So, I'm sitting here cooling down...

in my new awesome shirt.

I do the same routine as usual. I pull up to the coffee shop. I lean my bike against the window. I remove my helmet and gloves, and place them neatly on the rack. I douse my head with cold water, run my hands through my hair, rinse off my hands, rinse my face off, and rinse my hands again. I dig the bike lock out of the right pannier and freelock my bike, still leaning against the coffee shop window. I dig my laptop out of the left pannier, go inside, and the barista, already knowing what I want, has my drink pretty much ready to go. I pay for it, and sit down 3 feet away from my bike on the other side of the window.

I'm enjoying my morning phone call with my wife, letting her know I arrived safely, when all of a sudden, I notice this guy shuffling around the patio leading to the entrance of the building. He shuffles towards my bike, obviously admiring it. He shuffles closer and notices the lock. Then he looks it over some more. The window has these one-way shades, similar to what the windows of tents are made of, so he can't see me, but I'm getting concerned and muttering stuff to him as if he could hear me through the window. He reaches for my digital camera holster that's mounted on the handlebar. It's empty, the digi is in here with me. That's not the point, though. He starts tugging on the flap to open it. At this point, I call the guy a few choice words, again, as if he could hear me through the window. I pounded firmly on the window through the shade, and he jumped back, surprised and startled, hands back and up in the air a little bit. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't contemplating confrontation despite the fact that I'd successfully averted his attempt to do whatever it was he had planned on doing. My better judgment took over, fortunately.

Still, though. What the **** is up with people? For the record, this area is teeming with homeless people, but this is only the second time I've ever had a problem with any of them. Most of them are courteous, kind people. About half of them panhandle. The rest of them simply greet you or just ignore you while they go about their day. I guess a portion of them are greedy thieves who prey on the hard work of others to get ahead just a little bit. Those are the only ones that anger me. It's going to come back to bite them one of these days.

Anyhow, this is why I bring almost everything in off my bike that can be removed without tools when I get to the office. What can be removed without tools (and some stuff, like my saddle, rack, and bottle cages, that do require tools) gets either a cable lock or heavy chain passed through it and then locked to a bike rack.

Jeez.