Why Are You Trying to Kill Me?

Situation: I coming down a fairly quick downhill on a bike laden down with books. The driver looks right at me and then starts to pull out in front of me to turn left across the street. Now here's the great part once he pulls out into the lane he stops, I guess he suddenly sees me. So now I have to hit the brakes hard. Did I mention the bike was packed full of books? So the rear wheel starts to slide out and I start doing the calculations should I go down or try and ride her out. I choose to keep it up and manage to straighten her up stopping just a few inches from the car.

And the guy is still just sitting there. Sigh...

#test#
test

#test
test

Right Now

Right now I'm looking at a Specialized Roubaix that's ridden by one of my law professors who is also a bike commuter. He brings it into class with him while I have to lock my bike up outside like a sucker.

Thinking About Lane Position

Yesterday on my way back from the thrift store I was passed by another cyclist. This is nothing new, I'm kind of slow, people pass me all the time. But what struck me was our difference in lane positions. While I ride inside what would be a cars passenger side tire track (sometimes even further to the left) the guy who passed me rode right on the white line.

Now in metro Atlanta most roads do not have shoulders; so for my safety I take the lane, but I'm in the minority. Most cyclist I see ride almost on top of the white line. Now if there is a shoulder and it's sufficiently wide (at least two handlebar widths) I will use it, otherwise I'm out in the lane forcing cars to go around me. So how about you? Where do you ride?

How the Other Half Lives

Riding around for a week on roads covered with sand, gravel, and salt has given me a new insight into what northern riders endure. Having cars pelt your face with this stuff isn't fun.

An Adventurous Start to the New Year

We're just seven days into the new year and I've already had many days of subfreezing rides, snow, ice, and an encounter with wrong way driver on a one street. Only 358 days left to go.

1 Letter 2 Trips

I rode to the post office today and when I got there I discovered that I had left the letter I intended to mail at home. So I rode home and then back to the post office. If I were in a car or had something to do this would have probably annoyed me, but on a bike even in the cold it was ok.

By the way, Mr. Toyota RAV4 I want to say thank you for not speeding. I mean it must be difficult enough to drive with your knees while texting on your iPhone that speeding would have just been too tough.

Saved from Destruction

A bridgestone kabuki and a Maruishi road ace were headed to the dump but with my penchant for Japanese bikes from the 70s and 80s, I just couldn't let them go. So I pulled them out of the dumpster and brought them home. The components on both are in pretty rough shape but the frames are straight so I'll be fixing them up over the next few weeks.

Mirrors and CVS

I tend to prefer handlebar mounted mirrors over helmet or glasses mounted ones primarily because I don't always wear my helmet or glasses. However, handlebar mounts tend to attract vandals and I lost another one todays while my bike was parked at Publix.

In happier news, kudos to the new CVS on Powers Ferry Road. Look what they've got: