chephy

I don't know NJ, so I've no idea how NJ is relevant. But anyway, fastest isn't always best, depends on your priorities. There are plenty of times when I'd prefer to tack an extra mile on my commute to avoid a nasty stretch of road or to take in an especially scenic path. But your route is up to you, of course.

buzzman

occasionally cranking up the pace a bit on the rides in and back. Still feels a bit like I'm pulling teeth until I find my rhythm but eventually I got a good fast ride out of it.

Had a Metro Cab aggressively and intentionally right hook me on Beacon Street. I managed to barely avoid a collision and he even made a second move to guarantee he'd cut me to a stop. When I knocked on his window and asked him WTH he was doing he said, "This isn't Europe. This is America. You have to get out of my way."

That was good enough for me. So I pulled out my cell phone, got his medallion number and called his company to file a complaint.

He then yelled to me, "You're trying to kill me!"

My response was to shrug my shoulders and say, "This is America."

vrkelley

Rest up. Hang in there. It takes a while for your body to build up the needed blood vessels and muscle.

Skipsjh

Really really good ride in this morning. Low traffic and high 30's. Not much wind at all.

vtjim

Yeah. What's the matter with you, anyway? Good for you on calling it in, anyway.

Another glorious morning in Vermont. No wind. No clouds. Sun. Low 30Fs. I had just started crossing the bridge over The Winooski River when I heard a very loud whack on the water. I looked down to see a pretty big beaver swimming around in the water. The beaver's "alarm" is to whack its tail loudly on the water. Obviously I spooked it.

I'm going back later with a gun. I think a beaver-pelt helmet cover could be the next big thing!

Mr_H

Beaaautiful day yesterday, first time I got to ride in shorts and a tshirt

This morning it was shorts and a jacket, but with 70 degrees planned tonight, Im gonna really enjoy it. I took the ride in easy, my legs are a bit tired after a week of biking, so I just decieded to enjoy the ride more.

mjw16

A good ride in this morning, but only my 3rd day on the bike this week. Ever since moving about 7 weeks ago things have been a real struggle. Although the move was about 1/8th of a mile from my old place, I keep running into back luck; first I was sick, then problems sleeping, and finally, multiple flats and tire failures. I'd leave home, get a flat, go back inside, change the tube only to watch the tire separate from the wheel, the tube bulge and then pop-this happened three times! The other flats were due to stem failure after replacing a broken floor pump (twice) with others that were nearly impossible to remove from the stem after inflating. On at least 2 occassions the stem would break while trying to release the pump nozzle. I got a universal pump and, fortunately, the problem went away. Oh yeah, then there was the glass in the alley behind my house-that got me at least once. All of these incidents forced me to be way late and have to drive in, take metro, or get dropped off at least once a week for the last 7. Very frustrating. Hopefully things are under control again and the weather seems to be improving. I don't mind a flat on the way home, but it's particularly frustrating when it happens while inflating a tire or after just leaving home in the cold rain.

Anyway, things are shaping up slowly but surely and I'm back on the bike for good (fingers crossed). I guess this turned out to be a ran. Sorry...

BigRedSnackFoam

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! Today's ride in was the exact opposite of Wednesday. Felt great even though I've ony had about 6-7 hours sleep combined for the last 2 nights (baby). Not my fastest ride of the year but it was my fastest morning leg at 14.6mph and 1:33. The temps were still cool but the sun was shining (well, after it came up anyway), lots of animals and birds on the canal trail, light traffic, and I got to work 30 minutes early. It's gonna hit 60+ this afternoon so I'm really looking forward to the ride home.

Some notes:
-I'm getting pretty good at gauging how much to wear so I don't overheat. I thought I might have too much on this morning since I was comfortable when I left (not cool) but once I unzipped the jacket the breeze took care of any excess heat.

-My tires were 40lbs low!!! New rule: Check tire pressure more often.

-Adjusted my "butt hatchet" of a seat so now it's only a "butt steak knife". Better but it's still a racing seat so it's never going to be super comfy.

-Construction zones suck.

Flimflam

Awesome ride in, barely any noticeable wind heading east. For the first couple of miles I kept a 16mph average (sustaining 17-21mph felt fantastic).

Heading north got a bit breezy, but the ride nonetheless was great. At 16 minutes, it's my all time fastest time to get in via that 'scenic' route.

Last night I actually got a "HEY!" from a fellow cyclist going the other way after I did my closed-lipped nod/smile, that felt awesome and I replied with a "Hi!".

This morning I was behind a car and artic/big-rig going through the exhibition grounds and I passed them both at a stop (on the right yeah I know) - as the truck was taking forever to make the turn. He soon was catching up, so I started to pull over a bit more and give him space, then the ****ing car drove by us both, on the right, where there wasn't even a road lane - it just happens to be a wide stretch of asphalt. I shook my head. When all three of us met at the lights around the corner the truck driver called out to me and said "there's your bad driver!" looking at the car. That felt pretty cool, I'm glad that he saw it in that way too - made me feel as though even though I only have 2 wheels and this tiny frame, this guy with 16 wheels and a huge truck felt the same way as I did about the idiot move.

Loving the weather too, first ride of the year not wearing my base layer lifa vest AND first ride in this year with shorts, woo! (I brought pants and the vest with me, and wore a long sleeve in case I had to roll the sleeves down for warmth).

