2019! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#476
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Hardly anything on the radar, so I was ready to head out. Loaded up the bike, walked out of the garage, and it started raining pretty hard. I decided I needed to adjust the fender line (inside the garage).
Rain let up and quit before I made it to work. I don't know if it was the fender or truing the back wheel the other night, but the annoying, once per wheel revolution, thwack! thwack! thwack! was gone. Quiet ride in, rather calming.
Rain let up and quit before I made it to work. I don't know if it was the fender or truing the back wheel the other night, but the annoying, once per wheel revolution, thwack! thwack! thwack! was gone. Quiet ride in, rather calming.
#477
GATC
Hit a pothole yesterday and jammed my recently dislocated shoulder. Still rode 20 miles of errands (only 15 after the pothole). Took today off from the bike, expect to take Monday off too, so 4 day break. When the dislocation was fresh there was a snowstorm so I took a full 9 days off (although day 1 was spent pruning trees leaning on the power line to our house so a lot of range of motion and weight-at-distance testing...)
#478
GATC
I hope tundra man does well with his surgery. Mine worked. I knew it had immediately upon waking. Now it’s just a long road of recovery from the sternotomy. The surgeon took out more than he anticipated, it was more blocked than he had guessed.
just like TM, I had a good heart otherwise. They gave me a cardiac catheterization just before (because I complained more of chest pain than SOB) and they said my coronaries looked great.
just like TM, I had a good heart otherwise. They gave me a cardiac catheterization just before (because I complained more of chest pain than SOB) and they said my coronaries looked great.
#479
The Fat Guy In The Back
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I hope tundra man does well with his surgery. Mine worked. I knew it had immediately upon waking. Now it’s just a long road of recovery from the sternotomy. The surgeon took out more than he anticipated, it was more blocked than he had guessed.
just like TM, I had a good heart otherwise. They gave me a cardiac catheterization just before (because I complained more of chest pain than SOB) and they said my coronaries looked great.
just like TM, I had a good heart otherwise. They gave me a cardiac catheterization just before (because I complained more of chest pain than SOB) and they said my coronaries looked great.
I had another angiogram and TEE last week in preparation for my upcoming surgery. Outside of my leaking aortic valve, everything looked great. My valve leakage is now at 33% which means a 1/3 of all the blood my heart pumps doesn't go anywhere. The odd thing is, I really don't feel any symptoms. No pain and I don't seem to get easily winded. Maybe when I wake up and find out what 100% blood flow feels like I'll notice a difference. Had they not initially heard the heart murmur from my leaking valve I probably wouldn't even know I have a bad heart.
The heart infection I've been fighting has been another story. That definitely kicked my butt. When that showed up there was no question something was wrong. That was more of an acute situation though, as opposed to my valve which has been ongoing for a lot of years. Thankfully a little more than a week into treatment and I'm feeling loads better than I was.
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#480
born again cyclist
my weather app said a 2mph NNE wind before i left this morning (80% of my morning route is due north).
"nice, light winds today" i thought to myself.
LIES!!!!!
"nice, light winds today" i thought to myself.
LIES!!!!!
Last edited by Steely Dan; 03-01-19 at 11:27 AM.
#481
Virgo
Same. Forecast said winds E at 5mph, winds were steady 10-15 NE (my best guess; flags on flagpoles were fully extended and leaves blowing around) so I had a headwind all the way to work, and rode my single speed flat bar bike today to boot. It was a challenge but the sun was shining and it's supposed to be warmer this afternoon, hopefully the wind won't shift to the west, which happens way more often than I'd prefer.
#482
Senior Member
Hardly anything on the radar, so I was ready to head out. Loaded up the bike, walked out of the garage, and it started raining pretty hard. I decided I needed to adjust the fender line (inside the garage).
Rain let up and quit before I made it to work. I don't know if it was the fender or truing the back wheel the other night, but the annoying, once per wheel revolution, thwack! thwack! thwack! was gone. Quiet ride in, rather calming.
Rain let up and quit before I made it to work. I don't know if it was the fender or truing the back wheel the other night, but the annoying, once per wheel revolution, thwack! thwack! thwack! was gone. Quiet ride in, rather calming.
Thurs PM: So much for that forecast of light winds. 20+ mph east winds the whole way. Combine that with my already tired legs and it was definitely a battle. Strava was like, "hey Lylo, you've ridden a lot of miles this week, might wanna take it easy!" I'm at ~115 all-purpose miles this week, and ~140 in the last 7 calendar days, so I guess it's no wonder I'm feeling beat up.
