How Was Your Commute Today?

[lph]

The past few commutes have been interesting. (As in mildly interesting, in a season where commuting is otherwise pretty sucky.) Monday evening was my big car-accident-and-licence-plate-encounter. I'm still waiting for the police to call and ask for more details. I mean, here they have this star witness and don't how to use it??

Yesterday's ride to work I see flashing lights plus a cyclist a couple of hundred metres ahead and my heart sinks. Turns out it's just a cop on a motorbike directing traffic manually, and a cyclist stopped to chat with him. Some kind of police exercise because Obama's coming to town soon. So I stood there and chatted to the cyclist, laughing about how we were really helping out with the visibility with all our blinky lights flashing, until the mock presidential entourage had rolled by and we were free to go.

Next I get a fright in that one scary roundabout. Large trucks often come down off the highway on my right quite fast, and they seem to have trouble noticing cyclists, seems like they look right over our heads for bigger things. So I'm always careful there, but today I honestly was in the roundabout well ahead of the truck. He didn't brake at all though, as if I wasn't there, and I ended up having to "scoot" in front of him. I wasn't really dangerously close, but I don't do that scooting thing. You fall, you die...

(Non-commuting - but lunchtime was spent out on a kayak in the sun )

And on my way home I run into a colleague who left early to go to the dentist, also on his way home. He's bonked and is about to fall off his bike, so I drag him to the nearest gas station and fill him up with banana, pastry and coffee. In the meantime the temperature drops, I'm getting cold 'cause I was sweaty, and the road starts getting icy. So we carefully pick our way home on slick roads. brr.

And today it's raining. Again.

[Tri Girl]

lph- I get so cold just reading your commute reports. Makes me feel like a major wimp when I don't ride because it's in the 20's (that would be -3 C). People who live in cold climates are just so much tougher and hardier than I am. I tip my hat to you!

Then again, cold climates in winter mean cooler in summer and it almost always means beautiful scenery. I suppose there are trade-offs.

[lph]

People who live in cold climates are just so much tougher and hardier than I am.

No-no. We just spend exorbitant amounts of money buying excellent bike clothes At least some of us do.

Cold really isn't hard to "dress out", not before you get down to temps where your bike starts complaining. Rain is the worst! Cold rain just above freezing is the hardest weather to dress for. By comparison there's not much you can do about heat... I just wilt when it gets hot.

[redrhodie]

Boy, lph, that sounds like enough drama for one week!

I had a wet commute today. It was just misty this morning, so I rode my white bike, but it was drizzling tonight. My poor baby (bike) got all gross. So much effort to keep her clean and free of rust. At least it was warm.

Actually, today was the first commute in a while that I had no drama. I was ready for it, with the holiday tomorrow. Seemed like everyone was heading to the liquor stores (I pass 4 on my commute), but no one cut me off or threw anything at me. All good!

Have a great trip. pfunk! Hope you got all the kinks worked out!

[pfunk12]

Thanks so much, redrhodie! I went to work for a few hours today to finish some last minute tasks. Picked up my passport with visa and remembered my ATM pin number on the first try this morning. I have no idea what was going on yesterday. I think I was too stressed and my brain was working overtime and I just couldn't remember those darn numbers. Now I just have to pack and I'll be good to go. I'm excited !

Have a great trip. pfunk! Hope you got all the kinks worked out!

[blackhillsbiker]

Really cold this morning. And my chain slipped off in front. Sigh. Still, it went back on after a few minutes (probably would have helped if I took the claw mittens off but my hands were freezing). Got to work and my boss was standing at my desk waiting for a file. Never a good sign. Tonight was late. We had the community Thanksgiving service with a music practice at 6, so I didn't go home first. I left my bike in DH's office at the church. Rode home about 8:30. Cold, but uneventful and very beautiful ride tonight. I'm glad this work week is over! There is a glass of wine in the kitchen with my name on it. Happy Thanksgiving!

Deb

[7rider]

Very nice moonrise tonight. High, thin clouds of an incoming front made for some pretty cool sights.