Riding off into the Sunset...

Hello, friends!

A few weeks ago, I bought a new bike. Well, I bought a bike that was new to me anyway. It's a Jamis Coda. I'm not sure of the year but it rides like a dream and I've been really happy with it so far. Most of my riding has been around town but I did get to hit the MKT trail once and it did very well there.

My decision to get a used bike instead of saving up for a new one really was just one of the factors that made me decide that it's time to retire Penny Peddling. When I started this blog all those years ago, I was a single guy with only only one campus and lots of free time. Now I'm married with a kid, spending most of my working time supervising, planning, preparing, and generally not being on campus as much. Even when I do get to campus, it's actually down in Jefferson City, as opposed to Mizzou.

I started Penny Peddling because I wanted to see if blogging about my biking lifestyle would cause me to bike more, thus leading a healthier life for me as well as the planet. Over the past 4 years I have learned so much about bikes, biking, and listening to my body. I'd like to believe that I'm healthier because of all the biking and my carbon footprint is a little bit smaller because of this blog. I'm also pretty sure that the good drivers of Columbia didn't mind one more parking space being open either. =0).

Earlier today I had a conversation with a coworker of mine and we kept using Tour de France analogies becuase we're both so into cycling. I'd like to believe that this blog, in some way, allowed me to participate better in that conversation.

Of course, I'm not going to stop biking. There's a chance that I'll still write about some biking adventures on my other blog. The truth though, is I'm not biking enough, and there isn't enough time in the day, for me to maintain two blogs and do it well.

Thank you so much to all my reader(s). It's been fun sharing with you in my adventures. I've enjoyed riding through the rain with you, learning about my tolerance for pain, and the various fashion lessons that come with being a cyclist. In all, I saved probably around $750 over the course of this blog, which isn't too shabby. Maybe, just maybe, I've inspired one or two of you to go for a ride every now and then. If so, then I hope you enjoyed it.

As always, happy biking!

~Adam

Of storms, hamstrings, and other things...

Hello, friends!

You thought we were gone, didn't you?! Well, you can't get rid of me that easily! Honestly, you probably forgot that I had this blog... that's ok, I kind of forgot too. Apparently it's been over 3 months since I've last posted. That's not cool, Adam... that's not cool.

What's happened in the past 3+ months? Well, there's been a lot of stuff but not a ton of biking. I suppose if I had kept better records, I'd have some fun stuff to tell you. The truth though, is that these past 3+ months have been really crazy and I haven't actually done a ton of biking or accounting. Let's run it down:

March: March saw Spring showers, a few weeks of travel, and plenty of migraines.

April: Hmm... April didn't really have much of an excuse... my bad on that one. =0).

May: WAY more travel, including being out of town for a few weeks, family visiting, and more storms.

June: It's been raining... a lot... AND, I pulled my hamstring and haven't been able to bike at all...

Ok, I guess I do have a story. Y'all know that I love me some softball. More than basketball, more than flag football, even more than curling, which is saying something, I love me some softball. I haven't played in a few years (mostly because I haven't put in the effort to get a team together) but it's always on my mind.

A few weeks ago, I was at church and I saw a friend of mine who was looking for players to play on his team about 2 years ago. I asked him if he was still playing and he said that he was and that they were always short a few guys. What luck!

So, last Monday, I laced up my cleats, put on my old, sweaty cap, and went out to the ball game. We had a double header, which meant that I was in for 2 hours of softball... good times!

Things started off well enough. I made a few plays at 3rd base and even stole home to score our first run of the game. It's like one of those riding a bike things where you never really forget how to play. We kept it close for most of the game but eventually gave up the big inning in the 6th and lost 12-6.

During the second game is where things went south. We were playing an older team that had a one or two younger guys on it. This is usually where things can get a little dicey. The older guys usually don't hit for much power but they have a knack for putting the ball where folk ain't. Especially in the outfield, it can mean a lot of running and a lot of quick reaction.

I made the comment to our captain that I may be faster than our center fielder so if he wanted to make the switch, I was ready. The call never came.

Instead, this happened. The next inning I led off with a single. The guy batting behind me poked it into right field and I'm thinking first to third all the way. As I'm rounding 2nd, I hear a "POP!" and immediately pulled up. I had pulled (probably torn) BOTH my hamstrings...

I got a pinch runner and played catcher for the rest of the game (like I was going to bench myself!) and almost 2 weeks later, my right hamstring is still tight and not all the way healed. I can walk much better but I can't run or bike yet.

