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-   -   2016! how was your commute today? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1043477-2016-how-your-commute-today.html)

Tundra_Man 05-20-16 07:20 AM

Yet another glorious morning. Been beautiful all week. Sounds like the rain will return for next week so I'm glad I took advantage of it while I could.

Went for a run, then rode to work. Got attacked by a goose again. Apparently I have a face that geese naturally hate.

Allycat24 05-20-16 07:25 AM

Very nice weather today for bike to work day. We have a 2 day window of sunshine, and then it starts raining (AGAIN!) tomorrow. A lot more cyclists on the trail today, which is to be expected. Most seemed to be savvy riders but I did see one knuckle head almost get wiped out by a truck. My office is holding a lunch time fun ride around DC today - I usually avoid riding in groups, especially since you never know the skill level of these folks, but the weather is so nice, I think I'll go.

bmthom.gis 05-20-16 07:49 AM

Happy Bike to Work Day! I know some of you have it on different days, but I do believe today is the nationally recognized event. Had a great one here. Overcast and threatening rain here. I was the only bike I saw until I met up with the local Advocacy group on their way to the State House (where we ride down Main St for some coffee and donuts).
Last night, in preparation, I did my first hub rebuild. I've been chasing down a squeak for the past couple of weeks. I was convinced it was the drivetrain because I would only hear it when I put the bike under load but nothing I did with the chain or cranks fixed it...so I thought maybe it was a hub. Bingo! And for the icing on the cake, my wheel didn't fall apart on me when riding in!

wphamilton 05-20-16 08:18 AM

Not in the best situation today. I've let my chain go for too long on that bike and I'm suddenly getting chain drops with any real force on the pedals. We're still expecting an inch of rain this evening, so I'm not looking forward to that first hill, dropping the chain climbing in a downpour. My plan is to use the lowest gear and go up easy.

tarwheel 05-20-16 08:37 AM

Finally a day with no morning rain showers, and fortunately it coincided with Bike to Work Day here. I had volunteered to help out at the city's BTWD venue downtown and wasn't looking forward to it if we had another rainy morning. It was cloudy and cool, but at least it was dry. I was supposed to be helping people figure out commuting routes and didn't get very many requests for help, but I do pass out a lot of maps. More importantly, I was able to some free swag -- including a t-shirt, insulated bottle, snacks and coffee. We had a lot more bike commuters show up than I expected, particularly considering the weather this week, which has been almost nonstop rain since Tuesday.

snow_echo_NY 05-20-16 11:07 AM

happy bike to work day!
we rode in early - i had to take my daughter to back up care in manhattan so i brought her with me on the Yuba. We volunteered at one of the commuter comfort stations that Transportation Alternatives set up by the bridges and other high-traffic spots. it was great.

(TransAlt is NYC's cycling and pedestrian advocacy organization)

some were instagramming and tweeting the event - this is us: https://twitter.com/BikeLukeBike/sta...20234112933888

after her bout of shyness, she enjoyed it tons. theres a bike to work party next week but i think it's pretty late so we might not be able to join this year. last year our little one rode her little bike to the party. it was awesome.

ThermionicScott 05-20-16 11:28 AM


Originally Posted by mgw4jc (Post 18782798)
HAPPY NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY!
Shouldn't we all get gifts and praise and recognition??

If I ride home tonight I will have a four week streak of 10 for 10 rides. Not too bad.

https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram...OTU2Mg%3D%3D.2

Nice! Although I bet those pictures would make [MENTION=381190]Hypno Toad[/MENTION] nervous just looking at them. ;)

no motor? 05-20-16 11:34 AM

I'm not sure if it's bike to work day in this area or not, but it was for me. My new commute is so short and follows my route to the credit union for the most part that I keep getting to work and feeling like I'm just starting to get warmed up.

Hypno Toad 05-20-16 11:40 AM


Originally Posted by ThermionicScott (Post 18783583)
Nice! Although I bet those pictures would make @Hypno Toad nervous just looking at them. ;)

That brings back painful memories!

