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I've Got Something to Say
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| Ride Stats |
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Time: 00:46:08
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Distance:
9.99 miles
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Max Speed:
25.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
12.90 mph
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Route:
home-work (Price Rd)
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Weight:
0
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Category: training: general -
solo
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Fuji Supreme 700c Hybrid
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Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: 76 degrees (feels like 76) - was probably in the upper 60's when I left home.
Wind: SSE11
Humidity: 63%
Partly cloudy
A beautiful, crisp morning! |
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Time: 00:41:48
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Distance:
10.09 miles
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Max Speed:
27.50 mph
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Avg Speed:
14.40 mph
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Route:
work-home (Price Rd Direct)
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Weight:
0
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Category: training: general -
solo
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Fuji Supreme 700c Hybrid
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Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: 87 degrees (Feels like 91)
Wind: SSE15
Humidity: 53%
mostly cloudy
Sunset: 8:05 Pm |
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One of the intersections I dread the most while commuting is I cross Olive Blvd. On my typical commute to work, I head south on Woodson Rd, which changes its name to McKnight once south of Olive, turn right on Old Bonhomme, then head north on Price Rd to cross Olive, again, before rolling into the parking lot at work. I take this slightly extended route to avoid riding on Olive – a busy 5 lane thoroughfare, fairly busy with cars commuting to work.
The problem I have with sitting at the light waiting to cross Olive (the first time) is that there are two through lanes – that merge into one immediately on the south side of Olive – but most of the traffic that approaches this intersection is looking to make a right-hand turn to head towards I-170. The second problem I have with the light is how long it is before it cycles. One step I’ve started taking lately is I would get into the left of the two through lanes, allowing all the cars, and FedEx Ground delivery vehicles, the right lane to approach the light and make the right turn at their earliest convenience – not being impeded by me.
As I approached this intersection this morning, there was a white car sitting in the left through lane, and about five or 6 FedEx vehicles, so I negotiated my way from the right shoulder (where I normally ride) to the left lane. Once stopped at the light behind the white car, and the first set of FedEx trucks gone on down the road, another set of FedEx trucks arrived at the intersection (one of which pulled up up behind me). As the ‘lead’ truck was waiting for a safe time to make its right-hand turn, the guy driving the second truck, now situated just to my right, smiled and hollered at me, "What kind of gas mileage do you get with that?" through the open door of his delivery vehicle. I don’t remember exactly what I replied, but we both had a little laugh and wished each other a good day as the light changed and we were both able to head our separate ways.
As I made my way on up the road and thought about that little conversation, the real answer I finally came up with is, "It saves me about a gallon a day." I figure if my car commute is about 7.5 miles each way, and my truck pretty much averages 18 MPG, every day that I ride my bicycle to/from work saves me a gallon of gas.
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