Here's the best part of the story for me... It was totally worth it. Sometimes I'll play basketball with folk on Monday nights. If I had pulled my hamstring playing basketball, I would have been crazy angry. I love basketball but it isn't worth an injury. Softball on the other hand? Well, going down on the diamond is ALWAYS the way to go. =0).

Happy Biking!

~Adam

The Big Gamble...

Hello, friends!

A few days ago I posted about the cabin fever I'd been experiencing since I hadn't biked in what seemed like forever. I said that I was going to take a gamble and go for a ride last Friday, hoping for the best. Well, I thought it would be good for me to give y'all an update about my ride and how everything went!

Honestly, it couldn't have gone better. It was a gamble that definitely paid off in a big way. Not only did I get to ride but I also probably won't get to ride for a while yet.

I hit the road around 11 so I could make it to a meeting downtown. It was chilly (12 but felt like 2) but with all my layers and half of a commute instead of a full campus commute, it was pretty easy. The wind wasn't biting at all either, which is always a plus.

My lunch meeting was great, then it was off to campus for a few hours of work and working out. By then, things had warmed up a bit more (I think it was around 20 by that point) so I was feeling pretty good. I did my stuff on campus, made it home by 5 before it got dark and colder, and called it a huge success.

Here's my favorite part about the whole thing. Saturday morning it started snowing and kept snowing all through Sunday morning. Since then, it's been the same game of slightly thawing then freezing again. These past few days have definitely not been bike friendly. I'm out of town for a conference right now so I don't know how the roads look at the moment but weather.com says that we aren't going to be above freezing again until the weekend, which means there's a chance I wouldn't get to bike again until sometime in mid-March, which would have been just about 6 weeks of no biking. That, my friends, would have been unacceptable. =0).

Stats:
Distance: 3 miles ($.17)
Meters: 6 hours ($6)

Total: $6.17
Grand Total: $731.17
In the Positive: $127.16

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Cabin Fever

Hello, friends!

I haven't posted on this blog in 3 weeks. Do you know why I haven't posted on this blog in 3 weeks? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BIKED IN 3 WEEKS!!! Friends, it is seriously driving me crazy! Between my travel schedule (2 trips to Saint Louis) and the weather (one big snow that has since melted slightly and frozen multiple times, making the roads way too icy) I've been stuck walking (not terrible), carpooling (less than ideal but still good), and driving places (OH THE HORRORS!!!)

Friends, I shouldn't have to drive a quarter mile to my friend's house to watch the Oscars because the ice is all over the sidewalks. I shouldn't have to have my dreams dashed when I wake up to a high in the 30's, only to see that the overnight low was in the teens and there are death traps everywhere. I shouldn't have to wait for April before hopping on my bike again because the weather is going to be too finicky otherwise. These things shouldn't be!

So, friends, tomorrow I'm going for it. The high is supposed to be 25 but sunny. Today was sunny enough so that some of the ice on the roads actually evaporated. I have planned out my route to account for slick patches that I've already seen today. TOMORROW, WE ARE BIKING... and it is going to be glorious.

If you're a religious person, please pray for me. Oh, and pray for Megan too... she's less excited than I am about me getting out there. =0).

Stats:
NOTHING. There are no stats. And it makes me sad...

Grand Total: $725
In the Positive: $121.99

Happy Biking!

~Adam

After The Thaw...

Hello, friends!

So, apparently, this post from a few weeks ago (February 6) was never posted! I guess it's better late than never, right? Enjoy me talking about ice for 6 paragraphs. =0).

One thing that I've said over and over again is that I can do cold but I don't do wet. If it's 4 degrees outside but it's dry, I'll try biking. If it's raining, snowing, or has any sort of "wintery mix" then it doesn't matter how warm it is. I don't have the balance or good enough of a bike for me to brave that terrain.

What makes things a little odder are weeks like the one that we're having here in Columbia right now. Today the high will be about 50. Yesterday it was in the teens all day. The day before that there was snow but it stayed around 32 so there wasn't much accumulation. Tuesday was relatively nice with a high in the mid 30's. Monday was BITTER cold. Sunday we had a wintery mix storm in the evening. It was like they say: if you don't like the weather in (insert your state name here so long as it isn't California, Arizona, or Florida), wait a few minutes because it will change. =0).

Days like yesterday are easy ones to decide to not bike. There was snow on the ground. Much of it melted as soon as it hit the ground, turning it into water. The overnight low got nowhere near 32 degrees, so all the water turned into ice. Ice and bikes don't go together well. Ergo, no biking.

