I had the urge to try something I knew would be tough. I had my doubts. But I did it anyhow.

I rode a total of 32 miles today: 26 miles from Greenwood to Capitol Hill via Downtown and Alki Point in West Seattle. Then the usual 6 miles home from my school. I'm very tired.

There is no way I could have done this ride on a regular bike. I am too out of shape. But, on the climbs (and some were very steep and/or long), I had assistance and that kept me going even as I was standing up and pumping hard. The steepest hill was in Downtown Seattle from Western to 3rd Ave. The longest hill was the climb up California Ave from Harbor Ave. But that was followed by a wonderfully long and speedy downhill on Admiral Way toward the Alki Point lighthouse.

It's fun exploring Seattle this way. I have many ideas for other routes throughout the summer.

You can look at the map of my route HERE (www.mapmyride.com).

Other than almost getting hit where Ravenna Blvd meet East Greenlake Ave, it was an uneventful day. The hardest part was biking into a headwind on Harbor Ave going south. It's amazing how much a steady breeze can slow one down. It was at that point that I really started to feel tired. By the time I got to school, I was greatly fatigued. I worked for three hours before heading home. I think I will sleep well tonight.

Since I bought my bike one month ago, I have ridden 335 miles. That has saved me from buying about 12 gallons of gasoline at a cost of approximately $35. I've burned approximately 10,000 calories, though I've only lost 3 pounds . Yet, that is to be expected. A pound of fat is about 3,500 calories, so my total calories burned is about equal to the weight I have lost.

Today marks the most mileage I have put on my bike in one day: 27.5 miles. I rode to work, then took a scenic route home through the downtown core. After eating lunch at home for an hour, I rode the 13 mile round trip between my current house and my old house (so I could read the electricity and water meters - the new tenants are taking over the utilities).

I'm pleased with all these stats, but when I look at what I have done so far, I never thought this would be me.

I freakin' LOVE riding my bike. I really do! Who would have ever guessed that would be the case. Have I finally found a form of physical activity that is both good for me and I can routinely enjoy as an everyday part of my life?

The things I love about biking include fresh air, sunshine, seeing Seattle from a new perspective, saving gas, lessening our dependence on foreign oil, and reducing the amount of carbon I pump into the air. Mostly - I feel proud of myself for making a positive change and sticking with it for a month.

Of course, there are some negatives about biking. Many car drivers are thoughtless and even a few are downright mean. Yesterday, a woman honked at me when I was waiting at a red light. When the light would turn green, we were both going straight through, but apparently she was upset that I wasn't against the curb. I was on the right hand side of another car that was planning to turn, preventing the annoyed woman from passing the turning car. My position in the lane was perfectly legal and even smart because I had left room on my right for any car that wanted to turn right. And, because I can use my electric motor to zip quickly through intersections, I really don't hold anyone back. But doing things that are smart, courteous and legal mean nothing to some impatient drivers. All I did was turn around, stare at her for about 10 seconds, then turn around to wait for the green light.

Though I most often complain about rude or inattentive car drivers, they aren't always the mean or thoughtless one. Sometimes it's pedestrians that stand in the street waiting for a green light and I have to swerve to miss them when I have the right of way. Or sometimes it's cyclists that run red lights or pass unsafely and give the rest of us cyclists a bad reputation. A few cyclists have even given me a bad time for riding an electric assist bike - one saying they should be illegal in bike lanes. There is a strong amount of arrogance and exclusivity among some in the Lycra and Spandex elite. I guess I expected better from them, but I was naive.

Last of all, there is one negative issue I have yet to encounter: bad weather. If it's chilly in the morning I just wear long pants, my fingerless gloves and my fluorescent yellow jacket. I have been warm and comfortable every day, but that will no doubt change in the future. My enthusiasm for biking may shift with the change of seasons. I hope not. I certainly plan on commuting through the fall and winter - adapting to cold and wet weather by wearing rain gear. I've already attached flashing lights to my helmet to augment the lights on my bike when my bright and sunny commute turns into a dark and dreary one in November.

For now,  despite the negatives, biking is fun, good exercise, gets me where I need to go, saves money and helps save our planet.

I love this video. It's very funny, and strangely enough - I wish it were true. Unfortunately, the President is just a man.  (And you can ignore the JibJab commercial at the end).


