Passing of an Era

Thomas Victor Jones, with YF-17 Model before it Evolved into the F-18

As is always the case, the end of a year is marked by news agencies summarizing notable people who passed away during the year. Among these articles reviewing 2014, there is at least one giant name missing; Thomas Victor Jones. You see, Tom Jones was the last of a breed in the aerospace industry that we are not likely to see again in our time. Some might not think that a bad thing, but it also probably means less future innovation in that same industry. The photo, above, comes from the LA Times Obituary. Perhaps it is ironic that Ralph Vartebedian wrote it - Ralph was a thorn in Jones's side for many years.

Northrop F-5 at Boeing Museum

In the first half century of aviation, most companies funded a major portion of new aircraft from their own resources. Northrop Corporation was one such. When I started work there, Jack Northrop was still alive, though frail. The CEO was Tom Jones. He made his name by pushing for the T-38 and F-5, aircraft that are still in service today more than 50 years later. He also pushed to get Northrop into the unmanned aircraft business. The mostly Northrop-funded YF-17 later developed into the F/A-18 on his watch and is still being built. It was a point of pride at Northrop that almost ALL the company facilities were company owned. More commonly, the US Government owned large aircraft facilities. Northrop was different under Jones. We purchased license plate holders that said: "Northrop Aircraft Division, a Good Place to Work" at the company store.

Less well known is that Northrop, again under Tom’s watch, played a major role in funding and supporting Boeing (his son just passed away as noted HERE) in the development of the original 747. I’ve been told that Northrop built and owned many of the original tools for that aircraft until Boeing later purchased them back. Certainly, Jones’s support of stealth research and guidance systems directly led to Northrop’s B-2, Peacekeeper missile and YF-23, and there is much more.

It was the F-20 that truly showed him as having the spirit of a Mississippi river boat gambler. It also led to his downfall. For those not familiar with the F-20, it started life as the “F-5G.” The F-5G was Northrop’s response to a Carter Administration initiative to have US companies privately develop fighters for export to friendly countries that were outside the NATO/Israel umbrella. Well, to make a long story short, Northrop spent $1.25 billion of its own money only to find its potential market completely undercut by that same US Government. It then got to spend hundreds of millions more on the ATF competition. Jones went away from Northrop and the last Mississippi river boat gambler was gone by 1990. You can read the whole, sordid story, HERE. Not long after he left, the City of Hawthorne renamed "Thomas Victor Jones Park" to "Holly Park." Sheesh.

Unlike Jack Northrop, who was pretty much despondent when the US killed off his flying wings and ordered them cut up, Tom Jones went into an elegant retirement. He founded Moraga Vineyards around his mansion in Bel Air, California. Moraga is the most expensive vineyard property on the planet. In 2013, he sold the place to Rupert Murdoch (yes, THAT Murdoch) and remained in the house itself until his death in early 2014. We will not see his like again soon. Perhaps it is fitting that the Moraga property once belonged to Victor Fleming who directed “Gone With the Wind.” Maybe Jones was a bit inspired by Rhett Butler.

From the Moraga site, a Low Key Note of Tom's

Kermit Goes Salmon!

ATTENTION - This post may not appeal to vegetarians

What Passes for Bike Parking at the Ocean Shores IGA

It's pretty common among cyclists to refer to operating a vehicle the wrong way (against traffic) as a "salmon." I encountered these sorts of "salmon" from time to time on my bike commute, as documented here (I explain the jargon terms here). Similarly, the only two times I've seen people on bikes "controlling" their lane in Ocean Shores, they were operating their bikes against the normal flow of traffic. Perhaps they were British and simply got confused about what country they were in. If you are reading this and don't understand why this sort of operation is dangerous, read the link and then email me if you STILL need help understanding why the notion of "jumping out of the way" simply won't work on a bike and why even "salmon" operation on a sidewalk is more dangerous than riding on a sidewalk in the same direction as the traffic in the adjacent road lane.


You CAN Carry a Pound of Brisket on a Bike and Still Operate the Brake Lever With the Same Hand


However, last weekend, Kermit discovered that "salmon" CAN be a whole different kettle of fish. What's more, we also discovered that Texas isn't the only place in the US with decent barbecue. In fact, I suspect that the barbecue in Ocean Shores might beat some of the Texas product. Better yet, it's got some varieties of barbecue I've never seen in Texas.

Unsliced Brisket, Straight from the Smoker. "Toto, I don't think we're in Texas any more!"

