2019! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Queens, NY for now...
Posts: 1,515
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times
in
113 Posts
Good luck Darth, may the force...
#102
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,459
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3130 Post(s)
Liked 2,111 Times
in
1,374 Posts
No ride today. Nanny called in sick and that made me the nanny, so didn't exchange the truck, just drove it home
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#103
Senior Member
best wishes on your upcoming surgery Darth Lefty. If you can't lift the toddlers into their cribs will you teach them how to climb out themselves?
A pleasant uneventful ride in this am with the temp at 14 f degrees. My hands got cold today and they did not yesterday so I think there was a little more wind this am than yesterday.
A pleasant uneventful ride in this am with the temp at 14 f degrees. My hands got cold today and they did not yesterday so I think there was a little more wind this am than yesterday.
#104
Senior Member
A decent ride in this morning at 37F and overcast. Forecast had it getting colder, but I guess the clouds lingered and kept it warmer.
I saw another cyclist going the other direction on my way home last night. Quite rare this time of year.
I saw another cyclist going the other direction on my way home last night. Quite rare this time of year.
#105
The Fat Guy In The Back
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 2,533
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
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 320 Post(s)
Liked 178 Times
in
116 Posts
Mine too will be meatball. I need a replacement valve put in, and given my relatively young age I have to have a mechanical valve. Tissue valves only last about 15 years so they usually only put them in older folks. Tissue valves can be done through the vein, but mechanical valves require the chest to be cracked.
From what I understand, they're doing clinical trials in Europe on mechanical valves that can be installed through the vein. I'm hoping to stave off my surgery until that procedure is perfected and is allowed to be performed in the US. I really don't want to have my chest cracked.
__________________
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
#106
Senior Member
Same today for me as @steelydan reported yesterday - 26F and mostly cleared roads except for about 5% which necessitated the studly tires. The worst of it was my own neighborhood where roads were sheet ice. My weather app said it was freezing drizzle. I'm not sure how that differs from snow but whatever. Looks like the studs will be on awhile, no temps above freezing coming and more snow this weekend.
#107
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
"Do you still ride your bike every day to work?" You don't really know which way that's going to go, especially when it's out of the blue and you hadn't met the speaker before. But today it was a coworker saying how "amazing" it was, that I could "keep it up, every day no matter what". And more in that vein which is awkward for me but I admit to feeling a little uplifted afterwards. Just when you think you're anonymous and just doing your own thing, you're reminded that people are watching, taking notes.
#108
The Fat Guy In The Back
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 2,533
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
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 320 Post(s)
Liked 178 Times
in
116 Posts
Had a great talk on the way home with a friend and fellow commuter. Greg came up behind me (he rides way faster than I do) and slowed down and we chatted for about a mile. We decided that every bicycle commuter has to set his limits. Greg doesn't ride when there's more than 2" of unplowed snow or if it's raining. He told me that, "I'm not as hard-core as you." However Greg rode more than 13,000 miles last year, and I came up just shy of 3,000. I don't consider myself hard-core at all when I look at that kind of mileage. Also, Greg doesn't let any temperature stop him, and my wife puts the kibosh on me riding if the air temperature is colder than -10°F. As we approached a section of the MUP that is still covered in rutted ice, he bid me farewell. Rutted ice is another thing he won't ride on, so he opted to take a very busy street for about a mile to avoid this section of the MUP. I picked the ice. Had a couple of close calls, but managed to keep the bike upright.
This morning was 28°F (very warm for January) with a rare combination of fog and wind. Usually wind will blow the fog away, but not this morning. The fog was freezing a bit on windshields and the pavement. I had to ride 8 miles straight into the wind, which was firm but not blustery. Had a few close-passes, which was a bit unusual. I might get one now and then, but more than one in the same day is rare.
I've got to enjoy the warm weather while I can. We're supposed to be below zero by the end of the week, which is much more normal for South Dakota winters.
This morning was 28°F (very warm for January) with a rare combination of fog and wind. Usually wind will blow the fog away, but not this morning. The fog was freezing a bit on windshields and the pavement. I had to ride 8 miles straight into the wind, which was firm but not blustery. Had a few close-passes, which was a bit unusual. I might get one now and then, but more than one in the same day is rare.
