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(With apologies to Queen)
I want to ride my icicle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my icicle
I want to ride it where I like
What an exciting commute home!
I peeled away from work around 5pm. There was a light fluffy drizzle in the Factoria area, but nothing was sticking. By West Lake Sammamish, about halfway home, there was an accumulation on the shoulder. Nothing hazardous, but since it’s dark, I tried to ride to the left of the fog line.
On the last few miles home, the snow was coming down moderately hard (for here). Cars were backed up for a mile because a two people (ironically one SUV and one Jeep) had spun out. It felt weird biking on the snowy shoulder, passing cars on the right, but I wanted to get home.
On the final, short, steep hill home, whirrrs announced which cars had just lost traction. I pulled off to the side to walk my bike up the rest of hill. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Growing up near the auto body business, I learned quickly that 4 wheel drive cars are *always* the ones getting in trouble when it is icy or snowy. People assume that increased traction while on the gas translates to better steering and braking. Not true, of course.
One more reason to be amused, between high sticker prices, high gas prices, high drivetrain repair bills, and now high body repair bills too.
Shortly after I finished this, I saw a “scuffle” in my neighborhood. Some guy in a large truck was attempting to turn around by revving his car and fishtailing around up onto the curb. This is a quiet residential street, and it’s a wonder he didn’t hit a light pole, parked car or the guy walking his dog.
The dog-walker made a comment, and soon the driver and he were exchanging pleasantries that could be heard for blocks. The dog walker was unable to taunt the clueless driver out of his BFT. Probably a good thing, too.
I’m a little jealous. I had to do an early commute home this afternoon and missed all of the fun. Of course, my wife got trapped out in it and it took hours for her to get back up the plateau. I don’t think she thought it was a fun evening.
A nice little read. Thank you! We’re having unseasonably warm weather here (upper 60s). I’m certain we’ll get slammed soon.
Wow! I’m so glad that I was sore from the Seattle Half Marathon on Sunday and, after seeing the snow and ice outside my door Monday and today, decided to stay home and work from home.