Northeast - NYC: Awesome commute this morning

Rain, wind, crap in the road, overcast skies -- One of the funnest commutes I've had in a while. And I mean that! Feels great to be out there in shorts getting crazy looks from people (and punching taxi cabs because their bike radar is off today).

On the way home yesterday I got to the top of the 59th street bridge and couldn't shift out of my climbing gear because the wind was so strong.

I rode in today too. It was a blast! I really didn't think it was going to rain that bad, but 5min after stepping out of my apt. it poured. Luckly it only lasted about 10min but was enough to get me soaked. Still drying out here at work.

I rode in today too. It was a blast! I really didn't think it was going to rain that bad, but 5min after stepping out of my apt. it poured. Luckly it only lasted about 10min but was enough to get me soaked. Still drying out here at work.

heh me too:lol: I checked accuweather's hour-by-hour forecast as usual and it looked like no rain at 9 (when I arrive at work) and another dry window at 2 (when I leave today).

I was good till the last 12 blocks or so - just a wee drizzle now and again. Just when I was thinking I'd have dry clothes for the ride home.....isn't it amazing how fast your shoes and socks can get totally saturated?:D

I had TT style overshoes on, since I put clipless pedals back on my commuter. Dry socks!

I took the subway. And waited forever at 59th St. when the "A" stood idle as a D eventually passed it on the local track. <sigh/>

I took the subway. And waited forever at 59th St. when the "A" stood idle as a D eventually passed it on the local track. <sigh/>

and there is one reason I rode, even though I knew there was a good chance I'd get soaked...God, how I hate the MTA

and there is one reason I rode, even though I knew there was a good chance I'd get soaked...God, how I hate the MTA

One nice thing about riding to work is that the amount of time it takes is pretty fixed, at least for me with my new route. I used to go along the Hudson Greenway, where the wind introduced a lot of variability to my ride time. Now I cut through Manhattan and am partly shielded from the wind.

and there is one reason I rode, even though I knew there was a good chance I'd get soaked...God, how I hate the MTA

I feel the same way. What is usually a half hour trip took me an hour last week -- the subway is unpredictable, AND I have to tolerate the often inane thoughts and actions of other human beings. At least on a bicycle I can avoid people or simply ride away. Once I purchase a folding bike, I am done with the subway.

the ironic part is, for years i didn't mind rainy days because i felt pampered taking the train (sort of a 'forced' rest day off the bike) - I read a very similar account from a commuter in a TA magazine profile some years back. Since I didn't ride the train often it was sort of a nice change of pace and even the annoying people or gross smells etc. didn't bother me.

However, the last two or three years the MTA has plummeted to new depths; it seems even a light spring shower is enough to overflow their pumping stations, and the least extremes of cold or heat are enough to incapacitate their signals, etc. In other words, on days it's not fit to go out and ride on, the train is also at its least reliable.

All this, while the fare keeps getting bumped up:mad:

I used to go along the Hudson Greenway, where the wind introduced a lot of variability to my ride time. Now I cut through Manhattan and am partly shielded from the wind.

I've seen wind listed a 5 mph, but on the Greenway be 12. I didn't even bother yesterday as it was blowing stink down Broadway. Right now they are reporting 22 NE, might be an idea to go south then subway back north!

Well, I was going to ride in from Brooklyn today but I'm wimpy when it comes to rain. I'll wait till.....Wednesday. Yeah, it should be clear by then I think.
Why not Monday and Tuesday? Let's just say it's work related.

I feel the same way. What is usually a half hour trip took me an hour last week -- the subway is unpredictable, AND I have to tolerate the often inane thoughts and actions of other human beings. At least on a bicycle I can avoid people or simply ride away. Once I purchase a folding bike, I am done with the subway.

If you find a NYC Subway is too "interpersonal" for your taste... maybe you should move to Montana.

I was joking. I've been riding the NYC subway since 1991. While you may use "interpersonal" in a sarcastic sense, I mean it quite literally: I'll take a seat next to an unstable-looking homeless dude before I privilege myself with the details of a conversation between a gaggle of trust fund art-school types.

On a serious note, I agree with pgoat's assessment that when it is wet the subways have been terrible, in the past year or so:

This past January, on the morning of my doctoral program's comprehensive examination, I had to drive in from Brooklyn and somehow find parking in downtown Manhattan - then take a subway train to school - when I got to my local station and discovered that Manhattan-bound service was completely inoperable. It was a great way to spend the last moments before a big exam!

In short: I've lived here since I was six years old and wholeheartedly say "**** you" to the MTA.

I hope that the new guy they just brought in ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/nyregion/11mta.html?scp=1&sq=walder&st=cse ), who has handled the London Underground in recent years, can do the same for NYC that he has done for the Tube. Sure they pay more but I much prefer their system to ours.

One nice thing about riding to work is that the amount of time it takes is pretty fixed, at least for me with my new route. I used to go along the Hudson Greenway, where the wind introduced a lot of variability to my ride time. Now I cut through Manhattan and am partly shielded from the wind.


This is something I think about too if I still want to commute in the winter. That wind blowing from the Hudson River is a killer win the winter and i work on W57 bet 10 and 11ave. So i was thinking about coming up on Manhattan streets, but I was thinking about all the red lights I would catch and how that would add to my commute time.

This is something I think about too if I still want to commute in the winter. That wind blowing from the Hudson River is a killer win the winter and i work on W57 bet 10 and 11ave. So i was thinking about coming up on Manhattan streets, but I was thinking about all the red lights I would catch and how that would add to my commute time.

FWIW, I get flats on the streets, but not on the greenway. That's enough reason for me to stay there.

FWIW, I get flats on the streets, but not on the greenway. That's enough reason for me to stay there.


Not me, I've caught 2 flats on the greenway... 1 tire had a tire liner,(not sure what caused that flat) and the other was my current Gatorskin by conti( a piece of glass got me)..

Damn, I was on a hunt for replaceable core Presta tubes, finally found a Conti, but it was out of stock. I DID pull a small piece of glass from my tire, but it was only wedged in the treads, no cuts to the tire...