  

Finally I got the word! Yesterday my seminar in NYC at Columbia University was approved. We had the funds for it the whole time I was waiting for approval. The issue was securing a space at the seminar. It's a very popular event over five days including about 1,700 teachers from what I have heard. Our names (myself and two collegues) were pulled off the waiting list literally on the last possible day.

Now we are all working together to plan the trip. Our principal has given us a budget for airfare, hotel, fees and food. It sounds like all three of us are going to arrive a little early and use an extra day or two for touring around the city. Then, on Monday we are in classes and presentations from 9am - 4pm every day until Friday afternoon. I will return to Seattle on Saturday.

I'm excited for the opportunity to see some sites I have never seen before including the American Museum of Natural History plus the Hayden Planetarium. Also, my collegues and I are arranging to see 2-3 Broadway shows.

It's amazing! This will be the second summer in which I was able to go on a professional trip mostly paid for by either my school or a foundation supporting public education. I'm a lucky guy!
        
Pictures of: Columbia University, Hayden Planetarium, Hotel Beacon & Central Park

I wondered when I would lose my virginity?

No! Not that virginity! I'm talking about my bike fall virginity.

Well, I lost it today.

I decided to take a different route home. It's not that significant a change, but I get bored with always commuting along the same route even when I drive, so today seemed like a good day for some variety.

I decided to go across the Montlake bridge rather than the University Bridge as is the norm. In order to do this, I have to go down the hill on 19th Ave from Interlaken Park. It's a nasty hill, very steep, and ends at a stop sign along a busy two lane arterial.

As I went down the hill I gathered speed rapidly. I applied my breaks steadily, and......nope - I didn't crash. I sure was scared of it though.

In order to get to the Montlake Bridge I also have to cut through a church parking lot, and then I double back through some residential streets to connect with a trail under the State Route 520 viaduct. The problem started when I took a wrong turn. I went right instead of left. That placed me in the position of going down a narrow switchback pedestrian path instead of wide residential streets. I had done it once before so I  figured I would do it again.

WRONG!

Half way down the path one switchback was too tight. I was going slowly which actually had the result of making steering less stable. My peddel clipped a retaining wall, I wobble and headed toward the edge and a dramatic slope. I had to slam on my brakes or go over the edge of the path. So slam I did - tumbling down on my hands and knees as I shouted OH CRAAAAAP!

I scraped up my palms and really banged up one knee. Once I stood up and looked around (hoping no one saw me in the midst of my embarassement) I noticed the bike was in a most peculiar position. The rear tire was up on a retaining wall I had clipped. It was standing vertical with the front tire flat on the ground. The front tire and handle bars were twisted parallel to each other (they are supposed to be perpendicular). Once I pulled the bike back into an normal standing position on the trail, I noticed the handle bars were scratched. One hand brake was twisted, just like the headlight. Otherwise, all seemed well.

I corrected the handle bars by placing the front tire between my legs and twisting things back into the correct position. I made other small adjustments as I continued to mutter: "Oh crap, oh crap!" I was worried about my $1800 bike! I corrected the bent headlight and realigned the hand brake.

A couple small chunks of flesh had been gouged out of my palms by gravel, and my right knees ached. Strangely the thing that hurt the most was my jaw - not because I hit my face or head but because I'm sure that as I went down I was gritting my teeth bracing for impact.

I took some deep breaths then walked my bike the rest of the way down the path. I climbed back on and continued on my way. Half way home I realized I could feel my right knee sticking to the inside of my jeans. I knew what that meant.

As I got close to home I could feel my knee tightening up. When I reached the house (yeah, I used the battery more than usual) I changed my clothes which revealed a swollen knee with peeling flesh and blood. It wasn't too bad, but neither did it feel good. My upper thigh already had a hand sized yellow and purple bruise. Interestingly, my jeans weren't torn. A bag of frozen peas was applied to my knee for 20 minutes, followed soon by a glass of wine (applied to my gullet - not my knee).

So there you have it - the semi-public loss of my bike crash virginity. It happens to everyone and I'm grateful because it could have been worse. Nope, I won't make the mistake of thinking I can ride down narrow switchback again.

The text below is from travel.yahoo.com. It's a great commentary from an anonymous flight attendent about what annoys them most from passengers. I agree with all of it.

HOWEVER!, the passengers are not the only ones lacking thought and brains. Since a top 7 list is begging for an additional three comments to round out the list, I have included my own frustrations with AIRLINES.

In the American airline industry, there is plenty of blame to go around.

