I think it's been over 2 weeks since my last bike commute. It's been cool and damp and too easy to drive. But today was 8C/46F for the ride in, with a forecast high of 18C/64F this afternoon....wait, what month is it again? Seems like early November is trying to make up for our miserable October. Nice commute, but I felt the time off. Soured a bit because construction crews have been making a big muddy mess of the trails and roads/shoulders thanks to all the wet weather.

36F this morning. I have to remember my temp-based dressing strategy from last winter, because I overdressed and got a bit sweaty. With the time change it is starting to get light when I leave the house. This means that I have to be doubly aware of idiot drivers who refuse to use their lights within 30 minutes of sun-up. I was surprised that I only encountered one such car this morning, but I did see 3 cyclists with nary a light between them.

It was probably coming in for an emergency landing after Trump shot it.

Left the house later this morning to stop by the polls, but the line was really long and I didn't have a good place to lock the bike, plus all my clothes were in my trunk bag. So I'll try to leave work early and vote later today.

Wet and rainy this morning, about 60°F. This is the first REAL rainy, wet commute I've had in recent memory. I rode in a couple of minor showers during the summer, but didn't have a single truly wet commute until now, probably since last winter or possibly the spring. I forgot to swap out the rear housing door on my GoPro to the one with the plastic piece that still allows touch screen operation. I stopped and did that on the side of the road, and the camera promptly fell out onto the ground, LENS DOWN! Of course, and it was my first time dropping the camera. No harm, though. Oh well, it was a pretty good commute, just wet and nasty, and I got to work about an hour later than normal.

Insane commute this AM:
first, it was dry!
second, one of those sunrises where the sun lights up a layer of clouds from below in a multitude of colours.
then, light creeping down the mountain-sides
then, bright rainbow, 1/2 circle, over the city as the sun lit up the city like GOLD.


Hey yanks, good luck with your election today! After a morning like that, I don't want to look south this afternoon and see a mushroom cloud.

At first I read that like "one of the sunrises" and I was like, what are you on Tatooine in a binary star system or something? :lol:

A very nice uneventful commute this morning with the temp at 36f degrees and cloudy skies. I missed those stars!

I was able to make it to the polls last night, vote and get home before dark. That was my goal. I did not want to have to go home and come back with the car.

Brrr.. but wasn't bad! Oddest thing this morning! I have a green light but I see a SUV approaching from the other direction. They're stopping so cool no problem.. BUT they stop briefly and just continue to roll. I'm right in front them! Bright reflective gear and all! They gun it and see me and the same time... and then have the gall to honk! But hey at least I got to exercise my curse word library.. I was reading an article the other day that stated the more curse words you know the smarter you are, I must be a genius! :lol:

Some damp roads from light morning rain, but I never saw any falling. Warmer today because of the overcast skies.

Was a warm 54F and a very slight drizzle. I couldn't really feel the rain yet. But brought out the rain jacket since the forcast calls for a little over 0.1 inches of rain later today. Its probably overkill, but if I have it, then might as well use it. Also brought my old front light (Jet halogen light with water bottle battery) and plugged it in at work. I'll need it later on. I'm also trying the ghetto plastic bag over the seat trick. I've read about someone using a shower cap for that and think its a great idea. Will have to get my hands on a large one. He also uses the shower cap on his helmet (thought maybe he meant under the helmet?).

Biking with a headcold just sucks. Rode yesterday and just took it easy. Today it was 32 degrees with bright stars overhead. Glad I found my helmet light. Really helps to have a bright light on the bars lighting the road while having another light to see where I'm looking. This time of year it's nice to see the ditches with the deer on the move.

Thinking I need to mount a paintball gun on the handlebars.

:lol:

43F this morning but the sun did come up. Some sections of the MUP were so covered with leaves I couldn't tell where the pavement was. The good thing is the morning use has dropped dramatically so I just rode in the middle

Got almost no sleep last night due to the election returns, plus my wife and I were taking care of my daughter's dog, so I ended up driving today. Hopefully I'll be back in the saddle tomorrow.

Whoa! Those things are huuuuge! I guess she wanted to see if you were worth eating?

Mid-30's for the commute this morning. I was dressed adequately for the temperature, and was enjoying the ride, when I started losing gears on the rear derailleur... and wound up with about 3 working gears. I think my shifter cable is about to break. I couldn't get into the lowest gear and couldn't get into most of my higher gears. Fortunately, my front derailleur was still working, which provided enough gear-range to navigate my 1100' of climbing. Just hoping it can survive the ride home before it breaks completely.

