The soundtrack to 23.42 miles
Mile 1 – Sisters of Mercy, “More”
Out of our neighborhood and down the hill at nearly 30 mph. Wheeeeee!
Mile 2 – Soho, “Hippychick”
On the trail now, puffing a little bit already. Can I really ride twenty miles today?
Mile 3 – Adrian Belew, “Oh Daddy”
Big hill. Downshift. Stand up and pedal. Hard.
Mile 4 – 1000 Clowns, “Kitty Kat Max”
Mile 5 – Bigod 20, “Carpe Diem”
Stop at trailhead where there’s a water fountain. Water’s warm, but who cares?
Mile 6 – Yaz, “Situation”
Feeling great. Can’t help smiling at other people on trail.
Mile 7 – Sophie B. Hawkins, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”
Further than I’ve ever gone before. No more houses – just fields.
Mile 8 – Soul Coughing, “Super Bon Bon”
Sign on a fence: “Fence is closed due to livestock grazing. Trail riders please close fence behind you.” Do as the fence says.
Mile 9 – Animotion, “Obsession”
Fork in the trail. No signs. Go right.
Mile 10 – Affordable Floors, “Wedding Ring”
Prairie dogs! Horses! Trail ends at a gravel road, with a sign pointing to the left indicating the trail picks up again. Damn – should have gone left at the fork.
Mile 11 – Soul II Soul, “Back to Life”
Where the fuck am I? Look at sign and realize I’ve ridden beyond where I’d planned. Think I can follow this road up to trailhead and get back on trail.
Mile 11.5 – my own heavy breathing
Have been riding uphill for last 11.5 miles. Must get off bike and walk. Feel stupid, but admire ginormous houses.
Mile 12 – Soupdragons, “I’m Free”
Back on the bike. Why are mountains on the wrong side?
Mile 13 – Stabbing Westward, “What Do I Have To Do”
Turn down street so that mountains are where they should be. Going totally on obviously flawed sense of direction now.
Mile 14 – Suzanne Vega, “Tom’s Diner”
Wheeeeee! Can see golf course and country club. All downhill too. Wheeeeee! Yuck, prairie dog roadkill.
Mile 15 – Onyx, “Slam”
Shit. All golf course roadways look like trail. Ride around searching for trail, to no avail.
Mile 16 – Sisters of Mercy, “This Corrosion”
Fuck it. Start riding north on shoulder of six-lane divided roadway. Adrenaline goes a long way toward overcoming fatigue.
Mile 17 – The Cult, “Fire Woman”
Wheeeeee! Remember how much fun it is to court danger, riding at 30 mph with no helmet. Not setting good example for children.
Mile 18 – 808 State, “Pacific”
Weave in and out of construction zone and head west. Feeling very cocky now that I know how to get home. Decide not to get back on trail but take surface streets instead – faster that way.
Mile 19 – Beastie Boys, “So Whatcha Want”
I am bad ass, hear me pant.
Mile 20 – Bigod 20, “The Bog”
Newly opened road. Edges of curbs at cross streets are covered by that bumpy material found at the edge of subway platforms. Admire the suburban planning.
Mile 21 – Offspring, “Self-Esteem”
Downhill, baby. The rest of the way home is DOWN. HILL.
Mile 22 – Happy Mondays, “Step On”
Landscape maintenance crews are out. Avoid grass cuttings littering sidewalk. Smile brightly at crew member.
Mile 23 – Beastie Boys, “Intergalactic”
Turn into neighborhood. Pedal as hard as I can in one last sprint, rounding corner and gliding into driveway. Odometer reads 23.42 miles.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:37 am
Ooh, Soupdragons! I forgot about them!
August 30th, 2006 at 7:53 am
Wow. Most impressive! But next time wear a helmet, missy.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Wow! You just inspired me to get off my butt…I have been wanting to buy a bike and start riding again..oh and The Cult? That brings back some memories!
August 30th, 2006 at 7:54 am
With that soundtrack even *I* could have gone the distance. Awesome mix!
(And, actually, no. I would have punked out way before 23 miles. You, my friend are a badass.)
August 30th, 2006 at 8:59 am
how do you type while riding? amazing!
