I lived in Chaska before coming to Northern Virginia in March. What I do here is what I learned from being the guy in the car with all the bikers that exist in MN. I wear, regardless of the light or weather, my little $9 bright green construction vest from Lowes. This helps to make sure I am seen. I ride on the roads here in VA and sometimes people are painting toes, texting, changing the IPOD song and eating all at the same time. There just is not enough attention left to watch the road. The green is my little insurance policy.

They would have to look up to see the big green man on the bike.

I've nudged cars once or twice. I suppose they felt it, although it was unintentional. Muhahaha.

I got to work (Abbott Northwestern hospital in Midtown) after riding in from Minnetonka on the trail and had two wood ticks on my left leg one morning a few weeks ago. One of them had already bitten in and was holding on, so I have to give a big shout out to the Freewheel Bike Center mechanic who sparked up the torch and heated up a needle-nose pliers for me to remove the tick with.

They are pretty much all attached to other animals by now.....


FWIW, you can ride year-round. Studded tires and a little stupid goes a long way. It's actually pretty nice to hit summer in-shape from commuting on studs.

Sounds like a bad idea to me. I'd be afraid they'd charge me with a hit and run...