2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#276
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Monson, MA
Posts: 485
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First commutes of the semester, which turned out pretty good, but kinda slow. Unfortunately I didn't do as much riding "off season" as I should have, so this week is most likely gonna be a little rough getting back into the swing of things.
44F with mostly damp streets and partly cloudy with mainly headwinds from the WSW @ 7-9mph this morning. The roads were wet from all the snow melting last night, so I wore my rain pants which was a good choice. Coming into the campus parking lot, my jacket managed to make it's way into my chain and bent my rear derailleur. I had to go very carefully to my parking spot.
48F and overcast with mainly tailwinds from the WNW @ 8-10mph this afternoon. Roads were still somewhat damp, but not as bad as this morning. I was able to bend my RD somewhat back into place before I left. I tried to take it easy on the way home the best I could. The only time I really had issues were when I was in the middle chain ring and gears 1&2 on the cassette. Stopped by the bike shop to get a new derailleur. A little more expensive than I was hoping, but oh well...hopefully it will be worth it.
44F with mostly damp streets and partly cloudy with mainly headwinds from the WSW @ 7-9mph this morning. The roads were wet from all the snow melting last night, so I wore my rain pants which was a good choice. Coming into the campus parking lot, my jacket managed to make it's way into my chain and bent my rear derailleur. I had to go very carefully to my parking spot.
48F and overcast with mainly tailwinds from the WNW @ 8-10mph this afternoon. Roads were still somewhat damp, but not as bad as this morning. I was able to bend my RD somewhat back into place before I left. I tried to take it easy on the way home the best I could. The only time I really had issues were when I was in the middle chain ring and gears 1&2 on the cassette. Stopped by the bike shop to get a new derailleur. A little more expensive than I was hoping, but oh well...hopefully it will be worth it.
#277
----
Warm weather today! Sweet ride in and a sweet ride home. Also ran up 11 flights of stairs at work today carrying a bag weighing about 25 lbs. Now I am tired but happy.
#278
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 766
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not bad today at 36f (2C). No wind, nor precipitation, but some wet stuff coming in later this evening, and in what form, we'll see.
#279
Tractorlegs
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: El Paso, TX
Posts: 3,185
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times
in
42 Posts
Still on vacation, still not commuting! However I did ride around a bit today . . . .It's ironic, when I go on vacation I used to miss the workplace after the first few days. These days I miss the early morning commutes!
__________________
********************************
Trikeman
Trikeman
#280
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 85
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
38F (3C) this morning when I checked the iPhone. Good ride in. I need to buy some riding gloves though and need to lighten up my bag. My messenger bag is way too heavy for my ride. Doesn't help my lock is 9lbs.
Heading over to the bike shop this evening to pick up a wireless computer - bought a CatEye last night, but it is wired and I am not looking to run wires all over the bike.
My new Radbot 1K LED taillight worked like a charm. I am incredibly happy with that purchase.
Heading over to the bike shop this evening to pick up a wireless computer - bought a CatEye last night, but it is wired and I am not looking to run wires all over the bike.
My new Radbot 1K LED taillight worked like a charm. I am incredibly happy with that purchase.
#282
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 109
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
41C (105F) Here in Western Australia for the commute today - cooking!!
#283
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 101
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Strong headwind - but good road conditions considering for January around here. Mildest winter I can remember!
#284
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Fantastic commute this morning after several damp, foggy mornings. The temperature was ideal (upper 30s) with low humidity and a light tailwind. Figured out a change in my route through downtown that helps me avoid some annoying traffic lights. Maybe I was just lucky today, but I caught green lights all the way on the new route, which is a half-mile longer but takes the same amount of time since I am not having to stop at every intersection.
#285
recumbent bike advocate
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Okeechobee. Florida
Posts: 435
Bikes: Bacchetta Belladare, long wheelbase
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I lived in Michigan, we used to refer to that weather as the 'January Thaw' and then wait for February to arrive with big snow storms and such. Nice to be positive, but keep your eyes open, it isn't spring yet....
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
#286
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,053
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It sure felt that way. I rode in in shorts and a couple t-shirts, only one of them long sleeved. Felt great. Funny how 40° temps bring out such a range of clothing preferences. I was wearing my relatively light outfit with regular fingerless cycling gloves. I passed a couple cyclists decked out in ski gloves and balaclavas, several layers and very cold weather looking jackets. To each his our her own... at least they were riding!
Found time to take the studded Nokians off and get my Schwalbe Marathon tires back on this morning. Made for a much quieter ride in to work this morning. : D
Found time to take the studded Nokians off and get my Schwalbe Marathon tires back on this morning. Made for a much quieter ride in to work this morning. : D
#287
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Virginia/DC
Posts: 1,454
Bikes: quite a few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#288
born again cyclist
this winter has been AWESOME so far. i love waking up, seeing the thermometer read 28, and i'm like, "holy crap, it's gonna be warm out there today, i'll only need a t-shirt under my shell".
#289
----
Not as warm as yesterday but still super comfy. Left the "ice bike" at home and rode the regular commuter. Cut it a bit close for the black ice factor on the way home but I was fine. As I rode through Brighton on the bike path, where the temperature always drops, there was an ultra thin membrane of ice starting to form on some of the puddles.
#290
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Monson, MA
Posts: 485
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good, but rough commutes this evening. My new rear derailleur was shifting hashly and slipping on certain gears. Tomorrow I'm putting the original back on and returning the new one.
36F and overcast with mainly headwinds from the WNW @ 11-13mph this afternoon on the commute in. This was my first time commuting to school in the early afternoon time. All the other times I've rode to school were always in the morning.
