Cycling Sightings

It's been about two weeks since I've been for a bike ride. Between wanting to go for a 20+ mile ride, required classes at inconvenient times, and earlier sunsets I just haven't been able to make it out. I may start shortening up my rides in the interests of just getting rides in.

Either way, I had been running out of bike-friendly roads to explore neighborhoods. That said, I was defaulting my rides to the lakefront trail, mostly the northern part. Since the north side's the denser part of the city, there are more people on the path. It makes for not only good people watching, but also for annoyances and entertainment.

Annoyances
-people that can't keep a straight line - be it joggers, rollerbladers, cyclists
-rollerbladers that swing their arms wildly to the sides
-jackasses who high five each other across the path and almost clothesline me
-joggers in a group that take up the entire lane and shoulder
-people that stop on the path - actually just stop and are just standing there
-skateboarders
-swarms of bugs that get deposited directly to my face
-wind and/or rain

Entertainment
-people that text/talk on their phones while cycling/rollerblading
-people who listen to music while biking
-businessmen on bikes (good for them, but suits on bikes is still a weird sight)
-people carrying Macy's bags in one hand, steering with the other
-people in their cars with headphones on...that can't be safe
-recumbent bikes
-people's faces when they hit the wall while jogging/biking, etc.
-being faster than traffic during the PM rush hour
-geese that refuse to move and then are oblivious to almost being run over
-segways



Here's an updated map of where I've been. I've still got a few route ideas, but like I said - I'm starting to run out of ideas. But I'm up to ~710 miles and averaging about 24 per ride. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna invest in a real road bike within the next year. The newer ones (mine's an older Schwinn from the 80s) are significantly lighter and shift pretty nicely. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it actually is (imo).

Maybe The Grass Is Greener

I'm three weeks into M2 year and I have to say, things aren't too horrible right now. Yes, school and actually having to work suck. But, compared to this time last year things don't seem as bad. The classes are hands down better and more interesting. It's actually material that you'd associate with med school - things that make me feel like learning to become a doctor. E.g. pathology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, infection/immunity. Our clinical class includes learning physical exam skills among other things. As part of the same class, I'll be working with an emergency medicine doc - and that's nice since that's what I'm thinking of going into. On top of that, we spend six weeks out of the year in the hospital, actually on a service and part of a medical team.

So compared to last year (being neck deep in biochem, histology, and anatomy) life is a lot more enjoyable. Yeah classes are better and whatnot, but I've even had all my weekends so far. This is what I'd been hearing of course, but it's so much better to actually experience it. And on top of that, I've started the year off with massive nonattendance so as to maximize my free time. There are more required sessions this year, but even those are palatable. And now, off for a ride and some Illini football!