obstacles

As I said before, the weather is gorgeous and this means that the fair-weather cyclists (I count myself among them) are out in full force.
When cycling, I don't have any problems avoiding pups or children, even by the lakefront where I zoom down the last stretch to Bahnhof Stadelhofen. My problem is other cyclists. They're slow, they ignore the path markings and they seem oblivious to other cyclists. They swerve to avoid joggers and holiday makers and right into the path of other cyclists.
It makes me nearly wish for rain.

inspiration and perspiration

The sun has been shining on my efforts and I've been joined by others.
The weather has been truly beautiful and that is perhaps why students and coworkers of mine have begun biking to work as well (some quite far distances some around the block.) I extended my ride yesterday to include Stettbach (starting at the train station there) and riding through Uster to a depressing business park outside of town. Even that was lovely, however, because in the fields surrounding the business park, a dog was annoying his boy and their barks and whistles brought a certain cheer to the gloomy asphalted island.

water treatment plan

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ARA

 

On my path, I ride under a sky that is often full of little gliding model airplanes. Apparently I'm riding quite near a defunct military airfield. I also get to pass the water treatment plant (ARA Jungholz) just before entering Uster. I'd expected it to smell, but it doesn't. Despite the rising temperatures, the plant seems odorless and I ride to the left of it as the majority of the other riders and walkers bear to continue along the scenic lakeside path.

the tunnel I ride each morning

the entrance to the tunnel on the way home

On the train ride home last night, I couldn't help but think, "I could just stay on and ride until the Bahnhof Hardbrücke and zip home quickly on my bike." It would have meant decreasing my ride home by more than half. But I stuck to my guns and rode the way from Stadelhofen, at 9:30 pm.

Day 2 - 12 miles

How could I have forgotten about the wind?! How could I have not reapplied suncream?!

Day two had more wind, more sun and more bugs than yesterday. I did the same route again, because I wanted to see if my time improved when I wasn't constantly checking my directions. My time did improve despite the crazy headwind, but there was a jolly vibe on the path today as a number or older folks were out enjoy the fine weather.

I got bugs in my eyes, mouth and hair. They were especially dense in the areas around water. I might have to consider protective glasses for the ride home.

I've been loaned a phenomenal pair of rain trousers and now look forward to the next opportunity for rain.

I was a little sore in the legs today, but overall feel great!

the month continues tomorrow

rain pants folded into their pocket. Weighing in at 156 grams (5.5 ounces)

Day 1 - 11.5 miles

Biking to Uster:

I've been working in Uster - a town of 32,577 - since October 2012 and until today, only knew 3 streets within its borders. I teach English at a language school there. 

Often in the units of our English books, information will be offered about the UK or US and then the question "what's it like where you're from?"will be asked. The books are British and are speaking to an imaginary classroom of multi-national immigrants to Great Britain. 

When I ask this question of my students, their answers all make me say "really?" They're all from the area and speak about the nearby castle, waterfront and historical factory as if they're known to the whole world.  

Today, when I passed the "DANKE!" sign of Dübendorf (including emoticon), I entered Uster and thought, "Really? Uster is this pretty?" I'm on day one of bike to work month and will am off to a gentle start. I rode my bike to the farthest train station in the city (Stadelhofen) and got on a train for two stops, where I got off at Dübendorf (tomorrow I'll get out at the first stop - Stettbach.)

What I'm doing this month is pretty unremarkable. I know people who regularly bike from Bern to Zürich (over 100km) just to visit friends. If you average the miles I'll ride this month it's a pittance in comparison to the folks I know who commute by bike every day, no matter the weather.

For me, however, it's a big deal. I'm learning the geography of my daily life.  I'm exercising after a few months of the blues and lack of motivation led me away from the gym and into some pretty poor shape; and I'm exorcising an increasing nervousness that has reoccurred recently when I'm city cycling. (An insecure cyclist is of course a dangerous cyclist and I need to break this vicious cycle.)

Most of my route is rural and beautiful. I pass a nature reserve, vineyards, a donkey farm (yucky!) and a beautiful lake I'd only ever seen from the opposite coast before. 

It begins with a 4.5 km ride through the city along a river, through a tunnel and along a lake. I then ride a train to avoid an insane hill. 

The ride ends, I discovered, with a number of rotaries (one is pentagonal!!!) All told, I rode 11.15 miles on my way to and from work today. I'll be upping that to 13 miles 3 days a week for the rest of the month and possibly more on the days when I finish work before 9pm and can ride a larger portion home.) I'd love to go exclusively on bike at least once or twice this month, but my big goal will be to ride the more doable bit regularly once the month is over. My time was poor today, but that was mostly due to map confusion. I'm guessing that I'll decrease my time more and more as the month goes on.

Bike with basket, school bag and gym bag at Bahnhof Stadelhofen

picturesque views on my way

The over-filled Greifensee (the rivers and lakes in Switzerland are all spilling over)

stinky donkey farm