How Was Your Commute Today?

[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.

[Melalvai]

Yes, take the lane. That's been my experience any time I try to "hide out" on the edge because I'm scared of the road. The road suddenly feels much safer when I take the lane. It is hard to do, it is so counter-intuitive. But once you do, it makes so much difference.

I don't really feel like a lot of people get mad at me either. Oh, maybe someone will honk or yell, but they do that no matter what you do.

I rode in the rain this morning, in all my rain gear. I love riding in the rain--when it's not too hot for the rain gear, but not too cold either!

[redrhodie]

I was ready for rain today, but it never came. I wore a cycling cap under my helmet, just in case, and I rode my Soma DC. It was pretty cool out, in the 60s when I started this morning. It felt good. Still not cool enough for the arm warmers I brought, but their time will come soon enough. I love this time of year.

[AnnB]

I've been trying to own the road on my commute as well. I do feel lots safer, although drivers really are cranky when they have to follow a bike. Especially if it's after work