I rode my bike commute this morning. I made it all the way to the office and back. Without a falling off, without a broken derailer, and without getting by a car. I missed out on two weeks of clear dry roads while I was recovering from the accident and the cold/flu. It was pretty warm this morning and while the roads were wet, it wasn’t raining.
I headed out with some nerves since this was my first commute and I was riding my Mtn Bike which is a bit unfamiliar. I was a bit more cautious in traffic and had a hard time keeping my HR down. I eventually gave up on the HR chalking it up to having been sick for a week and off the bike for 2. I rode with my new camera - Digital Hero - strapped to my wrist. The Mtn Bike is just enough different from my road bike I didn’t feel comfortable riding without hands to snap pictures so I didn’t take too many. The one above is the best of the bunch.
As I approached Redmond, an thus approached the scene of the accident, I got pretty alert. About a mile away the cars started to back up next to me and I watched for driveways and roads on my left. As I was approaching one, that I’d never noticed before, 187th I believe it was, I slowed a bit and just as I got there a car making a left across stopped traffic went in front of me. I grabbed my breaks hard and shook my head. I cannot bring myself to get in the traffic lane and start and stop but from now on I will be closely watching these intersections.
The rest of the way in was uneventful and I arrived safe and sound. And messaged Kim to say I made it since she worries about me.
I was nervous on the way home, not so much because of being on the bike but it was my first ride with my lights. I got down to my bike and put the light on (I took it off after cardano and hobbes got ripped off last week) and pressed the “on” button and….nothing. I pressed and held it. Nothing. I was getting worried. I checked the connections, nothing. Crap. Guess I’ll get as far as I can and then walk on the train the rest of the way in the dark was my though. Then something clicked and I “double clicked” the on/off switch and the light came on. Sigh. Major sigh.
So I took off with my nifty new lights blinking and shining into dusk traffic in Redmond on my way to Issaquah. I turned the head light on to low to conserve battery life and so I could turn it on super bright when it really got dark. As I rode I began to wonder if I’d actually need a light, the lights from the steady stream of cars were keeping things pretty well lit it seemed. Until the sun actually set, then I understood.
Everything worked out well, you have to pay a little more attention since the time it takes to recognize that dark shape of a raccoon or opossum body on the shoulder is longer in the dark and it’s not particularly pleasant to ride over them. I decided to ride the whole way in the road vs taking the trail because I thought I’d feel more comfortable there. Since it will be a few weeks before the Ciocc is out of the shop, I think I’ll be getting fenders for the Mtn. Bike and I’ll be all set.
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 11/07/2007
- Time: 22:39:39
- Total Time: 1:49:00.00
- Distance: 24 miles
- Average Speed: 13.21 mph
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November 8th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I’m so glad to hear you’re better. I’m also glad to hear your discussion of bike riders wearing lights!
Last night I was driving near Uvillage in an area with zero street lights. Coming off the B-Gilman was a bike rider with zero reflectors and zero lights. It was 6:30pm and pitch dark. I almost didn’t see him & he was peddling along, mid-street as though he owned the world & everyone could see him. I almost turned into the cursing, yelling driver with birdie fingers. I’m happy to share the road, but if I can’t see you bikers, I can’t do a good job of sharing.
Thanks Jeff for wearing your night gear!
If anyone cares, I’m particularly fond of rear bike lamps like the headlamps made by Petzel that can be put into flash mode. Bikers who wear these really stand out! (So do dog walkers and anyone else out on the streets in the dead of night!)
November 8th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
re: raccoon & ‘not particularly pleasant to ride over them’
You’ve adopted the habit of English understatement! Can you really do an 18″ bunny hop?
November 9th, 2007 at 6:06 am
Jeff - Good to see you’re back on the road.
When you’re trying to conserve battery power, it might be better to have the light on full at dusk, and then turned down once it’s fully dark. Sounds crazy, but as the light fades, you quickly become invisible, but once it’s fully dark, even a low power light has loads of contrast with the blackness around you.
Gardenmentor - it’s a good job that you had your eyes peeled. Riding without lights or reflectors is just asking to get rubbed out - evolution tends to weed out those who’re too stoopid to breed. If you ever do see me doing riding unlit, (say, one of us takes a wrong turn, and doesn’t realise the mistake for a few of thousand miles & an ocean), please do lean on the horn, shout, swear like a trooper, and use any hand signals you like. OR just run me over. Either way you’ll be doing me / the rest of my species a favour!