Check the weather as usual... tornado warning in Flagstaff! WTF? Really? Sure enough a few touched down to the west and ripped up an RV dealership and a parked freight train. (Google for pics, pretty impressive).
The radar showed all the storms were west of town, so I hopped on the bike wearing shorts and my warm long-sleeve bike shirt and hoped for the best. I made it in with only a couple drops just as I reached downtown. It's been pouring hard off and on since about 30 minutes after I arrived. The weather gods were smiling on me this morning
I'm hoping for the same luck on the way home since I don't have my raingear with me. My little trunk bag couldn't hold everything I needed to bring today. I can't wait until I get my new commuter finished with a real rack that has panniers!
Originally Posted by
amvapor
Today was a rough ride...
I rode to a bike shop in the rain here in Toronto, looked at some new tights for the cooling weather, all was fine in the world.
Left the shop and headed the rest of th way home, maybe 6 Km left to the commute, in that space, nearly got clipped by one cargo van, had a taxi pullout for a left turn across the bike lane I was riding (he waved angry arms at me), then got lectured by a guy who blocked my left turn.
The guy who lectured me was the worst, 100 meters from my house, I was riding in the middle of the roadway (residential road) and signalled a left turn, suddenly this bmw or whatever comes up beside me on my left and opens my window and starts with "I don't want to get into it, but I ride to, and my bike is probably worth alot more then yours, you are riding in the middle of the road". I had a few short words with him, "I'm allowed to be here", "you are blocking my left turn", etc, at least the guy wasn't angry or anything, but man, the nerve of some folks....
Thanks for listening, just had to vent, better here then at the kids :-)
I didn't realize I would have the authority to over other cyclists if I rode a more expensive bike! Should I reconsider the commuter I'm building based on a '92 Hard Rock I got for $15?
Hopefully the next ride made up for that moron.
Originally Posted by
puppypilgrim
...the cars have to cross the bike lane on their right to enter the right turn lane as I proceed straight through the intersection. Cars ALWAYS end up blocking the bike lane as a result. Today, a vehicle who knew I was approaching, stopped short of the bike lane to allow me to go straight before entering the right turn lane. That was nice. I waved and said thank you.
Almost the exact same thing happened to me on the way in this morning. I tried out riding in the bike lane instead of the urban trail that parallels the road. (much much smoother btw)
At one of the intersections, a car wanting to move into the right turn lane, paused after passing me to let me go by. They were already ahead of me, so I gave them a big smile to show my appreciation for paying attention and waved them across.
Isn't it nice to know not ALL the drivers are out to kill us?