Friday, I happened to go past the local IGA grocery store when I smelled something familiar. The smell of barbecue smoke. As it turns out, a couple of times a year, the store brings in one of those smoker barbecue trailers. Luckily for me (this being October and all the tourists being gone), they still had brisket. After a taste test, I bought a full pound. It was GREAT. Personally, I think it matched or exceeded Angelo's, Feed Store, Railhead Smokehouse, or Cousins. The only thing it was missing was ambience, there being no benches or other eating facilities present. This didn't present a big problem since I was planning on consuming it over the weekend. Well, to make a long story a little less long, by Sunday the brisket was all gone and I resolved to go back for more. Alas, this time the brisket was all gone, as was the bbq chicken. Not really liking ribs, I discovered that the IGA folks were also smoking salmon. After a taste test, I bought a quarter pound. And that's how Kermit went salmon! I SHOULD note, however, that Kermit didn't actually have any himself since apparently frogs do not consume salmon as part of their diet. He was very polite about waiting for me to finish, however.

Why DON'T they have barbecue salmon in Texas?

Container Isn't Very Elegant, but There's Little Better than Hot Smoked Salmon Right Out of the Smoker!

 

Inspired by Scott

On occasion before, I have admitted to aviation inspiration in my cycling, such as here, here, and here. In my last cycling commute, on April 5th, I took my cycling commute inspiration from another source; a fellow University of Washington alum. Scott Crossfield.

Scott appeared in a supporting role in "The Right Stuff" as a "civilian pilot" of the D558-2 that was the first plane to exceed Mach 2. Less well known was his attitude towards flight that was demonstrated in his role as chief contractor test pilot in the X-15 program. Scott endured much in that program, including a vehicle that exploded under him, and another that broke as he performed an emergency landing. Even so, in his last X-15 flight, he followed orders and did not exceed Mach 3 or climb into space. Watch the embedded video starting 46 minutes and 50 seconds in and for the following minute.

That example was my inspiration for my commute on April 5th. I went in and came home. No close calls, no "death on my left," no attempts to advocate cycling by exaggerating its danger (no links for this one, but I'm sure my loyal reader can think of many such sites and organizations). Simply getting the job done.

Thanks, Scott. UW Aero Class of 1947. Watch starting at about 46 minutes and 50 seconds in to the video. The entire show is, IMO, worth watching but that segment contains Scott's recollections and attitude. Simply getting the job done. So now we can move on to new topics...

Scott Crossfield Gets the Job Done Starting at 46:50

 

Go Outside, Shaggy

Chandra, Contemplating Coffee

 

Shaggy Goes Outside

Last Friday, I made my last commute. It passed without any events of note, much like the 487 bike commutes that preceded it. No close calls. No motorists out for blood. But that is the event of a post not far off in the future. In the meantime, today's post means a lot more. It may represent the last time I see "Shaggy."

Honda Stickers

Hopefully, it will not be the last I see of Chandra, first noted on this blog here. It was nearly four years ago - crimeny, where has the time gone? Since then, there have been many shared experiences. We went to cycling school together - twice. We also went to instructor school together. Besides various rides and other events. For a sampling of them, go here. Greatly neglected in all these events has been Shaggy, the long-suffering dog, and the Honda with the bumper stickers on it.

It seems that Chandra is leaving North Texas, and his last day at work here was the same as my own. I hope we'll have more to do together in the future. Still, it may be the last time I saw Shaggy in all his glory...

Chandra in "High Vis"

RIP Bomber Pilot

B-24, From Wikipedia

George McGovern passed away this weekend. Besides his notable life achievements that I will not attempt to recount here, he was the very first person I voted for in a Presidential election. As I recall, I think I was the only one in my ROTC detachment to vote for him. Later, for some of the same reasons that I've been tempted to sport a "Don't blame me, I voted for McCain" button, I actually DID have a "Don't blame me, I voted for McGovern" button during the ugly aftermath that led to Nixon resigning in disgrace.

George was one of a class that we are not likely to see again in our lifetimes. Many bicycle posts suggest "tailwinds." Tailwinds mean even more to an aviator.

One Point Perspective

You might wonder about blogs and what possesses those that write them to do so. Occasionally, I wonder that myself, and note bloggers I GREATLY enjoyed (like here and here) that have moved along in the recent past.

