Oulios
@oulios.bsky.social
cyclist, runner, weightlifter, hiker, music-lover, humanist, educator
An 8-mile run yesterday and a 45-mile bike ride today were my escape from reality and all the bad news. If you can, for your mental wellbeing in these awful times, get outside and do something to focus on yourself. It’s vital.
October 5, 2025 at 9:02 PM
An 8-mile run yesterday and a 45-mile bike ride today were my escape from reality and all the bad news. If you can, for your mental wellbeing in these awful times, get outside and do something to focus on yourself. It’s vital.
The gnats were out on the local canal trail but even swallowing a few couldn’t put a damper on a much-needed ride on the gravel bike. It was nice to see the local animal shelter decorated for Halloween and to come across a mallard with very light plumage.
September 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The gnats were out on the local canal trail but even swallowing a few couldn’t put a damper on a much-needed ride on the gravel bike. It was nice to see the local animal shelter decorated for Halloween and to come across a mallard with very light plumage.
This weekend was still warm and humid as I did a ride on the road bike yesterday and a longish run this morning. Being outside always offers some pleasant views, whether of nature or an antique car driving by.
September 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This weekend was still warm and humid as I did a ride on the road bike yesterday and a longish run this morning. Being outside always offers some pleasant views, whether of nature or an antique car driving by.
Today’s early morning bike ride took me out to an old colonial-era border, the only signs of it being the name of Province Line Road and a marker.
September 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Today’s early morning bike ride took me out to an old colonial-era border, the only signs of it being the name of Province Line Road and a marker.
It was very cold early on this last day of August, quite a contrast from the hot and humid days we've endured for much of the month. It took me a while to warm up on a forty-mile ride on the road bike but it was much warmer once I got home and got on the gravel bike to try out its new SKS fenders.
August 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
It was very cold early on this last day of August, quite a contrast from the hot and humid days we've endured for much of the month. It took me a while to warm up on a forty-mile ride on the road bike but it was much warmer once I got home and got on the gravel bike to try out its new SKS fenders.
As I was giving my gravel bike a much-needed washing, I thought about how that most ancient practice, trade, is remarkable. The bike was made in China, its drivetrain and tires made in Japan, it was put together and is serviced by a shop in the US, and now I slapped on these fenders made in Germany.
August 30, 2025 at 10:47 PM
As I was giving my gravel bike a much-needed washing, I thought about how that most ancient practice, trade, is remarkable. The bike was made in China, its drivetrain and tires made in Japan, it was put together and is serviced by a shop in the US, and now I slapped on these fenders made in Germany.
Thanks to the ideologues now in charge of public health in the US, it looks like I might not be able to get up to date with protection against the latest strain of COVID. This is just before I go back to work on campus. It’s a good thing I still have these for when I hold office hours.
August 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Thanks to the ideologues now in charge of public health in the US, it looks like I might not be able to get up to date with protection against the latest strain of COVID. This is just before I go back to work on campus. It’s a good thing I still have these for when I hold office hours.
There was a cold wind blowing from the northwest along the Delaware early this morning. Riding into on my gravel bike meant working hard but then meant getting a nice boost once I had it to my back. The nice weather and beautiful views along the river made for a great ride to escape the world.
August 28, 2025 at 12:34 AM
There was a cold wind blowing from the northwest along the Delaware early this morning. Riding into on my gravel bike meant working hard but then meant getting a nice boost once I had it to my back. The nice weather and beautiful views along the river made for a great ride to escape the world.
Three days, three bike rides totaling 100 miles with a short run thrown in right after the second ride. The world has gone mad but at least I can find peace on my two bikes. Well, as much peace as aggressive and impatient motorists will be allow.
August 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Three days, three bike rides totaling 100 miles with a short run thrown in right after the second ride. The world has gone mad but at least I can find peace on my two bikes. Well, as much peace as aggressive and impatient motorists will be allow.
The weekend was warm and humid so I didn't feel like running, cycling being more comfortable. Each of the bikes—the gravel on Saturday, the road on Sunday—got some love. Now it's much cooler at the start of this week. Good running weather.
August 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The weekend was warm and humid so I didn't feel like running, cycling being more comfortable. Each of the bikes—the gravel on Saturday, the road on Sunday—got some love. Now it's much cooler at the start of this week. Good running weather.
I plant to attract pollinators such that I refer to my perennial garden as a bumblebee airport. But one part of it, my butterfly weeds, is now serving as a butterfly incubator. The latest count is five monarch butterfly caterpillars. This makes me indescribably happy.
August 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I plant to attract pollinators such that I refer to my perennial garden as a bumblebee airport. But one part of it, my butterfly weeds, is now serving as a butterfly incubator. The latest count is five monarch butterfly caterpillars. This makes me indescribably happy.
The Canadian wildfires continue to cast a haze but at least the temperature was comfortable for this morning’s ride on the gravel bike on the local canal trail. Along the way, I passed some farms and saw lots of wildlife, including a heron.
August 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
The Canadian wildfires continue to cast a haze but at least the temperature was comfortable for this morning’s ride on the gravel bike on the local canal trail. Along the way, I passed some farms and saw lots of wildlife, including a heron.
A returned home from my morning run to some excitement in my garden: I saw a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar, likely in its fifth instar, munching on one of my aptly named butterfly bushes (Asclepias tuberosa). An adult butterfly and a bumblebee were busy on this same plant.
