TGIF

Current status: Zombie. The last two days I've had some training to attend for work, and this required me to get up at 4:30 am. That used to be my bed-time. Not a morning person. At all. So I've felt a bit out of sorts & disconnected. Lots of napping.

Do this: According to TBD.com, a group of wounded soldiers will be doing a group ride around Haines Point right about...well, now probably. If you're in the area, stop by and cheer them on.

Have you registered for BikeDC yet? Do it.

Did you know BicycleSPACE does group rides every weekend? They have different rides for different skills. This weekend is supposed to be pretty awesome, weather-wise so these rides would be a good option to enjoy that weather.

State of Biking in DC: Pretty effing awesome. Its Spring. Capital Bikeshare is being expanded. Bike trails are all over the place. Even celebrities are getting in on the action.














Plus, it's Earth Day. Put the car keys down, and your helmets on!

I'm fine.

Hi guys, I'm still doing #30DaysofBiking, I just haven't been able to post in awhile.

My beloved cat, Indiana Jones*, fell ill very suddenly and passed away on Friday.

It's untethered me a bit.

I've been very slowly trying to put everything back together again. It's been a reality adjustment for me, as a fairly significant and constant portion of it is simply gone.


Anyway, I will be back with inane ramblings & photos very soon. Perhaps with some good news, even.

I have been biking everyday (except for that awful, horrible, no-good day on Friday), and the weather just keeps getting warmer and more spring-ier by the day.

Thank you to those that sent their condolences on the passing of Indy. I really do appreciate it.

The Evilest Hench Cat Ever.

*I did not name her that.

Day 11 #30DaysofBiking

Stunning day in DC. Temps in the mid 80's, with blinding sunshine.

I decided to wait until the evening before heading out, both for the cooler breeze & for the sunset sky.

I rode around downtown, reminding myself of why I love this beautiful city.

Days 8, 9, & 10 #30DaysOfBiking

Not too many pictures this time, as my biking has been pretty boring.

Bike to work. Bike from work. Bike to brunch. Bike to bar. Bike home.

It does not help that the weather had been pretty dismal...




I keep forgetting to put a seat cover on.

I had a little bike adventure planned for today, but my riding partner lost power in her home (no alarm) so she overslept. I suppose I could have gone on my own, but I started feeling pretty awful soon after (chills, nausea, headache) so I stayed on the couch.

I started feeling human again later on, and biked down to my favorite spot for some human interaction. So there's that.

Tomorrow the temps are supposed to reach the mid 80's. Wha wha?? Can't I have a nice mild spring day? My friend is trying to drag me out of bed super early tomorrow for a ride that will be very complicated for me to get to. Normally I would jump on the chance, but I still feel like a hollowed-out shell from earlier. I think I will pass. Instead I will go out on my own later in the day and do some scavenger hunting..

Day 7 #30DaysofBiking

A gorgeous spring day in DC. The type of day that a person should be glad to be out & on a bicycle.

Unless that person is me, apparently.

Today I attended a meeting with the prosecuting attorney for that incident with a car I blogged about back in February. I can see that this is going to be a very long uphill battle... I was very tired afterward, and had zero motivation to enjoy the lovely afternoon even though my boss gave me the afternoon off.

The good part is that I rode downtown to the meeting so I could enjoy the spring day for just a bit...





Obligatory White House stop.





I really like the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes, but I don't like how it sets up pedestrians & cyclists up for a battle of the right-of-way in the median islands.





This UPS truck was blocking the cycletrack, forcing me to ride into on-coming vehicular traffic to get by. This sort of selfish behavior ticks me off. At least if he parked in the vehicle lane, he wouldn't be forcing cars to have to do such a dangerous maneuver. They could simply use the other lane...

This morning I rode the 15th St cycletrack southbound during the morning rush. I think I witnessed the most rude & obnoxious cyclist behavior to date. As more cyclists take to the streets, the danger of cyclist-on-cyclist accidents rises dramatically. Be kind to each other out there, and for goodness' sakes use common sense & courtesy! Signal your intentions (use your voice/hands/bell), pass on the LEFT (not the right!), and yield to pedestrians (stay out of the crosswalks those rare times you actually stop at an intersection).

I watched one poor hapless pedestrian (who had the right of way!!) be forced to play frogger with rude cyclists that kept shoaling each other in a crosswalk, preventing her from being able to get to the sidewalk. This is why people think cyclists are all dicks, people.

I also witnessed several close calls with cyclists narrowly missing each other by making sudden, unannounced turns & lane changes.

I have a feeling that these particular riders behave in the same selfish manner whether they are on a bike, in a car or walking though...

Day 6 #30DaysofBiking

Today's commute into work was much drier, if not warmer. Not bad at all. Much more like a typical early Spring Day.

And what was this fiery ball of light that was blinding me?





Although I'm definitely not a morning person at all, being able to watch the sunrise from atop a bike is pretty awesome.

The temps began to rise as the day went on, and the skies remained clear making it a very pleasant day at work.




Thank goodness the pretty sunshine-y day kept me in a good mood, otherwise I would have turned into a grumpy ogre when I ended up staying 3 hours late at work on a last minute assignment. >:-[

Luckily I had this waiting for me...





Not a bad way to end the day.

Day 5 #30DaysOfBiking

I awoke to a dreary, gray, wet but still warm morning. I didn't sleep very well last night, and I learned it was probably due to the thunderstorms that passed through.

I managed to get in about an hour's ride before rain & rapidly falling temperatures drove me inside to seek shelter...






What started out as a day suitable for riding in light clothing, quickly changed...






I spent the rest of my workday indoors, not getting much done. Of course, just as it was getting time to go home, the sun & blue skies made their reappearance...






Luckily, Betty was waiting for me, ready to take me home (she had been out in the rain & cold even longer than I)...






This schizophrenic weather is very tiring.

Day 4 #30DaysOfBiking

80 degrees. What a glorious day.





Apparently, I just missed running into Kevin Spacey who was tooling around on a Capital Bikeshare bike. Oh well...

Riding around today reminded me of summer; long sweltering days, sunlight, bright blue skies, clueless tourists...



Too bad it's back to being wet & chilly tomorrow. So depressing..

For now I will just keep riding and soak up every little sunbeam I can catch...

Day 3

Low-key Sunday. The sun was out, but still a bit chilly for my tastes.




All-You-Can-Drink Mimosas warmed me up.

Day 2...

Another cold, wet commute into work. Replenishment needed...






The sun peeked out ever so briefly. It even started to get warmer.

But the clouds came rolling back in and it wasn't long before the Rain came back and brought his friends Sleet & Hail...

And then the Sunshine came back!

For an hour. Then the Hurty Hail returned.

And the Sun again!

I give up.


I am patiently awaiting the warmer spring weather....





In the meantime, I will bike someplace warm..

Day 1

A rather cold beginning. At least the sun made an appearance for the commute home...