0 comment Monday, October 13, 2014 | admin
They Become Construction Staging Grounds! Because no one was using that space, right?
This is the third blocked bike lane in my lower downtown travel radius, 18th st. and Lawrence. It's this kind of planning that makes me take the car lane and ride right down the middle of it.
This is the third blocked bike lane in my lower downtown travel radius, 18th st. and Lawrence. It's this kind of planning that makes me take the car lane and ride right down the middle of it.
Labels: Bike Lanes, Denver
0 comment Friday, October 10, 2014 | admin
University of Colorado at Denver, 14th and Larimer streets (this is probably a perfectly safe place to park your bike, as there are always a bunch of bikes there, but this person must have left theirs there for an extended period of time)
Check out the lock. That's the same lock I have. I now have confidence in it.
Check out the lock. That's the same lock I have. I now have confidence in it.Labels: Bike, Denver, Park, Places
0 comment Tuesday, October 7, 2014 | admin
I went on the Salvagetti's breakfast ride this Sunday, and Brian, one of the regulars, told me an incredibly brutal story of what happened to him about 6 weeks ago when a driver flipped out on him. Here it is in Brian's own words:
On Thursday night July 24th, 2008 Michelle and I were out on a bike ride to meet up with friends at a bookstore/café on Hampden and Sherman. We left from our home in Washington Park and most of the ride we traveled down S. Pearl from I-25 South towards our destination at Hampden and Sherman. When we got to Harvard Gulch, we cut back over to S. Logan Street and continued on from there. There were lots of cars parked on the Southbound side of Logan and it is one lane in each direction.
As we neared the intersection for Hampden and S. Logan, at the top of the hill, we were passed by a very angry driver in a small white souped-up Subaru with fancy wheels and tires and a loud muffler. As he accelerated around us, he must have been doing 45 to 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. He honked and yelled at us. As luck would have it he was immediately caught in traffic at a red light and we traveled down the hill passing him.
As I passed I flipped him the bird and said "smooth move asshole." He yelled, "do you want to talk about it" as he accelerated through the now green light at Hampden and cut in front of me on E. Jefferson, pulling over and immediately jumping out of his car and running up to me. I remained standing on my bike. He continued to scream and yell for a few minutes. I let him vent and only engaged him minimally. Finally, I just decided I had taken enough abuse. As I started to ride away I repeated his license plate number over and over. He said "What are you doing?" and I said, "Memorizing your plate asshole, so I can report you for road rage." He jumped out of his car screaming "NOBODY calls me an asshole!"
My wife screamed as he started chasing me down, and I slowed up, not wanting to leave her there with him. He tackled me while I was still clipped into my pedals. He had his car keys between his fingers. He got in a few good shots, before I got on top of him. Several witnesses came running up. I said "call the cops." My wife road to the bookstore, only about � block away now, and got the owner to call the police. The cops got there in about 3 minutes. The cops took witness statements first, then handcuffed him and put him in the car. I pressed charges and he was charged with assault. Fire trucks and paramedics were called because of the blood from the lacerations on my face, the one�s he made with his keys.
Brian after the attack.
I guess I will see him in court in September 3rd, 2008 in Englewood.
I will only say this, Bryan is a big guy, and has taken a punch or two in his time, and given some back. If he had not shown admirable restraint after being attacked from behind, his attacker would have certainly paid a visit to the hospital prior to his visit to jail. Way to go Brian. If I could decide it for you right now, you'd own his damn suped-up Subaru, I hear they handle nicely with filled ski racks on top and snow tires.
On Thursday night July 24th, 2008 Michelle and I were out on a bike ride to meet up with friends at a bookstore/café on Hampden and Sherman. We left from our home in Washington Park and most of the ride we traveled down S. Pearl from I-25 South towards our destination at Hampden and Sherman. When we got to Harvard Gulch, we cut back over to S. Logan Street and continued on from there. There were lots of cars parked on the Southbound side of Logan and it is one lane in each direction.
As we neared the intersection for Hampden and S. Logan, at the top of the hill, we were passed by a very angry driver in a small white souped-up Subaru with fancy wheels and tires and a loud muffler. As he accelerated around us, he must have been doing 45 to 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. He honked and yelled at us. As luck would have it he was immediately caught in traffic at a red light and we traveled down the hill passing him.
