Random Thoughts on My Trip to Memphis

1. Scary city. Can't imagine living there.
2. BBQ Places and Sub Shops are among the best. This is a BBQ sandwich my co-worker had at Neely's.

3. Downtown (Beale St. and the like) is awesome.
4. Only saw two bicycles the whole week I was there.
5. (Getting on) Public Transportation in Memphis: Not the smartest thing I've ever done.
6. Walking aimlessly from the hotel in Memphis: Also not the smartest thing I've ever done.
7. St. Jude's Hospital has an impressive spread right off the interstate. Instantly went back to the bikeathons as a kid.
8. Racial tension seems incredibly high still in Memphis.
9. If they expect wind chills near zero, there is a special scrolling statement on the weather channel that tells them to layer up and to wear hats and gloves. Took me about twenty minutes to quit laughing over that one.
10. Our hotel sucked. The Ramada on Mt. Moriah road is also a scary place. When we told the desk clerk (after finding out our keys no longer worked on Wednesday) that my co-worker's door was left open a crack all day after housekeeping left, she didn't even respond. Just reprogrammed the keys and handed them back. Unreal.
11. Asked a good 'ol boy how he was doing in the hotel and he responded: Guh, hah ute?
12. Most people speak with what one cab driver told us is the "Memphis Mumble". Very accurate description.
13. The hotel workout has the following sexist statement on it's signage: "Consult your physician before exercising and follow *HIS* advice".

14. Stopped at Graceland at night. Said 'hey' to Elvis. Cross that off my list of things I could care less if I ever seen in my life. Yet another scary part of town.

No future trips planned to Memphis if I can help it. I live in South Dakota for a reason. Memphis helped solidify many of those reasons.

Bike vs. Car Report : Jan 1 – Jan 15

Work got in the way of a potentially “perfect” report. I had to take computers up to Sioux Falls and install them on January 6th. Yes, I could count this as not driving because it was for work, but I want to see even with work how little I can drive or be a passenger.

Rough start number two was that I had training in Memphis from the 12th through the 16th so that also threw everything off as well. This is quite possibly the longest stretch that I haven’t been on a bike in at least the last five years. The hotel bike kept me humored, but not being outside riding is just strange.

That brings me to another point: “Bicycle” means outdoor. Not that it probably matters to anybody who reads my blog- I just thought I’d tell you. If I don’t ride outside, no matter what the distance, I don’t plan on counting that as a “Bicycle” day.

The bright side? My numbers should do nothing but get better with such a poor start thanks to work.

It Had to Happen

Sooner or later, because of my trusting nature and letting anybody comment, somebody was destined to spoil it. Hiding under "James Bond" and "Kristin R. Armstrong" I have an opinionated person who decided to leave comments that I'm willing to bet they wouldn't have the guts to do face to face. If you don't like what I write, that's tough, don't read it.

For the rest of my readers, I had to turn comment moderation on. Sorry about that. Speaking of "calling out idiots"....

Calling Out Idiots

I decided to start a new, more evil practice of "calling out idiots" on the road by posting their license plate on my blog. Is that stepping over the line? Maybe. Do I care? No. Let's begin, shall we?

As I was coming into work at a rather rapid pace a Silver Ford Explorer (or one of the other gas guzzling minions) was pulling out of a driveway. I quit pedaling for one stroke fearing the idiot would pull out completely. Then, much to my amazement they stopped, apparently seeing me so I started hammering away again so I could get by in a timely fashion. But NOOOOOOO they pulled out of the driveway, all the way across the street, causing me to lock up my bike and slide sideways on part ice/part pavement conditions.

Trust me when I say they seen me in their mirror as I made sure they did. So, here's to my first official calling out of an idiot.

Iowa Plate 695ABU - YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

Wii Wii Wii All the Way Home

Yes, we broke down and got a Wii. At first I thought we were crazy, but I have to admit that I'm very impressed with it. After a bad case of "Wii Shoulder" (It's a medical condition...look it up!) from playing Wii Sports and the Wii Play, I picked up a Wii Fit and Laura and I now have more problems than Wii Shoulder.

Understand that I'm in "decent" shape. As a cyclist. My core? Well, I thought it was okay, but what little Yoga that I do, it's not nearly as strong as it should be. I'll be working extra hard to get the core in shape in the I'm-not-on-the-road-with-my-bicycle-as-much-as-I'd-like-to-be portion of the year.

I also picked up Mario Party 8 for the Wii with some gift cards the kids got for Christmas, but I haven't given them that yet. It might have to wait until the weekend so they can concentrate on school until then.

In other noise, we added to our family this weekend. Although I "supposedly" had final say in the matter, I don't really think I did. They both seem pretty cool (so far) and are getting along well with the dog. Mittens (our 'first born' cat) is still not happy about the new family members. He may never get over it. He's weird that way.

At any rate, here are Tiger and Tic Tac.

Late New Year's Cycling Resolutions

As I make my simple resolutions for 2009, I'd like to wish the best for many friends who had a bad year relationship-wise. I did have a few friends find/re-find happiness, but I had far too many have relationships fall apart. My wish is for healing and healthy relationships for all.

Now, for resolutions:

1. More bike, less car.

2. Get my good friend CDV , and anybody else I can talk into coming along, from Wyoming to Minnesota in 48 hours on the Gut Check, even if I don't make it (although I hope to also).

3. To further continue to encourage my wife and her new found love of cycling, both on the tandem and on her new Bianchi.

4. To try to get my two older children to go on 10-20-30 mile rides. They bike around town all the time and always say they want to ride more. It might be time to test the waters on that.

5. Continue advocacy efforts, both local and statewide.

6. As so well put by Eddy Merckx when asked how to train: "Ride...Lots"

There you have it, very simple resolutions. Nothing earth shattering other than I have no real plan to keep up on mileage for the year. I'll ride plenty. Trust me.

Bike vs Car Report: Dec 15-31

Well, for only keeping track of my biking versus driving/passenger for the last three months of the year, I'm moderately happy with my results. While I have no intentions of keeping track of my mileage this year, I will keep up with this report. I don't feel that the amount of mileage I ride is as important to who I am as eliminating my need to use the vehicle as much as possible.

Maybe, just maybe, I can motivate a few more people to ride more and drive less. I know there are followers of my blog who read just to see what crazy thing I might do next. That's not really what I'm hoping to prove. I'm just trying to prove that it's NOT HARD to leave the car behind for many things. It just that society has become increasingly lazy and complacent behind the wheel of a cage. It's as good a time as any to change that. Get on your bike in 2009. Leave the car parked. Better yet. Sell it. You have too many anyway.