Well, I cannot speak for others, but I pick up reminders and inspiration from my fellow bloggers. FOR EXAMPLE:

The last time I drove to work was a year ago on Thursday. An inspiration to keep "the string" going is this post, made by the "Cal Ripkin" of bike commuting. A record that I will never approach. Much like his namesake.

AND, the banner of this blog, from one whose artistic predilections appeal to one who could never be more than an artistic poseur.

AND, spurs to do better from here.

AND, finally, from a post that reminded me of the good and bad of my own v3 versus v2 commutes. It really IS nice not to ride an hour and a half in pitch black darkness.

It is nearly time for Spring to spring!

Lousy Kid Get OFF the Lawn!



"Linda A," On Another Day

Some say that the youngsters today simply don't "get it." About the most they can understand is "Lousy Kid, Get OFF the Lawn!" Well, I'm here to tell you it ain't so. At least ONE kid (and possibly a couple more) has learned how to drive safer around us pesky cyclists than many of my own generation. There IS hope for the human race, and I found out about it entirely by accident.

This morning, I was taking a fellow cyclist to the airport. We'll call her "Linda A" for the sake of convenience. Being of my generation, she was either too cheap or broke to take a decent flight, and so we were going along in the predawn darkness. Up ahead, I saw a person on a bike. He had lights, and was heading along the same four-lane road we were on, and the lanes were 11-12 feet wide. This person was riding at the far right of our lane. As you might know if you've read this blog much, I favor a more prominent lane position on such roads. Seeing the person, I was reminded of why. Simply put, it took me a couple of seconds to decide whether to make a full lane change to pass the person or not. I commented on this to "Linda A." I noted that the guy on the bike would have lowered my stress level by simply making it more obvious that a full lane change was THE action to take, and I wondered WHAT sort of message the "edge hugger" guy was sending to motorists who did not write about cycling on an ongoing basis. She agreed. But the guy on the bike is NOT the point of this post.

Stock Shot of Cyclist Riding in a Manner to Create Doubt in the Motoring Mind About How/Whether to Pass

After agreeing, she related a little story that reminded me there is hope for the future and that I'd never heard before. Linda mentioned that she'd ridden along with my wife and my youngest daughter. My wife was driving. They came upon a cyclist. My wife made a straddle pass of the cyclist. My youngest spoke up and said "you should have made a full lane change to pass that cyclist." My wife, chastened, agreed that would have been better. MY FAVORITE DAUGHTER!

It tells me those driving sessions where we hunted for cyclists she could practice passing were not wasted. Later, I mentioned this to her older sister who noted that she either made a full lane change or simply followed until it was safe to make that full lane change. Of course, SHE might have simply been "sucking up," knowing that we're now in the Christmas season, though I really don't think so. However, she didn't get an unsolicited testimonial. There's nothing like a neutral "Attagirl" to get points with "the Dad."

Daughter, During a "How to Pass Cyclists" Driver Training Lesson, Described HERE

The glow remains even now. It's good to know that sometimes our kids pay attention. Just sayin' that sometimes, it's good to hear these kids are sometimes smarter than they appear. Or maybe, I'm just being a proud papa. Either way, at least for today, YOU GO GIRL!

The Favored One, Modeling Raingear for This Blog

Je Me Souviens

Coat of Arms of Quebec

Is the motto seen on Quebec motor vehicle license plates. It also sums up a lot of the last week that will probably never get posted on this blog.

Lots of Stuff Happened This Week. This is Only One.
Je Me Souviens

For reasons totally unrelated to this post, I inquired of a French Canadian colleague about the motto's meaning. She indicated that "I remember" means that they had excellent memories of the past; going into the future. At the time, I remembered Wolfe and Montcalm, and the battle, (and, only to myself, Benedict Arnold), but, as I got to ride my road bike for the first time in many days, the Quebec motto; "je me souviens" could just as well apply to many of the bike posts I have read, and even sometimes commented on, while I was up in Quebec during the last week. What's more, they apply to world news.

Those Quebecois bear close watching, and pondering, as I ride from point to point around the DFW Metroplex. And, Thomas, this morning's ride was extra nice, even though no motorist was anything other than considerate or polite. What's more, I think the Chipseal affair is wrapped up and tied with a bow.

Je Me Souviens...

Rantwick's Tree is Safe - For the Moment. Quebec Trees are in Groups!

