Edwin rides a bike

Distance: 24 miles
Route map: link

Recap:
This ride was one of the goals I had set out for myself. I think this is the first ride where my final destination didn't lead me back to my apartment. I went from my apartment in Fullerton to my parents' house in La Puente.

I had decided I would do the ride late Monday evening. I left around 9 AM, calling my mom to expect me for lunch later. I didn't tell her I was riding. :-) I started off going through campus, then up Associated and into the park. The only part on my whole ride where I walked the bike was up the steep little entrance into the park. I don't think I've ridden the hills in the park since I've gone fixed. It was a little tough, but not a bad way to start the ride.

There wasn't as much traffic because of Veteran's Day, but still enough to get me mad at cars. I did my best to stay off to the right as much as I safely could, but the cars wouldn't grant me the same courtesy. At one point, some asshole kept shooting straight through without giving me room to pass the RV parked in front of me. After that, I did my best to take the lane. Unless you're an emergency vehicle or someone in your family's about to have a baby, I doubt anyone's life will be drastically affected by having to slow down for a few seconds to pass me. I'm all for giving people the benefit of the doubt, but really.

I kept waiting for a 7-11 to show up. I only passed one, but it was on the other side of the street, there were hella cars, and I had a green. I finally gave up on passing another one and stopped at a Circle K on Beverly well into Whittier. Painter Avenue sucks. I didn't remember it having all those rolling hills. A nice moment: when I wanted to turn into Circle K, I signaled to the guy in the truck next to me and he slowed down even though cars behind him honked. Thank you, mr. red-truck-driving guy.

Workman Mill was a nice ride. Not too busy today, wide lanes. I was finally rolling into the Avocado Heights area! I made it home around 10:50. 24 miles in almost 2 hours, so a little bit faster than 12 mph. I'm shooting for being able to hold 15 mph for two hours. I really wish I had brought a map or something so I could see how fast I had gone in the first hour. I think I did 10 miles in the first hour...I just have to keep working.

Stayed home the rest of the day, ate, watched tv, played with my brother, then my dad gave me a ride back around 6:30. Not too bad. Maybe next time I'll ride back as well.