(no subject)

[johnpalmer]

Riding a bicycle... it used to be fun, and nothing else. But, you know, that was back before you realized that riding it to get somewhere (and on the road, where you're legally required to be) means exposing yourself to many strangers, any one of whom might decide to do something stupid that can kill you.

I'm learning to ignore it, but if/when I'm in traffic, and have to be passed many times, I'm going to be nervous.

Do I sound paranoid? Maybe I am. I was coming up to a railroad crossing, and, just as I was coming even with the lights, they started flashing. I slammed on my brakes (so to speak, but they are cantilever brakes, and very good), and waited... about 20 seconds later, the gates came down, and I was sitting there for probably three minutes.

Okay, but, see, if Something Had Gone Wrong, I could end up knocked silly and on the tracks. One of my rules is that most safety guidelines aren't for 'normal' times, they're for emergencies, and you never know when an emergency will show up.

(I did decide that I should have run the lights, though... because if I'd been a bit closer, and hit the brakes too hard, *THAT* was more likely to throw me on the tracks, whereas even if I left the bike along the way, odds are momentum would teach me new definitions of pain, but also get me past the tracks.)

If you want an explanation of ADHD-style thinking, BTW, you've just had an example... you don't think I could really just stop at a train crossing, and never think about it again, did you?

Time to go home... hopefully, my internet access will be up by Saturday. *FINALLY*, they're sending out a tech, based upon a "failed installation". It only took them, what three weeks to say "wait, you've NEVER been up? That's a failed installation, then", even after I asked them to send someone out.

I suppose the level of stupidity shouldn't really surprise me at this point.

I'm still betting it's the DHCP server. I don't think the poor tech will be prepared for a spontaneous victory dance and a request that he take a CD of me saying "I TOLD YOU SO YOU MORON!" around to everyone I've dealt with in this matter.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Ah, the joys of bicycle commuting. I did it through much of High School, back in the Dark Ages, so I must have internalized at a young age that I was largely invisible. Drivers of cars don't deliberately hit cyclists, they just don't see 'em.

In the more recent past, I used to ride to and from work here in Baltimore when I only lived 10 miles away instead of the 21 miles that's the case now. This is a fairly hilly city, with traffic patterns similar to what I've seen in Seattle, so the experience might translate. I quickly discovered that the best way to commute by bike was to stay off the major streets as much as possible. Get a good map and work out a route that uses residential streets for as large a portion of your ride as possible. For winter riding, get waterproof, insulated boots and then wear bread bags over the juncture of your pant legs and the boot tops. Try to get the plastic up to your knees if possible. The slush really can get up pretty high on your legs. Also, get a face mask from a ski supply store and wear it.

-Bill

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I did search for non-busy street paths, and I'm glad I did... otherwise, I'd either be able to choose the sidewalk, or a 50mph roadway. I *DO* have about a mile on a 40mph road, but hopefully once my legs get into better shape, that will be very little time, and the road tends to have light enough traffic that people can usually change lanes to avoid me.

Visibility is going to be a problem, for a bit, though... I have to get some reflective tape, and need to get lights and a mirror (and saddlebags or a basket that will hold my stuff). Hopefully I can get that this week, but a paycheck kind of vanished in the middle of moving expenses, so I'm not sure.

I've only ridden to work once so far; the big problem is that I'm addicted to being able to leave at 10 minutes to six :-).