I just did my first bike commute in Berlin Germany today. They have bike street light, and bike lanes that are on the side walk! Couple things seem to make a difference. Pedestrians are treated like pedestrians, bikes are treated like bikes, and cars are treated like cars. There seems to be an understanding that they are different, which helps. So unlike my experience in Portland (even though Portland is light years ahead of the rest of the country) where if I’m on the side walk I get yelled at by pedestrians but on the road I get yelled at by cars, here in Berlin Cars are aware of cyclist and pedestrians, bikes are aware of cars and pedestrians and pedestrians are aware of cyclist and cars. So they all work together.
Also, most cyclist don’t wear helmets, cars are definitely smaller and street cleaners are everywhere (no glass).
Derwyn, August 27th 2008 |
Tags: commute, travel
Posted in Uncategorized
Weekday rides are the most difficult to get in considering that after work hours, in the winter, are dark and often wet. I commute by bike which I’ve often wondered helps or hinders training. Am I more exhausting myself than gaining benefit? My commute in particular is a dream because it’s along clear and popular bike commute channels of migration, and it’s short (about 3 miles). It’s a down hill leaving and an uphill arriving each time…if that makes sense. Basically it means I’m cold when I leave and sweating when I arrive. By being short I can take it easy limiting my effort and hopefully reducing the possibility of burnout. As for making it a training commute I just need to find ways to extend it.
Today I left work and headed out the Spring water corridor into Sellwood over the new bridges to 39th then down through Reed on to 26th and home. All in all it made for a nice ride even a thrill at times, like passing though a section of path that is dark and in a ravine. During the day it feels fine but at night it suddenly feels ominously deep and narrow. The ride took me an hour, instead of 15 minutes, and I arrived home feeling like I got a good spin without exhausting my legs (aka no hills). Best of all, and this is why I love Portland, most of the ride was car free.
Derwyn, December 6th 2007 |
Tags: commute
Posted in training