I've got to enjoy the warm weather while I can. We're supposed to be below zero by the end of the week, which is much more normal for South Dakota winters.
__________________
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
Last edited by Tundra_Man; 01-15-19 at 09:01 AM.
Likes For Tundra_Man:
#109
Newbie
I'm going to have a surgery. I've been debating how much to share and in what venue. Suffice to say it's for my bum ticker. The surgery will be the last week of February. Due to the risk to re-injuring the sternum I can't drive or lift more than 10 lbf or even go to my sedentary job until the end of April. After that it's "take it easy" until the end of August, so no lifting toddlers into their cribs, yard work... or cycling.
Of course I was instantly negotiating with my wife and surgeon both about it. Cycling is my only workout and I'm worried about doddering around the neighborhood accomplishing nothing half an hour at a time for "rehab." And it's part of my identity and recreation, I'm worried about losing fitness. I know I'm going to lose all my upper body strength no matter what I do. I'm going to get a recumbent trike once I'm back to work. I'll try one out before the surgery to make sure the steering forces aren't too much. I'm fortunate that we have a specialist shop nearby, Laid Back Cycles. I'll give them a visit. I'm not likely to stay with it past my recovery, I like riding my MTB through puddles too much.
(assuming survival *cough*)
Of course I was instantly negotiating with my wife and surgeon both about it. Cycling is my only workout and I'm worried about doddering around the neighborhood accomplishing nothing half an hour at a time for "rehab." And it's part of my identity and recreation, I'm worried about losing fitness. I know I'm going to lose all my upper body strength no matter what I do. I'm going to get a recumbent trike once I'm back to work. I'll try one out before the surgery to make sure the steering forces aren't too much. I'm fortunate that we have a specialist shop nearby, Laid Back Cycles. I'll give them a visit. I'm not likely to stay with it past my recovery, I like riding my MTB through puddles too much.
(assuming survival *cough*)
Best of luck!!
Lorcán.
#110
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,921
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2609 Post(s)
Liked 1,946 Times
in
1,221 Posts
Just a couple weeks off and warm weather, and I'm back to trying to figure out how to dress for cold weather cycling (again!). Yesterday was colder than I expected, and my gloves left my hands half frozen. So I went with heavier gloves and LS base layer today, and ended up thoroughly sweat-dampened. Still, I felt pretty good by the time I get to work -- even the heavy traffic on one stretch didn't bother me this morning, I was having too much fun!
#111
born again cyclist
not the end of the world, but those heavy, slow-rolling, studded tires (marathon winters) add about 5 minutes to my commute.
in the grand scheme, a pretty small price to pay for staying upright, i suppose.
#112
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
Best wishes @darth_lefty and quick recovery. We had a lot of ice sat- sunday. We lost power at my house. I could have ridden in but I was worried about my rear brake freezing up. My wife asked me to drive because school was delayed and she thought the rThe roads were fine. (guess i never posted this)
I rode today but still waiting on the replacement caliper to come in. I did not use the rear brakes this morning. I saw police and School system people with a school bus on my route. Not sure if the bus got hit or what the deal was. I prayed that the kids were all right.
It was supposedly 34F but i saw 29F on the way in. I was comfortable other than worrying about my rear brake seizing up. I
I rode today but still waiting on the replacement caliper to come in. I did not use the rear brakes this morning. I saw police and School system people with a school bus on my route. Not sure if the bus got hit or what the deal was. I prayed that the kids were all right.
It was supposedly 34F but i saw 29F on the way in. I was comfortable other than worrying about my rear brake seizing up. I
#113
Senior Member
Rain was light when I started but turned heavy by the time I reached work. Looking at the afternoon forecast it will be wet ride home too.
#114
GATC
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Keep in mind that if you have to sling the trike around much, or fix a flat, that may involve >10#. The extent to which your identity is as a cyclist is less than the extent to which it is as a living person.
#115
GATC
With Viadoom/Carpocalypse my wife has been telecommuting this week, don't know when she will next drive to the Big City...
#116
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Nanaimo, BC
Posts: 2,014
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
@darth_lefty I wish you well on your surgery, I know they are no fun! If possible to get in better shape on the upper half and core I would recommend it. You will lose fitness regardless but if you start at level 10 instead of 6 you'll be better off. Lessons learned for me!
