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-   -   2017! The how was your commute thread! (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1093311-2017-how-your-commute-thread.html)

arsprod 05-24-17 07:25 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19604359)
I wore a wool t shirt under my dress shirt thinking hey maybe it will wick the sweat away. Damn, it did just that. I wonder if it will work well in hot weather. I'll try it.

I wear merino year round - the stuff is magic. In summer I wear icebreaker t's, I have one long and one short sleeve. Both are at least 3 years old and I can wear the same shirt every day for a week. When I tour these are all I carry for tops. I'm a merino evangelist - don't know why folks wear anything else.

[MENTION=339610]Darth Lefty[/MENTION] that might be the funniest post on this thread! The burning question is how one selects one's wife's pants... accidentally?!

... oh the commute, uneventful - gonna rain today, gonna get wet

PatrickGSR94 05-24-17 07:34 AM

Whoa, I know they're great and all but dang I couldn't stomach $70 for a t-shirt. I don't even spend $70 on true cycling jerseys with all the pockets and everything. I don't think I own one single bit of bicycle kit that cost $70.

sunvalleylaw 05-24-17 07:34 AM


Originally Posted by esmith2039 (Post 19606068)
Brrr 45 degrees this morning.. no way I was wearing shorts this morning! Good tailwind at least!

45 here too. But a beautiful day. Looks like a headwind thermal like normal, so time to suit up and show up I guess. I think I am going to take the converted mountain bike commuter today. Put a different bar on it the other night that I would like to try out.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...n.jpg~original

PatrickGSR94 05-24-17 07:36 AM


Originally Posted by sunvalleylaw (Post 19606234)
45 here too. But a beautiful day. Looks like a headwind thermal like normal, so time to suit up and show up I guess. I think I am going to take the converted mountain bike commuter today. Put a different bar on it the other night that I would like to try out.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...n.jpg~original

[MENTION=368966]sunvalleylaw[/MENTION] Oh hey my wife has the same car, same color even! We just got it for her in August of last year (2014 Touring model) and we both love it. Such a massive upgrade from her 96 Corolla clunker she drove for nearly 2 decades.

sunvalleylaw 05-24-17 07:41 AM


Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94 (Post 19606238)
[MENTION=368966]sunvalleylaw[/MENTION] Oh hey my wife has the same car, same color even! We just got it for her in August of last year (2014 Touring model) and we both love it. Such a massive upgrade from her 96 Corolla clunker she drove for nearly 2 decades.

Yeah, that is my wife's care also. She got it to replace a 2005 Subaru Outback, which was also a good car.

jrickards 05-24-17 07:49 AM


Originally Posted by Darth Lefty (Post 19604299)
That moment when you open your saddlebag and realize you've packed your wife's jeans

The expression "get into her pants" isn't meant to be taken literally. :lol:

HardyWeinberg 05-24-17 09:29 AM

1 Attachment(s)
51F, sunny.

Alternative mountains riding home last night.

noglider 05-24-17 09:39 AM


Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94 (Post 19606233)
Whoa, I know they're great and all but dang I couldn't stomach $70 for a t-shirt. I don't even spend $70 on true cycling jerseys with all the pockets and everything. I don't think I own one single bit of bicycle kit that cost $70.

I paid $60 for my Smartwool shirt, and yeah, it seemed crazy, but my wife has a whole lot of them, and I thought I ought to try one. I'd say after only a few months, I've already gotten my money's worth. I also got a Woolrich merino t shirt from Sierra Trading Post for a lot less, somewhere between $20 and $40. It's very thick and not as useful, though it is nice and warm in the winter. You could save money by watching for sales on Sierra Trading Post but you won't get the most benefit from something like Smartwool which I highly recommend. Like leather saddles and other things that cost a lot initially, you end up getting your money's worth.

noglider 05-24-17 09:41 AM

I pushed myself to ride in even though I'm sore and sleep deprived. I promised myself I have permission to ride gently. This time for perhaps the first time, I kept to a gentle pace and didn't change my mind. One of my goals is to make the commute NOT seem like a burden which is hard when it's so long. But it always pays off, because it's better than sitting still for so much of the time on the subway.

ptempel 05-24-17 10:42 AM


Originally Posted by Tundra_Man (Post 19606203)
There are days when I'm thankful there is a porta-potty north of the airport. Today was one of them.

