As my annual big ride approaches, I noticed three statistics on my sports application Strava that seemed noteworthy, to moi at least, and maybe to you, faithful reader. My total mileage just surpassed 40,000 miles, and elevation passed 1,000,000 feet since I began recording, basically the very end of 2015. But the one that jumped out at me was the 2,000 miles I’ve ridden on Sommar (pronouced some ALL) the Fuji Finest bicycle. I was kindly gifted here when Sonnie the GT Arette was stolen and missing for a week. After a cool cat named Orion gave me the bike, at first I wasn’t sure she would work out. Those skinny tires, curvy drop bars, and nimble frame all gave me pause. But she and A Dude are getting along pretty well, so here’s an imaginary convo with the saucy, sexy minx herself.
A Dude: How’s it feel to pass 2,000 miles with me at the helm, Sommar?
Sommar: Well, I’m a bicycle. I don’t have feelings. I don’t have a brain or a way to talk, either. I’m just a figment of your imagiination.
A Dude: Yeah, I know, but for purposes of this blog can you just pretend and go with it?
Sommar: Yea, sure, ya betcha!
A Dude: Wait, are you mocking your Swedish Scandanavian roots?
Sommar: Same answer.
A Dude: Smart ass.
Sommar: Better than being a dumb ass. Speaking of asses, any chance you can go up to two salads a day, my dude?
A Dude: Actually lately I’ve skipped two salad a couple of nights so I can have more time betwen meals. My acupuncturist who wears gloves on his feet suggested that. So, while I’m past my salad days, I’ll at least have a salad at night. Sorry.
Sommar: I’ve heard of salad days, but salad nights, huh? OK, whatever works, man.
A Dude: Let’s talk about biking, shall we? And don’t say yea, sure, ya betcha.
Sommar: Alright. Biking it is. I like being on the road with you, A Dude. Usually. It’s been purty damn hot round these here parts lately.
A Dude: Yer darn tootin’ right, fer sure. How do you like our rides? Details, please.
Sommar: It’s like David Lee Roth, that nice Jewish boy. (Real name: David Lee Roth). He sang in that crazy rock and the roll band with Edward Van Halen: “I’ve got my toes in the sand and a drink in my hand / all I need is the wo-man.” I’m the woman in this scenario, and you’re the dude, so good for you, Dude. But yeah, I like riding, and going fast, leaning into curves, downhills, snack stops, and finishing a ride on a good number, like tonight’s 20 miles.
A Dude: Interestingly put. I enjoy riding with you. What part do you dislike (besides the heat)?
Sommar: I’m not a big fan of narrow country roads, or urban streets with no bike lanes. Do better, City of Austin!
A Dude: I agree! Let’s hope they continue to make improvements. Let’s talk about you. I gave you a Swedish name for summer, but it’s pronounced some mahl’, right?
Sommar: That’s true. But Fuji is Japanese, so I’m a mix. Like that supermodel, Sofia Wakabayashi.
A Dude: Right, but I can’t find a picture of her on a bicycle, so not sure it matters. There’s a dude who’s also a Swedish-Japanese model, Anthony Thornburg, to be fair and balanced. And here he is with a bike.
Sommar: Looks like a cool dude who doesn’t really ride a bike. Anyway, I was built in Taiwan. But origins, aside, can I ask you a question, dude?
A Dude: Sure, fire away.
Sommar: Why do you ride your bike every day? It will be four years in a month. That’s a lot.
A Dude: Good question. I just started dong it because I was doing other things daily, like yoga, walking, reading, and writing. It seemed like the thing to do and I was curious to see how long I could keep it up. Doing just long weekend rides wasn’t enough to meet my mileage goals, and also for fitness. I’ve never really lost weight biking, but it would be nice if I did. I know, I should do weights, but I don’t want to quit biking unless I have to. It’s really hard some days. Keep in mind this hasn’t beeen verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sommar: Good answer, Dude. Got anything else for me?
A Dude: That’s good for now. Let’s go for a ride, shall we?
Sommar: Yes, I believe we shall.
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A Dude Abikes 
Doze of us who are really from up nort don’t say “yea, sure”. We say “Ja, sure”, but pronounce it “yah shoore”. (Those [doze] aren’t typos. They’re [dare] attempts to duplicate the [de] accent up here.) When I started school my mom told me not to say “ja” anymore, but “yes”. Before I saw the text, I saw the photo of the model and wondered if that were the look to which you (and/or Sommar) aspire.
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I was just quoting to someone the other day the”Ja, sure, ya betcha” from the Ballard Bitter beer bottle in Seattle in the 90’s. He’s Swedish/Japanese, and since I gave a Japanese bike a Swedish name, it was as good a photo as any. Hair never grew that long but I did have a ponytail in Seattle. I aspire to look and be like you, HFCC! Not having looked closely at any photos lately. Still not gotten back to reading blogs like I want to and “should.” Too ensconced in revising my book and reading books. Maybe it’ll be done before I die? How’s the weather there, turned yet? Finally some 80’s for highs and rain coming this week. Thanks for reading and writing and riding.
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Weather here? Change of season. Was in the 90s a few days ago, then 70s and sunny, rained last night and now in the 60s. You’re probably too tall to look like me.
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Nice, send it down!
I’m slightly below the median US height for my age group. But I excel at width. Like George Carlin said, “I’m in shape. Round is a shape.”
Do you snow bike? Or use an indoor trainer or gym bike in the winter? I forget, sorry.
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I ride all year. Winter bike has studded tires, belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, 3-speed internally-geared hub, and fenders. Since retirement I bought a trainer and ride indoors since I don’t ride to work every day.
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If only we could be friends on Strava… Big kudos for you for winter riding. My blood is too thin for that although I still manage sometimes it’s only a mile when there’s ice. Or it’s 14°. Trainer is so boring and loud. Went to my gym the other day and used to spin bike which was much smoother and the air conditioning. Had to make manual entry into Strava but it all accounts. May have to do that more to save time since I’m not speeding up. Even on Sommar.
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The trainer is less boring when I put the laptop on a music stand in front of me and watch a video of a beautiful ride. There are videos that you can connect to a smart trainer so the effort required varies with the terrain, but you can also just find videos on YouTube and vary the effort yourself by shifting gears or changing the resistance manually. Sometimes I just watch a movie with Shokz headphones for sound. The workout is less intense but it keeps me pedaling for an hour and a half. And my newer trainer is quieter than my 30+ year old one was. I guess we’ll have to settle for being friends here. Strava and Garmin hold no interest for me.
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