Taste of Kalihi and Back

Michelle told me yesterday that the Taste of Kalihi was happening today, so that's where I went. Of course everything was cash only, which I didn't prepare for, so I just looked around and then went back home. During the ride, I raised my max speed to 31.9 MPH on the Beretania Dip and got a PR :) Totalled 12.1 miles including a night time ride I did after checking tire pressures.

Strava Stats
Circuit to Kalihi and Back
Distance: 10.5 mi
Elevation Gain: 55 ft
Moving Time: 0:56:21
Max Speed: 31.9 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 11.2 mi/hr
Calories: 270

Around the block
Distance: 1.6 mi
Elevation Gain: 87 ft
Moving Time: 0:8:57
Max Speed: 26.3 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 10.5 mi/hr
Calories: 65

I did a couple of things before heading out. First, I took the reflectors off of the front wheel (the bike was getting unstable at high speeds and I suspected the reflectors were the problem since they were so heavy). Then, I attached my seat bag I bought a few days ago.

I think it looks pretty cool. I also finally used that small cable I bought with the bike lock and attached it to the bag and the seat. This way, they will all be tied up with the U-Lock when I lock up the bike.

There were mostly old people at the Taste of Kalihi since it was so early (I went back later that night with Michelle and everyone else was there). I think there has been less and less booths each successive year which is a little depressing. Some of the food booths were not even from Kalihi!



There was also entertainment through out the day and even a few Hawaii officials.

? and State House Candidate Nicole Velasco

They should really solicit more businesses in Kalihi especially restaurants. "Taste" of Kalihi?

I left after listening to some songs from the band, and went down Waiakamilo Road toward Nimitz Highway. I made my way home, happy to see that the bike lane started in this intersection.

Later that night, I decided to check my tire pressures. It was not as low as before, but in just a matter of days, the tires have lost 20 PSI each! Is it time to get new tubes? They're still within the lower limit of the "inflate to" note on the tire though, so we'll see.

Ride Through Waikiki and Ala Wai Mash Part 2

All I could think about last night was riding through Ala Wai Boulevard again, so I decided to actually semi-plan my route this time. I decided to go on Kalakaua Avenue through Waikiki, past Kapiolani Park, and then back around which would let me ride the Ala Wai Mash one more time.

Circuit
Distance: 9.5 mi
Elevation Gain: 50 ft
Moving Time: 0:46:39
Max Speed: 28.5 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 12.2 mi/hr
Calories: 269

I spent most of my time on the road today and less on the sidewalk, partly because I got out of the house at around 8:30am. The roads were not too busy. The grade through out maybe 5 miles of the ride was 0.0% and I had a pretty consistent pace for the most part. There was a dedicated bike lane through Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue that sometimes disappeared with an accompanying sign that told me that I could take a full lane. I ended up just mashing on the pedals every time I got to those sections in fear of getting hit from behind. There is a Strava Segment on this route called the Kalakaua Ave. Mash, but it has been marked as hazardous and the leader list for comparison is not available. There is also a quick half mile Strava Segment continuing on Kalakaua Avenue through Kapiolani Park called To The Fountain. I might have to run through this one another time though seeing that my time was more than double the fastest lol. I took a small break when I got to Waikiki Beach and snapped a quick photo facing toward last weekends Kakaako Park picture.

 

While riding through Kapiolani Park, I noticed a good number of cyclists going up a road toward Diamond Head. Of course I decided to follow them with little thought on the somewhat steep incline. Needless to say, I turned around about half a mile in after not being able to pedal anymore. On the other hand, I did reach a new top speed of 28.5 MPH going back down, thanks to the hill :D

 

I rode the momentum all the way to the start of the Ala Wai Mash segment to a RED LIGHT. Wow, perfect. I could have had a super fast start! Anyway, I started out rowing through all the gears smoothly. I moved my hands closer to the center of the handle bars as I got faster and tucked my elbows under my stomach which helped a lot with the speed. I was moving at a nice, fast pace until 2 cop cars appeared, blocking an intersection along with the bike lane! bleh. I guess I'll try again another time. I still got a PR (Personal Record) of 4:54 minutes though. Weird.

 

Well, now I have to go back to redo To The Fountain and Ala Wai Mash. Maybe there is a Diamond Head one too that I could do later when I get a little better :)

The Ala Wai Mash

Went out a little late today. I had to wait for Eki Cyclery to open at 9am to get the strut kit Jayne put aside for me yesterday. Then I had to get water. During my ride, I stopped by McCully Bicycle and Sporting Goods and went through Ala Wai Boulevard before heading home, totaling 7.5 miles.

