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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Covering ground

Date: March 25
Mileage: 42.5
March mileage: 441.6
Temperature: 32

A co-worker who doesn't know me very well stopped me today and said, "Hey, I saw you out on your bicycle by the ferry terminal the other day. Wow! You're really covering ground."

"Which day was that?" I asked, because it seemed the natural response.

"That day you were out by the ferry terminal," he answered.

"Could be a lot of days," I said.

"You mean you've been out there more than once?"

I just smiled because the ferry terminal is only 12 miles from downtown Juneau. There seems to be this perception among non-cyclists that their world is a very, very big place - too big to traverse without the aid of big machines and fossil fuels. It takes a slow-moving cyclists' perspective to realize that our world is in fact a small place, because all it takes is patience - just patience - and you can go almost anywhere.

Right now I'm suffering from a bit of "my world is too small and there's nowhere to go" fatigue. Despite the longish rides I've put in this past week, I feel hungry for a good, hard ride where I can really work myself over. But the trails are all covered in slop; the hikes are all buried in avalanche danger; and the roads have all been done, again and again and again.

Not that I have any right to complain. I recall this time last year, swimming 90 laps at the pool, running for two and a half hours on the elliptical trainer at the gym, just for a shot of that satisfyingly addictive "worked over" feeling. Things could definitely be worse.

This picture I think illustrates very well the way Geoff feels about cycling in Juneau. But he only has to suffer this place for one more month.

15 comments:

  1. I've been waiting for this post...no matter where you are in Alaska this time of year, it starts to close in on you. Spring Fever that only Alaskans can understand.

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  2. I can't wait to "suffer this place". Down here in southern CA I have to suffer the brown-smoggy skies, traffic and I hate to say this is the only time of year when the hills are not brown. So let's just say I am on my four week countdown to "suffer in JUneau" :)

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  3. Donut Guy - Geoff is going south for the summer and mostly live in a tent. He's doing a bunch of races including the GDR. Check out his blog.

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  4. i applaud you and geoff for having the passion you do for getting out and training day after day in tough conditions.

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  5. The GDR comes right through my neck of the woods.

    It passes within a mile of my Dad's cabin in Colorado and within just a few miles of my house in New Mexico.

    What a great ride.

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  6. Jill probably seen the cool trailer on http://www.thecollectivefilm.com/

    if not enjoy.

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  7. The small world thing to the non cyclists is spot on. I hear that crap all the time. You mean you actually rode your bike to work. Give me a break, its only 9 miles. To them it might as well be the end of the world

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  8. Not everyone is blessed with strength and good health. Be gentle to those who don't have your skill set.

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  9. I've never seen bottle cages on the front fork before.

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  10. Health is a blessing; the skill is called patience.

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  11. i love this post - i've been reading your blog for about a month now, and i love all your posts, really, but this one is my favorite. this is exactly why i love biking too. :)

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