As Rantwick Says, A Group Might Well Overwhelm the King

IMO, We, in North America, Can TAKE THOSE Europeans On!
Je Me Souviens

On My Way Home, I Noticed Rubber on the Edge of a Bike Path.
I Noticed it AFTER I Almost Suffered a Diversion Fall
Je Me Souviens

This Guy Honked From His Parking Spot. I Think, However, His Honk was Not Intended Towards Me
I was Sipping Coffee at the Time. Who Knows if He'd Have Waved on the Road
Je Me Souviens

Back on the Bike After a Week of Driving
Je Me Souviens

Unlike Tim Horton, Starbucks has Free WiFi
Je Me Souviens

Smooth Roads and Light Traffic
Je Me Souviens

The Trip of the Last Incredible

From the Boeing website "newairplane.com"

The pace and nature of technological innovation has shifted in our society. The production of ever-more wonderful aircraft has slowed dramatically during my lifetime. Innovation is measured more often in what engineers can make electrons do rather than in faster-stronger-higher aircraft. All of my children were born after our species last set foot on the moon. Still, over 50 years after the start of the jet age, Boeing is the largest American exporter, though competitors are nipping at it around the edges.

Boeing bills this as the roll-out of "The Next Incredible," but I think that, in reality, it is "The Last Incredible." Still, if you have never watched the roll-out of a major new aircraft, you might want to consider the live webcast that will be here. I previously posted on the first flight of the new 747 cargo version here.

One by one, the original incredibles are passing from our eyes. My mother-in-law was an "incredible." However, the 747, "Queen of the Skies" has one last act to play out. If you have never watched an aircraft roll out event, you might want to consider this. There will certainly be more new aircraft rolled out in the future, but perhaps none with the grandeur of this one.

Flag of Our Fathers

Some are old enough to remember this flag. Far fewer each year are old enough to have served under it. It was the flag of our country during WWI, WWII, and the Korean Conflict. I saw this one yesterday while riding home through Hurst, Texas. You don't see this flag very often nowadays.

Seventy years ago, the British were in the last stages of evacuating Dunkirk. Sixty years ago, the North Koreans were about to invade South Korea, and the Lusitania was sunk ninety five years ago in May, 1915.

Simple Inspiration

This morning, I took time from the ride in to have a brief chat with someone who simply provides a smidge of inspiration and morale boost on my rides to work. Perhaps some other commuters know of a similar person. A person they see pretty much every morning, but never actually meet. A person they see more often than I see my concrete guys.

My inspiration is Holly J, a crossing guard that I have seen on almost every morning commute ride I’ve made to Alliance Fort Worth Airport, except for the rare occasion when I take Westport. Hot or cold, light or dark, if the Caprock Elementary kids are there, Holly is there.

I’ve seen many other crossing guards, but mostly I see them sitting in their cars. Perhaps it’s just that I go by this school as kids are starting to get to school, but Holly and I usually wave, unless one or the other of us has got a lot of other things going on to distract us. It’s a part of my commute I’ve come to look forward to. Maybe it helps that her intersection is at the crest of a hill.

If any of you out there have anything to do with the Keller ISD, you should know that there’s at least one dedicated crossing guard out there, keeping kids safe. Thanks!

PS: And YES, she knows how to blow that whistle pretty seriously. I will try never to be that whistle's target...

BETTER Advocates

Not too long ago, I wrote a draft of a post, noting how advocates, specifically BIKE advocates, don't thrill me, with their stridency and ideological approach to things involving bikes. I threw that post away today. Because this isn't all just policy and sniping at people and arguing about minor points. Sometimes, "the journey IS the reward. Without further comment beyond the photo captions, I went to the Irving Bicycle Festival. It wasn't particularly big, or fancy, but it demonstrated advocacy as it SHOULD be - leading by example. Thanks!

Steve's Road Bike at the Centrepoint TRE Station

Multimode Travel allowed extra time for the Coffee (sitting on the trash can)

Note the Thumb ALMOST Wiping out the Shot

Seattle isn't the ONLY Place Where Sharrows

are Painted too far Right. Irving, TX is Even Worse.

But a Sharrow is Pretty Meaningless

I Rode About a Foot Left of the Left Edge

Irving Police, Connecting with People

Chandra, Caught by Me, From Behind a Tree

Checking out the Girl Scout Cookies

Chandra and I Were BOTH Captivated by a Mercier Mixte

and its Owner. The Bike was Remarkably Original

Built in the Late 70's or early 80's

Chandra, as a Volunteer, Pumped up the Mixte Tires

Myself, as a "non advocate," Watched and Recorded the Event

I Actually Thought About Letting Air Out of my Tires Just to see if he'd Pump Them Up

The BikeDFW Table

There were at Least Four LAB LCI's There

Bike League Director Gail Spann

She was Gracious Enough Not to Mention that my MP3

Player Seemed to Have no Earphones!

