The local long course pool has opened for the summer and it’s fantastic. It takes the same amount of time to bike there from my office as it does to walk to the dingy rec center yard pool, and it’s so much better. Eight very wide lanes of non-congested outside goodness. The only downside is that there are no speed designations for the lanes so it’s pretty much a free for all when it comes to choosing a lane. I don’t think newer swimmers realize how important it is to get in a lane with people their own speed, It’s just better for everyone. To those who are clueless about pool etiquette: stay the heck out of my lane if you can’t swim fast. You see me swimming, you know you’re not fast, yet you get in anyway. Please don’t do this anymore. Oh and to the guy whose speedo was ripped from top to bottom along his butt crack: please don’t ever wear that thing again. Or at least if you do, don’t bend over in front of everyone on the pool deck to pick up kickboards that aren’t yours. I mean seriously, how do you not know your ass crack and genitalia are on display?
After work I went for an awesome bike ride. If you know anything about me it’s that I’m a sad excuse for a cyclist. I just don’t put in the hours, mainly because I don’t know where to ride and there are only so many times you can ride the river path, dodging little kids, dogs, crazed tweakers, and drunken frat boys. I ran into a competitive cyclist I know and asked for some rides that would take me out of town. I took her advice and went on an unbelievable ride. Just a few miles outside of town I was on back country roads with good pavement, no cars, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and lots of trees. And hills. I can’t believe I’ve lived in Eugene and have never taken advantage of some of the cycling opportunities that abound. Now that I know what’s out there it’ll be much easier to put myself in the saddle and go for a ride. If you have any suggestions let me know.
