Commuting - Very long commute club: week 26

Well, my friends, we are winding our way towards the end of the VLC to the XLC. That time is not yet here, but we are definitely starting to face weather and darkness challenges not always associated with the very long commute only. Now, we can get up in the morning looking at cold, cold rain, howling wind, and dark skies. I don't know about you guys, but at times like that, I can use a little inspiration. So, how about this week we post inspirational sayings and stories?

Here is my offering today:

"If the furnace is hot enough, it will burn anything."
- John Parker, Once a Runner

When it's cold, dark, howling wind, raining sideways, and i know it's going to hurt I talk to myself like a drill sergeant, the inner conversation goes something like "well? what are you waiting for numbnuts? get the f**k out there and try to show us that you're not the girl your momma tried to raise you as! What are you waiting for? your momma to change your daipers and pop het tittie in your mouth? WELL, IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN YOU FRIGGIN *****! GET YER WIMPY ASS ON THAT GODDAMNED BIKE AND GET OUTTA MY SIGHT YOU *****!"

Then I get out on the road and even though I'm a devout practicing atheist I mock god and say things like "geez for an all powerfull entity that's a piss-poor effort at wind and rain, I can piss harder than that, c'mon I'm laughing at your almighty all-powerfull ass.... I'm going to thoroughly enjoy riding through your halfassed effort at this so-called 'bad weather' coz it aint half as bad as you think"

Cyclaholic - That is classic. I think I need to print that "saying" out and pin it on my wall next to my bike.

I just remember all my friends/family/coworkers/stranger who think I'm either real stupid or crazy. Either way I love proving to them that I CAN do this year round!

But for me we just passed the heat and humidity of the summer so it is all down hill until next April. August is the hardest month to ride through.

I sometimes struggle with motivational issues... I just try to think of all the tasty meals I get to eat when I ride, guilt-free :)

I rode my Pista today. I've never ridden my brakeless fixie to work before... Whew, what a workout. I don't use a cyclocomputer so I don't know what speeds I was hitting, but I did hook up my Polar heart monitor: my normal morning commute is about 530 calories burned for 52 min. riding. This morning was 720 for 51 min. Yikes! Pushing the 48x16 forces a workout :) Speeds were definitely higher, the total time accounts for random traffic light stops so really can't be compared. Fun commute, kept me awake.

It's supposed to be 81 degrees today. That's crazy for Fall. I hope we don't skip fall and dive right from 81 into winter...

O-Town, I can take the 110 deg weather, for me the hardest month is February. I don't like it when it gets below 65 deg. That's way I moved down here in the first place.

I'm kind of like Cyclaholic. in my head the drill sergeant from basic training comes back and get's me goin. But I don't temp God, I just mock mother nature.

I have been thinking about upgrading the Peugot with shifter/break levers.I have never use the shifter/break levers before so I do not know how they work. I have been looking at Shimano Sora ST-3300-7: 7-speed, Double chainring compatible, STI Brake/Shift levers. have any of you tried these?

I have 105 brifters on my 'cross bike. They were my first experience with shifter/brake combos, also. I have come to like them OK, although I like the Campy system way better. Nothing better than running through your casette with a flick of your thumb. This is right up your sprinting alley, CigTech. If you're starting from scratch I say go Campy.

Then I get out on the road and even though I'm a devout practicing atheist I mock god and say things like "geez for an all powerfull entity that's a piss-poor effort at wind and rain, I can piss harder than that, c'mon I'm laughing at your almighty all-powerfull ass.... I'm going to thoroughly enjoy riding through your halfassed effort at this so-called 'bad weather' coz it aint half as bad as you think"

Dude, that's HILARIOUS!!! :D :D :D

When it's cold, dark, howling wind, raining sideways, and i know it's going to hurt I talk to myself like a drill sergeant, the inner conversation goes something like "well? what are you waiting for numbnuts? get the f**k out there and try to show us that you're not the girl your momma tried to raise you as! What are you waiting for? your momma to change your daipers and pop het tittie in your mouth? WELL, IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN YOU FRIGGIN *****! GET YER WIMPY ASS ON THAT GODDAMNED BIKE AND GET OUTTA MY SIGHT YOU *****!"