(They were in my pocket, safely hidden)

While These Guys Might not Meet Cycler's Standards for Cool Bikes,

They're Not all that Bad!

That Windshield is Better than my Photo!

Offense Taken and the Trouble With Words

Almost any reader of this would agree it is not OK to go over and trash somebody's house by spraying graffiti all over. In the world of blogs, it is considered gauche to visit blogs and leave ads for in blog post comments.

Some blogs post only items that provoke little disagreement of any serious nature that is likely to be expressed in comments. Birdwatching blogs, for example. Photography blogs for another. If you don't like the picture, the next post is likely to have one you will like. Still, even on such blogs, it's bad form to attack the blog author personally as - in "your dog ought to get poisoned!"

This is not that sort of blog. Mostly, I relate my experiences commuting by bike, with an emphasis on related things I have observed or learned, and which others might find useful as well. I think the "cycling community" (as if there really IS such a thing) often takes itself a little too seriously, and so I poke fun on occasion at my fellow bloggers. Twilight Zone, here, was such an attempt. Fundamentally, cycling is fun and safe and I'm really NOT a policy wonk. SOMETIMES, however, healthy disagreement or attempts at humor in writing are misunderstood, or taken the wrong way. It is ironic that the writeen world is at the same time both more precise and easier to misunderstand than the spoken one. If you are the target of one of my own posts and feel offended, please email me. I respect someone bringing a problem to my attention so we can deal with it like adults. The email is at the top. If necessary, Chandra knows my phone number and I give him permission to give it to you if he concludes you are not a telemarketer or crazy whacko.

However, I really am disturbed at comments that have come to my attention on Citizen Rider, summarized here, that I believe go "Beyond the Pale." Words do hurt. At least one of the commenters may have made comments on this blog. In all cases, his comments here were precise and I was happy to recieve them. It makes this perhaps more puzzling to me. Reading his comment below, it is somewhat LESS puzzling and so I have modified this paragraph.

Spam is easy to deal with. You just delete it. Disagreement is fine. Disagreement keeps things interesting and helps us all learn new things. Light ridicule, likewise - sometimes I get a little worked up about stuff and need to be reminded that I am not the sole source of knowledge in the Universe. Long personal attacks. Those bother me. To this point, I have never removed a comment made at this blog, and I hope I never do, but I do not promise never to do so. I applaud the way that Citizen Rider has dealt with this.

Rantwick and the “Line of Sweetness”

Rantwick made a very interesting post, here, complete with his best-ever graphic, in which he included a video of a close pass. My own comment supported Rantwick's observation that slipping left in a lane is best done slowly, so as to not surprise any following motorists. In comments, Skyers suggested that the “Line of Sourness” may have been what kept a close pass from becoming something worse. Skyers’s analysis contains an undeniable element of truth, but after careful consideration, I think it misses at a critical element. Here’s why.


IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE INCIDENT
The video contains two important elements. First, Rantwick executes a left turn, then, about seven seconds later, he gets passed very closely by a car that is going quite fast. We’ll call the driver “Speedy.” The Line of Sweetness (EXCELLENT GRAPHIC HERE) is certainly one principle involved, but it is complicated by a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, bringing “the Land Rover Rule” into play. In this case, “the Land Rover Rule” says you do not turn into the immediate path of onrushing traffic regardless of whether you are going to ride the line of sweetness, sourness, or even if your intent is to jump the curb and onto the sidewalk. You wouldn’t do it if you were driving the Land Rover, you don’t do it on the bike. If I were an official type like Mighk, I’d call it the “first come, first served” principle (see, I DO know some of the official names of this stuff for when I have to take tests).

WAS THE TURN DANGEROUS?
Did Rantwick turn too close in front of the speed demon? Well, Rantwick certainly didn’t think so, and, while it is very easy to misjudge such things if one of the cars is going really fast (also true if you are driving), the video shows Rantwick went seven full seconds before Speedy passed him while passing through an intersection. If Speedy was going twice his speed, he may have been two full blocks back when Rantwick finished his turn. This is clearly not a case of Rantwick lunging in front of a responsible driver who has to desperately swerve to avoid killing him. I’m not surprised Rantwick doesn’t recall the car too clearly prior to the turn.

