rhm

The winds, on the way home yesterday, were awful. Even when I had a tailwind, there was so much grit (much of it pollen) in the air, my eyes stung for hours afterwards.

I went out to Long Island, which involved riding my folding bike over the Queensborough Bridge. The bridge was oddly empty of cyclists; I didn't pass anyone the whole way over. So I felt slow. But then I got an alert from RideWithGPS --I was recording my ride, for no particular reason. I got a "personal best" riding over the bridge, putting me in 176th place overall. Oo we. I guess I had a tail wind!

The wind had died down today. Fine with me.

JReade

That's my normal plan, I've also called an uber. She was at work and would be there for the next two hours so I also debated just walking to the nearest watering hole and waiting, but I'm trying to transition to less car, more bike reliance and this was just one test. At least it was $5 for a tube not $50 for a car tire or a tow.

Tundra_Man 

Today was a very rare day: light tailwind this morning, and the wind is supposed to shift so I'll get a tailwind on the way home too. As uncommon as a Yeti.

Of course, it's also supposed to be raining on the way home. So I guess you take the good along with the bad.

PatrickGSR94

Forgot to top off my e-bike battery from 80% up to 90% this morning when I first got up, so I did what I normally wouldn't do and charged it at the maximum 5 amps on the Luna advanced charger. It was finished after about 15 minutes, then I was ready to go. 6:15 AM departure, already light outside, 59°F temp, cruising on the e-bike. It was a super enjoyable ride!

wphamilton

Today I decided to commute in my office clothes. I don't know why, but I just got dressed, hopped on the fender'd fixed gear and rode in easy. In the cool morning, and six miles of it in the shaded Greenway it worked out fine.

There is a younger guy who rides in sometimes, I guess more often than not these days, and I've never seen him in anything but street clothes. Maybe self-conscious at the office or he just likes to take it easy, but just as I was musing about that he happened to roll up. Most days, like today, he rides a really nice Bottechia race bike, I'd trade in a heartbeat. But he also has an old Trek hard-tail with a milk carton on back, which I thought was a pretty neat commuter, and I hadn't seen in it months so I asked him about that. It took him a minute to recall what I was talking about but he said he had loaned it to a homeless guy, who lost it!

Steely Dan

after a long barrage of windier than average days over the past week and a half, we finally had a perfectly still morning here in chicago.

and the sun is shining as bright as it can with temps in the low 50s.

all in all, an utterly gorgeous morning to ride.

arsprod 

The winds have abated (finally) but so has the temperature, 39F this morning. I had to drag out the Moose Mitts, hopefully for the last time!

HardyWeinberg

57F, heavy mist. Supposed to get up into the 70s (1st time this year, and by a long shot) and sunny. The former seems likely, the latter, wait and see...

ps-> this is why I usually wear tights regardless of the temp, and why I don't wear work clothes. I did wear shoes/socks rather than sandals today, despite the temp.

Darth Lefty 

I brought my Dad's Paramount to work today. This makes three bikes in three days on the first week of Bike Month. I took the longer, flatter route since this bike likes going faster and has a 40" low gear. I don't ride it often. The gearing is too high for my heart bug, and the shifters predate clutches or ratchets much less indexing, so they are super stiff. But I regret it, because my goodness it is a wonderfully riding frame.

noglider 

Late yesterday, the city issued a wind warning of gusts up to 40 mph.

If you live or work in NYC, I highly recommend the Notify NYC service.

And of course, it was a headwind for me. It was particularly shifty and gusty. I have panniers on my front wheel, and they act as sails which violently turn my wheel to the side. So far, I've been able to react to these gusts.

This morning, the wind was still at it, out of the west-southwest. That's pretty much a crosswind for me but a very slight tailwind on average, so I did get benefit from it, but it was still shifty and gusty, and I had some side gusts and some headwinds. It's all in the fun, though. The air pressure is high, so the world is bright and clear.

I started keeping a log of my non-bicycle exercise which so far is stuff with a barbell and pushups. I notice that I feel better on the bike after doing these exercises, so it's a great discovery. My pains on the bike are mostly from weak shoulders and back, so I believe these exercises will be a big help in the long term.

