Sir Lunch-a-lot

Light rain on my way out today. Wasn't bad, although I need to get a rear fender installed, because my butt was filthy by the time I arrived at my destination. However, the rain really picked up, so I was soaked before I was half way home. So I had to stop and call a friend who offered to give me a ride and see if the offer was still open.

All in all, I didn't consider todays ride a waste. For one thing, I learned that my Shell will only keep the lightest of rain out for long. So, I'll need to see if my Rain Jacket will work (although I hate that my rain jacket doesn't allow my skin to breath), and see about getting some rain pants, and some booties to put over my riding shoes. Speaking of which, I should fill them with paper towel to help them dry before I forget.

bugly64

The weather people got it wrong. I was disappointed that it didn't snow before I woke this morning. However, the ride home made up for it with a slush veneer for the roads. My fenders fended of the slushy mess and I no longer pedal around puddles. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a bunch of snow to wade through.

Fizzaly

i dont know how its been in your guys neck of the woods but it has been windy windy windy in boise im getting a little sick of it nothing but wind and rain for the last week i want summer to be here so i can complain about how hot it is

MVclyde

Cloudy and cool on the way in. Rain on the way home. Today was my first ride with a pannier (single on the left side). I've been using a backpack. I was worried about weight distribution but it was not a problem at all. The only tricky part was when I got out of the saddle going up a hill. Different ball game with the weight all on one side on the back of the bike. It was great to ditch the backpack.

buzzman

Great ride in this morning. Stopped at REI on the way in to pick up a new cassette, chain and chainring. Got them all and put them on tonight but it opened a whole new can of worms- man, this bike needs some TLC. Next I've got to pick up a new bottom bracket and axle set and brake shoes. I think I forget that I put that many miles on this bike every year- between 5k and 6k/year. I owe this bike a little tenderness for getting me to work every day.

Can't wait to do my ride tomorrow without a jumping skipping chain and a smooth running drive train.

himfilth

Had my backpack on, my lunch box strapped to my rear rack and had on my helmet and riding shoes on, all to open the door and see that its freaking raining. Don't mind getting caught in the rain but not from the start of the ride into work. Maybe tomorrow night will be better.

vtjim

32F/0C, sunny. No wind. One spot of frost on some grass. I saw only one person riding the other way. No one going my way. I felt slow but I made reasonable time. I'm Haring (leading) a hash (run for beer) after work so I need to take it easy on the ride home so I have legs to run.

fletchh

It was a chilly foggy ride in this morning at 0 C (32 F). The fog was playing havoc with my vision in my rear view mirror. The street lilghts and porch lights were making it difficult to distinguish a vehicle from them. On a sadder note a D.C. cyclists was killed yesterday. She was an award winning journalist, and will be missed. This is on top of two other cyclists hit in Baltimore last week, one died, and the other is still in the hospital. It has been a rough two weeks. Best wishes to both families.

tarwheel 

I'm the same way - don't like heading out in the rain. The forecasters had predicted rain this morning in Raleigh, but it was dry when I got up and nothing showing on the radar. So I rode and had a nice NE tailwind most of the way. That was a good thing because my legs are still recovering from riding 280 miles last week. I'm am nearing my 3rd anniversary since I started bike commuting and I'm trying to top 10,000 miles during that time, so I don't want to miss any rides if I can help it.

mskibinski

Great morning. 40 degrees, a slight tailwind, and dry as a bone. Also, this is the first day with the new shower at work. That's a nice thing after a 30 mile one way commute. I'm sure my co-workers appreciate the fresher air in the office Strong 10-15 mph headwind expected for this afternoon. What the hell, I need to drop a few lbs anyway

billyymc

Got my regular commuter down off the hook for the morning ride - and had a flat on the rear!! Crap.

Was debating fixing the flat vs driving in when my wife said "why don't you just ride a different bike?"

So i did. Hopped on my old Trek mtb that I made into a 1 x 7 with slicks to ride around with the kids. Haven't done more than a few miles on it, but the 14 mile commute was actually pleasant, comfortable (stopped once to raise the seat a bit) and only about 5 minutes slower than on my Tricross Comp (what does that say?).

I do have a bit of chain skip occassionally when shifting gears, or when I coast then start pedaling again (not every time). I think I need to check the chainline - since I converted this to 1 x 7 by just taking off the large and small rings and putting the mid one back on with spacers. I think once I do that I'll be golden.

Occasionally spun out from too low a gear, but only a few times.

