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2014!! How was your commute today?

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2014!! How was your commute today?

Old 03-20-14, 11:26 AM
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I might be out of shape, but about 13 miles into my commute, I feel like I'm about ready to be done. Of course then I get out of the shower at the office and back to my desk, and I'm ready to not be at my desk anymore and be back on my bike.

Last week the weirdest thing happened. I'm tooling along for the afternoon commute on the MUP, a little slower than I was in the fall, not quite representing the awesomeness of my Tarmac, and some OLD guy (I'm 40) comes blowing by me on a cruiser with 3 packs over the rear wheel. I wasn't expecting to be passed I guess because he startled me! I call out to him, "on my left!" And then I felt a little embarrassment at being passed by such a rider. On the other hand he did execute a solid pass, maybe he had just started his commute and he was fresh, so when I caught up to him at the intersection, I stayed behind him. A moment after the light changed was when I realized, he stormed off much faster than his effort and weight would permit, he was electric assist. And at that point it was on. I couldn't let him get out of sight as long as we were on the same route. He didn't.

Moral of the story, if you're going to blitz by people on the MUP, get a fricken bell or say something.
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Old 03-20-14, 12:40 PM
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ughhh had planned to ride in this morning. Had my new trunk bag with fold-out panniers all packed with clothes and such for today. But then I woke up at 5 and was like nope, going back to sleep until 6. Didn't get up until 6:30.

So after bringing my bike home on the car last night, I drove in again with the bike on the back of the car and will ride home today and back here in the morning.

Dangit I'm tired of splitting up commutes. I much prefer doing it all in one day and not pissing around with the car's bike rack.
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Old 03-20-14, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
ughhh had planned to ride in this morning. Had my new trunk bag with fold-out panniers all packed with clothes and such for today. But then I woke up at 5 and was like nope, going back to sleep until 6. Didn't get up until 6:30.
I feel you, I was up till what seemed like 11, and then woke up at 20 minutes before my alarm was set at 5:10. I'll make up for it tonight... or with a food coma after lunch.
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Old 03-20-14, 01:07 PM
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Yeah ever since before college in the late 90's I've always been a night owl. It's very rare that I get to bed (or rather, get to sleep) before 11, and it's usually closer to 12. But then I have to get up at 5 if I want to ride in to work.

I hate living 15 miles from work. Used to be only 3 until the office moved farther away.
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Old 03-20-14, 03:41 PM
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I got an excuse too... I was up in plenty of time, drank my tea and petted my cats and was out the door a little before 5:00. I got outside my fence and closed the gate, and turned on my two rear flashers. One of them was dead, I guess the 3 year old recharchable batteries are about done. Well OK, the other one was working and I always have my generator powered tail light that is steady-on.

Then half way down my hill I noticed I had forgotten to put on my reflective harness... it was too late to go get it and still catch my bus, so I drove and will go running after work. I should be plenty rested for a long ride up the logging roads on Saturday anyway.
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Old 03-20-14, 04:45 PM
  #656  
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Commute was good: only one driver inexplicably believing that they could share the lane with me. Since I was hugging the center line, this was somewhat baffling, but then the driver did the same thing to the car ahead of me as well, so I don't feel particularly maligned. I try to ride like Jesus/Buddha, but in a world with BMW's, it can be difficult.
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Old 03-20-14, 05:00 PM
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Yelled at a fellow commuter to get out of the door zone. I had been getting better at keeping my unsolicited advice to myself, but I backslid.
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Old 03-20-14, 06:35 PM
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Gorgeous day! However, I started the day going for my morning run and almost getting hit by three bikes going down the sidewalk. I saw a fourth bike going down the sidewalk with it's brakes so far out of alignment that they were actually on the tire and producing an ungodly screeching sound. During my day I noticed a few citibikes on the sidewalks. What was today ride your bike on the sidewalk day?

On my way home I almost got run over by a BMW pulling out of a parking deck without looking and rear ended by a cyclist when I slammed on my brakes. Otherwise a gorgeous commute Spring is here yay!
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Old 03-20-14, 08:57 PM
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Nice day today. For the first time this year, I caught my bike making love to another bike on the rack outside my office. The fair-weather riders are starting to arrive...
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Old 03-21-14, 05:16 AM
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The ride in this morning was very nice, with the temp at 29f degrees and clear starry skies and some moon. I stopped along the way and ran an errand. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I am able to get other chores done on my bike commute.
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Old 03-21-14, 05:27 AM
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41F / 5C a nice ride in even with a brisk headwind and my dinged up Plan B bike. Dropped off my Bianchi Iseo at the LBS for a new rear tire and spoke replacement yesterday. No commutes next M-Th, see you all on Friday! T
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Old 03-21-14, 06:38 AM
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Great ride yesterday, and great ride in this morning. Happy Spring, everyone!
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Old 03-21-14, 06:40 AM
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Warmer ride home yesterday. A lady waiting to turn out off a street where I turn right yelled something about signalling at me. I'm not sure what she said. All I heard was, "... signal ..." I had already signalled right turn with my left hand. I do have to put my hand back on my handlebar to slow and make the turn though. She must have missed it.

