"Schnitzel-Suckin' Globbenheimer"
I love The Simpsons.
So I have a midterm tomorrow which means I will make this quick:
I've been noticing on my rides to/from class that a. there are a lot of bike lanes in this town; b. I stare down at the road an awful lot (keeping an eye on the traffic ahead, of course, as well as my computer - need for speed, baby!); and c. the weather is somewhat uncooperative on Mondays. The first two facts lead me to my current favorite quirky thing about Denver - the bike lane markers. Some cities use diamond markers to indicate bike lanes; here they use bikers. Well, biker symbols/icons painted onto the pavement within the lanes. The other day I realized that sometimes said biker has a helmet on, other times he (no hair = male?) does not. The change is random at best and I find it amusing that on the busier roads, helmets appear to be optional. But wait, there's more! I also noticed that on another part of my route, said helmetless biker dude grows what can only be described as a Zach Morris (Saved by the Bell) hairdo. You know what I'm talking about - a preppy "mohawk." So amusing! So I have identified the following bike lane mascots: No helmet biker riding aggro out of the saddle; Helmeted biker comfortably recumbent in the seat; Spikey haired biker also riding out of the saddle. If I had to choose one that best symbolized me, it would probably be the latter. Perhaps they can make a pigtailed girl biker to fill my bike lane identification needs? I'll try and remember to bring a camera with me sometime to get some pics.
And point number 3: don't get me started on the weather. Well, all the sunshine is nice and the wind makes for more interesting and challenging rides, but I have been butting heads with some awful riding weather the last few Mondays. Huge cloudburst after class last Monday that lasted from leaving campus all the way till a little after I pulled into the garage. If class hadn't gotten out early, I would've been fine. And this Monday I ran into a hailstorm about 3 blocks out of campus. I managed to take the only route in Denver to go directly through the hail (one of my classmates didn't get a drop of rain let alone ice on her way home!) and again it was sunny outside by the time I'd gotten inside and stripped off my slushy wet gear. 5 miles being pelted is really not so fun, but the worst part was the water sloshing in my shoes and running in my eyes. I was feeling pretty hardcore what with my little red welts and all. Then I watched Man vs Wild and Dirty Jobs and I didn't feel that hardcore anymore. Ah well. That Mike Rowe is a pretty cool guy.
Second best line from tonight's Simpsons: "Time to take out the Euro-trash!"
So I have a midterm tomorrow which means I will make this quick:
I've been noticing on my rides to/from class that a. there are a lot of bike lanes in this town; b. I stare down at the road an awful lot (keeping an eye on the traffic ahead, of course, as well as my computer - need for speed, baby!); and c. the weather is somewhat uncooperative on Mondays. The first two facts lead me to my current favorite quirky thing about Denver - the bike lane markers. Some cities use diamond markers to indicate bike lanes; here they use bikers. Well, biker symbols/icons painted onto the pavement within the lanes. The other day I realized that sometimes said biker has a helmet on, other times he (no hair = male?) does not. The change is random at best and I find it amusing that on the busier roads, helmets appear to be optional. But wait, there's more! I also noticed that on another part of my route, said helmetless biker dude grows what can only be described as a Zach Morris (Saved by the Bell) hairdo. You know what I'm talking about - a preppy "mohawk." So amusing! So I have identified the following bike lane mascots: No helmet biker riding aggro out of the saddle; Helmeted biker comfortably recumbent in the seat; Spikey haired biker also riding out of the saddle. If I had to choose one that best symbolized me, it would probably be the latter. Perhaps they can make a pigtailed girl biker to fill my bike lane identification needs? I'll try and remember to bring a camera with me sometime to get some pics.
And point number 3: don't get me started on the weather. Well, all the sunshine is nice and the wind makes for more interesting and challenging rides, but I have been butting heads with some awful riding weather the last few Mondays. Huge cloudburst after class last Monday that lasted from leaving campus all the way till a little after I pulled into the garage. If class hadn't gotten out early, I would've been fine. And this Monday I ran into a hailstorm about 3 blocks out of campus. I managed to take the only route in Denver to go directly through the hail (one of my classmates didn't get a drop of rain let alone ice on her way home!) and again it was sunny outside by the time I'd gotten inside and stripped off my slushy wet gear. 5 miles being pelted is really not so fun, but the worst part was the water sloshing in my shoes and running in my eyes. I was feeling pretty hardcore what with my little red welts and all. Then I watched Man vs Wild and Dirty Jobs and I didn't feel that hardcore anymore. Ah well. That Mike Rowe is a pretty cool guy.
Second best line from tonight's Simpsons: "Time to take out the Euro-trash!"
Comments
Something dreamy about slicing your own free range lamb (don't forget the eyeball for important vitemans) and cooking it in a boiling thermal pool.
Funny the things you notice while on a bike. I like finding interesting grafitti/murals.