Bluish Green

It must have been Rookie Week for school bus drivers here in Springfield. I was riding a wide lane (probably 16 feet) approaching a high school and an intersection. I knew a school bus had been approaching from behind from my sunglasses-mounted mirror. Heard the engine rev, the bus accelerates and speeds past me, cuts in front of me and over right into the pull-in bus parking lane, and he had to hammer the brakes to get that thing stopped in time. Then he put out the STOP arm for good measure, making me stop in the lane beside him.

Hopefully there was a supervisor or someone who saw it all to give some kind words of improvement to the driver (no kids on board, school is not in session yet). Dude coulda slowed and gotten the same place in 5-10 extra seconds without hammering the pedals.

It wasn't a dangerous pass in that he never got close to hitting me; it was just particularly inartful.

fletchh

A very nice ride in at 71f (22c). Overcast, but no rain, so it was cool.

I thought that this was the only area where school bus drivers were indifferent to cyclists. Of all the semis, commercial buses, dump trucks and school buses that have passed me, school buses were the worst in cutting me off, and driving way too close to me. I watch out for school buses, as I do not trust the drivers.

making

He must have went to IndyGo drivers school. That is very common with them, probably on a daily basis one speeds by me just to block the bike lane and stop right in front of me. I am still bitter about the ride home last night, happened twice, and there is no question it would have been easier for the driver to stay behind me for literally a few seconds longer, it was almost like he was playing a game, speeding by, pulling over slamming on brakes. Thanks, I feel much better.

vtjim

More comfortable than yesterday, humidity-wise. 65F/18C. Chance of rain today. We need it.

tarwheel 

School bus drivers are the worst, followed closely by city bus drivers.

I pulled a boneheaded move yesterday. I was running late in the morning, and somehow forgot to hang up my jersey and shorts to dry when I changed at work. Got ready to leave in the afternoon, and my clothes were a damp, smelly mess. Very yucky putting them on, but they would have been wet from sweat in a few minutes anyway. Had a fast commute both ways, particularly afternoon while I was trying to outrun our daily thunderstorm. Just made it home before a monster storm hit with high winds, hail and torrential downpours. That's what our weather has been like for the past month.

The storm was sparked by a cold front, so it was much cooler this morning although just as humid. I tied my fastest morning commute time with the temperatures in the 60s for the first time in weeks.

dcb23

Felt a bit cooler today, overcast and damp. Nice ride in.

CJ Str3tch

This morning's commute was quite different than the last 3 months. Instead of temps in the upper 70's or 80's with sun and wind, the temp was a cooler 65 degrees and the light rain felt great (we are extremely dry!). The patter of raindrops on my helmit was pretty nice. Didn't make the commute any faster though...

jdswitters

very cool, the tops of my hands got chilled. Some of the construction is starting to clear up and I made it through old town no problem, missed the train, and was feeling pretty good about my time. Then I caught every single red light the rest of the way through town. Oh well, still better than driving and with all the construction detours only 5 minutes slower over 10 miles.

dramiscram

BIG BIG head wind, forgot my legs at home, worst time ever but if the wind keep up like that the ride back will be easy tonight.

uncompaghre

TER-RI-FIC! It was open house at the three schools I pass on the way in, so that took some maneuvering. But I had a nice tailwind and it seemed a bit cooler this morning. I have been bike commuting almost a month, and I have not felt this good in years!

EKW in DC

Really nice ride home yesterday. Paced someone for a good two or three miles over the bridge and along the MUP. Kept thinking he was going to pass, but he didn't for a while. When he did, he complimented me on my pace and thanked me, four the slipstream, I guess. Made my way to the organic grocery store, finally getting to make use of their improved bike rack, and then schlepping home a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, and a five pound bag of carrots.

Warm and humid already this morning, but bearable. Couldn't tell which way the wind was blowing from for a while. Always seemed to be a headwind, so I figured it was just calm. Was in the end actually a bit of a tailwind judging by the windsock at the airport and the site traffic pattern. Is it Friday yet?

