Night riding... finally some action.

I've been cycling a 6 mile route to work regularly now. I have had no run-ins with motorists for many months. Until now...

This blog was started so I could recount incidents with belligerent motorists. It's sort of lost that purpose. A divorce and subsequent move dramatically changed where and when I biked. My new route is significantly more peaceful than the old route. Fewer lights, wider shoulders, and different times of commuting really made a difference.

Tonight, however... different story. It was dark. I was biking with my bright LED's on. And someone slowed down and took a few seconds to launch into some verbal tirade against me. At 20+ mph, with the wind howling in my ears, I really could not understand a word. I didn't even dignify my detractor with even the slightest turn of my head in his (it's always a 'he') direction.

Perhaps the chances of a run-in have increased with the detour, due to the repaving of the nearby interstate, which redirects a considerable volume of cars & trucks onto my normally peaceful byway to my job.

So, yes, assholes do still exist. They assuredly come cheap, a dime a dozen. Precious few insinuate themselves into my little cycling world lately, though...

Warmth, and Coldness

I slightly increased my cycling frequency to commuting 4-5 times a week. I put the old bicycle through its paces. We had a very mild winter. The cycling was rather easy to do. I rewarded myself with a new bicycle in December 2016. I just now sold the old bicycle to an enthusiast who lives down the street from me in Riverside. That makes 2 bicycles and a rug cleaner I sold on Craigslist in the past month.

The motorists are, well, motorists. I occasionally get close shaves from drivers unwilling to give me 3 feet of space on the open road. But, I have heard no angry horns or voices lately.

Big change in the weather precludes me from testing out the new bicycle on the open road. A foot of snow and high winds, coupled with unseasonably cold temperatures have shelved my cycling for now.

Another factor is that I found a woman I knew as a child last fall. We hit it off, eventually started dating, and now spend significant amounts of time with each other. Sometimes I am at her place in Elmira, sometimes she joins me in 14830. This lends itself to more driving and less cycling. This development brightens my outlook and increases my happiness significantly. I am lucky to have stumbled across her!

Happy Cycling!