the west side greenway in Manhattan is such a great ride. Better on weekdays when it's less crowded too.

Over lunch today I met a group of old co-workers. The restaurant where we were meeting was only about a half mile away, so I didn't bother changing out of my work clothes.

As we were leaving it had started to sprinkle. By the time I got to where I'd locked up my bike it was full-on downpour. I retreated back under restaurant's awning for about 10 minutes until the rain lightened up. I then hopped on the bike and raced back to work as fast as I could. I still got a bit wet, but nowhere near as drenched as I would have had I not waited.

In retrospect I'm glad we didn't leave the restaurant two minutes earlier, otherwise I'd have been halfway to work when the skies unleashed.

There was quite a bit of fog the first few miles, then it cleared up. Maybe 73°F, I was completely drenched when i got to work. Any good way to handle the fog? It must have been 95°F on the ride home, barely beat the darkness. I am glad my route is north-south, so the sun is really not an issue to me or motorists coming behind me.

Yeah it is Friday! The commute in this morning was nice. I saw some turkeys and a black cat. The heat and humidity are expected back later today for the ride home.

Excellent temp this morning. Unfortunately hit a pot hole and over the handlebars I went. Perfected the tuck and roll.. and this is why I wear gloves. My left side will be telling about it all day.

Our reprieve from the muggy weather was short-lived. It was pleasantly dry during my morning commute yesterday but the humidity was back by the afternoon and this morning it was as bad as it's been all summer. I was completely drenched with sweat by the time I got to work today. However, I made surprisingly good time considering that I rode the long way home yesterday, ending up with more than 45 miles commuting on the day. Forecasts are calling for a 50-50 chance of rain today, so hopefully I can make it home without getting caught in a thunderstorm. I'm going to get soaking wet one way or the other but would rather not deal with high winds, hail and lightning.

I think that today was the first ride in the rain this year. It has been a dry summer and although there have been some rainy days, I don't recall purposely avoiding riding in them, just luck I guess (unless I really have forgotten about riding in one or two). The rain started out very light, then progressed to a heavy rain but within 6-7 minutes, it was done and no rain afterwards: that was shortly after 6:30am and it hasn't rained since, just my luck. Had I waited 15 minutes, I would have avoided the rain but would have been late for work as I am starting early to leave early.

I took it easy so that I didn't slip on the wet surfaces but traffic was light so I could go wherever in the lane I wanted.

Enjoy the weekend!

Hot, muggy, foggy. The state fair opens today and the MUP runs right along the edge of it and they set up cow pens right along the trail. So I was greeted this morning by mooing cows. Not long afterward I was arriving at my office building downtown to see GenCon attendees walking the streets. Kind of a twilight zone experience!

Pointless story: The other day I got a bug in the eye… no big deal, it’shappened before. Usually you ride alongand then suddenly—bam-there’s a bug in your eye.This time it was different:I saw him from far away, was focused on him,and kept focus on him as he flew right into my eye.


It was like clearly watching a bug fly directly onto your eyeball. So strange.

I have had that happen on my motorcycle, thankfully I had my visor down.

Last night as I was getting home from from gear store shopping a fellow rode by on his bakfit, that's not that unusual. What was cool was that in the front cargo area he was loaded up with what I think was a big dummy. I felt he needed side marker lights to announce his wide load.

I thought I'd give a run at a PR on the one tiny double-hump hill on my normal route, only half a mile. I figured I did pretty well the day before, and going all out I'd blast that time away. It was pathetic, my engine shut down at 30 seconds. It's been too long without doing sprints I guess.

Not a bike commute, but a few minutes ago I had an interaction with a couple of plainclothes sheriffs. My walk back from lunch took me through a light rail station; they were staking it out for thieves. They pulled me but let me go in about twenty seconds after I told them where I worked and showed them my work badge.

I don't think I look suspicious. I'm wearing wrinkled Dockers and a t-shirt with a dinosaur on it.

Was great. Did 32 mi RT. On the way in I passed within 6 feet of a deer and almost ran over some Sandhill Cranes. I was on a paved path going across some railroad tracks at the entrance of the site where I work, so I was looking down at the tracks as I crossed. When I looked up there were 4 cranes, two of them on the path directly in front of me. They took off and landed in the grass beside the path, otherwise I would have had to brake hard.


A couple days before on the way home I came around a blind corner on a prairie path and a doe and fawn were in the middle of the path. They split off in different directions.


I just hope a deer doesn't bound across a path into me one of these days.

Very enjoyable commute home yesterday evening. Finally came up with a route I felt I could do in a reasonable time without metro assist or driving half way. Also very low volume traffic for most of the route. My previous attempt jogged me over to Forest Park for several extra miles. The key was a hard to find foot bridge over FFP at the edge of Clayton. For anyone in STL interested in a leisurely route from Hazelwood to Shrewsbury Metro area or some variant here's a segment link. I don't have premium so couldn't trim the tails as a normal route.

https://ridewithgps.com/segments/268...southconnector

Riding a ss to work now....was all good until I swapped the chainring from 38 to 47. The climbs are kicking my ass, especially with the 48c tires and 100+ heat indices.

ride home from the office came after a hike up Mt Wachusett w Wifey. the ride felt good. input new tires' wheel factor and stats seem to jive. by time I got home 8:17pm I had the front strobe on steady high beam. temps still a warm even at 10pm. supposed to be mid-50s by ride time 5am tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it

edit 4am current temp is 61 degrees, guess it'll be short sleeves

It was a very nice commute this am. The temp was 62f degrees with the sun not up as I left the house.

I have a short work week this week as I am going on a mini bike tour from VT to MA.

Wind out of the south-east.. ie against it the entire way. At least it was cooler. 1k miles today.. a bit behind.

About 2 miles into my ride this morning I saw something in the road that looked like a big round rock. It was a turtle trying to cross. I did a quick check and saw no cars coming, did a quick u-turn and dropped my bike in a ditch. With still no cars, I quickly picked him up and took him across and off the road a good 10 feet or so.

There was a driveway close by where I was able to remount and get going again. Hopefully Mr. Turtle won't try to go back onto that road.

Warm, muggy morning, with overcast skies and maybe some rain showers today.

ride to work - nice & cool - loved it in short sleeves - refreshing!

Temperature was nice and cool this morning... but the humidity was still quite high. Nice commute though.

After busy weekend the hour ride to work was great - cooler temps expected this afternoon

Another gorgeous breezy day today, perfect for riding along the river. I ran into a friend who is now a professional bike instructor and advocate. She was riding to her job site where she teaches riding, but she had stopped to help a woman adjust her saddle and helmet. My friend can stop anyone and get them to do the required adjustments. She's the perfect bike advocate, because she is, as she says, a short, grey-haired woman. She amazes everyone with her ability to stop people and be so non-confrontational. I was on my racing bike, but after meeting her, we went in the same direction at a slower pace than I had been taking. I took the "long route" after leaving her, up the hills in Inwood Hill Park and over the Henry Hudson Bridge. It takes more energy to take that route, and the rewards are the views.

Nice but cool ride in this morning. Looked at the weather app and it said 56 with 97% humidity. Makes for a cool ride in the shaded low spots. Cruised in easily and enjoyed the ride.

nice ride in, I work at 3pm every other Monday and this is it. I didn't think it was that hot out but I am still sweating big time.