On Tuesday 3/10 I began my nightly commute from Encinitas to Huntington Beach. I added an extra climb and now my commute is 68.5 miles.
I then return to work in the morning using the Metrolink Train and get 32 miles.
Last week I ended up with 400+ miles. The first time I have done that mileage since last August when I was finishing up my ramp up for the Furnace Creek 508
For you Power Mongrels — I expended 10,491 kjs and a TSS of 1426.
Today Wednesday 3/18 I will begin my commute for this week.
A double shot of commute stuff for you.
If you look closely this guy is have a Lite beer. I’m quite sure if you look in the Coaster rules and regulations hmmm…drinking alcohol is not authorized. He must of had a hard day at the office. Let’s also hope he’s walking home from the train station otherwise he is getting behind the wheel of a car 10 minutes after finishing his beer. He was on the Coaster for all of 4 stops and back off. If he is walking good thing “It’s less filling”
Bianca, my commuter, is almost 36 lbs.
That is all
Yes it is the little things that make me happy..like riding my bike. This morning Brandy and I woke up at 0420. Yeah really 420. We left the house at 0500. I had a short 15 mile commute to the Irvine train station. While Brandy was getting a few extra miles before work. I rode my fixie since I still can’t use my right hand for much.
Everything was going fine until I stopped to get coffee at Starbucks. When I walked in I saw a longer line than I usually see. I asked who was at the end of the line and was surprised that everyone had already ordered. It was 0608 and and I had 12 minutes to catch the train and I was only 1.5 blocks away. So I ordered my venti Americano with room. I figured I had plenty of time.
While waiting for my coffee a young lady asked me if that was my bike outside. I replied yes. Then she asked if it was “fixed” and I replied again in the affirmative. I found out her name was Heather and that she used to commute when she lived only 5 miles from work but now she has to drive up to Los Angeles. I left her my email and blog and said maybe we can ride sometime.
Meanwhile my coffee was still in the cue. I started to sweat whether I was going to catch my train. Finally my coffee was ready and I scooted down the road. Only to get within 100 yds from the train station and see the train rolling away. I panicked at first and then thought I can take the Amtrak. So I missed the 0620 Metrolink to Oceanside but the Amtrak would be at the station at 0704 and I would ride it to Solana Beach.
I was 30 minutes late for work but in the end I think it was worth it. I took a lot of video and created a little movie. It is rough with no editing and no finishing. My main goal of the “movie” is to show my appreciation for the beautiful weather and beautiful scenery that we have in Southern California. It was 50 degrees at 0500 this morning with clear skis. Just a gorgeous morning to be on my bike. We are truly blessed to live here!
Tomorrow, Friday, I will commute to and from work for the first time since October 30th. I have not commuted because of a badly fractured thumb. The pain on some of my short weekend rides has just been bearable. I would like to get back on the bike real soon. My first event of the season is less than 30 days away, January 3rd. I will commute to the Irvine Train Station from Huntington Beach (~15 miles), take the train to Oceanside (~35 miles), and then ride the rest of the way to work (~15 miles).
The next segment of this post is something I fear every day, especially when commuting at night and pre-dawn hours. I pass a lot of construction zones and I am extra cautious of repairs that have been done to the road, in particular those in the bike lane. I fear going down just because a road crew was too lazy to do the job right THE FIRST TIME!
I received an email from Kam. Kam is a good friend and former teammate. While on a well established training ride, 15 years running, two cyclists were badly injured because of shoddy road work. The details are sketchy but one rider has a broken collarbone the other sustained multiple abrasions. In essence, a trench was dug out for a repair, but the patch work was less than ideal. In fact, it was downright dangerous. There is still the potential for other cyclists to be injured if they are unaware. Below is a brief description of the location.
From an email:
The location of the rut is on North Torrey Pines road heading north just
past Salk Institute.
Here is a slide show from Kam’s website
Find more photos like this on The Cycling Network
Here is my concern. Motorists drive too close to the bike lane. Many times there are ruts, crevices and debris in the bike lane. As cyclists we respect and try to coexist with motorists and stay in the bike lane as much as possible. But sometimes there are things like 3″ wide ruts in the bike lane and the only decision is to exit the bike lane or face certain injury. I wish there was a way to help motorists understand that our sudden and seemingly erratic swerving is simply to avoid crashing
and bodily injury. As cyclists, we take risks and make judgment calls in a fraction of a second. It is never our intention to play “chicken” with a Hunmmer!
Road crews and their employers need to be held accountable for the work they perform. Our safety depends on it!!
Just an old picture that my friend Don Parker had on his Facebook. It was taken a year ago, almost exactly, on November 18, 2007. I was commuting home from Encinitas to Huntington Beach. I ran into Don going in the opposite direction and paused for a picture.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving Day. I plan on riding but I just haven’t decided where yet. Have fun eat lots and enjoy the people you spend your day with!!!
Well, it’s a sad day for me today. Last night on my commute I was attacked by some pyscho, who on top of having mental issues, was also intoxicated. Totally unprovoked and inexplicably this person began berating Brandy and I with obscenities, and was full of rage. One theme of his repertoire was his insistence that because I was Iranian that I should go back to Iraq. Do you see how disturbed this person was?