However, days like today are a little bit tougher to decipher. The temperature is up so I don't have to worry about ice for the most part but I do have worry about slick roads (on account of all the melted ice) and if there are any patches of ice under shade (Like by the side of my house) then the ice may not be all the way thawed yet. It can still be a 50-50 proposition as to whether or not it's a good idea to go biking or not on a day like this.

So what does a guy like me do? I bike. =0). Of course I bike! I may go a little bit slower and make sure that I'm only hitting dry spots but you'd better believe that I'm going for a ride if I can. I have too much fun riding. I can always use the exercise. I also need to keep this blog going so I can buy a new bike. There are too many reasons for me to NOT bike when the ice is off the ground.

I made it to campus today with no problems. My plan is to leave this afternoon so I can beat the evening freeze (another reason why biking in this weather isn't a slam dunk) making it the perfect crime. Here's to good tread on my tires and fully protective fenders to keep me from getting wet!

Stats:
Miles: 6 miles ($.25)
Meters: 13 hours ($13)

Total: ($13.25)

Grand Total: $725.00
In the Positive: 721.99 

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Cycling Fashion... or lack there of...

Hello, friends!

A few weeks ago I posted about how I don't care about looking ridiculous when it comes to biking because I need to stay warm and dry more than anything. At the time, I was really only concerned with my clothing. A few days ago, I realized that the same principles also apply to my head/hair when it comes to biking. Here's what went down.

I was biking back from campus when I decided to stop by my bike shop to ask a few questions about a new bike I'd heard about (more on that later). I hung out with the folk at the shop for while then started on my way home. As I was about to put my helmet back on my head, I saw my reflection in the window and the photo below is what I saw...

Let me break it down for you. When it's cold, I wear a ski mask type thing so that my face doesn't get frozen. It's super warm and I love it. It's made of fleece which means it can get a little statc-y. What you see is the how my head looks when I take off my helmet.

Here's what happened next. I walked back into the store and said to my friend who works there, "Hey, why didn't you tell me my hair looked like this while we were talking?!" His answer was priceless.

"Dude, this is a bike shop. Everyone's hair looks like that. I didn't even notice." =0).

This is what I love about biking. There's a certain fraternity of bikers. We get why folk have their right pant leg rolled up to their knee. No one blinks when someone walks in looking like they're working on a Don King impression. Cycling fashion is just a different beast and I love it.

Stats:
Distance: 9 miles ($.35)
Meters: 15 hours ($15)

Total: $15.35
Grand Total: $711.75 (Past $700! Hooray!)
In the Positive: $108.74 (Past $100! Hooray again!)

Happy Biking!

~Adam

New Meters!

Hello, friends!

With the beginning of the new year, comes new laws in the city that don't directly affect bikers but definitely affect this blog.

Starting 2 weeks ago, there have been 2 major changes:

- Meters downtown have now been changed to $1/hour to match meters on campus

- Meters downtown are now active until 7pm, which is 2 hours later from last year.

On the one hand, this doesn't really affect bikers like me. I don't pay meters (thus, the reason for this blog) so how much they cost or how long they go don't actually affect me directly.

HOWEVER, this entire blog is based on the money that I save because I bike and don't drive either on campus or downtown. That means that when the meters go for later and are more expensive, I actually save more money by biking and not driving. Which means, we get that much closer to our goal of saving another $600 that much faster. Hooray!

There's also the chance that the increase in meter rates means that more people will try biking. The weather has been relatively mild and dry, which may mean that more people are willing to brave the elements and pedal a bit. If that's the case, then I may see some increased traffic around town. It shouldn't affect me too much but I'll definitely be sure to keep wearing my helmet. (Safety is no accident!). 

Below you'll see a change in the stats. I've stopped making a distinction between meters downtown and meters on campus. It's all just the same rate now so we'll count it as such. Here's to some great biking!

Stats:
Distance: 9 miles ($.32)
Meters: 12 hours ($12)

Total: $12.32
Grand Total: $696.40
In the Positive: $93.39

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Lost Lock!

Hello, friends!

An interesting thing happened to me a few days ago. I was getting ready to bike downtown when I noticed that my bike lock was missing! I retraced my steps along my ride but I couldn't find it anywhere. I honestly have no idea what happened to it. I have another bike lock so it's not actually that big of a deal but definitely an oddity.