The Hudson River is in the foreground (forewater?). Then you see New Jersey on the other side. In the distance, you can see the George Washington Bridge which I eventually crossed under. You might also be able to see the roughness of the water resulting from the wind.

PatrickGSR94

I first read that as the winds were "****ty and gutsy"

groovestew

First commute of the year! My latest start yet. Excuse blah blah excuse blah. Anyway, I rode, and it was fine. Chilly on the way in, warm and beautiful on the way home.

Johnny Mullet

Soaking wet and cold Monday and Tuesday. Cold and clear next 2 days then rain.

joeyduck

I have been noticeably absent the last few weeks from the forum. Anywho my regular commute has not abated, all 700 m! I am the luckiest of the bunch, but I then have to take two other motorized vehicles after the bike. The weather has been up and down, the rain is tapering off, but not after a few heavy April rains.

About mid March we were told we were too need to move out at the end of June; sad face, panic, worry, stress, blah blah blah. We were able to find a great rental place to move into in May. We opted to pay for May and move at the end of the month, okay not the best but we wanted to enjoy as much time on the island as we could. Anywho two weeks ago a place pops up onto our radar for purchase. We tour it, like it, talk about it, acknowledge real estate isn't getting cheaper, put in an offer, accepted! Now we are almost complete with our condition removal and it is looking good. So we are looking to become homeowner about the end of June! It will be a very short move, less than 1 km! So that is exciting, no more moving. The final thing is a certification of the fire place for insurance, that's the last condition. So far no regrets, though we won't be affording any trips or new things for a while.

Anywho it has been nice to read all of your commuting stories, and @timvan_78 that is a nice 10th Ave photo, how I always enjoyed biking those tunnels of trees. @noglider I am glad to hear you're getting back on the bike.

I keep telling myself I will start doing some laps here on the island for fitness but the days get so busy and by the time I get home it is later than I expect and lose motivation, plus cooking and dishes and bed times.

essiemyra

A very nice commute in this am with the temp at 37f degrees and clear skies.

esmith2039

Same here in KS.. and I agree!

arsprod 

I violated my rule of riding no matter the weather and I don't care, tired of being wet. It sucks - 40's, windy, rain. I'd rather have 20's and snow.

rhm

Back to long pants and long sleeves today, but no wind to speak of. Tomorrow we'll have that rain.

55murray

Yep, today was full head to toe raingear, which I rarely do I would rather get a bit wet. I'm only going a touch over three miles one way. Going home might be harder if the wind keeps up...

mgw4jc

Loving the 60 degree mornings lately. Been able to get out the door a little early and add some miles. 16 this morning with a little exploring of the neighborhoods connecting the MUP.

Rain coming in this afternoon, but they say the worst parts won't be until after dark.

arsprod 

11 miles each way, just not doin' it!

wphamilton

Today marks 3000 bike commutes to and from my current job location, counting each way as a commute. 26,000 miles. Although those are not a huge numbers in the scheme of things, I started this job at near 50 and looking back it seems like a long road.

mcours2006

Rain. Lots of it in the forecast for the ride home. But the wind should be helping.

Honestly, I'll take this rain over snow any day of the week.

Tundra_Man 

Better late than never.

Tundra_Man 

Consecutive bicycle work commute number 290. Inching ever closer to the 300 mark.

This morning was absolutely gorgeous. Sunny, 45°F and no wind (in South Dakota, whaaat?) I wore shorts and took the long way to work, turning my 8 mile commute into 18+. The pavement was still damp from the rains during the night, but by the time I left the house there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

About 12 miles out I waved at a co-worker riding his bike in the opposite direction. He was heading to a different client's office.

3 miles from work I had my first goose incident of the year. Two of them mounted a group attack and came at me simultaneously. One flapped up in my face while the other one nipped my finger. Thankfully I came through unscathed. My finger stung for a few minutes, but I was wearing gloves and there's no broken skin. It's always surprisingly frightening when you're being blitzed by a large bird.