I did a really stupid thing

[redrhodie]

Ha! I've almost done it, too! For me, it's the hat I wear under my helmet in the winter. Something on your head, so it feels normal!

Very glad it turned out well!

[Melalvai]

I do the ABC Quick Check but from now on I will add "helmet" to that check! That is a funny story, and I could entirely see me doing something just like that. In fact I used to come back to work all the time, about ten minutes after I left, to retrieve my helmet.

I guess I don't forget it anymore because I hang it on my handlebar when it's not on my head.

[Selkie]

I hope you made it home ok. Driving around here---with all the tall snow piles, icy patches, and big potholes---is difficult and will remain so until we have a lot more melt. I don't have that long a commute, but I've encountered disappearing lanes and reduced visibility at corners, particularly in Arlington (I drive). I can't imagine what it's like commuting by bike in DC proper.

[pfunk12]

I hope you made it home ok. Driving around here---with all the tall snow piles, icy patches, and big potholes---is difficult and will remain so until we have a lot more melt. I don't have that long a commute, but I've encountered disappearing lanes and reduced visibility at corners, particularly in Arlington (I drive). I can't imagine what it's like commuting by bike in DC proper.

Hey mickchick - I made it home last night without any incidents to report. I was expecting to have a rough commute but surprisingly it went well. Traffic wasn't that bad at all (and maybe it helped that I was expecting the worst?). And for the most part, the bike lane heading up 14th street was clear. I latched on to another cyclist and we rode together for quite a while. I really miss riding on the trail though. My 15 mile trail commute has been reduced to a 9.5 mile city commute. Even though it's much shorter, I still get home at the same time because of all the red lights and stop signs. I can't wait until spring .

[malkin]

Glad you're safe.

I could forget just about anything, and have done a double take on my seatbelt too.

[marni]

I'm glad you're ok but it just goes to show that habits, even good ones, are not really habits. The one time I forgot my cell phone and I had a severe fall. I doubt I will ever forget my cell phone again. Either that or I will invest in a "throw away" phone that will live in my bike bag. Personally I keep a list for helmet, gloves, tools, pump, water bottles, spare tire, road id ,wallet and cell phone next to my bike which I try to read through each time I go out. obviiously that one time my brain obviously blanked.

marni

[Selkie]

Glad you made it home safely. Thankfully, you found a compadre (safety in numbers)! Are drivers used to cyclists along your route?

I won't be riding outside until the snow is gone and we have a good rain to wash away all the chemicals/salt.

Potholes are really getting bad, both for cars and cyclists.

[pfunk12]

Glad you made it home safely. Thankfully, you found a compadre (safety in numbers)! Are drivers used to cyclists along your route?

I won't be riding outside until the snow is gone and we have a good rain to wash away all the chemicals/salt.

Potholes are really getting bad, both for cars and cyclists.

It seems as if drivers are used to cyclists on my route because I haven't had any incidents with any of them. I thought that my evening commute would be a nightmare because I'm doing 14th street most of the way home. The nice part about 14th is that there is a bikelane for several miles and that certainly helps. I really miss the trail but there's something to be said about cycling "with the people". There are a ton of traffic lights and when I stop, I get to people watch. Last night I gave a pedestrian a fist bump after he almost got hit by a motorist who slammed on his brakes - in the crosswalk - when he finally saw the red light. I joked with the pedestrian that I would have been his witness, gave him a fist bump and then he told me to have a blessed day - with a big smile on his face when he crossed the street. I was also offered free condoms last night around 14th and S. I assume the 2 young girls were volunteers with the Whitman Walker Clinic? They had 2 big bags and they were yelling, "FREE CONDOMS! FREE CONDOMS!" [I]That[I] put a smile on my face and no...I did not take any . So although my new city commute is interesting and sometimes a little stressful, I am really enjoying myself.
You're right about the potholes. Some are enormous! But I know where most of them are now.

[ginny]

I have done that once or twice. It's usually when it's super cold and I have extra things on my head (like a balaclava and hat and maybe goggles). You know, when it's extra dangerous to ride...

I have gotten into the habit of when I hop on my bike, I pat my head. I know I look silly, but helmets are my friends

[Pedal Wench]

I have gotten into the habit of when I hop on my bike, I pat my head. I know I look silly, but helmets are my friends

I do the exact same thing. Every time. *thunk*

[Owlie]

Wow!

I always do a mental checklist: phone, keys, gloves, helmet. (I'll know whether or not I'm wearing my glasses!). This was after I decided I was going to go out on the bike trail (involves driving) and realized about halfway there that I'd forgotten to put my helmet in the car.

[pfunk12]

Hey ginny - You and Pedal Wrench might look silly when you thunk your helmet to make sure it's there. But you didn't look as silly as me when you thunk your head (ouch) and your helmet is NOT there. I'm trying to picture what I looked like wearing only a balaclava and sunglasses.

[Wahine]

Ha! I've almost done it, too! For me, it's the hat I wear under my helmet in the winter. Something on your head, so it feels normal!

Very glad it turned out well!

I've done it before too. For the same reasons. The last time I did it, I realized half way through my commute and I was soooooooo nervous the rest of the way to work. I was equally nervous about going home and took a longer commute back to avoid any traffic.

[tangentgirl]

Wagging finger...yikes!

I got to see one of those helmet-probably-saved-him accidents firsthand on a ride this weekend. As it was, dude had a nasty bump and a cut and some memory loss, and I shiver to think about what it would have looked like if he hadn't been wearing his helmet. And it was just one guy who lost control of his bike after hitting a patch of sand, no other cyclists, no cars, no factors like that. Black ice sounds scarier than sand.

But, hey, everyone forgets stuff sometimes. It's not like you intentionally didn't wear a helmet. Glad you were safe!

[kermit]

I took off on my new mountain bike the same way. Flip flops, no helmet, yeah... just a cruise around the hood, at 5 o'clock. I look up, cars everywhere. No road ID, nothing. Back home I went! As far as your ride...you won't do that again, I guarantee you!