As I passed I flipped him the bird and said "smooth move asshole." He yelled, "do you want to talk about it" as he accelerated through the now green light at Hampden and cut in front of me on E. Jefferson, pulling over and immediately jumping out of his car and running up to me. I remained standing on my bike. He continued to scream and yell for a few minutes. I let him vent and only engaged him minimally. Finally, I just decided I had taken enough abuse. As I started to ride away I repeated his license plate number over and over. He said "What are you doing?" and I said, "Memorizing your plate asshole, so I can report you for road rage." He jumped out of his car screaming "NOBODY calls me an asshole!"
My wife screamed as he started chasing me down, and I slowed up, not wanting to leave her there with him. He tackled me while I was still clipped into my pedals. He had his car keys between his fingers. He got in a few good shots, before I got on top of him. Several witnesses came running up. I said "call the cops." My wife road to the bookstore, only about � block away now, and got the owner to call the police. The cops got there in about 3 minutes. The cops took witness statements first, then handcuffed him and put him in the car. I pressed charges and he was charged with assault. Fire trucks and paramedics were called because of the blood from the lacerations on my face, the one�s he made with his keys.
Brian after the attack.
I guess I will see him in court in September 3rd, 2008 in Englewood.
I will only say this, Bryan is a big guy, and has taken a punch or two in his time, and given some back. If he had not shown admirable restraint after being attacked from behind, his attacker would have certainly paid a visit to the hospital prior to his visit to jail. Way to go Brian. If I could decide it for you right now, you'd own his damn suped-up Subaru, I hear they handle nicely with filled ski racks on top and snow tires.
0 comment Thursday, October 2, 2014 | admin
For Immediate Release
June 24, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OP
Denver takes another step to be bicycle friendly:
Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services adds permanent bicycle lane markings to portions of Bannock Street near Civic Center Park
WHAT: Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services (TES) will apply sharrows (shared lane pavement markings) to North Bannock Street between West Colfax Avenue and East 13th Avenue.
WHO: Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services, Traffic Operations Team
WHEN: Today, June 24, 1:00 pm
WHERE: Bannock Street, between Colfax and 13th Avenue
WHY: "Sharrow" is an abbreviated term for a shared lane use pavement marking symbol. Although motorists and cyclists are always expected to share public roadways, sharrows are a relatively new type of pavement marking symbol for use on designated on-street bike routes to provide a visual reminder that motorists and cyclists are to share the road. Public Works is planning to add more sharrows to the following streets in downtown Denver:
* 14th Street - Blake St to Civic Center
* 18th Street - Curtis St to Glenarm St
* 12th Avenue - Sherman to Speer
* Sherman Street - 12th Ave to 16th Ave
* Cleveland Place - 16th St Mall to Webb Building
* 19th Street - Arapahoe St to Broadway
* 16th Avenue - Broadway and Lincoln
###
Christine Downs
Public Works
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
720.865.2578 Office
720.291.0820 Cell
PIC FROM BANNOCK STREET
Ah, my first sharrow.
June 24, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OP
Denver takes another step to be bicycle friendly:
Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services adds permanent bicycle lane markings to portions of Bannock Street near Civic Center Park
WHAT: Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services (TES) will apply sharrows (shared lane pavement markings) to North Bannock Street between West Colfax Avenue and East 13th Avenue.
WHO: Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services, Traffic Operations Team
WHEN: Today, June 24, 1:00 pm
WHERE: Bannock Street, between Colfax and 13th Avenue
WHY: "Sharrow" is an abbreviated term for a shared lane use pavement marking symbol. Although motorists and cyclists are always expected to share public roadways, sharrows are a relatively new type of pavement marking symbol for use on designated on-street bike routes to provide a visual reminder that motorists and cyclists are to share the road. Public Works is planning to add more sharrows to the following streets in downtown Denver:
* 14th Street - Blake St to Civic Center
* 18th Street - Curtis St to Glenarm St
* 12th Avenue - Sherman to Speer
* Sherman Street - 12th Ave to 16th Ave
* Cleveland Place - 16th St Mall to Webb Building
* 19th Street - Arapahoe St to Broadway
* 16th Avenue - Broadway and Lincoln
###
Christine Downs
Public Works
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
720.865.2578 Office
720.291.0820 Cell
PIC FROM BANNOCK STREET
Ah, my first sharrow.
