June 24, 201111 Comments on Please Bee Kind
The last time I was stung by a bee/stinging insect, Jimi Hendrix was still alive and Seattle had a baseball team that wasn’t the Mariners.
Until yesterday – Jeez, that hurts! Was going about 20 mph and the thing flew into my collar, left his little venomous, barbed treat for me and then died a swift and painless death by my panicked hand. It had been so long I was afraid I might be allergic, but no, just pissed.
For future reference, anyone care to share their bee sting remedies?
June 23, 20116 Comments on Bib Review: Performance Ultra II
THE HISTORY
When I got back on the bike in 2004 (health issues, another post, another time), it became necessary to do it in a way that would not take too much of a toll on my not-20something-anymore body. Clipless pedals/shoes, a bike that was not on the verge of falling apart, and something that would make it easier to sit once I got to work: The bib short.
June 22, 2011Leave a Comment
One of the earliest memories I have of my first bike was when we moved from Chicago to Santa Cruz in 1972. It was a Kermit The Frog green Stingray with jungle bars, a banana seat and a sissy bar jacked up to the max. Depending on the day, you might find Amos Otis, Gates Brown or Mickey Lolich in the spokes, clipped on to the fender with clothespins.
The big Mayflower truck was parked in the front yard, and instructions were to pack everything in and allow me to ride my bike up the ramp to seal the deal. This would be the second biggest bike fail of my young life, the first being the clipping of Bob Gibson and Al Kaline to my fender for motorcycle sound effects.
June 21, 201114 Comments on Here’s Your Sign
There are several routes available to and from work on my daily ride, and it has come to my attention that more and more (not like dandelions in Spring) Share The Road signs are going up, appropriately in areas where there is a wider lane, but no designated bike lane.
I do not believe this changes the behavior of most motorists, it merely gives us something to point to in case we are involved in a collision with a car. Ride like you belong on the road, and use care when taking more of the lane than you should (potholes, roadkill, hazards of any sort). Blinkies on your backpack or messenger bag also help.
Does anyone anywhere else see positive improvements to their commuting/riding experience?
June 20, 201114 Comments on Non Sequitur
Maybe it’s just me, but the following story just does not compute. This incident occurred last June on one of my more oft-used commuting routes. A cyclist would either need to be asleep or drunk for this to happen. Where else besides Jackass or Wipeout can someone plow full speed into a stationary object and get paid for it? The bike lane is about eight feet wide and traffic is really light.
I feel it is okay for me to question every aspect of this decision as I have experience on the route. Bike lanes are for bikes, sure, but every so often there are exceptions. This is one of those exceptions. I just don’t understand.
I want to make it clear that as a cyclist, I look out for my own, but there needs to be a level of honesty here.
June 20, 20112 Comments on Mother Nature Needs Meds
Wind is public enemy #1. Well, at least in my world. When I was on night shift, I could always rely on a headwind going to work, and a headwind coming home. Many a curse word has been muttered (and some made up), only to be drowned out by Mother Nature’s exhale. I’d rather ride in a hailstorm.
Oddly enough, she also knows when it is time to drive to work. I try to commute by bike five days a week, but some days I wake up and just don’t feel it. These days are few and far between, and this morning was one of those days.
In this neck of the woods it is rare to have rain in the morning, but instead it typically falls in the afternoon through the middle of the night. Maybe it’s the effect of the rain on my sleep (doesn’t it make everyone sleep better?), but this morning I woke up and just wanted to sleep for the rest of the day. It should be noted that I usually get a solid eight a night and get up at 5:00 a.m. without issue every day, even weekends.
Waddup, Ma Nat? Why you messin’ with my schedule?