This isn't the first time I've lost a bike lock, nor is it the oddest time that's happened. When I was in high school I biked to school. I only lived less than a mile from campus so it was a pretty quick trip. There was a rack outside the parking lot to my high school that was pretty much a horizontal bar that ran about 50 feet or so. There were usually about 2 dozen bikes locked up next to mine on any given day. Being the slightly OCD guy that I am, I always locked my bike in just about the same place.

One day I came out of class at the end of the day and noticed that something was off. My bike was at the wrong end of the bike rack. Added to that, the gears had been shifted and the bike lock was gone. To this day, I have no idea what happened but I'm glad that my bike wasn't stolen. My best guess is that someone just took my bike for a joyride but I'm still not entirely sure as to why they didn't steal the thing. (Fun note: that bike was later stolen in college.)

Stats:
Distance: 11 miles ($.41)
Meters: 3 hours on campus ($3) + 4 hours downtown ($2.40)

Total: $5.81
Grand Total: $684.08
In the Positive: $81.07

Happy Biking!

~Adam

The Joys of Donating My Laptop

Hello, friends!

Happy 2015 to you. Here's hoping that 2015 kicks 2014's butt in every possible way. I know that I'm ready for a new year. =0).

I was thinking about the past year and all the biking I did and didn't do over the course of the year. One thought that came to mind was how much more biking I did after I donated my laptop in the Fall.

Let me set the stage for you. In early 2014 I bought a new tablet and spent most of the year getting used to its usage, essentially trying to see if I could use it to replace my laptop, which was functional but heavy and kind of cumbersome. From a biking standpoint, a chance to replace my 7lb laptop with a less than 1lb tablet was might enticing.

Honestly, things were going well but not perfectly. The truth is that a tablet is not the same as a laptop. I could do most of the things that I wanted to do but not everything. The hardest was definitely using office products like Word, Excel, etc. Tablets are good but the experience isn't as easy as a regular computer. As I used the tablet more and more, I got more and more comfortable with the functionality of it but not 100% then.

Then, right before the semester started, a coworker was asking around to see if anyone had an old laptop they would be willing to donate to one of the interns he was supervising. This was my chance. I was getting used to the tablet but could I wean myself completely off of the laptop. How would I survive?

Well, I finally decided to donate the laptop and I figured out how I was going to survive: by biking more. =0).

My solution was simple: now that I don't have a laptop, I have to bike to campus to use the free campus computers more. Before I could have an "admin" day at home and just stayed glued to my couch while doing work (and watching cartoons). Now, if I want to be REALLY productive, it means biking to campus and hanging out a few hours there. That means more miles biked and more meters saved. It was an unforeseen benefit but one I definitely don't mind.

Ironically, these past few weeks I haven't biked much at all because of travel and such. Still, once the semester starts, I'm sure we'll be right back to it.

Stats:
Miles: 9 miles ($.34)
Hours: 9 hours on campus ($9)

Total: $9.34
Grand Total: $678.27
In the Positive: $75.26

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Biking and White Privilege...

Hello, friends!

I'm sure you've seen a lot of things about race in the news lately. I've even written a few things myself about what's been happening in St. Louis, New York, and really all over the country. Of course, I'm by no means an expert about American race relations. I'm just a Chinese guy with a bike.

A few weeks ago, this post made its rounds through the Facebook cycle about biking and white privilege. The author even wrote a follow up post to address many of the comments that folk posted underneath his post. While not perfect (no analogy is) I really resonated with the idea of being a biker in a driver's world. It led to a really great Facebook conversation with some folk about the idea of white privilege and personal responsibility which led to my blog post from last week. The blog itself is very well written so I won't add too much more to it beyond some personal experiences.

When Megan and I got married in 2012, we spent our first year living in St. Louis. I would commute to Columbia weekly but spent most of my time in St. Louis. It was there that I saw how much legislation and the system can improve or inhibit cycling (and then, using the analogy, how legislation and the system can improve or inhibit race relations).

St. Louis is one of my favorite cities in the world but it is NOT a bike friendly city. There are very few bike lanes, the sidewalks are not well kept, and generally, the drivers are not the most observant when it comes to noticing their 2-wheeled road sharers. Not every place in St. Louis is bad and there have been improvements made over time. I'm sure that it's better than it was before. Still, the fact remains that St. Louis is not a bike friendly place to live.

Compare that with Portland, which is definitely the most bike-friendly city in the US. Portland has bike racks everywhere for parking (even at the airport apparently!). There are bike specific traffic signals. As one author put it, it is impossible to run for mayor in Portland without a bike platform. It's by no means perfect. It's still easier to be a car in Portland than a bike. But from what I can tell, bikes are a part of the culture and the cars are aware of their presence. The system has put things in place in order to create a safe environment for those who have an inherent disadvantage.

