Finally got to try one of the old Monday triples, which now runs through tornado damage. Tough getting back into cycling shape.

Finally took Fortland up to Perlen to see the tornado damage from a Month ago ( feels like years ago). I’m guessing that as with bikes, tornadoes climb out of valleys slowly. This made for extensive damage & there are still holes where houses used to be. It was a lugubrious ride, nothing like the enjoyment in denying gravity I used to feel.

I tried to follow the tornado’s path from where it jumped the Cumberland but the bike path veers left & the tornado continued straight.

I noticed the direction a few cyclists were taking & bet Shelby was open again & I was right. The “new bridge” is complete but there’s no paved trail & the rain means mud & I won’t try that again. Total yuck. But the path to the Airport was open – littered along the sides with Roofs Doors Air Conditioner Components & Aluminum Siding. I’m guessing the nails (which one still finds on Holly Fatherland & Lillian) are lost in the woods. There are stretches where one can see the river so many trees are down.

I took some of the old hills mostly to see the extent of my own damage but even then I had a slow thoughtful rude.

April will have me again on Newhall & other damaged roads.

All the big double-trailer wreckage haulers have moved on to the next disaster but the smaller haulers still make regular trips to our metal recycling dump by the Cumberland – right along my regular Saturday route. Even with a Coronavirus order not to congregate East Nashville still manages to pick up the pieces & move them along so the rebuilding can begin.

Oddly, just across the street from the metal-separating magnets Davidson County has placed its Coronavirus Drive-Through Testing Center – another type of picking up pieces & moving along toward rebuilding.

26 days with no ride so I took things slow against the wind to build my legs again. Many more waves & head-nod greetings these days of no group rides; we are sad & isolated but still chasing peloton dreams.

Tough days

Took the 48 over Shelby Bridge in 38° just before noon. Has to give February at least one more ride; it’s been a bad mild Winter what with me shackled to the yard for constant Codes people to inspect. 204 miles for the Month. Hoping for a strong April.

I’m getting used to the extra requirements & compensating well enough. Regular uphills will help plus the heavy bike on off-days. Now, just to survive the rain on Aurora

Some road-work & construction near the Titans’s Bubble but the roads mostly clear of bad debris, but I wish they’d put a driveway-break at the entrance of the Ted Rhodes Greenway.

Lovely windy day in the 60s, which I misjudged by wearing traditional Winter gear. Dope. I rode the usual hills but first time with the 48 up front (16 rear). Increased difficulty but it feels still right.

The long greenway still lacks the connective asphalt so I’m afraid a Dam ride will have to wait till April

Fixies into the wind are always pedaling uphill. With the wind isn’t necessarily pedaling downhill (the pull of gravity is stronger & more consistent) but into the wind is always uphill. Lacking the ability & hence the inclination or habit of down-shifting to make into the wind seem easier I consistently passed one geared rider today in particular & was passed by him once we turned with the wind. Ironically I credited my better wind with my passing him, since I must necessarily keep pedaling.

Still a long way from Season Ready but today was a good day.

Had today inked-in as a cold riding day but among the landscaping clutter-work came the kitchen faucet’s annoying running despite having been touched. These Delta Faucets are as addictive as iPhones & once you’ve grown accustomed to Touch On Touch Off you irk heap & rankle at having to use the toggle – which is on the right side illogically as most of us are right handed & don’t want to hold something needing washing in the non-dominant hand just to engage the damn water.

Turns out the Solenoid needs cleaning; the modern solenoids can be opened with some tugging, cleaned, & replaced in minutes. It took me over an hour just to figure out where to look for the decoupling clamps on mine. Then I found it’s not designed to be cracked open & cleaned.

So I’m getting Delta to ship me a more advanced solenoid* so this perhaps every 5 year task will be easier next time. Delta is not charging me a penny for this & im assuming this is the new Cancel Culture normal. Build excellent relations & sustain them.

*By now it ought to be Clarion that I’m enjoying my Soul Annoyed pun just a bit damn too much

Short Winter ride with the electric gloves & socks. I was doubtful at first but now I’m a convert; inexpensive & tremendously useful

My old saw that it takes 5 weeks determinedly to get into sufficient cycling shape but 5 days to lose it stands, & I’m months out of shape.

Looking forward to getting it back.