The ride home (15 miles) was fantastic, with a splash of awesome and hint of lime. Things I learned on the ride home today:

1. Mostly cloudy and 74 deg = perfect riding conditions. Barely broke a sweat.
2. Know where the LBS's are in the towns you ride through. I found Brookdale Cycle on Broad Street in Bloomfield, NJ. Bought a new headlight and bar ends. Nice shop.
3. When riding through "sketchy" parts of town, it's OK to treat a red light like a stop sign. Isn't it?
4. Commuting back pack free with rack trunk is WAY better than riding with a back pack. Panniers are next on the list of essential things to buy.

My average speed went up to 13.3 mph. Ride time down to 1:15 (from 1:45). Woo-Hoo!