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How was the commute today? Continued.

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How was the commute today? Continued.

Old 09-10-09, 12:57 PM
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pretty good. around 90 and a little humid. commuter count: three. Saw a lot of people walking around with wrap on theire arms from the plasma donation center that is along my route. wonder how much they get for that?
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Old 09-10-09, 03:14 PM
  #1752  
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Ok on the way into school, bit of a head wind on the return trip.
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Old 09-10-09, 04:18 PM
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6.5 miles of gritty south bronx hills battling with gypsy cabs, followed by 12 miles of beautiful Hudson River greenway, ending with a 2 mile jaunt over the 125 year old Brooklyn Bridge. It's a beautiful country.
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Old 09-11-09, 05:02 AM
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How was it today? Freaking cold and wet!
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Old 09-11-09, 05:21 AM
  #1755  
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The rain finally came and did it ever, 55 F ( 12 C). I pulled out a shell that I wear in the winter, because it is waterproof. I usually don't wear shells in the summer. This rain was not too cold, but it was a reminder of what is to come.
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Old 09-11-09, 05:56 AM
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Started out slow. Got reasonably quick. Ended slower than it began. Just felt like I was dragging myself along. Temps in the upper 40s. A headwind kicked up off Lake Champlain and that's what slowed me down in the end.

Someone on a hybrid or maybe MTB got on the MUP behind me but I didn't see him/her/it after that.

Think I'll take a diffent way home this afternoon. Maybe look for a geocache.
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Old 09-11-09, 06:03 AM
  #1757  
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Cold and wet, about 59 degrees with steady wind and rain. I wore my nylon baggy mtb shorts and a rain jacket and stayed reasonably dry-my shoes soaked through though and are now sitting in our storage room, in front of a fan. I had to re-install lights recently and will put the fenders back on after the Seagull Century in early October. I can't believe it's that time of year already, late November and December, in my opinion, are the worst (wettest) time of year for commuting. Hopefully NoVa riders will have a better commute this afternoon.
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Old 09-11-09, 07:51 AM
  #1758  
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Well coming in to work the ride didn’t happen since I walked, but I walked for a good reason, I have a new bike being delivered today here at work! So I will be riding home on my newest addition.
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Old 09-11-09, 09:54 AM
  #1759  
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The ride home yesterday was decent overall, but it's state fair time, and my office is literally across the street from the fairgrounds. Needless to say, the first mile or so was very traffic laden.

I got a later start than I prefer this morning, and had to battle the school and car cummuter traffic. Geez - I really do prefer the earlier ride in. It is astounding what a difference 45 minuts can make.
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Old 09-11-09, 09:55 AM
  #1760  
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Gorgeous morning, supposed to get up in the 80s later. I drove.
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Old 09-11-09, 10:08 AM
  #1761  
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Rainy and windy, about 60 degrees. As soon as I left, the hole in the rain that had been on radar must have quickly closed back up, b/c the rain quickly got harder. At first I was thinking to myself what a crummy commute it was. Once I got thoroughly soaked, though, I started to not care about the rain and just enjoyed the ride. And enjoy it, I did. Despite only getting about 4 hours of sleep, my legs felt pretty good, and it was nice to have the MUP pretty much all to myself. I literally counted four, that's right, just four bikes the whole 7-ish miles from home to work. Now, I realize for some of you this is a daily occurence, but around here on my MUP and into dowtown DC it's quite rare. Normally, I wouldn't even be able to keep count of other bikes.

Like mjw16, I've got everything drying out in front of a fan. Wore athletic shorts and boxer briefs this AM, too, both soaked, obviously, but didn't think to grab a spare set of underwear, so I'm going commando while my undies dry out as much as possible. Might have to try going commando home, too, if they don't dry out more.

It all demonstrates to me the need to look into improvising/purchasing some rain gear or at least better logistical provisions for rain since I plan on riding though the cold and wet seasons, too...
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Old 09-11-09, 10:17 AM
  #1762  
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Wonderful, low 70s...supposed to get up to 102F today for the ride home though. It's a short ride, and there really is no traffic here in Chico except for a few main drags. I avoid those like the plague, and opt for the more scenic and less traveled bike routes.
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Old 09-11-09, 10:19 AM
  #1763  
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It didn't actually rain on me, but I dealt with suicidal frogs, puddle splashes, and a pair of unlit, inattentive oncoming roadies on the Trinity Trail.

I guess they were deep in conversation and didn't notice my blazing 13w halogen, so I said, "Heads up!" in about the same tone and volume one would properly say, "Battalion - Atten-HUH!", and the off-side rider promptly sideswiped the other one. I didn't see if they stayed upright.

On the plus side, the mile-long clouds of tiny flying bugs dropped off 99% since yesterday.
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Old 09-11-09, 10:46 AM
  #1764  
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Gonna be hot today, but the ride in this morning was quite pleasant. For some reason I've misplaced my cuff bands, so I've had to use electrician's tape and thus I look even more freddish than usual.

