What you can do #2

Horns. Horns. Let's talk about horns. One thing that many (not all, natch) cyclists agree on is how much of a pain car horns are. It stinks something rotten to have someone honk at you, especially because it's a looooooot louder outside the car than inside it.

Perhaps you're just trying to let the cyclist know you're there. Awesome for safety! There's a good chance she already knows... unless you're in a prius, and then maybe the large can of Arizona iced tea could be your indicator. (I keed, I keed. Love you and your gas mileage.)

But it's really loud and jarring, and it's already hard enough to share the road with cars. A gentle, teeny honk is OK. But usually the horn means anger and it's also pretty scary.

If you're trying to say "hi" or "RIGHT ON, BIKE RIDERS!!!!!!" you could roll down your window and offer a "woo hoo!" or a thumbs up. We loved getting those on this trip!

Un idea! One of many. Go forth in safety, amigos.

dear parents

We do indeed take cover when there's lightning. Dear Wisconsin: that's enough for today.

Today

We started off in rain with wet tents stuffed into their bags. Rode in the rain for a while.  The weather cleared. 

Will had the first flat since Montana.  Then I got one later- another staple.  Then I found this broken spoke.  I consulted with Cale, an great bike friend, but couldn't quite get it in.  Plus it was late and we were on the side of a highway.  And mosquitos.

Minnesota: 10,000 lakes and 10,000,000,000,000 mosquitos.  I just went back and added more zeros so that you'll get my point.

If you were to talk to me now I might whine a little, perhaps about this rain jacket that no longer seems to be.waterproof.  But then I'd remember that I'm typing this to you on a phone and about to drink water from a tap and will continue on a bike ride tomorrow.  So.

My dinner involved the following: sardines (in water, NOT in mustard sauce, que no me gustan, cabbage, ramen (the vegan top ramen "oriental" flavor, instant lentil soup mix, and salt.  The sardines and cabbage were on sale.

I ate it in my tent because 10,000 of the mosquitos were hanging around our spot tonight.

70 ish miles.  Le Sueur, MN.  Minneapolis tomorrow, we plan.

What you can do #1

How can you support this ride?*  The easiest way that you can do this is simply to move over a little when you're passing a cyclist on the road.

Yep. 

In some states, the law requires cars, trucks, and motorcycles to give cyclists three feet of space when passing.  (Even Florida, my dear home state, requires it.  Even Florida.)  Seems like a good idea, ya?

It's pretty scary to be buzzed when you're on a bike.  Cars have ridden too close to me many times, and if you know a cyclist who's been on the road, she or he has too.  Sometimes people just don't know.  Other times people do it as a way to threaten cyclists.  Sometimes, car drivers are pissed that bikes are on the road, and so by buzzing cyclists, the drivers think they're teaching a lesson.  Well, that sucks.  And it's poor logic, too.

Sure, sometimes bike riders are jerks (ahem) and that's pretty irritating, but that doesn't mean they deserve to be threatened (especially the I'm-gonna-kill-or-injure-you type of threat that buzzing somebody is).  Nope, they don't.  Just take a deep breath and move on.  Feel free to shake your head at them, but please don't buzz them.  It's incredibly scary.

So that's it!  Three feet and a little more care when your behind the wheel can go a LONG way to making our roads safer.







*sawbucks accepted too.  (j/k! or not!)