Silver Linings

Day 143, 1/21/15

Work has been pretty awful this week for a few reasons.  I am grateful for the silver linings that helped make it bearable.
Today I rode Tom to work and later to Paul's.  We made arrangements to do dinner at the Sinking Ship.  They had a hot wing eating contest co-sponsored by Lava Lips, a neighboring "hot sauce" bar.  Michael, the owner, explained to me that you can carry in your own food and drink and try hot sauces.  The idea is less ridiculous than I originally thought!

Photo taken from wherevent.com

The competition involved 10 brave men who raced to eat their 6 [whole] wings first.  This was made more difficult by being coated in some pretty rancid sauce.  I snagged a sample from an extra competition plate and regretted doing so!  Anything that dark color of red is dangerous.

Photo taken from foodifyme.com

I ordered their wings and enjoyed a more mild sauce.  The wings were excellent, their blue cheese was shit.  KSR has them beat no contest.

Day 144

Rode to work today.  In the afternoon took the White River Trail to Indy Met for the mentor session.  It was a lot of fun to meet the guys.  We played some of my favorite icebreakers and closed out the hour chatting about life, school, and jobs.  I really enjoyed getting to 'lead' the event.  While the extra responsibilities at work are time consuming and stressful, they are rewarding as well.


Day 145

Rode to work, home for lunch then back.  Missed out on the left overs from the provost advisory board meeting, but I had a bunch of spinach about to turn anyway.
Later I rode up to the Hostel to pick up Kelley.  The plan was to ride downtown and then to Mundell's for their birthday party.  The plan changed when Kelley bailed on the ride and instead waited for Paul to head to the party.  I was a bit behind schedule so I decided to drive out to Irvington.  The party was very much fun!

Uneventful

Day 138, 1/16/15

Road to work and back.


Day 139

Rode Bruce around the apartment.  Also practiced some track stands on Tom


Day 140

Rode dad's Schwinn today.


Day 141

Road to Starbucks and City Market.


Day 142

Rode to work and library.  Will probably do the same tomorrow.

Back in the Saddle

Day 136, 1/14/15

Road to work and then to Bankerslife Fieldhouse to meet with the director of their food service partner.  Riding saved me parking fees and a pretty decent walk from the garage.  Pretty sure it was faster overall.

After work I drove to the Hostel for their story telling night.  Andy and Lyndsey shared their canoe story and I got to watch River while they did it.  I think we are buddies now, although it didn't appear he objects to much of anything.

The story telling stage is set.  Photo by Indy Hostel

Day 137

Out the door before 7am to get my poster from Lucas Oil!  I circumvented the line of cars and was waved on by a nice gentleman at the entrance ramp.  I'm not sure he knew I was going to hop in line, but no one complained.  I think they felt bad for me.  WTHR interviewed me and I rambled sillily.
After speaking with the reporter who do I see, but Pat!  He waited in line for over a half hour for his poster and said he was cursing the idiot cyclist.  Then he realized it was me and presumably cursed even more.

Photo taken from WTHR.com

Road Block

Day 133, 1/11/15

Got back from an impromptu, and intensely fun, visit to Louisville.  Eating at the Seelbach Hotel was fantastic and Garage Bar was a good introduction to NuLu.

Getting home Sunday I drove straight tot he Colts game at Blakely's.  By the time the Colts won the ice storm was upon us.  I fell asleep on the couch without riding and when I woke, rolled across my living room, foyer, and into the bedroom on Tom.  It was definitely post midnight which means this is the first day I did not pedal.  I knew this was a strong possibility going into the challenge.  Back in the saddle tomorrow.


Day 134

Road to work and home.  It was pretty freaking cold!


Day 135

Road to work in the dark, home in the dark.  Then vegged for the night.  Pat dropped off my phone after the Pacers game.

19th Weekend

Day 131, 1/9/15

Two pedal strokes on y way home from work I broke a chain AGAIN!  Frustrated, I decided to leave it to the professionals and walked with Bruce down to BGI Bike Hub.  Even though I expressed the problem was with the drivetrain as oppose to the chain, they simply replaced the broken link with a quick link and $10 later I was on my way.  Not 100 yards down the road it happened again (3rd time in 3 days).  We returned to the shop and the actual problem was presumably located.  The outer chainring had a slight bend which was catching the chain when it was in the middle chainring.

I maintain the issue may be that I am far too strong for traditional strength bicycle chains.


Day 132

Saturday morning ride to Starbucks for coffee and internet.  While drinking I watched work crews take the lights of Monument Circle and Pot Belly delivery bikes struggle with their giant bags of sammies.

Delivery riders have some sweet bikes, but once you load two over-sized bags on their back it's easy to topple.  That's the show I got this morning.  Maybe if his seat had a more appropriate angle he wouldn't fall so often.

Polar Vortex 2.0

Day 128, 1/6/15

The fresh snow on the ground kept me from sleeping last night.  It was like new LED street lights were installed directly outside my windows.  The weather caused me to ride Bruce to work.  Around 6pm on my way home the sky was such a brilliant red that I raced to White River State Park to get a better view.  As is typical, the color's peek was during my ride, but I still caught a bit of it.

10 minutes earlier, the entire sky was a vibrant red.

Day 129

Rode Bruce to work again today.  It was very cold.

After work I met family on Mass Ave for window shopping and dinner.  They were going to see "Dancing With the Stars", I was going home to shiver in my apartment.

Got a text later that night from our campus president because there was an issue with the building.  Bruce and I went to check it out and MacGyver a solution.

Ryon was watching us on the security cameras.  A little too Orwellian for my comfort.  You can see Bruce waiting outside in the red circle.

Day 130

Rode to work again today.  A student thought he saw me riding on the news last night.  Admittingly, it did look like me, but sadly it was a doppelganger.

Broke a chain on the MTB for the 3rd (possibly 4th) time.  I am am beginning to thing there is something causing this other than torque topping pythons for legs.  There could be irregularities on the drivetrain or simply a bad chain (I bought on Amazon).

Spent roughly 45 minutes fixing the chain.  Really 15 minutes fixing it and 30 trying to loosen stiff links.

Planned on riding to Ben's new place last night to hang with him and Loreal when they finished class, but I fell asleep on the couch and my phone turned itself off.  Probably for the best considering the conditions that ride would entail!

Playoffs?!

Day 126, 1/4/15

Rode downtown to fetch coffee and take in some of the playoff atmosphere.  Checked out Touchdown Town, Georgia Street, and the Slippery Noodle.  Colts won and Bengals fans remain some of the worst dressed in the league.

Saw plenty of Bengals fans sporting these monstrosities.

Touchdown Town @ 11am 1/4/15

Day 127

Rode to work.  Welcome Winter.