Labels: Bicycle Friendly, Denver
0 comment Wednesday, September 24, 2014 | admin
In case you haven't heard, you should: "Ride a fucking bike"
...as seen on the Cherry Creek bike path.
...as seen on the Cherry Creek bike path.
0 comment Wednesday, August 20, 2014 | admin
Wednesday was the first full-on winter conditions I've had this season. My commute, which takes me west on 12th Ave. from Cheesman Park to Lincoln, covered several of stretches of packed snow and thin ice. Definitely a lot of iffy places for me on road tires. I only saw one other cyclist on my way to work, and he was a messenger. Made it to work without dumping it.
Labels: Bike Commuting, Denver, Winter
0 comment Friday, August 8, 2014 | admin
365 days a year, a bunch of cars get together and block traffic, and that's normal.
12 days a year, a few bikes get together and block traffic, and that's an outrage.
About 20 of us had a blast on Critical Mass on Friday night, riding mostly around downtown, in and out of the Parade of Lights route (but before the parade, of course). The only two police officers we saw were the two who gave us a brief evil eye when we blew a red light on 15th, after the self-righteous guy in the white sedan laid on his horn for 60 consecutive seconds because we were blocking his lane, taking up his precious time.
Honk if you love bicycles.
12 days a year, a few bikes get together and block traffic, and that's an outrage.
About 20 of us had a blast on Critical Mass on Friday night, riding mostly around downtown, in and out of the Parade of Lights route (but before the parade, of course). The only two police officers we saw were the two who gave us a brief evil eye when we blew a red light on 15th, after the self-righteous guy in the white sedan laid on his horn for 60 consecutive seconds because we were blocking his lane, taking up his precious time.
Honk if you love bicycles.
Labels: Critical Mass, Denver
0 comment Saturday, August 2, 2014 | admin
I think officially it's called a "wintery mix", meaning some sort of cold rain or ice mixed with snow. Earlier today little pebbles of ice were falling on me, but then it turned into 33 degree rain, not anything fun to ride in, and just enough to soak the road. Before much of it could evaporate, the temp dropped below freezing, creating an icy sheen on just about every surface. Basically, unless you have metal tacks in your tires, you won't have any traction. A little bit of snow should fall later, maybe that will help, or at least make for a softer landing when you slide across the road.
*Update -The kind souls from Denver public works sprayed de-icer later in the evening, and it took the sheen off the major roads, so as long as you stayed off the sidewalks, you were OK.
*Update -The kind souls from Denver public works sprayed de-icer later in the evening, and it took the sheen off the major roads, so as long as you stayed off the sidewalks, you were OK.
Labels: Conditions, Denver, Worst
0 comment Wednesday, July 30, 2014 | admin
Just thought I'd share some photos I collected over the past two weeks of some not so great parking jobs around Denver.
Yes, they are cutting a lock. This is over by Wash Park. A friend mentioned that she thought the bike had been parked there for awhile, but I wondered if maybe on a nice Sunday afternoon these guys figured that no one would question someone with a saw.
This is at DU. U LEAVE IT U LOCK IT is their slogan. Unfortunately, if you only lock up the front tire, U LOSE IT.
Yes, they are cutting a lock. This is over by Wash Park. A friend mentioned that she thought the bike had been parked there for awhile, but I wondered if maybe on a nice Sunday afternoon these guys figured that no one would question someone with a saw.This is at DU. U LEAVE IT U LOCK IT is their slogan. Unfortunately, if you only lock up the front tire, U LOSE IT.Labels: Bike, Denver, Park, Places
0 comment Tuesday, July 29, 2014 | admin
Actually, this rack in front of my office at Colfax and Broadway is fine, except for the far right inverted U.
And it's usually leaning up against the wall of the Starbucks, which is a pretty good red flag not to use it..
And it's usually leaning up against the wall of the Starbucks, which is a pretty good red flag not to use it..Labels: Bike, Denver, Park, Places
0 comment Saturday, July 26, 2014 | admin
I pulled up to the Central Library yesterday afternoon and almost took a photo of all the bikes parked at the racks on the east side (front door). I thought it was pretty outstanding how many people rode to the library even as the temperature was dropping.