THE LINE AFTER THE TURN - LIKELY SCENARIO
I try to always let my motorists have lots of time to figure out and execute the proper maneuver without requiring thought on their part. In this case, Speedy SHOULD simply move into the left lane a block or two back. It’s what any rational motorist does, regardless of anywhere in the lane Rantwick might happen to be, because motorists all KNOW that cyclists are incorrigible reprobates, prone to doing crazy things without notice. If you think I exaggerate, read the comments section of almost any newspaper when a cycling article appears. Cautious motorists move over TWO lanes if it’s an option and traffic is light. While it is certainly possible that Speedy might have come on and squished a “Line of Sweetness” Rantwick, I’ll guess he saw Rantwick off to the right, saw the SUV to his left, and decided he could split the difference between them and wind up ahead of everyone. The temporary license plate suggests he was probably not driving his own daily car. The true danger of the Line of Sourness is that Speedy might have misjudged the space by ten or twenty centimeters. We read of such incidents daily in the news. Personally, I like reading Monday Rantwick posts and would not want to read of some “terrible accident,” unless the “terrible accident” involves some sort of giant fracas associated with his music career. In such an event, I eagerly look forward to Rantwick's spin on things. Perhaps it might even be as lively as the Rawhide scene in The Blues Brothers.

THE LINE AFTER THE TURN – ANGRY BOY RACER SCENARIO
On the other hand, let’s assume Speedy was just discharged from his anger management class, and decided he was not about to tap on the brakes for some dorky spandex mafioso by ducking behind the van, and then speeding back up after passing Rantwick, and he decided instead to do a drag race with the SUV, followed by a quick left lane change at the last second. In such a scenario, Rantwick may indeed have a better chance of survival in the Line of Sourness, but his chances would be better yet over on the sidewalk. In reality, even angry Speedy will attempt to slow down if it is clear he won’t win the drag race and it will become clear to him earlier the further left Rantwick is riding, because the risk/reward picture will appear bleaker to him. In the worst case, Speedy has to hit the brakes 3.5 Escalade lengths back of Rantwick’s rear wheel if he is going 75kph and Rantwick is going 15kph. I have practiced panic slowing for imaginary cyclists in our Land Rover, and I was surprised at how close I could come behind the imaginary cyclist without experiencing impact. DO NOT try this if there is a car close behind you! DO NOT try this using real cyclists. A convenient following distance table may be found here.

SWERVE RIGHT YOUNG MAN!
In case there is any doubt, I do NOT advocate EVER swerving to the left, unless you KNOW there is nothing anywhere behind that can be affected at all. If you have to swerve, swerve RIGHT! Unless, of course, you live somewhere that everyone drives on the left, in which case you've already transposed everything

CLOSING THE GAP
In my bottom line opinion, I’m with Rantwick. Two blocks/several seconds is long enough for even an impaired driver to execute a full lane change – IF he decides that is what he/she needs to do instead of shooting for a marginal gap. THAT is the true beauty of the Line of Sweetness. Just don’t apply it in isolation. You want lots of space behind you in the RH lane you’re turning into so any overtaking motorists in it get bored looking at you before they make their leisurely lane change. The traffic rules are a body and you want them all. In this case, I might have waited for a bigger traffic gap before I made my left turn, but maybe not. I wasn’t there. This is not a matter of a cyclist exercising rights, or of brazenness. It is rather a defensive matter of not unintentionally enticing a motorist into a dangerous maneuver by creating the impression of space where not enough exists. THAT is the critical element that I think Skyers is missing. When you ride on the street, every action and your very placement on the road communicates things to the motorists around you. On the other hand, had Rantwick been riding in the Line of Sweetness, the world would now be missing a GREAT GRAPHIC and we’d have to wait five days until his next post.

MAKE MIGHK MAD TOO!
Mighk, as a newly minted T101 graduate, I disagree with the notion that T101 has led me towards the Line of Sourness, even if the notion comes from one rarely given to hyperbole. I didn’t notice Chandra showing sudden enthusiasm for it either. I do not recall being encouraged to ride in the right track, though the brochure art was inferior to what Forester included in his book. Without follow-up rides with experienced traffic riders, I suspect it is relatively ineffective at affecting traffic behavior either way. This could easily be a whole ‘nother post on its own, and I’d like to see Mighk’s analysis, and what I think FBA has up their collective sleeves. Hint Hint!

