Tuesday, 28 June 2011.
I saw Gary and Amy on their tandem, on the low plateau above the Mad River. This was one of the earliest passings by this year, and an indicator of how late was my start today. I opened up my intensity then, hoping to make up some time.
As I navigated the curve around the DP&L executive golf course, I saw a flash of two convict-orange-clothed walkers ahead in bright sunlight. As I neared, the walkers moved into shade and the bright orange shifted to a tea rose hue. I recognized them as I neared; it was Gladys and Millie. They had crossed Linden and were headed toward Burkhardt, extending their normal range quite a bit. I stopped to say, "From a distance, your orange was brightly lit, and I thought I would be accosted by some escaped convicts. But I think I'm safe with you two." They laughed and bragged about their excursion beyond their usual walk to Linden. As I clipped in to continue the commute, Millie warned me of another cyclist's approach from behind me, and I said, "Oh yeah. I passed him around Burkhardt. He's slow, at least compared to me. See ya."
After the short conversation, I opened up the intensity once again. In the last 2 legs, I closed with short sprints into Research Park, maintaining an HR of more than 150 bpm almost 3 minutes up to Airway, less than a minute between Woodman and Spaulding, and almost 2 minutes up to Research Boulevard.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 68 to 70°F at 07:35
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:40:46 for 11.99 miles
Heart rate: 133 bpm HRave, 161 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 9 cyclists, 16 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
Showing posts with label headlights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headlights. Show all posts
28 June 2011
30 March 2011
No bike commute today—Mr. Sunshine does not help
At 6:45 this morning, I wrote
That gating factor, enough daylight to be seen by motorists, is a safety factor. Though I may be able to see well enough even at 7:00, it does me no service if a driver fails to see me and runs me down through both inattention and dim lighting.
Some fellow cyclists might refer to the superb illumination now available with LED lamps, and I acknowledge that they greatly improve the odds of being seen. But for me, it's a matter of trust and a knowledge that today's drivers are multiply distracted. Often too distracted to notice well enough that wobbly, weird light on the road.
Now at work, with benefit of my minivan, I feel more comfortable with the timing of the evening's activities. I effectively have given myself another hour to work, eat, attend, and arrive alive.
On the subject of illumination and being noticed, I found this product video from MonkeyLectric that is both fun to watch and consider buying.
But for me, the $60 price tag might be okay if the lamps were easily ported from one bike to another, and if the lamps were actually visible from behind and head-on. Unfortunately, the lamp assembly is attached to the spokes with cable ties, and the light show is visible only from the side.
I've gotta getta start much earlier than usual today, since I need to get home in time to shower and drive (!) downtown to dinner and theater. The curtain time is 19:30; the will-call desk is probably open at 18:00 or 18:30; the closest restau doesn't take reservs. So I hope to be home by 17:30, leave work by 16:30, start work by 08:00, and leave here by 07:15. If there is enough daylight by then. That's really my gating factor.
That gating factor, enough daylight to be seen by motorists, is a safety factor. Though I may be able to see well enough even at 7:00, it does me no service if a driver fails to see me and runs me down through both inattention and dim lighting.
Some fellow cyclists might refer to the superb illumination now available with LED lamps, and I acknowledge that they greatly improve the odds of being seen. But for me, it's a matter of trust and a knowledge that today's drivers are multiply distracted. Often too distracted to notice well enough that wobbly, weird light on the road.
Now at work, with benefit of my minivan, I feel more comfortable with the timing of the evening's activities. I effectively have given myself another hour to work, eat, attend, and arrive alive.
On the subject of illumination and being noticed, I found this product video from MonkeyLectric that is both fun to watch and consider buying.
But for me, the $60 price tag might be okay if the lamps were easily ported from one bike to another, and if the lamps were actually visible from behind and head-on. Unfortunately, the lamp assembly is attached to the spokes with cable ties, and the light show is visible only from the side.
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