groovestew

Cool and breezy this morning. Nice ride, uneventful. Well, I had to dodge some city crews weed-whacking along the MUP, but that was it for excitement today.

PatrickGSR94

Tuesday was good, felt so much better than I did on the ride home last Thursday. I just missed the rain that came through Tuesday morning, but then was actually hoping for some rain on me in the afternoon. That front didn't come through until later in the evening, though.

On the way home I had a state trooper buzz me pretty close in his SUV on a 2-lane road, nearly forcing an oncoming vehicle off the road. WTF man, could have waited a few more seconds. Going through the park I ended up behind 3 cars with another car behind me, all of us going the same speed. I had to slow down to match the cars' speed a couple of times.

Then Wednesday I was feeling kind of sick, and today still have a lingering sore throat, so no commute today.

Notso_fastLane

As of today, I've already exceeded my total miles ridden last year. Almost all of my miles are commuting miles (716 as of this morning's ride).

Hope to still break 2k this year.

PatrickGSR94

less than 400 miles to go to surpass my 2013 commuting total, although I started in May of last year so May-December of this year will be the real test.

joeyduck

My drive home reassured why I bike last night. I am certainly quicker on the bike to get to my son’s daycare. But one my commute one bridge was closed due to structure fire below it and impeding visibility, thankfully I use one bridge over and I was on it when the fire started, so no back-ups more than normal. I passed a total of three fire trucks, two ambulances and two police cars. It was unusually busy.

But the ultimate deciding factor was this: I was in the left lane of tree lanes, two drive lane one parking lane. I was first in line from a stop light. I was going about 40 km/h west (so no sun in my eyes but glare), then I hear sirens and start slowing, look ahead and behind; I see nothing. All of a sudden an unmarked police car pops out into oncoming traffic going at least 70 km/h splitting my lane and the lane to the right of me. I stopped hard (I was only going 25 or so at that point), hoping the person behind stopped, I also did not want to move right due to his trajectory and speed. The cop was seeming to be going on my right, but cuts hard to my left and clears me and the median 15 yards ahead, while maintaining break-neck speed. I honestly thought he was going to hit me head on. This all happened in less than five seconds. I do not recall having such a close incident in a motor vehicle. I think I am going to write a letter/email to the local police about this incredibly unsafe maneuver. So @PatrickGSR94 I also experienced some law enforcement unsafe driving.

This morning was a nice ride. I stopped by a pick and pull yard to get a trunk latch for the car. Hmm, junk yard in an industrial area, they will be open. Nope opens at 9! I had asked the guy last night what time they close, and he said we pretty much close shop at 4:30. I should have clued in. I will have to leave work early to get it now.

I just turned 9000 km on my bikes odometer a few weeks ago. I think that I have gone about 2000 km (1200 miles) this year. But I need a new computer, and I have started using strava so I have not been as diligent with the cycle computer maintenance.

spare_wheel

My commute was fast. One my best times ever for a straight shot up the hill. I got green most of the way and spun out the big ring for about a quarter of my commute (40ish). It hurt real good when I stood up and sprinted up the 6% grade. I love combining sport cycling with utilitarian cycling. Speedist commuters do not know what they are missing!

RidingMatthew

First ride in two weeks TOMORROW. Sick all last week and decided to drive because part of my sickness included going to hospital for dehydration. I have been drinking tons of water and am looking forward to spinning the pedals again.


Cant wait until my new jersey comes in from the Clymb.


* if you sign up and buy something I get $. (you help me support my habit)

esmith2039

Start of the week till today was sluggish. Hard to get used to riding with all the vacations I've been taking lately. Did check air pressure last night and pump up the tires over 15lbs.. got to start checking that weekly! Boy did I fly this morning! Used the front big ring on most of the route and even kept up with cars going down the big hill. Need to look at getting new tires here shortly.. those 20 year old Bell's surprised they've last this long!

dcb23

70F/21C Definitely cooler than it has been.

essiemyra

The commute in was very nice this morning, cloudy sky but promises to clear up and be sunny on my way home. I will take a longer ride home today.

mgw4jc

Good ride in this morning. A little cooler than it has been due to some rains last night and continued cloudiness: 68F.

I saw another dead deer on the side of the road this morning. That makes three on the same road in about 5 weeks. The vultures will no doubt find it by this afternoon. It's the circle of life, or something.

ill.clyde

Another day without a bike commute. We have a work team function after work (Brewer's game!) so I've got to hustle home and then get to the game. Not being able to ride yesterday put me in the middle of stop and go traffic on the way home for the first time in a week. I just sat there, sort of astonished and somewhat humored by the fact that many people do this daily and see no option. I couldn't even get mad about sitting there, and it taking me 40 minutes to drive home versus 48-50 minutes to ride home. It was pure folly.

arsprod 

Very cool - congrats! Cool again this morning, a chilly 61F. Still experimenting with tour setup and this morning rode without front rack - feels soooo much better but now I'm afraid about weight distribution all on the rear. I fly to San Francisco Tuesday to meet my son who rode to the west coast. We're riding from SF to Reno - haven't been this excited since... well... can't remember since!

joeyduck

I love being so excited about something like that. It is so infrequent as adults that we tend to forget how good it feels. I realize how little we get excited about when i watch my son get so excited.

I had a nice commute. There was a gorgeous view over the bridge to Vancouver Island. I tried to up my PR's on strava today. That went well and then went better. A fellow whom I caught once before caught me on his Eddy Merck and we rode and chatted for a while. The pace was pretty fast for a longer period than I am used to, but it is what I need the extra motivation of a partner I think if I want to consider racing. He is doing a Gran Fondo in the interior this weekend so he is in decent form. I am not sure if I will easily match the PR's I got today.