WHILE I’M IRRITATING EVERYONE
Aptertome, the Line of Sweetness is not so cut and dried as I make it sound. It is not something that experience alone leads you to. Initially, I think it requires an act of faith to violate everything you’ve ever been told about how to operate your bike on the road without getting killed, even though the principles are very logical and simple. It may SEEM like brazenness, but in reality, you are helping guide your own motorists to making safe choices without conflict. Think of it another way. On my current commute, I encounter well in excess of 10000 motorist passes a year. And those are just the ones I become aware of. How much experience do you think each of those motorists have passing cyclists? In the final analysis, you are not being daring, you are stepping up to the mark of guiding your flock of motorists via yet one more way of communicating with them. While cyclists may seem to be vulnerable, in reality, they are the experts in the daily interchange between motorist and cyclist. Seems a little less brazen, to my mind at least.

BE VISIBLE
BE WHERE OTHER TRAFFIC EXPECTS TO SEE THINGS
BE PREDICTABLE
BE A FRIENDLY BIKE DRIVER

You GO BOE 2!

Today, the 747-8 Intercontinenal flew for the first time. It's lucky for me, because it saves me from a post I've been considering about a deep dark subculture of the cycling world that Lizzylou inadvertently unveiled when she talked about hair removal. The mystery deepened when I read more about subcultures of the cyclocross subculture in my cyclocross book I got for Christmas.

On a lighter note, maybe there's still a bit of life in the old "Lazy B" yet.

The 747 is still the Queen of the Skies in my book. This day's for you, and all the "Incredibles!"

First Flight of the Boeing 747-8
February 8, 2010

Cell Phones Can Really Make Your Ride Pass Faster

One of the more difficult traffic lights for me to trigger when riding has historically been the one, described here, at the intersection of Church Street and Highway 26, in Colleyville. It's triggered by video detection cameras, and I often have to use the middle lane to get sensed, just as described in that post. Last week, even that failed me, so I decided that biking and cell phone chatting go hand in hand like wine and cheese. After FINALLY getting across the intersection, I whipped over to the curb and speed dialed the first number on the list in the photo. The very nice man explained that Colleyville doesn't own that signal, but he'd be happy to relay my complaint to TXDOT (the owners of Hwy 26) so they could fix it. He collected added details and I figured maybe I'd be able to tell the difference and maybe not.

Well, somebody appears to have done SOMETHING because now this is one of the easiest traffic lights to trigger along my route. It's gotten so nice that on the way home, I triggered it all by myself before I even had to stop and the same thing happened on the way in to work. I could learn to like those video cameras and it's good to see the Colleyville Public Works guys getting their State brethren to fix things. I almost feel guilty for my lame humor about the sign being the name of the traffic engineer. I'm feeling very "Civil" today (pun intended). Next time I feel especially daring, I may take the chance of staying in the right lane just to see if the traffic light triggers from there. While I'm at it, I may add some more city traffic department numbers to my list, in case I encounter a rogue traffic signal during a recreational ride.

Who says these cell phones are bad? I didn't even run into anything as I talked, though I was certainly highly distracted. As compensation, I was careful not to walk in any direction. After all, I have been known to fall over while just standing in one spot when I have skis on. Hmm, do ya think if I called, they could fix bad weather, too?

MY Motorists

Alfa Romeo Tubulare Zagato,

Monterey Historic Races, 1979

Campagnolo Toe Clips

More Italian Elegance

Mostly, I like reading bike blogs, but I find it disturbing when I sense an "us versus them" element running through posts. I don't think there is really such a thing as "bike culture," unless you count some of the bike clubs and that aspect. In truth, car and bike enthusiasm very often runs together, both of them fueled by the same enthusiasm for the beauty and functionality of the machines we build to help us get around, and from the joy of travel on the open road. I don't think it's any accident that most of the great bicycle manufacturing companies originate in the same countries that house great automobile enthusiasm. Italy is a case in point. France is another. On the other hand, countries that treat their bikes as the drudge transportation equivalents of washing machines (with apologies to Graham Aubree), design cars the same way. When Detroit was building the Roadmaster Stationwagon, Schwinn was building bikes using the same design philosophy. At both companies, small factions produced something more; the Corvette and Paramount, respectively.

