2018! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#751
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I already brought 3 tracking devices for my travel but the other 2 doesn't seem to work well. Currently, I'm using Trackimo, and I can say this is really accurate and It's worth the prize. Try them!
#752
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,350
Likes: 3,551
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Totally skunked for commutes this week. Today weather, tomorrow gotta go somewhere my bike can’t take me soon enough, Wednesday is tee ball, Thursday- Friday camping trip. My new bike arrives at the REI on Thursday so I likely won’t pick it up until next Monday.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#754
Rockin' down the highway
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, TX
Bikes: Electra Townie 21 700cc, Trek Lexa, Catrike Trail
Newbie ride
So today was the first day I actually rode in-about 7 miles and not terribly fast. But the weather is good and my lights worked the whole way.
#755
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
#756
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
A cold front hit last night. It was windy and chilly yesterday, but a decent 55F when I got off work (had to drive yesterday), but dropped to 30F by this morning. I pulled out the mittens, balaclava, jacket and tights for this morning's ride. This afternoon's high will be back up to 67, and I won't even need light gloves or a long-sleeve shirt.
#757
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 444
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
20°F this morning. Still plenty of snow left from the 14" we received over the weekend. I took the winter bike with studded tires assuming there would be lots of ice like yesterday. I was surprised: most of it was gone. Really only my final 1.5 miles had any noticeable ice.
I did have one sort of close call during that last 1.5 miles. I was coming across an intersection. There was a frozen windrow left by the plows jutting out into my path. It was probably 2 feet high. I should have just gone around it like the other vehicles, but heard my inner Evel Knievel calling. It was too high and my bike too heavy for me to bunny hop the whole thing, but I figured I could two-hop it by getting some momentum and hopping up towards the top, and then hopping again over the rest of it. It all went as planned until I hopped off the top and realized I was going to come down on a big patch of sheet ice. That's a bit much for even studded tires. I landed and slid sideways and somehow managed to come to a stop while staying on my feet. Unhurt, but definitely looked like a doofus to the cars passing in the other lane (where I should have been to avoid the obstacle.)
More snow still in the forecast for later today. Right now it sounds like it will hold off until after dark tonight, then we should get about 5" more by tomorrow noon.
I did have one sort of close call during that last 1.5 miles. I was coming across an intersection. There was a frozen windrow left by the plows jutting out into my path. It was probably 2 feet high. I should have just gone around it like the other vehicles, but heard my inner Evel Knievel calling. It was too high and my bike too heavy for me to bunny hop the whole thing, but I figured I could two-hop it by getting some momentum and hopping up towards the top, and then hopping again over the rest of it. It all went as planned until I hopped off the top and realized I was going to come down on a big patch of sheet ice. That's a bit much for even studded tires. I landed and slid sideways and somehow managed to come to a stop while staying on my feet. Unhurt, but definitely looked like a doofus to the cars passing in the other lane (where I should have been to avoid the obstacle.)
More snow still in the forecast for later today. Right now it sounds like it will hold off until after dark tonight, then we should get about 5" more by tomorrow noon.
#759
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,616
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mom told us when we were kids to be grateful for small blessings.
So when there's frost on the cars (when the predicted low was 36F), I'm grateful I don't have to scrape the bike's non-existent windshield. And the wind had abated, after the 25-30 mph gusts on the way home last night. Cloudless sky, bright sun, nice ride.
Nice ride until I did the litter pickup with the bike tire thing. One self-tapping screw right through my rear tire. It took me almost 15 minutes to fix the flat. Without glueless patches in the saddle bag the tube needed to be replaced. And despite the discussion a couple weeks ago, this was a tube I hadn't dusted with talc. As a result, every square inch of tube needed to be peeled away from the tire. Plus the screw was gripping the tire + tube so hard I couldn't pull it straight out, so I had to unscrew the dadgum thing.
As I rolled off, finally, I was thinking: well, it was easy to find what caused the flat, and I was lucky it was a Philips head screw and there was a bit for that on the multi-tool on this bike. But those are small blessings.
