas fund down everypaycheck. I had it where I was getting $30 dollars a week in gas...now it is down to $30 a paycheck. That should motivate me to ride the beast even more.

This morning to work wasn't bad. As long as I leave before the sun comes up, the sweat factor/heat/humidity isn't too bad. Added the rack on the back today so that IF I did go through some water, I wouldn't have a dirt trail up the back. Helped out.
I'll be riding home too. :-)

Sunday: Different Ride, Different Time

So, I paid off the car on Friday. What a feeling of relief that is. Hello Rags to Riches... (ok well not really..but it is nice to have that off my plate, after five years).
The weather has been ....evil lately. I've been wanting to ride, but while Fay is still around (tropical storm JOKE, if you ask me), the rain, not raining has been a bugger. And I desperately need to get a commuter bike. That will be a definite search after the Portland trip.
So the only riding I have done (no thanks weather) was today. Woke up early and did our usual commute to Lenny's in Clearwater. I decided to try something different: Ride Casual. Meaning, casual clothes (But with biking shorts underneath), and NO CLIPLESS SHOES. I just rode with my polka dot slip on Keds.
Oh, what a pain in the ass that was. The streets were wet..and with no rack on the back of my bike, the water just went all up my butt/back area. Then because everything was wet, my shoes kept slipping off the pedals. So that is something I definitely won't go without ever again. They make the biking shoes for a reason, so I learned today.
But we rode there and back, getting a little wet both ways. It wasn't too bad.
I do plan on riding everyday this week to work except Wednesday when I see the personal trainer at the gym.

Edmunds.Com

The book shows you a website to go to that has a 'True Cost to Own' link. There you can enter in your information of your car and it will tell you how much your car is REALLY costing you. Not just the price amount you paid, but in gas, depreciation, etc over a certain period of time.

http://www.edmunds.com
(Click on the 'True Cost to Own' link)

The only bad thing? The dates for the used cars don't go past 2003. So I will have to do the worksheet in the book I mentioned before today. When I do, I will post the results.

No biking today. Tropical storm has put rain in the proverbial forcast for the next couple of days. I also have an appointment at lunch. Curses.

No Hurricane in sight, but I did get my book

In the mail today:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087574/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219256734&sr=8-1

Amazing feedback. I would seriously suggest everyone read this if they are considering taking ANY type of journey, challenge without a car....

Monday Monday 8/18

Ok, so there is word of a possible Hurricane (Fay) coming right for us.
What do I do? I ride my bike to work, with the garantee from the bf that he will pick me up if necessary.
However, no rain occurs the entire day and I'm able to ride my bike home with no problems. Not a drop of rain, nothing.

Total Miles: 9.74 miles
Average Speed: 17mph
Mood: Accomplished. :-). I was happy to start my goal on the right track. Sadly, the only time I'll get to ride for the rest of this week to work and back is Friday...but that's ok. I'll just up it more next week when I don't have as many appointments.

Also - need to get new batteries for the Cateye (my odomoter, tripometer, speedometer). It's only acknowledging on half the ride. Annoying when/if I actually attempt to train.

Saturday...in the park...

The boyfriend's birthday.
We rode our bikes to our favorite breakfast diner (Lenny's on US19) and back.
Also stopped by the hardware store and picked up some supplies and the post office.
Found an excellent path between Gulf to Bay and Nursery Roads too that doesn't put you on US19.

Total Ride: About 10 miles.
Feelings During the Ride: A little shaky early in the morning (needed foods I think), but after eating, just fine. Still note: I need to get new Capri's that are black.
And a commuter bike. Cause while I do love my Trek WSD 1000. I do not like leaving 'my baby' out of view.

The Start of a Beautiful Thing...Week 1

Decided to start the 'carless' option earlier.
One of our favorite restaurants is only 4.87 miles from the house.
Friday, after I got home, we hopped on the bikes (only slightly geared up as we were riding casual) and headed to Thai House in Largo Mall.
When we were done eating, got back on the bikes and rode home.
We got home before 10pm and I felt accomplished.

I got ready for bed, as we decided to get up early and head to our favorite breakfast diner in the am on the bikes and did not want to miss this opportunity.

Total Miles: about 10 rode.
Feeling after: Beyond accomplished
Lesson to Learn: Must get another pair of cargo/capri pants to wear on the bicycle. Black..as it never shows sweat. ;-)

Reality, TAKE One

In doing this realization of being annoyed with the car, bike deal ...here is something that I need to admit to myself:

• The weather is not always going to be nice (for example we are under a hurricane watch now and I have to go to work tomorrow), sooo
  I might have to drive.
• I do sometimes have appointments at the doctor's etc that have to be taken care of sooooo
  I might have to drive.
• The car, will be, in fact, PAID FOR in less than a month now sooooo
  it would be silly to get rid of it and go completely cold turkey

So, instead of doing this bike thing cold turkey, as I had originally planned, I will work on SLOWLY and gradually becoming carless.
The boyfriend is in full effect with this idea as well.
We commenced our efforts this past weekend. Please, read below.

And so it begins...

This all started for a number of reasons:

• I started cycling this year and love it.
• I'm sick of paying out the @$$ for gas and it's prices.
• The exercise alone for cycling is amazing.
• It's good for the environment AND my health.
• I'm planning a move to Portland, OR in four years time (or less...depending on life) and need to get acclimated.
• My car, which will be paid off next month (September) is starting to have problems that will cost more than she is worth to fix (she a 1998). And soo....

I want to be ready to be completely car free when the expense gets too much to fix her.

I thought about going cold turkey, but the though of not having 'my car' (yes, I will admit it's a control thing for the most part) and feeling like my freedom is being taken away just like THAT, scares me.
So this weekend, I will start the 'baby steps' process. I will prepare throughout the weekend by starting to buy the needed items (will post those later), resources for transit (also another post) and making routes to cycle most of my life for now on.
And next week... I will attempt to go completely car-less.

Stay tuned. Daily progress will be recorded starting on Monday, August 18th.