How Was Your Commute Today?

[Groundhog]

Afterward, I'm out in the parking lot (waiting for my Garmin to lock on to satellites), and I see an unusual site come up the hill towards me. It's my friend, Chandler, and he's on the most unusual contraption I have ever seen. It's a Ellipti-Go - an elliptical trainer + bike hybrid. Truly a bizarre contraption. He was giddy with it and has been using it as his commuter all week. He saw some folks out in Seattle doing the STP ride on them, struck up a conversation with them, investigated the product, and bought one. (Chandler is a big guy and has a habit of breaking bikes - he was hoping he could climb his hill to his house without breaking this....good luck to him!). He claims its great for "frustrated runners". He also has gotten more calls/yells/shouts from folks on his ride than ever. Mostly thumbs up and "that is the coolest thing EVER!" kind of comments.

I saw one of these on my last commute home, which is on the Burke-Gilman trail (MUP). I laughed out loud! Looked cool! On that commute, I saw bikers, skaters, that thing, recumbants, walkers, joggers and a uni-cycle! Plus a recumbant that is all-enclosed in a plastic pod-like thing. About all the ways human beings can propel themselves!

[blackhillsbiker]

I didn't commute this morning because of very high winds. They calmed down by this evening, so I rode my bike to knit night. Had to break out my lights for the ride home. The first dark ride since last winter. It was a nice evening.

Deb

[lph]

Nothing special on my latest commutes, just the usual tiny city riding situations. The usual hordes of dedicated commuters have settled down a little and stopped trying to kill themselves now that the Big Bike Race is over.

Everybody wants to pass me now that I have a rack on my mtb commuter. It's still the same bike with the same engine though. I had one morning where I started counting people I pass and people who passed me - bad idea, I got way too het up

A roadie who seemed quite bemused that I came up to say hi and thanks after having drafted on him for a while. Many more road bikes out, actually, and old ones too, looks like people have been digging them out from attics and garages and finding out that they're better than mtbs for summer commuting.

One woman on a real upright city cruiser, with handlebars so astonishingly high that when she stood up to pedal up a hill she almost fell over. To each their own, but that didn't look very comfortable to me.

Went through the centre of town yesterday, following one jerk with a fear of putting his foot down, who consistently weaved through crossing pedestrians and ran 3 red lights in a row, right through traffic. I was feeling righteous and muttered loudly about it, the polite young woman behind me agreed. This guy just ignored the whole concept and zigzagged through like a squirrel.

Our bike parking at work is overflowing. We're about 300 employees, we have 70 or so spaces, and there were over 90 bikes there the other day! And two of my closest co-workers, sturdy guys both, have started biking regularly. One of them has lost 17 kg since spring, the other has just started. I feel happy for and a bit proud of them

[redrhodie]

I had good commutes this week, even with record breaking heat. One thing to remember when it's over 90º out, bring a water bottle. I knew I was forgetting something. Luckily, it's only 10 miles to the lbs.

Guess I punctured last night, because my front tire is now flat. Glad I didn't have to change it on the road, because I was in a hurry to make an appointment. I hope the ones who throw the bottles onto the roads get it back at them somehow.

Off today. Rode my other bike this morning, out early before Hurricane Earl.

[blackhillsbiker]

We had a nice cold front go through. This morning was the coldest it has been since early spring. It was cool this evening. Great riding weather.

Deb

[malkin]

Maybe it's just the work irritation leaking out, but I blurted out "Stupid!" at a rider who crossed the street against a red light into oncoming left turn traffic (that had a left arrow) I was one of the left turners who had to wait for her to get out of the way.

Later another cyclist blew through a 4-way stop rattling me and the auto traffic. I called him another name, one that questioned the circumstances of his birth. One of the drivers heard me and smiled and waved.

I need to formulate a simple statement that will convey the idea that "Ignoring traffic conventions endangers us all" but only contains 2 or 3 syllables.

[bunny_ninja]

HAHAHHAHAH! LOVE it! LOVE it!
I fully support your work with the English language.

Maybe it's just the work irritation leaking out, but I blurted out "Stupid!" at a rider who crossed the street against a red light into oncoming left turn traffic (that had a left arrow) I was one of the left turners who had to wait for her to get out of the way.

Later another cyclist blew through a 4-way stop rattling me and the auto traffic. I called him another name, one that questioned the circumstances of his birth. One of the drivers heard me and smiled and waved.

I need to formulate a simple statement that will convey the idea that "Ignoring traffic conventions endangers us all" but only contains 2 or 3 syllables.

[redrhodie]

I need to formulate a simple statement that will convey the idea that "Ignoring traffic conventions endangers us all" but only contains 2 or 3 syllables.

I don't think there's one thing you can say that will work universally, but you can say "use your turn signal" or "pay attention" or "3 ft please".

Not quite as satisfying, perhaps, as calling someone a ^%$#@, but maybe better in the long run.

[tzvia]

I need to formulate a simple statement that will convey the idea that "Ignoring traffic conventions endangers us all" but only contains 2 or 3 syllables.

I use "Yep, bottom of the gene pool." No, it does not contain 2 or 3 syllables or have anything to do with bike safety, but it's how I feel about jerks, in cars or on bikes. So I just yell that out.

I had my first cool weather commute in several months. Even though we have had our mildest summer in ages, it was still in the 90s for most rides home (and a few times, at 100f or above). Today it was a glorious 70f to 72f with overcast skys. A bit muggy, but not hot so was quite nice. Temps are expected to rise though, back into the 90s in time for the weekend.