It's nice to have a backup bike. Riding it was a much better choice than not riding.

EKW in DC

Chilly and rainy on the way home last night, but I couldn't get enough. It's kinda weird, but I enjoy riding in the rain in a way I would never have expected. Guess all the different riding conditions are unique and maybe fun for just that reason. I love riding in the dark, too...

Came in to work early this morning, and the sun was still pretty low in the sky. A nice brilliant yellow foggy haze dominated the eastern sky and backlit the DC skyline as I came up and across the Potomac. Beautiful scenery. Legs felt good, too. Looking to add a few extra miles to tonight's ride home, too, though I haven't decided exactly how. Maybe I'll climb a couple of those hills near me that aren't on my way to anywhere but beg to be tamed...

groovestew

It seemed like there were cops everywhere downtown today. I try to ride in such a way as to be above reproach (usually) but I was a little extra careful today. That meant stopping at a red light before making a right turn where I can usually safely blow through. That loss of momentum almost got me stuck at another light a few blocks away, but I managed to squeak through on a yellow. It's a stretch with 5 traffic lights, but if I hustle, I can make it on all greens. Not today!

sseaman

Nice commute this am, temps in the mid 50's, sunny and little traffic

HardyWeinberg

37F, sunny, no kids

Cassave

48F, sunny.

Took a route I rarely use. It was nice for a change with almost no traffic. Nice.

caloso

First commute since Friday. Felt like my bike didn't know me for the first half hour.

ItsJustMe

I can feel it from here; I'm out of breath from reading that post with no punctuation or capitals!

Fizzaly

im lazy when it comes to writing sorry today is a huge difference, sunny and 60 by 11am yessss nice ride tonight

scoatw

I had the day off so I rode around town today. Temps started out at 57f and warmed up to 70f. I rode all urban streets and enjoyed the hubbub going on around me. Tom'rw we're hittin' 80f and I'm going ridin" ! I love Spring !

gitarzan

A brisk 45f ride to... knocked 10 minutes off the last time, was a little longer distance, but much safer trip. Took the same way back, took about 1/2 hour longer, as it was warmer, busier and I was in no particular hurry.

Rode past some old bent over guy walking around his car. He had his garage door opened and I caught myself scanning it for old bikes, He looked at me and said, "Hi" and I said back, "Good afternoon, sir!" giving him old school props. I hope he appreciated that.


Tomorrow I gotta drive to Cleveland on the nicest day we've had so far. I'm not happy about that.

mtessmer

Had to drop my car off at the shop this morning so I took my folder and rode to work from there. They didn't finish fixing my car so I had to ride it home. By the time I get my car tomorrow I'll have close to 40 miles on my folder.

Grim

Great ride today! Whatever pollen was kicking my butt all last week seems to have subsided. No longer feel like an elephant is sitting on my head.

Sun is up enough I don't need the head light now. Was 53f when I left so warm enough for shorts and a light jacket and back to wearing my SPD's. Feel like I shed 10lb of crap! Starting to get use to the gears on this new crankset. Going from a compact to a 50-39-30 took some getting use to. I really picked up some top end speed on the flats. On the way home I have a down hill to a nice flat that with the old cranks I was usually running about 27-28mph. Looked down and saw I was buzzing along at 33mph. Tucked and Hit 42 on the long down hill further up the road. I am usually happy to see 38mph.

The side walk riders were out in force today and everybody had grins on their faces this morning.
Had a odd event today. Got caught at a light on the east side of the intersection near the local College where there is actually a bike lane. This guy crosses from the SW corner via the cross walk then I guess waits for light to change and me to come through the intersection. He keeps looking back like he is waiting and wanting to ride with me. I'm about 3/4 of a mile from my office. I was cutting it close for work so I mashed through the light and was up to cruising speed by the time I cleared the intersection. This poor guy is fumbling around trying to get rolling and into his clips and I blew past him Screamed "Morning" and was gone before he even knew what happened. I watch my rear view and He finally gets rolling and I'm a 1/4 mile down the road on a down hill doing 30. I honestly don't know if he even came much past the school . I lost track of him by the time I hit the drive for my office. LOL

If I'm not running late next time I see him I'll see what he is up to I suppose. Really didn't want to be rude if he was looking to chat but just didn't have time this morning.

bugly64

I had a great ride today this morning:



By the time I was heading home, the snow had all but melted.

buzzman

Good ride both ways. Bike path crowded though.