2014!! How was your commute today?
06-13-14, 07:12 AM
#1576
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A couple of threatening thunderstorms caused me to bail on the ride home yesterday. I do appreciate a wife that can do a rain rescue when needed.
I left a few minutes early and decided to take a slightly longer route that puts me on a nice MUP for a bit. It has a wooden section which has a couple of bends in it going over a marshy area. The wooden section was wet from last night's rain.
Before hitting the wet wooden section, I realized that wet wood is slippery, so I slowed down. But the first little bend to the left proved that I did not slow down enough. BAM! The bike and I went down and slid a couple of feet. My left hip took the brunt of the fall. My left leg just got really dirty. My left foot was already unclipped, but my right was not. So I got out of that and just sat there a minute making sure all was intact. Then I got up, brushed off, and picked my bike up. The wood was like ice. My left brake hood was out of whack, so I pushed that back over and carefully continued on to work.
I did some clean up once I got to the office. I have a bit of a rash on my left hip and a minor scrape on my knee. It's a bit sore just sitting here, but I think I'll survive. Next time I'll be more careful on that wet wood.
I left a few minutes early and decided to take a slightly longer route that puts me on a nice MUP for a bit. It has a wooden section which has a couple of bends in it going over a marshy area. The wooden section was wet from last night's rain.
Before hitting the wet wooden section, I realized that wet wood is slippery, so I slowed down. But the first little bend to the left proved that I did not slow down enough. BAM! The bike and I went down and slid a couple of feet. My left hip took the brunt of the fall. My left leg just got really dirty. My left foot was already unclipped, but my right was not. So I got out of that and just sat there a minute making sure all was intact. Then I got up, brushed off, and picked my bike up. The wood was like ice. My left brake hood was out of whack, so I pushed that back over and carefully continued on to work.
I did some clean up once I got to the office. I have a bit of a rash on my left hip and a minor scrape on my knee. It's a bit sore just sitting here, but I think I'll survive. Next time I'll be more careful on that wet wood.
06-13-14, 07:31 AM
#1577
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Sunny, 60 ... fairly brisk wind out of the west, so from my left to right, and of course it swirled, so at times it was a headwind, at times a tailwind.
Glad to be back on it after a couple of days off.
Glad to be back on it after a couple of days off.
06-13-14, 07:45 AM
#1578
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Got a bit wet on the way home yesterday, but still a good ride.
No ride in today because I forgot to do laundry. I'd probably clear out the office if I wore the same bike clothes again.
No ride in today because I forgot to do laundry. I'd probably clear out the office if I wore the same bike clothes again.
06-13-14, 08:29 AM
#1579
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My commute home yesterday was altered due to meeting the wife and family at a restaurant. On the way there I had to merge left across two lanes and get into a left turn lane. After getting into the left turn lane I wanted to filter my way up to the light. The only car blocking was directly in front of me and had just gotten into the left turn lane himself - a white Mercedes sedan. To my surprise, before coming to a stop, he quickly moved further to the left and gave me room to get by him. I gave a thank you wave as I went by.
After making the left, he eventually passed me back and gave me a wave back. No idea who it was, but must've been a cyclist.
Regular kind of ride in this morning, where I stayed upright the entire time, unlike yesterday. Definitely quite sticky outside though. Not crazy hot, but humid.
After making the left, he eventually passed me back and gave me a wave back. No idea who it was, but must've been a cyclist.
Regular kind of ride in this morning, where I stayed upright the entire time, unlike yesterday. Definitely quite sticky outside though. Not crazy hot, but humid.
06-13-14, 10:31 AM
#1581
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06-13-14, 10:38 AM
#1582
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Rode home yesterday via my river route, but rode up the Byrne/Southridge hill for the first time. Not bad; total is 85m elevation over 2.2km = 3.8% grade. The Strava segment is 1.6km, 62m, 4%. Came in middle of the pack (44/100), which is relatively lower than most of my Strava placings (typically in the top 20%, often top 10%), however this one may be a bit biased towards a fitter group of riders; recreational commuters wouldn't really frequent this route like they do on many of my other segments. Anyways, looking forward to climbing the leaderboards on that one, as afterwards it's a nice flat ~5km to my house. Good way to finish a nice commute.
06-13-14, 10:44 AM
#1583
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was a beautiful ride in today; had to ditch the vest mid ride. It looks like it's going to be around 80 on the ride home so I'll probably go the long way. 
06-13-14, 11:05 AM
#1584
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Rode home yesterday via my river route, but rode up the Byrne/Southridge hill for the first time. Not bad; total is 85m elevation over 2.2km = 3.8% grade. The Strava segment is 1.6km, 62m, 4%. Came in middle of the pack (44/100), which is relatively lower than most of my Strava placings (typically in the top 20%, often top 10%), however this one may be a bit biased towards a fitter group of riders; recreational commuters wouldn't really frequent this route like they do on many of my other segments. Anyways, looking forward to climbing the leaderboards on that one, as afterwards it's a nice flat ~5km to my house. Good way to finish a nice commute.
But I do agree I rarely saw other commuters going up it, going down I would sometimes see others. But after that it was mostly downhill for me also. Which is some of the motivation to push hard. And 5 km is a great cool down distance.
06-13-14, 11:08 AM
#1585
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In theory, yes. In practice: as I got close to home I saw I needed to add a couple km to get to 30km for the commute and 150km for the week (my 3rd day riding). So, I did some hill repeats near my house to climb the Strava leaderboards :-P
06-13-14, 11:15 AM
#1586
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I worked late last night and rode home very leisurely. It was nice out and I just enjoyed it, if I had run across others going my way I would have tried to chase or pull away from them, but it was quite. After I got home I relaxed then went out for a slow pedal around the ritzy home area of town which is not far. Big expensive houses and cars are always nice to ride by. I saw a murder of crows squawking atop some conifers surrounding this old ominous looking mansion. It would have made a nice horror movie setting given different lighting and some rain.
