Back to School, Back to Bike Commuting!

Fall semester started this week, and enrollment is way up this year. Traffic problems abound and it's really hard to get a parking spot at school. Not for me though! I just zip along to the right of the traffic jam and am currently the only bike commuter to class. I actually get there faster than if I drove. I just hope no one else notices how nice it is for me, with no competition for the racks, etc.!


Now, my commute to school isn't a long one, it's only a 4 mile round trip. It still feels good though. After my knee issues on my Century Attempt in Kokomo, Indiana last week, I was a bit concerned, but so far so good. I took a couple of days completely off the bike to let the inflammation die down. I sure didn't have much in the way of legs today though!

My quads were absolutely on fire and riding back against against a fairly strong headwind didn't help. Ah well, such is life and after I'm fully recovered, I'm sure things will be back to normal. It did feel good though to be back to pedaling!

On another note, I was mapping a ride and in the drive to my apartment complex, I noticed a little spot of color in the satellite image. I was near the max resolution, so I went to max zoom and guess what that little spot of color is.......ME! I found myself out on the bike with GMaps pedometers image function. You know I had to capture this one.



I'm the only rider here that wears kit, so it's better than 99% odds it is me. How cool is that?

One of the Best Economic Reasons to Bike Commute

Today, I saw the pump price at Supertest here in Lafayette. The price for regular unleaded is at $2.65.9 there. This is one off the cheapest stations in town. It looks like we're headed back up over $3.00 a gallon again! A week ago, they were at $2.39.9. The market isn't that volatile! There has been some fluctuation, but not enough for a nearly 30 cent spike!


Even taking the health benefits out, the cost saving is a good thing. Bicycle Commuting to work is a good thing, personally as well as economically and environmentally

Wife's 1st Bike Commute

Well, Mrs Stormcrowe did her first bike commute to school yesterday! It was kind of nice! I rode with her to help her feel a bit more secure. She was pleasantly surprised by the courtesy extended her (and so was I!). Not one close pass, even on the section of the ride using US52!

I noticed one thing in particular, with Earlena riding a recumbent trike, I guess people were thinking it was a wheelchair or something. The drivers made a conscious effort to give us a full clear lane as they passed.

From Mrs Stormcrowe, Her observations:

I was real surprised as to how easy it went! The trike rides real well, even against a headwind. Road riding, even on a busy road like Indiana 38 or US 52 by the mall is surprisingly easy!