National Bike to Work week.
I rode my bike to work yesterday, as I have done a few times since the spring thaw. I made a special point of doing it yesterday because of the fact that it is National Bike to Work week. A good idea these days, given the price of gas at the pumps.
I was concerned about the possibility of rain, though. We've been very much Seattle-like here in Milwaukee. The last two weeks have been very water-logged. I headed to work in a sun-drenched afternoon with a moderate headwind, but nothing insurmountable. When I exited my workplace to head home, it had rained earlier but was not now raining. I thought, "Oh, good. No rain, but it smells like it just did". The temp was about high 50s, but that's perfect for me. Unfortunately, about 15 minutes into my 35-45 minute ride home, it started raining. Not a heavy rain, more like a gentle rain that reminds you that you're a resident of a Waterworld. It was even pleasant, with the exception of the backsplash from my rear tire onto my back. I do not know exactly how far the ride is, but it's about 5-6 miles. I will soon get an odometer for the bike so that I know. I also need to outfit the bike with a headlight and a rear light. Since I'm biking at midnight, it's dark and I had one close call on the way home last night. I had stopped at a stop sign and then started out again. A car on my left came up to the stop sign (4-way stopsigns) and did a rolling stop and started to continue through the intersection. I have no idea of the person had seen me or just felt that since I was a lowly bikerider, he had the right of way. Given I had stopped first, I felt I had the right of way. So, the lights for the bike will have to be a priority this weekend, along with a tune-up.
My weight can use some tuning up, too, and this is another reason why I'm trying to bike to work as often as possible. Biking to work and then working a very physical job, with warm weather coming in should help me lose the pounds.
Another reason for biking is that I've found that I get to work almost as fast as using the city bus system. I certainly do get home 15 minutes sooner than the bus. I certainly then save on the fare costs.
I was concerned about the possibility of rain, though. We've been very much Seattle-like here in Milwaukee. The last two weeks have been very water-logged. I headed to work in a sun-drenched afternoon with a moderate headwind, but nothing insurmountable. When I exited my workplace to head home, it had rained earlier but was not now raining. I thought, "Oh, good. No rain, but it smells like it just did". The temp was about high 50s, but that's perfect for me. Unfortunately, about 15 minutes into my 35-45 minute ride home, it started raining. Not a heavy rain, more like a gentle rain that reminds you that you're a resident of a Waterworld. It was even pleasant, with the exception of the backsplash from my rear tire onto my back. I do not know exactly how far the ride is, but it's about 5-6 miles. I will soon get an odometer for the bike so that I know. I also need to outfit the bike with a headlight and a rear light. Since I'm biking at midnight, it's dark and I had one close call on the way home last night. I had stopped at a stop sign and then started out again. A car on my left came up to the stop sign (4-way stopsigns) and did a rolling stop and started to continue through the intersection. I have no idea of the person had seen me or just felt that since I was a lowly bikerider, he had the right of way. Given I had stopped first, I felt I had the right of way. So, the lights for the bike will have to be a priority this weekend, along with a tune-up.
My weight can use some tuning up, too, and this is another reason why I'm trying to bike to work as often as possible. Biking to work and then working a very physical job, with warm weather coming in should help me lose the pounds.
Another reason for biking is that I've found that I get to work almost as fast as using the city bus system. I certainly do get home 15 minutes sooner than the bus. I certainly then save on the fare costs.