Recoveries are no fun, I am still seeing a homecare nurse, at school actually, from last June.
Recoveries are no fun, I am still seeing a homecare nurse, at school actually, from last June.
Last edited by joeyduck; 01-15-19 at 04:22 PM.
#117
Senior Member
The ride itself was pleasant . Though I was not happy with the blue car that did not stop at the stop sign and came out forcing me to go into the next lane which is a turning lane, and still into the next lane which had a car coming directly at me. Then the blue car stops allowing me back into the correct lane. Pay attention! Gusty winds promised for the ride home this afternoon. Yeah!
#118
Senior Member
We had another 4 inches of snow tonight, and lots of it was still there on the streets and sidewalks by the time I was riding to work so the morning commute was... eventful. Got showered with slush a few times, but apart from that did quite allright.
#119
Senior Member
Clear skies last night led to a colder morning today. I saw 22F when I first woke up, but it was about 30 by the time I got to work. I took a MUP for the last two miles that I don't often take. It has quite a bit of spots with water running across, even days after the last rain. This morning several of those were icy patches and I slowed down and unclipped a foot to cross them.
I installed my new Topeak rack and bag last night. It has collapsible panniers. I used those today to bring in a warmer shirt and a jacket for the office. Before this, bigger items would require a backpack or bringing on a day I drive to work. Loving it!
I installed my new Topeak rack and bag last night. It has collapsible panniers. I used those today to bring in a warmer shirt and a jacket for the office. Before this, bigger items would require a backpack or bringing on a day I drive to work. Loving it!
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Mid Atlantic / USA
Posts: 2,115
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1002 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
155 Posts
21 degrees this morning. Not so bad for most of my body. But it turns out my gloves are woefully inadequate for 21. They are find down to about 30 for my 20 minute ride. But 21 pushed them well past their limit this morning.
I got some of those hand warmer doohickies that you put in gloves, but I realized they take 20 minutes to become effective right as I was walking out the door for my 20 minute commute. Oops.
Oh well.
I'll stop by the store and get some glove liners.
I got some of those hand warmer doohickies that you put in gloves, but I realized they take 20 minutes to become effective right as I was walking out the door for my 20 minute commute. Oops.
Oh well.
I'll stop by the store and get some glove liners.
#121
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
it was 23F when alarm went off. I reset it. I am afraid that the caliper will lock up in the 20's. The bike shop said that the caliper should be in today. So I drove to bring in the bike and it is supposed to rain. I found my QR for the trainer so I am going to swap the tires and set it up. I guess it is time get the trainer set up since we have the space in the house.
#122
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
Clear skies last night led to a colder morning today. I saw 22F when I first woke up, but it was about 30 by the time I got to work. I took a MUP for the last two miles that I don't often take. It has quite a bit of spots with water running across, even days after the last rain. This morning several of those were icy patches and I slowed down and unclipped a foot to cross them.
I installed my new Topeak rack and bag last night. It has collapsible panniers. I used those today to bring in a warmer shirt and a jacket for the office. Before this, bigger items would require a backpack or bringing on a day I drive to work. Loving it!
I installed my new Topeak rack and bag last night. It has collapsible panniers. I used those today to bring in a warmer shirt and a jacket for the office. Before this, bigger items would require a backpack or bringing on a day I drive to work. Loving it!
#123
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,921
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2609 Post(s)
Liked 1,946 Times
in
1,221 Posts
Light frost this morning, but I didn't mind because there was SUNSHINE! for the first time in a week.
There was a walker out this morning in a track suit; black leggings with bright yellow thighs on the front, bright yellow stomach, bright green chest, and bright red shoulders and hood. My wife would say something like, "Oh, good, I'll be able to see someone like that as they're jogging in the street." But I was wondering, do the "fashion designers" who come up with these outfits have a secret competition to see how many people they can get to walk around looking like a clown?
Later on in the commute I asked myself, how many jerseys do I have that would qualify in such a competition? (The one I was wearing was covered by a solid yellow jacket at the time.)
