and life changes, my, oh my!

Ah, it was in October that I was hired to become an “eligibility worker” here in California - that is, “eligibility” not INeligibility. That is a big difference. What the heck am I talking about? Well, I’m learning how to determine if people are qualified to receive social services - Food Stamps, MediCal, Cash Aid and others…

“Learning How?” you say? Yep, my new bosses and colleagues compare it to learning 5 different board games at the same time, but the rules always change - and we have county, state and federal rules. My classmates and I spent a little over 10 weeks learning the rules (that always change, or have exceptions). Imagine reading or talking about county, state and federal regulations (and the possible exceptions) for 8 hours a day. Do your eyes start to roll back in your head?

Would you come home and write at night? Yeah, I thought so.

The thing is, now I’m working in the field, and what I’m doing is working with a program that supports deprived children.Think about single parent households, grandparents and other relatives raising children because one or both parents are absent or otherwise unable to raise their kids. Cool, huh? I like it. Every day is different, every situation is different, and the people I work with are very supportive and caring. Nice…

Next, I’ve become President of my bike club, Sierra Express Bicycle Club. My platform was something like “You’re kidding, right?” followed by my campaign promise “Don’t blame me…” Truly, I’m pleased that my group asked me to do it. I’d like to see our club take a leading roll in bicycle advocacy in our area. I’d like to see the day when parents feel safe letting their kids ride bikes to school.

Next thing, and a big part of the reason I’m not blogging away like a mad dog, is that I really intended for this to be more a web site, with easy access to information and resources for California bicyclists. Don’t get me wrong, I love blabbing away, on the off chance that someone will read this and chuckle, or think, or write back, or who knows what? At any rate, for it to be a web site, I have to relearn web design, then do it. I’m still in the relearn web design phase - I like that kinda stuff. It takes time.

Then, there’s bike riding. I’ve been riding to work on a single speed with those gigantic grocery bag size saddlebags - it’s no problem until I go grocery shopping. “Bud lite” isn’t.  Naw, just kidding - I’m from California, so I drink premium micro-brew beers. They are much heavier when you pedal up hill, I’ll have you know!

I rode my first century of the year on Super Bowl Sunday. A beautiful, windy day. Next weekend, I’ll ride the next one, if I can move all of my stuff in one day.

Yep, back to bachelorhood. We both think we’ll be happier. I hope we’re both right.

by blackhurst

cool…

Where does the time go? In the run-up to T Day, getting ready for the family to visit, working to finish house and work projects, crazy, crazy…. off the bike - except for the annual Thanksgiving day “work up the appetite” ride… easy pace group ride,about 35 miles rolling through the towns and country-side, then visit, visit, visit, eat, eat, eat and now it’s already December… already! Well, I have a few things to write about, but not a lot of time at the moment… I did get my seat adjusted (and not because I ate too much!) My bike seat was too high and my handlebars too low - all hail, the local bike shop! I’ll tell ya, it’s like having a new bike!

-Frank Pedrick

It’s that time of year.

Some folks are coming off of a long summer season of riding and feeling all grumbly and grouchy as the days grow shorter and the riding time is harder to come by (unless you want to get out the tights and leggings and sleeves and jackets and booties and earmuffs and long fingered gloves and booties and a glow-in-the-dark jacket and lights and reflectors and insulated water bottles and a shot of whiskey for when you’re finally home…) Or, there’s the stationary trainer that’s been getting dusty during all those languid, warm, sunny days since spring…

Riding a little is good. Riding to work is good. Riding with friends and hearing bad jokes is good.

- Frank Pedrick

Oooo, wweeeee! LOTS o’ stuff goin’ on these days… a  wee bit of bike riding, but… would I rather write or ride? Let’s just say, my priorities are OK (by me!)

