tarwheel 

I'm making the call whether to ride or not on a day-to-day basis. I drove again today as it was expected to be even hotter than yesterday. The heat index is sitting at 108 right now and got as high as 111. It feels like a sauna outside. The morning commute wouldn't be so bad, but I'm concerned about getting heat exhaustion in the afternoons. I went to the gym this morning, rode a spin bike for a while and lifted weights. Also walked for an hour at lunch. That's probably what I'll be doing until the weather moderates.

RandomEncounter

Well, today's commute sucked. I crashed on the train tracks along Seattle's notorious Missing Link. I got off easy with what promises to be a spectacular bruise and a shattered phone (whose replacement I will be putting in a different pocket in my bag from now on).

I don't know what happened, exactly. I think I was trying too hard to be careful.

wphamilton

Today I didn't have to deal with anyone like yesterday's idiot thank goodness, and it was a nice relaxing ride. Maybe the humid 97° is too much for that type (wouldn't that be nice?)

Johnny Mullet

The ride was awesome, but I did not install a rear rack on it, so carrying my lunch in a bag on the handlebars kinda sucked. This bike is in no way fast or light, but it's a sound, solid ride. Sorta like my normal commuter, but with gears and hand brakes. Since I don't take lunch on Saturdays, I usually ride my Techtra Lite road bike, but I'll consider using the MTB since the roads are bad.

mr geeker

My commutes have all been the same lately since I found a trail that dumps me out about 1/2 mile from work, I'm thinking about going back to the route I was taking previously. Although their IS something to be said for the monotony of bike trail riding.

essiemyra

Today's commute is my first this week as I had Monday off and yesterday I had to drive as I had eye dr's appt before work. Anyway it was nice to be back on my bike again. And the ride home should be excellent as I found a place to take a swim on my ride home. It increases my ride by about five miles but for a swim on my way home. It is way worth it. Biking and swimming it does not get much better for me!

dcb23

A consistent 82F/28C with high humidity. I'm dripping when I arrive in the office garage.

Sad sight coming in...on Monday I spotted two Osprey hanging out in the signage above the 14th Street bridge which spans the Potomac River coming in and out of DC. This morning I spotted one perched on the signage and the other dead in the path of traffic.

KStier

Considering the afternoon heat of the past week this morning was very nice. Only the second week of riding and I can only swing it twice a week but I'm loving it.

mgw4jc

I was temperature watching before going home last night and not looking forward to riding in 97 degrees. A few clouds looked to possibly provide a little relief. On the ride, I could see some rain clouds up ahead and hoped I might get a little rain. I did! It was a refreshing, cooling rain for about 4 miles of my commute home. I just wish it had continued, but I got out of it when I turned north. But I was wet enough that I stayed cool most of the rest of the ride home anyway.

This morning it was warmer than normal at 76F with high humidity. Another summer scorcher so I'll hope for the afternoon shower again.

Wolfhaven

Been hot and very humid here the past week or so. Yesterday I rode my 11+ miles to work with heavily loaded panniers. After work I changed course and went over the Bong bridge into Duluth for a brewsana yoga class (hour of yoga followed by beer) at the Bent Paddle Brewery. Was sweating from the ride, then it really poured out of me during yoga. Lots of water and a cold beer went down really well. Rode back over the bridge and hopped on my regular route home as it was getting dark. Made for a great day. This morning the weather terrorists were calling for thunderstorms all morning so I bailed on riding. Commute tomorrow and Friday before riding another 100 miles of the Mississippi River Trail over the weekend.

rhm

Flat tire on my way home yesterday. Before fixing it, I pumped it up to see how bad the leadk was; then I found a piece of a staple stuck through the tread. When I pulled that out, I heard air escaping, so I knew just where the problem was. I was able to patch it without taking the wheel off the bike -- just pulled a foot or so of tube out, patched it, and stuck it back together. Less than ten minutes lost, didn't even make my fingers greasy!

Only my third commuting flat of the year, so I think I'm doing pretty well.

rumrunn6

impressive!

arsprod 

That's brilliant! Cool morning, only 66F when I left home though still forecasting 90 for the ride home

baron von trail 

Pretty good ride in. 4th straight day of riding 50-plus. So, I felt a bit rough when starting out. But, I caught a second wind soon enough and had a nice run after all.

timvan_78

sooo many cyclists out. commuters, tourists, roadies, etc...

groovestew

As I took my fixie out the garage this morning, I noticed some oddness with the rear tire...turns out I have several patches where I'm down to the threads, thanks to all the Madd Skidz I've been doing. I rode it anyway, but used my brake instead of skidding. Once I'm back home, I'll install a gently used Gatorskin that I've got lying around.