But I didn't take a photo, and when I came back out, I noticed this underneath where I parked my bike, right at the end of one of the racks. I assume it was pretty fresh, since the velcro strap that holds the cable together was still sitting on the ground a couple feet away.
Doesn't say a lot for the OnGuard cable lock snipped in half down there, or cable locks in general, and this was a pretty fat one -- about as big around as my pinky finger. Also doesn't say a lot for the safety of locking your bike up in one of the most public places in Denver in broad daylight. The front door of the Central Library opens up onto Broadway at 13th Avenue, not exactly a dark, deserted corner of the city.
I'll just pass along what my good friend and All-Around Swell Guy Nick B. said when I asked him what kind of lock I should buy for my bike a couple years ago: "Nobody's ever cut a chain." (He meant the fat-ass Master Lock chain he had for his bike -- I bought one too. I'd link to it, but it doesn't seem like they make it anymore. It's pretty much just like this one.) It doubles as a sweet necklace, like the one Treach from Naughty By Nature used to wear.
But I didn't take a photo, and when I came back out, I noticed this underneath where I parked my bike, right at the end of one of the racks. I assume it was pretty fresh, since the velcro strap that holds the cable together was still sitting on the ground a couple feet away.
Doesn't say a lot for the OnGuard cable lock snipped in half down there, or cable locks in general, and this was a pretty fat one -- about as big around as my pinky finger. Also doesn't say a lot for the safety of locking your bike up in one of the most public places in Denver in broad daylight. The front door of the Central Library opens up onto Broadway at 13th Avenue, not exactly a dark, deserted corner of the city.
I'll just pass along what my good friend and All-Around Swell Guy Nick B. said when I asked him what kind of lock I should buy for my bike a couple years ago: "Nobody's ever cut a chain." (He meant the fat-ass Master Lock chain he had for his bike -- I bought one too. I'd link to it, but it doesn't seem like they make it anymore. It's pretty much just like this one.) It doubles as a sweet necklace, like the one Treach from Naughty By Nature used to wear.
Labels: Bike, Cable Lock, Denver, Places
0 comment Friday, July 25, 2014 | admin
Hi. My name is Eric Bunch (if I didn't say that you wouldn't know until the bottom of this post). Will invited me to contribute to the blog due to my new involvement with BikeDenver. I just moved to Denver about six months ago and find that the city is quite agreeable for bike riding. The flat terrain, 300 days of sunshine and endless bike trails (and by endless read: a few hundred miles) make it a bike commuter's heaven. Enough of that.
This is me being a total ham:
From Oscar Party...
More about me. That's what is important, no? Chronicling the nuances and tribulations in the lives of the average utility cyclist?
I moved here from Columbia, MO a college town in the heart of The Show Me State. Has anybody ever been to Columbia? Or Missouri for that matter? Well it doesn't really matter, I'll briefly describe it. Picture Fort Collins with more trees, fewer mountains and sans the awesome breweries. Throw in one of the largest public universities in the country, 90% humidity and the rolling hills of the northern Ozarks and you have Columbia. It's greener too. No not more environmentally friendly... just a lot more of the color green. On the whole, Columbia residents are pretty bike friendly and highly educated. Typical of liberal college towns.
The great thing about riding a bike to and from places in that town was Columbia's size. I lived five blocks from a supermarket and two miles from work. A mile-and-a-half from the rockin' bars ($1.00 cans of Stag for cryin' out loud!) and within easy biking distance of most of my friends' homes. Thus, parties often ensued. College towns are bad for twenty-something college grads.
My move to Denver has re-opened my eyes to the fact that cities can be larger and more involved than twenty square miles of drunken college students. I still live within biking distance of downtown, pubs, work and groceries. However, each of those rides is just a bit longer. I now commute eight miles to work, two miles to the grocery and three miles to downtown night-life. No biggie. I have a dedicated bike path for a lot of my commutes and I don't have to dry my bike shoes over the heat register every night. Soggy shoes and three months of winter cloudiness are two things I will not miss!
My longer commute is actually good because it dampens my wild hipster-like lifestyle I once led. No more nightly visits to local watering holes, midnight concerts or raging house parties. Moving into domesticity is a very good move for the long term. I actually really enjoy living with someone who doesn't smell like a critical mass after-party.
