Mile Zero: On the Road to Slupsk

July 15, 2010 brought another Mile Zero milestone!

That's 3000 miles since I bought the Chump Steamroller, back in November 2009.  It was only 9 months ago, but it feels like a lifetime.  That's also about 2100 miles on this trip, since May 13th, when the Expedition began.  That's quite a number for me.  I've read enough bike journals to know that it's not hardcore territory, but I'm proud of it.

Here's the piece of countryside where the odometer went to 3000:

And the spot on the Polish road atlas where it was:

You can see here where I found myself the other times I've reached Mile Zero Modulo 1000

Mile Zero: South of Mistelbach, Austria, about 25 miles from the Czech Border

Well, I hit another Mile Zero milestone on June 10, on a nice little stretch of road south of the Austrian town of Mistelbach

Over the course of the trip, I've now gone about 1100 miles total, which is completely unbelievable to me.  If you were to poll all of my friends and family for list of Ben-descriptions, I highly doubt that "Naturally-gifted athlete" or "Endurance Bicyclist" would ever be uttered.  So it's shock to me that I've managed to come this far all by bike.

I found it interesting that these last two Mile Zeros were on the far opposite ends of Austria.  The last one was at the very tip of the westernmost edge of Austria, and this one is close to the most Northeastern spot on the map.  In Austria, of all places...

(and in case you missed the previous explanation, a Mile Zero is when I hit a multiple of 1000 miles on my odometer)

Mile Zero: The Austrian Rhine Delta

I started this blog with the idea that it would be cool to document where I find myself every one thousand miles.  For those who are math or computer nerds, the term "Modulo" refers to a type of arithmetic where you divide the a number by that other number, and the remainder is the solution.  For example "5001 MODULO 1000" is the number 1.  So, "Mile Zero" is whenever I find myself hitting some multiple of 1000 on my bike computer.  Like so (note the bike computer in the lower right):

Little did I know that the next time I'd hit a Mile Zero, I'd be smack dab in some of the most beautiful country, in the heart of the Austrian Rhine Delta:

Here's where it was on the map:

View Larger Map

For the record, the Mile Zero I had was in front of Mac & Jack's Auto place on Bainbridge Island.  Also a nice ride, but I liked this one even better...

Mile Zero (modulo 1000)

Took a 35 mile ride today and felt it. I haven't gone on anything longer than 25 miles for almost 3 weeks and I'm out of shape. Here's some pics from the ride:

Had an unbelievably shitty series of events leading up to today which I won't go into except to say that they were shitty, and unbelievable and there were more than one of them.

Worked all morning and at 11 I called my bike shop to see if Ye Olde Bike Shoppe proprietor was in. He was, so I informed that I was on my way down to purchase a new bike. Don't quite know why I chose today, except that it was probably the most highly inappropriate of all days since my money situation doesn't lend itself to purchase $1200 worth of bicycle. But buy it I did and this will be my new ride in about a week or so: Surly Long Haul Trucker. Beautiful, but only comes in a color that they call "Truckaccino", which is only slightly less effeminate that calling it "Pride Parade Pink with Pansy Dust Sprinkles".

I left Ye Olde Bike Shoppe and went for a spin around Bainbridge Island, my hometown. Just one short month ago, I would go for back-to-back 40 milers with no problems. And then I did 4 days of 50-65 miles a day. Today I did 35 miles in the 45 degree weather and came home thinking I had frostbite in my two left smallest toes and nearly laid down to sleep. A couple of vodka and sodas later and I didn't care.

I passed 1000 miles today and got the bright idea to start bike log (or a "Blog", a new term I've just coined) about my various rides. If you don't know math or computer programming, then I'll explain what "Modulo 1000" means. It means the remainder when you divide the number by 1000. So "1 MODULO 1000" would be "1", "1001 MODULO 1000" would be "1", "2001 MODULE 1000" would be "1" etc. Since I reached "1000" on today's ride, then "1000 MODULO 1000" would be "0"; hence the insanely clever post title. There's all sorts of fascinating math things that go on with the modulo operator, but your minds are too small and puny to comprehend them. Instead, go to this Wikipedia article.

I'll send my bicycle pornography when my new ride shows up. Now I know what people who get overseas brides must feel like! Oh, the anticipation for my little Truckaccino beauty...