Then I get out on the road and even though I'm a devout practicing atheist I mock god and say things like "geez for an all powerfull entity that's a piss-poor effort at wind and rain, I can piss harder than that, c'mon I'm laughing at your almighty all-powerfull ass.... I'm going to thoroughly enjoy riding through your halfassed effort at this so-called 'bad weather' coz it aint half as bad as you think"


Be careful what you say to ol' Fracto... :lol:
(Piers Anthony "Xanth" series reference)

Dude, that's HILARIOUS!!! :D :D :D

....and if I'm wrong about the atheism thing then one of these days I'll be taken out with great vengance and fuuurious anger by a lightning bolt :eek: :D

Then I get out on the road and even though I'm a devout practicing atheist I mock god and say things like "geez for an all powerfull entity that's a piss-poor effort at wind and rain, I can piss harder than that, c'mon I'm laughing at your almighty all-powerfull ass.... I'm going to thoroughly enjoy riding through your halfassed effort at this so-called 'bad weather' coz it aint half as bad as you think"

Cyclaholic: As a devout Druid, I find your mocking of g_d very infruiating but funny ;)

Nice commute this morning, but was overdressed by the end. I too struggle with mitivational issues and am glad that I have a commuting partner. It is much harder for me to let someone else down than laying in a warm comfortable bed on a cold dreary day.

Hope everyone has a nice day.

mornin' folks: This weeks riding has been beautiful again but I think the forecast gets a little sketchy later in the week. Still in shorts. I think I might break out the tights Thurs with AM temps in the low 40's. I gotta find them first.
Newbie how was the C&O?
As for motivaion: If I hear rain falling on the roof I bum out, who doesn't. Then I have to decide; listen to the weather reports OR the traffic reports. This alone motivates me. I know my BP will go through the roof with a driving commute in nasty weather. I always get a boost in cold rain when riding over a traffic jammed beltway.
Cyclo: careful what you wish for:D

Since I've always been a morning person I'm up much earlier than I need to be so that eliminates any desire to lie in bed a while. My only motivation technique is to force myself to justify not riding. Since I'm already awake it takes some major illness or other problem to warrant not riding. Its not a very noteworthy technique, but it works.

This morning's commute was totally uneventful except for the one large tree across the end of the trail. I'm guessing it came down late last night since the Park Service had not gotten it cut up yet.

We did it! Our first self supported family bike tour. We did a total of 120 miles on the C & O Canal towing a trailer piled high with gear. It was a great trip and the only rain fell Saturday night while we were sleeping. So with lots of sore muscles, a few saddle sores we made it home yesterday afternoon. We saw many historical sites, lots of wildlife and my wife and son made their first 50 mile day. We're already thinking about the next possible trip!

Newbie: Congrats on a job well done!!!!!

We did it! Our first self supported family bike tour.............my wife and son made their first 50 mile day. We're already thinking about the next possible trip!

impressive!

This clear fall weather is just inspirational for riding a bike!

I can handle the cold, but the darkness does keep me from riding my bike home at night. The last few years, I shifted my schedule a bit, riding in the morning to work and then putting my bike on the Metro to get home in the evenings. Metro takes so long, though, and when there's a basketball or hockey game or concert or whatever downtown, it's a mess with all those people getting too close to my bike!

This year I may try alternating riding and driving. It may mean a bit less riding, but I really can't ride in the dark, what with my only one good eye and the sometimes questionable neighborhoods that I traverse (and live in).

But I'm not giving up! I like the cold and the snow, and I do have studded tires for the ice!

velogirl: One of my coworkers lost vision in one eye last year, he has a lot of trouble in the dusk/dark, too. Especially in the rain. It has been difficult for him.

Marylandnewbie: very cool on the family tour. I'd like to do that someday!