The commute in was nice this morning. I saw more people than I have seen most of the week, which was surprising since it was drizzling. I did leave a a different time, so that may have played a role.
Yesterday I caught a guy tried chatting with him. Asked the usual how is it going. Then I asked where he was headed. "Work," he answers. I replied with, "Kind of figured that one." Things got awkward so I sped up he tried to keep pace and I just kept going.
The commute in was nice this morning. I saw more people than I have seen most of the week, which was surprising since it was drizzling. I did leave a a different time, so that may have played a role.
Yesterday I caught a guy tried chatting with him. Asked the usual how is it going. Then I asked where he was headed. "Work," he answers. I replied with, "Kind of figured that one." Things got awkward so I sped up he tried to keep pace and I just kept going.
06-13-14, 11:26 AM
#1587
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Yep, and also when you're going straight forward with as little tilt and wiggle as possible. That's why I say relax because it's almost impossible if you're tense.
06-13-14, 11:28 AM
#1588
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Fair enough. I think I will get to 150 this week, only because I have to come in and work this weekend. Otherwise with daycare runs I easily get 150.
06-13-14, 11:32 AM
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First world problems.
06-13-14, 11:57 AM
#1590
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I was itching to ride this morning after taking a rest day yesterday, but didn't want to risk getting caught in a huge thunderstorm again. The forecast today is nearly identical to Wednesday, when I got hammered by a storm on my way home. Also, I'm leaving on a week-long bike tour tomorrow and figured that my legs could use the rest before setting out on a 350-400 loaded trip. In addition, I was feeling somewhat paranoid about crashing, getting hit or injured right before the big trip, which I've been planning for months and months. Storms are already kicking up, so it was probably a good call.
06-13-14, 12:03 PM
#1591
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My goal for this summer was to maintain 150-200km/week in commuting miles. Was also planning on doing the Vancouver-Whistler Gran Fondo this year, but I think this may all be out the window now as it looks like I'll be spending the summer in Central Asia on a work trip (with the family coming along for a bonus vacay
First world problems.
First world problems.
That being said I have been toying with this in July:
Prospera Valley GranFondo Powered By PwC | Cycling. It's more than riding a bike. | July 20, 2014
But my wife will be in LA and I will be home with the boy, and I figure 160 km with a 3.5 year old on the back will not be allowed by organizers. Nor by my stamina. But really it is less than my weekly average.
I did a 170 km with a friend last summer (I had only been doing around town cycling with no real distance under the wheels that summer) and overall it went well. Though by the end I was dragging on the 35 pound beast. Also I bonked in the first 40 km, hard. Enough that I almost quit. With stops we were done in about 8 hours, I think he said pedaling time was just about 6.5 hours.
06-13-14, 12:19 PM
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06-13-14, 12:31 PM
#1593
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I think the heat for a Penticton one would be unbearable. Though I could set it up a nice lake camping, wine tasting trip with the family.
The summer Ironman there seems to me an awful idea.
06-13-14, 12:37 PM
#1594
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It seems to head fairly far east, near where those bluffs rise north of highway 1 I think.
I think the heat for a Penticton one would be unbearable. Though I could set it up a nice lake camping, wine tasting trip with the family.
The summer Ironman there seems to me an awful idea.
I think the heat for a Penticton one would be unbearable. Though I could set it up a nice lake camping, wine tasting trip with the family.
The summer Ironman there seems to me an awful idea.
Cycle Route | Plan and map your cycle route with elevation profile
06-13-14, 12:50 PM
#1595
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I've actually contemplated doing the Vancouver-Seattle ride, maybe over a couple days...
Cycle Route | Plan and map your cycle route with elevation profile
Cycle Route | Plan and map your cycle route with elevation profile
Certainly at least two days. Camping or motel? With the commuting a long day ride seems so easy doesn't it?
06-13-14, 01:16 PM
#1596
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With friends, I'd contemplate camping.
06-14-14, 07:44 AM
#1597
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sad i missed out riding Thursday and Friday because of the "supposed" rain they were calling for this week. We did have some strong thunderstorms mon and tues but I could have ridden because I would have been home before they hit. I guess I am just going to have to take a few more chances with the weather this year. when I looked at the forecasts they looks rainy all week but we really did not have rain all day. I guess weather people are just erring on the side of paranoia.
oh well next week is a new week.
i am already DOUBLE what i was last year at this time and the month is only half over!
oh well next week is a new week.
i am already DOUBLE what i was last year at this time and the month is only half over!
06-14-14, 08:08 PM
#1598
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I made my first commute today. I was going to do it yesterday, but I realized that the bag I bought is too small to fit a change of clothes and my lunch. As I was debating with myself about using a backpack, or just walking up to the gas station for "lunch," I heard a nice, healthy crack of thunder. I decided to drive. Today was cloudy and a bit chilly, but the ride in was exhilarating, and put me in a really good mood today. Can't wait until I do it again.
06-15-14, 07:13 PM
#1599
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I just started riding again this week and boy has it been great. I need to stay with it this year as I feel better when I ride. I rode a nice 12.5 mile trip this weekend to the lake and just had an awesome time. Can't wait to ride to work in the morning.
06-16-14, 05:16 AM
#1600
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The commute was a nice uneventful ride with the temp at 56f degrees when I left home. I was also able to run an errand on my way to work. What a great way to start the week!