[Geoff]

A highlight of the trip was a bike tour through the Tuscan countryside. We didn’t go very far or very fast. This was a fun ride for tourists, not a training ride for serious cyclists.
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[Geoff]

My wife, son, and I recently spent about 10 days in Florence and Siena, Italy. Lots of bikes, but mostly practical clunkers. In Florence there are a few bike lanes, but for the most part pedestrians, bikes, scooters and cars all compete on narrow streets.
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This sign, near a busy highway, caught my eye. It says “Here there was a fatal accident. The life is yours, don’t lose it on the street!”
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[Geoff]

@PotomacCyclist 88625 wrote:

Strength training is good, but it doesn’t need to be done year-round.

I agree with most of what you said, but not this particular thought. Weight training helps maintain bone density and slows the loss of muscle mass that comes with age. As someone with a full head of gray hair, these are worthwhile considerations. No one is going to take me for a bodybuilder but weights are an important part of my routine. I do less of it in the summer, when I am biking more, but there is no reason to stop doing it at any point during the year.

On this subject I recommend the book “Younger Next Year” which argues that a key to maintaining quality of life as you age is regular excercise, mostly aerobic but also weights.

[Geoff]

@cyclingfool 88603 wrote:

JRA=Just riding along.

Thanks. My next guess was going to be Jealous Reactionary Agoraphobes.

[Geoff]

@dasgeh 88600 wrote:

Have you considered consciously choosing some commutes to be JRA

What’s JRA?
Google suggests Japan Racing Association and other equally likely candidates.

[Geoff]

I expect to be there.

[Geoff]

Unlike SOME people I’d rather not ride in the rain. But of course it happens. Gotta admire Dirt’s attitude.

The question is how to deal with it when it does happen. Today I brought in a vest that will keep me sorta comfortable if the rain is cold and hard, without creating a steam bath if the rain is light and warm. I’ll see in a couple hours how it works out!

[Geoff]

@rcannon100 87839 wrote:

Major wipe out at Trollheim. EMS was on its way with many cyclists stopped caring for the guy that was down. When those boards are wet, they are slippery.

I hurt myself badly there two years ago. Couldn’t ride for several months. If you see someone unclip his feet from the pedals and slow way down on that boardwalk, it might be me.

[Geoff]

This won’t help when there is no clear reason for a leak, but I regularly inspect my tires for glass and stones embedded in the tire that haven’t worked in far enough to cause a flat. When I find something (and I have, several times) I pry it out (carefully!) with a safety pin. Then I seal the cut with Shoe Goo.

I have still gotten “mystery flats” but have saved myself several times, both with my lightweight road tires and the Gatorskins on my commuter.

[Geoff]

@bobco85 87705 wrote:

You need a more fuel-efficient bike. Mine so far has gotten over 7000 miles on less than one gallon

Gallon of water? Gatorade? Beer?

[Geoff]

@Steve 85261 wrote:

I think one of the things that really enjoyed about becoming a bike commuter is how much more in tune with the weather I am, and how much better I notice things. Because of cyling and clothing choices, I really pay attention to the weather now. A lot of people think 60F is 60F, but we know that 60 and sunny is MUCH different that 60 and dark. And 60 with humidity feels completely different that 60 with mist (I felt cold this morning). I also know exactly what time the sun rises, as many probably know exactly when it sets, and can really tell when the seasons are changing based upon the sun coming up 15 minuts earlier in my ride. You can smell your allergies coming, not just fell then, and in the last few weeks, I’ve really noticed the birds have returned (because I hear the chirping and at first thought my bike was making noise).

It’s nice to feel a little more connected.

Amen to all that.
Some years I’ve gotten into fall and felt that I missed summer, like I spent all my time indoors or in some climate controlled capsule moving from one building to another. It’s depressing. I don’t feel that way since I’ve been bike commuting.

[Geoff]

@sethpo 84080 wrote:

Snow. Ice. Now rivers of poo.

Two guys are passed by a bizarre looking and terrified creature running by as fast as it can. Seconds later they are passed by an equally bizarre but quite different creature, intent on catching the first.

Says one guy to the other, “These days it’s one d**n thing after another.”

[Geoff]

As for “what you should have done”, given that you were faced with an aggressively irrational and physically large authority figure, there wasn’t much to do besides what you did: maintain your own composure and disengage at your first opportunity. Maybe asking to see his badge would have worked but, since he was already out of line, maybe not. Depends on how big a risk taker you are. Sending a photo of his license plate, with an account of the incident, to his department might have been best.

[Geoff]

@Vicegrip 83912 wrote:

On the other hand most women are attracted to men which makes little sense as well.

My bride says they keep us around to open pickle jars.

[Geoff]

His reaction was, from his own point of view, very counterproductive. Wonder what was really going on with him?

[Author]

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