It was really hot today and the temperature really does make a difference. While I am trying to build up my stamina and make huge leaps and bounds with uphills, when it is hot, I am at a disadvantage. The heat feels like I am riding with an extra hundred pounds. So when it is hot, I go straight and level. I can still get in a good workout without over extending myself. I don’t want to be like those athletes that workout really hard in the summer and then drop dead, so for that reason, I am really conscientious [...]

It was the perfect day for a bike ride. The temperature was just right, 66 degrees. I never want to get bored, so today I rode north up to Chatsworth. My last few rides, I went west in the direction of Calabasas, so today I went north to give myself a little bit of variety. There would be more traffic, but I wanted to avoid the uphills. Today would be all straight and level. I took Burbank to Valley Circle all the way to Vanowen. I took a right on Vanowen and rode all the way to Canoga and then [...]

Today, was the longest ride to date, but it was a tough ride. I really started to have my doubts about my abilities. I rode to Calabasas. I started down Burbank Blvd, around El Camino Real High School and then a left on Valley Circle, over the freeway and then a right on Mulholland. There were two uphill climbs and I did both of them without stopping. The third uphill climb I had to stop just for a few minutes and then I continued on to the top. A right on Mureau Road and then it was all downhill. It [...]

Today the temperature was a mild 70 degrees. It was perfect for riding my bike. I envisioned going to Malibu, but I only got as far as Agoura Hills, almost Malibu. I took my usual route down Burbank, around El Camino Real Charter High School and then a left on Valley Circle to Mulholland. Riding through Old Town Calabasas is always pretty. Up two hills passed Bob Smith Car Dealership and then a right on Mureau and then it was all downhill. I am really gaining confidence on the downhills. When I first got my bike, I really had to [...]

I had been cooped up for a couple of days, so I was really looking forward to riding my bike. The day before I went out for a ride, but I didn’t get very far. As I left my driveway, I felt a couple of raindrops. I convinced myself that it was nothing, but a few blocks from my house I had to turn around. I didn’t want to get caught in the rain like before. It rained on and off for the rest of the day, so I was really looking forward to getting out today. Mentally, I had [...]

Even though I have been living in Woodland Hills for over twenty years, there is so much of the surrounding areas that I have never seen. Henry David Thoreau was right. There is so much in your own backyard. When I was younger, I used to travel a lot. Now I want to stay close to home and discover all there is in my own backyard. Today, I decided to go out and scout the area for bike paths. I drove to Calabasas and then to Las Virgenes. I took a left and then I took Agoura Road all the [...]

Today, I rode to Calabasas again. I like going in that direction. The bike paths are wide and there aren’t as many cars. I set out in the early afternoon and as I was leaving my building I ran into Greg and Karen. They had not seen my bike yet and they were very impressed with it. Karen gave me a fanny pack, since I didn’t have one and I was putting my keys in my socks and taping my phone to my bike. I had a nice ride. The temperature was a little cooler, about 66 degrees. I took [...]