23 days and counting..

Now I have been relatively lucky since my car was killed last month. I
have managed to ride mostly in between the squalls and haven't been too
beleagured by the wet two wheel commute...
till this last few days when my boss decided it was time for me to
"float" for the district technology department, and that meant I had to
ride the 35 miles to a high school way down off Hwy 92...
with all those same right lane passing maniacs, who think that the more
hazerdous the conditions, the more reckless and stupid they have to drive.
I mean I do not mind getting my ass thoroughly drenched, despite my
fabulous dry riding gear, but then to fend off all of the SF to SJ
"DLA"'s ( driving like assholes ) as well, it is just too much a to ask.

I have been timing my departures around the radar images on the web, so
that I can generally time it so I miss the most violent of intense
downpours, but there is no way to tell when the biggest of assholes will
be sharing the same road with me.
Like the butthead today who pulled into the "split lane" and refused to
give way, until I faked him out and went around the other side of him.
By the way he was driving a black camaro, so if you see him up ahead,
just assume he will not move over. butthead.

Ok, time to dry out, and get ready for tomorrow's adventures in bay area
commuting.
Jim S
VTR1000 ( weekend warrior)
R1100RS (water boar)
YZF R1 ( fair weather princess)

 

I'm not sure how literally you meant it when you spoke of "getting
my ass thoroughly drenched".

If you mean your gear's not keeping you dry, you ought to drop $25 or
so for a plain old yellow rainsuit.

If you were being more literal, I treated the crotch part of my riding
pants with a mix of "Duckback" wax (left over from my old Belstaff)
and Campmor Silicon spray. Pretty good waterproofing.

The only a good asshole repellant I've ever discovered is looking
sort of vaguely like a CHP bike.

 

Actually my gear is doing a decent job, but even so, when there is more
water than air in a "per cubic foot" measurement, then it starts to seem
like I may actually be under water, not on land.
I have found a reasonable alternative route south from SF to San Mateo and
San Bruno. I take Lake Merced Blvd. from Vicente to Daly City and then
over Skyline Drive to San Bruno Blvd, then wind my way down Crystal
Springs Road to San Bruno.
Or when I have had to travel all the way to the "Alameda of the Fleas" in
San Mateo, I just stay on 35 till it merges with 280 then suffer with the
DLA's until I am off the Freeway.
Either way I gets me off 280 for the worst part of my trip.
Something sees to have happened to the overall civility of folks driving
southbound on 280 from 19th Avenue to the 380 split. Rather than slow to a
safe speed and be more cautious in crappy conditions, they actually speed
up and engage in a form of homicidal rage while sucking on their
cellphones and talking on their lattes.
I am particularly leery of Saabs, and other smallish but overpriced
European and Japanese cars. They seem to be the weapon of choice for the
most aggressive eejits.
It has gotten to the point where I actually wish they had more CHP out
there, so you know it must be bad.

--
Jim Stinnett
VTR1000
R1100RS
YZF R1
http://moto-rama.com

 

Sloat Blvd to Skyline might be a bit easier, or at least an opportunity
to vary your route.

Rich, Urban Biker

 

On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 01:51:05 +0000, Rich wrote:
n Bruno Blvd, then wind my way down Crystal

I do use Sloat on the way home sometimes.I can cut through at 34th, across
from the Lakeshore Mall thing.
I live at 27th and Vicente so any minor variation on the basic theme is
cool. I also go west at LMerced in the AM and go straight to 35, where the
Great Highway connects. On the way home I can take a minor detour over to
the Java Beach Cafe, at Judah and the Great Highway. And even though it
isn't a direct route, they do have great coffee...
Jim Stinnett
VTR1000
R1100RS
YZF R1
http://moto-rama.com