So when there's frost on the cars (when the predicted low was 36F), I'm grateful I don't have to scrape the bike's non-existent windshield. And the wind had abated, after the 25-30 mph gusts on the way home last night. Cloudless sky, bright sun, nice ride.
Nice ride until I did the litter pickup with the bike tire thing. One self-tapping screw right through my rear tire. It took me almost 15 minutes to fix the flat. Without glueless patches in the saddle bag the tube needed to be replaced. And despite the discussion a couple weeks ago, this was a tube I hadn't dusted with talc. As a result, every square inch of tube needed to be peeled away from the tire. Plus the screw was gripping the tire + tube so hard I couldn't pull it straight out, so I had to unscrew the dadgum thing.
As I rolled off, finally, I was thinking: well, it was easy to find what caused the flat, and I was lucky it was a Philips head screw and there was a bit for that on the multi-tool on this bike. But those are small blessings.
#761
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Cold and windy. But my face is totally acclimated to being cold, and the rest of me was fine. I checked the wind map, and it showed that I would have a crosswind that might feel like a tail wind. Heading west on W 11 St, I had a headwind, and I realized this was probably good. I turned north (or really, north-northest) onto the path which is the majority of my route, and yes, I had a tailwind. In the morning! How about that!
Population on the path was light. People still avoid the cold weather, and that's nice for me. I notice that those who rode in my direction tend not to take advantage of the tailwind. I pedaled pretty hard, so our margin of speed was big. It's fun to go fast when possible.
The people who let their dogs off leash in a certain area of Riverside Park are watching to see if I'm a danger (I'm not) or if their dog threatens me, and they do not. I enjoy seeing them. The dog owners let off leash only the dogs who are trustworthy. Sometimes I'll see an owner with a dog on leash and another off leash, and it means that they are judicious owners.
Population on the path was light. People still avoid the cold weather, and that's nice for me. I notice that those who rode in my direction tend not to take advantage of the tailwind. I pedaled pretty hard, so our margin of speed was big. It's fun to go fast when possible.
The people who let their dogs off leash in a certain area of Riverside Park are watching to see if I'm a danger (I'm not) or if their dog threatens me, and they do not. I enjoy seeing them. The dog owners let off leash only the dogs who are trustworthy. Sometimes I'll see an owner with a dog on leash and another off leash, and it means that they are judicious owners.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#762
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 811
From: Seattle
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Obed Boundary, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
I crashed Friday evening, luckily the only damage to my bike was a bent rear derailleur hanger. Got that fixed and bike tuned up today, my road rash feels a lot better, and the forecast is for 0 inches of rain tomorrow (not that I totally believe it), so I'm looking forward to getting back on the saddle.
#763
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 1,546
From: Merrimac , MA

The commute in this am was a very nice uneventful ride with the temp at 34 f degrees and partly cloudy skies. Also the sun is now rising before six am, so it is light when I am leaving at 5:30.
#764
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Last night I had a cold wind in my face and only a summer hat on.
This morning, it was colder than yesterday, so I wore my winter hat. Much better. Yesterday's west wind is still blowing. (Does that make sense?) I had an even bigger boost on the way to work this morning, and I moved really fast. Fun. Maybe tonight I'll prefer to take an inland route. I rarely do, because traffic is a b*tch.
This morning, it was colder than yesterday, so I wore my winter hat. Much better. Yesterday's west wind is still blowing. (Does that make sense?) I had an even bigger boost on the way to work this morning, and I moved really fast. Fun. Maybe tonight I'll prefer to take an inland route. I rarely do, because traffic is a b*tch.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#765
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 444
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
28F, 15 mph headwind and 2" of snow on the ground with it still coming down. Somebody bump the needle 'cause I think the record is skipping.
With the prediction of snow for this morning, I got up a 1/2 hour early so I could hit the road before traffic got too bad and knowing that I would be going slow through the unplowed accumulation. I was in the garage putting on my helmet when my wife came out and asked me to drive my son to school because she didn't want to be out in this weather. So I got in my truck and drove my son the 3 miles to school, then drove back home. It was a good reminder as to why I don't drive a car in rush hour traffic. Ugh.
