Lock, Stock and Barrel

Today I finally redeemed the $25 gift card to Helen's Cycles that I had been given by my parents for Christmas 2011. I had been wanting a bike lock for a long time, even though I know it will still be a little scary to leave it locked up, even for short periods. Due to the shape of my bike frame, however, it is impossible to mount it onto the hybrid, not to mention the two lower water bottles get in the way, mostly for lack of room. However, it is just the right size to travel in the pannier. The lock wasn't $25, btw, but $45, and I might get another of the Kryptonite cords for $10. I actually had to ask how to best position the lock on the bike to be sure the bike would still be there when I came out of where ever, so I got some advice on that. I'm hoping that having a lock will facilitate me being able to expand my life on two wheels because normally the bike doesn't ever leave my hands when I'm out and about.

After I went to the bike shop, I. Martin Imports, which is a subsidiary of Helen's Cycles, I continued to have a regular bike ride on one of my routes. When I was in the Beverly Hills area heading west on Cashio to Doheny and getting ready to turn north on Doheny, I found myself with a cycling group heading east on Cashio and also turning north on Doheny. I stayed at the back of their pack so as not to interfere with them, but the interesting thing was, my hybrid kept pace with them! They were doing about 15-16 mph going up Doheny, and then the group split apart at the Santa Monica Blvd crossing with some continuing north on Doheny and others heading east on Santa Monica Blvd. I followed the ones on Santa Monica Blvd since I was going that way anyhow, and they got up to speeds of 20 mph , and again, I met their speeds. I even broke my own record and got up to 21 mph! I was so excited. However, we got separated at a stop light with me getting left behind, and by the time the light changed they were far gone. However, I was tickled to have kept up with them for about 2 miles! So, if I can keep up with them on a hybrid, I should easily outpace them on a road bike. Ha!

Collision 101

I keep forgetting to mention that I saw a bike crash the other day. I was in the drive-through at Jack In the Box, and was behind a limo. The drive-thru was sort of an alley situation. When the limo driver got his food and pulled forward, he was struck on the rear passenger-side door by an east-bound cyclist on the sidewalk. The cyclist went down and seemed to have banged his elbow pretty good but was otherwise all right, and the limo driver kept inspecting his car for damage.

The one at fault was the cyclist. First of all, although there is no law in California against riding on the side-walks, this cyclist wasn't using common sense to slow down at driveways and alley ways (danger zones for sidewalk riding). Second, he was heading east but on the north side of the street, which wasn't even flowing with traffic. If he was going to be on the sidewalk, he should have at least been on the south side of the street. Actually, though, he should have been riding in the street and flowing with the traffic. Had he been doing that, the accident never would have occurred.

I ride in the streets about 95% of the time. If I should happen to pop up onto the sidewalk, it's only temporary to avoid a traffic snafu that is potentially hazardous.

This is a great instructional video on safe riding (in Colorado, but it is broadly applicable):

Safe Bike Riding

Robertson

Today I again took my bike into the bank on the way to work, but afterwards had to make a decision which way I would then head south. Normally I wouldn't consider Robertson Blvd. as it is too crowded, single lanes, and just downright obnoxious. However, I'd never ridden the northern end of Robertson before. I've ridden the southern end from Robertson/Guthrie to one mile south underneath the 10 freeway to catch the bike lane on Venice Blvd, but I had avoided the upper part. However, I did take it down to Olympic Blvd today, then headed east on Olympic two blocks to Shenandoah, then headed south to my destination. I have to say, I don't like Olympic blvd either for the fast traffic and the city buses - something that continues to scare me. It would be helpful if Olympic had bike lanes, but it does not.

I was delayed a little at work from leaving at my normal time (5:00), so I ended up leaving closer to 6:00 and by the time I got home it was pretty dark. I need to investigate getting some lights for my wheels to help be more visible to others, even though I have flashing lights in back and the front.

Too close for comfort

I'm often nearly clipped by a car. Had such an experience a few days a go when a car was determined to beat me across the intersection and get ahead (several blocks later that car was only a half block ahead). That vehicle missed me by less than two feet! Too close.

Here's an excellent video put out by Road ID about the rights that cyclists have to the road.

Road ID Youtube video

Century ride

So I keep thinking about doing a century ride, and one of my Facebook friends suggested the Amtrak Century ride from Irvine down to San Diego, which I would LOVE to do, but then I got to thinking.... logistically there are problems. I'd probably want to spend the night in Irvine because the ride starts so early - 7:00. That is an expense. Then there's the need for someone to watch my dog. Another expense.

The truth is, I'm also not geared for it - riding the hybrid for 100 miles would be painful. I'm already thinking of changing the seat out as it is. But I don't yet have proper riding shorts with the padded chamois crotch, and I don't have my arm warmers and leg warmers yet - and also no velcro shoes. Also, although they say to do an average of 12 mph, which isn't a problem, one would really have to do 12.5 to get there in 8 hrs and catch the train back. That's with no stops. If you stop for refreshments, you're dead in the water. Truth is, I need a faster bike, a true road bike, for long distance runs. Yes, I did the half century on the hybrid last summer, but that was killer on my butt and wrists, and that probably took me 8 hrs, but I also was not on open road and couldn't get true decent speed.

So, right now I am working on short sprints forcing the bike to a minimum of 12.5 mph and up to 15-16mph, but ideally I'd want to be doing 15-20 mph on a road bike on a long distance trip like that so that I can get down there in plenty of time to catch the train back. So, I don't think this is the year for THAT trip, but maybe next summer. I must focus on getting a road bike.

World's most advanced ski goggles

I saw this today, and I really, really want it for my bike trips, especially my trip across the USA.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/world-most-advanced-goggles-170745770.html

What a terrific idea, and in a few years, it will just be even better.

Winging it

So, I have this situation that comes up repeatedly when I am in traffic. I come to an intersection and must stop for the light. The lane is marked for just one lane but two cars can be side to side, one to go left and one to turn right. Now, the car on the left might actually not be turning but going straight, and the car on the right, not wanting to be blocked by the car on the left should it be turning right, might also be wanting to go straight and has therefore moved to the right to go around the left car. My problem is that I don't know what either car intends to do. If I block the car on the right, I'm going to get honked at for sure because they are too impatient to wait if they want to turn right. If I give the car on the right room to turn and the car doesn't turn, then I get winged on the right compounded by the car on the left who wings me in that direction when he also doesn't intend to turn. So I have cars passing me on both sides trying to beat each other to the single lane across the street. This is extremely dangerous for me because should I happen to swerve to avoid being winged, I will be hit by the other car. So I guess the best thing is to just block the right lane because if I keep right, that forces him to go left of me if he plans to go straight. My physical safety is of the utmost importance, and I'll have to tolerate being honked at. They will just have to wait.