8-27-10

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I was too pissed off! I got two flats in two blocks yesterday. The first one came just after crossing the Hawthorne bridge. No big deal. I pulled over and changed my tube. I ran my fingers around the inside of my tire and didn't feel anything. I was trying to hurry, so I may have missed it. I got my tire changed, and it was holding pressure. Off I go.....for two blocks before I felt the squishy rear tire again. Luckily there was a bike shop about 2 blocks away. While I was waiting, I did find a sliver of glass shaped like a shark tooth. How appropriate. The mechanic found another piece of something that he had to pull out with a pair of pliers. I went 6 months without a flat, so I guess I should feel lucky. But two in two blocks?

Today wasn't too bad. The ride home is always more interesting than my morning commute. While riding the esplanade, I was passed on the left at the intersection of the Hawthorne bridge ramp again. I was slowing for the fat idiot ahead of me who thought he should stop in the middle of the path, right at the intersection. What an idiot! Oh well, I guess I should be glad that more people are out riding.

Have a good weekend, I'm riding the Historic Hiking Trail (8 miles) on Saturday!

8-25-10

Took a week off to do travel for work, so I was off my bike for a week. The first few days of riding once I got back made me realize how fast you can lose your conditioning. Monday was a painful day. I had to work extra hard on my usual morning climb. Got to work ok. The ride home was something else. I was riding the east bank esplanade heading towards the Hawthorne bridge. As I was slowing to make the left turn, a hipster on a fixie buzzed me on the left. Now as much as I would like to take the corner to the ramp at 20 mph, I can't. I didn't signal, my fault, but if I would have I would have clotheslined this idiot. Have a bit of respect dude! Then, two minutes later on the bridge, another idiot passes me on the right. He almost hit a couple walking! That was the excitement for Monday.

Tuesday was interesting. It started on my ride in. I was riding on a one way street headed north. All of the sudden, there is someone riding south. Really?!? Then in the afternoon commute, I was riding along, trying to make it through a stoplight before it turned, when an idiot stepped out trying to cross against the light. I was polite and just rang my bell. Then this ******* idiot decided he wanted to fight me. He chased me for 1-1/2 blocks. I just pedaled harder to get away from this idiot.

Today had the usual suspects of idiocy, but one took the cake. I was stopped at a light, waiting, and I saw a guy turn onto the street I was on. He was on a bike and talking on a cell phone. I thought "What a moron!" Then he thought he could make a direction change with one hand. He almost went over the handlebars! I laughed so loud that I had to explain what happened to the guy waiting to cross the street. Karma is a bitch! What a great day!

8-11-10

Didn't get a chance to post yesterday. It wasn't too interesting of a ride. I've started to recognize the same people on bikes at the same places everyday. Not something that I ever did when I drove to work. It's kinda cool. I did have one interesting incident on my way to work. I encountered a slightly handicapped gentleman who, with his canes, stepped out into traffic between two parked cars, crossing against the light. Luckily, I tend to be a defensive rider and saw something not right between the cars before he even stepped out. Usually it wouldn't be too much of a problem, but it was before sunrise, he was wearing dark colors, and the streetlights were mostly obscured with trees. I really tend to wonder about people. The guy had trouble walking, and probably couldn't run, so why step out between parked cars against the light?

On with my commute today. I've been working at trying to find the best way to get to work. I didn't like riding over the Burnside bridge, and decided last week to try the Hawthorne. It hasn't been too bad, but I never really rode in that area, and don't know the roads that well. It has been interesting to say the least. I finally found the street that eventually turns into Sandy. I don't know if I like this way yet, I just rode it today for the first time. The nice thing is that there is very little traffic at 5:30am, and there is a bike lane. It takes about the same amount of time, so I will try it for a week or so.

On the way home, I was noticing just how diverse the population of Portland is. I saw everything from the hipsters on fixies to a grandma on a beach cruiser. I also talked to a couple on the MAX from Victoria B.C. that were fascinated by the bike hangers on the trains. I had a nice talk with them about riding in the city until I got to my stop. I wish more people were like them, and accepted bikes as a great way to get around a city.

8-9-10

Today I realized why I quit riding by Pioneer Courthouse Square. It is a very busy road with no bike lane. I can usually get through this area without much problem, but I usually just avoid it. Today, however, I had to take a camera to my friend. She forgot it in my truck a few weeks ago when we went mountain biking at Mt. St. Helens. I rode over the Morrison bridge to avoid as much traffic as possible and got headed west on Morrison. I was just starting to go through the intersection at Washington and Morrison when a total idiot pulled in front of me. I know he saw me, because he paused at the intersection before pulling in front of me. Luckily, I tuned my brakes yesterday because I did some interesting bike maneuvers to avoid hitting him. That just pissed me off! I started cranking to catch up to him. After beating on his passenger window a few times to get his attention, I yelled at him to open his f**king eyes! What are you, blind? I dropped the hammer and passed him. What an idiot! Unfortunately, that is probably a frequent occurrence in Portland.