My commuting news: I love the ride on my Bianchi Pista so much I'm going to go steel for my next commuter. Already cooking up plans. Has to have fender room, steel, singlespeed or fixed, and be available at one of two LBS's I frequent. That leaves me with a Surly/Vicious/IF custom or a Bianchi. Think the San Jose ($599) fits well, I might rock that this winter.

Last week was only monday. 2/2 this week. Very wet and dark and foggy this morning. Almost crashed into 3 dogs and owner splayed across the trail. Then I was caught on the left by a train of MTBikers in nice gear blinding me with what I am guessing were helmet mounted HID's. they dropped me quick but it kicked my pace up for a while. They turned left into middle fork savana forest preserve.... anybody part of them...doubt they read here, but worth a try. Loads of puddles, lakes, branches and soup of fog.

Velo -- seems like you're making a smart and effective compromise. Better to keep riding some in the winter even if its not everyday. It's just about time to break out the lights for the trip home. If I get too much later than normal its getting pretty dim on the last mile of the MUP.

Thanks for the congratulations. It was looking a little rough on the second day because we were travelling slower than expected on the muddy trail, but they managed to pull off 50 miles. We learned a lot about our gear and packing style. We did not take as much extra stuff as I feared, although there is always some room for trimming. I think in the future we're going to get my son a rack and small panniers so he can carry some/all of his gear. He turned out to be stronger than we anticipated. I think we also learned that 2 more evenly loaded panniers would be more comfortable for my wife than 1 heavily loaded bag. All in all I'd call it a success, and in a couple of days when the pain passes I'm sure my wife and son will agree.

I had to skip yesterday because I needed to wear a suit (I have to do so very infrequently, and try to leave one at the office just in case) so I took the opportunity to take in some other clothes and food so that I can carry less on my commutes. Two days of vacation now, but all that really means is I can arrive late and leave early, riding in the daylight both ways.:)

I took the big motivation step this summer and sold my car. My wife still has one, but I can't use it to go to work, so it is either the bike or the bus/metro. Bus/metro takes as long at biking so there is no timed to be saved. Like Newbie, I'm an early riser so it just comes down to handling the weather - and since I have to walk and wait at the bus stop, I figure I'll be wet and cold anyway - might as well ride.

That's my optimistic side talking - ask me again in December and we'll see if I can follow through.:rolleyes:

Nice job Maryland and family. That is an inspiring story.

That's my optimistic side talking - ask me again in December and we'll see if I can follow through.:rolleyes:

xroader, you might want to get some studded tires if you on riding through the winter.

Another nice commute in the Nations Capital, hope there will not be too much rain tomorrow and Friday.

another great day weather wise. I think it's getting hotter!
xroad: What's a suit?:D Only one car! very nice. There was a point last year where we had 5, yes 5 cars and I almost never drove. We are down to 3 and hopefully down to 2 by next fall.

Today was the sort of day you ride for. Couldn't really ask for a nicer day. Rode with my son to school and then enjoyed a fairly leisurely ride. For some reason there was a lot of traffic when I got downtown. Nothing too nerve wracking, but I guess it made me realize how light things have been most days. Have a good ride home everyone.

Studded tires: my LBS said forgo them. We do get snow here, but it doesn't stick all winter. They said the patchy areas with no snow would ride like ice on studs (when turning). Any suggestions for an Ohioan? They told me just to ride my 'cross tires.

Studded tires: my LBS said forgo them. We do get snow here, but it doesn't stick all winter. They said the patchy areas with no snow would ride like ice on studs (when turning). Any suggestions for an Ohioan? They told me just to ride my 'cross tires.

Ducati:

I have two sets of commuting wheels, one with road tires, while the second set of wheels has studded tires. When it is disgusting out, I just swap out the wheels.

Ti

Are they "slick like ice" on wet but now snowy pavement? That's my conundrum: once the snow flies, it's only a few days that it's "snowy all over" then it's "snow here and there."

I used to own a Jeep Wrangler, which rarely saw 4wd on the road because of that (locked center diff doesn't like patches of dry pavement).