1. Bring your pet on the plane and then act like an animal.
Over the years, I've seen a pet on a passenger's lap, a pet tucked into a seatback pocket, and a pet loose in the aisle (I nearly hit one with my beverage cart). All of this is against federal regulations. People tell me how well-behaved their pet is, but they can't follow the rules themselves! Your pet must stay in its carrier while you're on the plane. Yes, even if you've paid a "pet-in-cabin" fee.
 
2. Shove your bag into the first bin you see and then walk to your seat in the back of the plane.
You think you're clever, I know. You expect to grab your bag on your way out of the plane, but you're selfishly inconveniencing others. I can't lie and say we flight attendants don't take some small satisfaction when we tell you, "We couldn't identify the bag's owner, so we sent it to cargo." It's a security issue, for real. Carry-ons need to stay near their owners! So don't look so shocked when we say, "The signs will direct you to baggage claim. You can pick up your bag there."
 
3. Think that because you're on an airplane you're off-duty as a parent.
Stop expecting us to have spare diapers, formula, medicine, toys, playing cards, or batteries for DVD players or Game Boys. It's an airplane, not a 7-11. Take your kid to the restroom before you board. Leave the dry cereal and Legos at home and bring snacks and toys for your kids that won't make a horrible mess.
 
4. Drag on an oversize bag that's too heavy for you to lift by yourself.
I won't be compensated for any injuries I might sustain if I heft your bag into the overhead compartment for you. (And other passengers shouldn't have to step up and take the risk either.) The guideline is simple: You pack it, you stack it. Try this at home as a test (and this is to you ladies, especially): After you've packed your bag, put on the shoes you plan to wear on the plane and see if you can lift your bag and place it on top of your refrigerator. You can't? Pay the fee and check the bag.
 
5. Gripe that you haven't been seated in a roomy exit-row seat.
The exit rows weren't created as a reward for people who are tall, overweight, or just plain nice. They were designed to help passengers get out of the plane in an emergency. The people seated in an exit row must be able to see and speak clearly, open the emergency door, and help others. I prefer to see uniformed military, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants sitting in those seats. While the gate agent may assign exit-row seats first, the flight attendant makes the final determination about who gets to sit in them. And the quality of our choices is one of the frequent concerns of Federal Aviation Administration officials when they audit airlines for safety practices. So please don't complain. I'm just doing my job.
 
6. Act like you don't know the meaning of the words "under the seat in front of you."
Someday I will be muttering "under the seat in front of you" in the old-age home for flight attendants. What is it that you don't understand? To be clear, items should not be stowed behind your calves, under your feet like a footstool, in the open seat next to you, or in your lap. It's under the seat in front of you. And it applies to everything you carry on board. Items stored carelessly can trip others, or dislodge during takeoff and get lost, or inconvenience others. And while I'm on the topic: Please don't wrap your purse (or umbrella strap) around your ankle to keep from forgetting it. What will happen in an emergency, when every second counts and there's no time to disentangle yourself from your precious bag? Will you drag it ball-and-chain-style down the aisle of a burning plane?
 
7. Whine about the high price of flying.
When I hear people complain about coach airfares, I know they're not keeping up with the news. Fares have rarely been cheaper. In recent years, it's not uncommon for you to be able to cross the continent for under $130 each way, with a maximum of one layover. It's a bargain! At that price, you're barely paying for the fuel to get your body there—never mind the cost of shipping your 50 pounds of gear. You're already on the gravy plane. People point to first class ticket holders and want to know why they don't get the same treatment. Wake up folks: You're getting a great deal. If you want even more, pay more!
 
ADDITIONS BELOW ARE FROM JOHN

8. Rip Off Class
It's a well known fact, that first class ticket prices are triple or quadruple that of economy class. So, you charge 300% more for a seat that has 20% more room and a meal that's worth maybe $35 in a mainstream restaurant. A $300 tickets jumps to at least $1,000. Excuse me?

I know I need to pay more to get more, but as a comparison, I should get a 5 star meal and a seat that is 3 feet wide in order to justify the price of a first class ticket. It's a well known fact that first class tickets pay more than their fair share of costs per mile. When economy class has low fairs, it's because first class passengers have supplemented the costs. BUT, when the flight is canceled or delayed, we are all treated the same - in other words abandoned or relegated to an endless customer service line waiting 2 hours just to be told I can't help you. I guess I am the crazy person, because I continue to fly first class 50% of the time due to the fact that I have so many points, so I can afford to do so. Only two times in my life have I paid for a first class ticket. I'm starting to think I am the naive one, and airlines are con artists.