I have to leave work early again today. The scrap yard pulled the wrong part yesterday. Called Monday they lost the request. Called Wednesday they pulled the part and called at 4:10, and said its ready and they close up shop at 4:30 or so. Go to get it Thursday morning; it is a scrap yard they will be open by 8, nope open at 9. Thursday leave work 45 minutes early to make sure I can changed and bike there by 4:30. Wrong part. Friday they better get it right. At least it is no deviation from my commute and really close to work. Just annoying when a business can not get it right.

groovestew

There's a section along my commute where the city is replacing curbs and sidewalks, probably resurfacing the road in the coming weeks too. That's all fine and good, but where the trail meets the road, they inexplicably replaced a nice curb ramp with a 6-inch drop-off curb:





I (and I'm sure dozens of other cyclists) complained, and I'm happy to report that as of yesterday afternoon, that (brand new) section of concrete has been marked for removal!




Not sure why they couldn't do it right the first time.

timvan_78

My knee is officially a mystery. Super sore, so I give it 3 weeks total rest, then try it out on a Friday commute and...agony!

Then, mysteriously, on Monday it's a lot better and I've been able to commute 4 days this week! (Just slower than usual.)

joeyduck

I also was stricken with mystery knee pain this week. Wednesday night it started hurting when I walked. Sore for a bit thursday, nothing today.

At least they are letting you pedal, albeit slowly.

@groovestew

I love how some place just can never get it right. I am still not sure what is going on in Metro Van with the Highway 1 work. Or other projects throughout our area. There seems to be no thought or planning outside the construction tape. One interchange I am convinced was a result of a procrastinating planner who said, "Drats this plan is due today. I can use my toddlers crayon scribble." Now we have the Queensboro Bridge interchange in New Westminster that is slow and convoluted.

RidingMatthew

I had my first ride in 2 weeks. To work was fastest this year! I did not have to carry much of anything. I had loaded up my stuff the week before. I rode a longer way home and still average 15.5mph. It felt pretty good to ride. I missed it.

@PatrickGSR94 That is awesome! I am also double the miles over last year. It really blows my mind that I have ridden as much as much as I have. (mostly all transportation miles) I hope that I can keep it up for the rest of the year. 2 weeks minus one day off is not going to help with the overall mileage completion. @arsprod I am excited for you. I am doing my first bike tour at the beginning of August. I am riding the Great Allegheny Passage. I only have a rack on the back and am going to have to put everything ion the rear rack. I am excited about attempting the ride with my gear but I am also suffering from N +1 really bad. I would love to get a Surly DiskLHT or Salsa Vaya2
@groovestew I have yet to figure out why cities are so wasteful. I have been dealing with a big construction project that has rerouted the greenway 2-3 times. the latest they put down gravel and fencing and on the side of a college parking lot. The same lot I have been riding through since the first reroute. I am not sure why they wasted time or money installing all that. Glad to hear that you all were able to bring about change though.
^that really is the question

dcb23

74F / 23C and 98% humidity...soup!

mgw4jc

Hot, humid and therefore a bit slower than normal. I'm looking forward to the next couple of days to be a bit cooler, according to the forecast.

I put new brake pads on last night. I had worn the old ones down to pretty much nothing being left. Much nicer to be able to tap for a quick speed check instead of squeeze and hold.

tarwheel 

Another very hot day expected with high mid-90s F and heat index over 100. Fortunately the heat spell is supposed to break with a strong cold front moving through tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it. My morning rides have been fine lately, with temps in the 70s, altho very humid. Afternoons are an ordeal. I may take a day off work this week to finish some yard projects at home, if the temperatures cool off like the forecasters are saying. I might not get another break in the heat until September.

arsprod 

Another cool, muggy morning. I rode my road bike because the commuter is packed for my California tour - leaving tomorrow, see you all in a couple weeks!

wphamilton

It's good to be back in the saddle after a week time off, but I'll miss the mid-day fun rides. It was the usual calm Monday morning commute, trying to recover from whatever I did on the weekend. Muggy, by the time I crossed the parking lot between the locker room and the building where I work, I felt like I needed another shower already.

ill.clyde

Mostly uneventful ... sunny, mid 60s, really pretty close to idea weather conditions. Almost bailed on the commute today. Was tired and somewhat sore. Yesterday was bottling day (I brew beer at home) and bottling two cases of beer by hand is pretty tough on the back. Glad I coaxed myself out of bed.

there were actually cyclists on the MUP today going in the same direction as me ... which is a rarity. As I reached the end of the MUP, I was somewhat startled to watch a doe and a fawn emerge from the woods on the side of the path. Kind of made me a little nervous, because I wasn't sure what they were going to do when I approached and I really didn't have time to stop, I slowed, moved all the way to my right and covered my brake. Momma slowly moved down the path to my left. Baby turned tail and ran back the way they came.

And I literally had to dodge a woman and her dog who thought that just because I was a bike, in the road, going through an uncontrolled intersection (for me) that she could just waltz right out in front of me. I saw her coming, assumed she would stop and wait for "traffic" like any normal human being, but she just kept walking. argh

Oh ... and I crossed the 800 mile mark for the year

spivonious

After doing 21 mile days last week, it felt very abbreviated to ride only 7 into work today.

Super humid, and threat of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Still enjoying it!

Have fun on your tour, arsprod!