Long Weekend

And also post #100! Sometimes it's the little accomplishments that mean so much- or not. At any rate, I'm on a long weekend, the weather is good, and I'm tinkering on a bike. Life is good. The bike is a third-or fourth-hand Frankenstein from the pawn shop- a temporary solution, figuring I can sell it for parts when I get a little more scratch together for an upgrade. There's a nice Trek down at the local bike shop, but a little out of my price range for now. I'm planning on taking a bike to work for the next few weeks or so, to save some money here and there. Actually, chances are I'll keep doing it even after the finances get a little less tight. I like biking, and always have, scars and injuries notwithstanding. Most of them are pretty cool stories, anyway. And besides, here in OK it's a viable means of transportation, more so than New England, mainly because there are less hills, which means an easier ride, and I won't break the sound barrier on the way down. Some of the hills back home are, by my estimation, about a 50 degree angle on both sides, making for an interesting trip upwards and down. The weather is comparatively milder as well, also making for an easier commute. Besides, some of the gear the Army issues will also be of help. I can recall way back when Bike to Work day, as well as the occasional scenic cruise around the CT river. Hartford, CT is always a very cool place to ride, if you like the urban jungle.
There are, of course, the on-post laws, which I assume are largely the same for bicycles and motorcycles. One of which is wear reflective clothing and a helmet. Reflective clothing is a good idea, a helmet, to be honest I've never seen the value of. At least, with existing designs. Considering what a helmet covers, and the average impact you'd have falling or crashing, a helmet doesn't cover the important areas. It does cover the top part of your head, but what are the odds of landing on that? An average crash will mean you'll probably fall sideways or forwards (or in one of my more spectacular moments, straight over the handlebars and flat on your back), so a helmet offers no help there. Gloves are very useful, as your first reflex in falling is to put your hands out to ward off the impact. Apart from this, there's really not that much you can do in the event of a crash except hope for the best. And ride carefully, of course. Don't do anything stupid, and you're more likely not to crash- learned this lesson the hard way! For the rules of the road, a good general rule is to move like a car- drivers are conditioned to react to cars, so if you move like a car, and follow the same rules of the road as a car, they will react as if you are a car- that is, hopefully safely. But helmet laws are helmet laws, and we have to obey them. I'm hoping to track down some decent trails around town, so as to get out and trail ride, something I haven't done for years.
As to the debate about going armed (yes, this is actually a point of contention), it's been my experience that you're unlikely to be messed with on a bike. Most people see bikers as kind of a novelty- oh look, a grown man on a bike! What a nut! while others of a more environmental bent may applaud you. At any rate, I doubt the rate of crimes against bikers is any greater than the rate of crimes against, say, pedestrians or anyone else in a somewhat vulnerable position. Drunk driving is a problem, as we have a little less between us and the road than a car does. Vehicular manslaughter is the legal-ese term for something like drunk driving, where you unintentionally kill someone with a car. Vehicular homicide implies malice aforethought, and reckless endangerment is risking injury to someone while driving your car. Apart from that, vehicular assault is a term not commonly used, but means harassing or threatening someone by means of a car. If you, a bicyclist, feel threatened, the best course of action is to take down as much information as you can and report it to the police. Weapons depend on individual circumstance- where you are and what you're likely to encounter there. If you are licensed to carry a weapon, you certainly can- hopefully this license includes the responsibility to know when and where, and a good definition of self-defense.
Me personally, I don't like firearms, despite having a pretty good knowledge of them due to my profession. I don't carry one outside of work, and have no real interest in doing so. From what I've seen, most of the "gangbanger" type people use a gun or firearm more for display than anything else, and seem to lack the know-how to use it effectively. Waving a weapon around is a good way to get shot by someone who knows that a gun is only useful for shooting people- neutralize the threat, simply put. However, some people choose to carry guns, and to them I say, do be careful, and know what you have in your hands. Apart from that, happy cycling, and I'll see you on the roads!