Friends, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done both in terms of systematic injustice towards minorities and making cities more bike-friendly. Obviously, the former is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the latter. Still, if we can make life easier for those who have the option of getting off their bike and getting into a car, can't we fight just as hard for those who have no choice but to always be a minority?

Stats:
Miles biked: 17 ($.82)
Meters: 21 hours on campus ($21) + 4 hours downtown ($2.40)

Total: $24.22
Grand Total: $668.93
In the Positive: $65.92

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Function Over Form...

Hello, friends!

As I'm typing this, it is about 27 degrees here in Columbia. Yesterday the high was 33. Today we had some flurries in the area. Tomorrow isn't supposed to be much warmer. The weather forecasters say that the cold snap will last at least until next week. After that, who knows.

My post here isn't to complain about the weather. I know that it's much worse in parts further north of CoMO; there's already been snow where my in-laws live. Weather happens and complaining about it doesn't actually do me a ton of good. If anything, it just makes things a little bit colder. No, friends, today I'm going to post about fashion... or rather, my lack thereof.

There are many things that I do well. I am good at trivia and Tecmo Superbowl. I can strategize and throw a baseball. I can play a few instruments and have been known to cook a decent meal or two. However, it appears as though I am unable to dress myself in a way that brings honor to my family. =0).

I've always said that my problem isn't that I don't know what looks good. I know how to clean up, put on a tie, and look nice for a wedding. My problem is that I have no idea what looks bad. There have been a number of times where I've gotten dressed for the day, only to have one family member or another (nowadays that task falls to Megan) start laughing and asking if I was, "really going to wear that."

What does my lack of fashion sense have to do with biking? Well, I think the root of the problem is that oftentimes, I choose function over form. Let's take today for example. Today, when I left for campus, it was 19 degrees outside. When I got dressed this morning, my thoughts weren't, "gee, I hope everything looks good and I don't look odd." My number one thought was, "Let's make sure I don't lose any body parts due to frostbite today."

Leggings + Long socks = making my pants look 2 sizes tighter than they really are? Check.

Jacket + Sweater = doing my best "Hans and Franz" impression? Check.

Balaclava on my head so you can only see my eyes and I look like I'm going to rob a liquor store? Check.

You probably get the idea.

Friends, if you see me biking around the city these next few months, looking like a thrift store closet threw up on me, or see me on the golf course wearing loud (but I promise, comfortable) clothing, don't laugh. Don't stare and point. Don't call my mother and tell her she did a terrible job of raising me (because she's the best!). No, friends. Just assume that there's some method to my madness and that looking good just missed the cut. =0).

Stats:
Miles biked: 8 ($.42)
Meters: 11 hours on campus ($11) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20)

Total: $12.62
Grand Total: $644.71
In the Positive: $41.70

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Fishing...

Hello, friends!

Apparently, my 101st post on this blog was my last blog where we finally made our way into the positive. That's kind of a fun number, isn't it? If I raise $600 every 100 posts then I really ought to be posting more often, yeah? Anyway, back to business.

I've taken up a new hobby... fishing. =0).

For our anniversary, Megan bought me a fishing pole, which is pretty much the greatest thing ever. There are a number of small lakes in Columbia that are stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation and random and secret times. Seeing as how I have an addictive personality, I've taken to going as fishing as much as humanly possible. I've even looked up sites on how the moon can affect when is the best time to fish.

There are so many great things to love about fishing. First there's the joy of catching fish (more on that later). There's also the peacefulness that comes from being out on the lake with nothing but your pole, some lures, and hope that the fish are biting. I've taken to listening to audiobooks while fishing, which means I'm also learning while I'm fishing. It's a two-fer!

Really, there are only 2 things wrong with my new hobby. The first is that I haven't yet figured out how to bike with my pole and gear and such to where I want to fish (That's why this post is on this blog and not my other one). I'm not a huge fan of driving such short distances (it's about a half mile from my house to the closest lake) but the other option is crashing my bike and breaking my fishing pole, so I guess I'll go with the lesser or two evils.

Here's the other problem. Apparently, I'm REALLY BAD at fishing. I can't seem to catch anything of significance! The past 3 or 4 times that I've been fishing, I've literally SEEN the fish nibble at my lure then swim away. It was windy so I couldn't tell for sure but I'm pretty sure I heard some of the fish laughing at me.

