More running in the bike lane

Lance Armstrong's Birthday

Lance "the most tested athlete in the world" Armstrong, who is 37 today, is getting back into cycling. Good for him. Tour de France in 2009, then a run for governor of Texas in 2010.

Meanwhile, the Suicide Bicycle Ride "Misanthrope" campaign is gaining a lot of ground, fueled by folks like this guy jogging in the bike lane. This has become quite popular in Boston, especially on Sundays.

It was a good week

Yeah, this was one of the best weeks of the year so far. Even with all the students back in town there was a minimum of mayhem. Not a lot of SiRis. People were riding in the street, helmets on their heads, and everyone seemed to know what they were doing. Tuesday was the best - cyclists of all kinds on the morning commute - recumbents, single speeds, fixed gear, 10-speeds, etc etc, everyone just riding and having a good time

Speaking of fixed-gear, it has been over three months since I flipped from free to fixed. I really like it a great deal although there are definitley cons, the main one being the inability to stop really quickly. I haven't learned how to skid or skip stop (whatever the hell that is) and I can't see relying on skidding, or a combo of front brake and skidding, as a viable primary way of stopping in emergency situations. The late Sheldon Brown says that the rear brake becomes unnecessary when riding fixed (and I removed my rear brake), and I bow in veneration to Sheldon Brown. But it seems that riding in an urban setting argues for keeping that rear brake on, and, if possible, adding a third, fourth and fifth brake, and then switching back to a free wheel, or multi-geared, and then ultimately to a four-wheeled motorized vehicle. Anyway, there are definitely some good sides to it. The first is the excercise factor - my legs have become a lot more muscular, and my wife gave that the thumbs up.

Pictures are of favorite street/worst street. Favorite (1st pic) is Boylston Street: wide, plenty of room, great surface, feels real safe. Worst is Clarendon Street: horrendous surface, chaos, cars making sudden,no-blinker right turns onto St. James and then into the parking garage just past Hancock building. You have to get out into the middle of the lane to stake your claim so you don't get picked off.