How Was Your Commute Today?

[redrhodie]

Fun. For one, I finally got a new tune stuck in my head. I've had Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" playing in my head on rides for months. Months! Finally today, something inside clicked, and "Heavy Metal Drummer" by Wilco came on. What a contrast! Hopefully, it's a sign of good things to come. I love Leonard Cohen, but that might be the most cynical song ever written. I'm ready for a lighter internal beat.

Also fun because I out-rode the impending rain. Saw it coming on the Doppler, and my friend said, "Ride like the wind!" and I took off. Apparently that wasn't really necessary, because it's still not raining, and I've been home for an hour. Oh, well, it's good to have inspiration for speed. I purposely didn't ride my rain bike today because I thought it might be fun to try to avoid it, and it was.

Edit, oh, and I forgot about yelling at the strollercizers monopolizing the entire bike path (both lanes) this morning. After saying, "bike back" and "walkers move to the left" and being ignored, I finally yelled "walkers to the left!" (there are signs posted at every intersection, it's not my rule). Afterward, I was embarrassed for being rude and hoped no one I knew heard me. But, they finally moved.

[Tri Girl]

my school year starts tomorrow and that means I get to commute again!!!! WOO HOO!!! It's been FAR too hot this summer to do any recreational riding- only riding as part of the training I'm doing for the IM next month. Can't wait to get on my bike and ride to work again! I always miss it when the school year ends, and always look forward to it when the school year begins.

[AnnB]

strollercizers monopolizing the entire bike path (both lanes) this morning.

I like the strollercizer term, that's great. I have the same problem with a section around the lake, where I bike after work. I finally gave up the bike path and used the road. Between the kids and the geese the roads are safer, and at least the geese have the sense to move. I actually had a little kid (maybe 4 or 5 yrs old) stand in the bike path and kinda jump from side to side in front of me purposely get in my way. I'm sure she thought it was cute.

[redrhodie]

I like the strollercizer term, that's great. I have the same problem with a section around the lake, where I bike after work. I finally gave up the bike path and used the road. Between the kids and the geese the roads are safer, and at least the geese have the sense to move. I actually had a little kid (maybe 4 or 5 yrs old) stand in the bike path and kinda jump from side to side in front of me purposely get in my way. I'm sure she thought it was cute.

That sounds very annoying. I usually stay off the bike path at this time of year, but it was my friend's birthday, and I thought I might run into him on the path. We have opposite direction commutes.

I don't think this was an actual "Stollercize" group like they have in NYC, but it was 8-10 ladies working out with their babies (which I totally respect; but pay attention and give others room to get by, please). The real Strollercizers I used to see in Manhattan were totally hard core, running full speed, with one hand on the stroller, then jumping sideways. I swear, some of the women would be in tears trying to keep up. Oh, and they ran single file, with military-like formation. I suspect it would be easy to get by them.

[laura*]

Yesterday I needed to be in San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay. Some neighbors were driving to the West Bay, er, Peninsula. I put my folding bike into their trunk and got a ride with them.

This let me ride across the bay via the Dumbarton Bridge! The ride was much easier and more pleasant than I expected.

I linked a bunch of errands, all via bike, into this trip. In the end, it was 9 errands and 50 miles of riding. At one point I was slightly lost - I knew I was on the correct side of a certain freeway, headed in the correct compass direction, and that within 10 miles I'd encounter the cross street I was looking for.

Even after 50 miles of pedal pushing, I don't feel a thing - no soreness, no tiredness. I think this trip must be in the top 5 of my single day riding distances.

This commute did end on a bit of a sour note. I forgot my sunglasses hooked onto my bike's handlebars while I had dinner. They were gone when I returned. At least I got two years of use out of them.

[azfiddle]

Got in my once a week commute a day early- maybe I'll get two this week. A bit humid for Tucson but relatively cool (high 70's) on the way in. The way back I was trying to beat the rain clouds (really, I was more worried about the potential for outflow winds) and didn't bring my work laptop with me. Great tailwinds for a change, and the last 5 miles I probably averaged 21 mph!! Big raindrops but not too many for the last mile, so it was just pleasantly cool for a desert summer afternoon.

[WindingRoad]

Wow today's commute was absolutely horrifying. As I was coming home this evening I had a whole line of cars buzzing me. One got so close it actually grazed my hand on my handlebar. The light in front of me changed and I caught up to one of the cars that buzzed me way too close. I knocked on their window and I asked the guy driving: "Sir, would please give me a little more room the next time you pass me?" He pops off "would I get on the trail". I say back "where". Because there is no access to it from that road! He is about to get all defensive so I just look at him and say "Please sir, all I'm trying to do is get to work." Looks like his wife and kids were in the car, so I didn't fly off like I really wanted to. I'm glad I didn't lose my cool but dang!

After that guy and the one who grazed my hand went around me so close and fast I jumped out smack in the middle of the lane. I NEVER do that but honestly I felt safer pissing off all the cars behind me and dealing with them that way. When I was off on the edge they were trying to squeeze by me doing 45-50 MPH which was WAY over the speed limit there. I don't know what got in to drivers today but I feel lucky to be alive after today.

The crappiest part is that there is NO way to avoid this road. I am only on it for at most a quarter of a mile, you'd think I was on there for 10 miles holding up traffic with the way these jerks were acting!

When I got home I felt like curling up in the fetal position. It didn't help I had another flat today.

[redrhodie]

Take the lane. It's safer. What's more important, a few seconds of their time, or your life? And if they honk, then at least you know they see you.