Number of miles ridden: 31.2 (roundtrip)
Time traveled: 2 hours: 57 minutes
Number of Confederate flags sighted: 3
Number of times actively feared for life: 0
This wasn’t a work commute, but a “fun” ride to the Humboldt County Cornhole Association’s annual tournament. I mention it to show that a.) I am not a complete wimp; b.) to exhort the wonderfulness of the Hammond Trail.
What a grand thing, to have most of our excursion taking place via a path that’s both beautiful and safe. Where can we get more of these, Humboldt?
In contrast, today’s bicycling adventure…
Number of miles ridden (one-way): 4.0
Time traveled: 21:10 minutes
Number of epiphanies: 1
Number of times actively feared for life: 1
If a safe, separate bike route existed, riding a bike from Manila to Eureka would be no big deal. As it is, the bridges prompt heart pounding both out of fear – the car that speeds by at 60mph close enough to touch – and because the view of the bay expanding outward in both directions is an affirmation of the beauty that surrounds us lucky Humboldtians. I can feel the joy bursting from my chest! Or maybe that’s just the result of pedaling uphill….
Several years ago, I was returning home to Manila in my car and happened upon the immediate aftermath of a vehicle vs bicyclist collision. The woman cycling had been struck by the side mirror of a truck as the driver swung too sharply to the right. Despite her helmet, she suffered head injuries, among others, and I saw her again at a public meeting held to address bicycle safety in the aftermath of Greg Jennings’ death. (Jennings was bicycling home to Blue Lake Monday evening after work, on Highway 299, when a pickup drifted onto the shoulder and struck and killed him. More here.)
So yeah, concerns are not unfounded.
In fact, I also surf and have witnessed a great white attack from 30 feet away – but chances of an ugly encounter are far greater on my bike with a car than on my surfboard with a shark.
But today’s pedaling journey involved only one sketchy moment and was otherwise easy-peasy, a little effort on the uphills, fun blasts on the downside of the bridges. I arrived in Eureka with time to change into my work clothes – which reminds me, here’s a question for you regular bike commuters: At what point do you wear bike gear and bring stuff to change into? Fully suiting up with the puffy pants and such to hop over the bridges feels kind of silly – I look like I’m on a serious mission – but cycling in my work clothes seems gross because sweat, ew.
This article appears in Burger Quest.
You mentioned that the driver who hit Greg Jennings “drifted” onto the shoulder. Maybe you should do some reading on the incident before commenting. According to eyewitnesses, the driver swerved hard onto the shoulder. In my opinion, there is a big difference.
And if you find a little perspiration gross, I suggest you park your bike and just drive.
And do us all a favor and write about something you can be a little more upbeat about. Your attitude about cycling is a real downer.
Timothy – thanks for the significant correction regarding Greg Jennings’ death.
If you do that ride on Hammond Trail out to Trinidad and back on the weekends, and put good effort towards either interval sprints or a best overall time, that little four mile commute won’t make you sweat as much, if at all. Better yet the Fickle Hill loop. Improve your fitness and riding technique by going on longer, tougher weekly or bi-weekly rides and it will make your daily load easier to bear.
Either that or bring your work clothes in a backpack, take a sponge bath in the employee restroom and change clothes before work.
Nice story. You inspire me
A 4-6 mile flat bicycle commute does not require specific cycling clothes. It does require a new mind set, and a slight change in how you pedal. If you are sweating than you are pedaling too fast, or too hard. In Holland they would tell you to simply slow down your pace. Think about it you leave extra early to take a shower at work, and you carry extra clothes(additional weight causing you to sweat). Instead of leaving early to shower at work. Leave at the same time, but pedal at a more relaxed/slower pace to work. If you are not sweating, you don’t need to take a shower.
Keep things simple, don’t over complicate it. Think outside the box, and don’t follow the mainstream stateside marketing. In Holland you don’t see the ridiculous marketing that is present in the US. Perhaps you should subscribe to Momentum magazine, to change your perception on bicycle marketing.
I suspect you have some bicycle with drop type handle bars? Is that needed for a flat 4 mile commute? Maybe you need a more upright riding style, to influence your riding style. We are in a rural area, but we can still be a “urban bicycle people”. More safe infrastructure will come in time, you can also relocate into Arcata, to enhance the quality of your commute(if it is that important to you).
You may want to see some of my work online, as my style is more “upright”. The bottom of the article also includes a cool video. My advice is to change your perception on your bicycle style, if you want to deal with your sweat concerns. Ride in style, be more comfortable, feel more safe, and share a more positive/everyday perception of bicycle people. My site will also lead you to contact info to further this conversation, if you desire.
http://completestreetsadvocate.org/2014/05/04/holland-made-bicycle-comes-to-arcata/
Thanks for the advice, Chris! I’ll check out your site, too.