Thursday, May 31, 2007

"Nice going Janet"

Temperature at departure = 64° F (18° C)
Days until school starts = 77

Wednesday night, just as I was shutting down the laptop in preparations to head home, another thunderstorm rolled in. I wimped out and called Peter to come get me and left my bike in the office along with my helmet and gloves. Yesterday was yet another stormy day so I drove the van so I could haul the bike back home. Today is nice and sunny. Sure, everything is still soaked; there are tons of rain laden branches hanging down over the streets and bike path, lots of mud and puddles and humidity -- but still a nice day to ride. I got the bike out and realized that I'd left my helmet and gloves in the office. I rode anyway and felt weird to be without that piece of Styrofoam wrapped around my noggin.


When I got to the part of the path that loops into the woods around Founder's Park (seen above), I ran into more of the slick mud that nearly did me in back in March. I slowed down a bit and as I came back out into the clear where a sidewalk from the park's parking lot joins the path I was met by three people out for a morning stroll. One of the two ladies present said, loudly, "You should be wearing a helmet."

I was feeling 'ornery.

I stopped and said I agreed, shared the information I just shared with you - including the story from March and noticed that they were more than ready to move on. I continued to ramble a bit and finally bid them a good day. As I rode off I heard the other lady in the group say "Nice going Janet." I just smiled.

Now, that I think of it, I've been rambling on here a bit. Some of you must be saying to your computer "Nice going RSS..."

3 comments:

Yokota Fritz said...

I wear a helmet when I ride, but those ladies' risk of head injury while walking is actually worse than yours on the bike. SO perhaps we should ask all the walkers on the path where they're helmets are at.

amidnightrider said...

I'm a 40% helmet wearer. Commuting and club rides but not usually on errands and MUP riding. I do wear a do-rag and show my tatoos to keep the comments away. 8>)

Noah said...

I couldn't find my helmet before last monday's group ride, but attended anyways. Then I sheepishly asked the ride leader if he could take us by his place to loan me a helmet. :P

Oh yes, and I did take a spin on Friday like you suggested, and checked on a guy who had a seatpost QR lever problem. He was right there in that very shelter.