How Was Your Commute Today?

Good grief. Was gunning for a green light this afternoon, watching the crosswalk timer count down for peds with the light. A woman - pushing a baby stroller - came RUNNING out in front of me -- crossing against the light!! I slammed on my brakes, swerved, and yelled out to her. She pulled up and I passed through my green light. Thankfully, I wasn't in a car, or someone might have gotten hit. Geez, it's bad enough that peds completely ignore the crosswalks around here. But to throw your baby in harm's way like that. It makes my blood cold.

Worked late and didn't have my headlight on the bike. Rode home in the near dark and almost got wiped out by Mr. "Look, Ma, No Hands" Guy. I've never seen him use his handlebars. I wish he would look where he is going. I think I need to find my light charger.

Deb

The bike is feeling much better to ride after some much needed maintenance (brake adjustments and pumping up the tyres). Much of central city Christchurch is starting to get back to normal - but I still need to take a couple of detours around the few cordons remaining in place after the earthquake. The days have also got noticeably lighter during the two weeks I had to work from home - didn't need the lights in either direction today.

Rode to work today for the first time in... sahfdljafdklfhd (mumbling because it's been WAY too long). ;)
Had a great dark commute in. I can't wait to ride home and stop by the grocery store for some apples. Yum! :)

Rode to the LBS that moved to a very difficult-to-bike-to location for the Women's Wrenching Class, only to be told it had been postponed and nobody had let anyone know. Grrr. Not only are they nowhere near the bike path, but they are on one of the most dangerous corners in town. My whole day has been frustrating. This just was the icing on the cake.

Deb

I had to be in early for the rats, and I got my downlow glow on. It is beautiful. I did not have room for my rain pants, because I had put my basket on my daughter's bike so she could bike to school, since the car is going to the shop today. Her backpack is so heavy it's hard to bike wearing it, and it's even heavier right now because she has a lot of homework to make up from the 2 days she was sick.

When she called frantically just as we were finished with the rats, because her chain had come off and she couldn't get it back on, it was raining. I raced across town to catch up with her, fixed her bike, and accompanied her the rest of the way to school to sign her in since she was late by then.

I feel pretty bad that she has to bike to school in the rain while she's still getting over a cold. :(

It was getting late but I thought I might still get a short swim in. But even the indoor pool closes when there's thunder. Something about it not being grounded.

Back at work I changed into a dry shirt but my pants were cold and wet. I cursed my foolishness at not having brought and worn my expensive and highly effective goretex rain pants. But within an hour they had dried enough that rain drops showed up on them when I walked across campus.

Now I'm waiting to hear back on what is wrong with the car and how much it will cost, and I will bring the rain pants tomorrow, therefore it will NOT rain because this goretex stuff is magical that way!

I got a flat a few miles from the end of my evening commute. It was one of those where the tire is just suddenly dead flat, nothing gradual about it. So, I changed the tube, and am about to pump with CO2 when a lady pulls up in a car to see if I need help. I thank her, and tell her I have everything I need. Well, oops, I didn't know my tube would pop out of the tire when I was filling it. Good thing I had another cartridge. I deflate and check to make sure it's well seated, and I don't see anything weird, so I use the other CO2. Oops again! Same thing, the tube popped out of the tire opposite the valve.

That was my last cartridge :o. Before I start my 3 mile walk, I decide to call my mechanic to see what I did wrong. He figured it out, and offered to come get me (with a tube, cartridge, or ride to my car), since they were closing, and I was on his way home. Aren't my lbs guys the best?!

I said yes, and while I waited (walking my bike) a man pulled up and offered me a ride, which I declined. I'll only do that if there's no other alternative. Then another man pulled up, and offered me a pump, which he had in his trunk! This I accepted. He even pumped it for me! I rode the rest of my ride, and called my shop guy to say I was okay.

I feel so human! Days like this make me see how good people can be. It's nice.

Wow!
You're so Popular!


Rode early, really nice to go before the sun was glaring over the hills.

Rode home late, rode like a fiend to break away from some of the bad stuff at work. It was clouding up and almost starting to rain. Wonderful.

wow, Red- that's quite a ride home. What a GREAT LBS guy!!!

Wow, Red, I want your lbs! :D

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

wow, Red- that's quite a ride home. What a GREAT LBS guy!!!

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I know! I need to do some baking. It's been a while since I brought them anything, and they're due for several reasons.

I'm still high from the kindness of strangers. I know this is how it's supposed to be, but it still amazes me that anyone would stop to help, never mind 3 people in just a few minutes. It's nice to be reminded that not all car drivers view us negatively. I suspect they were all cyclists. The man who pumped my tire told me about having 3 flats in one day while doing the MS150.

Wow Red, so great to hear that there are nice people out there. I have yet to get a flat tire and I dread the day it happens. I somehow always forget my bike pump. I carry the spare tube though :)

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Originally Posted by MyRubyE

Wow Red, so great to hear that there are nice people out there. I have yet to get a flat tire and I dread the day it happens. I somehow always forget my bike pump. I carry the spare tube though :)

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Oh, don't dread it! Flats are fun. Even when it doesn't go according to plan, it's an adventure. As long as you have a cell phone and can call for help, you're golden.

Friday I needed to buy a cheap item from a store far away. I could get most of the way there via the public transit systems of two counties - but I was too cheap to pay to ride a third county's public transit. Or maybe it was a temperature well above 80F, as I like it. Or the long, flat, straight, wide roads passing endless light industrial complexes. So I brought my nearly new Dahon folder and rode a 26 mile loop to the afore mentioned store.

On the way back I was zooming along on a barely perceptible downgrade with a slight tailwind. I was just about to slow down and relax a bit. Then the greyhound in me saw a rabbit about a quarter mile ahead and gave chase. In reality it was more of a tortoise - a guy on a mountain bike riding very slowly. In no time at all, I flew passed him.

Soon thereafter, I saw a red light up ahead. I coasted a long ways and then stopped at the intersection. Two seconds later, I heard another bike stop next to me. It wasn't who I expected - instead it was a guy on a road bike. Mr Roadie said he had been riding at 28 MPH to catch up with me! :eek: (Before the light changed, Mountain Man rolled up - he must have picked up the pace after being "chicked" and "roadied".)

Mr Roadie and I road in tandem for a mile or two and chatted. I discovered that my nice sustainable pace is around 18 to 20 MPH. On the folder. :cool:

(Note to self: Get a computer for the Dahon!)

:-D hehe, nice going on a folder!