Cold Rain

Where there is a will,there is a way. Cold Rain riding at this time may be of no choice. A commuter cyclist may need to ride in conditions that the casual rider would never attempt. Recumbents for the most part can work better then the "Up-right" style of riding. Fairings do help with staying dry, but a good rain suit will work well and worth every penny. Riding with your feet further off the ground and above your front wheel keeps feet dryer then directly behind it. At times past, it felt like a hose of ice water being poured over my toes on even fendered Diamond Frame bikes. Sand from the road goes everywhere, A good cleaning right after the ride no matter what kind of bike you choose will help with dirt not sticking and drying on your frame and parts. I never thought that "Rain Riding" was fun. I only have done it to stay fit and to get where I need to be. Always better then a car, rainy days by car are slower. Traffic when things get wet is always slower. Cycling for the most part has you arriving at your destination with in minutes of your normal commute time. Parking is always at the door of where your going and the feeling of having been out (to me)is one of the best feelings in the world

The New Program

You may have noticed the lack of paragraph separation in yesterdays BOSRUG posting. Sorry for that. It was not my intent to run everything on all in one. Changes have been made as of last Sunday morning that to compose a posting, you need to be on "Google Chrome" It took a while to get Chrome to work with my dial up service but now as a result, we have no paragraph spacing. I assume that the problem will be resolved soon with enough complaints, But for right now, I'm feeling that not all improvements are improvements.

Colder Days, Longer Nights

Its never been easier to stay warm or to be seen on a bicycle. Bicycle shops of all sizes have a selection of Winter clothing and lighting to allow you to see and be seen. Never before has there been so many cars on the road. It seems to me that over the past ten years, the amount of drivers has doubled. What I call "Freight Train Traffic", one car after another for long stretches of road.With the use of Cell Phones and now Internet and Texting, its a wonder a Bicycle Commuter can stay alive. Here are some tips as how I deal with the traffic and the 15 mile commute I have to and from work. First, Assume that you are invisible. Drivers are not looking for bicycles. Its true. If you think you can be seen, it may not be so and could result in being hit. Think about what you would do if hit and rehearse it in your head. Being prepared could save your life. Bright lights even during the day when its a little cloudy or dark attract attention. Having a driver notice you from a far could allow you safe travels. At night place your light so the spot is on the pavement to your left. Drivers while passing will swing wide to miss the spot of light and "open" the view of you to drivers in back of them. This works great and still allows you to see the road in front of you. Bright lights and bright clothing are noticeable more than what we call "Safety Black!" Don't "cheep" yourself when it comes to lighting. Better lights last longer with the electric charge and are usually brighter. Rechargeable lights may be more expensive at the counter, but the money you will save in batters and heaven forbid, out of work from being hit, will pay for themselves in short order. Good lights if you forget to charge them one night, will have enough power to last another evenings ride. Reflectors are good and important, but everybody has seen an occasional driver without their headlights on. Reflectors do nothing unless lit by drivers headlights. Although super bright lights can be seen, make sure that the beam is not in the face of on coming drivers. Simple enough, but it is another thing to think of. When being high beamed by drivers, simply flash them with your light as if you were in a car, Most drivers unless looking for an argument, will lower their beam. At traffic lights, if you can lower your tail light and headlight beam, A blinded driver starting off when the light changes could be dangerous. I like to look in my rear view mirror and place the bike in a safe spot when cars pass. This could mean ether speeding up or slowing down. Starting at lights, it is sometimes safer to let the group of cars pass you while stopped rather then heading out as a group and getting mixed up at the "bottle neck" on the other side of the intersection. Drivers seeing that you are not tiring to race them sometimes offer a little respect next time around. Remember that most of the drivers are commuting too, and will most likely passing at a later date. If they see and remember, they may cooperate next time around. Showing a little respect and obeying the rules of the road may have you enjoying your commute stress free and safer for years to come.

That time of Year Again

Its that time of year again, Time when everything needs to be pulled in. The important things come to mind. Hands,toes,nose. Frost bite Doctors know one more.
Winter cycling in New England is not fun. Point to Point "destanition" riding works, but unless you find something else yo do out of the ordinary to occupy your outdoor fun, Its not good.
Salt and sand will come soon. Never ride anything that you cant afford to throw out. Someone said that to me years ago. Hey, It was me! Or Cooper.
Take a look around. What did you miss. Where did you want to be when the weather was nice and not important to keep warm or your bike salt free. Look around. The Cold is Coming and its coming Soon!

60 Degrees

Who could ask for more. The beauty of the Southern New England roads and short sleeve riding.

Now with most of the leaves down, bigger sky and better lighting give a whole new feel to the place we call home.
Stopping and viewing has a spectator seeing things maybe never otherwise noticed.
Get out and enjoy the day of what may be one of our last warm days this year.

The Colder Days Are Coming!

Last night assured me that winter is not long off. The freak snow of last October was assurance enough that New England has not changed with its surprises of of temperature drop in a 24 hour period, but last night did it for me. Although there was no ice, heading out and really seeing my breath was.
Over the past week we have seen mild enough days for riding without jacket or glove. More like September, we enjoyed wind free riding on Wednesday only to have Thursday turn into what I would call "a classic New England November day." Just like I remember as a child riding home from school, caught without gloves, hands red as a cooked lobster claws.
Its never been easier to stay warm. Most of the sales at the shop today will be clothing. Did you know that you can spend $75.00 on a undershirt? How about $500.00 on a Jacket?
Layering still remains to be the best way to deal. You most likely have what you need to stay warm and comfortable if you are reading this right now. Just not this years fashion.
Colder days have us again dreaming of rides like the one pictured above. Days when only shirt and shorts will be needed to stay comfortable and enjoy riding. Just like last Wednesday!

To See and Be Seen

The worry for new shoppers of recumbent bicycles is if while riding on roads, "Can you be seen?"
The question with today's drivers is , Are they watching the road?
Cell phones and now texting has drivers looking less at the roads for anything else then a car. The chance of getting hit and hurt by another car has divers more aware of automobiles then pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Bicycles for the most part slow traffic down. Cars when aware take their time passing and in most cases pass at a safe distance. Once in a while I have been passed too close for comfort. I'm never sure if the driver ever saw me or they were passing at a distance that they felt safe at.
Oddity's on the road have drivers watching. Not sure of what there looking at, has drivers at times not wanting to pass. You see them in your rear view mirror causing other drivers to stack up in back of them. Somewhat awkward, I wave them on letting them know that I can see them fine and it is safe to pass. Always afterwards, I see their eyes in their rear view mirror. I love to wave and then have them wave back.
Its hard to notice how much you are acutely seen and if drivers are letting you pass by being polite. Its not until I find myself back on an upright style bike that I get cut off, sometimes as much as 3 times a ride, and realize that while on a recumbent, drivers not sure of what their seeing, will wait and not come out in front of you.
With a rear view mirror and the "Heads Up" style of riding, on a recumbent, you see everything!