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2017! The how was your commute thread!

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2017! The how was your commute thread!

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Old 09-11-17 | 06:30 AM
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46F when I started from home today. Had to bring out full finger gloves and the New England Randonneurs' merino wool jersey. And since it is going to hit almost 80 later today, also had to pack half finger gloves and a lighter jersey.
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Old 09-11-17 | 07:31 AM
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Offices closed due to the tropical storm warning for the Atlanta area so I'm telecommuting. Before that I was tempted since we're expecting up to 40mph sustained winds this evening about when I'd be coming home, a tailwind for me. But that will remain a "might have been" this time.
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Old 09-11-17 | 07:42 AM
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Tights weather already? Sigh.
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Old 09-11-17 | 07:50 AM
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From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)

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Irma pushed me to work this morning. I collected a couple of Strava PRs due to the 15+mph tailwind. Overall average speed was 18.5mph, a good 2-3 mph above normal for my morning ride.

Most likely there will be enough rain this afternoon that my wife will pick me up, so I won't have to fight the headwind. However, it seems we won't be having any serious effects from Irma.
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Old 09-11-17 | 08:03 AM
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48 this morning, skipped the jacket - time to thicken up the blood.
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Old 09-11-17 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Tights weather already? Sigh.
My thoughts exactly!
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Old 09-11-17 | 09:40 AM
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Yesterday I served as a marshal on the NYC Century ride. I volunteered for the 55-mile route but somehow missed a turn and ended up on the 75 mile route! I'm sore. I napped after getting home and then took a hot bath. I actually don't enjoy hot baths much, but I knew it would do me good. This morning, I took ibuprofen and feel much better. I didn't ride, as my wife asked me to bring her car in for repair, and I use a garage near work. Traffic was surprisingly good and not irritating. Driving a car in NYC is supremely annoying.

At this point, I'm feeling so good I wish I were riding today. That's a good recovery, eh? I'm still apprehensive about riding Hillier Than Thou on Sept 24. I haven't done anything like it.

The amount I've been eating is astonishing and even a little bit disgusting.
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Old 09-11-17 | 11:26 AM
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Chilly, clear, and calm. Felt very sluggish on the climbs.

Got to work, put my bike in the server room as usual, noticed an amber light flashing on one of the drives, and set to work investigating the problem. Then my phone rings and it's my boss wondering why I'm not on the teleconference that started 15 minutes earlier. Darn those early calls.
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Old 09-11-17 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
At this point, I'm feeling so good I wish I were riding today. That's a good recovery, eh? I'm still apprehensive about riding Hillier Than Thou on Sept 24. I haven't done anything like it.
That is some climbing there!!
I am thinking of doing the New England Randonneurs' Fall Classic that weekend in Vermont. It is not as brutal as Hillier Than Thou but still, more than 5000 feet of climbing in 110K is probably all that I can take. They have a 200K version too that has more than 10,700 feet of climbing.
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Old 09-11-17 | 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Amitoj
That is some climbing there!!
I am thinking of doing the New England Randonneurs' Fall Classic that weekend in Vermont. It is not as brutal as Hillier Than Thou but still, more than 5000 feet of climbing in 110K is probably all that I can take. They have a 200K version too that has more than 10,700 feet of climbing.
That looks awfully nice. Maybe I'd like to do that next year.

I'm not sure I'll survive Hillier Than Thou. If I don't, it's been nice knowing you folks.
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Old 09-11-17 | 12:28 PM
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Dang, y'all and that climbing I'll take my no more than 88 feet worth of elevation on my daily commute over that. Some days, I'm thankful to be a flatlander.
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Old 09-11-17 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Amitoj
46F when I started from home today. Had to bring out full finger gloves and the New England Randonneurs' merino wool jersey. And since it is going to hit almost 80 later today, also had to pack half finger gloves and a lighter jersey.
I just use a long sleeve baselayer under a short sleeve jersey. Then just leave the baselayer in your bag on the way home. For gloves, I can go open finger or full finger. I've used either one up to 90's F. So no big deal if the full finger are the thin ones for 50's F temps. One nice thing about the full finger is that I can wipe my front and rear tire after I run over stuff (rocks, glass, etc) and not get my hand dirty.

Edit: Don't laugh but I previously used Firm Grip gloves that my wife bought for me from the hardware store for yardwork. Tough to beat at $10 a pair at the hardware store!


Last edited by ptempel; 09-11-17 at 01:35 PM.
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Old 09-11-17 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I'm not sure I'll survive Hillier Than Thou. If I don't, it's been nice knowing you folks.
Good on you for signing up for that ride. The graph here:

Hillier than Thou Course - 101.6 mi mapped course on MapMyRide

makes it look like its a lot of short and fairly steep stuff. The course profile looks like what my heart rate would be during the event. Do you know how much total climbing for the day?

