Catch up from yesterday first. I took the Dahon on an errand at lunch to pick up a temporary insurance card maybe 1/2 mile away.

They are pretty busy streets, so I decided to ride on the sidewalk. I almost got "mowed down" by a landscaper with his motorized mower. I heard an engine and thought: "I wonder what that is?" Then, he shot out across the sidewalk from behind a bush. I don't know how he could just assume no one was on the sidewalk.

I braked just in time and gave him the stink-eye. He looked scared & guilty. Close call. There are different hazards when riding on sidewalks. Before someone chimes in with "That's why I ride on the street." I'd like to add that I STILL feel safer on the sidewalk. No road rage there, or people driving while intexticated.

This morning, it was 29°F when I left. Frost on the grass. I have a North Face Denali fleece I've been wearing, and it is perfect. It is a little cold for about 20 seconds and on my arms at speed. But my core temperature comes up quickly, and it is only my arms that get cold. I tried a GoreTex jacket, and it was way too hot. They don't breath enough.

The new bike (Fisher Simple City 3) does not have a hill gear, and it is a killer. I have decided whether to look into gearing it down or wait a while and see if I get strong enough to climb hills with the low gear. The top gear is also too high, so I'm thinking that gearing it down would be wise idea.

<rant>Prior to getting two consecutive three-speeds, I never realized how much I used the gears on my 21-speed hybrid. When are they going to learn that 3-speeds is enough, as long as they're not too high? If I'm concerned about speed, I wouldn't buy a 3-speed anyway, so why not make them suitable for normal commuting speeds for a normal set of legs?</rant>

Still, I'm looking forward to the ride home.