Too Much Junk

Kermit Crowds the Light Bracket

Frankenbike has never been about simple elegance. Instead, it is a conglomeration of various parts from around the world that mostly work pretty well. Still, I think I’ve passed the point where things start to simply represent too much junk. This happened when I added a cup holder to the fork that holds the gear shifter so I can carry two cups home from the local espresso stand. To avoid whacking my knee, I moved the fork forward and now I can’t toss the cable lock onto it. I also notice that only my smallest headlight can clip onto the handlebar bracket without interfering with Kermit.

 

Perhaps Kermit needs to retire.

Handlebar Tape is Getting a Bit Ratty as Well

Foggy Espresso Ride

Mild Weather Supports Palm Trees in Ocean Shores, Washington

Ocean Shores, Washington DOES have weather other than rain and wind in the winter. As shown in my previous post, there is an occasional touch of “North Texas Style” frost and snow. This morning, fog set it to emphasize the “ACE” nature of weather.



These Property Owners Might as well say "No Deer Wanted"

For those unfamiliar with the term, “ACE” stands for “Ability,” “Conditions,” and “Equipment.” This morning, it became apparent the term would apply equally well if the “E” stood for “Environment.” I was heartened to see a fairly heavy fog across the lake from my house this morning. You see, fog means it isn’t raining or snowing, it isn’t REALLY COLD, and it isn’t very windy. PERFECT cycling conditions for the wimpy cyclists around Ocean Shores. I took along my best camera to capture a few of the local sights for y’all.

First up, you can see that weather really isn’t too extremely cold in the winter, given the palm tree shown above. This is in contrast to the dead palm shown here that was in North Texas. Next, you can see that roses and other “delectable” vegetation requires protection if it is to survive against the local deer herds. There are also long, narrow canals that divide the Ocean Shores’ peninsula, though foggy conditions do not show locales such as the “Bass Canal” to their best advantage. The golf course also looksdifferent in the fog.

Bass Canal in Ocean Shores, on a Foggy Morning

I find it notable how different fog seems to a cyclist in Ocean Shores than in North Central Texas. In Texas, fog is a cause for concern since overtaking motorists have less than their usual half minute to decide how to pass a cyclist. In Ocean Shores, the motorists are fewer and slower. Among other things, the large deer population keeps motoring speeds down. In Ocean Shores, fog is a delight, though I’m inclined to bring up one of my rear lights from Texas for the occasional motorist that drives in fog without lit headlights. Rear reflectors only work if lit from behind, despite the law that makes them “sufficient.”

Golf Course in OS on a Foggy Morning



OS Barista and an Approving Customer on a Foggy Morning

One constant in OS (well, unless the water froze in thepipes at the espresso stand) are the baristas. Kermit approves of hot coffee, with a bit of cream…

 

Shivering in Texas for Canada Day

Buddy in the Background. Helmet on the Table. Stuff in the Frigid Interior

Today is my mom's birthday. It is also "Canada Day." When I was much younger, it was called "Dominion Day," but we're more egalitarian nowadays, even though the Queen is still on a lot of the money.

Anyway, in honor of the great north, I imbibed my coffee this afternoon inside in air conditioned frigidity rather than sit outside next to the bike where it was pleasantly warm. It was so cold inside that the ice in the triple filtered ice water hardly shrunk at all. The temperature outside? I have no idea but it was somewhere between 95F and 100F. July in North Texas is pretty predictable...

For my reader(s) north of the border, I leave you with memory of the Queen's Canadian Banner. Just be thankful I didn't embed THIS link once again!

Queen's Canadian Flag. More Properly Known as "The Royal Standard of Canada"

Filter or Permeate

Proceeding Through This Intersection, Filtering Seems Like the Only Alternative to a LONG Wait, Stuck in Amongst Motorists

First off, two "cycling" terms:

• Filter - The practice that many cyclists adopt when coming upon a lot of motorists waiting at a red light. It consists of moving forward past all the motorists waiting in line for the light to change. A variation on this practice, which is considered smarter, is to stop one or two cars BACK from the front of the line so as to avoid inadvertently getting hit when the light turns green.
• Permeable - An area that presents lots of route choices for a cyclist. Grid street arrangements are typically great for permeability. Geographic obstacles such as rivers like the DFW Trinity River or lakes greatly reduce permeability. Some road arrangements also greatly reduce permeability even when no geographic obstacles exist.

