Originally Posted by
noglider
I don't usually go to campus on Wednesdays, but I had a seminar to attend. On the way in, a woman pulled out from a stop sign without yielding to me on the street without a stop sign. She was holding her phone in front of her face, and I wonder if she was facetime'ing with someone. She was going through the motions of caution but not being cautious: she swung her head broadly left and right as if looking for danger but I was just a few feet away from her face in her driver's side window. She saw right through me. Occasions like these make me think I should practice slamming into cars that cut me off in a way that doesn't hurt me. Probably not a good idea, but fun to think about.
Other than that, I'm feeling quite strong on the bike in recent days and going harder for my health and happiness. Maybe the changes my fitter gave me help. I'm still riding with handlebars that are only 36 cm wide. My ideal size is 38 cm, still very small, and I have a set I plan to install. It's weird that it helps so much, if that's what is making the difference. I've made a few other small changes such as farther seat setback, more handlebar height, and shorter crank length.
I had this happen a month or two back, only it was on a bike ride in a rural area. It was dusk and I was barreling down this hill around a curve and this guy in a truck pulled up to a stop sign exiting the industrial park at 20 mph, no intention to stop, really. He looked left, directly at me with my bright, strobing headlight shining and wearing a fluorescent green jacket, then right, and kept right on going. I had to slam on the brakes to not hit him, and I yelled at the top of my lungs, right next to his door "HEYYY!" He made a sheepish look but avoided eye contact. I hope it registered that he almost took me out.
Originally Posted by
Darth Lefty
This has turned out to be a week dominated by kid schedules. I've still managed to ride
- Monday is normally my afternoon with kids. Girly had a softball practice.
- Oldest had an appointment, then a Scout meeting Tuesday.
- He was sick Wednesday and stayed home, which meant I had to go home at lunch to cover for SWMBO instead of the school bell.
- He's sick again today. Chemo kid has clinic this afternoon at the same time girly is rehearsing for the talent show. Oldest was supposed to be an MC for the talent show at the same rehearsal. So now we will be split three ways with wife taking one to clinic, respite worker minding the oldest at home, and me checking in on the girly at the school
- Tomorrow I have a 6am telecon. After that who freaking knows
Tough times, but your kids are still in the fun ages, it sounds like.
I feel sad sometimes too when I don't get to ride as much as I'd like, but I remind myself that these years will be missed later in life. I will have all the time I want to ride, but will not have kids any more. Already, I'm getting a taste of it, as my daughter has just turned 13 and turned into a know-it-all. The best years of her childhood are already gone.
Originally Posted by
BobbyG
So frustrated. Out of town guests, a heavy work schedule, weather, car maintenance, yard work and a middle-school music recital have reduced my commuting this week to one, one-way ride.
My main commuter, a 2015 Charge Plug is on the DL with a broken right brifter. I have the replacement, but have had no time to install it. I have three other bikes with fenders, and two of them have racks, but I want my main bike back up and running.
I took the '97 Rockhopper yesterday. The higher gearing I put on it when I bought it last fall was great!...but it just reminded me how much I want to put drop bars on it, but the Charge Plug repair awaits finishing before installing the drop-bars from my old MTB on the Rockhopper.
I'm not going to complain about the kid's music recital...that is a blessing.
Next week should be better.
Re. the drop bars on the Rockhopper, have you considered those Surly bars that are meant to simulate drop bars but don't require drop bar-style brakes/brifters? VeloOrange makes some too, I think.