2nd commute ride. Great ride this morning. It was 53 degrees when I left the house. Shorts and a t-shirt with a tech type long sleeve pull over. It was a touch cool, but once my body heat kicked up, it was perfect. I usually don't eat breakfast, but I had a granola bar this morning, which gave me a little more "gusto" on my ride. Got to my destination 9.1 miles easily and still felt energized. Had bible study and coffee with some men at a cafe, then hit the gym to shower, then to work. Great way to start my morning. Beautiful day!

Oh.... and I bought a Topeak trunk bag with the fold down panniers. That's what I originally planned on for my commute. I can fit everything for work in the panniers and then every day bike essentials and safety stuff in the trunk bag part. However... it was a pain in the butt to fit in my gym locker. It was tight once I had a change of clothes, shoes, laptop, etc. Today... I just took one orlieb back roller pannier. Everything fit in the one bag with plenty of room to spare. The bag fits in my locker just fine. Easier to carry, etc. So... the trunk bag will be getting returned. I may get a saddle bag for the day to day bike essentials.

I also need a different lock. I have a good lock, it's just a pain. I have one of the krytonite cable combo locks (the kind that twist up). It works... but that twisty bit is such a pain. And to get the frame and both wheels is a pain. I think I'm going to get a ulock and a straight cable instead. Seems like that would be so much easier to get everything secure! I'm not in a high crime area, but still... I want to be safe.

Here's a shot of the ortlieb on my bike (helmet is just resting on my rack).

My commute set up with an ortlieb back roller by Thomas Lester, on Flickr