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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324

    Thom joins the bike commuting world...

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    Nothing is ever simple...

    This is what Thom had to say about his first day commuting.

    [I]Woo Hoo!

    One of the bennies of this new gig at Lonely Planet is that they run a
    van from the BART station to the office, I am now a member of the
    commute-on-the-bike crowd. Yesterday was my inaugural 12 mile ride to
    the local station, 45 minute train ride, van 7 blocks to work. It was
    an adventure.

    I put a Wald basket on the front of my Rivendell, but it blocks any
    handlebar mounted head light and crowds the hood, so I'll probably get
    rid of it. My bike goes into a locker at the train station and the
    locker is narrow at one end, so rear racks may not work. I'll have to
    look at panniers maybe. A test of the flashlight as a head light
    worked great. Much better than a couple of puny Cat Eyes.

    I learned that cell phones don't belong in Bento Boxes. While doing 5
    mph on a sidewalk (connecting sections of the multi-use path), I hit a
    small bump and dropped the phone. Just like in the movies, time
    slowed down. I heard it hit the ground and looked over to see it
    bouncing along in the street. I thought, "No problem. It'll stop up
    against the curb and I won't get run over as I pick it up." At that
    precise moment, out of the corner of my eye, I see the unthinkable - a
    storm drain. "Clack, clack, plop!", went the phone as it went into
    the storm drain. No rain here, so the drain is lined with leaves
    instead of water. I looked in to see the phone nestled gently in a
    pile of leaves, showing only one corner of the screen. With no tools
    to reach down into the drain and no time to mess around with it, I had
    to leave it.

    I learned that multi-use trails can be a hazard. Those early morning
    strollers just are not expecting my neon yellow clad, bell ringing
    body to go zooming by. I had one couple, walking on opposite sides of
    the 15 foot wide path, decide to come together, hold hands and sing
    Kumbaya as I passed between them. OK, I made up the Kumbaya part, but
    they did try to get me to run them over. I didn't hit them, so no
    harm, no road kill.

    After ordering a new cell phone at work, coming home started badly. I
    stepped onto the platform to see the waiting train looking kind of
    full. My brain says, "Hmm, nobody on the platform. It's probably
    been here a while. Quick, get on this crowded car before it leaves.
    You can move to a new car at the next station." Good plan brain. What
    it should have said was, "Read the sign to see where it is going..."
    So my plan to change cars at the next station became a plan to change
    trains to come back and get on the right train.

    I checked in on my cell phone and it was still waiting in the leaves
    in the drain. I didn't pick up any tools at work, so I still had no
    way to recover it. Maybe I can retrieve it this weekend.

    All in all, a great time. I save money and get in some miles.

    -thom



    Do you know how much a replacement cell phone is? I have cashmere that costs less!


    V.
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    Veronica "Do you know how much a replacement cell phone is? I have cashmere that costs less!"

    if you're past your contract date or anywhere near it's usually free with a new 1 or 2 year term agreement regardless of provider. With Cingular you'd need a new SIM chip if you've lost the phone.

    If you still have the old phone just pop in the chip an voila, your numbers are all there.

    if you're mid contract and just need to fork out for the new phone, best prices I've found are Circuit City, next probably Costco, I refuse to go to Walmart. Cingular has some "online only" offers if you're nice to the rep they will match if you call.

    now....tell me about this flashlight deal. You mean I can use a flashlight? How do I mount that? I have 2 tiny Cateyes now, inadequate as days get darker.
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324
    Thanks for the phone info.

    I'll ask Thom tonight about the flashlight thing. We've got this wicked bright light. I refused to take it to the bathroom when we were camping because it was so bright. And of course I'm blanking on the name of it.

    V.
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    WA, Australia
    Posts
    3,292
    Veronica - thanks for posting this its given me my first laugh of the day.

    I love the part about the train - that would have been me too. Panic train about to leave just get on. I will smile all morning when I think of this.

    Tell Thom it was a great read and Im sure it can only get better.
    The most effective way to do it, is to do it.
    Amelia Earhart

    2005 Trek 5000 road/Avocet 02 40W
    2006 Colnago C50 road/SSM Atola
    2005 SC Juliana SL mtb/WTB Laser V

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Concord, CA USA
    Posts
    1,299
    Quote Originally Posted by Thom via Veronica
    I had one couple, walking on opposite sides of the 15 foot wide path, decide to come together, hold hands and sing Kumbaya as I passed between them.
    Too funny! He should be writing for Lonely Planet.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    Yeah! Then you could bike tour for a living

    "yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again. And we both need another bike"

    I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?
    Last edited by Trek420; 09-28-2005 at 09:01 AM.
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Bendemonium
    Posts
    9,673
    Quote Originally Posted by Trek420
    "yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again"
    So, Veronica, any news about touring/racing other continents next year? Inquiring minds want to know.
    Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    1,192
    Gee, that makes DH's commute seem so...tame. Of course, we were awakened this morning by a thunderstorm, but it cleared up enough that he rode this morning, anyway. That is, I think it cleared up. I'm not very smart until I've had a little time to wake up.

    I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?
    All good books need an index... (sez the indexer)
    Give big space to the festive dog that make sport in the roadway. Avoid entanglement with your wheel spoke.
    (Sign in Japan)

    1978 Raleigh Gran Prix
    2003 EZ Sport AX

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324
    Quote Originally Posted by SadieKate
    So, Veronica, any news about touring/racing other continents next year? Inquiring minds want to know.
    Nothing yet about Tour D'Afrique.

    Lonely Planet does have some cycling books - France, Australia, Ireland and North American west coast. They are a bit old.

    V.
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    time to update the books! portfolio available on request as we say in the art trade.
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324

    Flashlight and mount info

    Surefire light, the mount is a Twofish Cyclopblock. The mount is available
    at nashbar.

    V.
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA
    Posts
    5,667
    Heh, I just got through reading this on the bob list and I was wondering if it would show up here ... funny story!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324
    Quote Originally Posted by Trek420
    Yeah! Then you could bike tour for a living

    "yeah boss, need to take another trip. it's research, we're working hard on the job, really. We just have to try this trail and this restaraunt and this B&B again. And we both need another bike"

    I'm serious, roll out the line of Lonely Planet bike tour guidebooks. Need an illustrator?
    Unfortunately their bicycle touring books haven't sold really well. That's why they haven't updated them. Now if each of you would go online and buy a set or two...


    V.
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    Veronica "Unfortunately their bicycle touring books haven't sold really well. That's why they haven't updated them."

    that's because they are not written/illustrated by the right people Thanks for the flashlight/handlebar thingy tip, I'm looking into that.

    Those lights look like they belong in the "how do you defend yourself" thread, too.
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

 

 

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