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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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Old 07-14-11, 04:31 AM
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A nice ride in at 66 F (19 C). I believe that we are in for a stretch of nice weather. Hats off to the US women's team in the world cup with another exciting win, and a chance to play in the finals on Sunday.
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Old 07-14-11, 05:58 AM
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Fantastic ride to work this morning after taking two days off cycling. It was extremely hot and humid here the past couple days with the heat index about 110 in the afternoons, so I gave my legs a much-needed rest. I rode 240 miles last week and over 800 the past month, and my legs were feeling it. A cold front came through yesterday afternoon, so the air was cool and dry this morning with a nice tailwind much of the way. Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer.
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Old 07-14-11, 05:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Surrealdeal
it was cool this morning, low 60's. I actually wished I had on arm warmers for the first couple miles till my blood got pumping.
You're in Minnesota and low 60s is cool?

57F/14C this morning, tailwind, sunny, and fast. Saw several riders I've never seen before. A few going the other way. A few others getting passed. Blonde Trail Hottie has been out almost every day this week.

Yesterday I rode home post-thunderstorm. Still raining but not stormy. Followed another commuter who wasn't afraid of the rain. Arrived home wet and happy.
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Old 07-14-11, 06:50 AM
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60f Got sprinkled on a few times on the way in, supposed to be thunderstorm in the late am. On day three on riding the 3speed and I'm still liking it, the seat really needs to go but money is a little tight at the moment so it shall wait, on the plus side tomorrow is the closing date on my new house and it has a garage so I have a feeling the number of bikes I own will increase
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Old 07-14-11, 06:52 AM
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Great ride this morning! About 13C (64F?) in Southern Ontario with a light breeze and sunshine!!

I took about 7 days off from riding due to various commitments, then this morning had my fastest commute-ride to date at 60 minutes for 28km. Felt really great! Looking totally forward to riding again tomorrow and hopefully snagging a good ride this weekend too.

Cheers,
Scott
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Old 07-14-11, 06:55 AM
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Very nice day for a ride, better than any in the last week or so, and no incidents. Also, first ride on my new bike!
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Old 07-14-11, 07:00 AM
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Rescued puppy weenie dog from crossing highway traffic. Gave him some of my sandwich and put him in my jersey pocket in back, he rode pimpin' for a few miles and hopped out in some neighboorhood. I hope he is okay, but I had 25 miles to go and already have two pit bull pups. Don't need more dog food.

Bonked on my 30 mile return around 22 or so miles in 100 F.

Got rained on, thank you Jesus.

Witnessed a hydroplaning wreck on an overpass I was next to. Made me wonder if I should have thanked God for it raining, when it made someone's day possibly deadly. Selfish me.

Burped subway ham, jalapenos, bell peppers, and tobasco the whole way home. Massive puking occured while attempting to hauk loogie on back porch.

My digestive system apparently blows. That was obviously a sandwhich.

I'm driving today.

(This was the strangest, most bi-polar commute ever. I was laughing and smiling, then sucking eggs and watching highway accidents first person.)

Last edited by iheartbenben; 07-14-11 at 07:05 AM.
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Old 07-14-11, 07:04 AM
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I was out a little too late last night so my 8 mile commute was slow and required this:

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Old 07-14-11, 07:08 AM
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I have been house sitting for my brother, which has doubled my commute, but I'm actually loving it! Getting started earlier when it's cooler is a really nice way to start the day.
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Old 07-14-11, 07:26 AM
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Just took my very first commute to work ever. I'd thought about it in the past but always dismissed the distance (19mi) as ridiculous. After a few months of getting into shape, I now bike 25 miles almost every night as my daily exercise, and suddenly realised 19 miles doesn't seem so ridiculous anymore. After receiving assurance and advice from other members of the forum I felt confident enough to try bicycle commuting and decided today was the day.

Started off cold; 8mph headwind is usually not bad at all, but when it's 58 degrees that gets cold quick. But I warmed up fast, and over the next hour so did the ambient temperature. Pretty much uneventful ride except for one incident where a lady almost t-boned me while smoking a cigarette and texting at the same time. She was completely oblivious to my existence, and never once looked in my direction, even after she took off. I am certain she never even realised I was there; and I'm grateful that I had replaced my brakes a few weeks back so they're in top condition and allowed me to stop in time.

Got to work in 1:25. My normal car commute is 40 minutes, so I consider this an incredible victory. I feel great, I cooled down within minutes, and I can't wait to ride back home!

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/99066921
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Old 07-14-11, 08:14 AM
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WTG Mithrandir!

