Dangerous Streets

Spring is in full force right now which means it's bike to work season, right? So in keeping with the season, I rode in to work yesterday morning and saw my life flash before my eyes. I was riding along Xerxes Avenue between HWY 62 and 66th St at 6am and about 18 mph. It was still dark, but I had a flashing light on my handlebars so I could be seen. Apparently not by the guy in the red buick. He pulls out of a side street for a left turn directly in front of me, as if there's no one around for miles. He was going too slow to get around the back of the car, so I turned to the left as he was pulling straight out onto Xerxes so I was side by side with him. Still doesn't see me, still keeps going. I'm screaming at this point. After a near 180 degree turn, I'm able to turn right and get around the front of his car when he finally sees me and stops. I barrel into the oncoming traffic lanes; fortunately there was no other traffic at that point. I was pretty well shaken up after that episode. Time for a new headlight (the side story is that I bought a good headlight, it got stolen out of my condo building 2 days after I installed it on my bike (GRRRR, don't get me started on my condo management,) and I was using a dimmer light.) Know anyone selling old cop car strobes?
Speaking of my subject line, there are lots of killings going on in Minneapolis. It's enough to make anyone want to move to the 'burbs. Save our city!

swim...swim...swim...

I spent thursday through saturday moving my arms in circles, swimming up and down the pool at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex near Fort Lauderdale, FLA. There's something about swimming outside that really makes me happy. On Friday, I swam 10K! 6.2 miles! And it felt really good, although my shoulders are done-for now. The trip was sort of a kick-off of the upcoming triathlon season. We did one open-water swim at Pompano Beach, which was a bit rougher than the lake swims I'm used to. I got a few runs in as well, although I didn't risk bringing the bike. Now that the weather is gorgeous here, I can dust it off and get outside! Next week I'm off to Aspen/Snowmass and will hopefully have pictures...