The workday was stressful. The only thing that made it tolerable was the pleasant bicycle commute bracketing it.
The day improved greatly once I arrived home. Diane was there and had prepared a meal. It was nothing fancy, but it was tasty and ready when I walked in the door.
The weather forecast has been threatening rain, but I lucked out again, and only had a few sprinkles on the way home. The skies cleared after dinner, so Diane and I left on a bike ride.
She wanted to see my commute route, so we rode to my workplace. From there, we turned east and rode to the Big Four Bridge. She didn’t want to ride on the bridge due to the pedestrians, but we locked up the bikes and walked across.
After walking back to the Kentucky side of the bridge, we got back on the bikes and rode to Louisville Beer Store and each drank a beer out on the patio. There were a lot of cyclists there. I only recognized one of them.
We left there as it was getting dark. We were well-lit and taking city streets. There was a thunderstorm in the distance, but we never got rained on. We made another stop at a convenience store for a couple of six-packs of beer before heading home.
Once home, Diane took a soak in the tub. Her legs needed it. We rode nine miles together. That’s her longest ride yet. I’m still hoping she’ll ride next Wednesday’s Ride of Silence.
She doesn’t like wearing a helmet. I’ve been wearing mine less now that the weather has warmed up. I bought a glasses-mounted mirror so I can still see behind me. Today was another helmet-free day.
A couple beers and a soak in the tub sounds like a great idea. Looks like you had a full day. The sky definitely looks gray there. We don’t get that many clouds and color in the sky here n CA.
My unsolicited advice is for you to wear a helmet, even if she doesn’t. Yeah, your new girlfriend may think you look like a dork. But you know what is even less attractive than someone in a helmet? A corpse. A vegetable.. Also, statistically speaking, you do way more riding than she does so the chances of you having an accident are greater. Michael was hit by a car once and it still scares the shit out of me to think about it. Moral of the story: brains are sexy. Protect yours. 😉
Oh, and congratulations on the new relationship!
On the helmet thing, and especially for Sarah: Helmets and other passive protection devices are part of the fifth layer of safety. While it’s true that, in the event one needs a helmet, one doesn’t have time to say, “Wait!! Let me don my helmet,” it’s also true that well over ninety percent of potential problems are addressed in the other four layers (first being know how to ride the bike, second being know and obey traffic law, third being ride in such a way as to discourage others’ errors, and fourth being to know and practice evasive maneuvers for if they are needed).
In short, too many folks think that safety is purely a helmet issue, or that helmet wearing is all one needs to do to be safe. I would far rather ride in a way that keeps me from needing the helmet (although I always wear my helmet).
And, good on you and Diane for finding each other!
A good looking pair you two make.
Cheers!
Tom – You’re reading way more into what I’m saying that what I said. Obviously, safety includes more components than wearing a helmet, and I trust that David is aware of those other aspects too. My primary point was that in the majority of self-portraits of David, prior to meeting Diane, he’s wearing a helmet. Now, with the advent of a new girlfriend who doesn’t like helmets, he’s going “Euro style.” It doesn’t seem so much to be some new philosophical bent about the “layers of safety” as much as a change brought about by the opinions of the new girlfriend. And I’m saying that as a wife of a cyclist who has been hit by a car and who also has taken a tumble and landed on his head during a winter ride with David; and as a friend of Dave G. (you know him, David) who hit a tree while mountain biking and pretty much attributes his helmet to saving his life; and as a cyber-friend of David, who has ongoing neck issues, I’m a big proponent of wearing a helmet.
Sarah,
I appreciate the concern, but the helmetless riding began before I met Diane. I had mirrors mounted on my ‘bent for last June’s tour so I didn’t need my helmet and mirror. I did the whole four days without a helmet. The mirrors didn’t work out so well. The eyeglass mirror solves that issue.
I wear a helmet on fast rides, or off-road – basically any time I think the risk is greater. I also wear a helmet in the winter, partially to help keep my head warm, and partially for safety due to slipping on ice.
Diane has since bought a helmet so she can participate in group rides where helmets are required. She doesn’t want to wear one all the time.
Just discovered your blog. I applaud your efforts.
It’s been a long time without an update from you — just wondering how you’re doing!
I love the picture of you and Diane on the bridge!