bikejournal.com journal

2007/3/1
(Thu)

43.71

02:31:39

17.29

324

Road: Flat

Corratec Classic
700c Hybrid

Bike Friday

Comments: Lots of slush. The temperature got above freezing, the snow is thawing away fast. Pretty weird riding in motor traffic, the cars constantly splash you with salty water. It is OK once you dress up properly. Commute, the post office, some city tour. Saw two other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: +3C or so, overcast, light wind, some rain. Not bad.

2007/3/2
(Fri)

70.64

04:07:52

17.10

509

Road: Flat

Corratec Classic
700c Hybrid

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, the post office. Crowded streets due to the forthcoming Kaziuko fair. The weather was excellent. Warmed up, wow. The sun is melting the snow away, a bit dangerous riding fast as you don't know what to expect under the water, last year I damaged two wheels, gotta be a bit more careful this year. Walked the bicycle from Seskine to Virsuliskes through a lot of snow in hilly oakery (Azuolynas). It took a while, but much fun. Made some small loops around where I live before the day was made. Saw one other cyclist today.

Weather Conditions: Seemed like +5C or so with a sunshine most of the day. Wow! A real spring day. Light wind.

2007/3/3
(Sat)

43.02

02:15:41

19.02

318

Road: Flat

Corratec Classic
700c Hybrid

Bike Friday

Comments: Rode to the post office, then Markuciai. The pond is all covered with ice and water above it. A bit of city tour (geocaching involved), Pasilaiciai BMS. Saw no other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Pretty warm today, temperature in the vicinity of +3C, some rain.

2007/3/4
(Sun)

42.69

02:29:55

17.09

287

Road: Flat

Corratec Classic
700c Hybrid

Bike Friday

Comments: A bit of geocaching and city tour. Kaziuko fair did not impress me at all this year, many drunks, the weather wasn't very nice. Full streets of crazy motorists. Made it home before dark. Saw three other cyclists today. Not bad: a cyclist per 14km or so, probably the best ratio this year. It will definitely continue to improve as the weather warms up.

Weather Conditions: +1C, pretty wet, foggy, the snow continues to thaw out.

2007/3/5
(Mon)

47.97

02:29:59

19.19

372

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Spent most of the morning assembling my trusted Trek bicycle. Replaced two chainrings, the chain, the cassette, the brake shoes, cables, rear derailleur, bar tape, maybe something else. Wow, this is a real fun switching from studded tires to regulars. Tried some park ice ride with slicks by dark. Earned a flat right before getting home. Caught no rabbits. Saw two other cyclists today, the acrobats.

Weather Conditions: +4C or so, sunny most of the day, -1C after dark, a bit scary to ride with slick tires on the ice.

2007/3/6
(Tue)

31.73

01:46:45

17.83

218

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: A bit of park ride, still a lot of snow, hard and scary riding with slick tires. Saw two other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Just a hairpin above freezing. Overcast, light wind.

2007/3/7
(Wed)

141.44

06:34:41

21.50

964

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: A bit of geocaching while doing the metric. Rode to Europos Centras, Maisiagala, Dukstos, Kernave, Vievis and back home. Saw two other cyclists today. Found two geocaches and also hid two mine.

txt GPS file is here
gpx GPS exchange file is here (good to use with Google Earth)

Weather Conditions: +4C or so, light easterly, no rain. Dry roads.

2007/3/8
(Thu)

55.67

02:25:41

22.93

443

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, the post office. Some geocaching in Aukstagiriai region, a bit of city tour and home. Saw two other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: +10C on the average, sunny most of the day. Excellent.

2007/3/9
(Fri)

32.84

01:47:57

18.25

225

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Quick commute, the post office, the army supply store and home. Very bad tooth ache, wasn't a pleasant ride. Saw eight other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: +5C, dry streets in the afternoon, light southerly.

