25 July 2024

Getting a bit better

It is still scary as the board starts rolling to the other side and I am in “free roll”. What is helping is being very gentle and not making any sudden moves. Also, putting the body at lower profile by bending at the knees and keeping them flexible.

24 July 2024

Need to check off one more box in my bicycling journey

Got hopelessly lost in the trail!

After riding from home on Alpha Loop, I did my heartbreak hill on Northwinds Parkway and then rolled down Kimball Bridge for half a mile before entering Alpharetta Greenway. This was the first time I took this entry. I thought I turned north and was hoping to come out at Webb Bridge Road from where I would go home straight. After about 20 minutes or so, I started paying attention to my surroundings to look for clues of Webb Bridge approaching. Instead, I popped up on Mansell Road! I had clearly turned south instead of north!!

Ah! well… took a picture in the parking lot, one swig of water and biked back to the Starbucks next to home!

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24 July 2024

From the barista’s corner: Coffee from the 11th country (Uganda)

Got this gift of coffee packet from Nikita who recently came back from her internship in Uganda. Had to do some research on the coffee source. One thing it exposed is how little geography I know.

This coffee is grown in the mountains of Bugisu area bordering on Kenya. Most of the coffee is arabica in style and is grown in small plots by farmers on the volcanic loams surrounding Mt. Elgon. This packet is dark roasted but the beans look surprising lighter in color. The coffee is lower on the acidity scale.

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22 July 2024

Do you notice anything different?

Got tired of the cars from behind (if there are cars from front, I cannot often detect the noise of cars from behind) enough to put in two side mirrors. They solved that problem but now extended the length of my handle bars a lot. It is tricky to get the bike in and out of garage without hitting the motorbike or car. I will try this for some time and eventually might go to the digital solution (rear camera).

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22 July 2024

Trying to defy age

John Mcgehee had given me an invaluable advice once – about the need to stop atrophying of muscle strength, flexibility and balance as I grow older. In a bit to focus on balance I got this thing. It is a simple board and a roller. It has stops underneath on either end – so the board will not slip off the roller completely.

Also, Sharmila is refusing to buy me a One Wheel. Something about I have too many wheels in the garage, evidently. Let me see if my ability to keep balance might sway her vote.

BTW, this thing is scary for sure. After some practice, I can keep myself in balance for a couple of seconds without rolling off to one side. Have you ever tried anything like this?