What commuting is about?

Is it really to get from one point of the town to another? Is it really just a matter of transportation? Do you just get on the bike to "get to work"?

Maybe I am just a weird guy that enjoys riding his bike a lot more then the average commuter, but when I swing my leg over the bike and roll out of my drive way every morning is like opening the doors of the world..!

The options of how to get to my next destination are endless... The adventures that creates this every day journey are amazing... The possibilities of discovering new people or places are always there..

Now as everyone in this world sometimes I get caught in the routine of just going and coming from and to... BUT...!!! I also conscious of this situation and I am all in  to blow this at any chance I get..

How do I do it? Like this..:

The problem I see with everyone is taking everything for granted.. We have great views everywhere..! Now do you take the time to see them?

You can see awesome people doing some great stuff that demand a lot of dedication.. How many times you drive, ride the bus over the river and never stop to enjoy the view at what people is doing there? I repeat... There is a lot of awesome people there... Take a minute to discover them..

And because I like to create a consciousness on people, educate them I post the last one... I am not blaming the poor choice of parking of all this drivers... I blame the poor vial education system and the structure around the city to support everyone needs...

Just to you to think next time you decided to park on the cycling lane.. Where do I have to go to avoid the car on the cycling lane??? Yes I have to go right on the street... And you all hate cyclist on the street right? Believe me I was hit by a car once (six months in bed were not fun) but it was a true accident.. Poor lady was in a shock.. (you can check that story here in the blog as well)

So my point is... I DO NOT WANT TO RIDE ON THE STREET but sometimes I have to...

Thanks for reading and sharing

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

Dodging showers in Belfast

First then anything let me all tell you sorry... It was a long week this one and is not even over yet..!! But on the bright side, always look at the bright side..! I am working and supporting my family.. We all need some money to support our love ones right? And I enjoy my job.. Is a bit on the heavy side but not that much..

Well all week was rainy, stormy and windy..! so everyday I took pics and they all look bad or not clear enough to post.. But lets say that everyday this week started like this..

As you can see the rain pants had a lot of activity during the week.. So did the rain jacket and the booties... I kept dry from the rain..!! (sweated like a pig in the oven)

And as I am riding to work everyday I started to look at the different things around me... Like...

If it happens that you are in Belfast and like to go for a ride but don't have yours... Consider the bike sharing program.

The infrastructure for cycling is very nice, but you do have to deal with traffic and know how to ride in it..

And as shown in the picture above... Be ready to clean your bike and have the right clothing for riding around here.

LOVE the traffic lights for cyclists and pedestrians... Respect to be respected.. Remember that one.

Sometimes stops raining long enough for you to look around and see how beautiful this place is...

This is right before my work place.. Look at how peaceful it is... Looking that way.. On my back was trucks flying by..

One more because is just a nice opportunity to take it in.. That in the back is call Cave Hill.. Great place that I recommend if you like zoos, castles and hiking..

I wanted to show you how nice Belfast is and the infrastructure you have for cycling... This is a cycling path.. Nice and protected from traffic... BUT..!!! You always have "some" people that think that is OK to park either on the bike lanes or like this one blocking half of the cycling path... DUDE..!! #ITISNOTOK

Thanks for reading and sharing.

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

No is Not OK..!

Another beautiful day in Belfast, Northern Ireland..!

It was windy... It was rainy... It was dark.. But hey..!!! It was warm..!!!

So i woke up like every day at 6 am... Had breakfast.. Talked a little to the Mrs.. Got the little man ready and off I was to my job...

Did I mention is dark, wet and windy?? Just checking..

And as soon as I hit the bike lanes guess what I found?

And I noticed this is not the first time I see this van parked like this... Some people at least try to be less wrong to call it some how and park only (only..!!) half a car on the bike lane... This one? You can see it yourself right?

I found many more along the way but I decided not to take so many pictures because they pissed me off and all I do is get upset..

