First rides
Yay! The season has started. Unfortunately, it started with me losing my camcorder on Belt Parkway, about 5 minutes after getting on it - the thing fell off the back of the bike. Now, though, I know how small something has to be to fall through the net on New York highways...
Oil change was quite eventful, too... It's nice to have a drain pan, but unfortunately the pan has to be OPENED first. Turns out, two quarts of oil leave a really big stain. Hopefully the stain will stay visible for a while to remind me of my stupidity.
The good news is, quick stops seem just as good as last season, other habits seem ok too - using the front break, breaking before turning, checking mirrors while stopped at a red light, etc. Then again, I'm too much of a n00b at this point to notice any differences a 4-month layover makes.
Have to work on traffic scanning habits, intersection checking, and rear-view mirror checks. Being passed on the left while riding at around 40 mph (in the city!) on a two-lane (one each way) street is quite unnerving, especially if taken by surprise. Why do people feel the need to pass a fast riding bike, of course over the double yellow, and of course while the next light is red anyway. "My car can go faster than your bike"? Stupid. He'd have no chance at a red-light anyway.
I've forgotten all about the bike culture in 4 months of winter. Passing bikers wave and nod, people ask questions and mention the bikes they had over the years. It's nice.
The car has to go.
Oil change was quite eventful, too... It's nice to have a drain pan, but unfortunately the pan has to be OPENED first. Turns out, two quarts of oil leave a really big stain. Hopefully the stain will stay visible for a while to remind me of my stupidity.
The good news is, quick stops seem just as good as last season, other habits seem ok too - using the front break, breaking before turning, checking mirrors while stopped at a red light, etc. Then again, I'm too much of a n00b at this point to notice any differences a 4-month layover makes.
Have to work on traffic scanning habits, intersection checking, and rear-view mirror checks. Being passed on the left while riding at around 40 mph (in the city!) on a two-lane (one each way) street is quite unnerving, especially if taken by surprise. Why do people feel the need to pass a fast riding bike, of course over the double yellow, and of course while the next light is red anyway. "My car can go faster than your bike"? Stupid. He'd have no chance at a red-light anyway.
I've forgotten all about the bike culture in 4 months of winter. Passing bikers wave and nod, people ask questions and mention the bikes they had over the years. It's nice.
The car has to go.