August 30th, 2006 at 9:03 am
Definite badass. Definite. And for The Cult and The Beastie Boys and Offspring and Sophie B. and Sisters of Mercy – you are badass with excellent taste.
How’s your ass feeling today, though? Did you at least have the padded bike shorts? B/c 23+ miles has been known to hemmorhoid one’s booty up …
August 30th, 2006 at 10:08 am
i’m not sure i can even walk 23.whatever miles.
and remember, even with a helmet, you can still break your elbow. just ask ben!
August 30th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Wow, Julie, I LOVE this mix. Wanna do another CD swap? I can wrangle up some great tunes just for you….
p.s., and damn, you’re good for even attempting over 20 miles, much less actually making it. My slack self bows to you in deference.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:30 am
This post makes me want a Mountain Bike (and some stamina to match). Although my CD would only have about 5 songs on it.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:35 am
Feel free to let yourself in for a glass of water next time. We don’t want you dehydrating out on the sidewalk. It could be bad for property values.
BTW, I’m impressed at the 23 miles. I get tired when I drive that far.
Stacey
August 30th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
I’m tired just reading this.
But I’ve got cool tunes running through my head now.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Hooray! I love good tunes and great exercise! It leaves me in a happy mood the rest of the day!
August 30th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Man! What a workout!
August 30th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I am so damn impressed that suitable words escape me. Damn! Double Damn! That’s about 23 miles more than I would have done.
And the Cult and Onyx? BadAaaaaassss.
August 30th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Count me among the impressed. I would LOVE to bike instead of walk. But the area I live in is so hilly…no way I could handle it in my current state of fitness. Maybe once I regain some of my strength and stamina I will invest in a bike.
Great soundtrack too. I’ve got to get some good workout music downloaded.
August 30th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
What the…??!!!! 808 State?! Soho?! Sophie B. Hawkins?!!!
That…that is just…just…I mean….
It’s eerie, the similarities in our playlists. I mean, really…I’m weirded out, we are so alike in music taste. You’re going to have me looking over my shoulder for the next week.
Of course, you really won’t be there because you’d kick my butt in running and I’d be way behind you. Amazing!
August 30th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Hey Julie! I’ve been trying to send you replies to your blog comments through email, but it says your mailbox is full! So yeah, thanks for commenting
August 30th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
Wow! Loved the play by play of your biking adventure. So descriptive. I could almost smell the roadkill. I love the soundtrack. “Hippie Chick?” I totally had forgotten about that song. That’ll be going on the download list. Great post and good for you for exercising. Rock on biker chick!
August 30th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Wow, congrats! I would have loved to be there right along with you – but only during Sisters of Mercy and Animotion. (Did I ever tell you Obsession was my best friend and my song in hs?)
August 30th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Ohmigod. Your memory rocks. This post rocks. I loved it!
August 30th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Nice soundtrack! Can I have a copy?
August 30th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
23+ miles – wow! SwingDaddy takes Q for long rides, but I haven’t joined them yet. I might settle for just listening to your awesome tunes.
August 30th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
I don’t know if I’m more impressed by the song selection or your bike ride!
August 31st, 2006 at 1:07 am
You never cease to amaze me.
August 31st, 2006 at 6:07 am
I’m panting reading this too! WOW! 23.42 miles? I’m so impressed and your song selection is sooo cool too. You hip mama!!
August 31st, 2006 at 6:49 am
I had forgotten about the Offspring. I love their stuff. What a great music list.
August 31st, 2006 at 7:05 am
Man. Like everyone else, I am duly impressed. You are amazing!
August 31st, 2006 at 7:13 am
what? No stops for that icy frappaccino?
August 31st, 2006 at 9:50 am
I love Happy Mondays. I have that CD and had forgotten about it. What a cool little musical show and tell. There’s nothing like good music to get you going. And the Soupdragons song reminds me of college. So many of the songs hit home with me. Cool.
August 31st, 2006 at 5:28 pm
You are a rockstar!
September 3rd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Holy crap. Make me a mix tape. Seriously.
And I wrote about the Cult (vaguely) this week too. You are sooo my friend.