Fri AM: Nope. My body has had enough for this week. I'm sore and tired and I really didn't wanna get out of bed this morning. I don't feel too terribly guilty about driving today.
#483
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First ride in a week. Felt a bad cold coming on this time last Friday, and spent four days on my back. Finally back to work Wed, but still not feeling strong, and it was blanking cold too. Today's the first day it's above 20-ish, and I'm feeling well enough. Good thing, too; I had an unexpected customer site stop first thing,.Not far from home, but would have been a PITA by bus. Patches of ice everywhere, on the streets and the MUPs. Plow/shovel mounds are piling up high at some intersections, driveway entrances, etc, to the point of obsucring visibility.
cheapBay 18650 LED flashlight w/handlebar bracket arrived last night; will be able to try it out on the ride home.
cheapBay 18650 LED flashlight w/handlebar bracket arrived last night; will be able to try it out on the ride home.
#484
Disco Infiltrator
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I came home from the hospital last night. It’s going to get frustrating before it gets well! But right now my family is here and it’s a lovely rainy day. It’s taking some willpower not to go downstairs with them but the boys’ favorite game right now is tackle, and that’s not recommend for healing a sternotomy. I’m ensconced at the window looking out like Jimmy Stewart. This morning everything was still. Now there’s a gentle drizzle and breeze moving the boughs.
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 03-03-19 at 12:27 PM.
#485
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^^^^^^ Reboot - "Left Window"?
#486
Senior Member
Bunch of rain yesterday, but none of the severe weather that hit Alabama and Georgia. Roads were dry this morning, but it was windy. Luckily mostly in my favor. I had a few 18+mph miles where I normally don't.
I left early and went to the gym on the way to work as I try to do every Monday. About 42F for the ride, but I went with shorts.
I left early and went to the gym on the way to work as I try to do every Monday. About 42F for the ride, but I went with shorts.
#487
The Fat Guy In The Back
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-7F with a -25F wind chill. Welcome to March in South Dakota.
I had just parked my bike this morning and still was wearing all my cold weather gear as I was walking across the parking ramp, when I encountered the mayor. He told me I looked like I was, "ready to conquer the world." I told him most people think I look like I'm ready to be shot out of a cannon.
Dr appointment this afternoon. Have to ride straight into the wind to get there, so I should be good and tuckered out for my examination.
I had just parked my bike this morning and still was wearing all my cold weather gear as I was walking across the parking ramp, when I encountered the mayor. He told me I looked like I was, "ready to conquer the world." I told him most people think I look like I'm ready to be shot out of a cannon.
Dr appointment this afternoon. Have to ride straight into the wind to get there, so I should be good and tuckered out for my examination.
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#488
multimodal commuter
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We were expecting our biggest snowfall of the season overnight, which usually means I share the roads with snowlplows at 5 AM, which is dangerous. They come through in series, moving fast, one after the other, each one pushing the accumulated snow a little farther off to the side. Potential nightmare fur a cyclist. So I didn't set my alarm, just stayed in bed. Well it looks like they finished plowing earlier, and the roads were clear by the time the sun came up. I probably could have got to the station safely.
But, oh well, I'm home today. No worries.
But, oh well, I'm home today. No worries.
#489
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Nice little ride this morning. 23mm slicks handled it with aplomb. (This was from Friday, but pretty much the same today...)
#491
Senior Member
Upper 40s and breezy this morning. I was commuting the 9AM hour since I was working last night until late. Felt fresh and fast, which I guess a couple days of rest will do after a lot of miles last week. I did have one jerk get mad that she had to wait ~30 seconds to pass (chalk it up to more traffic due to the later ride in) and rage-pass me on the steep dirt shoulder. Got a lay on the horn and a middle finger out of it. And then she turned into the same place I work at! Sadly I got stuck at a light so I couldn't track her down to get her plate and report it to security forces.
Also, the mystery creak is still there after maintenance this weekend. I think it might be my left cleat. Once I have more time I need to sit down and fiddle with the cleat. Or maybe ride around the block in flat shoes and see if it still happens.
Also, the mystery creak is still there after maintenance this weekend. I think it might be my left cleat. Once I have more time I need to sit down and fiddle with the cleat. Or maybe ride around the block in flat shoes and see if it still happens.
#492
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-3F this AM, moderate wind, sunny and dry. Somehow missed the last AM bus, so biked in unexpectedly. First time getting exhalation fogging, glasses under the goggles. Pulling down the balaclava helped. Will try a refresh coat of anti-fog snake-oil before the ride home.
