Bleah, lousy commute home last night. Traffic around Times Square was nightmarish. Add to that the following: an obvious commuter (by dress and such) was going the wrong way through some of the most crowded traffic I've ever encountered on 45th St (so bad I hopped off the bike twice to walk!). I mutterred as the guy went buy "Dude, plenty of other streets that go the right way." Man did he get PISSED. I heard this whiny, angry voice behind me call out something along the lines of "Keep your opinions to yerself!". All I could think (but didn't say) was "Up yours, loser." Seriously, WTF? The guy created a situation that was dangerous to me.

The bad commute continued when I was nearly left crossed on Riverside Drive. I was going at a moderate pace, say between 15-20mph with a good, solid green light and this drive who is slowing down her car decides it's a good idea to make a left turn in front of me. Fortunately, years ago, I learend never to trust cars going slow enough to make a turn, so I was able to safely brake and yell out a surprised "Hey!". The #%@%er started cursing me out throug her sunroof (no kidding, she turned her head up toward it so I could hear). Another "WTF" for me. I am glad I get to ride my bike to and from work, but I was sorely disappointed by my (questionably?) fellow humans.

Ah, but this morning made up for it. Perfect weather, excellent light timings for the most part, polite and intelligent driving around me, and I felt GOOD and FAST. What more can I say? :) [Edit: I was buzzed once but the rest was so good I almost forgot!]

Polite and intelligent drivers do exist, and when we encounter them, doesn't it just brighten your whole mood? This morning, as I approached a left-turn at a four-way stop, the driver behind me stayed well behind me in anticipation of my move. I looked back, and signaled. In a nice response, the driver blinked his/her headlights. Aww! Such a little thing, but it made me smile. I wish there was a universal hand signal for "Thank you!", because I wanted to reinforce this good behavior. Anyone know one?

After some strong storms last night it was cloudy and a little foggy this morning. Had a pretty fast ride in, summer is still hanging on for all it's worth, another almost 90 day here.

I like to point at him, then segue to a thumbs-up. Or mime blowing her a kiss, if I think I can get away with it... ;)

My commute this morning was crappy. Literally crappy. There's this one point in my commute where a couple of days ago I noticed a large pile of what looked like... well... poo. I did NOT take a good look at it, just thought someone has a large dog and no manners.

Turns out it's no dog after all. This morning there were several piles. It looked almost surreal. What's more, there was this guy standing next to one pile, pulling up his trousers. I was concentrating on avoiding the piles but after I had passed them I looked back. The guy did not even seem like a hobo, but either he had just taken a dump in the middle of the street or I was on Candid Camera. Like I said, it was surreal.

I am contacting my local police deparment today. If it turns out NOT to be a candid camera gag, the next thing I do is call my representative in the parliament to ask for increased funding for mental hospitals.

--J

Blah! Just got back from a short camping trip where I brought my bike with me and only rode it back and forth to the bathroom and around the campsite. No bike trails where we were.

I must not have eaten enough yesterday b/c today, I felt like crap. Couldn't get into a rhyhm, breathing was labored and traffic sucked. Got honked at on 42nd St. by a TLC limo. But the weather's beautiful and I finally knocked back some coffee so I'm starting to feel human again. Noticed a couple more bikes locked up out front which makes a total of 5 commuters in my building, including me.

How was my commute today?

Froze my arse off, but otherwise good. :)

Heh, I do the kiss blowing thing too (never admitted to it before :D). I've used it sarcastically too with a "Who loves ya baby?!?" to with it. I like to give the peace symbol too, but only positively (i.e. not sarcastically)

...Got out of bed at 4:30am... it was 63 degrees (F) outside!!!

Holy Crap! I still wore a sweatshirt and shorts... was a great ride this morn

I had a similar situation to Oboeguy's last night. I was in Midtown, trying to take a left turn. I was taking the center of the lane like a good VC'er and trackstanding, waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic. Then my spidey sense starts tingling and I notice that on the right there's a car inching out into the middle of the intersection, just about to occupy the space I'm in. The driver is looking to her left, to the traffic behind me. I give her the look and yell out a sharp "Stop!" She looks up and shoots me the finger.

WTF, indeed.

I had a good commute, nice cool weather, lower 60's, maybe even higher 50's. I caught the stop light pretty good and the wait at the stop sign was much better than yesterday. And still the ride came in right around 10 minutes.

The ride home yesterday was again a battle against 30MPH head winds. It was nice and warm as a bonus!

This morning was around 36F when I left home. Skies were clear. Air was crisp. The smell of wood stoves reminded me that Fall is hear. Winter is just around the corner.