I did bring in bibs and jersey for the ride home. Hopefully I'll be out of the office early enough to join Mrs. Caloso and the kids at their school fundraiser this evening.
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Old 09-11-09, 10:49 AM
  #1765  
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A great ride this morning. Temperature right around 60. Looking forward to the sunny ride home temperature in the mid 70's.
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Old 09-11-09, 01:24 PM
  #1766  
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hey man, i ride in northern virginia too and don't want to hear anything about you going 'commando' on the way home!
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Old 09-11-09, 01:54 PM
  #1767  
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I ride home from work, so this is a "how was your commute yesterday" entry....

Crossed Poplar heading north through Germantown on Germantown Pkwy. I was cruising along riding next to the right rear quarter panel of a black Civic, kid decides to throw on the turn signal while turning. I hit my front brake and tried to lock my rear wheel, but it was too little too late. Nice kid pushed me into the strip mall parking lot while I bounced off of his car a few of times. When he finally stopped turning and I finally stopped bouncing off the side of his car he turns around to look at me and just kept going, LOL... I'm just riding along side of him waiting for him to pull over, but no. A car went after him honking and yelling while another cager pulled off to see if I was alright and ask if I wanted him to chase the kid. No visible damage to the bike, no pain so I said "no thanks, I'm good, but thanks".

I thought it was cool for two cagers to get involved and display concern. Kudos to the unknown cagers!

I have been pushed into storm drains, have been almost hit many times, but that was my first actual bounce off of a car.
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Old 09-11-09, 05:27 PM
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My chest/lungs weren't feeling kosher this AM so I took the bus, and hated it. Gorgeous weather today.
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Old 09-11-09, 05:35 PM
  #1769  
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For the most part the commuting was awesome as we are enjoying some great weather and had a little tailwind going to and from school.

My youngest daughter now has 140 km on her odometer after riding 14 consecutive days (even when the weather sucked) while my oldest daughter is behind by 14 km as she missed a day of school.

We witnessed a frightening moment today when a young woman pushing a stroller across the crosswalk was almost mowed down by a woman who wasn't paying any attention and looking to make a right turn against the walk light.

The driver locked up the tires and came within a foot of the stroller and it was the screech of the tires that made me look back to where we had just been.

It was so f-ing close... the driver just put her hands up and I saw her say "I'm sorry".

F that.

Pay attention to what the **** you are doing and don't turn against the walk light you dumb *****.

This happens too often here... drivers who see the walk light and get the idea that means they can make a right turn without checking for pedestrians.

I have taken to kicking cars that do this.
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Old 09-11-09, 06:48 PM
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I'm starting to think someone put a hex on me. Yesterday, when I was riding down Michigan Ave., a contractor was talking to somebody in a van, which was stopped in the middle of the road, as people are wont to do in our fine city. I was passing on the left, in the left turn lane, so as not to interrupt their conversation. As I got near them, the contractor turned to walk away, carelessly swinging a hammer or whatever he was holding as he did so. I did a "whoa, whoa, whoa" type thing when I was a good four feet away, but he almost got me. He shouted what seemed to be a sincere apology as I rode away. About a block later, his friend, texting, almost hit me. He too shouted what seemed to be a sincere apology. Then, today, as I was riding, a tree service truck was parked half in the road and half in someone's lawn, as they are wont to do in our fine city, instead of using the driveway, and as I passed one of them popped out from in front of the truck (where he wasn't visible), wandering into the road while starting his chainsaw. Almost got me. Once again, a sincere-sounding apology was offered. I think next contractor or tree trimmer or lawn service guy I see, I'm turning around and riding the other way.
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Old 09-11-09, 07:27 PM
  #1771  
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Yikes. Ride home was the workout. stiff 20mph headwind plus higher gusts knocked my usual 15-16mph average to a whopping 12mph.

You know it's windy when you have to pedal *down* the hills!
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Old 09-11-09, 07:57 PM
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Good but boring. I ride a recumbent so I pretty much get stared at my entire ride. I think I'd get less looks if I was riding a camel. My route is bike lanes the whole way and pretty light traffic. My old commute was along the river path for 7 miles. I do miss that ride.
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Old 09-12-09, 04:31 PM
  #1773  
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Gorgeous sunny warm. No commuting per se, just riding around town w/ the 4 and 8 yr old doing errands (trail-a-bike and 20"er respectively)
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Old 09-12-09, 06:31 PM
  #1774  
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GGGGreat!!
I road the Eros in to work today, I really like that bike. I'm amazed on how much faster the Eros is compared to my Castro, both being Bianchi steel.

The weather was great also. I road by Camp Randall as they were setting up for the game today, good job Badgers! pulled it off in OT!
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Old 09-13-09, 06:43 AM
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Back to back replies (I think I’m working too much!) Anyways it’s my duty weekend, back to back 12 hour shifts.
My ride in today was pretty awesome again! I got my newest addition (‘79’ Motobecane) up and running last night and was going to commute in on that but figured I better first take it for a ride around the neighborhood first (it’s a classic found it next to a dumpster.)
As I was grabbing my Castro I thought “that Eros was nice yesterday” so I ended up riding the Eros again. It was a good choice. (oh I also think I have too many bikes)
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