There was a walker out this morning in a track suit; black leggings with bright yellow thighs on the front, bright yellow stomach, bright green chest, and bright red shoulders and hood. My wife would say something like, "Oh, good, I'll be able to see someone like that as they're jogging in the street." But I was wondering, do the "fashion designers" who come up with these outfits have a secret competition to see how many people they can get to walk around looking like a clown?
Later on in the commute I asked myself, how many jerseys do I have that would qualify in such a competition? (The one I was wearing was covered by a solid yellow jacket at the time.)
#124
The Fat Guy In The Back
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 2,533
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
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 320 Post(s)
Liked 178 Times
in
116 Posts
Consecutive commute number 682:
Today I am riding more than 20 miles between work locations. I decided I didn't want to ride studded tires that far for the 2nd day in a row (what can I say? I'm lazy.) The rutted ice has evaporated enough that there are only about a dozen spots left where I can't just ride around the ice, and most of those spots are down to 10-20 yards in length. I decided it was worth the risk to take my hybrid without studs.
So last night in preparation for riding the hybrid I decided to wax the chain, as it was due. I started waxing chains last spring, and for the most part I like that method of lubrication. I started doing this on all bikes except for my winter bike, as that thing had an old rusty chain and I didn't feel like trying to clean it up so I continue to oil that one. I pulled the chain off the hybrid, threw it in my crock pot of lube wax and an hour and half later fished it out an re-installed. Easy peasey.
This morning I woke up to 6F temp with a sub-zero wind chill. We'd had above average temps in the upper 20s for about a week, so it was a little bit of a shock to the system. Nevertheless, I survived the trip intact and even kept the bike upright on the rutted ice.
However, I did learn that a freshly waxed chain and 6F air temps are a bad combination. The chain was a little bit, errr... stiff. I noticed that when I pedaled backwards I would hear an odd noise. I looked down to discover that the chain was so stiff that when I'd spin the crank backwards it would come completely off the front ring and just hop over the teeth. Thankfully I don't have to pedal backwards very often, and it didn't seem to have any trouble gripping the teeth when I would pedal forward.
My bike is sitting in a heated basement right now. Hopefully the chain will loosen up a bit for my ride to the next location in a couple of hours.
Today I am riding more than 20 miles between work locations. I decided I didn't want to ride studded tires that far for the 2nd day in a row (what can I say? I'm lazy.) The rutted ice has evaporated enough that there are only about a dozen spots left where I can't just ride around the ice, and most of those spots are down to 10-20 yards in length. I decided it was worth the risk to take my hybrid without studs.
So last night in preparation for riding the hybrid I decided to wax the chain, as it was due. I started waxing chains last spring, and for the most part I like that method of lubrication. I started doing this on all bikes except for my winter bike, as that thing had an old rusty chain and I didn't feel like trying to clean it up so I continue to oil that one. I pulled the chain off the hybrid, threw it in my crock pot of lube wax and an hour and half later fished it out an re-installed. Easy peasey.
This morning I woke up to 6F temp with a sub-zero wind chill. We'd had above average temps in the upper 20s for about a week, so it was a little bit of a shock to the system. Nevertheless, I survived the trip intact and even kept the bike upright on the rutted ice.
However, I did learn that a freshly waxed chain and 6F air temps are a bad combination. The chain was a little bit, errr... stiff. I noticed that when I pedaled backwards I would hear an odd noise. I looked down to discover that the chain was so stiff that when I'd spin the crank backwards it would come completely off the front ring and just hop over the teeth. Thankfully I don't have to pedal backwards very often, and it didn't seem to have any trouble gripping the teeth when I would pedal forward.
My bike is sitting in a heated basement right now. Hopefully the chain will loosen up a bit for my ride to the next location in a couple of hours.
__________________
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
Visit me at the Tundra Man Workshop
#125
Senior Member
Frustrating ride today. DPW announced almost 2 months ago that they would be repairing an MUP bridge and closing that section of trail - then nothing happened. Yesterday they decided it's time to take the next step and close that section of trail. So they had 2 months of clear, relatively warm weather to do the work and now that it's cold, 8" of snow with 2" more coming tonight, they close and route traffic on city side streets that aren't cleared. Genius... argh!
__________________
I'm slow, go around
I'm slow, go around