Last day of December, a Saturday, temps in the low 60s! Had a great ride today with a dear friend on my neglected Madone. Only 25 miles but it seemed long compared to the commutes. I must say a 16 lb bike sure is a lot easier to get up a hill! I have missed the long rides and hope to resume them this spring.
This is well into my 7th month of my year on a bike. Time flies when you're having fun!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
That was close!
Most of the time, most of the days, cycling feels safe, enjoyable and healthy. Then once in a while something happens that reminds me of how vulnerable I am out there among the gas powered vehicles.
Yesterday evening, while cycling home I was in front of a line of cars with other cars coming the other way. The lead car appropriately waited to pass. When the oncoming traffic cleared it was time for me to make a left hand turn. I had signaled, moved into the center of the lane and again the car behind me politely waited. But the car behind him/her did not. Just before I crossed the center line to make the turn a car sped past me on my left after passing the car behind me. No passing lane, no warning and my life almost ended. Patient cycling, and patient driving saves lives.
Not sure what I would have done differently, but I sure wish I could have a word with that driver. I'd love for him/her to meet my wife and kids, have a cup of coffee and think about what being in a hurry might have cost us all.
But today was a great riding day and I was able to get a nice rack onto the back of my UniVega road bike. Now I'm all set with the Black Sheep for local heavy lifting and the UniVega for long distance commutes. I see no car in my near or distant future. Lovin' it!
Yesterday evening, while cycling home I was in front of a line of cars with other cars coming the other way. The lead car appropriately waited to pass. When the oncoming traffic cleared it was time for me to make a left hand turn. I had signaled, moved into the center of the lane and again the car behind me politely waited. But the car behind him/her did not. Just before I crossed the center line to make the turn a car sped past me on my left after passing the car behind me. No passing lane, no warning and my life almost ended. Patient cycling, and patient driving saves lives.
Not sure what I would have done differently, but I sure wish I could have a word with that driver. I'd love for him/her to meet my wife and kids, have a cup of coffee and think about what being in a hurry might have cost us all.
But today was a great riding day and I was able to get a nice rack onto the back of my UniVega road bike. Now I'm all set with the Black Sheep for local heavy lifting and the UniVega for long distance commutes. I see no car in my near or distant future. Lovin' it!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
What I learn from my dog Rudy
I took Rudy out for our daily morning walk and had the daily exasperating experience. My mission is to get around the neighborhood, have Rudy do his business, get back home and on to the next mission. His mission is to try to chase every squirrel, to bark at every jogger and, when it suits him, to do his business. But he has one more mission - to track down every interesting smell. Our walks always come to a standstill when Rudy catches whiff of something interesting. He'll track back in forth, nose to the ground until he can identify the exact blade of grass where the fascinating new smell resides. Then he burrows in with his nose with the satisfaction of an astronomer discovering a new galaxy. Rudy does not care why we are on a walk. He does not care about our destination. His whole world shrinks to that one smell...then I yank his chain and we are off to the next great thing.
I like biking because it is slower and more intimate than a car. You see, hear, smell, feel more on the bike. But I am still me. I am watching my time while road biking, hoping to ride a bit faster or longer. Or I am on my way to a meeting on my commuter, focused on the task awaiting me. Just being, enjoying, taking in a lingering moment of beauty or enjoying what is at this moment right in front if me - these things all too often elude me. I've got important things to do.
So, if I show up a bit late for a meeting or seemed to have lost an edge on a long ride, it might mean I've learned a few things from my dog. Or it could just be an off day!
I like biking because it is slower and more intimate than a car. You see, hear, smell, feel more on the bike. But I am still me. I am watching my time while road biking, hoping to ride a bit faster or longer. Or I am on my way to a meeting on my commuter, focused on the task awaiting me. Just being, enjoying, taking in a lingering moment of beauty or enjoying what is at this moment right in front if me - these things all too often elude me. I've got important things to do.
So, if I show up a bit late for a meeting or seemed to have lost an edge on a long ride, it might mean I've learned a few things from my dog. Or it could just be an off day!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Cycling with Patience
Most cyclists have experienced it. The driver in a rush who brushes too close, or who zooms around you only to make a right turn right in front of you causing you to hit the brakes, HARD. And most of us have yelled at said drivers, either some expletive or a gentler rebuke (my favorite, "You Idiot!"). Impatient drivers are a danger to cyclists.
But we have a call to be patient cyclists as well. Are we so inconvenienced if we have to use our brakes? Do we need to get to the front of the traffic at a light by riding on the right of cars? We have the option to practice Patient Cycling, and we'll be safer, and happier, if we do.
Impatience! What is it anyway? My best definition is that it is the irritation/anger that arises in us when others are not operating in a way that suits us best. In cars it is the frustration with the person driving too slowly in front of us. In relationships it is the constant irritation with others who don't pay attention to our preferences. In cycling it is the rush to judge, and condemn the way others are operating their vehicles. If that is impatience, than patience is my decision to pay attention to, and adjust to, the preferences of those around me. It is not just to let perceived offences go, but to actively accommodate to the ways others might prefer.
In cycling, patience can mean slowing down, helping cars know when to pass, pulling to the left of the lane at a light so drivers can turn right on red, watching out for pedestrians, stopping at lights, not passing traffic on the right. But the internal bit is to let go of our demand that everyone else around us adjust to our needs and ways. And it might mean getting somewhere more slowly. But we won't be as irritated, and drivers won't be as irritated and the world will be a bit more at peace. Try it today. I'm pretty bad at it myself, but hopefully getting better.
But we have a call to be patient cyclists as well. Are we so inconvenienced if we have to use our brakes? Do we need to get to the front of the traffic at a light by riding on the right of cars? We have the option to practice Patient Cycling, and we'll be safer, and happier, if we do.
Impatience! What is it anyway? My best definition is that it is the irritation/anger that arises in us when others are not operating in a way that suits us best. In cars it is the frustration with the person driving too slowly in front of us. In relationships it is the constant irritation with others who don't pay attention to our preferences. In cycling it is the rush to judge, and condemn the way others are operating their vehicles. If that is impatience, than patience is my decision to pay attention to, and adjust to, the preferences of those around me. It is not just to let perceived offences go, but to actively accommodate to the ways others might prefer.
In cycling, patience can mean slowing down, helping cars know when to pass, pulling to the left of the lane at a light so drivers can turn right on red, watching out for pedestrians, stopping at lights, not passing traffic on the right. But the internal bit is to let go of our demand that everyone else around us adjust to our needs and ways. And it might mean getting somewhere more slowly. But we won't be as irritated, and drivers won't be as irritated and the world will be a bit more at peace. Try it today. I'm pretty bad at it myself, but hopefully getting better.
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