Cool again today and slight rain at the beginning. The legs felt tired this morning so I laid back a bit and didn't push it too hard. I don't want my body to start pushing back.
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Old 07-14-11, 08:21 AM
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Congrats on the first commute Mithrandir. 19 miles one way is a good ride.
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Old 07-14-11, 08:54 AM
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Warmish air, but a cool mist.

Finally decided to check the air pressure in my commuter bikes' tires last night. They were feeling a little soft. On the road bike, I like to keep the pressure at 90-100 psi, they were 60. On the mountain bike, I like the tires around 70-80 psi, they were 40. That's what happens when you wait over a month between top-ups.

Edit: just noticed according to my records, I just passed 1000 commuting miles this year. Modest compared to some, but I think I'm on track to exceed last year's total.

Last edited by groovestew; 07-14-11 at 08:59 AM.
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Old 07-14-11, 09:15 AM
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Second straight extremely pleasant day. Yesterday's breeze became more wind. Everything was basically right this AM. hope the same can be said after the ride home.
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Old 07-14-11, 10:48 AM
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This morning, I had a headwind gusting to 20 mph, so pace was a little slower than normal, but it was relatively cool and comfortable as a result of the northerly wind so I'm not complaining.
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Old 07-14-11, 11:08 AM
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Another great day for a ride, and the ride home should be just as nice.
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Old 07-14-11, 11:08 AM
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A spring report on my work commuting/60 km two way trip. My commuting started in late March with 5 trips(dreadful winter!). I could do April every second or third day. In May I continued to accomplish two/three days a week. Then June came and I did 3/4 days a week the first two weeks. The two last weeks prior to my holiday I rode every day. Together with my exercise riding and three sportives I´ve done a tad more than 2.000 km this year.
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Old 07-14-11, 01:05 PM
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It was a bit busier than normal this morning. Saw a guy walking his dog, three teenage girls running, and there were about 5 or 6 cars on the road. This was around 5:30-45 AM. After noon ride was good with exception to being yelled at by a driver. She said, "look both ways before you pull out." or something along that line.

That's a sex joke there somewhere I could have used but I just kept my mouth shut.
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Old 07-14-11, 06:14 PM
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heavenly rides out and back. Low humidity and mid 80's, can't ask for much more than that.
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Old 07-14-11, 07:29 PM
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76 going in this morning on the MUP. Not a sole at 6AM ever, just as the sun pops up over the mountains.
A very dry 94 on the way home on the MUP with a 10 mph tailwind on the downhill commute. I was in my glory.
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Old 07-14-11, 07:47 PM
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only a half commute today (after the same yesterday). Big downpour when I tried to leave work to go for a meeting, so I had to take public transit there and home and again this morning.
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Old 07-14-11, 07:55 PM
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Such a beautiful day I went exploring on the way home. Wandered through an inner city park, a very bad neighborhood, and through some very nice areas too. very nice ride home in the day time, but I certainly wont ride it in the dark in the morning. I think I will take this way home for a while, a very nice and pleasant ride.
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Old 07-14-11, 11:15 PM
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Saw Ghostbusters outside in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The movie was great, and Transportation Alternatives had bike valet service (AWESOME). Beautiful ride there, and back, too, but I lost my rear blinky I've got spares, but I need to get me a solidly mounted Planet Bike light!
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Old 07-14-11, 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by bagxlee

Love this shot
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Old 07-14-11, 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by groovestew
Warmish air, but a cool mist.

Finally decided to check the air pressure in my commuter bikes' tires last night. They were feeling a little soft. On the road bike, I like to keep the pressure at 90-100 psi, they were 60. On the mountain bike, I like the tires around 70-80 psi, they were 40. That's what happens when you wait over a month between top-ups.

Edit: just noticed according to my records, I just passed 1000 commuting miles this year. Modest compared to some, but I think I'm on track to exceed last year's total.
Excellent... especially since you don't ride through the hell that is winter.

I have ridden a little more than 4000 km since the start of the year... have been ensuring I average 20 km a day / 140 km per week and got to rack up some extra daily mileage when I was in Portland this winter since the weather was so much nicer.

Am hoping to hit 10,000 km this year which will be the most riding I have done since I fragged the back... will have some of those 100km commutes coming up this weekend and those really crank up the total mileage.

One of these days we will actually have to get out for a ride... seems like we'd be riding at a pretty similar pace and could ride some vintage steel.

We might find a few other people who were interested and need to get in shape for the TdP in September.
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