Strava Stats

1st Half
Distance: 5.6 mi
Elevation Gain: 0 ft
Moving Time: 0:29:19
Max Speed: 22.8 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 11.4 mi/hr
Calories: 126

Back Home
Distance: 1.9 mi
Elevation Gain: 51 ft
Moving Time: 0:10:53
Max Speed: 20.4 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 10.4 mi/hr
Calories: 55

Before sleeping last night, I thought about setting some biking objectives. I told myself that for starters, I should ride around 10 miles a day during the weekends, and around 2 miles, or maybe even 30 minutes a day during the weekdays. I remembered that Michelle bought an Outdoor Products Kilometer 2.0 Hydration Pack Camelbak thing a while ago for hiking, and since I had around a 10 mile ride the next day, I should make use of it.

I headed over to Eki Cyclery after dropping Michelle off to work and picked up the strut kit for my rear rack. It was a great deal at $6.95. I also bought a Long Sunlite Bicycle Wheel Reflector Set for $3.95! Eki Cyclery is located on Dillingham Boulevard and carries mostly Raleigh, Schwinn, and Dahon bicycles. They have a great assortment of accessories with prices comparable to my favorite LBS. The staff is also very helpful and knowledgeable and if they didn't know something, they will admit it and not beat around the bush. I actually walked around their shop for maybe 30 minutes before checking out.

When I got home, I tried mounting the rear bike rack, but then realized that I was missing the mounting screws! Luckily, McCully Bicycle and Sporting Goods had them in stock for 50 cents each (When I got back home, I found out that these were the same screws on the bike already used for water bottle holders and accessories uhhh). I installed both reflectors on the front wheel and headed toward the store.

After getting the last of what I needed to attach the rear rack, I kept on going up King Street toward Kaimuki. It was a little scary sharing the road with cars coming from the freeway off ramp, so I stuck on the sidewalk. I turned right onto Kapahulu Avenue and headed toward Ala Wai Boulevard.

There is a nice, flat, straight bike lane on Ala Wai Boulevard that I've been wanting to get on ever since I got the bike and it was everything I was hoping for when I did. The road was nice and smooth and had a 0.0% average grade through out the ride according to Strava. I got some real satisfaction from pushing through the gears, knowing that it was ALL ME powering the smooth ride and not a downhill. Naturally, there would be a Strava Segment on this stretch called Ala Wai Mash which I got 158th place on lol. Pretty fun ride regardless.

Ala Wai Boulevard consists of a few stoplights that are usually green. Car lanes are to the left of the bike lane and designated parking is to the right, so watch out for opening doors. The bike lane ends a long ways away from the intersection crossing McCully Street and signs suddenly tell you that you can take a whole lane. Cars turning right with you in the intersection will start getting impatient, so be careful toward the end.

I take McCully Street toward my usual route, down bumpy Beretania Street and up Piikoi Street. The end. I want to go back ASAP!

 

My friend told me to take a photo on the drive side which I found out was the proper way of taking bike pictures so enjoy! lol

Testing a Route to Work

I tried testing out a route to and from work, but instead just tested the way there. On the return trip home, I decided to take Ala Moana Boulevard which followed the coast instead of cutting through downtown.

Strava Stats

Circuit
Distance: 9.1 mi
Elevation Gain: 91 ft
Moving Time: 0:56:23
Max Speed: 24.9 mi/hr
Avg Speed: 9.6 mi/hr
Calories: 227

The ride to work took under 20 minutes and I would guess was about 2.8 miles. I rode through Beretania Street and had my first encounter with a Strava Segment. Strava Segments are routes that are created by Strava users. The segments are automatically challenged when ridden through. As of now, I am 111th/114 place through the segment titled, Beretania Dip. lol

The ride back was beautiful but windy! I never knew how powerful the wind could be while riding a bike upright. With my arms out on the grips of the flat low rise handlebar, I acted like a sail and seriously felt like I was losing at least 5 mph (probably more, I don't have a computer and I'm bad at judging speed). I decided to take a break from Ala Moana Boulevard, to avoid the wind and ride around Kakaako Park. I always see scuba divers here and there are stairs where you can walk into the water.  I think it's a rocky drop off (I don't really know what that means, but I've heard it before and felt it appropriate lol).

I rode the length of the sidewalk running along the coast and then went back on Ala Moana Blvd to head home. Of course I stopped by 7-11 to pick up some C2o Coconut Water before finishing.