I digress. The reason for my move into a much calmer, more adult lifestyle is pictured below. My girlfriend, Kaitlyn, decided to go to grad school at DU. I hear it's a good school. So I followed.
From Oscar Party...
Kaitlyn likes riding bikes too! She's gonna hate me for posting pictures of her without approval.
Anyway, I haven't blogged about my commuting habits in well over a year. So this will be an interesting exercise in publicizing my lifestyle in a semi-regular manner. We'll see.
Email me with any questions. I probably won't have very good answers.
This is me being a total ham:
From Oscar Party...More about me. That's what is important, no? Chronicling the nuances and tribulations in the lives of the average utility cyclist?
I moved here from Columbia, MO a college town in the heart of The Show Me State. Has anybody ever been to Columbia? Or Missouri for that matter? Well it doesn't really matter, I'll briefly describe it. Picture Fort Collins with more trees, fewer mountains and sans the awesome breweries. Throw in one of the largest public universities in the country, 90% humidity and the rolling hills of the northern Ozarks and you have Columbia. It's greener too. No not more environmentally friendly... just a lot more of the color green. On the whole, Columbia residents are pretty bike friendly and highly educated. Typical of liberal college towns.
The great thing about riding a bike to and from places in that town was Columbia's size. I lived five blocks from a supermarket and two miles from work. A mile-and-a-half from the rockin' bars ($1.00 cans of Stag for cryin' out loud!) and within easy biking distance of most of my friends' homes. Thus, parties often ensued. College towns are bad for twenty-something college grads.
My move to Denver has re-opened my eyes to the fact that cities can be larger and more involved than twenty square miles of drunken college students. I still live within biking distance of downtown, pubs, work and groceries. However, each of those rides is just a bit longer. I now commute eight miles to work, two miles to the grocery and three miles to downtown night-life. No biggie. I have a dedicated bike path for a lot of my commutes and I don't have to dry my bike shoes over the heat register every night. Soggy shoes and three months of winter cloudiness are two things I will not miss!
My longer commute is actually good because it dampens my wild hipster-like lifestyle I once led. No more nightly visits to local watering holes, midnight concerts or raging house parties. Moving into domesticity is a very good move for the long term. I actually really enjoy living with someone who doesn't smell like a critical mass after-party.
I digress. The reason for my move into a much calmer, more adult lifestyle is pictured below. My girlfriend, Kaitlyn, decided to go to grad school at DU. I hear it's a good school. So I followed.
From Oscar Party...Kaitlyn likes riding bikes too! She's gonna hate me for posting pictures of her without approval.
Anyway, I haven't blogged about my commuting habits in well over a year. So this will be an interesting exercise in publicizing my lifestyle in a semi-regular manner. We'll see.
Email me with any questions. I probably won't have very good answers.
Labels: Bike Commuter, Denver, Healthy, Outlet
0 comment Monday, June 16, 2014 | admin
A few months ago, I wrote Fitz Cahall, editor of The Dirtbag Diaries, about an essay I had about my bike, a gift from my pal All-Around Swell Guy Nick Bohnenkamp, and how the bike changed my life.
I think Fitz liked about one paragraph of the whole piece, but was patient enough to edit it and let me re-write the whole thing.
A couple weeks later, I was reading the piece into a USB headset plugged into my computer while sitting in my closet at my apartment. Over and over, until I finally got a good take. Or what I thought was good, anyway. Fitz gave me some tips (like "don't breathe into the microphone") and let me re-record it.
I've been anxiously awaiting the final result, what is my first podcast, called "Friendship is a Used Bicycle." If you've got about 10 minutes, give it a listen and see what you think.
I think Fitz liked about one paragraph of the whole piece, but was patient enough to edit it and let me re-write the whole thing.
A couple weeks later, I was reading the piece into a USB headset plugged into my computer while sitting in my closet at my apartment. Over and over, until I finally got a good take. Or what I thought was good, anyway. Fitz gave me some tips (like "don't breathe into the microphone") and let me re-record it.
I've been anxiously awaiting the final result, what is my first podcast, called "Friendship is a Used Bicycle." If you've got about 10 minutes, give it a listen and see what you think.