Of course, the fish that I HAVE caught haven't been much either. Below are 3 photos of fish. Guess which two I caught and which one Megan and I ended up eating because the guy who caught it didn't want it. I'll give you a hint, I didn't catch the big one. =0).

So, my friends, there you have it. I have a new hobby. I'm trying to figure out how to reconcile it with fishing. I'm also trying to figure out how to not be terrible at it.

Stats:
Distance: 10.5 miles ($.61)
Meters: 11 hours on campus ($11) + 3 hours downtown ($1.80)

Total: $13.41
Grand Total: $632.09
In the Positive: $29.08

Happy Biking!

SUCCESS!!!

Hello, friends!

WE DID IT!!!

After 3+ years of riding, blogging, and commuting back and forth between home and campus, we have finally crossed the threshold and are now in the positive!

I can't tell you how happy I am right now. Actually, right now there are a lot of emotions happening.

- Happiness: It's always nice to accomplish a goal and I'm glad I stuck with it.
- Relief: There were times when I wasn't sure that this was actually going to happen, especially after Sulu got stolen a while back. I'm glad I stuck with it.
- Sadness: Speaking of Sulu, I miss that bike. It was my fault that he got stolen but that doesn't make it hurt any less. We should have celebrated this moment together.
- Frustration: Looking back, I know I could have done it faster. There were days when I could have riden more or gotten to campus earlier. The competitor in me says that it could have been done better.
- Determination: The frustration, of course, leads to determination. I'm not getting a new bike until I've biked enough to offset the costs. I'm thinking about $600 or so should do the trick.

So, my friends, it's time for a new adventure. I hope that you join me on this one as we race our way to a new bike? Who thinks I can get it done before 2017? =0).

Stats:
Miles biked: 15 ($.88)
Meters: 20 hours on campus ($20) + 5 hours downtown ($3)

Total: $23.88
Grand Total: $618.68
Left to Save for Sulu: 0000000000000000000.0000000000000000000000 =0).

In the positive: $15.67

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Plusses and Minuses...

Hello, friends!

Remember a few weeks ago when I said that I was going to be posting and peddling more once I get back from Cambodia? Yeah, guess what didn't happen. =0).

In some ways, that was probably to be expected. With all the new roles and such that I have now, time is of the essence and blogging unfortunately, has taken a back seat to other things that feel more pertinent at the moment. Still, as I look back on the past 2 months, I can't help but notice that having some old rhythms in place, like blogging regularly, would have been helpful. Blogging every day might be a bit out of reason but I think weekly should be able to do it.

The past 2 months of biking can be summed up by the words "plusses and minuses." On the one hand, I did a LOT of biking. As soon as I got back from Cambodia, there were a LOT of things that needed to be done on campus, which meant a lot of miles being saved and a lot of meters that did not get used because I wasn't driving. On its own, I'd say it was probably one of my most productive 2 months from a penny peddling standpoint in a long time.

On the other hand, one thing I've noticed is that the gains are small but the losses are huge. I can pick up a few dollars each day but if I blow a tire (like I did in August) the losses can set me back considerably. Alas, that is the life of a biker. We are so close to our goal of breaking even that I can almost taste it! We'll just have to keep at it and hope that the minuses don't slow me down too much.

Stats:
Miles biked: 100 (roughly) ($5.94)
Meters : 90 hours on campus ($90) + 12 hours downtown ($7.20)
Repairs: -$48.10

Total: $55.04
Grand Total: $594.8
Left to Save: $8.21

Friends! We are SOOOOOOOOOO close! This is definitely something we can get done by the end of the month! Unless I buy that bike rack for the car... =0).

Happy biking!

~Adam

Happy Anniversary!

Hello, friends! 

Apparently I only update this blog monthly.  That's a serious problem.  I promise when I get back from Cambodia I'll be biking more and posting more.  We are so close to our goal!  =0).

On a completely unrelated note, today is my parent's anniversary!  I was a bit premature and wished them a happy anniversary yesterday but I am assured that today is the actual day.  Hooray! 

Tuesday night Megan and I went on a date and while we were at one of the restaurant/bars we saw and old married couple sitting at the table behind us.  Seriously, they were way cute.  The man had a sweet handlebar mustache and the woman kept taking pictures of him like she'd just discovered that function on her iPhone. 