8-5-10

Today started as a regular day. It was a bit warmer than usual, it was in the 60's when I left for work. Got to the train station and while waiting for the train, the non-traditional student showed up. He is another one of the people I see on a regular basis. He used to push his way to get off before me, but recently has stopped that. He got his name because who else rides the train wearing jeans, tshirt, running shoes and carries a backpack? He is also about 45. I think its great that he went back to school, just don't get in my way. I've tried a new way to work, and I thought it was going to work until today. Getting buzzed by three cars on a one way 4 lane road at 5:30am is more than I want to deal with. The stupid thing is that they had other lanes to be in with no traffic, and changed lanes right after buzzing me, but still had to give me a wake up. Morons! Tomorrow I try a different route.

The way home is still fun, except the people with strollers are pissing me off. They act indignant when they have to make room for my bike. I'm a parent, and I know what it is like to have to use a stroller. This doesn't nean that everyone else needs to make accomodations for you. A little bit of common sense would go a long way.

8-4-19

On the way home today, I timed my new route to the train. It is about 3 minutes faster, and that's a good thing. I did see 6 people today talking on their phones and driving. That has been against the law since January 1 of this year, and these idiots still insist on doing it. 3 of the gave me close calls. Morons!

8-3-10

Another beautiful day to be a bike commuter. It was about 55 degrees when I left for work. When it is this cool in the mornings, I don't sweat. I do have to put up with people who are trying to drink their coffee while driving this early, but its not too bad. I made all of the lights again today, I think with this kind of luck I should buy a Powerball. Got to work with no major or minor annoyances.

Going home I took my new route again, and made it to the train station early again. I think I found my new route. I have noticed the past few trips home that there is this one bonehead who likes to be annoyed when I ask him to move out from where I can hang my bike. I think he suffers from little man syndrome. He is a short guy, lifts weights, has a tribal arm band tattoo, has an earring, has a 3 day growth of beard that he trims with a protractor to get the angles identical, and is going bald. He has to reach up to grab the rail on the train and flex his muscles. What a tool! Hopefully I can keep annoying him by getting on the train in the same spot he is. Got off the train in Beaverton and headed home. I did run into some girl who shouldn't have been riding in traffic. She couldn't keep a straight line, wasn't wearing a helmet, and almost lost her flip flop trying to get started at a stoplight. I followed her just long enough to know I didn't want to see the crash she was obviously trying hard to get into, so I just called out "On your left!" and quickly passed her. Other than that, what a beautiful day to ride!

8-2-10

Had to take a week off to get some things done, plus I got a new ISP because my old one went up $30/month and it took some time to get everything working the same again. Anyways, today started out a bit rough. It wasn't anything to do with commuting, but I did an awesome trail this weekend and my legs were still a bit out of it. A picture from my ride is below.

The ride to work was not too bad, except having to climb the hill. That was painful. I did hit every light green, which is the first time since I started riding my bike. Yay! I read the bikeportland.org blog daily, and found out today that the lower level of the Steel Bridge will be closed until at least Wednesday. Ugh! I contemplated this all day long trying to figure out what the best way home is. I finally decided that I would ride the East Bank Esplande on the east side of the Willamette down to the Hawthorne Bridge. As I was riding, I thought that maybe I could take the Morrison Bridge. I've never ridden it before and decided to see if I could get to the bridge from the path. Sure enough, there was a nice ramp to ride up, and I completely avoided Naito Parkway. I've had too many close calls on Naito to really enjoy that part of my ride. It also seemed that I got to the train stop faster. I think I found a new route to ride. I will have to GPS it to see how far it is. I think it is about the same, and I won't change my weekly distance much (50 - 75 miles/week).

The picture is from the southeast side of Mt. St. Helens on the Ape Canyon/Plains of Abraham ride. It was 11.5 miles each way. Looking back, I'm glad I rode all the way to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint, but I won't do it again. There is a very ugly spot called the steps. It took all of the fun out of that part of the ride. Next time I'm turning around on the Plains of Abraham. The picture was taken just as the clouds were finally breaking up. I didn't realize how close we were to the mountain until the clouds broke up. It really surprised me.