Thankfully the ride got better as soon as I left the crazy part of town.. Into a bike path that brings me very close to work..

Then finally at work was time to change clothes and set the other ones to dry... I have a full rack all for me at my work place..

So after 8 hours at work on my feet and doing some heavy lifting was time to head out and face the other people hiding behind a steering wheel..

There is a section of my commute when I get out of work that is heavy on trucks.. And most of them are professionals behind the wheel and I really trust them... But the las few time there was a few "idiots" that after they passed you at a nice speed decided that is cool or funny to return to the line I am riding on and coming really close to make me stop. or fall.. Oh well (is not ok)

And as I got close to the city guess what happened?

.
On top of the conditions not to be the best either for riding or driving you have this individuals that were not educated in the art of sharing and respecting others..

One more?

Is not a funny thing when you have to get in the middle of other people trying to get home and looking at you like you are stealing their precious time with the TV at home.. 

Well that was my commute today.. Ups and down but after all I made it home in one piece..! 

Thanks for reading and see you soon..!

Don't forget to share..

Pablo.

The Weekend Report Guy

Happy "windy" Monday commute..!

Monday here and with it comes the routine of going to work and the biking commute.. Do not get me wrong..! I really enjoy my commute or for the most part I do..

How not to like it when you have this kind of views to reward you on your way to work?

This is Belfast at sunrise time for you.. it was a bit cloudy... Extremely windy..! for my luck most of it was on my back while going to work.. Some sections was a strong cross wind, you know when you are riding in between buildings or trees and come to an opening.. For sure I felt like the bike was going to do her own thing..

But it was worth it..! And it was surprisingly warm..! I was sweating a lot by the time I got to work.. Good thing there is a changing room at work where I can hang my clothes to dry for the ride back home..

My STRAVA ride looked like this.. Easy enough right?

My view at the time I got to work? A very nice one..!!!

That is Cave Hill, maybe when the weather turns for better or the days get longer I take a trip up there with the bike to show you the view from up there..

On my way home I had less fun since it was dark, windy, head wind to be more precise and had to stay focus on not to lose the bike to the wind and the coming traffic... (no pictures) And to top it all out my light run out of battery with like 10 blocks to go...!!! Charging it now...

Took a few pics of people parked on the bike path or lane but they came out too dark and hard to see... I am starting a hashtag #isnotok to tag people parked like excrement on places that create a hazardous problem for cyclists and people walking..

Thanks for reading and sharing (?)

Pablo

The Weekend Report guy

Wet Belfast.. Who knew?

Today Saturday I was out for a ride after a full week of work in who knows how long.. And add to this that I am riding to work and back everyday on the CX bike + a few workouts I had during the week..

Don't get me wrong I am sooooo thank full for a full week of work and actually I like my job.. I am working at a warehouse sorting different stuff (mainly clothing) and trust me I am finding very interesting stuff that people donates.. (cycling gear, shoes, football jerseys) and the best part they let us buy this goodies at a very, very cheap price...

But what I was trying to say is that today was the first real test for the legs after a full week of normal life.. and it certainly felt it.. Had a hard time keeping up with the guys up to the coffee stop.. After that I was OK or they were very tired...

Here is a few pictures of today's ride.. Actually only 2 since the weather was a stinker..

I love the effect of this one.. #speed

As you can see it was wet..! And it was full of leaves on the ground.. The back wheel was all over the routes a few times and was a nice reminder to slow down.. I stayed up right and so were my riding buddies...

This one was almost back at home when I had to slow down a lot to go over this path to get to another street and made a good opportunity to snap a picture of the rain and Fall effects combined..

By the time I got home +Strava was telling me that I rode 80 km and climbed 400 meters in almost 3 hours of riding under very not nice conditions..

Still was a great day out where only the hardcore cyclists were out (or the idiots that tested their luck with the weather)

As usual thanks for reading and see you during the week with the commuting updates.