Way back when, until April of 2009, I rode my v1 commute. The return home usually included a segment northward on Bedford Euless Road that crossed the Airport Freeway (Texas 183) at the bottom of the hill described here. That intersection is the one shown above. The photo, shot today, is more or less typical. My practice at that time was to "filter" forward until I stopped one car back from the front of the line. That would get me across the intersection and into the right lane when the light turned green, where all the motorists that made it through the light would pass using the left lane. The main risk of doing this was that, occasionally, a scofflaw in the right lane would proceed straight through the intersection rather than obey the RT Only markings. Such outlaws were only a minor problem for me, as my routine head check would invariably alert me to the onrushing lawbreaker, and I could simply delay my move to the right until the cheater passed to my right. I try to show the situation with arrows in the photo below, during a break in the traffic. This situation only arose on the ride home. On the ride to work, in the opposite direction, this intersection invariably proved trouble free and I always get through on one light cycle.

The Basic Intersection Arrangement When Traffic Clears Out

However, when I began my v3 commute last November, I that permeability is much nicer than filtering for providing a pleasant ride home. That notion was reinforced earlier this week when, just for the heck of it, I elected to proceed on the old route. Unlike the olden days, I'm a lot more reluctant to filter. Among other things, my motorists can get a little snippy if they have to pass a cyclist for a second time, though the availability of the second lane after the intersection makes doing so pretty simple and most of the motorists are fairly tolerant. Mostly, I don't filter due to changes in me. Maybe I've internalized the "Same road, same rules," and all that. Maybe I'm simply getting all soft.

Well, to make a long story short, after sitting through two light cycles, I bailed out and moved into the RT Only lane and then made a free right turn onto the Airport Freeway Service Road. That got me back on track, with only a frustratingly long minute delay. If you want to see how long a minute can seem, watch a video of a full traffic light cycle change from red, through green, and back to red. It reminded me of how obstructive a cyclist can seem to a motorist. Even a few seconds SEEMS like forever.

Mostly, nowadays, in my v3 commute, I take a different route, shown below. It is an alley behind the mini mall and bypasses the intersection entirely. What's more, there is no cross traffic, and I rarely encounter any vehicle of any sort in the alley. It's even got smooth pavement. It is, simply put, "permeable." It is possible that Rantwick's mom might approve since it avoids any parking lot nonsense while also getting the job of getting places done. It illustrates the advantage of permeability over filtering. I'm not the only one that has discovered such cool route variations. PaddyAnne discovered a permeable route option here, Keri discovered one here, and even I have discovered such alternatives here and here. On the other hand, as here, not all these permeable alternatives will work out.



Instead of Stressing Out at the Intersection Above, Nowadays, I Just Cruise Down This Permeable Alternative
The Photo Shows Above Normal Traffic at Rush Hour - Usually, There is No Vehicle Parked Behind the Distant Stereo Shop



"How do I get in on the good times?" you might wonder. Well, ask your fellow commuters is one means that might work. Another is to look at Bing's aerial view and Google's satellite view. They may reveal alternatives that will make your commute sweeter and possibly quicker and safer as well.

As for me, does my "permeable" alternative speed things up? Well, actually no. It has the downside of routing me directly past the coffee store of a major coffee chain and slows me down by a full 20 minutes. More if there are interesting blog posts on the free Wi Fi. It IS low stress, at least unless I take advantage of a free refill. Still, one must make sacrifices!

UPDATE - UNFILTERED CAN RAISE AWKWARD QUESTIONS

Today, looking down Bedford Euless, I saw a traffic-free red light. Seeing a rare opportunity, I made an unfiltered dash to the light where I was legitimately right at the front of the line, and then swept home via the quickest route. Actually, THAT was a source of an awkward question: "Why did you get home so early, dear?"  "Uh, I rode home really really fast just because I love you, sweetheart. Yeah, that's it."

I didn't let on that I find the combination of a trafic-free intersection and a quick route to be even more irresistible than a cup of coffee from a major chain based in Seattle. Absence of that cup of coffee accounted for most of the early arrival. Some things are better left unsaid.

