TIB

Today I bought … welp, it’s on its way, the wash-in waterproofer and some “rain pants” of the ten buck variety (and not even pretending to be gore-tex), and a hopefully nice jacket since my jackets all have Permanently Grungy-looking Syndrome.

Tom Vanderbilt was on NPR today – the guy who wrote the book on driver behaviour.  I wonder if they had him on when it first came out.  I’m going to go out and be a driver now… Enterprise should have my car.

 

FLAB sighting!

Tossed a few hundred cans into the Xtra and left with enough time to Goat them (feed theminto the machine that spits out quarters for your cans at half the rate of the ‘real’ recycler, but it’s convenient).   I think this is the Maximal Traffic Window at the assorted schools which I pass along the way.

Since I *was* kinda hovering to the right, I went a block further North rather than hurl myself into traffic to take left on Oregon going West.  California is, in fact, no easier than Oregon for getting across LIncoln.  Whilst I waited, who should I see but Mr. FLAB!  Tootling down Lincoln in Proper Lane Position (it didn’t strike me as “Full Lane Arterial BIcycling – FLAB — more like “proper lane position arterial bicycling” but PLPAP sounds like a procedure done on private organs best discussed with intimates only).  Still, it would certainly be considered “the middle of the road!!!” by many people including cyclists (hmmm… will try to find if I posted about that special one who emailed me…) since he wasn’t gutter hopping.

A kind motorist waved me across (and it wouldn’t have endangered me, even ) and I tooled across town.  Crossing Prospect, I look to my right and — there he is again at Prospect & Green.  Now, hauling a tree and everything, I wasn’t going as quickly – but it was good to show that the two routes are comparable.  (Now, that guerrilla rider who streaked by me and bobbed and weaved would probably have beaten both of us, but alleycat’s not our goal.)

There’s still that obvious issue, though, that many (prob’ly most) cyclists simply aren’t ready to handle arterials and may well regard films of the same as riders in a different category — and proof that what we suggest for riding doesn’t apply to them, because we are simply more fearless and reckless and don’t mind endangering ourselves.

This made me wonder if, perhaps, putting “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” on the roads where we pretty much *have* to isn’t actually a good idea.  I’d been thinking that it would suggest taht “yea, *here* you may, but not anywhere else.”  If, in fact, even on Anderson cyclists don’t *think* they should, then we might just want to get ‘em used to the concept.  Still pondering.

distractions :)

I fell abjectly, unabashedly in love with this man’s fiddle, voice, …  with his first album, like (ack!) 20 years ago.

I see this and figger I have good taste

(When I drove to W VA and slept at the rest stop to see Garnet live, he sang this and two others … I remember sitting back in the theater of Mountain Stage with a consuming tension and lightheadedness which I blamed on the situation ’til I remembered the cramps often took me that way…  I inquired of hm a few years later and yes, that horse, which they called “mom,” was still makin’ babies…)

Remember the gun-toting “you’re endangering your son” guy?

THe Asheville man who shot the cyclist who was “endangering” his son (the cyclist’s son) by (shudder) riding a bicycle was sentenced to 4 months in jail - but much suspended, and yes, he lost his job (originally he was on leave with pay), and has to take an anger management course.  Hope the course is not b.s. (not too hard hoping, though) and hope that he can move on and mellow out… and hope that this causes other like-mindless people to direct their hostilities elsewhere (like at a wall or something).

Sunny Day!

Put David and Cindy’s Tandem in my garage for hte winter.

This past two weeks I’ve been reaping the benefits of last winters horrendous length and severity.  I get up and put on the two layers and get to stop there, and I walk outside and get this thrill because gosh, exposed skin is not hurting.  I don’t even get cold before I’m really, thoroughly warm and fuzzy… okay, it’s the ol’ clinical euphoria kicking in but I’m not going to complain.

Next week, however, it’s supposed to Actually Get Cold — but, happily, I have the weekend to root and snurfle through the closets and debris and find those Other Layers.  Mebbe order up some more amphib tights.  Found some incredible gore-tex winter pants on Sierra Trading Post … completely tacky camouflage… but, alas, only in XXL.  Were I more creative, I should get ‘em and trim ‘em and do something with all that excess gore-tex.

Just Cloudy :)

No, it doesn’t do the soggy cornfields much good, but ’twas a much easier ride in this a.m.

Over the summer I picked up some AmPhib tights off the sale rack at Champaign Cycle and had ‘em on under the faux gore-tex.  It reminded me of that first time I wore “real” wicking tights (that particular pair, however, having shrunk – or perhaps the quads have expanded, or…).  Heavens, they work!  Wet on the outside, dry at my skin.

Bicycling & Pedestrian Advisory Commission last night.    I am forever steeled to see the best laid plans watered down and picked apart on their way to execution.  Au contraire,   it seems the tweaks to our bicycle plan are improvements.  Lauds to Jennifer Selby, who’s also doing the application-form work towards our application to being a bike-friendly city; glad I’m on the U side of U-C.  Heard expressions of concern about Windsor and Race and “constant conflicts” ’cause it’s so wide, and felt less wimpy about my tendency to ride East to Philo instead and use the light instead.

SLimy Again

eya, more of the “high 50 degrees, rain” stuff for this week.   My $10 faux gore-tex pants I think have had all the tex washed out of ‘em, but the amphib tights are amphibious thus far, so things are pretty dry and happy. (The genuine Gore-Tex jacket is still waterproof and breathable and gives teh pleasant, relaxing rain-on-the-roof sound effect. )

Still have to duck up to Springfield for a block on the a.m. commute.  Happily the rain hasn’t exceeded the drainage capacity of the underpass on Logan.  Do kinda wish I had the wheel on the Gazelle, since I think it would be really really happy to ride in this stuff.

thinkin’ geek

got a couple of gadgets.  The “mouse pad calendar” with tearoff sheets just savedme from completely forgetting that special Sunday rehearsal.  The “universal remote” I haven’t figured out how to make work yet.

The teeny tiny recorder ($40 from the bookstore) has captured some “Oh, I really want to remember this thought!” waftings from riding on the prairie, and happily when I played ‘em later they were memorable.  (Not earth-shaking, but useful.)

cycling and social skills

Seems cycling is beneficial for scarred vets. I’ve long appreciated that cycling in a group requires less “group social skills” than other athletic or other endeavors — but lets a person work on ‘em on his/her own terms. You’re mostly pedaling.

cranksgiving is on ;)

Saturday at the Bike Coop, 1 p.m. be there

Stephen King telling storm stories on the Weather Channel?  No, it’s not going to make me get a TV, but I like the concept.

Cleared tinsel from hub.  Still can’t tell if there’s something else goin’ on.  Could just be the lumpy front tire which I should try to re-seat again.

Yo!  Try to stay above water on the east coast, dudes!