Got out the door 1 1/2hr late! My alarm clock wasn't being cooperative for some reason. Was only an hour late getting in though. Being PO'd shaved 10 minutes off of my usual time.....

eta- passed a guy on an x-mart MTB that had a gasoline motor on it (even gave him a friendly wave/nod). I was traveling at about 22-23 mph (see above about being PO'd) and happy to pass him because of the stink of the exhaust (and he was weaving in the bike lane).

He tried to get on right behind me (can you believe it?) but I continued pulling away. About a mile later I hear him increase the throttle and he finally passed me just so he could cut across three lanes to get in a LH turn lane.......

Near the top of a climb this morning, I turn a corner and come upon this:



This one was a bull and there were two cows with him. They must have gotten loose from a nearby ranch.

Got stung by a bee, on the jaw bone just under my left ear lobe. Had to use my Epi-Pen. No anaphlaxis or other effects, but now my face and right thigh are sore. If I can avoid being stung on the way home tonight, I should be okay.

do you have another epi-pen for the ride home?

I have one at home. I think I should be okay. I'll be riding directly home and the chances of getting stung on city streets is pretty low (this morning's sting was along the river path where there are a lot more plants and bugs).

It's only 32C/89.6F, but the humidity is up there in the 80%+ range. Wasn't pushing it today, but that didn't keep the sweating under control. Just too hot, frankly not fun. Even started feeling a bit lightheaded.

that feels good but isn't?
I work for a comunity outreach organization, our main client base is what most would call bums. As such we have to be based in downtown. My daily ride takes me thru an area that makes most people uncomfortable at best. City council is trying to change this thru renewal projects, converting warehouses into desirable apts etc. there are 4 streets that i have to cross downtown that are alternating direction one way streets the best way I have found to scoot thru is on the covered alleys between streets. Usually there is little to no pedestrian traffic when i ride in. This morning was one of those mornings where everything felt PERFECT I am hitting a good (for me) average speed, I feel great no hassels from anything. Where i go between the center 2 of these 4 streets there is a small round table right in the middle of the walk. Both market and main are being restored to their original brick pavers so they are closed in those blocks. I.E. no cars, the down side is there as a 6 inch drop to the street fron the handicap ramps. When i went past this table there was one of our regulars and a well dressed man sitting and talking about of all things the price of a bag of pot. the better dressed man got up and came toward me in a a rather threating manner, my response was to stand on the pedals and get past fast as i could. when i reached the end of the covered walk way i was going way to fast to do anything but jump the drop to the street. Imagine my surprise at landing in front of a police cruiser on a closed street. My reaction probably looked comical to the officer because he did not chase me or call out. However I leaned into the car barely cleared it and wobbled off down the block LOL. about 2 hours later he came to talk to me at work about what i had witnessed in the alley. turns out the man was arrested by him with some quantity of drugs either on his person or in a car?? Unclear there. Mainly he was advising me to alter my route for awhile. I believe it is time to add some distance to the commute myself. this has to be the wierdest commute ever! Even beats the encounter with the amourous couple.

My Vega headlight seemed loose and wobbly, so I went to tighten it with a pair of pliers and snap! the black screwhead cracked, so I jerry-rigged it with a shoelace. It's a quick fix that survived tonight's ride home. Nice summer night, not a lot of traffic

On the ride home tonight I pulled up behind a car with Colorado plates at a stop light. The car was sitting squarely in the center of the lane with its right turn signal on. There were plenty of chances to go right on red, but the car sat there until the light turned green. The light is one that won't change unless the sensor is tripped. I think the driver saw me coming up behind and sat on the sensor to turn the light for me. Thanks, whoever you are!

A very nice morning, still wet from the thunderstorms in the area and the rain. Temp is still wonderful 70 F ( 21 C). However another sign of the approaching darkness, street lights along the way that go off in the later dark hours, are still on as of this morning.

I dont get to ride today, have to go to the dentist and have a tooth pulled. Dam I hate dentist.

Sounds exciting.

No drug dealing or police encounters for me. But OMG is it humid. 90%, and 70 degrees. I'll try to remember this when I'm riding in January and it's below zero.

I awoke feeling like a zombie. About 2 miles into my commute, a guy on a road bike pulled onto the MUP ahead of me and was doing 15MPH so I stayed behind him. About a mile later I spotted something red reeling us in, but resisted the urge to bolt. Nice guy on a Specialized. He slowed up and said hi. We discussed the humidity, then he took off ahead of us.

So the guy I was following tries to chase the fast roadie. I stopped at a stop sign so they gained ground on me, but we all wound up about 150 yards apart, pedalling along at 20MPH. I just had no energy at all to begin with, so now I'm a bit wrecked.

