Originally Posted by
yarb
Yesterday was the anniversary of my worst day bike commuting, when I wiped out on ice in the a.m. and then got smashed by a car on the way home.
So just after leaving home, I took a right too fast and suffered a minor fracture to my arm.
Next December 22, I'm taking the bus.
Or maybe just stay home! Sucks about the arm, hope it heals soon.
Originally Posted by
irclean
I love climbing grades with ease that have cars slipping and sliding. Gotta love those studs! Had some fun in a deserted parking lot while showing off to my incredulous friends who think I'm nuts for riding my bike when I have a perfectly good car parked in the driveway. My retort was, "Maybe so... but none of you have this stupid grin on your faces like I do right now!" Not to mention the healthy glow of my ruddy cheeks and nose.
Damn straight. I commuted for several years by car in consistently icy conditions, and while I survived, I
never enjoyed it. Commuting by bike is so different than by car, they really aren't even comparable.
It's been single digits here all week (in Farenheit, that's -13 to -18 for you Canadians). Took advantage of the temperature inversion on Xmas to go into the backcountry and get a little elevation, climbed out of 2F and up to 22F. Skiing was meh, but the view was spectacular. Cafe was shockingly slow today, everyone must be full/broke from Xmas excess.
It looks like I'll be splitting the commute between school and work this semester, three to one and three to the other. The work commute is a paltry 5 miles round trip (compared to 15 miles round trip to campus), so those will likely double as XC ski days with the Lady. But I need to pay for this new 8-speed IGH, make enough for a White Industries ENO Eccentric flip/flop for the MTB by June (plus new handlebars, brakes, and tires; and a new wheelset, brakes, and drop bars for the 'cross bike by August), cover books and tuition for '11/'12, and raise enough to travel a bit before Fall semester next year.
Still, going back to work over this holiday break has reminded me of how much I prefer working to going to school. Stress is stress, and I work in one of the busiest restaurants in Anchorage, but with work the stress ends with the work day. With school, it ends with the semester.