another step closer...

The ordinance to make it illegal to park in bike lanes passed the Traffic and Parking Commission monday night. The next step takes it back to Metro Council to be read and voted on. With any luck, it will be on the books very soon. Now would be a great time to contact your council representitive. This is just one of the steps to make Nashville a better place to ride a bicycle.

Trans Iowa registration is open for past contestants. I have been contemplating another attempt since last year (which left a bad taste in my mouth) after the monetary expense and pile of favors to just get there, only to ride 117 miles and have to stop. I totally understand the cut-off time and everthing, I really do. It would just be nice to have the same opportunity as GDR racers do. If you miss a cut-off time, you are allowed to continue as a DNF'ed racer. If you make the next time check on time, you are back in the game. However, it only takes one person who shouldn't be continuing to get into trouble to mess the whole thing up. Getting hurt in 2007 and dropping out is one thing, missing the time cut by 15min or so and feeling really good and strong when I got there makes it kinda crappy. Eh, whatever. Guess I need to get a postcard in the mail today and see what happens.

My ride back from Birmingham after Thanksgiving is solid. Gracie in Huntsville is going to house me friday night (which means good food, good company, and probably a party of some sorts). I google-mapped my route and it is only 85ish miles from B'ham to Huntsville on the route I have chosen. That should be pretty easy and fun as long as the weather mostly cooperates. Huntsville to Murfreesboro is another 85ish, then I know from riding it that it is about 3 1/2 hours from there to home at a moderate pace. Two days should be more than doable. I took the computer off the bike after TI last spring, so I won't have a total milage when I finish, but I roll at about 15mph average with the bike loaded up for two days, so day one should be about 6 hours, day two 9 hours. This is going to be fun.