RubeRad

San Diego BTWD POSTPONED two weeks due to rain.

I rode, it was wet roads and dry skies, except for maybe 5-10 min passing shower. There were some heavy showers overnight, haven't heard any thunder. But I guess this is what passes for "heavy rains and thunderstorms" around here.

tarwheel, that's a pretty sweet collection of schwag. I'd love to get a cap, but around here it's t-shirts, snacks, and disposably useless trinkets like button-battery blinkies with only a plastic hook to attach, no real mounting hardware.

ThermionicScott 

The game is to be sold, not to be told.

RidingMatthew

I stopped by the BTWD and saw basically everyone who was at the last advocacy meeting I attended. They appreciated me stopping by. I almost forgot i had to go to work I had to hurry up and get to work so I could clock in. YIKES . While I was talking to someone I noticed one of the guys there checking out my Motobecane Fantom CX commuter!


5 for 5 this week! It is my first of the year to ride all five days! legs were a little tired but not having to carry a lunch i felt faster and also had room for a few trinkets.

alan s 

Maybe I should have stopped. Just to see what they were giving out, not to actually partake in the feeding frenzy.

kickstart

I was surprised to see a support stop set up in my area at REIs corporate HQ. Naturally I use the next street over, and didn't see it until I drove by on the job.

bmthom.gis

Well I ended up 3 for 5....storms and the threat of nasty storms kept me off the bike Mon and Tue. Today I did the local BTWD sponsored by our advocacy group - basically a lot of people I see at Handlebar Happy Hour once a month. I was the first to show up.

Yay for showing up first!


The crowd grows


There's a whole bunch of us!


I'm in the jersey that says "BOONE"


City safety officers...or something like that. Not really sure what their job is, but they get to ride around all day so that makes me a little jealous


We only had bananas, apples and granola bars...all of which I have packed in my lunch today! Myself and a handful of others stopped at a real place to chow down on some real food. Got to work late...don't care. This afternoon the advocacy group is having a free beer event to kill off a keg and then some, so I will probably show up to that. It's hardly out of my way

icyj

5 for 5 here. Definitely a wet week of riding.

RubeRad

Those safety officers have totally different bikes. I wonder whether they just bring their own in to be painted, or if the fleet was purchased in waves.

mgw4jc

Good weather here all week. However I took a personal day yesterday, so 4 out of 4 for me. But I am getting close to 2000 commuting miles for the year.

bmthom.gis

Probably whatever model they could get that year for the least amount of money

ThermionicScott 

Suspended MTBs/hybrids with knobby tires seem to be standard issue. Not sure why they think that's a good idea for pursuit vehicles, but it made for some hilarious scenes in "Premium Rush."

bmthom.gis

I've discovered they are "ambassadors" to a certain part of downtown. More mystery...though I have seen some with "Safety Officer" somewhere on their shirts, I see them watering plants, I see some as tour guides??

snow_echo_NY

i've ridden everyday. we've had some amazing weather here.

AlmostTrick

Same here, and no one knows it's BTWD/W.

On my ride in, a motorist honked as he passed me. When I caught him at the light, he said "What are you doing out in the road?" in a perturbed tone.

Me: "Riding to work! It's BTWD!"

His response: Well, ok... but I better not see you out here on Monday.

(Dramatization, may not have happened exactly that way)

the sci guy 

It's been a wet week here in Houston, so I was only able to ride today. Thankfully the weather held for BTWD! Don't think anyone else rode today though - rack in the garage was empty and I got here late, too!

Oh well. There's always next year!

Now back to regularly scheduled bike to work

ThermionicScott 

Mine concluded nicely, with a large group photo in a revitalizing area of the city. Another "perfect commuting week" for me.

SouthFLpix

I wasn't feeling that strong today, but I still rode in at a leisurely pace. I started feeling better just as I arrived, so maybe I just needed a good warmup.

matimeo

+1

It strikes me in reading some of these comments that it can be more work trying to decide whether to ride to work or not. I stopped bothering with the idea of driving my car a long time ago. I just get up and ride everyday. I know there are some places where that might not always be possible, but I cringe when I read people don't bike commute because of the rain. Some of my favorite commutes are when it's absolutely pouring outside. It gives me a sense of conquering obstacles and becoming one with the world.

loky1179

I made 3 of 4 days this week biking. I had to drive in one day because . . . I was buying a bike rack from a guy off CL. So ALL of my commutes were at least "bicycling related"

spare_wheel

..

baron von trail 

Rain is fine when coming home. It's not so pleasant when going into work in the morning however, mostly because the sopping wet clothes and shoes are a bear to dry by the time I go home again. I hate putting on wet clothes or shoes.

I also drive when I know I have to do stuff after work. Like Monday, I have a viewing to attend. So, I will have to pass on the bike ride and drive my car.

AlmostTrick

At 12 miles each way, I have no interest in riding to work every day. It would become a chore and cease to be fun.

The other nice thing when I drive is I can carry in/out all my clothes, and even much of my food, keeping my bike light and quick.

There are no rules to cycle commuting, no one signed a contract. We only need to answer to (and impress!) ourselves.

kickstart

The modest turnout for BTWD was more than made up for today, did about 45 miles today running errands, and saw 200 + cyclists. Solo, couples, groups of 5 to 25, and some sort of organized ride on a local MUT for teens that I would guess numbered around 75 broken up into small groups. I was rather surprised that a good number of those kids had nice bikes and gear.
Another thing I noticed is most of the cyclists on road bikes were middle aged, and most cyclists younger than that were on anything but road bikes.

the sci guy 

Being wet sucks. Roads are slippery, and drivers less good. I don't see it as conquering an obstacle, it's a pain in the ass.

baron von trail 

I ride light too. Carry my clothes in on driving days. I also drive now and then to take a break or dodge obviously crappy weather. I'll ride when rain threatens but not when it's pouring out when I wake up. I also avoid riding when temperatures are below 20 degrees F...although, sometimes I will ride when it's in the teens in the AM with above freezing Ts forecast later in the day.

Food is pretty easy. I bring a banana, apple and pear every day, which I can carry in my triangle frame bag. I also have a stash of oatmeal and walnuts at work. So, I can carb up pretty well at lunch. Oh, and sardines. I have about 10 cans of them in my desk a well. I eat one every morning when I arrive to work.