2007/3/10
(Sat)

40.39

02:18:06

17.55

366

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Morning commute, had to pack and ship some packages, the post office, quick city tour, visited the Frank Zappa monument. Excellent weather, saw 21 other cyclist today. WOW.

Weather Conditions: +7C or so, sunny most of the day. Dry.

2007/3/11
(Sun)

18.50

00:47:47

23.23

148

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Joint birthday parties continue, little time left to ride. Short morning ride around Virsuliskes and Pilaite. Saw one other cyclist today.

Weather Conditions: Rainy, moderate westerly, not very pleasant. +5C or so.

2007/3/12
(Mon)

15.00

01:35:54

21.16

148

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: My 43th birthday today. Not much time to ride, did a bit of a city tour and hid the Frank Zappa geocache. Saw about 5 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: some rain, some wind. Really nice comparing to about a month ago.

2007/3/13
(Tue)

21.35

01:24:34

15.15

136

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Quick commute, spent the afternoon with my co-worker celebrating my birthday in the caffe Kalvadosnaya. Got home OK, no matter there were some ice patches in the Vingio Park. No rabbits caught. Saw about 5 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Warm and dry. Cyclists dream.

2007/3/14
(Wed)

8.12

00:28:02

17.38

51

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: One short ride.

Lithuanian way to park a car:

Weather Conditions:

2007/3/15
(Thu)

49.44

02:46:11

17.85

372

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, the post office, some geocaching in Aukstagiris region. Saw over 10 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: +8C or so, warm and dry. Nice for riding.

2007/3/16
(Fri)

37.31

02:14:49

16.60

280

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: The Vytenio post office and some lazy park ride. Dropped off Ollie Owl Travel Bug in Vingio Park geocache. Most of the snow is gone, so many trash got exposed in the park. Literally every bench in the radius of 20 meters is "decorated" with an empty cig pack or a beer can. Can't understand people doing this. Saw 18 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Pretty warm, around +8C, some rain by evening.

2007/3/17
(Sat)

33.67

02:10:23

15.49

347

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Rode to work, picked some things to work home on the weekend. The Vytenio post office, some park rice, picked a TB from my cache. Saw 10 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Rainy in the morning, then cleared up a bit in the afternoon. +4C or so.

2007/3/18
(Sun)

27.66

01:40:33

16.51

289

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Some geocaching. Most annoying rain most of the day. Rode up the Three Crosses Hill, thats about 12 percent grade, had to walk the bicycle down due to brake shoes were nearly worn out and needed to get back home across the city through the traffic. Saw seven other cyclist enjoying the rain ride.

Weather Conditions: +4C, windy, rainy. Nothing much to enjoy with.

2007/3/19
(Mon)

54.95

03:00:34

18.26

426

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Was cleaning the front brake in the morning and found that it was broke. The winter beater was near, so I replaced it. Wasn't very easy. Stopped by the LBS for some brake shoes, found it was closed. They are closed on Mondays. And I do the same mistake maybe five times in the row. Commute, the post office, some geocaching. Enjoyed Vilnius Panorama, rode to the building that collapsed in the old town a couple of days ago (see pictures below). It is scary how fast the old town is collapsing. A three story appartment building collapsed about over a month ago. Most relate it to the new construction sites around. We will soon be left without the old town. Met my old HAM friend Daktaras LY1DI who I haven't seen since last year. He was on the bicycle so we rode to a calm place and chated for a while. He was in a hurry and left home, I rode to the Vingio park to relax a bit. Nice day to ride, saw 44 other cyclists. It is getting hard to count cyclists, the new (electronic) tally counter was waiting for me in the post office. Wow, what a toy. Daktaras was #22.

Weather Conditions: Pretty warm, dry and windy. Felt like +10C

2007/3/20
(Tue)

53.21

02:51:13

18.65

509

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Typical commute, the post office. Rode to the Silo Forest for an hour of unsuccessful geocaching, got home by dark. It was rather dry in the forest, but pretty hilly place, had to walk and carry my bicycle a lot enjoying violets in between. Saw 13 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: +7C or so, dry, overcast, light breeze.