Colder ride in this morning. I saw a herd of deer, probably 10 or so.
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Old 03-21-14, 06:54 AM
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A wicked balmy 35 F deg leaving the house today, with overnight temps hovering around or just above freezing. Not quite ready to take the studded tires off, but tempting.

Lockup bike, which got doused with lube about a month ago and then left out in the elements was in surprisingly decent working order. Even the balky lock opened easy, in spite of water pouring out of it.

I'm torn between the typical plastic grocery bag over the saddle, or splurging on a PDW closed-cell saddle... Probably go the way of elderly Asian women and use the bag. Once there's little chance of ice, I'll bring the work end lockup beater home and start using the Birdy folder again.
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Old 03-21-14, 07:01 AM
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For the first time this year I rode to work this morning. It was perfect weather (mid-50s) with a slight tailwind.

My work location changed almost six months ago and I let excuses pile up to keep me from riding to work. About mid-week I decided to make today a Car-Free Friday and I'm glad I did. 16 miles at about 14 mph average (including time stopped at traffic lights).

The new work location has better shower facilities; best part is they provide towels and you can use the lockers during the day so I don't have to cart wet towels around or carry my stuff up to my desk.
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."

Last edited by Doohickie; 03-21-14 at 07:05 AM.
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Old 03-21-14, 07:21 AM
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Nice weather for a change, altho a big swing in temperatures from morning to afternoon made it hard to dress. Temps were in the low 30s this morning but are supposed to top out near 70 this afternoon.

My bike shop bailed me out yesterday, fixing my shifter cable that broke on my morning commute, so I was able to ride home with my usual gearing. The cable broke halfway to work yesterday, forcing me to ride in one gear the rest of the way. Fortunately my bike has a triple so it was rideable but some of the hills were tough even in the small ring because it was stuck in the smallest cog on the cassette.
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Old 03-21-14, 09:10 AM
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Not quite spring temps (37F) but 10 degrees warmer than yesterday so I'm gonna say it's really spring. I had a breakfast meeting at a place along my commute so went in my cycling gear. Age and concern about appearance seem inversely proportional because I just don't care anymore. Funny thing, neither do other people!
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Old 03-21-14, 09:38 AM
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Got my first commute of the year in today (well the first half of it) and it felt great again. Even if I did have to stop and walk through some ice covered puddles and stop to take off a layer when I got too hot.
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Old 03-21-14, 10:27 AM
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First commute of the year and I could feel it. Planned on riding today anyway, but when the tranny failed on my Volvo, it became a necessity.
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Old 03-21-14, 11:09 AM
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This looks like First Commute of the Year Day!

Originally Posted by Doohickie
For the first time this year I rode to work this morning. It was perfect weather (mid-50s) with a slight tailwind.

My work location changed almost six months ago and I let excuses pile up to keep me from riding to work. About mid-week I decided to make today a Car-Free Friday and I'm glad I did. 16 miles at about 14 mph average (including time stopped at traffic lights).

The new work location has better shower facilities; best part is they provide towels and you can use the lockers during the day so I don't have to cart wet towels around or carry my stuff up to my desk.
Originally Posted by no motor?
Got my first commute of the year in today (well the first half of it) and it felt great again. Even if I did have to stop and walk through some ice covered puddles and stop to take off a layer when I got too hot.
Originally Posted by FalconRider54
First commute of the year and I could feel it. Planned on riding today anyway, but when the tranny failed on my Volvo, it became a necessity.
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 03-21-14, 11:45 AM
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I figured I wouldn't be the only one commuting for the first time today.
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Old 03-24-14, 07:22 AM
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****ing -19° celcius this morning, 23° below the average temp. for a 24th of march... I can take a little snow but now I Want some heat...

Still a very sunny morning, no Wind at all.
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Old 03-24-14, 07:23 AM
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Winter just doesn't want to let go, which should not be surprising considering how cold it's been so far this year. Very sunny but cold today with a strong NE wind. For the umpteenth week in a row, we have another strong cold front rolling in tonight/tomorrow with a chance for a "wintry mix." I was able to ride today, however, so I shouldn't complain. I packed in a lot of mileage over the weekend, so it's no big deal if I have to drive tomorrow. Friday I left work early and took the long way home, for a 42-mile total commute for the day. Rode another 60 miles on Saturday and 30 on Sunday, so my legs were tired this morning.
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Old 03-24-14, 07:24 AM
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Ditto... again... 17F and it's supposed to snow tonight. Is it summer yet?
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Old 03-24-14, 07:58 AM
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I'm losing my enthusiasm for cold commuting. 19F this morning so I took a long hot shower and drove in.
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