How Was Your Commute Today?

[WolfGirl]

Biked 5.6 miles each way to a new yoga class. Bike paths were crowded but the east wind on the lake path wasn't as bad as it often is. Man, I'm out of shape though...my legs were really tired after the final uphill home. (That's what I get for living on one of the highest hills in town; a fun finish! )

@lph ! on the bike-shorts guy!

[Melalvai]

I’ve learned my lesson: wait for the unsure drivers when turning left

How common are instances like this?

How annoying. Sounds like you performed your left turn correctly, but you are right, we have to watch out for other drivers, whether we're on a bike or a car.

I try not to engage during those encounters. I find it unbearably rude, whether it is someone who is honestly trying to be helpful or someone honking or cursing at me. I report the latter to the Motorist Contact Program. For the former, if it is a stranger, I have learned to ignore them completely. If it were a friend or acquaintance, I explain kindly that studies have shown that the sidewalk is the most dangerous place to ride, and that I'm at greater risk of injury or death in a car than on a bike. Once they realize I've put a lot of thought into my selection of the road, they realize that they weren't being helpful.

It really bothers me when people feel compelled to speak to me, helpfully or otherwise, even though they don't know me. It took a long time before I learned that I don't want to interact with those people. There is a limited repertoire of things that are ok to say to a total stranger and they mostly consist of "It's a nice day to ride".

[7rider]

File this one under, "Well, isn't that ironic."
Today, our Bike Team hosted a "Fix-a-Flat Lunch and Learn" for folks. We had about 8 folks come to learn about tire care - how to prevent flats and fix them if you get them. Then we had some hands-on work on your own bike or wheel, or one of ours.
So...I went to my locker at 11:20 to get my bike to walk it up the street to the conference room, and...lo and behold...it had a flat!
Got lots of ribbing from our seminar speaker and looks of amazement from folks about my "skinny tires." Geez, ladies...they're 25's! I guess lots of our participants ride mountain bikes.
So...I fixed my flat with a brand new tube - doing just about everything wrong with my tire iron that Jim had just said not to do and put the bike back in the locker for my ride home, later. I'm 3/4 mile from home and I start to feel every crack in the sidewalk I must ride up. I stop. Grab the wheel. Soft! Drat. That brand new tube is leaking! I get home...and sure enough, there's a deformity in the tube with a pinhole in it, and it's leaking. This one got a patch and it's back in the tire.
I hope I get through tomorrow's ride with no flats!

[lph]

Despite telling anyone who will listen about the importance of having enough changes of clothing at work to be a successful bike commuter, especially a change of unfavourite underwear you rarely use just in case, I still managed to miss it today.

I hate going commando under jeans

[e.e.cummings]

I hate going commando under jeans

I did that a couple of weeks ago - hate it too! Actually, my one saviour that day was having extra panty liners in my bag, so I stuck that directly onto my pants. Commando-lite...

[e.e.cummings]

My commute was great the past couple of days since I rode in a monsoon. My shoes finally dried out. Today was my easiest, best average speed day yet, with the wind at my back. It's Friday!

Ended up behind Sir Tokes-a-lot again rollerblading to work - by his shirt he works at a Home Depot-like store. Hope driving a forklift is not part of his job. Ride behind him for a while and get a cheap buzz!

[lph]

I did that a couple of weeks ago - hate it too! Actually, my one saviour that day was having extra panty liners in my bag, so I stuck that directly onto my pants. Commando-lite...

Yah... I was out of those too.

At least I did have jeans, and didn't have to spend the day wearing muddy bike shorts!

[ColoKate]

lph - I had an underwear mishap today as well. Changed out of my dri-fit top into a blouse and realized my hot pink bra was very visible underneath Luckily it's Friday and this jersey has a polo collar so I'm pretending it was intentional LOL.

[lph]

w00t!

[7rider]

I had my closest encounter ever with the wrong side of a pick-up truck today!
I had to go to the LBS after work. There is a main drag that runs east/west right in front of my office. I needed to go west on that for a bit, then hop down into the park and circle over to the shop. But, as usual for this time of day, the west-bound side of the road was packed with cars....a total parking lot. So, I crossed over and headed east for a block. I can take the next right, cut behind a shopping plaza and drop into said park a bit lower and still get to the shop easily. I took that right...the road was pot-holed and torn up with construction, so I'm basically riding slowly, picking my way through the junk, and in the middle of the lane. Head down to find my line. A pickup comes up behind me, passes me, and starts turning right in front of me, into the shopping plaza's parking lot.
I start yelling. The guy continues. I'm more or less held up by the side of his truck and turning with him into the lot. There was no way or time to stop and avoid him. Thankfully, it all happened very slowly and he didn't cut the corner TOO much, as I had a good inch and a half of ramp to go up - rather than hitting the curb. I'm screaming bloody murder at the guy...cursing a blue streak. The jerk had a passenger in the seat not 2 feet from my cursing mouth! The window was open and he had an arm out the window, enjoying the afternoon sun. He's ignoring me. Un. Be. Leivable!
The truck drives away. I ponder giving chase and giving the jerk a piece of my mind, but honestly, I didn't want to tangle with two guys in a truck. I pull a U-y out of the lot and continue on my way, knees shaking from adrenaline, head shaking in disgust.
And the kicker of it is...I had an office laptop computer in my Arkel commuter bag to bring home so I could take it on my trip on Sunday. My co-worker said before I left, "You're on your bike today? You're bringing the computer home on your bike? Don't crash!"

[lph]

What were they THINKING?! Glad you made it ok, that could have turned out a lot worse!

[e.e.cummings]

Just bought a pair of Keen sandals for my commute. After Wednesday's downpour my soul pair of bike shoes were soaking wet for two days - did not realize how dependent I was on them until I had to ride without them. Went to MEC and found a pair today. They are very comfortable! I should have thought of this before - I have killer bunions and these accommodate them a lot better than my Sidis.

[redrhodie]

Just bought a pair of Keen sandals for my commute. After Wednesday's downpour my soul pair of bike shoes were soaking wet for two days - did not realize how dependent I was on them until I had to ride without them. Went to MEC and found a pair today. They are very comfortable! I should have thought of this before - I have killer bunions and these accommodate them a lot better than my Sidis.

When my shoes get wet, I'll stuff them with newspaper, change it once during the day, and they dry really fast.

[bunny_ninja]

The ride in yesterday was incredible. I had to go into work really early and the sun hit things in such a beautiful way.

Ride home... sucked! Flat tire - a tenth of a mile from work. Then I got kind of low blood sugar, hungry, and was dehydrated for the rest of the way.

A jerk on a mountain bike with a messenger bag turned onto the road I was on - cutting me off badly (he ignored a stop sign) and proceeded to ride on the sidewalk. And then he got to the next intersection and pushed the walk light button!

Shortly after - an idiot driving 20 in a 30 (I was faster) cut me off! No turn signal of course. I had to slam the brakes so hard that I had the rear wheel skid forward. I was able to remain on the bike (no fall or collision)

[bunny_ninja]

Oh and here is a bit of bike snobbery from the BF... we do engage in the snobbery a little.

from text messages:

him: Just saw someone on a carbon fiber Cervelo with mountain bike handle bars. WTF?

Me: What a waste!

Him: Might as well put training wheels on it.