DataJunkie

Nice ride in this morning. I hauled arse for the first 19 miles and took my time the last 9. I am less than thrilled about heading to work on Fridays for some strange reason.
Anyhow, I am just loving these 700X23 gatorskins on my kysrium elite wheels. A good wheelset makes a heck of a difference. This weekend is the beginning of my road bike hunt. Going to look at a lemond and a cannondale or two. Maybe a specialized.

m00n

Great ride in this morning. Nice, chilly <35F weather. Took the long route to see the cars stopped along the freeway.

pinkrobe

Fargin' snow! I just couldn't be bothered to ride in on the spiked knobbies, so I challenged the 2"-3" of slush and heavy snow on the road with my skinny tires. No close calls, but I was definitely putting a foot down through the corners. My wife was visibly angry at the weather, yelling at the cats and generally having an unpleasant morning. I'll be happy when this is all done with tomorrow.

caloso

Cool and humid. Dark gray clouds but no precipitation. Of course it's sure to wait until 5:31 pm, just as I pull away from the office....

mtnwalker

Cold and a little wet. It was drizzling a little so I got faked out by the rain. I had to shed some raingear 3 miles in because it did not rain and I was overheating. For some reason there were more vehicles on the road so early today. Maybe they were all anticipitaing traffic jams that did not occur.

ontheroadid

Absolutely the best way to handle that. Kudos on keeping your head and not getting in a shouting match.

Wulfheir

A great day for calgary's first annual bike to work day! </sarcasm>

Bike to Work Day Link

Pippin

Cool, but dry ride in. The downtown core of Seattle has significantly less traffic on Fridays so I had a quick ride in. Recorded the ride on my Edge 305 just for kicks.

HardyWeinberg

Great! Didn't go to work, took vacation and went on 49 mile 3 hr ride w/ new LHT. Back in time to retrieve 5 yr old from his half day of school.

MyPC8MyBrain

Hi there G/A ....Another Colorado Springs commuter! Where do you commute?

I go from Rockrimmon & Delmonico to past Research & Chappel Hills Drive.

That hill by Flying W is awesome. I'ts on my weekend training route.... both directions. I've seen close to 50 hoofing it down the steep side

Today's commute..... WTF was up with the JAM's this morning. It was a beatiful morning except for the 3 or 4 idiots that buzzed me. One mini van was really close. I wonder if she saw my blazing neon lime windbreaker, or was just blinded by her cell phone. Oh well, I lived to tell and look forward to an awesome ride home. I'll get my revenge when I whiz by them in the 5pm gridlock.

Big Ron

Didn't ride in today. My rear derailleur cable snapped going home yesterday. Rode the last ~4 miles (the hilliest part) in high gear....Except for the steeper hills which I had to walk up. First time I've had to surrender to a hill since the mid 1990's. The bike needed some other repairs/maint. anyhow, so I took it in to the shop after i got home. Supposed to be ready on Monday.

nashcommguy

14.5 mi commute, one way, all rural. 10.5 mi on the Natchez Trace Parkway. 2.5 on secondary country road. 1 mile on semi-rural road to work. .5 from my house to the NTP. Had 5 cars pass me until I reached the main road. After that it was like a jailbreak...I lost count @ 23.

For those who may not be familiar the Natchez Trace Parkway is a controlled access Federal nature reserve roadway on which there is no commercial traffic, no billboards, and a speed limit of 40 mph for 442 miles. It runs from just outside Nashville, Tn to Natchez, Ms through 3 states. It's arguably one of the most beautiful highways in the world.

This morning I was greeted w/3 flocks of turkeys and 2 small herd of deer. Several rabbits, scolding crows and umpteen buzzards who had swarmed a dead opposum.

I'm posting this from the local library on my way home. We live so far out that we only have dial-up available and I hate posting on bf because it's soooooo sloooowwww. Needless to say after many years of urban commuting this is a major blessing.

habernac

LOL! I saw that as well. I took the bus in as I put my slicks on the other day and wasn't in the mood to change tires. 15km on slicks and the snow. No thanks. Who's the genius at city hall who came up with April as a date? They must be the same ones who plan the overpasses here. What a joke.

MyBikeGotStolen

Good ride today, its back to T-shirt weather in the mornings again.

I also got in a couple of "mid-day" rides today. MY company has a construction job going about a 1/4 mile down the road from the one I am on, and the boss sent me down to the other job 3 times for tools/paper work today since my bike is faster then him driving down there. It wasnt far of a ride but it was way better then "working"

Caspar_s

Rode home in my shirt today. Got in, and said "Are you ready? Let's go!" My wife came around the corner, putting her shoes on. "Oh, I have to have a shower first..."

Went for a 10km ride down to the lake in shorts. Beautiful weather. Came back and shaved my winter beard down to a goatee. Feels really strange not having 3 inches of hair on my face.

buzzman

great weather for the first time in ages. did my usual 20 mile round trip commute, got home around 5pm and threw on the lycra (shorts!), hopped on the road bike did a fantastic 41 mile road ride. Out in Sudbury I had to ford a flooded road with about a foot of water across it. I plowed the 50 yards or so through the water forgetting that it would be icy cold- wow!. It kept me rolling at a good pace to stay warm on the ride home. Got home, took a shower, hopped back on the commuter and rode to the supermarket for a couple of bags of groceries and an ice cold 6 pack. Love my bikes.