Actually, I wish it were Friday. Rest of the bits and pieces I need for my drop bar conversion project arrived tomorrow. Gonna give the drop bars a try and see if I like them more than the trekking bars I initially put on my Surly. Hope to get that project done this weekend. It'll be interesting to compare.

groovestew

I'm working from home today, so no official commute, but I did ride to a doctor's appointment, a bit more than 7 miles each way. I left home a little late and had to work hard to make it to my appointment on time. I had favourable lights and a bit of a tailwind, and I managed to make it to my appointment 1 minute early! What sucked was that as soon as I got there, I was ushered into the examination room where the assistant took my vitals...heart rate showed an average of 101 BPM! When the doctor came in the room shortly after, I explained that I had just finished a hard ride only 5 minutes earlier, and so she took my HR later in the appointment, and it had come down to 80 BPM already. (When I take my own HR after sitting around watching TV for a while, it's generally less than 60 BPM).

treadtread

The commute today was 2 minutes less than usual, which was a bummer since I was trying to make it 5 minutes less than usual (had a meeting to attend and was running really close). I took the shorter route through city streets instead of the longer MUP (with the 15 mph speed limit). I completely forgot about the two traffic lights and four stop signs that I had to go through - I have only one light when using the MUP. So the higher speed and shorter route didn't provide much advantage!
Luckily for me, the meeting started late and I had time to clean up and change - though I did have to stand on my chair and put my head near the a/c vent to cool down faster.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I almost got blindsided today by a guy with non-hairy legs and spandex who came peeling off a bridge at about 30 MPH to merge with the MUP I was on.

The funny thing is, the guy was equipped with several blinking lights in broad daylight; you'd think someone who was that concerned with safety might think to ride a bit more carefully.

fletchh

Pouring, soaking rain coming in, and it is nice and warm at 77f (25c). I brought my bike in, as it is supposed to be doing this all day. I did remember extra socks and gloves, and if it is still raining, they will get soaked too, but it is just nice to put on dry stuff on a rainy day.

dcb23

In the rain coming in I made the mistake of wearing my light rain jacket...inside I was just as soaked from sweat as I would have been from the rain.

leunkstar

today i did a 14km test drive at my commuting bike to be. A Giant Trooper I converted to a more touring bike. Replaced almost all parts. Rides like a tank. It wants to go straight on.
It's not finished yet (braking/cables/bar tape/etc) so I had to do a little MacGyver to be able to brake. And I have to adjust seat position and stem/dropbars.



Pictures taken at the former military airbase Soesterberg again (biggest bicycle lane in The Netherlands)

Specs include: Giant Trooper frame, STX-RC derailleurs, RSX STI 3x7 brifters, Sakae Road Champion dropbars, Zoom stem, Selle Rolls seat, Continental Top Touring 2000 28x1.6 tires, AGU Quorom panniers, etc. Full specs here: https://leunk.com/bikes/overig/95-giant-trooper

The last owner rode it like this (I bought it for $25):

cehowardGS

This is how it went at 6am this morning giving my wife some instructions to help me on my commute.

Me: Baby, put my Centurion Ironman Expert by the door for me. (I have 4 bikes in the living room)

Wife: Ok, honey

Wife: Honey it is pouring down raining outside, it is really raining hard!. Do you want me to drive you to work?

Me: No way baby, just take the Centurion Ironman back and put it on the rack, and put my Schwinn Prelude by the door.. And baby, get my rain jacket for me..

Wife: Okay honey..

The 7 mile ride in the rain was the chit!! I am screaming "oh boy). I am kicking up a little speed to, with a flashlight torch burning a hole in the rain, and two rear lights blinking. Got to work, washed off, changed clothes, and most important, I oiled my bike!

Such are the ways of a 72 year old commuter that never wants to grow up!!

Note, the sun is out now, rain jacket stays at work.

PartsMan

After yesterday's 100 degree ride home, this mornings 63 degree head wind was awesome!

fletchh

A very nice cool morning 66f (19c). These are good riding days.

acidfast7

excellent. I found a really nice beer place next to the river that I'd hit on the way home today

dcb23

Hah...this sounds so strange just as I am posting about the ride into work..enjoy that beer!

Coolest ride in I have felt in months. No wind at all, darker out, dry.

vtjim

65F/18C and sunny this morning. Not so happy that it's Monday, but one morning down, 4 to go.

Hopefully by next year there'll be a brewpub on my way home. 10 minute walk home in case I can't ride.

acidfast7

I'm super excited as it's right along the bike path (which is right next to the river), next to a beat-up industrial area (nice, because it can stay open at late as people stay because of no noise complaints), it's got great views for the sunset and the beer is served out of household fridges for between 1€ and 1.80€ for imported Czech and Polish beers (which is unbelievably cheap in a country where beer is already super cheap.)







wow, there's even a video for it ... lol

tarwheel 

Nice commute this morning with mild temps and dry roads for a change, after rain nearly every day last week. We have had an incredible amount of rain over the past 3 weeks, and this week the weather is finally supposed to dry out. Had my worst commuting week of the year last week in terms of mileage due to thunderstorms or the threat of storms every day. I'm going to try to ride every day this week to bring my average back up to normal.

The days are definitely getting shorter, and I could see my headlight beam on the street very clearly this morning for the first time in a while. Pretty soon it will be completely dark when I leave home. Might need to invest in some new rechargeable batteries soon.