Back in town after a four day binge (I mean, vacation)... ;)
Today's commute was to West Campus to help out with the Duke Bike Advocates' free bike 'Fix-Up' this morning:

http://www.jackedinger.net/images/DBA_fix-up222.jpg

Took the long way home past the UN and along the FDR. Got slowed down by a COB (Crabby Old B!tch) that wouldn't move to the side and took up the whole footbridge at E78.

On a brighter note, I took a test ride of a Swift folder. Nice and light! I'm gonna start saving my pennies and redeem my bottles and cans.

...took a fall this morning. All my fault, thank goodness no one saw lol. My glasses were fogging up so I was getting off the road to stop and wipe them down. Hit some loose gravel and POOF, down I went. Just my pride was hurt.

Good ride to work and home . It is starting to get colder out at nite . But still a good ride . Have a good nite .

Foggy in Pittsburgh this morning as well. On the way home I saw a bike cop go up a one way street the wrong way, then ride on the side walk! Turned out he was rushing to a downed motorcycle cop who hit the front brake a bit too hard. They poor dude was just laying in the street like a beached whale. His BMI musta been 40. But then hey if I where him, I'd just lay there too. He was conscious and alert.

Yesterday was a great ride in OKC. The morning commute was super-nice weather (not too hot) and fast after I ran a couple of errands.

In the afternoon I rode a few miles to a local brewpub and a few, and then rode back for evening classes.

The ride home was pretty uneventful. I do have a better lighting system that i got this week which thus far is working out well. (using white LED's in the front and red LED's in the back)

A fine commute today. The summer refuses to go away - the mornings are cool, but I can get away riding in a short-sleeved jersey and shorts.

I left the house around 6:15 today - my first class is at 8:30 and the commute takes under an hour, but I wanted to get some swimming in before classes. And also I love riding early in the morning, when the sun is rising and the cagers are asleep. :) Had to roll through three red lights on my way - there were no cars around to trip the sensors up for me. Despite this I've been noticing a lot today (and generally lately) just how smoggy and smelly this city (and in particular the part I commute through) is. I have a feeling it's gotten worse just in the last couple of months which is rather strange, with the gas prices all going up. :)

Saw a total of about seven fellow bike commuters; not bad, given the part of town I bike in (the number would be larger around the downtown area). Most of them actually had lights too, which is unusual - my estimate is that only about half the bikers riding after dark in this town have any sort of lighting system. I guess people who ride around at half past six are dedicated commuters and hence have and use the proper equipment.

The weather people are promising us some thundershowers this afternoon.. perhaps I'll get soaked on the way back. Well, whatever happens, I surely do hope that I do not get another flat - I've had three in the last four days! What in the hell kind of miserable thing is that?!! Perhaps it's time to switch to Kevlar-belted...

Oh man. I felt like crap this morning but decided to go on in anyway. That made my little 2 mile commute seem a lot worse than usual. I've been feeling steadily worse as the day wears on. It should be a fun pedal home.

It's been an ideal week for commuting. Cool, dry mornings and moderately warm but less humid afternoons. Also, the showers they predicted for Tuesday never materialized. My legs feel fresh from my week off of the bike and my left knee is nearly completely recoverd. I've been on an Ibuprofin drip for the last 3 weeks to treat the bursitis in my shoulders. I also installed a new saddle last night (much better comfort and relief than the old one) and will install a cool, new Nashbar moustache handlebar either tonight or this weekend. I also need to put my fenders back on. I'll then be in full commuter mode. I hope this weather continues to hold.

Another cool commute. Added wind pants to protect my knees this morning. Much less knee pain. We have a WINTER STORM WATCH for this weekend. Friday's commute looks much cooler. Our low today is tomorrow's high temp.

It's headwind week here in Vermont, for me at least. I got headwinds in the morning. I got headwinds in the afternoon. I can't win. They keep shifting around on me during the day.

Although right now the forecast is for the wind to be at my back for the ride home. Fingers crossed.

Still summer-like!

I took the long way to work along the FDR and past the UN because aside from the usual junk I carry, I also had to bring in a laser printer cartridge, replacement box of oatmeal and other junk. Had to use my messenger bag because my backpack wouldn't hold all of it. Nice ride and hopefully a faster ride home since my load'll be a few lbs. lighter.

Saw 2 more bikes locked outside my bldg. today bringing the grand total up to 7. We only have two small bike posts that fit two bikes each so the other bikes were locked to a tree and a signpost. I wonder if building management will take note and install more bike posts.

Wow, no posts since my last post. Left work early and rode home quick. Parked my car on the other side of the street and saw a girl teaching a guy how to spin in place on his rollerblades using his heel and toe wheels.