I ride. I write.

I ride. A bicycle. A red road bike.

I write. Mostly with a computer. I'm a Mac.

I ride because I enjoy it and it's about the only exercise my knees — at least, my right knee — will permit. A bike is less expensive than a pool.

I write because it is required (much of the time) and also because I enjoy it (some of the time).

I earn money with my writing. I would like to be able to earn money with my riding but I'm afraid it will never happen. Too old. Too slow.

This journal, or blog, or diary, or whatever you want to call it, is where my riding and my writing intersect.

I call it Bicycle Writing. Here's the plan...

I ride on as many days as my schedule allows. That's usually three or four times a week. I have ridden as many as six times in a week and as few as zero times. You can't get much fewer than zero times.

Every time I ride I will write.

I already keep a ride log -- miles, average speed, course, time, maximum speed, etc -- of each ride I make. Been doing that for years.

This will be my ride blog.

I rode a lot last year. I was motivated for reasons I might get into later.

I plan to ride even more this year but spread those rides more evenly through the course of the year.

Last year, 2009, I really didn't get into a serious riding routine until June. From June 1 through early December, I rode three or four times, sometimes five and even six times, each week. A total of 84 rides in the second half of the year. More than 2,640 miles.

From January to June 2009 I rode a total of one time and that was on New Year's Day. Shameful.

So this year I am planning to ride more frequently but that really only means getting into a riding groove much earlier in the year.

So far in January? Three rides. That's not good enough. Short days and cold air are my enemies.

I live in southeastern Arizona so it's certainly not lung-freezing cold. Still, when on a bike saddle, there is the continuous wind chill to consider. But I have lights and my balaclava so that leaves me without excuse. I will do better. I am hoping this riding journal provides an extra measure of motivation.

I rode today so it must be working.

TODAY'S RIDE...

27.5 miles

From home to Bryce, Arizona and back

1 hour 42 minutes

No wind, 55 degrees (until the sun went down)

MY OTHER RIDES SO FAR IN JANUARY...

January 6

23.5 miles

Bryce-Pima loop

1 hour 34 minutes

Cold with some wind

January 14

25.5 miles

To Bryce and back

1 hour 45 minutes

Windy on the return ride

This is a long post. I will try to keep them shorter in the future. The idea is to log my rides and share some thoughts I had while riding through the cotton fields and deserts of southeastern Arizona.

Good riding to you.