Once I was back home I parked the truck and got on the bicycle for the ride to work. Wound up being about 1/2 an hour late, but most everyone driving was also walking in late as well so it wasn't a huge deal.
With the prediction of snow for this morning, I got up a 1/2 hour early so I could hit the road before traffic got too bad and knowing that I would be going slow through the unplowed accumulation. I was in the garage putting on my helmet when my wife came out and asked me to drive my son to school because she didn't want to be out in this weather. So I got in my truck and drove my son the 3 miles to school, then drove back home. It was a good reminder as to why I don't drive a car in rush hour traffic. Ugh.
Once I was back home I parked the truck and got on the bicycle for the ride to work. Wound up being about 1/2 an hour late, but most everyone driving was also walking in late as well so it wasn't a huge deal.
#766
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
I'm starting to see a trickle of the usual fair weather riders getting back to commuting but they almost universally seem to be geared up for what the weather should be rather than what it is. I'm wearing layers and they're riding in shorts. Mind over matter?
#767
It was a 40° temperature swing from morning to afternoon yesterday, about 35° today. I'm either dressed lightly and a little cold in the morning, or else carrying extra clothes home with me. [MENTION=322871]arsprod[/MENTION] that's why I'd sometimes be in shorts and jersey on a cold morning, not mind over matter but just to have an unladen ride in the glorious warm sunshine on the way home.
#769
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,616
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Like [MENTION=227213]wphamilton[/MENTION], we had a huge warm-up yesterday, about 45F here. It didn't cool off much last night, so started off around 60 and warmed up quickly. Wind also came up quickly...
I stopped by primary care physician to learn all is well, then ran a short-ish errand, and then faced the 20+ mph wind gusts from the west getting to work. Sunny, warm, windy; well, two nice factors out of three.
I stopped by primary care physician to learn all is well, then ran a short-ish errand, and then faced the 20+ mph wind gusts from the west getting to work. Sunny, warm, windy; well, two nice factors out of three.
#770
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
It was a 40° temperature swing from morning to afternoon yesterday, about 35° today. I'm either dressed lightly and a little cold in the morning, or else carrying extra clothes home with me. [MENTION=322871]arsprod[/MENTION] that's why I'd sometimes be in shorts and jersey on a cold morning, not mind over matter but just to have an unladen ride in the glorious warm sunshine on the way home.
#771
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,616
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Big weather swings are easier at the beginning of the week. Shoes or snacks come in one pannier and stay at work all week, and that afternoon the now-otherwise-empty pannier has jacket, tights, wool t-shirt, etc.
#772
#773
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 811
From: Seattle
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Obed Boundary, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Got out this morning, felt a little out of sync but got into a rhythm. Surprised to see my first leg set Strava PRs, until I put them into stravawindanalysis.com and saw that they were heavily wind-assisted. I stopped before the last big hill to help a cyclist looking for how to get to the 520 Bridge Trail entrance. Just two months ago I got terribly lost my first time trying to ride back, so I'm hoping my directions helped him out.
#774
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
A nice ride in this morning. I think low 60s and low humidity is about the perfect conditions for riding. Shorts, short sleeve top, just right. Although the wind could have been in a more favorable direction. Odd thing is we aren't supposed to get much warmer today. Yesterday was 80+, today only about 67 for the high.
Happy Friday Eve!
Happy Friday Eve!
#775
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Hard! My normal morning headwind returned today. And I had a box on my front rack, adding a lot to my frontal area in the worst possible way. Yesterday, I think I had my fastest time into work, and today, I think I had my slowest. One saving grace was that the wind wasn't shifty or gusty, just steady. But hard! But really, I'm not complaining. Like most of my rides, I enjoyed it.
It's still windy and cold here in NYC, but some people are dressing for the season, not the day, wearing things like short sleeve shirts, no over clothes, no hat, no gloves. I don't get cold as easily as some people, but I would be cold if I dressed like that in this weather. Maybe they're not going as far.
It's still windy and cold here in NYC, but some people are dressing for the season, not the day, wearing things like short sleeve shirts, no over clothes, no hat, no gloves. I don't get cold as easily as some people, but I would be cold if I dressed like that in this weather. Maybe they're not going as far.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.




