gorillas, er, commuters in the mist

So, lately, it's been working out well for me to bike-commute on Wednesdays, since I have no meetings and the traffic seems lighter than on Tuesdays. So yesterday morning, I put on my bike clothes, packed my work clothes, grabbed some breakfast, walked out the door... and right into a cloud.

It wasn't a bad fog, really...visibility was pretty good for a block or more. Still, I didn't relish the thought of riding my bike on a 45-mph road with no shoulder. Sure, there are two lanes each way, but that won't do me much good if cars can't see me. Can't avoid killing what you can't see, right?

Still, I was already dressed for the commute. I packed my bike into the van, and started driving toward the parking lot where I start the bike commute. As I drove, I noted that the fog seemed to be thinning a bit as I got closer to Houston, and wasn't nearly as bad at ground level as it was on the raised highway. I got to the parking lot and sat there a minute or two, trying to decide what to do. I could drive the rest of the way in, but then I'd still have to go to the locker room and change, and that would make me feel retarded, since I didn't actually work out at all. I had also already committed to going to lunch with a co-worker, so I couldn't walk during lunch. If I didn't bike and I didn't work out during lunch, I would likely not work out at all. I've been doing so well with workouts lately, and I'm by-God NOT GOING TO GAIN AGAIN AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING, so that was unacceptable. Several more run-on thoughts later, I got out of the car, unloaded the bike, turned the blinky safety lights on, and was off.

Traffic was heavy for a Wednesday, maybe because I left a bit later than usual due to all the thinking. Visibility was okay, and all the cars seemed to see me in plenty of time. My biggest problem was that my glasses started to mist over almost immediately. By the time I hit the queue of cars waiting for the traffic light, I could barely see. Luckily, my fingers made excellent windshield wipers, and I had plenty of opportunity to use them, since I was in stop-and-go traffic at that light for nearly 10 minutes.

Bike commuting in mist was quite the adventure. The first part of it was the worst...in the morning, that's where all the traffic and dangerous curves are. I was really nervous about taking the lane around the 15 mph curves, but avoiding it was not an option. If I stayed on the edge, some jackhole would inevitably try to pass on the curve, either edging me off the road or colliding with oncoming traffic. Either was a greater risk than just blocking their progress until passing was safe. I consider it a public service. :)

Anyway, no one honked or buzzed me, so I guess the blinkies were doing their job. I had to stop once I got to the residential part of my ride and really clean my glasses, and the commute took about 10 minutes longer than usual, but other than that it was fine. So my first commute with weather of any variety besides "partly cloudy" was a success.

I did get honked at on the way home, while I was attempting to merge into the left lane. I did everything right, too...waited for a huge gap in traffic, signalled, started to move over just as the last car was clearing the place I wanted to go. Apparently, it was too close for his comfort, though, because he objected by slowing down and laying on the horn. I moved over behind him anyway, and there may have been some unpleasantries exchanged before he sped off.

I really wish my first reaction to those sorts of confrontations was nicer. I'd like to be one of those people who can smile and wave instead of throwing the predictable (if well deserved) F-bomb out there. I feel like I'm giving a bad impression of road cyclists generally by getting all combative about it, not to mention the inherent safety hazards of getting into an argument with a 2-ton SUV while riding a 20-lb piece of aluminum. Still, my first reaction is always to call him a jackass and make angry hand gestures, and then to feel bad about it afterward. Especially when it was my fault in the first place (which this one wasn't, but it's been known to happen).

In any case, we all came through it safely, and I can't undo it. Next time, though, I think I'll try to make a more conscious effort to be nice first, save the shouting of obscenities for later. Maybe once I'm back in the safety of my own 2000-lb. metal cocoon.