Ducati:

The Nokian studded tires are no worse in snow than a good coss or mtb tire. On dry pavement, you do have to be a little careful when cornering. If icy, then I corner at about 5mph, dry pavement about 12 mph. The main thing is not tolean too much. The friction on dry pavement is pretty high, plus the tires weigh just under 2lbs each :eek:

As for the tires being slick, yes on rutted ice it takes some decent bike handling skills, as I would not recommend that situation for a cyclist who has trouble handling a bike. When the ice is pretty smooth, they are a blast to ride on.

Gotcha. Sounds like I could ride with patchy snow/pavement mix, I'd just have to slow down from my usual speed. Thanks!

Gotcha. Sounds like I could ride with patchy snow/pavement mix, I'd just have to slow down from my usual speed. Thanks!

Ducati:

Spend the extra $ to get Nokians, as I have ridden through two seasons with little wear on the carbide studs. Hard steel studs wear very quickly.

Thanks for the advice. I have probably settled on a 'cross bike for the winter, so that should work well.

Damn. I was just getting back into the VLC since moving a month ago... and now you guys are transitioning into the extreme thing. Well, my commute features one characteristic which might label it a bit extreme. The whole route is 30 miles one way again, and the last 5 miles going home are up a narrow two lane highway. There's not much of a shoulder - sometimes none at all. Riding this stretch is not bad during the day, but it can get a little hairy in the dark. While I'm lit up like a Xmas tree in the rear, I'm only running a couple Cateye's up front so I have a rather narrow beam. And there are a couple long sections which have absolutely no street lighting or other illumination. So it's like white line fever. It's like flying on instruments, following the edge of the road. Sometimes your eyes and equalibrium start playing tricks on you. Drivers running coming up from behind help light the shoulder for a bit, and that's good. But for some reason drivers coming from the opposite direction seem to think they're doing you a favor by throwing the high beams on in your face. The decent ones dim them when they get close enough to see me putting my hand up to shield my eyes from their million candle power. Then my eyes have to adjust to the pitch blackness again.

And in the evening there's a 'different' kind of driver on the road. This particular two lane highway is an alternate to the newer interstate just over the hill. Some folks use it instead of the freeway and I have to wonder why. Are they trying to avoid the Highway Patrol? In the evening I've been on the recieving end of some of those 'no one is around and I just want to blare my horn at you to say "get the **** of of my road" honks'. Perhaps they saw my blinking red, amber and blue lights a ways back and thought I was one of those cops they take this route to avoid and had to throw out their beer or stash the blunt and now they're upset they realize it's just a bike.

Like I said, it's intense. If my wife is at home I stop five miles down the road and call her to come fetch me. The fact that she doesn't mind at all says something. It's going to be a long winter, even if it doesn't snow much 'round these parts.

DanO

xroader, you might want to get some studded tires if you on riding through the winter..

I'll have to look into it. Since I go up the Mount Vernon Trail and I think the GWP is a snow route, I may just forgo the trail on snowy days and stick to the road. Either way I figure I'll slow down quite a bit and plan on 1:30 for the ride instead of 1:00. I have a MTB I don't ride much, I might outfit that for snow and Ice, then just swap bikes instead of wheels on bad days. It is the cold that has me more worried though. I think I'll be OK down to about +15F but below that it is just to hard to stay warm at 15mph.

If it gets really bad, I guess I could put a short ski on the front fork, a studded tire on the back and hook my dog on up front - :D

Ducati:

I have two sets of commuting wheels, one with road tires, while the second set of wheels has studded tires. When it is disgusting out, I just swap out the wheels.

Ti


I do the same thing.

Xroader -- I think you'll find the studs nice for the ice and/or freezing rain that can make our winters so much fun. I find that with studs I can ride over most things -- it still requires concentration and care, but much less than riding regular tires. I also learned the hard way that there can be residual patches of ice long after most things have melted clear. I'm still saving my pennies to buy a second rear wheel so I can just swap wheels rather than playing tire jockey.

It was another nice ride home, here's hoping that tomorrow's rain isn't too bad.

Snow?

Cyclo hasn't posted for a while - God got him ;)

Snow?

