Global Warming has decided to spend a week or two in Northern California after all. Tired from melting the polar icecaps and playing no limit hold em with our future, the greenhouse gasman has decided to reset the thermostat six weeks from the Christmas no one is having. Check the Calendar. Today was a balmy 75 degrees on the peninsula, which felt about 75 degrees warmer than Portland on Tuesday.
The perfect conditions for Rapha's Light Weight Jersey to make one more solo appearance against the unlikely backdrop of fallen leaves.
Now sunscreen, now tanlines, now Oakleys and Bidons, Off embro, off warmers, off softshell and mittons Sorry, it's just the heatstroke rhyming.
Having made the lightweight Rapha decision, I had no choice but to ride the Cervélo SLC-SL wearing 38mm Edge Composites Carbon Clinchers. For the weight weenies out there the combined weight for the bike and Jersey was 14.5 lbs.
Absolutely nothing happened on the inbound commute so I'll spare you the lack of details. Coming home was another matter. I had a close call while making a left (I had the right-of-way) as a woman stopped her car at the cross street I was turning on. She had to see me, but as I turned in front of her I watched her head scan left then right (passing right through me as if I was invisible). Fortunately I'd taken a wide line or she might have clipped my back wheel as she sped through the intersection. I yelled something like "you didn't even see me" but she was oblivious.
Not to be outdone by my blind motorist, a cyclist, and I use the term loosely, made a substantial contribution to the "I Hate Bicycles Movement". First he made an illegal turn on a pedestrian crosswalk in front of two lanes of traffic momentarily stopped for an advanced green the other way. He then rode down the sidewalk on the wrong side of the road looking backwards over his shoulder for an opportunity to cross between parked cars. Half way down the block he miscalculated his line and clipped a pedestrian talking on his phone, had the pedestrian taken half a step back, one or both of them were going to the hospital. He didn't stop.
I resolved to say something to the guy, but by the time my light had changed he'd disappeared onto the Santa Clara University campus.
Another small sampling, but once again we come off looking worse in my books.
Tomorrow is a new day, and a warm one at that. I've got a long solo ride planned. Let's hope both sides are paying full attention.
3 Comments
Big bummer about the ‘rider’. I call those who ride bikes badly riders in the hopes of changing perceptions on cyclists… Here’s to hoping.
Have fun with your weather, it hit about 90F here today and it is still spring. Sigh. Bring back winter.
I envy your interaction with the Continental guys, they seem like good cycling company. Their rides are on my to-do list; I hope to travel through North America mid-late next year.
Scott