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.

Rain

The image left is of the rainstorm a couple weeks ago. This is a corner curb, and the rain is about 5-6" deep right there - it has jumped the curb. Where the water line is on the sidewalk there is now a crack in that same water arc.

It started raining last night about 3:00 AM. Yes, I was still up and don't ask why except that darn Words With Friends. Alec Baldwin thinks he's so addicted he can't put it down when an airline tells him to, and I can't seem to stop when my body is begging me for sleep. Actually, though, I did stop because the fellow I play against at that hour of the day doesn't play his turn immediately, because he's at work doing night rounds, so rather than wait I finally went to bed.

Today it pretty much rained in a steady downpour all day. I don't have any rain gear so there's not much point in biking unless I desire to be drenched, so I'm driving the new car more than I'd like. I actually filled it - or close to filled it today. I spent $40, and that put in about 12 gallons, but so I think it might hold 14 or so. I'd prefer not to drive it but I think I have a week of driving. 5:00 PM rolls around and it's just black out, and the longest day of the year, December 22, is just 9 days away... oh thank heavens, then we start the gradual longer days.

As I have next week off, albeit unpaid, I hope to take in some longer rides again during daylight hours.

You go, girl!

Today as I was commuting to work, I had to stop at the intersection of Gregory and La Cienega (I was heading West on Gregory), and a woman passed by me, took a look and said, "You go, girl!" To which all I could mutter was, "Thank you!" She just made my day! I wish I had told her that!

Feeling the need for distance

I just don't get enough time on the bike now. It's dark so early, and I miss the rides.

I daydream more and more about just leaving everything behind, getting on the bike and just going. Of course, I realize one can't just go like that without some means of self-support. Part of me just really wants to escape, to leave behind all these things that weigh me down emotionally and financially.

I find it incredible that although I have been in Los Angeles for nearly 22 years, and inflation has increased steadily in those 20 years, salaries have not. In fact, searching for a day job that will better handle the financial obligations I have has so far proven to be fruitless at best. In 1995 I was making $25 an hour. Today I'd be lucky to get $12.50 an hour - and that's what I was making as a temp in 1989 when I moved here. It was a livable salary then. Gas was lower, rent was less. With a 40-hr week at $12.50 an hour, I'd only be spinning my wheels after taxes, not making enough to meet any financial obligations except maybe a roof over my head and some bills, but heaven forbid I should put food on the table of gas in the car. And heaven forbid one of my animals gets sick, something goes wrong with the car, or something goes wrong with me requiring medical care. Oh yes, no health insurance can be afforded.

Do I want to escape from this ridiculous madness? Yes, I certainly do. Do I want to just get on a bike and not look back? Yes, I do. Maybe one day that will happen, but right now, I still have a dog and cat to care for. The cat is nearly 20, and the dog is maybe 13-14, and I have to wait until they both pass on before I do anything rash. However, I think I am going to start some serious purging of things in my apartment. I need to be unencumbered.

Maybe part of my cross country bike trip can be to find a new place to live and start over. Starting over doesn't scare me, even at age 52. Somewhere, something has got to give.

For right now, however, I am staying with my part-time job and barely making ends meet... sometimes to the penny. I need additional income, that's for sure. I just don't know where it's going to come from. Cookie sales are dismal and book sales are few and far between. So frustrating.