Totally Unrelated to Biking

But I just had to show off my Halloween Costume for this year (as all that know me well know that I am a costume fanatic).
Miss Argentina - from Beetlejuice...

A new perspective

In searching for a new job - I have concluded that there are none (sadly) within the 5 miles radius from my house that I wanted and hoped to get (where I could ride to work) and b) I need to re-vamp my biking schedule.

Starting tomorrow - I am going to be leaving my car at work - riding home in the afternoons and then riding into work in the mornings, so I may drive home Thursday. 

This will give me a garantee'd 26 miles a day on the days that I decide to do this (4 days out of the week is the goal) and then my weekends won't be such a struggle to make up the extra miles (goal is 150 miles a week - to slowly increase each month by 50 miles give or take).

This will also enable me to - should I pursue a job with another company in the same area be able to store my bike (regardless of if they have a place in the building) on the days I ride in that I know the bike will be safe regardless.

So - goals are updated and changed.  Here's hoping

Tampa Bay

I love my morning rides into work.  I especially love them this time of year when the weather is perfect all day and cool at night and first thing in the morning.  It always feels good to ride.  Makes me almost want to not stop at work and just keep going and see how far I can go until I can't take it anymore.

Training mode is back.  In full force.  :D

Six Gap

My training was going really really good with Six Gap - I felt pumped and I felt ready.  I still was unsure how I would do on the mountains/hills, but still - it would be worth it.


Until I got the plague the week beforehand.
Someone at work determined she no longer needed to call off when she was sick.  She came into work, and thus, infected a LOT of other people.  I got that bug.  I got it on the 17th of September.  
The Tuesday before Six Gap it seemed as if it was going away, for good.  
Wednesday morning, I woke up and it was like something happened overnight that made it 3x worse.
I was miserable....
Thursday involved an Urgent Care visit and the doc telling me I have sinusitis (sinus infection), laryngitis and acute bronchitis (meaning that due to the sickness, I have this).  Was loaded up with drugs and told to NOT do the race.
I went to Six Gap anyways.
We drove Friday night to Tallahassee and then Saturday to Gainesville, GA to stay in our hotel.
Woke up at 5am the next morning and got ready to head to the race.
The the rain started.
Torrential downpour right when we got there.  Then come to find out that the rain was going to stop for about 3 hours but then it would start right back up, if not worse than what it was, right about the time you get to 'Hogpin' gap.  Which would make that mountain more brutal than it already is. 
B-Man said 'Nope, not doing it - too hard and too evil with the rain.' ..he's been riding for years if he states he doesn't want to be miserable, then it's probably with reason.
I thought about it and decided it would not be in MY best interest to ride either.  It was cold up there in the Blue Ridge, and I had only been on 4 days worth of antibiotics..I still had the worst cough known to man and still didn't feel fully like..ME.
So - NO SIZ GAP THIS YEAR :(
Just means that next year I have to do ALL 100 miles, and not just 50.
My antibiotics end tomorrow.  And I will be back in training mode for it then.

SIGH - WTF Tampa...Really?

Another cyclist was killed today, this morning..right by my work area (Spruce Street)

This makes the fifth fatality in the Tampa Bay Area for cyclists in a month's time.

This is so..embarrassing..and also motivation that I need to get the HELL out of this area as soon as possible.

But ..>Tampa isn't going to do anything about it.  NO no, there's 'nothing they can do' I'm sure /end sarcasm.

I drive and I cycle.  I am aware of the rules of the road for BOTH aspects of transportation and know when and how to change them accordingly.  I know that is is not my RIGHT to drive, it is a privilege that is given to me by the state I live in based on me following the rules of the road and taking a competency test to show I do know and can obey these rules.  Everyone around us thinks that they are ENTITLED to drive and that is not the case AT ALL.  It can be taken away from you ...(well, it seems not in Florida since that jackass Congressman who has 5 DUI's got the ok from our State to re-apply for your license AFTER YOU'VE HAD 5 DUI"s) but it is not in the Constitution or anything else that you HAVE to drive - and it is your RIGHT to drive.  NO, it is a  privilege and it is your RESPONSIBITLY to drive safely and responsibly.  PERIOD.

That goes for cycling too.  There are rules of the road for cyclists as well (I even have them tagged in here on one of my entries per state should you want to read them).  And cyclists need to follow those as well.  Don't be dicks, don't be rude, just ride and enjoy it.  I know there are a TON of people who don't follow the rules, I have rode with them on occasion and it has made me feel uneasy and thus, I stopped riding with them.  You need LIGHTS if you are out at night - you need to go WITH traffic (and not against) and if you do use the sidewalk, you need to understand that NOBODY sees you on the road OR SIDEWALK and do not assume that ANYONE sees you EVER...be on alert, be on lookout and be SAFE.  Please.

I know that this just gives me more incentive to move out of this State and get to a better place.  One that recognizes and acknowledges that bikes are around and bikes are here to stay and ...they are good for the environment, society and everyone as a whole and they CAN be in a community with cars just as easily.  I hope one day very soon to get there.  For now, I'm starting to wonder if the Tampa Bay Area is ..well for lack of a better terms..just FUCKED in this aspect.