Deja Vu Sorta

New Gas Station Along the Old Route
Cheap Coffee and Hot Dogs for Cyclists

They say you can't go home again. In some ways you can't go to work again. Well, at least if you go to where you USED to work, it just isn't the same. Not exactly, anyway.

Since mid November, as reported in this post, I haven't commuted to Fort Worth Alliance Airport any more - until today. It was Deja Vu All Over Again, and then it wasn't.

For those who don't know the particulars, I regularly made the 40-mile roundtrip commute from home to Alliance Airport from April 2009 through Remembrance Day of 2010. During that time, I put the better part of 6000 miles on Buddy, more miles on other bikes, and I and learned a lot about how a transportational cyclist can successfully operate in a vehicular manner over all types of roads in all weather and lighting. Every day. My v3 commute, by comparison, is about 7 miles each way. The difference is a lot more than just the mileage, as I was reminded today. I did the old commute again because I needed to take care of some administrative stuff with my engineers at Alliance, and I expected it would take pretty much the whole day. I looked forward to deja vu on the old commute with a little trepedation mixed in. It'd be fun, but sometimes reliving old experiences reminds us of what we didn't enjoy rather than our memories that grow fonder with the passing of time.

It all started out real familiar. I rolled out of bed about 45 minutes earlier than my new commute, and was ready to depart in plenty of time. Other than having to remember not to make an early LEFT turn, it all seemed familiar. In fact, it was SO familiar that the main difference I noticed was that the mighty P7 light eliminated any past questions about whether the video traffic signals would recognize the forward progress needs of the commute cyclist. I must say I highly recommend a bright, steady headlight to trigger those video-triggered traffic lights. In fact, I triggered them easier than my motorists along the route. About the only other differences on the way to work in were my thoughts - about 1/3 of the way to work, the thought hit me that if I were making my new commute, I'd be at work. About 2/3 of the way to work, the thought hit me that if I were making my new commute in the worst weather in recent memory, I'd be at work. Still, the ride itself seemed just like it used to be in the predawn darkness. When the sun peeked over the horizon, I was nearly at work and simply noticed a few more new houses in the developments close to the Alliance Gateway Freeway. It was as sweet as ever to head up the last stretch, and then finally move into the left turn lane to turn into the parking lot.

Then, I brought the bike inside and started to notice not everything had remained unchanged. I experienced Obamacare first-hand when I encountered our former shower that was now locked, thanks to the "nursing mother" provision. Then I found that the cafeteria doesn't have chorizo for omelets any more and they'd changed cooks. What's more, there was no green salsa. Well, none of those were strictly commute related, and there is another shower in the building. It was fun to see people who KNEW I was there because "Steve's bike is here" in the office I was borrowing. Still, Alliance seemed a little less legendary. The larger differences became apparent on the way home. Homeward bound is the real test anyway more often than not.

The first big difference was that, in contrast to early November, the trees looked dead. My daughter, Abbey A, really was the first of our family to observe that it looks really DEAD in Texas in winter.The grass looked dead too. It's Texas winter. No more color for these cowboys and cowgirls until the weather warms up seriously. Somehow, I didn't notice that change nearly so much on my new commute, but seeing dead-looking trees again that were full of leaves the last time I'd seen them made an impact that hadn't been apparent in the morning darkness.

Color or B&W, the Scenes Look Pretty Much the Same. Even the Grass is Beige

Gratuitous Bike Shot to Provide a Little Color

Then, as I rode along, I noticed that pockets of snow remain from last week's ice and snow event. We may not be in the snow belt, but even Texas still has some, and more is expected tomorrow. Maybe quite a bit more. We shall see. More things one didn't notice in the predawn ride in to work. There certainly was none of this stuff around last November.

Snow on a Roof in Keller, Texas

Snow Remnants in a Yard in Keller, Texas

On a more serious note, there were still remants of the gravel and sand used to provide traction near the intersections. In the predawn darkness, a cyclist could easily go down if he weren't in the habit of riding in "the line of sweetness." As it was, the sand made a lot bigger impression on me when I could actually contemplate it at the leisure of a red light. This CAN'T be good for the drivetrain!