EndUser2016 05-20-16 11:47 AM

Today compared to last night where I rode through a torrent of rain for the 23 miles home was pure heaven... sun was out birds were chirping, I was able to coast through any sidewalk or stop light I came up to without stopping... locked the rear tire for my first time ever commuting but managed to stay upright and not wipe out but it certainly got my attention. i just not used to taking corners at high speed on cycle tires... my motorcycle certainly would not have had the trouble as it is well... significantly heavier =)

GovernorSilver 05-20-16 12:27 PM


Originally Posted by mgw4jc (Post 18782798)
HAPPY NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY!
Shouldn't we all get gifts and praise and recognition??

If I ride home tonight I will have a four week streak of 10 for 10 rides. Not too bad.

https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram...OTU2Mg%3D%3D.2

Nice pics!

GovernorSilver 05-20-16 12:36 PM


Originally Posted by Allycat24 (Post 18782877)
Very nice weather today for bike to work day. We have a 2 day window of sunshine, and then it starts raining (AGAIN!) tomorrow. A lot more cyclists on the trail today, which is to be expected. Most seemed to be savvy riders but I did see one knuckle head almost get wiped out by a truck. My office is holding a lunch time fun ride around DC today - I usually avoid riding in groups, especially since you never know the skill level of these folks, but the weather is so nice, I think I'll go.

Similar experience here - mostly well-behaved riders, but there was one who stupidly tried to ride to the right of a truck that was clearly signalling a right turn and already in the process of turning. Luckily for him, the truck driver spotted him just in time and let him know with a honk.

I woke up earlier than usual and couldn't get back to sleep, so I went ahead and rode out an hour earlier than usual so I could check out Bike To Work pit stops. I visited 3 pit stops in No. VA and 1 in DC and picked up just bits of swag. I learned too late that the folks organizing the Crystal City pit stop had decided to make theirs Bike to Work Week instead of just "Day" and were giving out some sweet swag daily - cycling socks one day, a jersey/jacket on another etc. I'll remember that next year. The most cyclists I encountered, away from a pit stop, were on the section of the Mt. Vernon Trail between Gravelly Point and 14th St. Bridge.

GovernorSilver 05-20-16 12:38 PM

This is happening this evening. Unfortunately, the scratchy feeling in my throat from this morning seems to be developing into a cold. Debating whether to just say "f-it" and go stop there for a drink (or 2 or 3) or ride straight home. It's gonna rain tomorrow anyway.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attach...3&d=1463762254

EndUser2016 05-20-16 12:44 PM

I didn't know this was happening on my route... I had already eaten and everything so alas I just said hello as I rode past this morning... Next Year hopefully I will remember now that I am on some cycling forums =)

bmthom.gis 05-20-16 12:57 PM

Dang, all you big city types with your rest stops/comfort stations and stuff. We just had a central meeting place ("hub") with "spokes" from different points in the city so you could ride with a group to the statehouse. No swag, and basic food, but still a great time. It helps that I was at 15 miles before I hit one of the "spokes" to ride to the "hub." From there it's a maybe 1/2 mile ride. The main point is just to come together and be a visible presence. Each year it seems to be getting better and better. On the other hand, we have one or two events each week for the month through our advocacy group and a lot of them have free food and beer. Next up is a movie night where we will watch Breaking Away and have free food and a couple of kegs of beer on hand.

RidingMatthew 05-20-16 01:21 PM

Today was bike to work day as well. I don't think that anything was done because last year I was the only one who showed up besides the other people in the bike advocacy group who were manning it. I have biked to work 13 out of the 15 days of work this month. Not bad.

tarwheel 05-20-16 02:30 PM


Originally Posted by GovernorSilver (Post 18783792)
This is happening this evening. Unfortunately, the scratchy feeling in my throat from this morning seems to be developing into a cold. Debating whether to just say "f-it" and go stop there for a drink (or 2 or 3) or ride straight home. It's gonna rain tomorrow anyway.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attach...3&d=1463762254

Sometimes you have to just suck it up and do the right thing! I would be going to the happy hour. Free beer, that says it all.

tarwheel 05-20-16 02:32 PM


Originally Posted by RidingMatthew (Post 18783923)
Today was bike to work day as well. I don't think that anything was done because last year I was the only one who showed up besides the other people in the bike advocacy group who were manning it. I have biked to work 13 out of the 15 days of work this month. Not bad.

That is impressive given all the rainy days we've had in May. I am much more of a wimp when it comes to rain. This will be my worst month for bike commuting in ages because it has rained so much in Raleigh. Often it's the just a threat and doesn't materialize, but I dread riding home in pouring rain during rush hour traffic.