We tried multiple times to disengage with this person but to no avail. We also couldn’t leave because Brandy had a flat tire, and that was why we were stopped in the first place. We couldn’t “escape” this maniac’s torment with Brandy’s bike in it’s unservicable condition. Ultimately, “pyscho” grabbed me with both hands and was about to head butt me with his freshly shaven head, consquently I HAD TO defend myself.
A scuffle ensued. The details are hazy but we were introduced to the sidewalk gracing the entrance to the 7-11. I released him but I was attacked again. Once again to the ground we went. This time we were introduced to freshly deposited oil stain in the parking lot of the aforementioned 7-11. I then released him.
On the occassion of his second release he actually lunged at Brandy. She had been frantically communicating with 911 before the first incident of grappling began. When he charged at Brandy…OMG was that a very scary millisecond! I shoved him away and stood between Brandy and him. I believe he finally realized he was crossing serious lines, and also noticed that Brandy was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. He fled the scene on his mountain bike.
We then find out from a bystander that he IS deranged. He gave us a name and address which we provided to one of the four squad cars that responded to the emercency call. One officer even commented to another officer about a third officer’s experience with “pyscho”, “Oh _______ almost shot him the other night.”
Now there’s more bad news. In the scuffle, I suffered a dislocation and Rolando’s fracture of my right thumb. I currently have cast-like splint and will require surgery to properly set my thumb.
I will have surgery on November 6, 2008. The hand specialist is recommending a permanent T plate and screws to help my body mend the multiple fractures in my thumb.
And the worse news of all….I am being told a minimum of 12 weeks off the bike!
While I was on the train with my “train buddies” one of them said:
train buddy, “You know, I took the stairs yesterday instead of the elevator.”
Me, “Really?”
train buddy, “Yes, I thought about you and all your riding. You inspired me to try it.”
Me, “Great! Now what are you doing for lunch today? Maybe you could do the stairs for 20 minutes and then eat your lunch in the last 10 minutes of your break.”
If I can inspire one person a day to move their body towards a healthier life than I have served my purpose for the day. Now get out there and move!
all for now
So another installment of On My Commute…
Today as I was commuting home from work I met two people. The first was Brett, a transplant from Colorado. A freelance writer of skiing sports. New to riding and having a good time enjoying the weather. I hope she stops in the shop and we can spend some time getting to know each other. Welcome to Encinitas Brett.
The second was a 58 year old commuter, Bob. We met on the north end of Newport Beach in an area called Mariner’s Mile. Turns out Bob has been commuting for two years rain or shine, winter or summer although he admits not in a downpour. In talking to him he told me his commute was 26 miles each way and he does it five times a week. And here’s some more good stuff– he has lost 40 lbs in the process. You gotta love that!!! Keep on truckin’ Bob!!!
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This was fun. On the last 10 miles to work I was treated to a little high intensity work. I was drafting or Motorpacing behind a Land Rover. The driver, Shannon, knew I was behind him and he kept the speed steady between 30-32 mph a few times over 35mph but he could see I was dropping off and slowed down. I had my climbing cassette 12-27 and a 53/39 crankset. Anything over 34mph had me spinning over 100 RPM (I’m not a spinner). There four distinct rollers along the way and it took significant amount of effort to stay in contact with him.
I noticed the Yakima roof rack so I figured he knew what he was doing. We stopped a couple of times for traffic signals and stop signs and exchanged a few words. Shannon thanks for the “pull” and perfect high intensity end to my commute.
By now many of you that commute on the 5 freeway might have heard of this story but I was there. My commute has come under siege over the last couple of days.
First the Tour de France is on and is keeping me up late –even with all the fast forwarding of the commercials. I love DVR. I can take 5 1/2 hours of Tour coverage and condense it down to 4 hours.
Second the Marines are holding a Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) and they have closed the bike path from Las Pulgas to San Clemente via San Onofre campground. This crises was resolved when Caltrans allowed cyclists to travel on the 5 Freeway from Basilone Rd to Las Pulgas.
But today was totally unexpected and could not be planned for. A Von’s truck over turns, flips and comes to rest in the shoulder (bike lane) catches fire and sets off a brush fire in the process. News sources say the accident happened around 5am.
I got on the 5 freeway at Basilone Rd heading south just before 7am on the shoulder of course. I could see a huge back up of traffic. I think to myself this is cool I’ve never been on the freeway on my bike on this section. Trucks are lined up all along the right most lane as far as the eye could see. I continue south and enter the weigh station. The truck drivers must have thought I was nuts. Out the other end and keep heading south.
You would be surprised how many people are poor planners. They go past San Clemente and don’t get gas and now they are running out of gas on the freeway. So now there are numerous cars on the shoulder out of gas or overheating. In addition, there were the drivers who thought they were too special to wait in traffic and think they can ride the shoulder. Ok if there has been an accident and everybody is stopped don’t you think you should leave the shoulder open for EMERGENCY VEHICLES to clear the accident so that you Mr and Mrs Special can get to your ohhh so important place.
All the things above went on for a good 19 mile stretch of the 5 freeway. Finally, when I arrive at the accident site all but one lane is flowing. There are a dozen of emergency vehicles and at least 40 personnel. It was quite a sight. It sure made for an interesting morning.
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