Nice ride this morning, a scorching 15C / 59F for the ride in.

RidingMatthew

@rhm I agree impressive.


heat advisory today! supposed to feel like upper 90s but feel like 105-109F, it is currently 96 and feels like 112F


My new bar tape came in for my commuter and will install it tonight. I also received my gatorskins for the commuter. might til it is cooler to install them. I hope they drop some weight off the wheel and it rolls faster. 1st time commuting on smooth tires. I have been running COntential Contact 2 for quite a while.


I surpassed my mileage for last July yesterday and I have as many miles this year as I had at the end of September last year. #rollingon!

enigmaT120

Grr, I got about 4 miles from home when I realized I didn't have my wallet which carries, among other useful things, my bus pass. So I just sprinted back home (at least I got a workout that way) and took the motorcycle to work.

SteffyMacD

Missed free bike tune-up day on campus thanks to the No-Bikes policy on the T

Feels like I've gained a ton more confidence on my bike in the past couple weeks. Drivers in Malden are also (so far) very respectful and awesome about sharing the road. I was even able to take the lane and then merge over into ANOTHER lane when some construction work came up that was blocking the shoulder and one lane of traffic. Not a big deal for most people but it was the first time I've done something like that, and I didn't even think twice about it. A month ago I would've been scared sh****** to do it!

I'm anxious for this heatwave to pass. Haven't been going out on fun rides on weekends or evenings because it's just too hot.

ptempel

Wow. If its already 80F at 7am, then its going to be a shake and bake fest later on. I don't blame you. It was 76F this morning but will not see the humidity around here that you will have. Heat was another reason to do park and ride with low miles all this week. Will take it easy for the ride home...

TaylorC

So... my much-loved commuter needed air this morning, went to pump it up and the valve core broke (?) and got pushed in (?) to the inner tube. Didn't have time to change tubes, so I pulled my carbon road bike down, which sadly has not felt buttocks for almost a year! Just pulling the thing off the hook, I laughed at how light it was. Moved my stuff from the rack bag to a backpack (uggh) and jumped on, clouds, high 60's, and LOW rolling resistance!
Fun and fast.
BUT, yep, getting home tonight and fixing my "truck" and hanging the racer back up for who-knows-how-long.
I had to increase my commuter mileage by about .8 miles since I can't grind gravel on this thing, but still made it to work faster. I've been busy enough to not go on the two-hour romps I used to do. Thinking of ways to plan ahead so that "other" days my shoes and lunch are at work and I can enjoy this thing a bit more.

Also, counted 18 other bikers on the way here on this gorgeous summer day.
38. There are 150k of us here.

wphamilton

I thought that a new day had dawned, when I saw the employee entrance was again open. It had been closed all summer for renovations, and I had high hopes that having entry there again meant that the fitness center just down the hall, with the lockers and showers, would also be available again. Alas it was not so, and I had to trudge down the long open area of cubes and offices to the other employee showers. Such a hardship upon me. With my not so spiffy cargo shorts and sweaty jersey, dripping on the new carpet But it was early, and no one cared. At least, not enough for HR to seek me out later. Maybe I'll make a habit of that.

The ride home was grand, with scattered rain clouds cooling the air to around 90, and I'm mostly in the shade anyway. I may have been a little over-exuberant on the Greenway, not that anyone was startled or buzzed by me. All in all, just about perfect commutes.

essiemyra

This morning's commute was nice but I think I ate a bug. While riding I felt like I inhaled a small bug. Other than that the commute was nice.

mgw4jc

Yesterday I ended up getting a ride home from the wife who was in the area at quitting time. I didn't mind missing the 96+ heat. It cuts into my weekly mileage totals, but I'm okay as long as I break 100 each week.

Warm and humid again this morning, but a few degrees cooler than yesterday. Had to dodge a couple of maintenance / construction vehicles that were blocking half a lane or more.

mgw4jc

I posted this in Advocacy & Safety too, but thought I'd make sure our N.C. commuters - @RidingMatthew & @tarwheel - had seen the new traffic laws regarding cyclists. The one thing that surprised me is that it is not currently legal to pass on double yellow lines. Everybody does anyway, including me when I'm driving and see a cyclist.
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