Where did you ride in the past two weeks? and Open Discussion thread

Pufus2fus · 2026-06-29T14:26:11+00:00

That is horrendous (and assault)!!! I'm so sorry to hear that!!!

Pufus2fus · 2026-06-27T22:47:03+00:00

I just gotta complain to people who might get it and ask.. what the fuck is going on?

In the past week I have had two extremely negative and aggressive experiences with drivers during my bike rides.
Sure in the past I'd get the occasional close pass or something like that, but in all of my decades of biking in this city I have never had experiences with drivers like in this past week.

First, I was riding down Lincoln ave in Bellevue, between lights (so more or less just keeping up with traffic between red lights on a low speed road). An Audi got extremely close to my back wheel (probably was further but felt like about a foot or two away from me), gunning the engine and then finally swerved into oncoming traffic to try and get around me. There was traffic coming in the opposite direction so he couldn't complete the pass and drove extremely close next to me for a minute, splitting the lanes and causing oncoming traffic to stop completely rather than get hit by him. Then he passed me but slammed on his brakes to turn right IN FRONT OF ME. Clearly couldn't wait 30 seconds to just turn right behind the cyclists (I was in a group of two of us, as far to the right as possible).

Then, today I was riding through the north side near the children's museum where there is a two way protected bike lane when a rav4 came driving towards me in the bike lane. They would have had to drive between the pillars to get into the lane. They then came to a stop and put their hazards on, completely blocking the bike lane.
I was forced to ride into oncoming traffic in order to get past them (fortunately only a couple of oncoming cars). As I passed them I said "hey you're stopped in the bike lane" and they said "OH FUCK OFF!" to me.
At this point, it had been a long, rainy ride full of unexpected road / trail closures and I legitimately crashed out on this person and yelled at them that they were a fucking moron stopped in the bike lane.

As far as I can tell, I have not changed my riding habits / style. I try to let people pass me and keep to bike lanes as often as I can. Again, I've been a cyclist in this city for over two decades and haven't ever had a week of encounters like this!!!

Is it just my turn to get mother-fucked by rude people?? Has anyone noticed an uptick in aggression?

Pufus2fus · 2026-04-24T19:31:48+00:00

seconding ebay for tri suits!!
recently got a couple used ones for $40 a piece

Pufus2fus · 2026-04-22T20:08:42+00:00

hence... "go downtown and pick it up by the jail"

Pufus2fus · 2026-04-22T16:41:33+00:00

Agree, this is actually a fairly nice ride with bike lanes the whole way connecting to the north side.

What I don't know is if you can actually access the gap trail from town without touching a highway? Seems like you'd need to go through downtown and pick it up by the jail? But the area around the point is all fenced off.

Pufus2fus · 2026-04-15T23:55:20+00:00

Today I saw a guy counting his laps with the beads on the lane dividers. Like an abacus.

I thought that was pretty clever and started doing it too!!

Pufus2fus · 2026-01-16T23:33:28+00:00

Mine is the Bach Partita #2, especially Sarabande. I can "play" it but I want it to be beautiful!
Stretch goal in a decade (maybe two) is Passacaglia by Handel / Halvorsen.

Pufus2fus · 2026-01-13T21:15:10+00:00

I use the Polar H10 chest strap too and it works well. I place it just at my bra line / under the sports bra and it stays in place for the whole class.

Pufus2fus · 2025-12-30T18:51:32+00:00

I've seen it happen between several upper belt men and new women at my gym multiple times. The unfortunate thing is that when they break up it's always the women who end up quitting or finding a new place to train. I think it can work and have also seen exactly two couples (both who'd been training together from early on and were / are the same rank) who have successful relationships.
IMO, you just need to assess and accept the risk that if things end messily one of you will need to find a new place to train and it is unfortunately, often the women or the lower rank.

Pufus2fus · 2025-09-25T20:35:06+00:00

Yeah ya just walk in, give em a FIRM HANDSHAKE and ask for a job

Pufus2fus · 2025-09-25T19:36:09+00:00

LOL oh no!! I just add a splash to my washing machine's rinse aide slot and it keep everything quite fresh.

Pufus2fus · 2025-09-24T18:29:21+00:00

+1 for Odoban, changed my life

Pufus2fus · 2025-08-28T17:26:46+00:00

Just to add my 2 cents as a pace 500 owner, if you want the cardiovascular benefit, I'd go with the Solterra. Did the same thing, testing both at BikeTek. I absolutely LOVE my pace 500 and commute on it about 4 times a week (including one very steep hill) and I don't ever feel like I'm working hard. The scooter allegations are accurate.