August 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
A returned home from my morning run to some excitement in my garden: I saw a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar, likely in its fifth instar, munching on one of my aptly named butterfly bushes (Asclepias tuberosa). An adult butterfly and a bumblebee were busy on this same plant.
The weather early this morning was a welcome change from the humidity that seemed to last all summer: clear, comfortable, and a gentle breeze. My road bike and I covered 100 km starting at just before 6:30 am and, the legs not quite tired, I did a very short run once I got home.
August 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The weather early this morning was a welcome change from the humidity that seemed to last all summer: clear, comfortable, and a gentle breeze. My road bike and I covered 100 km starting at just before 6:30 am and, the legs not quite tired, I did a very short run once I got home.
Longwood Gardens located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has long been a place that draws tourists from far away. It had been many years since I had last been there and I was so happy to see it better than ever on a visit yesterday. The great weather made it even more enjoyable. If you can, go.
August 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Longwood Gardens located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has long been a place that draws tourists from far away. It had been many years since I had last been there and I was so happy to see it better than ever on a visit yesterday. The great weather made it even more enjoyable. If you can, go.
The trail I was riding on this morning got a little crowded but in a good way. The deer, geese, and birds are in their domain and, oddly enough, are more predictable than the humans I come across.
July 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The trail I was riding on this morning got a little crowded but in a good way. The deer, geese, and birds are in their domain and, oddly enough, are more predictable than the humans I come across.
The weather this year—alternating between heavy rain and heatwaves with high humidity—has made running and bike riding tough and wet. This morning’s ride on the gravel bike was yet more of that, the poor bike getting drenched in sweat on account of the humidity. It was a great ride.
July 30, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The weather this year—alternating between heavy rain and heatwaves with high humidity—has made running and bike riding tough and wet. This morning’s ride on the gravel bike was yet more of that, the poor bike getting drenched in sweat on account of the humidity. It was a great ride.
Over fifty miles of riding the gravel bike in perfect weather this morning was just blissful.
July 22, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Over fifty miles of riding the gravel bike in perfect weather this morning was just blissful.
Não querendo esperar o efeito do tarifaço, fui a um mercado de artigos brasileiros aqui nos EUA pra fazer algumas comprinhas.
Not wanting to gamble on TACO's usual behavior, I figured I'd get ahead of the threatened tariffs on Brazilian products by stocking up on some goodies.
Not wanting to gamble on TACO's usual behavior, I figured I'd get ahead of the threatened tariffs on Brazilian products by stocking up on some goodies.
July 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Não querendo esperar o efeito do tarifaço, fui a um mercado de artigos brasileiros aqui nos EUA pra fazer algumas comprinhas.
Not wanting to gamble on TACO's usual behavior, I figured I'd get ahead of the threatened tariffs on Brazilian products by stocking up on some goodies.
Not wanting to gamble on TACO's usual behavior, I figured I'd get ahead of the threatened tariffs on Brazilian products by stocking up on some goodies.
Andei de bicicleta ontem onde queria e sem tornozeleira eletrônica, algo que o Bozo não pode fazer. Tadinho.
July 20, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Andei de bicicleta ontem onde queria e sem tornozeleira eletrônica, algo que o Bozo não pode fazer. Tadinho.
A nice surprise greeted me at the end of this morning's bike ride: A robin's nest that had been empty since it had served its purpose back in the spring got repurposed by a robin the past couple of weeks for a new batch of hatchlings. I guess the robins like the rhododendron by my front door.
July 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A nice surprise greeted me at the end of this morning's bike ride: A robin's nest that had been empty since it had served its purpose back in the spring got repurposed by a robin the past couple of weeks for a new batch of hatchlings. I guess the robins like the rhododendron by my front door.
The heat and humidity this summer have been brutal and my biking mileage is far lower than last year’s at this point in the year. Even riding a particularly gravely and fun course this morning at a slow pace left me a sweaty dehydrated mess. It was still fun, though.
July 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The heat and humidity this summer have been brutal and my biking mileage is far lower than last year’s at this point in the year. Even riding a particularly gravely and fun course this morning at a slow pace left me a sweaty dehydrated mess. It was still fun, though.
The heat and humidity are oppressive today with the real feel at 103°F (39°C). Every time I stopped on my mid-day gravel bike ride, the sweat just poured down my face.
July 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The heat and humidity are oppressive today with the real feel at 103°F (39°C). Every time I stopped on my mid-day gravel bike ride, the sweat just poured down my face.
Three solid rides—one on the gravel bike and two on the road bike—over the past four days were made possible by a break in the bad weather we’ve been having this season. My mileage is way down from this time last year so I have to grab every opportunity I can to ride even if it kills my legs.
July 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Three solid rides—one on the gravel bike and two on the road bike—over the past four days were made possible by a break in the bad weather we’ve been having this season. My mileage is way down from this time last year so I have to grab every opportunity I can to ride even if it kills my legs.
We spent this afternoon exploring the company town founded by the Roebling family 120 years ago to support its steel and copper mills. The museum (www.roeblingmuseum.org) is excellent and the hourlong tour led by historian Lynne Calamia (njmonthly.com/articles/new...) is fascinating and informative.
July 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM
We spent this afternoon exploring the company town founded by the Roebling family 120 years ago to support its steel and copper mills. The museum (www.roeblingmuseum.org) is excellent and the hourlong tour led by historian Lynne Calamia (njmonthly.com/articles/new...) is fascinating and informative.