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

no motor? 09-26-17 11:00 AM

I too am dealing with record heat. It's surprising that it's not only this hot, but this hot for this long at this time of year. I wasn't able to ride for about a week and it feels good to be back up on 2 wheels again, even if it is so hot.

PatrickGSR94 09-26-17 11:06 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 19888192)
ridewithgps keeps track of how I do on various so-called segments. I tried to reach my record for the steep hill climb, which is 40 seconds, but I did it in 50 seconds. I really don't see how I ever did it in 40 seconds. I wonder if it was a measurement error or something.

There was almost no wind today, and that helped, too. The wind map shows that I had a slight headwind, but the leaves on the tree were showing that I had a slight tail wind.

That's why I usually put temperature and wind direction and speed in the Notes section for my Strava rides. So for whatever segment I can go to the ride with my best time, and then I can see if maybe there was a big tail wind that day that may have helped me along.

noglider 09-26-17 11:15 AM

A tail wind would explain short travel times over my whole route but not a quick climb on a steep hill.

PatrickGSR94 09-26-17 11:21 AM

Well who knows. Sometimes you just feel stronger some days more so than other days. I know that some of my fastest hill segment times have been on days when there was a strong tail wind.

Darth Lefty 09-26-17 01:31 PM

The comedy of errors continued unabated. I put a different tire on and it was tighter (thanks Continental) so I got it to seat. Then I put in the sealant and knocked over the jug with my toe, coating my shoe. I rinsed it off but by then it was 9 and my shoe was squishy and I was late already without even setting off. So I took the truck. MTB tomorrow finally

mgw4jc 09-27-17 06:27 AM

Crazy mom in her SUV just had to make her left turn in front of me this morning. And there was a car coming up on the road she was turning into. She basically tried to short-cut her left turn so she wouldn't have to wait on me. I wasn't going too fast anyway, but had to brake quickly. I raised my hand up and said, "HELLO!?" She looked at me but offered no apology. The car on the adjacent road just about had her front bumper taken off. After crazy soccer mom was past us she looked at me with an open mouth in disbelief.

A good ride otherwise. Still plenty warm, but not as humid as July and August anway.

scottsmith 09-27-17 07:33 AM

Good ride this morning! Great weather & pretty peaceful traffic with no close passes.

Won't get many more mornings this nice until spring!

arsprod 09-27-17 08:07 AM


Originally Posted by Darth Lefty (Post 19888780)
The comedy of errors continued unabated. I put a different tire on and it was tighter (thanks Continental) so I got it to seat. Then I put in the sealant and knocked over the jug with my toe, coating my shoe. I rinsed it off but by then it was 9 and my shoe was squishy and I was late already without even setting off. So I took the truck. MTB tomorrow finally

^ One of the reasons I'm reluctant to make the move to tubeless - that stuff is nasty! Warmer this morning at 67F but the summer temps are over - high today supposed to top out at 80 and cooler tomorrow. With the cooler temps the wind is back - it's been almost windless for days. Most unfortunate is it'll be a headwind going home... I'd rather have 90+temps

pdlamb 09-27-17 08:58 AM

Cool clear morning today, beautiful day for a ride. I was running a bit late, but that just made the security line shorter. 70F after a long summer made it harder to stop when I got to the office, though. :)

HardyWeinberg 09-27-17 09:24 AM

50F, blinding sun, very nice

noglider 09-27-17 10:02 AM

I got home late last night, as I do every Tuesday night, from my singing ensemble rehearsal. I was sweaty and dirty so I took a shower before bed rather than this morning. I really didn't feel like riding to work and getting dirty and sweaty, so I did something unusual and asked the facebook hivemind whether I should ride or take the subway. The unanimous decision was to ride except for one person who said take the day off and ride. I didn't wear bike clothes except for shoes. I wore a cotton polo shirt and linen shorts. First I went to the ATM and the pharmacy and then back home to pick up my bag and stuff. I forgot my helmet and mirror and gloves, and it was really nice being helmetless but uncomfortable being gloveless.

I told myself DO NOT RIDE HARD, and this time I listened. I rode really gently. There was a strong headwind which was nice for blowing off most of my sweat, but it could have been a big cause of it, too. It turns out that linen shorts are not comfy for riding. Bike shorts are nice, but they're like gigantic sponges, and they get heavy with sweat because the internal pad is so big. Is there a happy medium?

groovestew 09-27-17 10:02 AM

Cool, clear, and calm. It's been a while since my last bike commute, nice to be back. Had pretty good energy this morning.