Note all the Sand at the Intersection Approach. I Can't Remember WHY I Appear to be in the Right Wheel Track. I Usually Approach this Light
From the Right Side of the Left Wheel Track. It May Have Been the Other Photos I Took That Led Me Astray
You Don't Notice This Stuff So Much in the Morning Darkness when the Mighty P7 Makes all the Lights Change



One thing that also was different was seeing a coyote on the way home, only about four blocks from Colleyville City Hall. I've often seen coyotes on the way to Fort Worth Alliance Airport, but usually fleetingly and in the dark or dawn. This was the first time I've EVER seen one in the late afternoon in a fairly mature neighborhood. Remember y'all, keep your cats indoors! Those coyotes are more hungry than usual this time of year.

Colleyville Coyote. This is the First One I've Actually Gotten in Pixels. He Doesn't Look too Fat to Me
A Coyote in an Urban Setting at 5:30PM Suggests These Guys are Extra Hungry



There were also differences in ME. For one thing, influenced by my new commute, I wore work pants for the commute. They worked well in the 30F morning ride, as well as for the 50F evening return. High vis cuffs finished off the look and kept wind from blowing up my leg as they kept my pants away from the chain. Simple and effective - and they keep the "High Vis Police" at bay. Sorta.

Work Pants Work Well for a 20-Mile Winter Commute

What's in a Man's Purse?

Buddy was pretty much the same. About the only change from the "good old days" was the addition of the MIGHTY P7. I was very careful since it's only got three hours on the high setting and I like to charge it on the weekends. Still, there WAS time to stop for coffee on the way home. Asked where I'd been recently, I noted I'd been transferred to Hurst, but I got to to to Alliance for the day. Those baristas have memories like elephants!

Buddy and the Mighty P7, Reclining at a Store of a Major Coffee Chain I Have Neglected Recently

The final change was on the very last leg home. How THOUGHTFUL of Colleyville to add a "cyclist potty stop" at the locale where construction might cause some cyclist delay. I really hadn't noticed the added cycling facility on the way in to work.

However, in all seriousness, I think the new v3 commute has softened  me a bit. I certainly encounter a lot less motorists on narrow, two-lane roads than formerly, and there aren't any high-speed, divided roads on my new commute that compare to the Alliance Gateway Freeway. The combination of the longer distance and the tough (in spots) roads, sharpened my skills and my awareness of developing traffic situations in a way no other method could have done. I deeply appreciate those lessons, but, in some ways, you really can't go to work again - unless it's more than just for a day. I'm also thankful that I didn't complete LCI training when this was my regular route. Even as it was, there were a few moments when I felt like I represented the bike-ed version of the "Provisional Wing of the Irish Republican Army." A little softening isn't necessarily bad...

I Don't Think the "Turn Around Don't Drown" Sign Refers to the Portapotty...

Just a Casual Recreational Rider



Non-Chain Coffee - Where Should I Go?

This morning, no longer having a commute to make, as "just a casual recreational rider," I decided to wander around and see what I've been missing. I had nowhere in particular to go, other than I was pretty sure this'd be my last chance for a FARATS photo.

I figured that looking for colorful trees, it'd be a good bet to head for parks and woods and places where such reside besides local subdivision lawns. So I headed north, into Grapevine. I was a bit nervous, because, as reported here, Grapevine sounded pretty difficult for a cyclist to get around in if their mayor felt it necessary to publicly suggest it was necessary to put in bike lanes to help out the commuters. If commuters were helpless, how could a casual recreational rider hope to survive, what with packs of rider barreling around blind corners on paths at 20mph? Still, as I finished coffee, I decided to be brave and venture into the wilds of Grapevine. Soon, Kermit led me into Parr Park - by the back entrance. There didn't seem to be a well-paved trail, or any bike lane either. Come to think of it, things seemed not quite up to my usual standards for bicycle travel. And Kermit made sure I knew it, despite his misleading smile. There WAS some prickly stuff and swampy dirt. Fortunately, the brush was light enough that before too long, we got to a proper MUP path. The Parr Park "Bicentennial Tree," however, was gone - struck by lightning. In any event, when they cut it up, they discovered it wasn't really much older than about 190 years.

Where the Heck ARE We? Somewhere Near Parr Park in Grapevine - Looking for Those Bike Lanes.



Now THIS Looks Like a Better Route for Kermit!



