Dry and Blue Skies - Ow, Some Hip Relapse

No school for Evan, but we still rode together as he needed to go to home number 2 today. He led the whole way, so I guess he's got to route down pretty well now. His pedalling style is pretty smooth, I would ride with him anytime. Do you suppose I am a little biased, though? haha.

Comfortable ride in, bikes worked flawlessly. I did do a good clean up on them this past weekend. The previous mega rains and hail definitely took their toll. For Evan's, it was clean the dirt off, wash down the rims and brake pads, then I also readjusted his rear hub bearings, adding a bit more grease while we were there. One of the bearing lock nuts had loosened, so we fixed that. Then clean and lube the chain, pretty grimy.

About the same for my SUB, though no bearing tear down. Chain was pretty washed out and some very, tiny surface rust. Lubing took care of that. I also did a little re-wrap on the handlebars, to clean up the wrapping around the shift levers.

The intro picture above was taken a bit after 4:00pm from Waterfront Park looking east. Nice clouds, heh? Temp-wise, I think was in the mid-40's.

This image was taken along the floating Eastbank Esplanade back toward the Steel Bridge. The light was very nice and made for an enjoyable ride home.

Hip-wise, I think I had a bit of a relapse over the weekend, maybe from over use from our SOLV tree planting on Saturday. Seem to have picked up a bit of a dull, constant discomfort and I have lost some sitting duration time. In general, though, I  think it is still on the positive side of healing and getting better.

Riding strength seems good, as a fun test, I used just the 36 x 17 gearing combo from Evan's to work and then from work to SE 21st and Harrison, which was the start of the climb toward home. Even climbing Harrison I was able to spin up without dropping to my lowest gearing so that is a good sign.

Kind of disappointed, have not heard anything back from TriMet from my note to them about my close call with the bus the other day. Will see if anything comes up this week.

Well thoroughly enjoyed the lovely weather riding today, will see what the rest of the week brings and the weather folks are saying rain starting tonight or tomorrow with possible snow Wednesday and/or Thursday. Evan is totally hoping for snow and no school - surprise, surprise.

Buses and School Zones

Just a few minutes before I snapped this picture (so about 2:50pm, 2/18/2011) I had quite a fun time with bus 2138, rolling along Route 73.

I had left work, crossed the Steel Bridge, ridden through the Rose Quarter area and was heading east along Multnomah St, in the bike lane I might add.

I heard the bus behind me and rather than slowing and waiting a few seconds, the driver rushed ahead and then crossed into the bike lane and abruptly stopped to pick up a passenger. I hit my brakes and moved to the left, and into the left lane to go around the bus. Fortunately, no car was in that lane, otherwise I would have been one of those statistics and the talk of local forums on the merits and evils between motorized vehicles and the human powered two wheel vehicles.

I snapped this about 2 stops after the "event" stop. At a previous light, the bus was maybe 2 cars back and I turned and just looked. I may send the same pic in to TriMet with a letter expressing my disappointment in this particular driver and not willing to give me, the bicyclist, the right of way in "my" space. Schedule or no schedule, that dang bus is way bigger than little ol' me. I understand the bus' need to pull to the curb for passengers, I wish more understood they are crossing into a non-vehicle space to do so and to give the proper occupants of that space right of way.

I suppose I am seeing more and more of the things I use to read about because I am, after all, on the road everyday now and having to navigate the trials and tribulations of competing for space.

Well as long as I am soap-boxing today, I've decided that my least favorite time and place to try and ride is around schools when they are about to let out in the afternoon. OMG! OMG! All those parents trying to compete for those few available spaces or getting to and into the parking lot to pick up their kids. They are not watching around them so much and the streets go from quite spacious to narrow gauntlets of cars pulling in and out, stopping in the road, doors flying open, blindered kids and parents crossing the streets barely even looking for cross traffic.

Well, thank you very much, I would rather be riding on the expressway, okay, maybe not, but afternoons around schools are sure intense.

Other than that, a good ride today, dry and cool in the morning and quite pleasant to be riding. Some drizzle/sprinkles this afternoon. Yay for the weekend, and some rest for my hip, which is totally getting better and better.

Be Predictable, Fellow Riders

Okay, not a picture of today's ride (this was the view back on the 8th). The ride was too rainy for me to want to stop and take any pictures in either direction, so I'm using one that makes me long for a few clear days.

Weather folks are saying more rain the rest of the week with a slight chance we could actually see some snow in the mornings, especially in the slighty higher elevations. I imagine Evan is strongly wishing for snow in the Portland area.

The ride in this morning went along pretty well, fairly normal and uneventful. But, I suppose it was bound to happen, especially since I left 1/2 hour later than normal. I had just crossed over the Steel Bridge and was about to make my normal right hand turn to go under the bridge to cross Naito. The path also went straight to follow the wall along Waterfront Park. Just as I started toward the right all of a sudden I heard a desparate, "On your right!" All I could say was, "Whoa!" and make a sudden correction to the left. The rider was not even turning right, he continued on straight!

Hey, like be predictable and pass on the left like everyone else!

He's lucky I have fairly quick responses and have a few years of road riding experience. Otherwise, he would have been the one going down, because his front wheel would  have hit my rear. I guess rush hour can be crazy even when you are not on the roads.

The hip be getting better, I could actually sit more today. Still cannot stand on that left heel. The discomfort is definitely a lower grade pain, but when I feel it, it takes a bit to move around and get it to subside. I could sit in the car this evening to and back from the grocery store. That is pretty significant, since over the weekend I could not really do that at all.

Good ride home, felt like I had a bit more power than recently, hills weren't too bad. The updated shifters position is working out and am loving having the drop bars back for the variety of hand positions and just the improved hand/wrist comfort. Go SUB!