safety tip #1

Ok here is a safety tip I should heed. don't ride faster than your angels can fly.
seriously, what that means is actually quite a bit when taken realistically.
how about, ride under control. its a concept I learned from learning how to ski back when I was 13 years old from a ski instructor on the bunny hill. His advice was that if you feel like you're out of control, you probably are and that's when bad things start to happen. In this case the remedy was to snowplow, or make a V with my skis to shed some speed. The result is obvious, you slow down. But what is lost in velocity, is gained in something far more important, that is, the ability to plan or "think things through". The same can be applied to biking. (and life?)

In my world the ideal road is one that's flat, straight, and with no cars, (ok and a nice steady tail wind but thats beside the point) In reality, the odds are slim to none it ever happens. Throw into the equation a weekly commute, and the odds are even worse.

I have to admit that I love to ride fast, and with that I take risks. Cutting in front of a car, turning in front of oncoming traffic, entering a road from a trail system or crossing an intersection at a high rate of speed. All these are decisions to make, and a rider is allowed a certian amount of time to see the situation, process, and take action. Riding a bike means constantly being aware of your surroundings. The pavement, potholes, debris, drainage grates, cars, other bikers, signs, traffic signals, the list is endless. And a rider takes in all of this information. the faster you go, the more information is available, the less time you have to take in information because the environment is, well, changing faster.

This is exactly why I say I should take my own advice. I am learning to ride under control and ride slower. Iam not perfect but I am currently practicing on my daily commute. what I gain is, more time to assess, make decisions and act. Instead of cutting in front of a car, I can let them go by and check behind me again, look for potholes, and check the traffic signal. The thril of riding fast up and out of the saddle is gone, (think back to the movie quicksilver or a tour de france stage). But am I either of those, a movie star or a super athlete on a closed circuit? of course not! I am able to go slowly, allow myself longer to make an assesment and take action. Biking is about constantly being aware, and when biking becomes reckless and out of control it can tick off a lot of people, and cause yourself a lot of pain. Like I said, I am not perfect, I still like to ride in a peleton, and I save biking fast for wide open streches of back country road, (most likely i am being chased by a dog in those cases.) but commuting its all about allowing time to think through and then act. Give yourself time enjoy the ride, I am, and its paying off.

Keys

I left my keys in the ignition in the Subaru. Becca drove me to the Park & ride and dropped me off. she called me as soon as she got home. turned around and went down to the train station to give them to me. I needed them for the other car that was parked where I would be getting off the train. We both could have used a cup of coffee this morning.

Today's Commute

well call it a draw.  Becca and I pulled into the Cul-de-sac at 5:55.  an 85 minute commute.

 

exhausted and tired this weekend

too much biking and commuting left me exhausted this weekend. I fixed becca's car. the drivers side fron window now rolls up and down. and she has the ability to lock or unlock window control. I replaced the power window motor and the master window switch panel.
thats all I did this weekend. Sunday I slept, and we went to a concert. Kathryn Scott. pretty good. nice small setting, and a sense meaning in her music. oh and we bought becca new clothes for school.

Bakery

I left the train station in downtown seattle on my Fuji this morning and headed thru Chinatown. The sky was overcast with low foggy clouds. I zigzagged my way through the streets towards S Dearborn St going under i-5 and then south towards the bicycle path. I had just started up the hill and caught a wiff of fresh bread and, I am assuming pasteries and doughnuts. There is nothing in the world like that smell. If you have stepped into a Krispy Kreme when the sign outside is lit up, you get the idea. and when you're on a bike its even more captivating. the temptation to head upwind towards the source is huge. all the way up the hill, I was trying to rationalize skipping the ride and the first 30 minutes of work to chase the wind. I wanted to bay lke a bloodhound and turn for the chase.
I have really no idea where this magical place is, though. My guess is its an industrial bakery that produces things for local delis and resturants. I could only hope that they have an outlet store. This bakery haunted my thoughts during the ride. beckoning like the sirens. I am captivated.

sound transit:1 Joel:1

sound transit:1
Joel:1

going to play diablo

with friends after work. would two or more diablo be called diabli? what if it were a spanish diablo, el diablo? french?
and if it had children and a family, the right evil Mr. and Mrs. Diablo? who's to say?

commuter at the bus stop

I drove past a bus stop this morning and saw a middle aged, slightly bald, overweight man wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Rock-on.

bunny letter opener

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBHZT3a-FA

text message to self get

text message to self get a life. hehe
--Joel