1500!

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	1:16:05	3:39 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	1:15:58	3:39 pace
Distance (mi )	20.76
Moving Speed (mph)	16.4 avg.	25.6 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+392 / -391
Avg. Heart Rate	141 bpm	Zone 3.6
Temperature (°F)	40°F avg.	42.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	W 10.2 avg.	W 12.6 max.

Start time: 02:18:59 PM
Odometer: 1505.16

I hit the 1500 mile goal in the pouring rain today. Not a terrible day for December: the back porch thermometer indicated about 50F and although the rain was cold, the Adidas jacket held up to its impermeable reputation. The rest of the gear faired ok: Ibex wool shorts kept me warm even though they were soaked (and they did not feel soaked, which is nice); the LG neoprene shoe covers were never intended to take this kind of abuse, but my feet were warm (in part because of the wool socks); the Craft gloves utterly failed and just got wetter and wetter (and colder and colder). The 'official' weather came in with a 'high' relative humidity of 90% which is funny since it rained the entire way to North Ave. I think I could have managed full path if my gloves were not so cold---the tailwind on the return was lovely.

I am glad that I had this day---no matter what the weather, completing a goal is very satisfying and I really wanted to make sure that I did not come up 20 miles short. Since I started late in the season without having done anything like serious bicycling since maybe 2001-ish, 1500 is a pretty solid effort. I can probably take my ride up to Get a Grip for a full cleaning and overhaul now without feeling any guilt at all about abandoning the outdoors a few weeks before the official start of Winter.

I will need to devote some space to pedestrian issues, especially in light of the article in the Maroon a few weeks ago. Granted, the problem today was Bears fans which are a breed unto themselves, but the utter cluelessness of these and other peds is frustrating at best. I am willing to share the path and be respectful, but respect is also earned. This latter is actually the problem with our society---we all want respect, but we are unwilling to give it. So small-membered 16-year-old wanna-be hoods ride around Hyde Park with a gun and shoot a guy who has worked hard to make something of himself. There was no privilege, only sweat. But these kids---and let's be honest, the parents that raised them---have no respect for this sort of honest work. THEY want respect, but they refuse to give it---mostly because they are too ill-educated to understand that not everyone in Hyde Park comes from money---most of us work hard for what we have.