88th outdoor ride of 2022 - Thursday, 9/29/2022

2022 mileage: 3543.5

For a couple of weeks now, my left front tire has been failing. Each day when I came out to ride, it would be flat, and I'd have to air it up. So I knew that a day of reckoning was approaching. Today, that day arrived.

I rode the Platt/Packard Square (13.6 miles) in 1:43, and for the most part it went well. But in the last couple of miles of the ride, my pedaling was extremely labored, as my speed continued to decrease, and then, just as I turned into our complex. I found that that tire had gone almost completely flat. So tomorrow I'll have to execute a change before I ride.

Relive video of today's ride

87th outdoor ride of 2022 - Tuesday, 9/27/2022

 2022 mileage: 3529.9

This morning I pushed myself out the door at 10:15 in decidedly cooler weather (52° I began, up to 57° at the end, and I realize the temperature won't be climbing during my rides for too much longer) and rode the Packard/Platt Square (13.5 miles) in 1:44. I was happy to see Doug Franklin again today, too, as I was finishing up my ride (with about 2 miles to go).

I am riding for the second consecutive year in the Great Cycle Challenge, a nationwide fundraiser to help address the issue of childhood cancer. The goal is to ride at least 200 miles during the month, and I bumped over that threshold today. Last year I did over 500 miles for the month, and while I am not doing as well this year in either mileage or in fundraising, I am grateful to have the opportunity to do whatever I can for this important cause. I ride at the invitation of my young cousin, Dave Harris. (At least he seems young to me, as I am 65 and he is 50. I'm sure, however, that there are plenty of days when he himself does not feel so young!)

Anyone wishing to donate to support my efforts in the Great Cycle Challenge may do so here.

Great Cycle Challenge

Relive video of today's ride

Monday, 9/26/2022

2022 mileage: 3516.4

Today was both windy and periodically rainy, so I chose to do my first indoor ride since August 8. While riding (15.7 virtual miles), I watched the first hour of a baseball movie for which I've heard much praise, but had never seen—For Love of the Game, starring Kevin Costner. (Bonus for me: he plays a renowned pitcher for the DETROIT TIGERS).

86th outdoor ride of 2022 - Friday, 9/23/2022

2022 mileage: 3500.7

Today, by riding a round trip to Baker Rd. (18.5 miles in 2:26), I passed a milestone, going over 3500 miles for the year. And I forgot to mention it yesterday, but I achieved a milestone (or sorts) then, too, since following that ride, there were exactly 100 days left in the year.

Today was cool (55° when I began at 11:15, climbing to 63° by the end of the ride) but brightly sunny, making my black hoodie feel just PERFECT as it soaked up the sun.

Relive video of today's ride

85th outdoor ride of 2022 - Thursday, 9/22/2022

2022 mileage: 3482.2

For a second straight day I allowed myself to settle for a very light ride. When I went out to begin at 11:15, I had in mind a long ride, but cool (57°) and breezy conditions soon persuaded me to change my mind.

I rode down to Stonebridge (a housing development off Lohr Rd., a little over a mile south of our home, which is built around a nice 9-hole golf course) and did a loop in there. Right at the beginning of this loop, one sees the pond in the following picture, which has a MUCH different feeling now than it did two months ago.

Then on the way home, I paused on the path and took this selfie.

My total ride, then was only 5.3 miles in 43 minutes.

Relive video of today's ride

84th outdoor post - Wednesday, 9/21/2022

 2022 mileage: 3476.9

After riding on Saturday, I took Sunday off, as I frequently do. Then, since Monday was Queen Elizabeth's funeral, I watched that so that I could luxuriate in the glorious music, and thus took a virtually unprecedented second straight day off. Yesterday, I was inexplicably completely whipped, and listening to my body, I felt it would be prudent to nap rather than ride.

Consequently, today I was, while not desperate, very eager to get back to riding. However, I ended up having to settle for a very short ride. My loving daughter gave me, in support of my riding, a holder for a water bottle so that I could stay hydrated during my rides. I tried to fasten it to the upright leading to the handlebar, as shown in the following picture. However, it kept coming loose, and stopping me by jamming between the frame and the wheel. I tried it on both the right and the left side, with equal lack of success. So it appears that I'lll have to enlist the help of either Michelle (my dear wife) or Christy (my dear daughter) to get it to work.

Because of this difficulty, I settled for a 5-mile loop around Briarwood, and felt as if I was finished virtually before I had gotten going (as compared to my usual 13.5-mile rides).

Relive video of today's ride

83rd outdoor ride of 2022 - Saturday, 9/17/2022Co

2022 mileage: 3471.9

This afternoon, after watching Michigan DEMOLISH Connecticut in football (59-0), I went out and rode the Platt/Packard Square (13.6 miles in 1:48) in a burst of late summer heat (84°). My phone is temporaily not working, so it was unable to contribute to the making of a Relive video for today. But here is the typical picture I get at Lillie Park (roughly halfway through the ride).

Relive video of today's ride

82nd outdoor ride of 2022 - Friday, 9/16/2022

2022 mileage: 3458.3

This morning I enjoyed a good ride (for the most part) in pleasant conditions -- mostly cloudy skies, but with a temperature of 73° when I began just past 9:00, and it climbed to 50 during the ride.

I rode the Packard/Platt Square (13.6 miles) in 1:49. I say it was "a good ride (for the most part)" because my phone is acting up right now and will not allow me to make calls or send texts with it. So, whereas I invariably text a small group of family and friends from the middle of my ride, I was unable to do so today. Nor, in fact, could I makes a Relive video of today's ride. (Once I got it taken care of, though, in following days, the video could be made.) However, below are pictures of me at Lillie Park (roughly the midpoint) and of the route itself.