Edit: Am thinking that I'd prolly be whacked using my 39x27 and would have to throw on the compact crank to get the bailout gears.

Last edited by ptempel; 09-11-17 at 02:22 PM.
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Old 09-11-17 | 02:11 PM
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Dentist today, incompatible with kid daycare delivery by bike. Tomorrow is an MTB commute, and my new MTB is slated for delivery today, so it's st least possible I'll be riding it tomorrow. Thanks to online forums I have a list of worry beads... frame pivot grease and pivot pin fit, NDS rear hub locknut, facing shavings in headset and BB
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Old 09-11-17 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Tights weather already? Sigh.
Do you have an Errol Flynn / Cary Elwes cycling outfit? Be honest.
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Old 09-11-17 | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
Do you have an Errol Flynn / Cary Elwes cycling outfit? Be honest.
No, but that would be a good idea for my group's costume ride coming up in a month or so.
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Old 09-11-17 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by ptempel
Good on you for signing up for that ride. The graph here:

Hillier than Thou Course - 101.6 mi mapped course on MapMyRide

makes it look like its a lot of short and fairly steep stuff. The course profile looks like what my heart rate would be during the event. Do you know how much total climbing for the day?

Edit: Am thinking that I'd prolly be whacked using my 39x27 and would have to throw on the compact crank to get the bailout gears.
The 100 mile route has 12,000 ft of climbing, and the 100km route has 7,000 ft. I'm a fool, but I'm not a supreme fool, so I'm doing the 100km route. Still not sure how I'll do.

My butt has recovered very well since yesterday's ride. It was hurting. I think all the miles I've been putting in, on hills and on flat ground, have helped.
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Old 09-11-17 | 05:31 PM
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Great commute this morning... great weather, minimal traffic, and i had slept well. Generally, the commuter pace was a bit faster than usual, so i got to work a bit early.
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Old 09-12-17 | 05:16 AM
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A very nice uneventful commute this am with the temp at 53f degrees and clear dark skies.
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Old 09-12-17 | 06:28 AM
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I took the bail out option last night. My wife was already 5 miles up the road dropping a child at dance practice. Plus the rain was steady and the winds gusting enough that I didn't feel like fighting it.

This morning I made up for it wetness wise.
Drizzle - light rain - drizzle - light rain.
But the winds were pretty light.

I think the worst of Irma's remnants are mostly past here now. South Charlotte had some trees down and power outages, but I only saw small branches and leaves blown off on my commute (well north of town).
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Old 09-12-17 | 06:43 AM
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So for the ride home last night, 70°F range and heavily overcast. I really need to get a new headlight for the bike - it just has not been in the budget the last few weeks.

As for this morning, as the remnants of Irma head into the Ohio river valley I'm looking at rain for today, tomorrow, and Thursday. It was wet and I rode slow:

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Old 09-12-17 | 08:06 AM
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I guess it rained last night. Lots of puddles to dodge. Cool, cloudy, and calm.
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Old 09-12-17 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
The 100 mile route has 12,000 ft of climbing, and the 100km route has 7,000 ft. I'm a fool, but I'm not a supreme fool, so I'm doing the 100km route. Still not sure how I'll do.

My butt has recovered very well since yesterday's ride. It was hurting. I think all the miles I've been putting in, on hills and on flat ground, have helped.
Wow. 7,000 ft of climbing. Respect! What gearing are you going to use? The secret to climbing appears to be to spin like Chris Froome. Of course nobody mentions that he also has 7.5 watts per kilo. One little difference...

Edit: One guy in this thread below says he did it with 36x29 for the low. Compact crank FTW!

https://forums.roadbikereview.com/new...ou-327035.html

Last edited by ptempel; 09-12-17 at 08:19 AM.
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Old 09-12-17 | 08:27 AM
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A cool 55F - warmer than yesterday and I ditched the tights (and I'm putting together a Cary Elwes ensemble, great suggestion [MENTION=326413]darth[/MENTION]_Lefty!). Hard to imagine but we're expecting remnants of Irma starting this afternoon so windy and rain this far inland and north
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Old 09-12-17 | 09:13 AM
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Sup guys, been awhile since I've been on BF. Just been so busy lately. Saw the total eclipse in Clarksville TN, dealing with huge rains from hurricane remnants, etc. Got in a couple good rides around Nashville with my son on that weekend of the eclipse.

My last commute to work was last Thursday. I should have ridden Friday but woke up late. And today we have tons of rain from Irma moving through. Last Thursday was the first really "chilly" morning of the season at around 51°F. I wore my wind breaker and thin tights over my bib shorts. Had a good ride, just slow from all the wind.
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