Labels: Bike Podcast, Denver
0 comment Saturday, June 14, 2014 | admin
0 comment Saturday, June 7, 2014 | admin
I spent Sept. 12-16 in Portland visiting some friends and got to spend a day kicking around the city on a borrowed bike. There was not a single incidence of someone yelling shit at me for riding a bike, which I thought was a very nice touch.
1. The first bike shop I stopped at, River City Bicycles, served free espresso on Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Bike route signs make sense, and tell you how many miles and minutes of riding you have until you reach landmarks like the Hawthorne Bridge.
3. Stoplights are timed for bikes (12 mph) downtown.
4. Busy intersections have green bike boxes letting cars know to yield to bicycles, thus avoiding the most common bike accident, the right hook.
5. Everything is very clearly marked. Bikes here, joggers here, cars here. MAIN STREETS downtown include bike lanes. Give me a bike lane on 17th Avenue in Denver, I say!
6. Bike paths are integrated into existing structures, ex. the Hawthorne Bridge. Imagine a curb-height bike lane all the way down Colfax, crossing the Platte River.
Of course I have very few photos of all of these wonderful things. My point-and-shoot camera died the weekend before I went, so I had to lug my DSLR around the whole time.
The point is, all this infrastructure leads to an enormous amount of people on bikes. Or perhaps vice versa, a large cycling lobby leads to all this infrastructure. Yes, Portland has cars, and traffic, but so many people use bikes for transportation. I felt like all the infrastructure made a much less confrontational environment -- when I ride on streets in Denver, I definitely feel like I'm in someone's way a lot of the time. In Portland, I was integrated into traffic.
Also, you can actually breathe the air there, which is pretty nice. All that said, though, I'm not leaving Denver.
1. The first bike shop I stopped at, River City Bicycles, served free espresso on Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Bike route signs make sense, and tell you how many miles and minutes of riding you have until you reach landmarks like the Hawthorne Bridge.
3. Stoplights are timed for bikes (12 mph) downtown.
4. Busy intersections have green bike boxes letting cars know to yield to bicycles, thus avoiding the most common bike accident, the right hook.
5. Everything is very clearly marked. Bikes here, joggers here, cars here. MAIN STREETS downtown include bike lanes. Give me a bike lane on 17th Avenue in Denver, I say!
6. Bike paths are integrated into existing structures, ex. the Hawthorne Bridge. Imagine a curb-height bike lane all the way down Colfax, crossing the Platte River.
Of course I have very few photos of all of these wonderful things. My point-and-shoot camera died the weekend before I went, so I had to lug my DSLR around the whole time.
The point is, all this infrastructure leads to an enormous amount of people on bikes. Or perhaps vice versa, a large cycling lobby leads to all this infrastructure. Yes, Portland has cars, and traffic, but so many people use bikes for transportation. I felt like all the infrastructure made a much less confrontational environment -- when I ride on streets in Denver, I definitely feel like I'm in someone's way a lot of the time. In Portland, I was integrated into traffic.
Also, you can actually breathe the air there, which is pretty nice. All that said, though, I'm not leaving Denver.
Labels: Denver
0 comment Wednesday, June 4, 2014 | admin
It's been in and out of deep freeze lately, but today we had the added fun of a high wind advisory. The weatherman wouldn't shut up long enough about the 80 mph gusts they're getting up in Georgetown and Idaho Springs to tell me how fast the wind was blowing in Denver, but as an amateur sailor, I'd peg it at 35 knots sustained with gusts to 50.
I rode into work this morning still recovering from a cold, and due to that, I decided to take Josh's advice and lightrail it to class at DU this evening. Good call, it was warm, and relatively wind free, but when I got out of class and rode the half mile back to the lightrail station, the wind had scalloped the snow banks on campus, made wind loaded cornices on every roof, and blown any liquid water across the road where it had refrozen into a chunky, solid sheet of glare ice.
I made it to the lightrail with only two instances of being blown off course laterally on one of these glare ice patches. The real OMG! started after I got off at 10th and Osage to go home. It's less than a mile to my house, but what a mile. I just kept thinking "keep your legs moving, a gyroscope will get across the ice without falling". This is sort of true, but a following or cross wind will mess that theory up in a hurry. I again tried my sniper tactic of holding my breath as I crossed the ice sheets, the idea being that without the movement from breathing, you will be more stable, and make your shot/not fall on your ass.
