The bike is still a little balky about getting into first gear on the front sprocket (my Granny gears). But when I can get into first, I can now ride all the way home without stopping to walk. Those hills that used to look too step are, in fact, OK!
What else have I learned?
Not to be afraid to go a bit fast. Basically the bike will keep moving forward even if it hits a small bump.
Best control comes when pedaling -- so I use 3rd gear on the front sprocket more now, and even pedal on some of the downhills.
Just these changes have shortened the approximately 3-mile trip by about 5 minutes!
Custis running trail = Custis bike trail.
Just like roads can have sensors that detect cars, the bike path has sensors that detect bikes so that they can count usage. Lots of people are away on vacation in August, but, in spite of that, there are over 1000 people past the Rosslyn checkpoint every day!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Why is Peg smiling at the smokers?
GW has a smoke free campus, but not everyone has gotten the message. I have taken it upon myself to remind folks that we have a smoke free campus -- and that they need to move to the sidewalk to smoke (public space). Of the handful of people who I have reminded, most have moved towards the sidewalk. One young woman told me that she thought it was just a suggestion! A young man said that I was not the police, and that I was harassing him. I happened to remind the same young man in the same spot a few days later, and was again accused of harassing him. Do know that my reminders are polite.
So I am finding myself smiling at the occasional cluster of smokers who are on the sidewalk.....
So I am finding myself smiling at the occasional cluster of smokers who are on the sidewalk.....
Urban biking -- African leader's summit
Biking in to campus on Tuesday, I was guided at one point by a cluster of 5 police officers -- must be because of the African leader's summit. Following that, my usual bike parking spot had been taken over by campus construction, so I parked in a different spot.
Getting to my bike to go home, I had to walk through another cluster of 5 police officers, this time surrounding a homeless man who apparently had done something wrong in front of the DC high school that is on our campus.
And as I approached the Kennedy Center on my bike, there were 5 more police officers -- the vangauard of many more who were observing a rally. I asked about the best route, and they said I would be fine across the street from the speakers. I could not understand the language (probably Arabic), or read the signs. No idea what was their issue. On my side of the street, there were about 100 women with head scarves and children. Across the street were men, mostly in Westerns dress.
And the next morning, on the way in, the Kennedy Center surface level parking lot seemed to be a police staging ground -- with police cars and motor cycles mixed in with the Lion King truck.
What do I still remember from my urban biking class?
1. It is important to communicate clearly with motorists -- with hands, body, and overall decisiveness
2. Hope you never need to, but you can ditch off the back of the bike if need be.
3. A quick push of the handlebars to the left will enable a quick right turn.
4. Don't get doored -- ride 4 feet away from parked cars.
5. Don't be afraid of using both the right and left brakes -- you will not fly over the handle bars.
6. You have more control if you are pedaling -- even on the downhills.
Getting to my bike to go home, I had to walk through another cluster of 5 police officers, this time surrounding a homeless man who apparently had done something wrong in front of the DC high school that is on our campus.
And as I approached the Kennedy Center on my bike, there were 5 more police officers -- the vangauard of many more who were observing a rally. I asked about the best route, and they said I would be fine across the street from the speakers. I could not understand the language (probably Arabic), or read the signs. No idea what was their issue. On my side of the street, there were about 100 women with head scarves and children. Across the street were men, mostly in Westerns dress.
And the next morning, on the way in, the Kennedy Center surface level parking lot seemed to be a police staging ground -- with police cars and motor cycles mixed in with the Lion King truck.
What do I still remember from my urban biking class?
1. It is important to communicate clearly with motorists -- with hands, body, and overall decisiveness
2. Hope you never need to, but you can ditch off the back of the bike if need be.
3. A quick push of the handlebars to the left will enable a quick right turn.
4. Don't get doored -- ride 4 feet away from parked cars.
5. Don't be afraid of using both the right and left brakes -- you will not fly over the handle bars.
6. You have more control if you are pedaling -- even on the downhills.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
The rest of the Iowa solar cooking
In the mornings, Dan and MaryBeth's house had good sun on the back steps (with some occasional leaf shading); in the afternoons there was good sun on the sidewalk in front of the house. During the solar cooking, I more or less reoriented the Haines Solar Cooker towards the sun every 30 to 75 minutes. I never worried about tipping front to back for better alignment.
The cornbread recipe was right off the cornmeal box. The pot had a glass cover, so I sprinkled cinnamon on top of the cornmeal batter to make it darker to absorb the light. The cornbread was particularly moist (without sour cream or cheese).
Ratatouille is more or less an Italian mix of seasonal vegetables. It usually has eggplant, but I did not have any, so I put in some cherry tomatoes, green pepper, zucchini, onion (mostly from the Iowa City Farmer's Market), and fresh herbs from the garden. For good measure, I also put in some olive oil and salt.
The vegetables softened and the flavors mixed together well. Quite a lot of juice was released, and it did not evaporate as it might have done on the stovetop.
The cornbread recipe was right off the cornmeal box. The pot had a glass cover, so I sprinkled cinnamon on top of the cornmeal batter to make it darker to absorb the light. The cornbread was particularly moist (without sour cream or cheese).
Ratatouille is more or less an Italian mix of seasonal vegetables. It usually has eggplant, but I did not have any, so I put in some cherry tomatoes, green pepper, zucchini, onion (mostly from the Iowa City Farmer's Market), and fresh herbs from the garden. For good measure, I also put in some olive oil and salt.
The vegetables softened and the flavors mixed together well. Quite a lot of juice was released, and it did not evaporate as it might have done on the stovetop.
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