Beware the Ides of March

This morning had me itching to get on the bike since it's been warming up here and I haven't ridden to work for a few weeks. In my excitement I didn't bother to check the calendar. I doubt Julius Caesar realized he was halfway through March, either.

A soothsayer's warning had even come to me over the weekend as I cracked open the latest edition of Adventure Cyclist magazine:

Nevertheless, I wasn't the least bit concerned with applying too much front break or going over the handlebars this morning. I mainly focused on spotting areas of refreeze since I had recently swapped out the studded tires in favor of normal tread. Perhaps this distraction, or my blinding ambition to get to work as quickly as possible, kept me from exercising proper braking form.

To be honest, I don't know what caused me to fly over the handlebars, but it was likely more than neglecting to lock my elbows. All I remember is riding upright one second, and being catapulted face-first to the ground the next.

As I shook off the confusion, I sensed a looming threat: my bicycle, a trusted traveling companion, hovered above me ready to strike, moved to act by gravitational force. I didn't even have time to muster an "Et tu, Brute?" before it came crashing down on my back and sent me crumpling to the ground.

Thankfully, nothing was seriously injured on me or the bike and I got back in the saddle and completed my commute, which is more than Julius Caesar can say.

Will it ever stop? Snow? I don't know...

But I will be excited when it does stop. I will also be very excited when le weekend no longer means spending a day in the office and only one day at home.

I've always fancied myself a youthful looking chap, but after six busy seasons, I'm finally starting to look my age. I got home last night and tried rubbing the exhaustion out of my eyes, but all I saw was a tired old man with dark circles under his eyes staring back at me in the mirror.

As you can imagine, the "counting" to "cyling" ratio has been extremely high for the first two months of 2011. Even though I started off the busy season with a client downtown, I only logged three bike commutes in January. I was out of town for 2 1/2 weeks in February and only added one in that month. But after November's lack of bicycle commutes, the current streak sits at three straight months, and if a we get some decent snow melt, there's no reason to think I can't keep it going in March.

Wanna know what it's like to snow-bike in Minneapolis? Check it out, you'll even see some of my south Minneapolis haunts. Enjoy the illegible winter biking tips, brought to you Star Wars style at the at end!

Week 23 (April 27 - May 1)

Summary:

Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Friday - Telecommute

It's great that spring is here, and along with it, ideal bicycle commuting weather. At the same time, I'm somewhat lamenting winter's demise, and the end of some of the associated riding challenges. There is little chance of snowstorms blanketing the metro with snow to sabotage my evening commute, nor are the roads glazed thick with ice, humbling me even as I ride with studded tires.

I don't truly miss these tests of endurance, but with their absence I also lack the euphoria gained from successfully riding in the most extreme conditions. In a certain sense, one day of winter riding is as satisfying as a full week in the spring or summer. Even so, I'm really thankful to be able to ride as often as I do.

Winter Gear

Before it gets too warm to stop wearing all of this stuff, I figured I'd post a link to the gear I use for winter commuting. Enjoy:

Winter Gear