You could find some bushes or some high grass if you have to take a #2 break. Tom Dumoulin had to do just that in the Giro d'Italia wearing the maglia rosa :) :

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/cycli...-giro-ditalia/

Hope he's not sick (or has diarrhea).

ptempel 05-24-17 10:45 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19606530)
but it always pays off, because it's better than sitting still for so much of the time on the subway.

+1,000,000

And also better than NJ Transit train... the bus...

Darth Lefty 05-24-17 02:29 PM

I rode to our other office at first today thinking I'd be back here before lunch. But it's thrown off my whole day. They were holding a going-away thing for two people and I dumbly took a large pastry, and then I stayed longer so I didn't eat my heart pills on time at 1030. By the time I got to my desk it was nearly 1230, I was feeling like sleepy crap due to the sugar hit, and I didn't want to take the heart pills because it would throw off my next dose that allows me to feel ok riding home.

sunvalleylaw 05-24-17 06:46 PM

^^^


Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg (Post 19606498)
51F, sunny.

Alternative mountains riding home last night.

Love it.

My commute was good. No pics this time. Sunny and moderate temps. Windy this afternoon. Love the new Jones handlebars.

jrickards 05-25-17 06:38 AM

When I got up at 6:30, there was a little bit of rain coming down and since I will be leading a community ride this evening, I decided not to ride in. After my shower, I went back to my bedroom to get dressed when I noticed that the rain had stopped so I changed my mind and got ready to ride in. I put on my rain jacket to keep me dry from road spray but I wondered if I would really need it. By the time I got about 1/3 of the way to work, the rain started up again, and continued for the remaining 20 minutes of the ride. However, the temperature was mild, 11C/52F, so I was fine.

Right now, the forecast for tonight's community ride is heavy rain so it might not go ahead (I'd be ready to go but no one else might show up and then I'd just go home). If the ride doesn't go, then I'm free to attend a friend's daughter's 19th birthday party (which, here in Canada, means that she is legal to drink so we got her some Crazy Beard Hard Cream Soda which she had tried at our house and liked).

Have a great day!

jrickards 05-25-17 06:41 AM


Originally Posted by Darth Lefty (Post 19607315)
I rode to our other office at first today thinking I'd be back here before lunch. But it's thrown off my whole day. They were holding a going-away thing for two people and I dumbly took a large pastry, and then I stayed longer so I didn't eat my heart pills on time at 1030. By the time I got to my desk it was nearly 1230, I was feeling like sleepy crap due to the sugar hit, and I didn't want to take the heart pills because it would throw off my next dose that allows me to feel ok riding home.

Heart pills!!! Look after yourself [MENTION=339610]Darth Lefty[/MENTION], we appreciate you being here.

noglider 05-25-17 06:43 AM

Yesterday I rode my racing bike again. On the way home, I crashed because I was tailgating a pair of cyclists who were riding like bats outa hell. I hit the brake and went over, but I let out a karate yell and rolled on my hip and shoulder and miraculously didn't get hurt at all. People ran from all over to check on me. It must have been spectacular. My life went into slow motion mode, and now I can recall the crash from the perspective of someone looking at me from above. Life is weird. I laughed really hard after I got up. I walked for a quarter mile before getting back on the bike to make sure I was OK. Then I rode slowly. I kept waiting for the pain of bruises to come, but they never did. My wife suggested an epsom salt bath, so I did that as a precaution. I had a lot of adrenaline running through me and I was in a giddy, giggly mood. I turned the bathroom lights down and lit candles to calm my nerves. And today, I still feel fine, so I guess I didn't land very hard. I got lucky.

mgw4jc 05-25-17 06:59 AM

Bunch of storms at 5 yesterday - heavy rain and thunder boomers. My wife rescued me from work. Trying to make up for the missed mileage, this morning I left about ten minutes early and rode 17 miles.

The Target store that had a fire on Monday at 5pm will be closed for weeks I hear. It had a lot of smoke and water damage. I'm guessing they have to scrap the entire store's inventory. I wonder what happens to all that. Maybe not everything, but who knows?

esmith2039 05-25-17 07:12 AM

47 degrees this morning.. getting warmer (again)! Last commute till the 5th of June, heading to Colorado Friday after work. Hoping to get in some recreational rides out there.

Amitoj 05-25-17 07:14 AM

It is going to rain today, besides I need to leave early. So had to take the car. Feeling a bit guilty about chickening out due to rain.


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19608672)
Yesterday I rode my racing bike again. On the way home, I crashed because I was tailgating a pair of cyclists who were riding like bats outa hell. I hit the brake and went over, but I let out a karate yell and rolled on my hip and shoulder and miraculously didn't get hurt at all.

