Some things have taken some practice to get the knack. Like getting from the right-lane bike lane across two right-turn lanes into a left-turn lane. Takes a couple over-shoulder glances, a rearview mirror, a good signal with my bright-red bike-gloved hand, and some quick pedaling. Then I wait right smack in the middle of the lane in line with the cars, to make sure they see me and don't try to squish past me. I try to remember to gear down before stopping at a light, to make acceleration faster when it turns green.
So now I don't think whether I might walk. Today I did a combo of 8 pedal strokes standing and 8 sitting. That made the hill go a little faster but also got me winded. I've got a cold, though, so maybe after it's gone the stand-and-pedal system won't whup me.
Fiberjoy made an interesting comment about my orange-hunting-vest-wrapped backpack -- but, hokey as it may look, I'm keeping it! I think I'm a lot more visible with a blaze-orange humpback than I would be with my plain maroon backpack on my maroon bike, even with a lime-green jersey, which isn't bright day-glo Safety Green, just humdrum lime green. If I look weird and someone takes a second look, that second look may be what keeps me from getting pushed into the ditch, or into the next traffic lane.
And Kent added a good comment, too. Gosh, two new visitors to one post, gotta love it!
1 comment:
Ellie, thanks for stopping by my hiking blog. I don't update that blog as often as I update my cycling blog. Since finishing our 2 year trail project in 2007, we are looking forward to getting back to more backpacking next year.
Back in 2001 we thru-hiked the AT ourselves. It was the best experience ever!! I can't recommend it enough.
Minnesota has quite a few marathons. The two best are the Twin Cities Marathon in October or Grandma's Marathon in Duluth in June. I ran the Twin Cities once way back in 1987. It's a beautiful urban course.
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