Cyclo hasn't posted for a while - God got him ;)

Actually I've had an amazingly good run the last couple of weeks. I've been commuting to a different site which involves 1 1/4 hours each way through the guts of this town, from Fairfield to Strathfield, many fast arterial roads and narrow but busy secondary roads that carry the bulk of peak hour traffic. I've been agressive as hell in taking the lane and issuing some very unambiguous hand signals, so far so good.

Its been absolutely glorious riding weather in old Sydney town lately, eh Gus! Only one nasty magpie on my current commute that gives me some curry if I let my guard down.

Actually I've had an amazingly good run the last couple of weeks. I've been commuting to a different site which involves 1 1/4 hours each way through the guts of this town, from Fairfield to Strathfield, many fast arterial roads and narrow but busy secondary roads that carry the bulk of peak hour traffic. I've been agressive as hell in taking the lane and issuing some very unambiguous hand signals, so far so good.

Its been absolutely glorious riding weather in old Sydney town lately, eh Gus! Only one nasty magpie on my current commute that gives me some curry if I let my guard down.
Fairfield to strathfield - isn't there a bike path that does that mate - through rookwood?

Nice ride that, except i wouldn't want to be going into fairfield too late on a friday night.
What site is it in Strathfield - i'm near there.
No maggies for me mate - i think the silver helmet and reflective tape is keeping them at bay

And yes - Sydney has been magnificent of late, although i've noticed that the standard of driving has been decidedly woeful.

What a commute in this am. My riding buddy and I decided to have a hammerfest. We had one stretch for 4 miles where we maintained between 28 and 30 mph. woo hooo was that fun. I am glad that tomorrow is a day off from the bike. Did my 24 miles in 1:15 which includes time for red lights, stops etc.

Hope everyone has a nice day.

I didn't have a bad ride in either. Did my 23 miles in 1:25. My legs are comming back to me and I can almost make it through the day with out that cup of coffee at 3pm.

I'm having the same light problems as DanO. I need to break down and buy another head light.

That's quick, my hat's off to you sir.

I kinda putted in this morning. I took a few days off the bike hoping my hip would feel better, and today I rode a few notches down. It does feel a bit better but still tender. Going to have to go easy for a bit, I think.

I was kinda glad I took yesterday off... It was sunny and nice most of the day, with strong t-storms called for the evening commute. Boy was that accurate. Tornado touchdowns, gold ball hail, and a veritable monsoon hit. I could have left a tad early to miss it if I was on the bike, but I certainly was happy I didn't get caught in that! Nasty.

Fairfield to strathfield - isn't there a bike path that does that mate - through rookwood?

Nice ride that, except i wouldn't want to be going into fairfield too late on a friday night.
What site is it in Strathfield - i'm near there.
No maggies for me mate - i think the silver helmet and reflective tape is keeping them at bay

And yes - Sydney has been magnificent of late, although i've noticed that the standard of driving has been decidedly woeful.

I do go through Rookwood but between here and Rookwood is basically along the roads that parallel the Regents Park rail line. There's the bike track that goes to Parramatta then parallels the M4 but it adds 20 minutes to the trip, I sometimes do it in the afternoons when I feel like a bit more riding time.

I had the lask couple of weeks off so I helped a mate reno his 'new' 100 year old house :rolleyes: almost directly across the road from that club with all the tennis courts, on the southern side of the railway.

Fairfield is a bit of a worry after dark. I've had junkies set me up for an ambush on two separate occasions, and another time had a go while I stopped at a red light, I don't think they were counting on me getting aggro :D

Damn. I was just getting back into the VLC since moving a month ago... and now you guys are transitioning into the extreme thing. Well, my commute features one characteristic which might label it a bit extreme. The whole route is 30 miles one way again, and the last 5 miles going home are up a narrow two lane highway. There's not much of a shoulder - sometimes none at all. Riding this stretch is not bad during the day, but it can get a little hairy in the dark. While I'm lit up like a Xmas tree in the rear, I'm only running a couple Cateye's up front so I have a rather narrow beam. And there are a couple long sections which have absolutely no street lighting or other illumination. So it's like white line fever. It's like flying on instruments, following the edge of the road. Sometimes your eyes and equalibrium start playing tricks on you. Drivers running coming up from behind help light the shoulder for a bit, and that's good. But for some reason drivers coming from the opposite direction seem to think they're doing you a favor by throwing the high beams on in your face. The decent ones dim them when they get close enough to see me putting my hand up to shield my eyes from their million candle power. Then my eyes have to adjust to the pitch blackness again.

