about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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December 1, 2006

Is this really necessary? permalink

So this morning I was determined to get back on the bike. Great. It was cold, in the thirties, so I piled on the layers


  • breast-immobilizing tank top

  • old tshirt

  • special expensive thermal wicking top

  • old faithful (cashmere sweater that goes on every ride)

  • fleece vest

  • yellowjacket


and stepped onto the back porch only to discover that it was raining. Sigh.

So I went back in, put my work pants into the bag with my work top, and put on running pants.

I then went outside... and it wasn't raining.

While I probably overdid it a bit, I was warm coming in, and that was what I was aiming for.

Other than someone trying to mow me down by the Rose Quarter, it was a nice ride. I don't understand why people in cars need to threaten me, when I already know they could dismember, handicap or kill me without really trying. I was wearing the yellow jacket which is flourescent yellow, with its giant retro-reflective stripe, I had my lights on. I can only conclude that she threatened me because she felt I shouldn't be on the road. Or maybe that I shouldn't be alive.

Man, this stuff gets old. Yes, I'm on the road. What else do you propose I do? The bike lane ended, and left me in this lane, that you only need to be in if you're turning into the Rose Quarter.
...
I did get a good laugh though when I read BikePortland this morning. Yesterday, Jonathan reported on a sticker he had seen on the back of a truck:
One Less Bike
which for those of you playing at home is a reference to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's
One Less Car

I personally enjoyed the suggested:
One Less Pedestrian (for bicyclists)
One Less Fixed Gear
One Less Bike (for tandem riders)

It was interesting to hear the PC go against the goofsters against the literal bar partiers.

Posted at December 1, 2006

Comments

Well, you knew you were going to have to pay for that extraordinarily courteous bus driver sooner or later, didn't you? I'll visit your new blog place!

Posted by: Misty at December 4, 2006 5:53 AM

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