Cool but not cold. Beat a pending storm by about 10 minutes.

Somewhere some redneck in a green Dodge is bragging about how he kicked some cyclists' ass going uphill...

It's amazing how one morning the roads are fine and the next they are chewed up into dirt. However, I am looking forward to road construction being completed and having some nice smooth surfaces to ride on in the fall.
I took the little pads out of my helmet last night and gave them a good rinsing, so no smelly helmet on the ride in today, YAY!

I ride down the main transit corridor for about 6-7 blocks in the midst of my commute, and this is really the only portion of my ride that i may consider changing as the darkness returns, for similar reasons as you mentioned in your post. There's one guy in particular, a very large, burly bear of a man who seems to walk down the transitway (in the bike lane) at about the same time every morning with a couple of fellow ---emm, use your own preferred verbage here --- <<homeless>> guys. I give them plenty of room as I pass, but the big dude seems to have an aggressive air about him. He typically looks at me as if he is on the verge of lurching at me and knocking me off my bike, or something like that. Did I mention he is a big dude? as in, 6'6 and at least 300 lbs. Anyway, I try to give him his space, but it is a bit unnerving.

That said, this morning's ride in was uneventful and delightfully chilly. I did have a bit of a slow wake-up this morning, as I allowed myself to consume a wee bit too much wine last night.

I hit a side view mirror w/ my shoulder. Oops!

Happened to get on the elevator with my boss this morning. He asked me what route I take and he seemed amazed that I survived the trip down L Street. Perceived risk v. actual risk.....

SE Michigan report.....65 and somewhat humid today. Clear with little wind so still happy cycling. Definitely noticing that it stays dark a lot longer (I leave the house at 5:30 am)

I'm thinking I'm going to commute up until about middle to end of September... Today was the 13th time I've ridden in to work.

Accidentally on purpose?

Accidentally. I ducked under, but pulled back up to early and hit it w/ the back of my shoulder.

It was so nice and warm this morning, 67 degrees at 6:30 am, just gorgeous. Rode through some huge sprinklers on the way to work too - always fun when it's warm. Not so much when it cools off (city property auto sprinklers).

Had interesting encounter with a jaywalker yesterday evening. I took a right at a green light onto Stewart St, a busy main thoroughfare into the city 3 traffic lanes, including a bus lane plus a parking lane. I was the only one on the street in far left lane at that point. As I finish my turn I see a guy sort of glance over his shoulder and step right out into the middle of the street w/out looking - his back was to me. He started walking quickly from the right to left without hesitation. As I'm getting closer, instead of taking a straight line across the street which would have resulted in him passing behind me, he decides to veer down the left lane at an oblique angle. I started yelling, "hey, hey, hey!!!" as I approached while slowing down. No reaction at all. Then I realized he was wearing an iPod. Totally oblivious. I continued yelling even louder and he didn't hear me until I was only about 3' away (still in the left auto lane walking down the street). He jumps like he was just shocked I was there, never mind the traffic coming up behind us, then yells at me, "Calm down man!" Or something similar. I just made the crazy gesture and kept on going...

Yes it is illegal to walk down the middle of the street when there is a sidewalk available.
Yes it is illegal and one forfeits the right of way to oncoming traffic if choosing to jaywalk.

Did I mention he is a big dude? as in, 6'6 and at least 300 lbs. Anyway, I try to give him his space, but it is a bit unnerving.

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Kinda hard to remember in that situation that you actually have the advantage. Speed and mobility beats large and slow anytime. easier to remember, for me anyway, how much falling hurts

Between weather and needs to carry more then I could on the bike I have had to drive the last few days. Today despite the chance of Rain I rode.

I work just past a College and they started back this week. Today was my first ride with the new freshmen. Damn they drive like crap! Hate this time of year. Clears up once they finish this semester and about 30% drop from failing grades.

Ride home traffic was horrendous from the School but I get to glide past it in the bike lane. One twit not watch had to wake her up with the Airzound. Haven't used it once all summer and used it twice today.

Almost past the college and watched a car wreck happen IN the bike lane right in front of me by about 100 ft. 1st car trying to turn right the same direction I am going. They pulled up and stopped right in the bike lane so I am about to have to stop or take the car lane to get around them. Idiot behind them was trying to merge and not watching in front of them hit full throttle to beat me thinking the other driver had gone and WAM! right into the other car.

Very nice weather this morning- I was a little groggy, though. I worked until 10:15 lastnight, then awoke this morning at 6:30 to ride in and work 8-4:30. Riding home was uneventul, passed some cars stuck behind another motorist trying to make a left turn, then they all caught up with me.