It is an Absolutely Beautiful day today - an Absolutely Perfect day for riding. But I'm over 40 miles away from my bike right now, with no prospect for riding at all today. I'm not nearly as miles-obsessed as this may sound. A day like today is just about enjoying the act of riding itself and being outdoors. It's merely coincidence that riding into work gives me lots of miles. So what happened? Well, I'll tell you - and along the way will offer some helpful suggestions so you can avoid the mistakes I made this morning - mistakes which conspired to keep me out of the saddle on such a pretty day.
Did I mention that it would have been a perfect day for riding into work? I'd actually planned to and had even mapped out a route to get from Hartford to the in-laws' in Wallingford this evening (thanks in part to Brendan). But the logistics of the evening's plans, coupled with the fact that a) I've only been getting about 4-5 hrs sleep each night, and b) I got to ride in Monday and Wednesday (which is partly responsible for the truncated sleep), I decided to take the commuter van in this morning. I can sleep on the van and meet the Mrs. 1/2 way to Wallyworld in the evening.
So I got up at my usual time (instead of early for riding), got all showered and to the commuter lot when I discovered - "No van today." Now, since I'm not a morning person - and especially since I'd planned on sleeping on the way in - I wasn't all that lucid. Consequently, I made a big mistake on such a day as this (did I mention how nice it is outside??) - I went ahead drove in to work.
Here is a list of things I woulda/coulda/shoulda done differently - and which you can remember if this ever happens to you:
- I woulda gone back home, changed, got my bike and ridden in as planned.
I wasn't going to be able to sleep anyway and the ride Hartford to Wallingford - as I discovered - is not nearly as far as I thought (so no logistical/timing problem after all). Alternatively, I could take the bus from Hartford to Middletown and meet the Mrs. to get to Wallingford and save that riding time. But having gotten up when I did, I would have been VERY late for work.
- I coulda gone back home, done my usual 1hr beach loop, and then drive in to work.
This woulda put me into work just a little late and I coulda gotten a ride in.
- I shoulda gone back home, got my bike/gear and planned on riding during (more likely "instead of") lunch.
As you can see, all of these options start with me turning around and going back home. Unfortunately, in my somnambulist state, I didn't figure that out until I was already 1/2 way to the office.
Maybe I shoulda just taken the day off. . .