Relive video of today's ride

81st outdoor ride of 2022 - Thursday, 9/15/2022

2022 mileage: 3444.7

Today I began at noon (69°, climbing to 72° during the ride) and rode the Platt/Packard Square (13.7 miles in 1:47).

Relive video of today's ride

80th outdoor ride of 2022 - Wednesday, 9/14/2022

2022 mileage: 3431.0

This morning when I checked the weather early (around 7:00), it was quite cool, so I made up my mind to wear a hoodie for my ride today. This ended up being a foolish plan, though, as I didn't check the weather again later, and when I started at 10:15, it was already up to 65°, and that climbed to 78° by the time I finished, so that I felt almost like I was melting by the time I got home!

I rode the Packard/Platt Square today, for 13.7 miles in 1:53.

Relive video of today's ride

79th outdoor ride of 1011 - Monday, 9/12/2022

2022 mileage: 3417.3

Today for the first time I noticed a substantial cooling beginning to take place. When I began, at 9:00, it was 62° (and cloudy), making me glad I wore a fleece -- and it cooled to 61° during the ride. I did the Platt/Packard Square (13.7 miles) in 1:44.

Relive video of today's ride

78th outdoor ride of 2022 - Saturday, 9/10/2022

 2022 mileage: 3403.7

This morning I left at 8:00 (64° that climbed to 81° by the end of the ride, and partly sunny) and rode a round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens .... the biggest ride in my rotation. This clocked in at 26.9 miles, in 3:46 .... for only the second time this year (having done it on April 23). Yet I felt slightly like an imposter upon finishing, since I had set out to do the big 30-mile round trip, but on the way home, decided to take a slightly shorter route (after first going through Gallup Park), trimming a little over 3 miles off it. Nevertheless, I console myself that it was still a worthwhile, substantial ride.

I never carry water, having no place to put it. But on the way home this morning, I was quite parched, and so stopped at a gas station about 21 miles into the ride, bought a 32-ounce blue Power Ade, and slammed it down in about 2 minutes. Then when I got home, I was still ready to drink more.

Relive video of today's ride

77th outdoor ride of 2022 - Friday, 9/9/2022

2022 mileage: 3376.8

After going to the dealer in Dearborn this morning to get my snarled chain straightened out, I was able to have a

good (albeit slow) ride this afternoon. Beginning at noon, in 79° sunshine (that climbed to 82° during my ride), I went around the Packard/Platt Square (13.7 miles) in 1:52.

Relive video of today's ride

76th outdoor ride of 2022 - Thursday, 9/8/2022

 2022 mileage: 3363.1

Today ended up being a maddeningly frustrating day for riding. I set off a bit before noon in bright 75° sunshine ... but it all went downhill from there.

I was going to ride the Packard/Platt Square, but before long I was feeling inexplicably weak, and decided to go south along State down to Ellsworth and come home, cutting my ride more than in half. As I was riding a sidewalk along Airport Plaza (by Costco), I came to a place where I had to go down over a curb ... and somehow this caused the chain to come off and wrap itself around the front crank. I took my best shot at it, but other than covering my hands in grease and grime, I could do nothing. So I texted my friend Doug Tidd for assistance. I explained to Doug that ordinarily, I would chain the bike up, Uber home for the car, and then come back and get it ... but my chain has mysteriously vanished from the spot on the trike where I keep it, and I was uneasy about leaving it there unlocked, even for a few minutes.

Doug had no vehicle today with which to pick up the trike, but he was able to come over and loan me a lock, and then drive me home to get our car so I could pick up the trike. Now I'm looking forward to a trip to Dearborn tomorrow to see the dealer.

All this left me with a measly ride today, of 3.4 miles in 31 minutes.

Relive video of today's ride[

75th outdoor ride of 2022 - Wednesday, 9/7/2022

2022 mileage: 3359.7

Yesterday, for some reason unknown to me, I was absolutely EXHAUSTED, and so took the day off. Today, therefore, I was glad to get back to it, leaving a little past 11:30 and riding the Platt/Packard Square (13.7 miles) in 1:52, in gorgeous conditions -- sunny throughout, and 70° when I began, up to 75° at the end. I also saw Doug Franklin again today, near the beginning of my route, doing his daily walk.

Relive video of today's ride

74th outdoor ride of 2022 - Monday, 9/5/2022 (LABOR DAY)

2022 mileage: 3346.0

After having taken the last three days off from riding due to a trip to northern Michigan with my daughter, I finally got back to it today, riding the Packard/Platt Square (13.8 miles) in 2:00. When I began, just past 11:30, it was 67° under a thick layer of Michigan's typical clouds, and that climbed to 69° during the ride.

I was slow but steady today. 😊

Relive video of today's ride

73rd outdoor ride of 2022 - Thursday, September 1, 2022

2022 mileage: 3332.2

Today is the first day of the Great Cycle Challenge. Along with thiousands of other riders nationwide, I am counting my miles this month and collecting donations in a big campaign that is a fundraiser for the issue of childhood cancers.

In gorgeous conditions today (bright sunshine, and temperature climbing from 66° to 73°), I began at 9:00 and rode the Platt/Packard Square (13.5 miles) in 1:50 (The video, however, does not record that entire mileage, because the MapMyRide app was acting funky and kept shutting off, and each time this happened i lost a little distance until I could get it restarted.

Also, I was happy to see my friend Doug Franklin in the early part of my ride today, striding northward on the Lohr/Textile Greenway away from his Saline home during his daily walk.

Relive video of today's ride