2007/3/22
(Thu)

72.02

03:19:57

21.61

559

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: The post office, commute, picked a Bicycle Sound System which I loved a lot. No longer headphones. Feel way safier in traffic while enjoying podcasts or FM. Did it a thorough test riding through the city. Pretty good even in heavy traffic. Saw 58 other cyclists today.

Weather Conditions: Warm. Felt like +15C, moderate wind.

2007/3/22
(Thu)

86.97

04:05:09

21.29

715

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Typical: Commute, the post office. 50th commute this year. Some park ride, then got home, sat at a computer for several hours then completed the day by riding a bit more. Back and forth through the city, a bit relaxing ride in the park. Lots of cyclists, the weather was great. The number of motorist morons sizeably increased since it warmed up. Saw 51 another cyclist today.

Weather Conditions: +14C maybe. Very warm, but windy. Few drops of rain, overcast. Nice, excellent to ride.

2007/3/23
(Fri)

131.17

05:48:01

22.61

752

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Quick commute and the post office - typical. Came back home and decided to ride a metric. Rode to Sirvintos, some 50km NW of Vilnius and back on A2 highway. The traffic was pretty thin, wide, clean and dry shoulders. I was wearing a helmet and sober with a technically OK bicycle. Yet got stopped by the police. Cyclists are not supposed to ride on highways in Lithuania even though they are safe. The policemen suggested me to ride a narrow and windy country road which I said wasn't very safe to ride Friday afternoon. They kept shrugging their shoulders, etc, but finally let me continue riding on the highway (after the ticket was given). Weird. Got home no problem, visited my mom by evening. Saw 17 other cyclists today. One of them on the hwy.

txt GPS file is here
gpx GPS exchange file is here (good to use with Google Earth)

Weather Conditions: Moderate to strong easterly. Wasn't really funny to ride back. But warm: +8C or so.

2007/3/24
(Sat)

63.82

03:16:37

19.48

556

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Some park ride in the morning, rode to the post office, stopped by the office, geocaching in Verkiai, nice forest ride. Getting dry there. Much fun. Got home, sat at a computer most of the afternoon, then a bit more evening ride. Saw 137 other cyclists today! WOW, this years best.

Weather Conditions: Warm: maybe +15C, light easterly, sunny most of the day. Dry.

2007/3/25
(Sun)

94.04

04:17:49

21.89

631

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: A bit of park ride in the morning, brought the Coin Bridge cache to the place. Fixed my wife's bicycle, but she did not want to ride today as she wasn't feeling allright. Then rode to the alternative Center of Europe that is some 6km from the exact location. Field roads were nice riding on even with the road tires. They won't be as nice in the summer time as there will be much more sand to fight with. Got chased by two small doggies. No problem to outrun them. Found the place easy, took some pictures and headed back home through Suderve, Cekoniskes. Lovely weather, much fun. Saw 56 other cyclists today.
GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: +15C or maybe it felt like this, sunny, moderate easterly. Dry.

2007/3/26
(Mon)

161.64

07:28:58

21.60

1,070

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Looked like a nice morning: sunny and dry. Rode to the park, got cold toes and fingers immediately. The temperature was below freezing, got home, did computer homework, then commute, the post office with load. The work day ended early so decided to do some geocaching to the North East of Vilnius. Rode to Skaliskes, never been to that place, was rather tough riding the gravel and sand with the road tires, but what I saw paid off. The bridge was fantastic, I did not take a risk to walk a bicycle across the river, I am a bit height sick, will wait till the water gets warmer. And the Cave, it was fantastic. Still some ice inside. What was funny is that after I spent few minutes inside and got out, I felt outside was cooler. Overall spent over an hour searching for a geocache. Enjoyed local Coliseum (a ruins of former cow house or something), then rode to Nemencine and Bernotai. Checked my cache there and slowly headed home. Made another loop in the park and around to complete the century. Saw 98 other cyclists today.
GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: Felt like +15C, light northerly. Sunny all of the day, brilliant.