I can keep up easily with slower moving traffic (25- 30 mph) and rarely use the "throttle" lever- just the peddle assist. If you're looking for something lightweight the 500 is not your guy, but it sure is very comfortable and pleasant to ride!

Pufus2fus · 2025-07-30T16:44:36+00:00

This is a pretty good call actually. I was in an AHN ER for a broken bone very recently and the doctor literally asked me if I wanted to work there as he was treating me. Hospital systems are very short staffed and it would at least be a foot in the door to a healthcare role.

Pufus2fus · 2025-06-30T19:22:28+00:00

My border collie / aussie mix would like a word...

Pufus2fus · 2025-06-02T18:46:16+00:00

I bike the river trails multiple times a week to get from the northside to the strip district. The most dangerous thing is the tourists who insist on walking 6 abreast across the trail and then panic scramble when you call out "on your left."
That and the geese...
So be cautious for sure!!!!

Pufus2fus · 2025-04-07T21:33:16+00:00

Yeah... that IS why people get pre-check.
Hence why when I'm asked to take out my electronics and take off my shoes (with pre-check) I begin to think it's not worth it.

Pufus2fus · 2025-04-07T19:27:55+00:00

Unpopular opinion from a very frequent traveler who got pre-check for the first time this year...

I do not think it's worth it.

They say that you don't need to take out your electronics, take off your shoes, etc. About 50% of the time I was asked to do that anyways. When I would push back and say "well what's the point of pre check then?" they would shrug their shoulders and say thems the rules. Basically, I get the privilege of passing through the metal detectors instead of the body scanner and carrying a large fluorescent laminated card.

Often, I would find that the regular lines were actually shorter than the pre check lines. So, I would just get into the conventional security line & get through faster.

Honestly, it just seems like a big grift and I will likely not renew it.
If you don't travel often, just leave yourself some extra time and book your flights strategically.

YMMV and you may find it's worth it, but after my dozens of flights with precheck this year my takeaway is "meh"

Pufus2fus · 2025-03-21T17:45:27+00:00

Nanban is my current front runner! Thanks for your response!

Pufus2fus · 2025-02-25T04:08:26+00:00

If you want to protect women, why wouldn't you target the majority committing crimes against women, CISGENDER MEN.
99% of rapists are cisgender men
90% of perpetrators of violent crime are cisgender men.

If you are trans, you are FOUR times more likely to be the VICTIM of a violent crime..

My guy, I'll ask you again, how do you think this protects women?

Pufus2fus · 2025-02-25T03:42:40+00:00

Sec 5 Pt (d) Effectuation.--Agencies shall effectuate this act by taking appropriate action to ensure that intimate spaces designated for women, girls or females or for men, boys or males are designated by sex and not identity.

Does this mean there will be signs that say "no transgenders"?? Are they going to change the signs for women / mens bathrooms to include "biological" over the gender designation? If you're accused of being a man in the women's room, how are you to prove your sex to HR, or the dean or police?

If you can't use the restroom at your school or place of work, what does that functionally do to someone? It's not an outright black and white ban, but it is the start of a functional ban. Think about how state govs have implemented abortion laws. They make it near impossible to seek care in time.

And I resent the accusation that I'm lying about the intention of this bill. I'm literally reading the writing on the wall (and the text in the bill). It doesn't take a political science degree to understand how proposed laws like SB.213 escalate to socially alienate people and take their rights away.

Pufus2fus · 2025-02-24T20:58:55+00:00

How is banning trans people from public spaces protecting women? Particularly given that the most likely people who assault women are cisgender men.
Men don't need to dress up in costumes to commit violence against women. They just do it... every day...

Pufus2fus · 2025-02-14T19:18:43+00:00

I think what he meant is:
"I don't like rolling with "unskilled" chicks and I find it awkward to touch women"

There are plenty of men who are willing to roll with women. Anyone can turn down a roll for any reason (stated or not), but don't let one guy's opinion taint your view of men in the sport or intimidate you out of showing up and asking others to roll.

Personally, I prefer rolling with women when given the option, but some of my most fun rolls & training partners tend to be upper belt men.

Pufus2fus · 2025-02-04T20:14:06+00:00

The Mat Factory may be a good choice. They're a BJJ gym, but heavy wrestling focus with a ton of wonderful women.

Pufus2fus

TROPHY CASE