Mama and Papa Leong haven't quite been married that long (that couple looked like they were in their 70's) but 34 years is still a pretty long time!  During that time they've had 4 kids, had 2 more marry into the family, picked up one wonderful granddaughter, and "adopted" dozens of others into the family.  Sometimes it is a little odd hearing everyone call Mama "Mom" when I go back to California, but hey, when you have that kind of impact on so many people, it is bound to happen, yeah? 

I think these past 2 years of my own marriage have helped me appreciate the marriage that Mama and Papa have been able to maintain for so long.  Marriage is great but don't let anyone tell you that it isn't hard work.  I've seen them fight but I've also seen them reconcile.  I was there when things were tense.  Now I get to see them dating again.  There were times when money was tight and decisions had to be made.  They always chose us, the kids, over their own comforts and now that they don't have as many expenses with all of us out of the house, they still continue to model generosity and hospitality.  They follow Jesus and remind me that with Jesus is a great place to start your marriage. 

So, here's to you, Mama and Papa.  34 more years of marriage and impact sounds pretty sweet, doesn't it?  =0).

Stats:
Distance: 20 miles ($1.35)
Meters: 20 hours on campus ($20) + 10 hours downtown ($12)

Total: $33.35
Grand Total: $539.76
Left to Save: $63.25

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Meter Madness!

Hello, friends! 

Yesterday I got hosed.  No excuses, just my own mistake.  Here's what went down. 

I was running a ton of errands around town getting ready for Megan's parents to come and visit.  One of the places I needed to hit was the grocery store.  The other was the copy and print place. 

The plan made perfect sense in my mind.  I had a lunch meeting with a student out by the grocery store so I would stop there, pick up the groceries, get the copies done, and make my way to the my other meeting with a student on campus.  Of course, things didn't quite go as planned.  Lunch took a little bit longer than anticipated and grocery shopping took longer than anticipated such that I didn't have time to make the copies before my meeting on campus. 

So we get to the copy place and I realize 2 things: 1) I don't know if there are any coins in the car and 2) I'm pretty sure I bought milk.  The conclusion was simple.  I needed to make copies REALLY quickly. 

Friends, I was quick, like 7 minutes quick.  But, I wasn't quick enough apparently.  When I got out of the copy place, there was a little yellow envelope waiting for me.  Parking tickets are the WORST! 

What's the moral of the story?  I suppose it could be that I should always keep some coins in my pocket.  Maybe the lesson is that I need to always shop for groceries last.  Perhaps the great piece of wisdom I have gleaned is that no matter what, always take the time to look for coins. 

No, I think the moral of this story is simple.  Biking is way better, all the time.  =0). 

Stats:
Distance: 8 miles ($.57)
Meters: 4 hours downtown ($2.40) + 12 hours on campus ($12.00)
Ticket: -$10

Total: $4.97
Grand Total: $506.41
Left to Save: $96.60

Happy Biking!

~Adam

Consistency...

Hello, friends!

Today, May 14, 2014, I did something that I had not done in quite a long time... I wore gloves on my ride to campus. The temperature when I left was 49 degrees and there was enough of a wind to make it feel much cooler than that. For reasons unbeknownst to me, the weather has decided that being in the 80's was no fun anymore and that it was time to start acting like autumn again.

Here's the thing. I don't even mind the cold. I prefer the cold to the wet, especially when it comes to biking. In fact, biking in the low 50's or high 40's can be downright pleasant since I don't have to worry about being all sweaty and nasty when I arrive at my destination  A slight breeze can be a great thing too, when it's going in the right direction.

What I can't handle is the inconsistency. For one, my head doesn't agree with it. All the changes in barometric pressure mess with my head and I am not a fan of the migraines I get. I also don't like stepping outside then having to go back inside because I am not wearing warm enough clothing.  I suppose those are the joys of living in Missouri. They say that if you don't like the weather here you can wait 10 minutes because it will change. I'm sure that other states have the same saying but it sure does seem true here.

Anyway, so long as it stays dry (at least on days when I am biking) I will do my best to make sure that I keep complaining to a minimum. I'm sure in just a few weeks I will be posting again about how hot it is and how I sure wouldn't mind some cooler weather. =0).

Stats:
Distance: 10 miles ($.71)
Meters: 9.5 hours on campus ($9.50) + 3 hours downtown ($1.80)

Total: 12.01
Grand Total: $501.44
Left to Save: $101.57

Happy biking!

~Adam

The Month That Was

Holy cow!!!

It's pretty bad that the last time I posted was over a month ago.  There's really no excuse for it.  Well, I mean I guess there was some of an excuse.  Let's run it down, shall we? 