Darth Lefty 09-27-17 04:51 PM


Originally Posted by arsprod (Post 19890286)
^ One of the reasons I'm reluctant to make the move to tubeless - that stuff is nasty!

Not really? It's mostly water and nontoxic antifreeze and mold latex, none of which I find terribly frightening. It cleaned up with a paper towel and I rinsed my shoe in the sink. If you had latex allergy it would be a problem.

The difficulty getting the tire to seat is IMO a fault in this particular rim design in combination with trying to use a regular tire with a looser fit.

back on the trails this morning and immediately skinned my knee. Wheeee!

Amitoj 09-27-17 05:28 PM

Relaxed commute today. Took it easy because A. I've been having symptoms of cold past few days, and B. was anyway recovering from the weekend ride of the Fall Classic 200K. Being on the bike felt good. Being in office, not so good!

essiemyra 09-28-17 05:07 AM

A very nice commute after two days of not riding due to dense fog in the morning. The temp was a warm 74 f degrees this morning with clearing skies.

The ride home Monday evening was interesting due to my talking to a homeless man because he lives on his bike. He was outside the grocery store and I was not sure if he was doing a tour or homeless. Turns out he is homeless and previously incarcerated(his words). What I learned is not everyone on a bike is riding because they want to.

Amitoj 09-28-17 06:20 AM

Unbelievable mid 70s temperature today morning. Return is also going to be almost same, but with the wind backing me this time.
Also, this is the 2nd time this year that my monthly mileage has crossed 600 miles :ride:
If I manage to commute tomorrow as well, then it will be my all time high for a monthly mileage!

mgw4jc 09-28-17 06:51 AM


Originally Posted by Amitoj (Post 19892657)
Also, this is the 2nd time this year that my monthly mileage has crossed 600 miles :ride:
If I manage to commute tomorrow as well, then it will be my all time high for a monthly mileage!

Good job! 600 in a month is big. I've only managed that a couple of times over the past few years.

Nice morning ride. One more day of hot weather today - high of 90F. Tomorrow's high is only 78 and more of the same through the weekend.

arsprod 09-28-17 07:17 AM

Fall is here! 53F, I should have worn tights but hanging on to summer as long as possible. It must be 'assuage corporate guilt day' as the MUP was jammed with volunteers from two of the city's largest corporate employers. I must have passed at least 8 groups of 30-50 people, most of whom were standing in the middle of the trail having conversations, oblivious to those of us using the trail. A commuting buddy caught up to me and made the same comment - they're cleaning it up for us but oblivious to us while we're actually using it!

PatrickGSR94 09-28-17 07:34 AM

Another uneventful commute yesterday. I'm not sure but that may be the first time I've ever commuted 3 consecutive days! That gives me over 90 miles for the work week already. I had planned to make it 4 days in a row today for the first time ever, but I was just too tired this morning. So I drove the car today.

But hopefully that will be the only time I take the car this week. If I ride tomorrow that will officially be my first 4-day bike commute week ever, since I started back in 2013!

KCBikeCommuter 09-28-17 07:51 AM

Beautiful 50F (10C) degree temperature with winds that were pretty much non-existent for the morning commute. All was well except for about 2-seconds of terror toward the end of the commute. I was making a left turn onto a side street, where a car (on the side street) was stopped at the stop sign waiting to make a left turn onto the road I was exiting. I assumed the car saw me and continued my turn. At the point I was directly in front of the car, they decide to begin their turn directly toward me. Luckily the car saw me and stopped. This was a big reminder to me... that even though I'm lit up like a Christmas tree... don't assume cars see me, especially when it's still dark out. I, of course, have always known this, but we all have a tendency to become complacent as days turn into weeks and weeks turn into years without a close call. My senses are definitely 'alert' again!