I don't know if I can chalk it up to that technique, but I didn't fall somehow.
People look at you like you are nuts when you ride on days like today, but honestly, now I can look back at it and say, "yep, that was difficult, and I made it through anyway".
Insert your own thought here:
I rode into work this morning still recovering from a cold, and due to that, I decided to take Josh's advice and lightrail it to class at DU this evening. Good call, it was warm, and relatively wind free, but when I got out of class and rode the half mile back to the lightrail station, the wind had scalloped the snow banks on campus, made wind loaded cornices on every roof, and blown any liquid water across the road where it had refrozen into a chunky, solid sheet of glare ice.
I made it to the lightrail with only two instances of being blown off course laterally on one of these glare ice patches. The real OMG! started after I got off at 10th and Osage to go home. It's less than a mile to my house, but what a mile. I just kept thinking "keep your legs moving, a gyroscope will get across the ice without falling". This is sort of true, but a following or cross wind will mess that theory up in a hurry. I again tried my sniper tactic of holding my breath as I crossed the ice sheets, the idea being that without the movement from breathing, you will be more stable, and make your shot/not fall on your ass.
I don't know if I can chalk it up to that technique, but I didn't fall somehow.
People look at you like you are nuts when you ride on days like today, but honestly, now I can look back at it and say, "yep, that was difficult, and I made it through anyway".
Insert your own thought here:
Labels: Colorado, Denver, Moments
0 comment Thursday, May 29, 2014 | admin
0 comment Sunday, May 18, 2014 | admin
And it's snowing. I put on a rain jacket and snowboard socks before I went out the door this morning, and started thinking "I'm going to get pretty wet" about a block from my house, when I realized all the snow was melting of the front of my pants. Plus the water on the road was kicking up from my front tire pretty good.
By the time I got to the Capitol, my pants were completely soaked. I thought, hey, maybe I should go home quick and grab a pair of pants to change into, but nah, that's okay. My socks were wet, too. "Worst commuting weather ever?" I wondered. Yes.
I pulled onto Colfax and somehow sprayed a bunch of water into my bike shoes, soaking my feet all the way to the bottoms. Pretty miserable at this point. But, I just stuck my tongue out and caught some snowflakes on it, pulled into the middle lane to pass the No. 7 bus before it stopped, and started singing parts of "Sixteen Tons."
Kind of feels like being a little kid out in the rain, stomping in puddles, just for fun. Now I'm sitting here in my office, barefoot, waiting for my pants to dry out.
By the time I got to the Capitol, my pants were completely soaked. I thought, hey, maybe I should go home quick and grab a pair of pants to change into, but nah, that's okay. My socks were wet, too. "Worst commuting weather ever?" I wondered. Yes.
I pulled onto Colfax and somehow sprayed a bunch of water into my bike shoes, soaking my feet all the way to the bottoms. Pretty miserable at this point. But, I just stuck my tongue out and caught some snowflakes on it, pulled into the middle lane to pass the No. 7 bus before it stopped, and started singing parts of "Sixteen Tons."
Kind of feels like being a little kid out in the rain, stomping in puddles, just for fun. Now I'm sitting here in my office, barefoot, waiting for my pants to dry out.
Labels: Denver
0 comment Wednesday, May 14, 2014 | admin
I have all the stoplights timed on my route both to and from work. I know when to ride slow and when to kick it into gear to assure that I take the path of least resistance.
If I wait for a green light at Colfax and Elizabeth which is two blocks from my house, I can tell you the one place I'll have to put my foot down - 15th and Cleveland.
I can hit every green light on 16th Avenue from East High School to Broadway by taking it easy or pedaling like there's no tomorrow. After I stop at 15th and Cleveland for a quick breather (this light is always red), I bike north up 15th Street to Blake, where my office is located, hitting green lights and walk signals the whole way.
It's all about timing, kind of like Marty and the bolt of lightning into the flux capacitor. 1.21 gigawatt action. For reference, 85 mph is the optimum bike speed, but if you go over 85, your bike disintegrates and leaves a single streak of fire on the pavement.
