2016! how was your commute today?
07-13-16 | 06:17 AM
#1776
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 2
From: SW Ohio
Bikes: 3 good used ones
+1 On the Gatorskins. Have been using them for a while and they seem to be a nice compromise between a supple more racy tire (4000s) and a stiff tire with more flat protection (4 seasons). Only drawback is the price ($44 and up depending on where you get them). I just pulled out a small piece of glass from the rear tire this morning. No flat, just another battle scar slice on the tire. Helps to wipe the tires with your hands once in a while to try and catch bumps like this one.
The ride is was really nice this morning. Was 72F with clear skies. Have the car in the shop for timing belt service. So need to do a full ride in from home for a few days, I suspect.
The ride is was really nice this morning. Was 72F with clear skies. Have the car in the shop for timing belt service. So need to do a full ride in from home for a few days, I suspect.
I believe I paid just over $30 on Amazon for my last pair. I thought that was a really good price.
07-13-16 | 06:17 AM
#1777
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
70 some odd degree's but felt like 90 according to accuweather. Sums it up!
07-13-16 | 06:18 AM
#1778
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 2
From: SW Ohio
Bikes: 3 good used ones
Muggy morning with a headwind. It's going to be brutal tonight, Heat Index around 100. Maybe, I'll get lucky and some clouds will roll in and knock the heat down a bit.
Good ride though nonetheless. Uneventful and pleasant.
Good ride though nonetheless. Uneventful and pleasant.
07-13-16 | 06:25 AM
#1779
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
On a walk last night, my wife and I saw a few folks out wandering around with their phones out. I'm guessing it is this Pokemon Go thing. She said it is supposed to get people out and moving around. That's a good thing I suppose, but sad to think a video game is needed to make that happen.
No rain storms yesterday, just a warm ride home. And a pleasant enough ride in this morning. I left a few minutes early and hit 15 miles. Gotta make up for the 0 miles last week.
No rain storms yesterday, just a warm ride home. And a pleasant enough ride in this morning. I left a few minutes early and hit 15 miles. Gotta make up for the 0 miles last week.
07-13-16 | 06:30 AM
#1780
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 23
From: Thornton, CO
Bikes: 2003 Orbea Orca, 2003 Bianchi Imola, ? Waterford
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-C.../dp/B00BCU87AW
Maybe one of the UK sites might have a better deal (wiggle, ribble, ishkabibble, prokit, schmokit, whereyouwannagokit)? Just felt like B Kliban there for a second.
07-13-16 | 07:20 AM
#1781
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
Last week, I started to do strength exercises and I didn't want that to interfere with cycling so I just didn't cycle and that continued to Monday so yesterday, I was back on my bike (but no strength exercises so that experiment didn't work). Both yesterday and today, the highs will be 31C/85F with humidex at 39C/102F. However, yesterday's ride home was with a strong breeze so the heat didn't feel so intense. This morning felt like I was riding in pea soup.
Oh well, tomorrow afternoon will be spent at camp in the lake so bring on the heat!!!
Oh well, tomorrow afternoon will be spent at camp in the lake so bring on the heat!!!
07-13-16 | 07:23 AM
#1782
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 2
From: SW Ohio
Bikes: 3 good used ones
You mean $30 each and that's still better than what I can find them for. Just checked Amazon and saw a 700x23 for ~$40:
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-C.../dp/B00BCU87AW
Maybe one of the UK sites might have a better deal (wiggle, ribble, ishkabibble, prokit, schmokit, whereyouwannagokit)? Just felt like B Kliban there for a second.
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-C.../dp/B00BCU87AW
Maybe one of the UK sites might have a better deal (wiggle, ribble, ishkabibble, prokit, schmokit, whereyouwannagokit)? Just felt like B Kliban there for a second.
I probably associated that as $30 in my head or they were cheaper when I purchased them. I'm also a Prime member, which may have given me a better price. Hard to say
07-13-16 | 07:52 AM
#1783
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
It was kind of funny passing the old man's riding club this morning (my private mental tag for them). Rang my bell when we got to a clear stretch, waited for them to sort themselves out and rolled past exchanging "good morning", which is all the normal, low-key procedure with them. You just have to be patient. Past the first two, and coming up to the leader, I hear the "instructions" yelled out from behind "just call out on your left". 
I guess they don't like my loud little bell.
I guess they don't like my loud little bell.
07-13-16 | 09:09 AM
#1784
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Nice commute this morning after missing two days due to thunderstorms. Very warm and humid but it felt good to be riding. The ride home should be a scorcher with heat index over 100.
07-13-16 | 09:17 AM
#1785
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,473
Likes: 4,556
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
07-13-16 | 11:14 AM
#1786
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Hah! No need for that because I will be totally soaked from sweat after a few minutes of riding. I just take it easy on really hot days and fill my water bottle with ice water. Many of the streets on my commute route are shady, and that helps. The hardest part is getting caught a long red lights on big streets; temperatures must be at least 5 degrees hotter there.
07-13-16 | 11:24 AM
#1787
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
I've been tempted to get one of those cool neck wraps (or make one) for the really hot days but haven't done so yet.
07-13-16 | 07:34 PM
#1788
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
31 mi RT today. Thunderstorms seem to have rained some everywhere but on me
It was nice going in, but going home, the longer leg of my commute, it was 95 heat index which at times was a bit stifling. Because of the thunderstorms I almost didn't ride in, but am glad I did!