PatrickGSR94 09-28-17 08:06 AM


Originally Posted by KCBikeCommuter (Post 19892869)
Beautiful 50F (10C) degree temperature with winds that were pretty much non-existent for the morning commute. All was well except for about 2-seconds of terror toward the end of the commute. I was making a left turn onto a side street, where a car (on the side street) was stopped at the stop sign waiting to make a left turn onto the road I was exiting. I assumed the car saw me and continued my turn. At the point I was directly in front of the car, they decide to begin their turn directly toward me. Luckily the car saw me and stopped. This was a big reminder to me... that even though I'm lit up like a Christmas tree... don't assume cars see me, especially when it's still dark out. I, of course, have always known this, but we all have a tendency to become complacent as days turn into weeks and weeks turn into years without a close call. My senses are definitely 'alert' again!

I always get nervous turning left in front of a car to my left, especially when they're also turning left. I had one close call like that back when I first started in 2013. Now I go slow, and pay close attention to whether that car starts moving or not, before I'm clear of them. I also sometimes turn a little wide to stay farther away from them, rather than cutting the corner close near the front of the car, to give me a fraction more time in case they DO start moving too early.

KCBikeCommuter 09-28-17 08:54 AM


Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94 (Post 19892906)
I always get nervous turning left in front of a car to my left, especially when they're also turning left. I had one close call like that back when I first started in 2013. Now I go slow, and pay close attention to whether that car starts moving or not, before I'm clear of them. I also sometimes turn a little wide to stay farther away from them, rather than cutting the corner close near the front of the car, to give me a fraction more time in case they DO start moving too early.

I agree... turning wider around a left-turning car is a good idea. This particular intersection is not quite at a 90-degree angle either. Combined with a left-turning car that is pulled a little too far forward in front of the white 'stop' line and I have a couple of good reasons to give myself as much 'buffer' as possible for my turn. Lesson re-learned! :thumb:

noglider 09-28-17 09:13 AM

I fixed the flat on my Raleigh before leaving. It was surprisingly nice to get back on it. It feels more relaxed than my other bikes.

The headwinds were fierce. Fortunately, the forecast says the winds will abate slightly but they won't shift. It's actually a crosswind but more against me than with me. It gusted and shifted so I had occasional tail winds but not for long. Effort was high, and time was slow, but at least I was comfortable.

I've started listening to The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast. It is surprisingly uplifting.

HardyWeinberg 09-28-17 09:37 AM

48F, sunny. Yesterday and today are an interjection of hot sunny weather and back to 58F and drizzly for the rest of forever (until it drops down to 48F and drizzly then 38F and drizzly...) so extended my commute home last night and in today; plan to do it going home tonight too.

groovestew 09-28-17 10:03 AM

Chilly, sunny, and calm.

Municipal elections are around the corner, and this evening I'm planning to attend a candidates forum. The current mayor (and a shoo-in for another term) is a cyclist and there has been some progress in cycling infrastructure over the last four years, but there's a loud group of people in opposition to any concessions for cyclists, enough that it keeps coming up as a major election issue. Might be some interesting debates.

essiemyra 09-29-17 05:03 AM

This morning's commute was a bit chilly with the temp at 48 f degrees. A pleasant but uneventful ride.

Amitoj 09-29-17 05:58 AM


Originally Posted by essiemyra (Post 19895234)
This morning's commute was a bit chilly with the temp at 48 f degrees. A pleasant but uneventful ride.

6 degrees colder here!
And I foolishly chose not to wear full finger gloves.

mgw4jc 09-29-17 06:45 AM

Oof, I think we're still a ways off from sub 50 temps. Overcast and supposed to be cooler today, but still upper 70s. Nice ride in on some crunchy leaves on the MUP.

On my way to change clothes a co-worker who used to live in my neighborhood said she told her daughter that I commute by bike. She said her daughter wondered how long that took and Google mapped it. That said something like an hour and 15 minutes. I told her Google is pretty conservative and it usually takes about 45-50 minutes. She said her daughter was amazed I do it every day.

I guess I'm pretty awesome.

groovestew 09-29-17 08:36 AM

My phone lied to me. It was definitely colder than the 11C/52F it showed me. Didn't bother with gloves. I've been in the office for 15 minutes and I can still barely type.

jrickards 09-29-17 09:14 AM

Commuted most days this week, today being the exception. My co-workers teased me about the little bit of rain this morning stopping me but in fact, there were chores I hadn't done last night that had to be done this morning before I left (took the car) and a couple of things to pick up after work (before the stores close, neither of them stay open late any night).

However, I'm glad that tomorrow is not a work day as the overnight low is forecast to be -1C/30F. I may be avoiding it tomorrow but it's going to come.

Have a great weekend!


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