I had another early shift today and got out at about 5:50 am, later than ideal for being ready for work at 6:45. I was sporting a new bike toy: a handlebar mounted mp3 player/speaker. Not sure how that plays as far as biker etiquette goes but it's a safe way to incorporate music into the commute, and I figure it can't be any more of a nuisance than a car that is blasting music -- You hear it for a moment then it goes away with the car/bike. And the volume wasn't really loud enough for anyone but me to hear it. The Hendrix long jam version of "Stone Free" from "Band of Gypsys - Live at the Fillmore East" goes great with a bike ride : )

Since I didn't get out early enough I took the shorter 10.5 mile route which has a little over two miles on streets. I was riding along when a driver coming the opposite direction threw something at me. Not sure what it was, but it was in many pieces and made a fairly loud popping noise when it landed. Nothing hit me but it's another reminder that cyclists have to deal with indiscriminate and impotent hostility from random gutless motorists. And in case anyone was wondering, the music was quiet at that moment so I can confidently declare the bike speaker did not inspire it (even if the music was louder the driver wouldn't have heard it). That aside it was another nice ride in and a great way to get the day started.