Stefan, your bridge looks daunting, especially on a single speed. I have only one such overpass on my commute and it is not nearly so long as yours.

Today is the US’s National Bike to Work Day, and there were a lot of new (or possibly one-time only) commuters on the bike paths and streets. A few generous commercial sponsors and bike clubs had a refreshment station en route at the park and it was nice to stop for coffee and a bagel and share commuter stories and advice on gear with the other cyclists there. I couldn’t help but notice that the majority of commuters here today were roadies with backpacks, with a close second being guys on rando or touring bikes with saddle bags or panniers. Guys like me on a “Yehuda-style” psuedo-Van Sweringen all racked and fendered out, with North Road or other upright bars supporting our “bag of holding” were in the minority it seems. Well, I was a roadie a few years ago, then little by little decided to fit out the bike for a more comfortable commute as opposed to racing or touring, so I can’t say I disapprove. I didn’t wise up until one day on a trip to Italy when I looked around and realized that every cyclist within sight was on a town bike or some other type of traditional commuting bike. The only road bikes I saw around there were, in fact, on the road, not on the streets on the way to work. The Italians, and other Europeans I saw on that trip, seem to understand the divide between their recreational, sport, or fitness riding and their morning commute, unlike us here in America who probably start out as recreational riders and then see the sense in making a commute by bike after a while.

But I guess it takes all types to make a world, and so long as you’re happy in the bike and style of riding you are doing, then more power to you.

I’ve never been to Crete but I would love to see it sometime. One of my English friends goes there frequently and has a lot of good things to say about it. We’re planning a trip to France that’ll involve some biking next summer, 2014, so Crete may have to wait awhile longer.

I use a GoreTex jacket and overpants too in the colder months, but once it turns warm a cape can’t be beat because it ventilates and you don’t get all sweaty. I hear they are very popular in places like England and in Portland, Oregon, where rain is the norm.

I spent yesterday afternoon mounting a set of fenders on my primary commuting bike, so now I have two fendered bikes, one lugged steel and the other aluminum. The aluminum bike is set up like the trekking bikes I’ve seen in Germany and elsewhere. I tend to use it in hilly areas and offroad. The steel bike is more a town bike and commuter. I just wanted to have a bit more variety in my rainy day rides.

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm, so it’s a fixie day! Can’t wait.

Life is good when you’re dry.

Joe: “Sorry I’m late. My bike had a dead battery!”
Yehuda: …

It’s amazing how much a millimeter here a couple more there can make in setting up a bike to ride. Initially I knew the frame was a bit small for me, but didn’t realize how crowded it could feel to ride a smaller frame until this morning. I noticed I kept pushing back on the saddle and felt like my hands weren’t where they should be on the bars. Being in the drops felt awkward and I just couldn’t get comfortable. I stopped twice, once to raise the seat about a half inch and to adjust the bars a bit, and another time to push the seat back on the rails about an inch. Bingo. It felt like a whole new bike, comfortable and quick, a real pleasure to be on. I hated to stop riding it when I got to work. I can’t wait to ride it home this afternoon; it’s supposed to be warm and sunny.

Ciao, all.