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| Google says the route should take 1 h 13 min by bike. I typically average about 15 mph, so I make it in about 50 min. BTW that big patch of green on the upper right section is the southern tip of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park -- our local cycling Mecca. |
I like to be heading out the door by 6:00 am, when traffic is still very light. It's dark when I leave, though now that it's May, it is light by the time I arrive at work. I do have to negotiate the Interstate 77 interchange, which can be a little dodgy by the time I get to it, and then the remainder of the way, OH-18 becomes practically like a freeway, but there's an extra-wide shoulder, and I just get over to the far right and let the traffic go by until I turn off on a near-deserted farm-country backroad. I'm normally a "take the lane" rider, but when the traffic is flying by at 55 mph, I figure they can keep it. In the afternoon, for the ride home, there is a lot more traffic on the main road, so I take a different route -- choosing backroads over the main thoroughfare. It adds a couple of miles and a bunch more hills, but I'm less pressed for time, and I feel a little more comfortable.
As I said, I'm usually the only cyclist on the road at that time. But this day, some weeks ago, as looked ahead, I thought maybe I saw a faint flash of red in the distance. Maybe I was mistaken, or I misinterpreted a car taillight. A little later, I saw it again. Flashing red. A bike taillight for sure. Another commuter?
Who was this guy? Where was he headed? Why haven't I ever seen him before?
Crossing the county line, I was within about 100 yards behind him, and closing. 50 yards. 20 yards. Just as I made it up to within a couple bike lengths behind has back wheel, I got to my turn off the main route and on to the back road while he continued going straight. I didn't even manage a decent "g'morning."
It just happened the one time, and I haven't seen him since. Was he just trying out bike commuting for the first time, and decided it wasn't his thing? Was he only cycling to work because his car was in the shop? Or does he ride regularly, and maybe I just caught him on an odd day when he was out at something other than his usual time? Who knows.It's National Bike To Work Day, but around here it's hard to tell. Aside from this one little chance encounter, from what I can see around my area I'm usually the only bike on the road.
When I first started bike commuting in New Jersey more than three decades ago, I was usually solo. So, on those rare occasions when I saw another cyclist, he or she stood out.
ReplyDeleteThese days, no matter what time of the day I'm coming or going, I see other people going to or from their jobs, school or some other place. I must admit that I feel a bit self-conscious, as most of them are considerably younger than I am.
I work at night and travel 25 miles one way from Melbourne to Sebastian, here in Florida. I have yet since starting in January seen another cyclist. I start at one am to be there by four. And no, not that I'm slow but I like to get lost or have a buffer if something happens. Google says 1:54 to get there. So far the quickest is at :38 minutes with no wind. I lazily get there in :54-1:15. It really depends on how I feel. I have a 45 mile tracked and working on a 60. The only time I see cyclist is in the morning one the way from work. Usually the beach bums. But one day, I saw a guy in a kit on a Colgon. I ride a 87 Bridgestone 300 mixte fitted with basket and 700x42. We ran the entire route 25 miles. I did more with some side roads. It was fun. I would pop out onto US1 just to check on him. He got caught at the train going into downtown Melbourne. That's when I caught up laughing and grinning ear to ear. He seemed unimpressed nor happy. After that he started running stop signs and red lights. I let him go after explaining I follow the posted signs. I've not seen him in route since. Kinda makes me sad. Tonight I'll ride my Cignal Talon.... Hope he's out in the morning.
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