Tuesday, June 9th: Cycling to Work

9:20 a.m.
Whoops, a little late leaving today. Almost didn't manage to grab supplies:
-deodorant
-water-bottle
-healthy lunch
-jigsaw puzzle for eternally-long lights

9:25 a.m.
Saved a bit of energy by dodging hills from yesterday. Lots of wet pavement though, and I've left the fenders off.

9:30 a.m.
Lion's Gate just as steep as it was yesterday. Kept it in 3rd a bit longer though.
Deep breaths, get the rhythm going.
Deeeeep breaths.

9:34 a.m.
Oh God! The sewage treatment plant!

9:39 a.m.
Stop at the top for a quick water. Need to get a bike-mounted bracket for the bottle as it's hard to fish it out of the bag.
There are phones with hotlines to crisis centers for people considering jumping off the bridge.

9:42 a.m.
Wheeeee! I need gloves though, pavement breaks are hard on the wrists.
Is it weird that I make vroom-vroom noises when I'm shifting gears?

9:45 a.m.
Cool '57 Chevy cruising around the West End. Check it out a little too long, nearly kill pedestrian.

9:47 a.m.
Over the Burrard Street bridge, making good time. Stuck at the light again.

9:50 a.m.
Nearly follow portly gentleman across street. Light had not changed, he had just lost will to live apparently. Luckily managed to not get run over.

9:52 a.m.
Climbing Cypress...

9:55 a.m.
Cel-phone rang. Foolishly answered it. Riding one handed like a true Vancouverite, weaving around like I need training wheels. Co-worker calling to say he needs me to work late.
Giant hill approaching, need both hands on the handlebar, trying to get off phone. Co-worker not hanging up.
Finally hang up. Seem to have climbed hill when on phone.
Huh.

10:00 a.m.
T-t-t-his r-r-r-oad i-i-s t-t-t-t-errible!
Not a fan of the nutcracker suite.

10:05 a.m.
Must be all the renovations going on. Trucks blocking road, backing out blindly everywhere.
On a side note, feel cool when the bike goes sideways under locked-up brakes.

10:10 a.m.
Love the hill on 33rd. Well, not love, but it's the last one of the ride pretty much.

10:15 a.m.
Am convinced that buttons at intersections not actually connected to anything other than reassuring chime. Wait wait wait.

10:20 a.m.
Waiting at light at 49th. Light finally changes to red for cross-traffic.
2-3 seconds after light changes to red, Corolla rolls through with sign on the door that says "Budget Driving School".
You can't make this stuff up.

10:25 a.m.
Pass whole line of traffic down Cambie.

10:27 a.m.
At work. Sweet! Shaved a couple minutes off!
Hrmm. Hair is quite helmet-shaped.

10:29 a.m.
Ow. Ow. Ow.
Need to do something about that saddle.