MY Motorists don't chat on their cell phones while they sip their lattes. MY Motorists have an overwhelming and enduring enthusiasm for the PROCESS of motoring. When I drive my E-type Jaguar, I'm not concerned about how long it takes to get to the corner grocery store. I may go there by way of Oklahoma. When I ride, one treat is the opportunity to stop and chat with people driving special interest cars, who are clearly not just out to do the daily errands. Similarly, when I'm riding for recreation, I'm not concerned so much with exactly the route I'm taking, but I still like to take whatever route I'm taking FAST, and WELL. John Forester notes in EFFECTIVE CYCLING that engineers are overrepresented in cycling ranks. Well, they're overrepresented in car clubs as well. A surprising fraction of these like cars AND bikes. I count myself as such. Another car/bike enthusiast recently passed away. Albert Cohen, Alfa Romeo enthusiast, owner of AUTO DELTA, INC, and cycling enthusiast, passed away December 22. The obituary may be found here. I believe his death stems from a cycling crash that occurred in 1996.

Antonio Ascari

The spirit of MY motorists may be summarized by a short excerpt from Hull & Slater's Alfa book:
"Antonio Ascari died shortly afterwards in an ambulance on the way to hospital in Paris. He was thirty-seven.  ...when the news of Ascari's death reached the Alfa Romeo  pit, at a time when both {Alfa drivers, including the race leader}happened to be there, the order was given for their engines to be revved up and then silenced for the rest of the day.

"After the race ... drove down to the spot where Ascari had crashed, and laid their victors' garlands of flowers there."



Cohen was MY kind of motorist. Not like the drunk that hit him. Drunks and distracted/incompetent drivers (and bike riders) are not a car or a bike problem. These are people problems. Yes, more civility, and a demand for one's very best effort, would be very nice all around...

Adding Up to Accident

Frankenbike in the morning - Armadillos are LOUSY on ice
Kermit had NOT been opened at this point

Yesterday, in a futile attempt to shed the moniker of "just a fair weather cyclist," I went for a little ride, and fell on the ride. It was a minor accident as such things go, but even so, it illustrates how most accidents are the culmination of a series of minor circumstances.

 Road in front of my house in the morning

First Event: Christmas morning, I decided to ride Frankenbike down to our local park to get some pictures of the snow with my new camera. After slipping, I tried to ride without toe clips. After a second slip, I decided to walk to the park. Good decision. I checked off the box of riding in ice/snow, if only for about 30 feet. Armadillos are lousy in the wet and really horrible on North Texas ice. One plus (or minus) - when I got back home, I noticed everyone was sitting around the Christmas tree, eagerly waiting to open presents. I guess I still rate in that the DID wait!

Park bridge decorated for Christmas

The ducks didn't mind the snow at the park

Second Event: Later in the afternoon, I decided to zip off for a bit of Starbucks. I decided to adjust the band on my new watch before going. I had problems adjusting it, and finally managed to leave at about 3:55. I figured the "Tom Thumb" Starbucks would close at 5 so I still had time. 4:05 - I arrived, only to find it was closed.

 Obligatory map and arrows

Third Event: Rather than go home, I decided to go to an alternate Starbucks (they're not exactly uncommon), over by where I go when I work out at my gym (24 Hour Fitness). This involved a pleasant ride down Martin Drive, via some very nice 12 foot bike lanes, previously described here. Since I was at the "Tom Thumb," I went down the route in red rather than my usual green route if I were going to work out.

Fourth event: Right before I get to Central, I notice that if I cut across a few feet of lawn, I could simulate a gym visit and get to the Starbucks without any need to wait for the slow traffic light at the intersection of Dodson and Central. I don't run lights, but I'm not above short cuts to avoid them entirely!

Fifth event: I turn on to Plaza Parkway, I register that it looks a little slick in the afternoon shade, but don't take my feet out of the toe clips.

Sixth event: FALL! Ouch! My hip is still sore. Luckily, I don't break anything personally or in the equipment area.

Seventh event: I come back the same way to get a shot of the scene of the crime.

One would have thought this would have sent out warning signals!

THE POINT: Had ANY of these events (other than the sixth and seventh event) played out differently, this fall would not have happened, This was pretty minor. I think you evaluate MOST accidents, you'll find a chain of events, any one of which, turning out differently, would have avoided the accident.

The good news is this was pretty minor and Kermit was still a happy little frog as I considered the way that events, strung together, lead to results.

Kermit's a happy little frog at Starbucks, despite his owner's newly sore hip. Squeek!