While the path was nice enough, the path was filled with those little yippy dogs that seem determined to commit suicide by dashing into one's front wheel. Luckily enough, I spyed a little offshoot to the MUP path and it led to my favorite kind of North Texas road. The "massively overbuilt five lane collector road with absolutely no traffic at all." In this case, it was called Heritage Avenue. I felt all nostalgic for Heritage Parkway at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, but this one is a road that dead ends, having started nowhere in particular and ends nowhere in particular. In a couple of miles along this road, I was passed by exactly two motorists. Neither of them felt compelled to use the two-way left turn lane.

Heritage Avenue, Somewhere North of Parr Park. Typical Traffic Conditions.

Heritage Avenue also runs close to my home and I ride it often, but THIS Heritage was just a little strange. For example, I saw a sign alerting me to the presence of the West Fork of the Trinity River! I'd never dreamed I lived so close.

Are You About to Arrive at the West Fork of the Trinity River?

And HERE IT IS! This river is almost as spectacular as the Los Angeles River. There really IS such a place, you know. It is featured in the movie "Gumball Rally."

West Fork of the Trinity River!?!

Not too far north of the raging river, I came to the northern terminus of Heritage Avenue. And then, as I pondered where to go next, inspiration hit me. I had a PERFECT entry for the Rantwick FARATS contest. Lots of color, nice shape, a bike in the shot, and smooth pavement. No, the entry is NOT the gratuitous bike photo below, but keep going.

Gratuitous Bike Photo Underneath a Tree

A few words on the tree. Unlike almost every other FARATS entry, the tree is not a Sugar Maple. In fact, it is not a Maple at all. It's just a regular "tree" that decided to turn red and glorious instead of the typical North Texas approach of leaves either turning yellow, or just turning brown and dropping off the tree. It is in Grapevine, about 200 feet south of Mustang Drive, which is where Heritage Ave dead ends. We may not have KINGS in the US, but this tree shows any ordinary tree can grow up to be the PRESIDENT.
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How Can this Lose? It May not be Big, But it Has a Bike, a Texas Flag, and a Five Lane Road with Smooth Pavement all in One Shot!

I must say there are perks to recreational riding. I surely discovered more new stuff in a couple of hours than I would have in a month of commuting. Still, it was unclear to me exactly where Grapevine should put those bike lanes. Perhaps all the murderous motorists that necessitate them were sleeping in this morning. Oh, well, there's nowhere I'd commute to in Grapevine anyway, being just a casual recreational cyclist, and any future commuting would lie in a different direction anyway.

PS: The last photo has nothing at all to do with the rest of this post other than Rat Trap Press suggested I'm obsessed with clipless pedals. You will note the classy "Costco Court Classic" shoes restrained by ancient toe clips - and the toe clips are probably older than RTP. For Chandra's benefit, I have a "High Vis" reflective clip to keep my cycling-specific Old Navy blue jeans behaving.
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Costco "Court Classic" Shoes do not Include SPD Mounting Provisions

Cruiser Day

Yesterday, I went all around the Peninsula that forms Ocean Shores. I looked at a lot of places around there, and generally had a relaxing time. Because it was raining, and I'm "just a fair weather cyclist," I took my dad's cruiser bike since it had fenders. Ocean Shores is pretty flat and as long as you don't try to go too fast, a cruiser (AKA tank bike in the olden days) works well.


BSO (Bicycle Shaped Object) Schwinn Provides a Nice Ride All the Same. It's a Lot Slower than the Nishiki, However

  Just like north Texas, there's evidence that we have not recovered from the boom that led to the current bust.

The Economy is not Perfect, Even in the Soviet of Washington State

 In Ocean Shores, there is more to the coffee universe than Starbucks. In fact, there IS no Starbucks. Someone should call Ripley's "Believe it or Not."

No Mexican Coffee in Washington. Fidalgo was SPANISH

I have not eaten fish at The Lighthouse, though they make a tough to verify claim. Their coffee is, however, drinkable.


Not Too Much Competition West of the Humptulips. Last I Checked, Most of the Major Seafood Locales were East

IMO, the Lighthouse looks a lot like it's trying to be the Mukilteo Lighthouse. Sometimes I miss Mukilteo.

Lighthouse in Ocean Shores is Modeled on the Mukilteo Lighthouse