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| Water / Snack Break along Olde Rt 66 |
Even so late in this sunny day, the weather was comfortable and didn't seem at all overly hot as it has been much of the earlier part of the week. (After looking at the logged temps, it must have been much less humid today. It was quite nice in spite of elevated temperatures.)
When I got to Edgewood, it clouded up a bit and really cooled off as it began to sprinkle on me just as I was leaving town. I looked up at the dark cloud overhead and decided to just ride through it instead of seeking shelter, and it paid off. It only sprinkled lightly and cool on me for a few miles and then cleared off again, with renewed sunshine but seemingly moderate temperatures. PERFECT day for riding.
On the outbound leg toward Edgewood, I decided to cut across Sedillo Hill Road and ride Olde Route 66 on into the village center.
Olde 66 has very spotty conditions, from smooth pavement with wide shoulder to crumbling pavement with NO shoulder at all. The saving grace is the supposedly lower traffic on the old Mother Road, but on this weekend it seemed awfully crowded, with lots of thoughtless drivers who evidently have never ridden a bike on a public road: Many crowded past me with barely any clearance at all, severely straining my so-called Christian Attitude and pure language habits.
This is not a widely read journal, but I offer unsolicited advice for any dear readers who may be unfamiliar with biking alongside cars - most of which have NO idea most US laws state cyclists have as much right - and right-of-way - on public roads as do Dinosaur-powered vehicles: (Even on Interstates in some areas where there are no available secondary roads)
- Keep your eyes on the road and WATCH for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycles. A couple seconds of not watching the road can mean severe injury or death for someone you had no intent of encountering, much less butchering.
- If the oncoming lane is clear, feel free to pass the cyclist, giving as much clearance as you possibly can. Preferably, pass the cyclist with a FULL LANE of clearance between you and him, even if it means pulling out in the oncoming lane. I'm amazed at how many motorists refuse to give such clearance, even when there's no other traffic and/or when the motorist has TWO LANES to choose from.
-If you cannot pass the cyclist with at least FIVE FEET (the law in most of NM) just slow down and WAIT until the oncoming traffic is clear and you can pass the cyclist safely. Even if he's wobbling along inside the shoulder / bike lane, you are legally and morally required to give him at least 5 feet of clearance, and on most roads that means NO passing of cyclists until you have clearance to take the OTHER lane.
Yes, it will slow you down and cost you some time.... maybe as much as 30 seconds sometimes. That's really not a bad price to pay to avoid the adrenaline-fueled response a cyclist experiences when he feels his life is threatened. Or the several deaths suffered each year in most areas.
-Before you criticize cyclists and their many shortcomings and "bad behavior", try riding a bike YOURSELF in the same area a few days.
If I was running the country I'd require applicants for a driver's license to ride a bike for a week or so before being qualified to drive.
-Lastly, imagine the poor sap on the bicycle is one of your dear loved ones or even YOU. It could help the attitudes on both sides.
/Rant OFF/
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| Water / Snack Break at the Unmanned County Line Road Fire Station |
Lowest Temp 84 F Highest Temp: 100.1 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 25.97
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.1 MPH 8.9 MPH 33.1 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
4 hours 14 minutes 2 hours 55 mins 1 hour 19 mins
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