Good to be back

11/27/2011

I was out and away from the bike commute for a while so it was good to get back and ride to work the week before last. I finally got the fenders on my bike and just in time since I got caught in the rain on my way home. I got all wet but I did not get all messy like I would have if I did not get the fenders on. Glad we got the rain and I got the new bike initiated in the wet ride. Now I can get ready for the cold weather coming this week.

New Bike

10/19/2011

I got a new bike last Thursday and built it up over the Weekend. It was nice to ride to work and not worry about the rim seam crack breaking and have no wobbling in the rear rim. But I still have to be careful of the cars out there. Even with the new bright bike I had someone turn right into my path as I was trying to cross the street at the cross walk.

So, the new single speed commuter is fun, but I still have to be as careful as usual.

Paul

Enjoyed the rain yesterday

09/17/2011

Yesterday was a wonderful day. We got some rain (a whopping 0.6inch) that started just as I started the ride home. It was actually a very nice ride home with the rain being very gentle. It has been a long time since we have had the rain here so I enjoyed it even more. As long as I slowed in the corners, started braking early and watched the slippery white lines, all went well. Enjoy your ride no matter what it brings.

Paul

Priceless Expressions

09/15/2011

I have this thing about wanting people in cars to stay in their own lane when I ride my bike. I don’t know what it is – something about my control nature that thinks people can pay attention to what they are doing and keep their cars in their own lane. This issue comes up on corners where they cut through the inside (like when I was hit once) or just going down a neighborhood street and they drive in the center of the street to make it easier. Well, like I mentioned before, if I am not around it is no big deal. But if the car is coming against me in my lane I do not like it. I guess the right thing to do would be for me to get out of their way, to move out of my correct position and let them have my space (did I word that in a “controlling” manner?). But for some reason that does not occur to me very often.

I have a new game I call “Priceless Expressions”.  What is this you ask? Well, it means if someone is coming against me in my lane, I give them space – but just enough to not let them hit me. I will stay in my lane and not move too far. Someone not paying attention will invariably see me at the last minute (unless they are still on the phone) and when they realize they almost ran into me I see the biggest “oh my gosh…”,  wide open mouth, eyebrows hitting the scalp, hand clenching the steering wheel expressions that I wish I could capture on camera. Yes, a “Priceless Expressions” that amuses me on my rides to work.

I am looking for a safer way to get my point across but for now this seems to be working. The problem is, will I always be paying enough attention to see them? Please watch for bicycles when you drive out there. I guess on the flip side, if someone does ever hit me they may just say they saw a “Priceless Expressions”.

Paul

Why don’t Bicyclists stop at STOP signs?

09/03/2011

I have this discussion a lot with friends and co-workers. Many car drivers point out that they see cyclists that roll through stop signs without coming to a full stop. Why don’t bicyclists stop at the STOP sign? I always mention that on my bike rides to work, I also see cars that roll through stop signs and only stop if they see someone coming. Sometimes that is too late. I guess it is not “cyclists” or “car drivers” it is just people. We all tend to take short cuts along our path in life. And sometimes the shortcuts catch up with us. Until it does, it is a nice shortcut.

I myself have tended to relax my ways over the years. Can’t I justify a roll through the stop sign if no one is around? When cars or people are around I want to stop (or track stand) to show I am a cyclist that obeys the laws. But with no one around, no one knows what I do, right?

Maybe not. Maybe the laws are there no matter what. I had to think about this the other morning as I did a slow roll through a stop sign since no one was around (and yes, this would bug the hell out of me if I saw a car do the same thing). But as I glanced both ways, I saw a police car further down the street. I slowed down enough I am sure, or did I, or did he see me? Now I was worried he may have seen me not fully stop. And that got me to thinking – why do I act different when a police car is around? I need to act the same way all the time. If I know it is wrong, why would I not stop every time? So, I am setting out to stop when I should stop and go when I should go. Wish me luck, I am not sure how long this will last!

Paul

Biking isn't the only way to avoid driving my car.

08/26/2011

Well, I have been too busy to update this more often. I am still riding when I can. I also look for other ways to avoid driving my car.

The other day I had a chance to test DART out a little. I flew in to Love Field from Austin and was able to take a DART bus to the rail station. From there, I took the green line to downtown and transferred to the red line up to the Parker road station.  I still had to drive home from there but a much shorter trip. If I would have left my bike at the Parker road station the day before I could have avoided the car altogether! Yes, it took a LOT LONGER but I had a book to read and some writing to do so I used the time wisely.

Give DART a try some time if you don’t already!

Paul

Remember the "be-prepared-carry-tools-on-bike" post?

08/04/2011

Remember about a month ago I posted about being prepared with tools? Well, I do, and I did not listen to my own advice. The commuter bike I have has great big tires that can't go flat - at least I thought. On my way home from work (actually just on the way to the fitness center to change for the ride home) I jumped the curb up to the front entrance to the fitness center like I do every day. But today the rear tire landed right on a sharp edge of the concrete and pinched the tube and leaked quickly.

I was going to ride to a meeting I had up in Allen after work but the flat changed all my plans. Why? Because I have no tools on this bike.  I had planned well for the ride home from my meeting with lights and everything but all that was for nothing. My wife came and graciously bailed me out of the situation and gave me a ride home. I then drove to the meeting and became like every other commuter in a car. I want to avoid the car so next time I will have a spare tire and tools and avoid the car ride.

After all that, I did not even have a spare tube at home for this size tire. So I prepped up my old old bike for tomorrow's ride (I don't want to miss the chance to ride in another 109 degree day!).

Lesson learned: Carry tools and be safe and cool.

Paul