Just a beautiful ride this morning.

In the USMC its mandatory for all Motorcyclists and Bicyclists to wear reflective vests... Everyone else hated em'... I never had much of a problem with them....

Maybe that's why it seems natural to go ahead and wear one for me...the Air Force required it, too, so that's what I'm used to seeing!

Woke up late again today, thought twice about driving, but didn't. It was a beautiful ride in. People really do seem to be very thoughtful and considerate and ~aware~ of me, which is nice! I don't trust it to continue, exactly, so I'm trying to be vigilant, but it's nice that while I'm watching them like a hawk they're being kind.

I got to do the car-people a favor, also...there's one intersection that's notorious for only giving a green the way I'm going after loooong intervals. When I pulled up there were two cars that had been waiting for a while, so rather than just sitting in line with them, I wielded my Bicyclist Super Power and went to the sidewalk and hit the pedestrian cross walk button. Voila, like magic, the cross-traffic's light turned yellow then red and we all got to go. :D

:lol: I hadn't phrased it that way, but that's my theory, too -- gangly white guys riding the streets of Shanghai on folders with blinky lights while wearing helmets get noticed.

Hello all,
My commute is 14 miles round trip, and I have been doing it for a few months now, just getting back onto the bike after a few year hiatus. Used to do bike delivery/courier work a few years ago. My route goes through a park that runs by a canal on the way downtown (Columbia,SC). On the way in this morning I saw a strange sight on the canal. Usually, there are a bunch of turtles hanging out sunning on pieces of logs, stumps in the water, etc. Well, this stump was sitting erect in the water, and the top of it had been weathered down to sort of a point. On top of this pointed stump, perfectly still and balanced, was a turtle, with all appendages out stretched (think Superman style) catching some rays. I really wish I had taken a picture, it was nutty looking.

Otherwise, it was not bad, the weather and humidity here is deadly in the summer, but I wore my messenger bag, lightly packed, instead of my typically stuffed backpack (I am a student), so the back wasn't too sweaty.

Joey French

Gotta wonder if the turtle really MEANT to be there? :eek: :lol:

Speaking of turtles, I confirmed that there actually are turtles in Turtle Pond in Central Park. I was stunned. OK, back to your commutes.

I've discovered that wearing SPD shoes at work will constantly remind you of your patiently waiting bike, and will slow down time at the office by a factor of 5.

It's Friday, that already slows time by a factor of 5....

*looks longingly at bike*

Ah, that could be it.... but I have no doubt that the SPD shoes don't help. Neither does the gorgeous weather, the massive tailwind I'm going to have on the way home, or the guy playing the bagpipes across the street from my office :D


Edit: Oops. A glance at the flags outside indicate a massive HEADwind...

Deer story is wonderful!, Thanks for that.

The joy of Living south of Lake Michigan and having to commute North to work and South to get home.... You get the wind coming OFF the lake in your face in the morning, and you get the wind rushing TOO the lake in your face in the eavening... At least it keeps you cool :D

How do you get the post to look like the ones above where the message you are responding to is included in you space?? Can someone es-plain it to me?

Click on the "reply with quote" in the post you want to include in your post.

Thanks

So something very strange on my latest commute: a woman on a cheapish MTB with no brakes or brake levers. No, it was not a fixie or a single-speed - just your typical 18- or 21-speed bike. She was using soles of her feet to slow herself down. Weird.

Sir, I regret to inform you.... Your Daughter / wife / Significant other is dead... Because she was stupid :D

Wilma? Is that you?

Haha!

I saw a guy doing a similar thing the other night, maybe they ARE that couple :D

Had to ride home to be in time for my daughters arrival, felt great to break free of work and haul ass... until I got the wind in my face, bleh, hehe. It was stronger than yesterday, but meh, I just geared down and moseyed on through it - it happens. Good ride, yelled at an impatient female driver (I watched her behaviour over the course of 10 minutes) - the thing that caused me to yell was driving in MY bike lane directly in front of me, using it as a short-cut to get to her right-turn filter lane instead of waiting in line. I yelled from behind "GET OUT OF MY LANE" and as I passed her "THAT'S A BIKE LANE, YOU KNOW" and pointed to the lane :) Not so great, but it made me feel better.

I thought only Sactown drivers did this. The best time was when someone did this behind me and I slowed, slowed, slowed, eventually did a trackstand until the JAM caught the clue.

not to mention make you sound like a tap dancer all day.

I once did that. All the floors are smooth cement where I work, and some @*$&!(!*$&)!*%^(@*&$)~!(&$ had spilled water all over the floor. being the idiot that I am, I tried to walk across. Let's just say my hip was not happy with me after that.

There are now a great pair of tennis shoes waiting for me in a nice hiding spot right inside the door. :-D

I had a nice brisk 30 mile ride on the way home. Was a tad tired from the annoying wind and 90F temps. A few minutes after getting home I jumped in the hot tub with my son and a beer. Lets just say that the combination of an empty stomach and a nice ale did interesting things to my balance. :p
I haven't gotten that buzzed on one beer since I was 15. Egads! Almost fell asleep.
So heat+thirsty+empty stomach+ hot tub + strong ale = tipsy.

Coming home, I knew it was going to be hot-hot-hot (108?!) so I meant to leave early so I wouldn't have to rush, 'cause I had to be home and showered and out of the house by 5:30. Of course, I left 10 minutes later than I meant to (I hate myself sometimes) so didn't have time to take it slow. I had two water bottles with me, and I kept pouring the one on my clothes and that helped. I hit almost every light, made it home in the usual time, 2-minute cold shower, and made it to where I needed to be.

In other words, YAY! Biking is good.

YOU HAVE BIKE LANES! :eek: I'm Jelous! :D

I took the flat route home last night - MUCH better than Thursday's hills :D It was one of those really nice rides where everything just works in harmony - legs felt smooth, temperature was just right, even caught all the lights! And did I mention no fracking hills??

Heading out to a country market this morning - alas, not by bike, The Boy's mom is picking me up later - but it gives me a chance to scout the route for future biking :)