The Weather: They say that April Showers bring May flowers.  Well, there were plenty of showers this April, usually on days when I needed to go to campus.  I'll bike in the cold but I'm not up for doing wet too often, as it is much more dangerous.  So, when the rains come, it means that Schmeevus gets a little more time on the road and my bike doesn't. 

My Head: Here's another thing that April Showers bring... migraines.  There's nothing quite like waking up in the morning with a pounding headache and knowing that it's going to rain because every time it's going to rain you wake up with a pounding headache.  Some of the April storms this year have been really weird where they don't dump all at once but take their time coming through for 15 minutes then waiting an hour.  Those are days when I pretty much hate life.  It's tough to bike when you can't stand up without getting dizzy, that's for sure. 

Time Away: Of course, none of that actually matters if you aren't in Columbia to do stuff on campus anyway.  This month saw a fair amount of travel with trips to Saint Louis a few times and even a trip to Iowa for a day.  The little times all add up.  Remember, a day in the car is a day not on the bike.  I love the car but I prefer days on the bike. 

So, friends, there you have it.  I won't pretend that I haven't been riding at all.  I've actually had a few good days in the past few weeks but they have been sporadic at best.  Now that the school year is over we'll see what we can throw together.  Here's hoping we can keep peddling! 

Stats:
Distance: 15 miles ($1.06)
Meters: 20 hours on campus ($20) + 3 hours downtown ($1.80)

Total: $22.86
Grand Total: $489.43
Left to Save: $113.70

Happy Biking!

~Adam

A New Addition to the Family!

Hello, friends! 

Just in case you were hoping to click on this link to see a blog post about how Megan is pregnant, Happy April Fool's Day to you!  =0).  As an offer of peace, please watch this video...

Ok, seriously, there IS a new addition to the family.  After 10 years of faithful service, we decided to trade in Megan's Malibu for a new car. 

Meet Schmeevus the Prius! 


We were looking at the Prius for a few different reasons, which I outlined in a previous post here.  The reason that we bought Schmeevus is simple: It was available and we got a good deal. 

Our first stop was actually to look at a Honda Fit (another contestant in the running) but literally as we walked into the dealership, walking out was the gal who just bought the Fit we wanted.  Alas, it wasn't meant to be. 

The second stop was to look at the Prius.  We drove it.  We loved it.  We went to dinner and prayed about it a little.  We decided to go for it.  We made an offer.  They accepted.  On Saturday we made the trade. 

I feel pretty good about the trade.  I negotiated $3000 off the asking price, which wasn't too bad in my book.  Better than that, we have a car that we both like and we plan on driving for a long time to come. 

All the things we've read about the Prius appear to be true.  It's not the world's most fun car to drive but the MPG is pretty incredible and it does everything we want it to do. 

One thing that will have to change are my calculations.  Now that we are driving a WAY efficient car, my calculations for how much money I'm saving now have to move from 36mpg (with The Rolla) to 50mpg with Schmeevus. 

Stats:
Miles: 5 ($.35)
Meters: 1 hour on campus ($1)

Total: $1.35
Grand Total: $466.57
Left to Save: $136.56

Happy Biking!

~Adam 

Car Shopping...

Hello, friends! 

Megan and I are currently in the throes of car buying.  This is definitely an area where I find great joy as someone who loves analysis and where Megan is less than enthusiastic on account of all the details.  There are a lot of questions to answer!  Here's what we know:

- We need something with space.  Much of our job entails hauling things and people.  As great as The Rolla was, and it was great, one thing it didn't have was a ton of space. 
- We need something with good in town mileage.  CoMO isn't a huge town and most of our driving will be in town.  We will occasionally go to St. Louis for staff functions but mostly we'll be hanging out within 10 miles of home. 
- Mileage is important but not a deal breaker.  Generally speaking, the lower the mileage, the better shape the car is in.  While we know that's important, we also know that we drive WAY less than we used to drive.  We are willing to take on a little bit of an older car if it has the other things. 
- We need something relatively cheap.  Missionaries don't exactly rake in the big bucks, y'know?  While we are certainly not in need, we also know that we need to be good stewards of what we have been given. 

Right now we are leaning towards either the Honda Fit or Toyota Prius.  We could also be talked into another vehicle in the "Compact Hatchback" category.  =0).  We'll see where the search takes us.  Until then, more biking for everyone! 

Stats:
Miles: 6 ($.55)
Meters: 11 hours on campus ($11)

Total: $11.55
Grand Total: $445.22
Left to Save: $137.91

Happy Biking!

~Adam