53F this morning with a northern wind. Took a different route to work for the first time ever, but I think I'm going to stick with the usual since it seemed to take longer. Came upon a lady cyclist bundled up on her cruiser; all she had was a taillight, and we were in a very dark area. Said good morning as I passed her, and I could barely hear her reply back through the scarf. Glad to know I'm not the only person out there cranking. Other than that the ride was uneventful.

Cold and very wet, just like the ride home yesterday :(

A pretty mild morning. I left a couple minutes early and didn't have to rush, which was nice. A deer ran across the road right in front of me and I saw more coming, so hit the brakes, and one after another five more deer ran blindly through my headlight. Close.

Set out today and didn't get a block before deciding my sit bones are too sore, turned back and drove. Still not quite back in the swing of things, but getting better!

Nice riding day, though a few less than ideal encounters on the way.

Came close to being right hooked by a very large SUV 2 blocks away from my house. Not sure if the guy knew I was there or not. Luckily I was towards the back of the SUV and slowed quickly enough to not have him clip me. Gave him the finger and went on my way...

A couple miles later, dog on a very long leash lunged at me. Not really that close a call, but annoying none the less.

Shortly after that, the MUP I ride is broken up by a fast moving 4 lane road. I was at a driveway exit from an apartment building half a block down from the bike path trying to cross the road. Another large SUV was next to me on my left looking to pull out into traffic. The person in the passenger seat rolls down the window and asks if I could back up away from the road, they want to get out. I politely said 'no, I'm trying to cross the street without killing myself, sorry.' She said 'well we want to pull out.' I was not in their path in any way shape or form....I think they might have been worried about gunning it to get into the nearest lane but weren't sure if they could do it without clipping me when I tried to cross.

I said 'no, you can wait, you look warm in there.'

I may have been slightly extra snarky from the last 2 encounters. Normally my commute is very peaceful...

Dead legs today, maybe staying up too late for the election excitement. Speaking of which, my headlight died just as I rolled up to vote on my way home, so I was ninja the rest of the way. Fortunately there were no lines and voting was quick, so it was still twilight, and on the bike path it was no particular problem.

There were three patrol cars and an officer standing guard across from the lamp post where I locked up. We had a laugh when he asked why I didn't trust them to watch the bike :roflmao2: I honestly figured they were busy watching out for terrorists and election monitors.

Not a typical commute but I dropped off my van for an oil change at the dealer near my work and rode a bike to work during lunch hour. I'm going to pick up my van tomorrow during morning ride so I will be riding home tonight. On my way back to work during lunch I had to take a big road which I never rode before. Speed limit is 50 or 55MPH (but they drive over 60MPH) and whenever a big truck passed by I was swung by quite a bit although I was in the middle of an ample shoulder. That was scary. There was a big downhill but I went slow and easy. Expecting a tailwind tonight so hopefully it will be an enjoyable ride home. Tomorrow morning route to the dealer is also new and expecting a long climbing. Will see..

At lunch, a new-ish co-worker asked if it will soon be getting too cold for me to bike to work. I politely replied, "No, I'll ride all winter and just dress warmer." BWA-HA-HA-HA! Newbie.

Of course, people around here would not be able to fathom what you folks north of the Ohio River ride in during the winter.

What's Charlotte like in the winter?

stinging rain this AM.

A very nice commute to work today with the temp just below freezing at 31f degrees. The sky is lightning up on my way to work since the time change, but this will not last long. I do like riding down the last hill with some light. I feel the cars have a better chance of seeing me. But the Dunkin Donuts is right there so I know where their minds are focused.

Not that cold in nj. Really nice morning to be out on a bike, bright stars, not a single cloud. Slept well on the train. Traffic in the city was light.

Got to my office and found my key card isn't working on the elevator, so I'm standing on the sidewalk. Rrr

My coldest commute was this morning at 36 degrees F and it was not too bad. It should be in the 50's for the ride home.

Pretty mild really. It can get into the teens or maybe single digits at night, but not usually for many nights in a row and only in January or early February. The highs can vary but often will be above 40 and even close to 60.

Most precipitation is rain. Any snow we get either doesn't stick or melts quickly. Significant storms linger longer and make everything icy. They also tend to shut things down so much that many offices open late, close altogether or tell employees to work from home.

The weather app said 35F so I bundled up and even wore long tights for the first time since last winter. I may have been a little too heavy on the upper layers, but I was able to unzip and let some cool air in when needed.

Almost Friday!