Ed Holland

Sorry for this - it's a long rant! (thought it best to warn you folks ahead of time..)

Why? How come 99/100 of bus drivers have no problem with me using a particular stretch of road (and not the pitiful bike path) and this guy feels the need to shout and scream.

Riding along, I hear a beep behind me and look over my shoulder to see a bus 50 yards behind. Until I hear a second beep and look again to see the bus closed up to perhaps 25 yards I wasn't 100% sure this was aimed at me. Eventualy he is right behind and blows again. At this point, busses have passed me safely without problems many times before. About 100 yards further on there is loads of room and I put my hand up to say thanks for waiting and then wave him past.

He doesn't accelerate past so I wave again, only to realise that the driver is inching past so that he can shout at me in an agressive manner to get off the road and over onto the bike path (which I am by no means obliged to use). I shout back that "I have a right to the road too mate" - and manage to keep a lid on my temper and avoid abusive language (something of a surprise to me at the time). As he finally passes and gets the whole ordeal over with (oh, perhaps 20 whole seconds of mild inconveniance) I see that the bus is completely empty.

So this *individual* thinks that all that is required is a quick "toot" as he approaches slow moving traffic and it will graciously stand aside and wave him through, cap off, with a happy smile

Unfortunately I forgot to take his number. I almost caught up further down the road, but he escaped my clutches. This "chase" was a really good anger management workout though.

Again, apologies for the long post,

Cheers,

Ed

ET_SoCal

Ignorance is no excuse… So on, so forth.

Seems we can only smile and wave at these drivers (saying to ourselves “you’re an idiot”) whoever they are and whatever they drive, and let them pass. In any confrontation with heavy metal, we cyclists will loose.

I’ll read this “How was the commute today” message board just about every day.
I really enjoy reading how the morning commute was in the different areas (of the world)

Yesterday morning and this morning was extremely warm, we’ve had the “santa’ana” winds from the desert blowing warm air into the SoCal area.
Monday was 38 degrees, this morning was 64 degrees…

mtessmer

Hmmm... every once in a while I run into that bus thing here in Minneapolis but for the most part they are pretty good. Great commute in this morning. I took the long way in and did a river run on my lunch break. I'll probably take the long way home too. These 20 degree above normal weather days with sunshine are great, I have to take advantage of it.

Corsaire

Talking about today's commuting, here in the NorthEast, North Jersey more precisely I always, even when driving, see "The Mexicans", real hardcore bike riders, these dudes, rain or shine are riding their all type of bikes from road to mountain types, some even have upgraded to more decent looking ones.
What bothers me though is that they ride even on the highways. I guess they have no choice but the bike, I'm sure they're unlicensed and making low wages.
Corsaire

ET_SoCal

Ya, but they never go faster than 5mph...

Corsaire

Haha! this is true, they just slow cruise steadily along, but at least don't ride like those kids with their knees up to their chests )
Corsaire

Kodama

Well there was snow last night/early this morning in the PNW. A fairly light dusting really, from 1" or less depending on area. It was rain when I headed out in my full rain suit, but a very thick icy rain. My bike computer read 34 degrees, so it was probably snow an hour or so earlier. I really enjoyed riding up the trail (the path itself was completely snow free) with the trees and fields dusted with snow. Very pretty. The river that the trail runs along was very high after the recent rain storms, and at one point a great blue heron took flight and flew parallel to me for a while. You often see the GBH perched gargoyle like on stumps in the river, but I have only seem them taking flight a few times. Truly an impressive bird, with a large wingspan but still elegant in flight.

Just heard on the radio that more snow is very likely. Yay! Looks like we're going to have an actual winter this year.

ET_SoCal

Thanks for that image.
Thought we would have some kind of winter-like down here, but alas,
another kinda-summer-ish winter down here

Jean Beetham Smith 

My nice ride to work was ended by a flat between the front door of the clinic where I shut off the alarm, and the basement door where I take my bike in. I wasn't even riding (don't want to ride across the lawn). That started a run of technical difficulties for the day: The 20W laser surgical unit could only produce 4W, which will hardly even cut, and the video camera for the otoscope quit working. I got to spend the day on the phone with service techs. Finally, I was able to change again and go back down to the basement to fix a flat. Too dark, had to bring the wheel upstairs. Remind me if I ever get to go on a long tour to take along a surgical light. They sure make it a lot easier to spot bits of glass. A biohazard sharps container is a good place to dispose of such bits, not likely to be flatted by that glass again. Great ride home, in shorts.

sculptor

Started off as a typical winter type commute; light rain, a bit breeezy, but not too cold. I took it as a good sign that the apartment manager was in the parking lot handing out OJ and snacks! Then the wind kicked up, the temp dropped, and the rain started to come down harder. Since I only have to go 8 miles, I thought it wouldn't be too bad.
Learned a very important lesson about cleaning helmet pads. Once my helmet was completely saturated, a very salty fluid started running down into my eyes. Pretty disgusting, I know, but more seriously, it didn't start happening until I was on the busiest section of road I travel on. Every few minutes, one eye or the other would start burning and I would find myself squeezing BOTH eyes shut for a second. When that happened I pulled off the road and waited until I could see clearly again. Not being smarter than the typical lab rat, it took a few tries at this before it occured to me to just pull the pads out of my helmet. The rest of the commute was a little more bearable.

