So far, the Brompton has been working out quite well as a portable commuter bike, and the Arizona weather, in the 50′s and 60′s, has been rather perfect for bike commuting. I typically set off from the hotel before sunrise, as I need to be in early enough to coordinate with folks in the Eastern time zone. Yes, it does seem counter-intutive to fly west every week to work with a team situated in the east coast.
The ride is an extremely flat three-mile stretch of highway, spotted with cacti and car dealerships. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I ride on the sidewalk, which, in this unusual instance, is perfect for bike commuting–it is as wide as a multi-use path. The path is usually empty, but if there is another person to be found, they too, more often than not, are on a bicycle.
The scariest part has been this particular intersection. You can now see why I opt for the sidewalk.
The time flies by, and I soon find myself at the office. I roll the bicycle inside…
… park it to remove the T-bag…
…fold it up, and store it under my desk. I have noticed that it is actually faster to fold the Brompton than it is to lock Belle. I also appreciate the freedom of mobility that this new bicycle has afforded me at my client location. It sure beats riding to work in one of these!
As far as the name goes, I think I will name her Clarice.
That is a great looking suit!
Thanks! That skirt was not the easiest to ride in, but the look was totally worth the mild awkwardness.
I have found it safer to ride on the sidewalk here in the Phoenix metro area actually. The sidewalks are not packed with people (even during the day) like they are in some of the other bigger cities like New York and Chicago which makes them more suitable to ride on than the streets where people are driving by at 40 MPH or faster. I feel riding on the roads here just creates a more dangerous situation as they now have to slow down and try and go around you. In a place like New York city where the sidewalks are always packed and the street traffic is rarely going over 20-30 MPH, riding on the road is a better option. But those traffic conditions don’t exist here in Phoenix except for maybe downtown.
I completely agree! Phoenix is a unique circumstance where it is safer for cyclists to be on the sidewalk than on the road. I have not yet tried any of the dedicated bike trails or multi-use paths yet, but I see them all over the map.
If there are dedicated bike lanes on the sides of the road I generaly use them. The unfortunate thing is that while they are beginning to pop up more and more, they are still not a common sight. At least not on all the main roads.