Pablo 

The Weekend Report Guy

Commuting

Wednesday already..! Is amazing how quick the week goes by when you are working..! And also is great when you enjoy your job..! And how you get to it...

Today the constant on the commute was cars parked on the bike lane... I mean if you are from Belfast you know that this is normal.. You also know that they park there because no one else does anything to stop them right? And at last but not least... This must be illegal right? I mean is called "bike lane" no car park here is space...

Oh well here are a few examples of what my commute look like today..

Can you tell me the name of the team that plays there?

No dude..! Is not ok to park there..!

I made it to work safe after dodging a few cars parked like Sh*t! And the view was great..! own charm..

The Lagan River and some rowers in it..

No is not OK to go get your hair done while you park there...

And another bunch of cars more... Almost home..!

And I was stuck in traffic to top it off..!!! ;)

Made it home in one piece..! Thanks universe powers for that..!!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my little stories and pictures.

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

Stories from the daily commute

Winter is here in Belfast and even when I leave the house around 7 am is really dark out there.. As a result of this we are set on more then one light before we hit the route..

And what a better way to check everything then when our friend garmin is looking for signal...

As you can also see we need reflective clothing to make life easier on our fellow driver friends.. I haven't understand yet if all the colors and lights mean run them over or stay away yet..

The commute to work is a nice one for the most part.. An easy and flat 10 km each way that runs at some point by the Lagan path....

Not a bad sight at 7:20 am  but as you can see the sun still hiding somewhere... The rest of the ride? Well it looks something like this.. STRAVA Check and follow if you want..

Now with this new commute and 20 daily km will be easier to reach the 10.000 km goal for the year..
That is an easy 100 km a week not counting training rides and group rides..

Thanks for reading and sharing (?)

See you at the next update.

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy.

What about Sunday?

Well last night I went to bed too late and have a few too many slices of pizza and beers… My body asked me to stay in bed longer then usual and I listened to it..

by the time I got up and had breakfast and check the internet it was too late to go for a real ride.. With time limitations and a goal to get to (10.000 Km) I decided to get on the trainer and make the best out of my little time..

The result? in images? This was my vision after the session… Or was it during it?

I did some intervals… Climbing intervals to be more precise.. Zwift – Watopia – The Gorby

After that we had a quick lunch with the family and headed out to the local trail that starts no more then 400 meters from our door steps

Some pics?

The beginning of it..

The water fall walk way

A closer look

Steep stairways 

Jessie checking the tunnel for us

A gravel route with no cars and full of leafs

A selfie?

Moos 

And us, my family

And that is the way you spend a surprisingly warm day in Belfast... I called it "Hiking in the backyard"

Those pictures were taken by me at the Castlereagh hills area, we live right at the foot steps or the area..

Hope to see you at the next post..

Thanks for reading

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

Life is getting better.

After who knows how long things starting to look normal..

Like I said found a job… And I can’t tell you how nice it feels to be productive again..

My Road bike is fixed and was ready to roll out this morning.. You see what I meant by normal?

So Saturday morning I was ready to roll out and see what I could do on a road bike instead of a CX one…

Our ride started heading up 2 climbs and then we had to stop because someone had a flat almost at the end of the 2nd bump

As you can see the weather was very Belfast like… But at least it was warm…. Here you can see the hard working bunch riding by the sea…

Saw some moos

We tried to stay together a lot since the head wind meant hard work… And did I mention it was raining?

But at some point the sky open up long enough for me to take this picture… #bluesky

And right before home I saw this pile of leafs that made up for a nice Fall picture…

It felt good to ride a fast bike again without feeling like dying at it… I even managed to make a few PR according to Strava.

I felt very well while during and after the ride.. Spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen helping a friend to make home made pizzas for her B-Day... Ate a lot drank a lot and didn't get up for my Traditional Sunday ride... But that is part of another adventure..

Thanks for reading and hope to see you at the next update.

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy