How Was Your Commute Today?

[pfunk12]

I haven't posted in a while because my commutes have been normal...uneventful...until this morning. It was a beautiful ride in. I left around 5:55 a.m. and the temperature was in the low 50s. A perfect morning for a ride. I got into D.C. and rode in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It's one of my favorite parts of my morning commute. The sky was very, very dark (it was threatening to rain) so with the lights shining on the Memorial and the dark sky in the background, President Lincoln looked extremely regal. I took a left onto 23rd street when I saw something lying in the far right lane (my lane). From far away, I thought it might be a construction sign that got knocked over (since they're doing construction on Independence Avenue). But it was a cyclist. She was crumpled up on the ground and wasn't moving. My first thought was "F*ck". Two cars stopped in front of her and the drivers got out. I thought she got hit by a car but she had only fallen. I unclipped, put my bike in the grass, told her not to move and got her foot out from her bike and moved her bike onto the grass. Her bike weighed a ton. It must have weighed at least 30 pounds. Compared to my Madone, I felt like I was lifting a truck. One of the drivers called 911 and handed the phone to me because she didn't know our location. So I talked to the 911 dispatcher who kept telling me to keep the cyclist on the ground. She was totally embarrassed and didn't want any attention (I know that feeling) but she also thought that she hit her head. The driver left but the other driver stayed. He said that he heard her fall and looked back and thought she got hit. He couldn't understand why all of the cars were just going around her and continuing on their way. But hey - it's D.C. and everyone is in a hurry to get to work. At least 2 motorists did yell out their window and ask if they could call 911. The ambulance came but she didn't want to go to the hospital. They put her in the ambulance to check her vitals. Then the first Park Police officer came. And then 3 more Park Police officers. The one cop looked at the 4th car and said, "Wow...this is overkill." And I said, "Well, it's nice to see such a response." And the other cop said to us, "If something happens to you in Federal territory, call us and we'll show up as soon as possible." I'll say. When she thanked the first cop for coming (he looked like he was 20 years old), he said, "I got to drive up Independence Avenue where it's closed. That was fun. Thank you for letting me have some fun." Such a cutie pie. As she and I got on our bikes, they said, "Have a good ride and don't get hit by a car!" Bunch of smart arses. She and I rode together all the way to my building and then she continued on to her building. She gave me her e-mail address so I'll e-mail her later to check in and see if she's okay. She said, "I'm like the bike czarina at work and look at me...I fell." I said, " That's okay..."Crash" is my middle name." I'm really, really glad that she was okay. I had a sick feeling in my stomach when I saw her bike. I imagined the worst. Especially when I assumed that she got hit by a car. She's not really sure what happened but after we talked for a few minutes, we decided that she was in the process of blowing her nose...so probably had only one hand on the bike...and she hit a manhole cover that dipped down. I'm hoping that I have a boring commute home.

[7rider]

Another one who does all her own stunts, huh??
Did she hit her head? Glad you were there to offer assistance. Please check on her.
I've gotten into this running thing, drat it all. I think until I complete this race in December (which, at 5 hilly miles is far beyond anything I've attempted thus far), I'll be riding less and running more. <<shudder>>

[pfunk12]

I'm using my "I do all my own stunts" coffee cup as I type this!
I will definitely check on her. She thinks she may have hit her head. Her forehead was a little sore but she thinks it was from the visor.
Turns out she lives near me and teaches spin at the sports club near the shop. Small world.
You have crossed over to the dark side! I did that race once and yes, it's hilly. Anything in Baltimore is hilly.

Another one who does all her own stunts, huh??
Did she hit her head? Glad you were there to offer assistance. Please check on her.
I've gotten into this running thing, drat it all. I think until I complete this race in December (which, at 5 hilly miles is far beyond anything I've attempted thus far), I'll be riding less and running more. <<shudder>>

[kmehrzad]

Wow, pfunk, I was almost afraid to read on as you mentioned "she was crumpled up on the ground and wasn't moving." So glad all turned out well in the end. You do lead an exciting commuting life, don't you? Glad to see your posts once again.

[Biciclista]

my commute this morning was COLD! warm fuzzy gloves were necessary.

[MomOnBike]

I haven't posted until now because I work at home and walk to my other job. However, I've been biking to my radiation treatments, so that counts, right?

Anyway, I went out to get my bike to ride to my appointment, and I have a really soft tire. Figuring (hoping) I had a slow leak, and that it will be OK for the afternoon, I began to pump. SSSssssssss. Hmmm, maybe it's not a slow leak.

The hole in the tube was where the last umpteen holes were. So, I did the only obvious thing and patched the tire on the offending spot. I slapped in a new tube and was on my way.

That would have been the end of it, except DH called after work. He had a flat - multiple holes in the tube - and needed a rescue.

I do wonder how we offended the cycling gods. Surely today will be better for both of us.

[radacrider]

{Posting today about yesterday's commute}
Yesterday (Tuesday) was the test ride for my new crankset (went from 175mm to 170mm crankarms). What a difference 5mm makes, or was it really the mental expectation from spending the $100+? The long 7 mile climb was done almost exclusively in the middle chainring (36T) versus previous rides using the inner (26T) quite a bit. Just a few tweaks to the cassette gearing and I'll be happy, at least for a while.

Nice morning in Portland, OR - dark when I left, cool in the 40's.

The return trip started off a bit slow as my right foot cleat came loose, so I had to take a few to trial and error it back into the correct position. The warmer afternoon had me sweating more, but good ride home. Nice to be able to take advantage of our good, spring like weather - hear it's about to change on us and get a bit wet.

[redrhodie]

Relaxed. Totally no wind. I could get used to this.

[Catrin]

Relaxed. Totally no wind. I could get used to this.

no wind!?!? Such a wonderful thing is possible? I need to move to your area

[redrhodie]

no wind!?!? Such a wonderful thing is possible? I need to move to your area

We usually got plenty! There's maybe one day like this every six months.

[Melalvai]

I haven't posted until now because I work at home and walk to my other job. However, I've been biking to my radiation treatments, so that counts, right?

That is hard-core! Of course it counts! I hope you run of flat tires and bad bike luck has passed.

[7rider]

Yesterday morning, I saw this woman from my neighborhood who I occasionally see who rides a Fuji cross bike to her job at a school just north of us. Just seeing her was shocking enough, because I know she usually leaves much earlier than I. She was just enough ahead of me, that I couldn't catch her before our routes parted. I did note, however, that I could barely see her from the side, and that if/when I saw her again, I would mention that she should consider adding some side reflectivity to her bike or her body.

Well, I saw her on my ride home, coming back into my neighborhood. I caught up to her this time, and we chatted. She mentioned how she was 15 minutes late and she vowed she'd never do THAT again. She was amazed at the increase in traffic on the roads from 6:30 to 7:00. If you can get out at 6:30, the roads are empty. After 6:45, to 7:00, the amount of cars picks up significantly. (After 7, forget it...it's a zoo out there). I noticed that, too. However, I can never get my act together in the morning to get out at 6:30 as I would like to. Too much time spent playing with my bunny, Noah, in the morning. We have to have our little bit of quality time.

Oh, and I did mention the reflectivity to her. She was wearing an Illuminite jacket, but I swear...I have a pair of Illuminite tights, and I honestly find they are not all that reflective. It has to be pitch black, and the lights have to hit it just right for it to work. I recommended she get some reflective stickers from a hardware store and ugly up her frame some. We both agreed, visibility is better than an un-marred frame.

[colorisnt]

Rode home last night with my headlight, taillight and all my blinkies. It was glorious. Cool and no one bothered me. I didn't intend to stay so late, but I had a really bad day and one of my friends who is a second year forced me (not against my will) to go to dinner with her and have a beer.

It was worth it!

I was going to ride this morning, but because college gameday is here, there is no way I will be able to get to my building on bike due to this huge closeout of most of the roads on central campus. Think tons of people who may or may not be already drunk. I am happy CGD is coming, but I wanna ride!

[7rider]

Ya, know....you just learn all sorts of things and meet all sorts of folks when you bike commute that you would NEVER meet when driving in a car.
I had a young woman riding behind me for much of my ride home today. Finally, when I got to a light in a plaza, I asked her "Are you following me?"
She replied, "I'm trying not to!"
We ended up riding together for a bit. I showed her a road through a quiet neighborhood that avoided a busy street she was about to ride. She told me she had recently completed a charity ride to raise money for cancer research. It was a cross-country trip - from Baltimore to San Francisco called 4K for Cancer. Sounds like quite an adventure for a college student! I certainly would never have done it when I was her age (yikes....having a "feeling old" moment here...but it's been more than a few years since I've left college).
Was an interesting, fun, and pleasant conversation.
Too bad I had to drop her on the downhill! Bwahahahahahahaha!!

[colorisnt]

That's fun. It's always nice to meet other cyclists. I met one today that works in my office building but I didn't know him. I was showing a friend how bad his chain was on his bike and pointed to the chain on a Kona the guy was putting on the rack. He let me show my office mate a demo about a clean and lubed chain. We talked and turns out he and his gf are both in psych and just down the hall from us.

I love bike people!