Heavy training program at work, house chores to complete, before the end of our stumbling along FALL, here in NorCal - isn’t it supposed to be raining by now? I mean, how can we complain about the weather and not ride bikes, if it’s in the mid 70’s and beautiful outside? Really! No room for whiners or weenies here. I did get out for a ride Sunday - 43 miles, 4300 ft., felt good, more bad jokes - then, a crawl under the house to replace the dryer duct work… see! It’s not all about sunshine and blue sky. Reality is getting the clothes dry, sometimes???

Well, I have been riding to work - that is a very good thing… even riding back after dark is a good thing, in my opinion - it’s not training, but it sure does feel good.

I’m plugging away on updating the century calendar. You can’t see it yet, but that’s because it’s not “published” - I’m going to include all the rides in CA, so it takes quite a while, just to have these words appear on your monitor: “Century Calendar.” It’s cool. There are so many rides worth trying, if you haven’t! New is good. Challenging is good.

Having a clothes dryer that works is good.

- Frank Pedrick

I’ve been spending some time now just looking at the rides coming up next year, and I’ve gotta say it sorta wets my appetite for the rides to come… I’ve ridden a lot of centuries and double centuries here in Northern CA. Most, I look forward to, some (just a few) weren’t great (but I’m pretty forgiving - they were new rides). It’s always easy to be critical, so I left honest suggestions and opinions.

I’m working on the century calendar for next year.

I have to say, I’m feeling a little envious of the SoCal folks who have fair weather year ’round…

I’m over it.

- Frank Pedrick

Brutal, I mean brutal, weekend ride! not the miles, not the pace, not the pack mentality… No, oh no! It was riding with a group competing in the “worst joke ever told” competition.

You should thank me - i won’t repeat one of them here - this is supposed to be “family rated.” Besides, and fortunately for you and I, my memory deletes such things ASAP. Self-preservation, a reason to pick up the pace, a training device, a reason to breath harder between laughter!

I wonder where we’ll ride next weekend?

- Frank Pedrick

Whew?!

I’m going for a 2 or 3 hour ride with some friends this afternnon, so I’m trying to hustle up a bit - the usual business to take care of on a weekend, don’t ya know?

I sacrificed my “ride time” yesterday to clean up the yard, driveway, sidewalks… and just in time. As I was putting away the leaf blower, rake and various other implements of temporary “nature control,” the rain started… and it came down!!

Narrowly avoiding a collision with leaf mush…

Today is beautiful!

I’m putting together a “Century Calendar” for next year. I use several sources - for rides I’ve done, I go to the sponsor’s web site to check dates and update information; to bike club web sites, if I know they put on rides, and to some of the on-line calendars… I don’t have the “connections” for southern California yet, but I’m working on it!

-  Frank Pedrick

Well, now.

I started this enterprise because I wanted to provide information and resources for California bicyclists.

So, as it turns out, there are quite a few resources for us California bicyclists - California is an enourmous and varied state with a lot of amazing places to ride bikes, no matter what kind of riding you like to do!

But, I tell you, it is tempting to blather on about this and that, just because bicycling is a fun and relaxing thing to do and so, I’m afraid, is blathering… I have many friends who enjoy blathering.

At any rate, here is the plan of the moment… Right here, or at least in close proximity, is a map showing the counties I have information for at the moment. I’m thinking I’ll develop a real web site to gather and dispense information, because there is a LOT of it… and keep the blog for blathering as a part of it…

BicycleWays coverage

Sorta like a Napoleanic march to the South… or an ultra-distance pedal…

Ah, ’tis the time that tries bikey souls…

A new job, with intense training schedule and everyday bringing on new challenges… Good, though - I love learning new stuff and having new challenges.

The rain has arrived in Northern CA, but mostly on weekends, for some reason I can never quite fathom.

I do love the rain, but do take a while to adjust to it - mountain bike time, perhaps?

Oh, yeah and the time change… and the election-why not? I, uh, um, well, have probably a few more excuses, if I tried to think ‘em up… oh, my shorts are in the wash… well?