2007/3/28
(Wed)

82.96

03:55:22

21.15

589

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, the post office, some geocaching in Dukstos vicinities, hid Avizieniai Hillfort cache, too. Saw 51 other cyclist today.

GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: Warm, dry and sunny. +15C or so, light wind.

2007/3/28
(Wed)

134.50

06:00:11

22.41

886

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, the post office with load. Typical. The weather was great and the work day ended early enough so decided to do a bit of geocaching. Rode to Trakai. Hid a cache near the old Vilnius-Kaunas road. Haven't met a single person while riding uphill. Quite a contrast to compare to busy and smoggy streets. Hid the Varnikai geocache, rode a little back and forth, slowly exploring the lakes. The streets in Trakai were in a process of renovation, pain riding with a road tires. Decided to do a metric, rode home through Vievis, Suderve, Pilaite. Annoying road reconstruction Verksionys-Dukstos. Stopped for a couple of bananas in Cekoniskes. A quick loop in Vingio Park just to complete the metric. Lots of contrasts today: heavy traffic - peaceful forests and visa versa. Good to have this much of a daylight. Saw 95 other cyclists today.

GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: +15C, maybe. Light wind, dry and sunny. Fantastic!

2007/3/29
(Thu)

148.28

06:18:33

23.50

1,159

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Quick commute, the post office. The work day ended early so headed to Aukstadvaris to visit the Devil's Crater and do some geocaching there while completing a metric. Stopped by Murine Voke, enjoyed the falls for a while, hid my geocache, then Lentvaris, Trakai and Aukstadvaris. Excellent weather, light wind. Been chased by four dogs on a sandy gravel road in Barisiava. The doggies were easy to outrun, but they were waiting for me on the way back. Outran them too. Spent nearly an hour searching for the geocache with no luck. Started to get late. Wanted to take another route home, but decided to go the fastest to be able to get home before dark. The traffic wasn't so bad. Saw 39 other cyclists today.

GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: +14C, sunny, dry, light wind. Shorts and t-shirt. Super!

2007/3/30
(Fri)

96.66

05:06:25

18.93

617

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute and the post office. Typical. Then rode to Pavilniai Regional park, explored Naujoji Vilnia, a bit towards Mickunai, then Galgiai - Kairenai, downtown Vilnius, then Critical Mass ride, a bit of Vingio park and home. The weather was excellent, sacrificed some of my computer time to ride. Saw 113 other cyclists today (that doesn't count several hundred seen in the critical mass).

GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: Maybe +15C, dry and sunny, light wind. Wore shorts and the t-shirts.

2007/3/31
(Sat)

167.52

07:22:24

22.72

871

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Saturday weather was great, thought I'd ride a century. Found a fresh geomulticache in Verkiai, then headed to Barkiskiai to check the fir, got back to Rudamina, Turgeliai, explored a hillfort there and hid my cache. Then rode to Jasiunai. GPS kept switching off all of a sudden, at least 20 times. Fixed battery holder when stopped by Merkys between Jasiunai and Pirciupiai. Walked by Merkys-Voke canal a bit, helped myself with some bananas and hid another cache. Got chased by two long legged doggies in Senieji Maceliai, but managed to escape. Thought I'd visit the Valakaviciai mound, but it started getting late and the sandy path did not want to tolerate my road tires, so headed back home. Hid yet another geocache at Pirciupiai, walked around the monument. Stopped to take a picture of a glider in Paluknys when noticed that the rear wheel is out of true. One spoke was dead. Got home by dark. It was a nice ride. Saw 72 other cyclists today.

GPS files: .txt .gpx

Weather Conditions: +13C or so, a bit cloudy, light northerly. Still OK with shorts and t-shirt.