9. Just Shut Up and Wait!
How many times have I been sitting at an airport gate 30 minutes before a departure and with no aircraft in sight, yet the reader board says "ON TIME." That's a bunch of BS. They know they cannot get a plane to the gate, disembark passengers, clean up and re-load in less than 30 minutes. The gate agents say nothing, the airline says nothing, the reader board says nothing, but it's clear the flight will not take off on time and no one will admit it. No one will tell us ignorant passengers what is going on - no matter what class we are flying in. There's a good chance I will miss my connecting flight, and the airline will do nothing to help me prepare - no hotel voucher, not food credit, no information, NO CUSTOMER SERVICE for a reschedule! I have literally called customer service at the time of departure to reschedule a connecting flight and been told that because the flight has not officially been delayed, I can't reschedule. There is no such thing as customer service in the airline business - only cattle herding. (yes, the same is true of Southwest!)

10. The Great Luggage Scam
You have to pay extra to check in a bag. That policy which is expanding to virtually every legacy carrier is forcing people to carry luggage into the cabin. Yes, the same people who can't lift their own luggage into the bin above their seat are doing so because they don't want to pay the luggage fee - and the flight attendants blame them! This has got to stop! The airlines have to stop charging for the first checked bag. I don't care if your charge for the second (because people pack too much crap!) but when I do travel economy class I am sometimes unable to put find a spot in the overhead bins above my seat because the airlines don't charge a realistic price for travel, make up extra fees for checking one bag, then blame people for carrying a fifty pound bag on board the plane. Please be realistic and charge a realistic fare.

Flying is torture, and those few airlines (like Virgin America) who are trying to make travel more pleasant AND affordable, are being attacked for doing so. After years of enduring the challenges of travel through the friendly skies, I am finally cutting back on my travel  because I just can't take the stress anymore. Airline bookings aren't down just because of the bad economy. I think people are finally getting fed up with both their fellow jack ass passengers, and the stupid airlines who wouldn't know good cutomer service even if it arrived on time and at a reasonable price.

Seattle is rated as one of the most bike friendly cities in the USA. Washington state as a whole is rated at the top. Though Portland does a better job of integrating safe bike routes into their urban transportation grid, both Seattle and Portland have a long way to go compared to the cities of Europe.

Under the Obama administration there has been a lot of talk lately about high speed rail, and I fully support a massive spending campaign to expand rail transportation, including HSR. But, most travel by American citizens is under 7 miles in length - a distance easily done by bike. We need to do more to help bike commuting expand - and that means addressing safety through a variety of means and designs.

As a new bike commuter, safety has been at the top of my mind lately. I've carefully chosen my route to school with safety as my top priority, but still there are sections of my route that feel anything but safe. I've only been commuting for 3 weeks now, and I have been cut of by right hooks and distracted drivers half a dozen times.

The Seattle Department of Transportation has painted many miles of new bike lanes in the last couple years, but their current design leaves much to be desired. They are often located in the door zone, which presents a major safety issue for cyclists. The city is also starting to experiment with bike boulevards, but they have done a poor job with slowing traffic on bike boulevards and marking them so drivers know to share these residential streets and watch carefully for bike riders.

Yesterday, issues between bikers and auto drivers came up and slapped me in the face in a very personal way. When the topic of bike commuting came up at school during lunch, a woman who often substitutes in our building said, "Oh, I hate bikers. They always slow me down. I want to run them off the road." I fired back with a sarcastic remark about it being ironic that a teacher has trouble "sharing" the road.

I was shocked and hurt by her ignorant statement and the assumptions underlying it. She seems to think roads are only for cars and trucks, and it made the safety issue even more important. On the busiest streets, bikers need to have separated bike lanes because as bike commuting increases there are going to be more and more conflicts and accidents, and in those conflicts no matter who is at fault, it will always be the cyclist that is the big loser.

Below is a great video from one of my favorite websites: http://www.streetfilms.org. They make the case for the use of more traffic separated bike lanes in some locations and under some circumstances.

I wish Seattle was doing more work like this. Bike commuting is growing rapidly in Seattle. The number one reason people give for not commuting more often by bike is weather, followed closely by safety issues. We may not be able to control the weather, but we can certainly do more to make bike commuting safer. Then, let's follow that with some serious public education efforts. The arrogant and distracted driver is a big danger.

(psst...Sarah, what is the Ad Council doing about bike safety and driver education?)