And in the evening there's a 'different' kind of driver on the road. This particular two lane highway is an alternate to the newer interstate just over the hill. Some folks use it instead of the freeway and I have to wonder why. Are they trying to avoid the Highway Patrol? In the evening I've been on the recieving end of some of those 'no one is around and I just want to blare my horn at you to say "get the **** of of my road" honks'. Perhaps they saw my blinking red, amber and blue lights a ways back and thought I was one of those cops they take this route to avoid and had to throw out their beer or stash the blunt and now they're upset they realize it's just a bike.

Like I said, it's intense. If my wife is at home I stop five miles down the road and call her to come fetch me. The fact that she doesn't mind at all says something. It's going to be a long winter, even if it doesn't snow much 'round these parts.

DanO

That sounds pretty extreme to me!

For the first time this year, I needed gloves for my ride. It was in the low 40's with a very brisk headwind. Brrr. Of course, I didn't have any with me and my hands were pretty cold by the time I got to work this morning.

What a commute in this am. My riding buddy and I decided to have a hammerfest. We had one stretch for 4 miles where we maintained between 28 and 30 mph. woo hooo was that fun. I am glad that tomorrow is a day off from the bike. Did my 24 miles in 1:15 which includes time for red lights, stops etc.

Hope everyone has a nice day.

OMG:eek:

Tibike -- that is simply amazing!! Let us know when you break the sound barrier

I got to change a flat tire twice this morning. I came out to a flat front wheel, so I Pull the wheel and after 3 times around the tire I finally find what literally seems like a grain of glass and remove it. I put in a patched tube, mount the tire and start pumping only to hear that telltale hissing of a leak where a patch must have come off. Pull the tire, put in a second tube and finally get a working wheel. After that the commute was uneventful and pretty fast for me. Evidently spending 3 days pulling a trailer on tour strengthened my legs since I have been able to do some serious cranking this week.

Have a good ride everyone.

mornin' still good Mid-Atlantic weather, still wearing the shorts. tonight things will change but I think a good evening ride will be in order.
Speedsters: Here's a recent record to shoot for:" .....We have a new European human powered vehicle record set by Damjan Zabovnik in Eivie 2 at Battle Mountain, NV. He went 74.009 just before his crash on Tuesday Oct 3rd. He and bike are fine as he went 70.079 on Oct 4th while taking it easy after a day of Bondo work that was an incomplete repair of the road rash...."
I don't know if that is in KM or MPH either way it's friggin' fast. I'm thinking MPH.
Dano: your commute sounds really sketchy. narrow roads with fast cars and headlights can't be fun.

It looks like I'm going to end up with 6500 miles for the year due to the job change. I was looking at just over 9000 miles if I had not made the job change.

What a commute in this am. My riding buddy and I decided to have a hammerfest. We had one stretch for 4 miles where we maintained between 28 and 30 mph. woo hooo was that fun. I am glad that tomorrow is a day off from the bike. Did my 24 miles in 1:15 which includes time for red lights, stops etc.

Hope everyone has a nice day.


Whoa. Did you have a tailwind or anything like that?

Whoa. Did you have a tailwind or anything like that?

All:

Thanks for the compliments. We had a cross / tail wind of about 5mph. We both felt in the groove this morning and we were trading pulls pretty well.

Cig:

Congrats on the new job.

Tbike - my ride home was great, but nothing like yours. I did make the 15 miles in under 54 minutes which is close to a record for me. I had a little bit of a tail wind and was racing the rain home - it felt great and the rain started in earnest about five minutes after I walked in the door.

I am off my bike for week due to travel - cheers to everyone . . .