Early in the afternoon, my wife called and suggested I look outside. Since my shop/studio doesn't have windows, I went to the door and was greeted by snow. It's not supposed to snow here. I had never ridden in snow (I was a desert rat before moving to Oregon), so I decided to head home before it accumulated. I now have the utmost respect for those of you who commute all winter in places where snow is regular. I can't remember the last time I was that cold. Tomorrow the forecast is for sleet. I can't wait.

Chris L

I encounter this sort of rubbish almost daily. If it isn't bus drivers it's some other dropkick. I find arrogance to be the best way to deal with it. Once you accept that people like this are basically dickhead school rejects who couldn't find their arse with both hands, you generally cease to become upset by anything they do. It's best to simply treat them with the contempt they deserve. I generally find no need for anger management when this arises.

Ed Holland

Great ride today, and no bus(t)-ups. Made a handsome 18.7 mph average which is good by my standards.

By the way In my last post, it was not my intention to malign bus drivers as a whole, just that particular ignoramus. In large measure, bus drivers here are considerate and patient around cyclists - and put up with a lot of "random" cycling (it is a university town after all). It has been known for drivers to flash their lights and hold back to let me make awkward turns out of side streets. Like most drivers in the UK the overwhelming majority are fine. It just takes one rotten apple.....

Cheers,

Ed

willic

Strange kind of day yesterday. Riding in was hard work with a strong blustery wind and frequent squally showers, took me 35 mins to cycle the 4 1/2 miles and almost blown off my bike crossing the Hexham Tyne bridge.

Four Hrs later on return the wind had almost gone, the sun was shining and it was remarkebly mild for mid Nov..

Also a Fox gave me a good laugh with its antics. As I was approching Beaufront lodge castle gates a car overtook me and at the same time the fox slunk out from the hedgerow and was so intent on watching for the car dissapearing down the road it did not see me until I was right up to it, then it lept a couple of ft into the air with alarm, spinning full circle at the same time, and tearing away at top speed through the hedge and across the adjascent field, highly amusing.....

Chris L

Schoolies' Week is approaching here. The 'official' start is Friday night, so I don't even know if they'll have the Esplanade open in Surfers Paradise - might have to use Bundall Road and miss out on the sea breeze. The little grommets are here already, so the 40 year old hangers on (who normally account for the majority of the 100 or so nightly arrests) can't be far behind.

Still, the sea breeze was pleasant enough today.

ridealot

After not being able to ride the past two weeks becuase of work meetings and some stuff that had to get done at home, it felt good to be on the bike again this morning.

Chilly ride in around 35 deg F and nothing exciting happened. Nice un-eventfull ride in. It was great!

Ritz

Man, I miss riding my bike! Soon, patience.

erraticrider

Beautiful -- sun was barely lighting the eastern sky; dark purple fading to hues of lavendar, pink and gold, with a cresent moon overhead. What a way to start the day.

Gus Riley

I can picture this! Would have loved to see it for real! You were privileged that day!

LittleBigMan

Dang. And I forgot to charge my batteries last night.



Tomorrow's another day!

LittleBigMan

Frankly, Gus--

I was wondering when the author of the World's Longest Thread, How Was the Commute Today? was going to come back and get in our hair again!



I think it belongs in a museum, like maybe Ripley's Believe It Or Not, or the Guiness Pint--er, I mean Book of World Records.

willic

Yeh! Quite agree I reckon this thread will run as long as there are computers.....Must be a privalege to have been the creator Gus. (our commuter Messiah)

mtessmer

Wow, beautiful ride in this morning! There was a orange/blue sunrise that casted a orange hue over the landscape, it was awesome. I think this is the last day of the mild temps according to our local weatherman. I think the reason I like taking the long way in is because it's more heavily wooded with lakes, ponds and creeks. It really made my day.

Gus Riley

Oh, I pop in occasionally and at least read the inputs, they are all interesting.

It’s pretty cool to originate a long thread…but this lowly one does not deserve Messiah status! I rarely commute here in my new surroundings; it's a 66-mile round trip commute. I have done it on several occasions, but never in the winter months…

Kodama

Today was probably the most rain I've biked in on the morning ride. Generally if I'm going to wimp out and drive it is due to morning rain. Rain on the ride home never bothers me, as a shower and change of clothes is readily available. This winter however since I've decided to ride year round I've been braving the rain on the way in. Not sure why I ever skipped it, as in my rainsuit I'm pretty dry, barring face and feet, and I've always enjoyed riding in the rain.

SO plenty of rain this morning tapering off as I arrived at work. Lots of standing water on the trail, days of rain and snow have really created some long wide puddles. No sweat with the fenders, though I did splash a bit on my feet. The countryside is looking pretty soaked and the Sammamish river still seems to be rising...

Zin

25F on the way in this morning. Looks like a nice ride home in the snow this evening.