Bike Burrito

I have often struggled with the age old debate of whether or not it's kosher to run a red light. In my neck of the woods (South Side!), some of the traffic lights are triggered by sensors (which despite my efforts, my carbon fiber bike seems to be unable to trip) and others are just incredibly long. I typically wait for lights to change but often this can increase my commute time by up to 10 minutes. The lights are lloooooonnnnng!
Last night, en route to the Longest Running Dinner Ride of its Kind in the Rocky Mountain Region, I approached Alameda on Pearl street as the light was red. I was overheating (having already forgotten how to layer up appropriately for that vicious weather) and stopped to de-robe. I removed my helmet, gloves and messenger bag and placed them on the curb. I took off my windproof jacket and then the fleece beneath it. I put the fleece into my bag (unclip two buckles, reclip buckles) and put my shell back on. Put the bag back on, gloves back on, secured my trust helmet and boom, the light turns green and I make it through the intersection on a yellow. I was not rushing through this process mind you, the light was just that long!
Should I be running red lights? Probably not, but waiting at them sure is time-consuming!

Labels: Red Lights, Running

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.

Labels: Bike Lanes, Denver

When someone almost runs me over, I will yell at them, I will chastise them, I may even mildly threaten them (although I'd never actually follow through with my threats). Today was a notable exception. I was riding on Pearl, just off of Colfax, when a Geo Metro pulled out of a driveway and nearly plowed me over. If I was riding just a little bit slower he would have went straight into me. I looked at the driver and saw that he was at least 90, could barely see over the wheel, and had an oxygen tank attached to him. How could I verbally attack this old man? Not wanting to give him a heart attack, I just kept going on my way. Perhaps he shouldn't have been on the road at all, but I won't touch that issue with a ten foot pole...

Labels: Conundrum

Me: Riding to DU in the bike lane on Franklin, just south of Wash Park.
Them: Driving a white Subaru in the car lane on Franklin, just south of Wash Park.
Me: approaching cruiser biker going slowly in bike lane, ring bell, pass biker STILL in bike lane.
Them: Buzz me.
Me: Haul ass to the red light on Buchtell (it's funny because I always curse having to wait at this forever-red light; tonight I was grateful).
Them: Window rolled down on passenger side (brilliant), man driving, woman passengering.
Me: "Excuse me," in a pleasant voice albeit panting, "but would you mind giving me three feet when you pass?"
Them: Woman looks confused and inquisitive, man seems irritated. Does not appear to have gun.
Me: "Just three feet, you nearly hit me with your side mirror."
Him: "Bah (as in humbug), you just stay in your bike lane" [grunts]. Drives off.
Me: Still riding next to him, through the intersection, "Thanks, all of us bikers, in our bike lanes appreciate it." [smiles]

Labels: Feet

I had to go up to DU to print out some school papers early this morning, super nice out. I think it might be the very end of Winter, all the puddles I went through were still mostly liquid, even at 2 AM.
I've been going on little sleep (again!) for too long, so my old friend caffeine is helping me through once more. I recently discovered a new product at the local 7-Eleven, Monster Energy Coffee drinks. I give this product an 8 out of 10, the taste is a little peculiar with all the taurine and guarana mixed in with coffee, but man does it do the trick. Don't believe me, try one yourself, there's even a free coupon here so you can sample this delight risk free.
I'm backlogged on my blog entries, so I'll try and catch up with all my photos and commuting developments. Teaser: I had a lock cut! Stay tuned for the shocking conclusion.

Labels: Wheelin

So, over the past week or so, I have noticed a mysterious material in bike lanes and streets throughout the southern parts of Denver.
The foreign material is often found either in bike lanes or in the street, just left of parked cars.
The material seems to be a type of ceramic - perhaps a tile - and for awhile I thought it was construction-related. The curious material, however, has been spotted in several locations not adjacent to construction sites.
So far here are some of the locations of the sightings:
Evans Street between Franklin and Humboldt
E. Iowa Ave. between Emerson and Ogden
E Iliff between Marion and Lafayette
S Washington between Colorado and Jewell
E Yale between High and Race
The above crime scenes are all within a two-mile radius of The University of Denver.

Here is a close up of a specimen collected at the Iliff crime scene. Those interviewed on the subject have identified the mystery material as ceramic tile of some sort. As of yet, however, there have been no promising leads to an explanation for the presence of such a material in the roads.
I have come up with several of my own explanations and hope that this blog will generate further speculation, provide more evidence and perhaps eventually some answers.
1. Angry sculptors who hate bikers are destroying their defective pieces of ceramics to make the lives of bikers equally miserable.
2. There was an explosion of a tile factory (similar to the recent meat factory incident) that we just haven't heard about.
3. Campus Cycles (centrally located for all of these sitings) has a surplus of tubes for sale and thought this might be a good way to get folks in to buy them. (not a good plan as they don't typically cause puncturing - at least in my experience). [authors note: this assertion is in no way meant to damage the fine reputation of this organization - I am merely seeking the truth behind these unanswered questions]
Further research and findings will be shared as they become available. Please share any pertinent information, clues or your own findings.

Labels: Mystery

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.

Labels: Bike, Denver, Park, Places