If I wait for a green light at Colfax and Elizabeth which is two blocks from my house, I can tell you the one place I'll have to put my foot down - 15th and Cleveland.
I can hit every green light on 16th Avenue from East High School to Broadway by taking it easy or pedaling like there's no tomorrow. After I stop at 15th and Cleveland for a quick breather (this light is always red), I bike north up 15th Street to Blake, where my office is located, hitting green lights and walk signals the whole way.
It's all about timing, kind of like Marty and the bolt of lightning into the flux capacitor. 1.21 gigawatt action. For reference, 85 mph is the optimum bike speed, but if you go over 85, your bike disintegrates and leaves a single streak of fire on the pavement.
Labels: Denver
0 comment Thursday, April 24, 2014 | admin
I'm headed west on 16th Avenue, in the bike lane, and the light at Park turns red, so I stop, in the bike lane, to wait for it. I hear a car, maybe two cars behind me, and I'm thinking "Jesus Christ, is it hot. Man. I sure wish I had been a few seconds faster so I could have ..."
And I heard a voice behind me, probably someone in the car singing? Talking on a cell phone?
"blah blah blah bike blah ... blah blah blah fucking bike blah..."
I turn around. The guy driving a mid-90s green Chevy Suburban yells, and since he only has one window down, I can barely hear him,
"Get your fucking bike and get moving."
Then he stares at me: "Get your fucking bike and get moving."
I say, "Do you need to turn?" I mean, I'm on the right side of the road, but if he hadn't pulled up right behind me, I wouldn't be in his way.
"Get your fucking bike and get moving!"
"I can move," I say, walking my bike over to the left, into the traffic lane, obviously not fast enough. At this point, a couple walking on the sidewalk has stopped, and are listening intently, the guy's mouth agape at what he's hearing.
"Yeah," the guy in the Suburban says, nodding, like I'm stupid. As soon as there's a Suburban-wide space for him, he pulls forward. As he's driving past me and I'm looking right at him through his open window, (I'm smiling at this point because I just can't believe it) he says right to me,
"I don't mean to be an asshole, but you guys are all assholes. All of you."
I burst out laughing, watching him drive off in his Suburban. Laughing laughing laughing. I look over at the couple on the sidewalk, and the guy is still in total disbelief, not laughing. I can't believe he's not laughing. I mean, did you hear that shit?
Of course, the light was green by that point, so I flipped my bike around and started riding. I could not stop laughing. Seriously could not stop laughing. I was turning on to Sherman before I was able to turn off my smile -- I'm sure everyone riding or driving the other way just thought I was high, or an idiot.
Oh, and that happened as I was riding to the BikeDenver meeting.
And I heard a voice behind me, probably someone in the car singing? Talking on a cell phone?
"blah blah blah bike blah ... blah blah blah fucking bike blah..."
I turn around. The guy driving a mid-90s green Chevy Suburban yells, and since he only has one window down, I can barely hear him,
"Get your fucking bike and get moving."
Then he stares at me: "Get your fucking bike and get moving."
I say, "Do you need to turn?" I mean, I'm on the right side of the road, but if he hadn't pulled up right behind me, I wouldn't be in his way.
"Get your fucking bike and get moving!"
"I can move," I say, walking my bike over to the left, into the traffic lane, obviously not fast enough. At this point, a couple walking on the sidewalk has stopped, and are listening intently, the guy's mouth agape at what he's hearing.
"Yeah," the guy in the Suburban says, nodding, like I'm stupid. As soon as there's a Suburban-wide space for him, he pulls forward. As he's driving past me and I'm looking right at him through his open window, (I'm smiling at this point because I just can't believe it) he says right to me,
"I don't mean to be an asshole, but you guys are all assholes. All of you."
I burst out laughing, watching him drive off in his Suburban. Laughing laughing laughing. I look over at the couple on the sidewalk, and the guy is still in total disbelief, not laughing. I can't believe he's not laughing. I mean, did you hear that shit?
Of course, the light was green by that point, so I flipped my bike around and started riding. I could not stop laughing. Seriously could not stop laughing. I was turning on to Sherman before I was able to turn off my smile -- I'm sure everyone riding or driving the other way just thought I was high, or an idiot.
Oh, and that happened as I was riding to the BikeDenver meeting.