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Veronica
09-28-2005, 05:45 AM
Nothing is ever simple...

This is what Thom had to say about his first day commuting.

Woo Hoo!

One of the bennies of this new gig at Lonely Planet is that they run a
van from the BART station to the office, I am now a member of the
commute-on-the-bike crowd. Yesterday was my inaugural 12 mile ride to
the local station, 45 minute train ride, van 7 blocks to work. It was
an adventure.

I put a Wald basket on the front of my Rivendell, but it blocks any
handlebar mounted head light and crowds the hood, so I'll probably get
rid of it. My bike goes into a locker at the train station and the
locker is narrow at one end, so rear racks may not work. I'll have to
look at panniers maybe. A test of the flashlight as a head light
worked great. Much better than a couple of puny Cat Eyes.

I learned that cell phones don't belong in Bento Boxes. While doing 5
mph on a sidewalk (connecting sections of the multi-use path), I hit a
small bump and dropped the phone. Just like in the movies, time
slowed down. I heard it hit the ground and looked over to see it
bouncing along in the street. I thought, "No problem. It'll stop up
against the curb and I won't get run over as I pick it up." At that
precise moment, out of the corner of my eye, I see the unthinkable - a
storm drain. "Clack, clack, plop!", went the phone as it went into
the storm drain. No rain here, so the drain is lined with leaves
instead of water. I looked in to see the phone nestled gently in a
pile of leaves, showing only one corner of the screen. With no tools
to reach down into the drain and no time to me[I]ss around with it, I had
to leave it.

I learned that multi-use trails can be a hazard. Those early morning
strollers just are not expecting my neon yellow clad, bell ringing
body to go zooming by. I had one couple, walking on opposite sides of
the 15 foot wide path, decide to come together, hold hands and sing
Kumbaya as I passed between them. OK, I made up the Kumbaya part, but
they did try to get me to run them over. I didn't hit them, so no
harm, no road kill.

After ordering a new cell phone at work, coming home started badly. I
stepped onto the platform to see the waiting train looking kind of
full. My brain says, "Hmm, nobody on the platform. It's probably
been here a while. Quick, get on this crowded car before it leaves.
You can move to a new car at the next station." Good plan brain. What
it should have said was, "Read the sign to see where it is going..."
So my plan to change cars at the next station became a plan to change
trains to come back and get on the right train.

I checked in on my cell phone and it was still waiting in the leaves
in the drain. I didn't pick up any tools at work, so I still had no
way to recover it. Maybe I can retrieve it this weekend.

All in all, a great time. I save money and get in some miles.

-thom


Do you know how much a replacement cell phone is? I have cashmere that costs less!


V.

Trek420
09-28-2005, 06:46 AM
Veronica "Do you know how much a replacement cell phone is? I have cashmere that costs less!"

if you're past your contract date or anywhere near it's usually free with a new 1 or 2 year term agreement regardless of provider. With Cingular you'd need a new SIM chip if you've lost the phone.

If you still have the old phone just pop in the chip an voila, your numbers are all there.

if you're mid contract and just need to fork out for the new phone, best prices I've found are Circuit City, next probably Costco, I refuse to go to Walmart. Cingular has some "online only" offers if you're nice to the rep they will match if you call.

now....tell me about this flashlight deal. You mean I can use a flashlight? How do I mount that? I have 2 tiny Cateyes now, inadequate as days get darker.

Veronica
09-28-2005, 07:14 AM
Thanks for the phone info.

I'll ask Thom tonight about the flashlight thing. We've got this wicked bright light. I refused to take it to the bathroom when we were camping because it was so bright. And of course I'm blanking on the name of it.

V.

Trekhawk
09-28-2005, 07:18 AM
Veronica - thanks for posting this its given me my first laugh of the day.

I love the part about the train - that would have been me too. Panic train about to leave just get on. I will smile all morning when I think of this.

Tell Thom it was a great read and Im sure it can only get better. :)

aka_kim
09-28-2005, 07:59 AM
I had one couple, walking on opposite sides of the 15 foot wide path, decide to come together, hold hands and sing Kumbaya as I passed between them.Too funny! He should be writing for Lonely Planet.

Trek420
09-28-2005, 08:47 AM
Yeah! Then you could bike tour for a living

"yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again. And we both need another bike" :rolleyes: :cool: ;)

I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?

SadieKate
09-28-2005, 08:49 AM
"yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again" :rolleyes: :cool: ;)So, Veronica, any news about touring/racing other continents next year? Inquiring minds want to know.

MomOnBike
09-28-2005, 09:15 AM
Gee, that makes DH's commute seem so...tame. Of course, we were awakened this morning by a thunderstorm, but it cleared up enough that he rode this morning, anyway. That is, I think it cleared up. I'm not very smart until I've had a little time to wake up.


I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?

All good books need an index... (sez the indexer) :)

Veronica
09-28-2005, 09:36 AM
So, Veronica, any news about touring/racing other continents next year? Inquiring minds want to know.

Nothing yet about Tour D'Afrique.

Lonely Planet does have some cycling books - France, Australia, Ireland and North American west coast. They are a bit old.

V.

Trek420
09-28-2005, 10:29 AM
time to update the books! :) portfolio available on request as we say in the art trade.

Veronica
09-28-2005, 12:19 PM
Surefire light, the mount is a Twofish Cyclopblock. The mount is available
at nashbar.

V.

jobob
09-28-2005, 07:02 PM
Heh, I just got through reading this on the bob list and I was wondering if it would show up here ... funny story!

Veronica
09-29-2005, 06:40 AM
Yeah! Then you could bike tour for a living

"yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again. And we both need another bike" :rolleyes: :cool: ;)

I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?

Unfortunately their bicycle touring books haven't sold really well. That's why they haven't updated them. Now if each of you would go online and buy a set or two...


V.

Trek420
09-29-2005, 08:04 AM
Veronica "Unfortunately their bicycle touring books haven't sold really well. That's why they haven't updated them."

that's because they are not written/illustrated by the right people ;) Thanks for the flashlight/handlebar thingy tip, I'm looking into that.

Those lights look like they belong in the "how do you defend yourself" thread, too. :cool: