How Was Your Commute Today?

[Tri Girl]

I just read an article that although Oklahoma does have a 3 foot passing law, it only applies if the individual city has adopted it as an ordinance or something strange like that? And also that it only applies if a serious physical injury occurs? Sounds like OK needs some state bike/ped advocacy action!

You are right. It's silly! We could REALLY just use education of the public. I think if the city would invest some money into education it would go a LONG way to letting drivers know that we belong and it's legal and to just watch out for us/make us human.

[redrhodie]

You are right. It's silly! We could REALLY just use education of the public. I think if the city would invest some money into education it would go a LONG way too letting drivers know that we belong and it's legal and to just watch out for us/make us human.

This makes me think about the last time I renewed my driver's license. At the DMV there were monitors showing stupid trivia, celebrity gossip and such. Those screens could be so much better put to use. You're stuck there for hours, why not show something useful about driving skills? A perfect opportunity to teach about sharing the road, wasted on trivia.

[redrhodie]

Picked the right bike today; love those disc brakes. Was surprised by the rain, but ready for it! I wore a cap under my helmet just in case it started earlier than they said it would (it did), so no rain on my glasses. The only thing I wished for was long socks. I need to stash a pair at work for next time.

I'm off tomorrow, so it will be bike cleaning day. It's been a dirty week so far.

[tulip]

I just adore working from home, but I find it difficult to carve out time for a bike ride in the middle of the day. I take a Pilates class once a week, and so today I decided to ride my bike to it. It's only about 4 miles away through downtown. My commute there is at rush hour, but rush hour is kind of a joke here compared to when I lived in DC...I was so early to my class that I had time to stop in a cafe and enjoy some iced tea before the class. Then I rode home, which was another fantastic ride.

[kmehrzad]

I just adore working from home, but I find it difficult to carve out time for a bike ride in the middle of the day. I take a Pilates class once a week, and so today I decided to ride my bike to it. It's only about 4 miles away through downtown. My commute there is at rush hour, but rush hour is kind of a joke here compared to when I lived in DC...I was so early to my class that I had time to stop in a cafe and enjoy some iced tea before the class. Then I rode home, which was another fantastic ride.

Now that's a commute I could go for ... one where you can stop along the way to enjoy a tea or coffee.

[redrhodie]

A slightly frustrating day, but good commutes saved it. I was planning on 4 for 4 this week, but lots of excuses popping out into my head. Probably just need a rest day. Planning on trying out my new wheels, so there will be a little ride, but not to work.

[Biciclista]

commuting was the highlight of my day. Also I set up my May bike to work month team. I have 10 slots and 11 people that want to be on the team.. EEEK

[Melalvai]

Lovely weather lately. About the only thing one could complain about is the wind, but if you're going to complain about wind around here you'd never stop! My daughter biked to school again! This is her 2nd ride since November's wreck. She plans to do more biking now that the weather is nice. Neither of us are happy at the idea of her biking home alone, for all that she is 15, we are all still nervous from the wreck (we'll get over it.) So I arranged my scheduled so that I could bike home with her.

Only as I rolled away my rear tire went flat. (I probably ran over something, I saw a pointy rusty wire on the ground later.) I called to let her know I was changing my tire, got it changed, and we rode home together.

Today the weather changed as the storm rolled through. Turns out, my gore-tex has lost its waterproofness again. I tossed it in the dryer this afternoon because the heat re-activates the waterproof stuff or something. So hopefully it'll be waterproof again.

I was on a phone call last week, and I had to excuse myself to meet my bike mechanic who was dropping off my bike after replacing my brake pads. (No bike shop here, so he drops off my bike when he runs errands. Convenient!) When I called back to continue the meeting, I explained the interruption. The person I was talking to surprised me by saying "I need to get more exercise." I wondered why she was talking about exercise? Then I realized she was responding to me talking about a bike repair.

I don't think of my bike as exercise. It's just how I get places.

[7rider]

I overslept this morning. Got out a half hour later than planned. I thought the roads would be packed with cars, but it was surprisingly empty. Where is everyone? Isn't there school this week? Is everyone teleworking? Flexing? Off on leave? Passover starts tonight. Maybe everyone is off preparing or something....

Not complaining. I hope it's nice and quiet on the ride home. DH will meet me and we'll ride home together.

[divingbiker]

Where is everyone? Isn't there school this week? Is everyone teleworking? Flexing? Off on leave? Passover starts tonight. Maybe everyone is off preparing or something....

It's spring break in Montgomery County. Enjoy it while you can.

[Tri Girl]

Great commute in this morning- so far I'm on a roll- 10 days in a row commuting so far. My goal is to make it to the end of the school year commuting every day. Only 6 more weeks- I think I can do it!

Can I just say how much I LOVE that it's spring and I can hear the birds singing in the morning? I love to listen to their song as they sing me along my way to work. So peaceful- and so many people are missing out on it by listening to their noise on their car stereos. Too bad for them.
I also love that it's warm enough that I can wear my work clothes on the bike to work. When it's cold I have to dress in warm layers, but now that it's nice I just put on my work clothes, jump on my bike and head out. I just love that, too!

[kmehrzad]

It's spring break in Montgomery County. Enjoy it while you can.

It's also Spring Break in Loudoun County. Everyone I know went to FL - that's where the traffic went too.

[Melalvai]

Yesterday I saw a squirrel in the road. I slowed down. It had something big in its mouth. As I got closer it ran over to the sidewalk. The I saw the tiny bushy tail wrapped around the squirrel's head. Mama was taking baby somewhere! They were SO cute!

That made up for having a flat tire last week, AND a flat tire this week. I hadn't restocked my CO2 cartridges from last week so I had to call for a ride. I can tell that CO2 cartridges aren't going to work for me because there is no bike shop in town from which to replenish my stock, so I'll get a small pump to carry on my bike. And I'm going to look for kevlar tires. The first flat was from a rusty pointy bit of wire, the second from a tiny sharp rock. I used to have kevlar tires but when they wore out, the bike shop put these on and promised me they were just as good. Nuh-uh!

[redrhodie]

Planned on driving today, but woke up and saw it wasn't raining, so I threw on my knickers and rode. Then the rain started. Well, more mist than rain, but it was definitely wet. Had somehow forgotten a headband, and my ears couldn't take being exposed. I stopped at a CVS a couple of miles into the ride and bought some. I paid full price. I never would have done that if I wasn't so cold.

Once my ears were covered, it was a nice commute. Clothes were dry by the time I left work, and I had a tail wind home. Kind of bonked with a few miles left, though. Kept thinking about veggie burritos and candy bars. I was so hungry! I got into a weird meditative state, and riding was completely effortless. Maybe "burrito, candy bar" should be my mantra.

[Biciclista]

hey, i rode yesterday AND today. And today I felt lazy but pushed myself up the hill anyway.
what did you buy redrhodie? a hat??