It was nice going in, but going home, the longer leg of my commute, it was 95 heat index which at times was a bit stifling. Because of the thunderstorms I almost didn't ride in, but am glad I did!
07-14-16 | 06:25 AM
#1789
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Sweaty days this week. But the steady 15mph breeze that I create makes it bearable.
I had a couple of bugs find one of my helmet vents yesterday. The first one hit and I took off my helmet to get him out of there. I think the second one managed on his own though.
I had a couple of bugs find one of my helmet vents yesterday. The first one hit and I took off my helmet to get him out of there. I think the second one managed on his own though.
07-14-16 | 07:09 AM
#1790
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 2
From: SW Ohio
Bikes: 3 good used ones
Hot and humid ride home had me running just a tad off my average. While heading up my final hill, I hear this rider approaching. His wheels roared like a little buzz saw. He must have been going 25 mph, uphill 
Hell of a bike, very fit rider. Tubeless tires. The guy was for real. He shot past me like I was standing still. I was struggling to hold 12 mph. He flew by like a car. SMH
Hell of a bike, very fit rider. Tubeless tires. The guy was for real. He shot past me like I was standing still. I was struggling to hold 12 mph. He flew by like a car. SMH
07-14-16 | 07:37 AM
#1791
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 431
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
Consecutive work commute number 106:
Beautiful morning here. No clouds, low humidity, 67 degrees and only a 12 mph wind. I left the house early, took the long way to work and tacked on an extra 18.5 miles.
Unfortunately now I'm sitting here trying not to hit the vending machine. I'm starving! But I weighed in this morning at 197 so I don't want to undo all my hard work. Haven't seen this side of 200 lbs very often since high school, 35 years ago.
Beautiful morning here. No clouds, low humidity, 67 degrees and only a 12 mph wind. I left the house early, took the long way to work and tacked on an extra 18.5 miles.
Unfortunately now I'm sitting here trying not to hit the vending machine. I'm starving! But I weighed in this morning at 197 so I don't want to undo all my hard work. Haven't seen this side of 200 lbs very often since high school, 35 years ago.
07-14-16 | 07:59 AM
#1792
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,473
Likes: 4,556
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
eat smart & I can relate. I postponed my annual physical cuz I didn't lose the weight I wanted to, then the family vacation didn't help. but riding has. my usual low 220s has just turned into 217. may not sound like much but when you stare at a scale for many months with no change, a little, means a lot.
07-14-16 | 08:08 AM
#1793
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 223
Likes: 10
From: NW, WI
Bikes: Salsa Fargo, Surly Disc Trucker, Surly ECR, Cannondale Cujo, Rocky Mountain Blizzard
Rode in yesterday and it was 70 with humidity. After biking 100+ miles over the weekend and not commuting for two days, my legs had some good jump in them. Fast ride in but I knew the winds were going to pick up all day. Getting home was slow riding into 20mph winds with gusts even higher and temps in the upper 70's. Beat the rain by about 45 minutes. Today is cooler with temps in the 60's but the humidity is hanging on. Ride in was pleasant with a tailwind picking up the last couple miles. Scattered showers forecast for the day so we'll see if I need to pull out the raincoat or not.
07-14-16 | 09:38 AM
#1794
Let's Ride!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
plugging along
humid this morning... made it to 100F yesterday and supposed to be warmer today. I hope I can just keep moving so I have a breeze. At work we have an ice maker and I fill the bottle within a 1/2 inch of ice and it melts down on the way home. Cold water the whole way.
07-14-16 | 12:10 PM
#1795
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,005
Likes: 1,546
From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Strange Encounter...
So, I'm waiting in my bike lane for a traffic signal. Car immediately to my right and I are alone (it's 6:00 am). He's a late middle aged, military looking retired fellow in a Miata convertible. I finish a swig of water as the light turns green for us. He lays on it and peels out across the road, manually shifting after winding out each gear. Off he goes...
So I say to him, "yay for you". Granted, I was clad like a racer and was on a race-y looking road bike. Were we racing? Just another of life's head shakers, I guess...
So I say to him, "yay for you". Granted, I was clad like a racer and was on a race-y looking road bike. Were we racing? Just another of life's head shakers, I guess...
07-14-16 | 12:40 PM
#1796
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
Nice ride this morning, though I can see I'm starting to loose my daylight (I leave at 5:00.). When I got to the top of the ridge mid-way, I had a good view of Mt. Jefferson and the 3 Sisters, and some other smaller peak in between them.
07-14-16 | 03:39 PM
#1798
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Got thoroughly drenched riding to be station this afternoon. One moment I was dry, then it was just water everywhere. after a half minute I couldn't have got wetter by jumping in the east river.
07-15-16 | 05:12 AM
#1799
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1,472
From: Merrimac , MA
The commute in was a nice uneventful commute though humid.
07-15-16 | 06:15 AM
#1800
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Cooler starting out but doesn't take much as the sun rises! I've been riding the Specialized due to the rain and after 2.5k miles it's time for some work, don't know how many before I got it. Hearing a tick only on the front middle gear, might be a bearing but just need to do it all. Looks around $50 for crankset, cassette and chain.. cheaper than a new bike!