EndUser2016 05-20-16 02:38 PM


Originally Posted by tarwheel (Post 18784162)
That is impressive given all the rainy days we've had in May. I am much more of a wimp when it comes to rain. This will be my worst month for bike commuting in ages because it has rained so much in Raleigh. Often it's the just a threat and doesn't materialize, but I dread riding home in pouring rain during rush hour traffic.

Hey benefit I found of riding in the rain ... you cannot tell where the rain and sweat start... I was drenched yesterday for pretty much my entire 23 miles home ... but yeah I definitely was inclined to not stop or take it easy as I would start to get cold ... then mad dash to a warm shower when I got home ... a warm shower never felt so good...

snow_echo_NY 05-20-16 02:41 PM

it has rained lots here too but i ride in rain, wind or snow so i was out there.

i wrote a haiku to celebrate bike to work day :) also someone wrote one above and i was inspired:

The rain drops on my
face and the breeze blows - so I
breathe hard and go on

Originally Posted by mgw4jc https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/pr...post-right.png
A gray blur below
The squirrel tail brushed my toe
My back wheel goes bump




Thank you,
For the haiku.

GovernorSilver 05-20-16 02:52 PM


Originally Posted by tarwheel (Post 18784156)
Sometimes you have to just suck it up and do the right thing! I would be going to the happy hour. Free beer, that says it all.

Except it's the event that's free, not the beer. ;)

RidingMatthew 05-20-16 07:31 PM


Originally Posted by tarwheel (Post 18784162)
That is impressive given all the rainy days we've had in May. I am much more of a wimp when it comes to rain. This will be my worst month for bike commuting in ages because it has rained so much in Raleigh. Often it's the just a threat and doesn't materialize, but I dread riding home in pouring rain during rush hour traffic.

yeah i was pleasantly surprised by those numbers as well. I have been lucky the rain has passed usually before i ride home or not been to bad to ride in. Thanks [MENTION=86492]tarwheel[/MENTION] i appreciate the kudos. my ride home is not too bad of rush hour depending on which way I go.



Originally Posted by EndUser2016 (Post 18784175)
Hey benefit I found of riding in the rain ... you cannot tell where the rain and sweat start... I was drenched yesterday for pretty much my entire 23 miles home ... but yeah I definitely was inclined to not stop or take it easy as I would start to get cold ... then mad dash to a warm shower when I got home ... a warm shower never felt so good...

I have had a couple chilly rides home and when i got home nothing felt better than a warm shower, some sweatpants, and cup of hot tea.

GovernorSilver 05-21-16 11:07 AM

Ride home was kind of miserable because of the developing cold (increasing sinus congestion and pressure), but at least the weather was great. Bummed I couldn't make the happy hour, but I knew I wouldn't be happy there.

mgw4jc 05-23-16 06:24 AM


Originally Posted by snow_echo_NY (Post 18784188)
it has rained lots here too but i ride in rain, wind or snow so i was out there.

i wrote a haiku to celebrate bike to work day :) also someone wrote one above and i was inspired:

The rain drops on my
face and the breeze blows - so I
breathe hard and go on

Originally Posted by mgw4jc https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/pr...post-right.png
A gray blur below
The squirrel tail brushed my toe
My back wheel goes bump

Awesome [MENTION=397406]snow_echo_NY[/MENTION]! Let's keep the trend going!

A beautiful morning for a ride - about 52F and sunny. However, one driver was having a bad Monday and yelled, "Get off the road!" I didn't react at all except to note the car for future reference. It was either a Volvo or Subaru wagon.

I always have to wonder what they expect I'll do after they've yelled. Should I start riding in the yards and/or ditches? Maybe I should yell back, "Give me your car!"

snow_echo_NY 05-23-16 06:27 AM


Originally Posted by mgw4jc (Post 18789613)
Awesome @snow_echo_NY! Let's keep the trend going!

A beautiful morning for a ride - about 52F and sunny. However, one driver was having a bad Monday and yelled, "Get off the road!" I didn't react at all except to note the car for future reference. It was either a Volvo or Subaru wagon.

I always have to wonder what they expect I'll do after they've yelled. Should I start riding in the yards and/or ditches? Maybe I should yell back, "Give me your car!"

lol absolutely


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