29F and dark with mainly tailwinds from the WNW 3-6mph this evening coming home. This was my first time doing evening commuting, and it was great. There was definitely a lot less traffic to deal with. Stopped by my friend's house to fill up on water on the way. I was originally only planning to make a quick stop by, but ended up staying there over an hour. Had to take it easy climbing the hill to my house because of the RD issues.
36F and overcast with mainly headwinds from the WNW @ 11-13mph this afternoon on the commute in. This was my first time commuting to school in the early afternoon time. All the other times I've rode to school were always in the morning.
29F and dark with mainly tailwinds from the WNW 3-6mph this evening coming home. This was my first time doing evening commuting, and it was great. There was definitely a lot less traffic to deal with. Stopped by my friend's house to fill up on water on the way. I was originally only planning to make a quick stop by, but ended up staying there over an hour. Had to take it easy climbing the hill to my house because of the RD issues.
#291
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 766
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It was a good ride in at 39f (4C). There were flurries for the last few miles of my ride, but that is all supposed to change to rain this morning. So just a plain old wet ride home.
#292
Senior Member
It was a hot and sloppy one yesterday, but I was at home doing school work as I only have class Tuesday / Thursday.
-4C this morning which is an excellent riding temperature.
Checking the news before leaving the house this morning, there was report of a cycling fatality in the city last night. No details other than the location. Given that its practically outside the city with no surrounding houses or businesses, it was probably someone on a recreational ride, not commuting. I've been a little worried about cars lately, since there have been about 6 pedestrians hit in the past few months.
-4C this morning which is an excellent riding temperature.
Checking the news before leaving the house this morning, there was report of a cycling fatality in the city last night. No details other than the location. Given that its practically outside the city with no surrounding houses or businesses, it was probably someone on a recreational ride, not commuting. I've been a little worried about cars lately, since there have been about 6 pedestrians hit in the past few months.
#293
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,264
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice quiet ride in today. 41 when I headed out.
#294
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Weird commute this morning weatherwise. It was supposed to cloud up over night, keeping the temperature from dropping below about 45 F. However, it stayed clear so the temps dropped to the upper 30s. No biggie except I planned to dress lighter because it's supposed to warm up to the mid-60s by afternoon. So I still dressed lighter than usual and just rode a little harder to keep warm. Then as I was riding to work, a fog started rolling in. We don't get much fog here and the forecasters usually predict it when we do, but there was no mention of it in the weather news this morning. The ceiling kept dropping all the way on my commute, until it was a thick pea soup fog by the time I got downtown. The fog made it feel much colder due to the dampness, and my vest was soaked by the time I got to the office.
#296
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 85
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#297
DLifer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver Colorado
Posts: 115
Bikes: Trek 2.1, Surly LHT, GT Sensor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
3rd commute of the semester last evening, just one class to attend (another being taken independently). About 50 degrees, West - Northwest winds gusting to 40mph, pretty much a tailwind going in. was hoping it would die down while in class, but got there and realized I had forgotten my lock. So decided to let this one go, turned right around and headed back up into the wind. It was pretty squirrely, harder when it's shifting around a lot as it does going amongst buildings and houses so one second you're pushing ahead and the next you're shifting your weight to stay upright against a crosswind. Got dark along the way, and here comes a guy going the wrong direction in my bike lane, wearing a body suit with 3 blinking lights on it, and he had a dog with a blinking light on it too. Reminded me of those suits they use to make the computer generated movements for movies. Would have been very amusing had he not been in my lane, forcing me between him and the traffic coming from behind. I have 2 blinking red lights on my rear this season which make me feel pretty safe tho. Hard ride, but no regrets as usual.
#298
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Simcoe County, Ontario
Posts: 189
Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm totally missing the bike commute (haven't biked it since mid December ) but despite having always lived in Southern Ontario I've lost my cold-tolerance. Not that I CAN'T handle it, just that I HATE it! Even though this winter is really mild and started late, I hate it. Working on that... Time to HTFU and get out riding anyway!
To everyone who's riding in the cold, way to go! You're tougher than me.
For those of you in temps above 0C, I'm jealous; in temps above 15C, you're dead to me! (kidding, I'm just jealous, clearly!)
Cheers
To everyone who's riding in the cold, way to go! You're tougher than me.
For those of you in temps above 0C, I'm jealous; in temps above 15C, you're dead to me! (kidding, I'm just jealous, clearly!)
Cheers
#299
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bradenton FL
Posts: 26
Bikes: Specialized Allez 09 turned commuter, Raleigh Olympian in the works, 10 other frames and boxes of parts I want to work on when I get the chance.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yesterday I had a bit of a tailwind. I just started a new job so I'm finding the same people in the same places. I always pass by a sign waving lady dressed up like the statue of liberty and salute her. Work gave me a locker and that's cool and extremely helpful. I've been commuting in lycra because its Florida and sort of hot and humid even in January which is an extreme change compared to Michigan where I used to be from. The commute home was okay. I stopped and ate a sandwich on the way back. Kept me going.
Today I have a 6mph tailwind and I'm excited. I don't think I'm going to commute in lycra today.
Today I have a 6mph tailwind and I'm excited. I don't think I'm going to commute in lycra today.
#300
GATC
40F and partly sunny. I was way overdressed.
My usual long-cut through a trail past a monastery cemetary was pretty much completely non-navigable due to treefalls from last week's variety of storms (snow, ice, wind, successively). So will have to take the shorter but traffic-y-er route for the foreseeable future.
My usual long-cut through a trail past a monastery cemetary was pretty much completely non-navigable due to treefalls from last week's variety of storms (snow, ice, wind, successively). So will have to take the shorter but traffic-y-er route for the foreseeable future.