Glad to know you are ok! And it seems it is more to do with falling properly than luck in your case. It is important to learn how to fall properly in order to minimize injury. I am yet to master that skill, for lack of practice :p
It was two years ago that I was riding with a couple of my friends on the local bike trail. We were approaching an intersection so we started to slow down. That's when the guy behind me had a brain fade and pressed the front brakes hard, went head over heels, landed on his outstretched hands and broke both arms.

rhm 05-25-17 07:21 AM

I rode in the rain. I've been at my office almost three hours now, haven't really dried out yet. My North Face rain jacket is not as waterproof as desired.

Tundra_Man 05-25-17 07:32 AM

It's been about two months since I injured my back and as a result I've been unable to run. Cycling doesn't seem to make my back any better or worse, so thankfully I've been able to continue riding. To keep myself from turning into a complete blob, I've been getting up early on the mornings I would normally run, then spending that time going for an extra long bicycle ride before work.

It was a pretty nice morning, weather-wise. There was an 18mph south wind, so I tacked on my extra miles riding 10 miles into the wind, then turned around and followed the same route back to work. The way back was a lot faster.

As I was riding back I was on the MUP and they mayor of our city passed me running in the opposite direction. (Just for clarification, he was running for exercise not because there were villagers chasing him with torches and pitchforks.) As we met he said, "Good morning! It's great to see you!"

Whether a person agrees with his politics or not, it's hard to deny that he's a very friendly guy.

KCBikeCommuter 05-25-17 07:34 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19608672)
Yesterday I rode my racing bike again. On the way home, I crashed because I was tailgating a pair of cyclists who were riding like bats outa hell. I hit the brake and went over, but I let out a karate yell and rolled on my hip and shoulder and miraculously didn't get hurt at all. People ran from all over to check on me. It must have been spectacular. My life went into slow motion mode, and now I can recall the crash from the perspective of someone looking at me from above. Life is weird. I laughed really hard after I got up. I walked for a quarter mile before getting back on the bike to make sure I was OK. Then I rode slowly. I kept waiting for the pain of bruises to come, but they never did. My wife suggested an epsom salt bath, so I did that as a precaution. I had a lot of adrenaline running through me and I was in a giddy, giggly mood. I turned the bathroom lights down and lit candles to calm my nerves. And today, I still feel fine, so I guess I didn't land very hard. I got lucky.

Yikes! Glad you're ok!

ptempel 05-25-17 07:57 AM

Also rode in the rain like [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] did. Got my second shower. Too bad its not as clean as the first shower. Still using the plastic bag over the saddle. Also have been using a bunch of paper towel (we have them in big rolls at work). I stuff it in my shoes and socks. Works well. Check after a few hrs and replace if needed. Another tip I learned right here on BF. :thumb: Only prob is that I'll probably be as wet going home today as well. But I'll at least start out with fairly dry shoes and socks?

arsprod 05-25-17 08:18 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19608672)
Yesterday I rode my racing bike again. On the way home, I crashed because I was tailgating a pair of cyclists who were riding like bats outa hell. I hit the brake and went over, but I let out a karate yell and rolled on my hip and shoulder and miraculously didn't get hurt at all. People ran from all over to check on me. It must have been spectacular. My life went into slow motion mode, and now I can recall the crash from the perspective of someone looking at me from above. Life is weird. I laughed really hard after I got up. I walked for a quarter mile before getting back on the bike to make sure I was OK. Then I rode slowly. I kept waiting for the pain of bruises to come, but they never did. My wife suggested an epsom salt bath, so I did that as a precaution. I had a lot of adrenaline running through me and I was in a giddy, giggly mood. I turned the bathroom lights down and lit candles to calm my nerves. And today, I still feel fine, so I guess I didn't land very hard. I got lucky.

Woah :eek:! Lesson for me - don't ride with the peloton riders (not that I could keep up anyway). Yesterday's ride home was in soaking, steady rain. Today I managed to miss the rain but the winds have shifted and had a nice tailwind... which means headwind going home likely in rain.

arsprod 05-25-17 08:19 AM


Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94 (Post 19606233)
Whoa, I know they're great and all but dang I couldn't stomach $70 for a t-shirt. I don't even spend $70 on true cycling jerseys with all the pockets and everything. I don't think I own one single bit of bicycle kit that cost $70.

Neither would I but as [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] points out you can find them on sale - don't think I've paid more than $50 for one. Considering they last years it's a bargain


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