My first Blog

Well, this is the first time i have done a blog.   Never thought I would start one but i read a blog from The Plano Cyclist after finding a link from MonkeyLectric (facebook) on adding lights for visibility on a bicycle .   And so i commented on his blog and after wards i got the option to start my own and I though "why not?" 

And now.... Here I am.

This is my bicycle.
In the summer, I started riding to work a couple times a week.  I never thought I would because I thought it was too far but my best friend said I could and with his support, i gave it a try. 
i'm not in shape, least of all cardiovacularly.  Another reason why i thought i could not ride all the way to work. The path I take is a total of 13 miles each way.

I found the ride fun, therapeutic and great exercise. And saving gas was a big plus!  I am blessed that the majority of my ride is on the beach bike path starting in Dockweiler beach, through Manhattan, Hermosa and finally through Redondo Beach. But to get to the bike path, I have a busy highway to ride and visibility was an issue.  I had the blinking red light on the rear of my bike and a white light on my handle bars but I just felt that I could add more.

I also ride a Honda Goldwing Motorcycle and I have several l.e.d. lights on it for fun and visibility and I thought I could add them to my bicycle.  So I did.

At first, just a pair of white l.e.d.'s down the fork, then a couple blue l.e.d.'s on the side (above video) all powered by a couple batteries bridged together to make the 12 volts needed. 

Since this video was taken, I added 2 sets of Red l.e.d.'s to the rear and another blue set to the sides.  I wanted a battery source that was rechargeable and longer lasting so I bought and strapped to the rear saddle bag cages a marine deep cycle 12v. battery which i keep connected to a Battery Tender so it always fully charged.

I'm sad to say that since I added all the lights and battery, I got sick and fell off the bandwagon and have yet to ride this bike to work.

When I stared riding in the summer, the morning and evening temps here were perfect!  but now, the mornings start at around 40 degrees and it's far to cold for me to ride a bicycle 13 miles.  Now, that's not the real excuse... I know I can wear some thermals and get back on the 2 wheels and have fun but getting up early for the morning ride is tough.  I need an hour and a half for the ride and i don't exactly keep the best sleep hours. 


I hope... no...  I plan on resuming my cycling soon.  Very soon.