#493
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Hi! Nice break in the rain today, so I had a beautiful ride home. 50ish, 5-6 mph headwind (as usual), even a bit of sun! Even got my new mirror dialed in as much as possible; just need something sturdier than rubber bands to hold it on. The only downside to a Jones loop bar.
And tomorrow's 50% chance of rain has gone to zero! Woo hoo!
And tomorrow's 50% chance of rain has gone to zero! Woo hoo!
#494
aka Tom Reingold
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Come on spring! Hurry up!
I rode to Hunter College to visit the admissions office. I plan to attend in the fall. The commute was a damned pain. I need a much better route than the one I took. I got there, and the security guard said the college was closed for the day because of the snow. This is the snow we thought we would get but didn't get. All schools were closed. So I took the time to do some extra riding. I rode down the East River path which still sucks big time, then around the southern tip of Manhattan, and up the Hudson River path.
Later, I rode to Brooklyn to volunteer at the bike coop. I really like going there on Monday nights. And of course I rode back. My body is well acclimated to the cold weather. I'm hardly wearing much, but I'm tired of it. The more intense light of spring seems to be here, but the weather isn't.
I rode to Hunter College to visit the admissions office. I plan to attend in the fall. The commute was a damned pain. I need a much better route than the one I took. I got there, and the security guard said the college was closed for the day because of the snow. This is the snow we thought we would get but didn't get. All schools were closed. So I took the time to do some extra riding. I rode down the East River path which still sucks big time, then around the southern tip of Manhattan, and up the Hudson River path.
Later, I rode to Brooklyn to volunteer at the bike coop. I really like going there on Monday nights. And of course I rode back. My body is well acclimated to the cold weather. I'm hardly wearing much, but I'm tired of it. The more intense light of spring seems to be here, but the weather isn't.
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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.
#495
Senior Member
Low 30s made for a chilly ride in. I thought we were out of those temps for the season. But it's supposed to get even colder the next couple of mornings.
Managed to leave a few minutes early and get an extra mile or so on the way in. Hoping to hit 500+ this month, so every little extra helps.
While I was locking my bike a co-worker walking in paused to say, "I was following you for a little bit and just noticed that you are really good at riding a bike." I half-laughed and said, "Thanks." No idea what I did to make her think that. I was not trying to be like Danny Macaskill. Just riding to work.
Managed to leave a few minutes early and get an extra mile or so on the way in. Hoping to hit 500+ this month, so every little extra helps.
While I was locking my bike a co-worker walking in paused to say, "I was following you for a little bit and just noticed that you are really good at riding a bike." I half-laughed and said, "Thanks." No idea what I did to make her think that. I was not trying to be like Danny Macaskill. Just riding to work.
#496
The Fat Guy In The Back
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5F with a -10F wind chill. Wind is causing some drifting, which made for a few tough spots for me, but is really becoming an issue outside of town where roads are drifting shut faster than plows can keep them open.
More snow is predicted for Thurs-Fri. I'm really starting to feel like winter has overstayed its welcome.
More snow is predicted for Thurs-Fri. I'm really starting to feel like winter has overstayed its welcome.
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#497
Senior Member
Originally Posted by mgw4jc
Low 30s made for a chilly ride in. I thought we were out of those temps for the season. But it's supposed to get even colder the next couple of mornings.
Mon PM: 68F, breezy. Couldn't ask for nicer weather, really. I got home and changed into shorts and a t-shirt! Shame we're losing that nice weather for the rest of the week.
Tue AM: 42F, clear. Lovely orange and red sunrise this morning. It's forecasted to rain starting around 4 today, so I'm hoping to be off in time to dodge most/all of that.
#498
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Lots of snowmelt yesterday, water running over the roads everywhere as it got dark, and then the temperature dropped to 20 F overnight. So needless to say I was pretty worried about black ice this morning! But there wasn't much, and fortunately I ride to the station before there's much traffic, so I was able to ride around the icy patches.
20F is really cold. I'm so tired of the cold that I took the bar mitts off my bike a few days ago. This was not a clever move.
20F is really cold. I'm so tired of the cold that I took the bar mitts off my bike a few days ago. This was not a clever move.
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#499
Happy banana slug
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#500
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I rode to Hunter College to visit the admissions office. I plan to attend in the fall. The commute was a damned pain. I need a much better route than the one I took. I got there, and the security guard said the college was closed for the day because of the snow. This is the snow we thought we would get but didn't get. All schools were closed. So I took the time to do some extra riding. I rode down the East River path which still sucks big time, then around the southern tip of Manhattan, and up the Hudson River path.
Later, I rode to Brooklyn to volunteer at the bike coop. I really like going there on Monday nights. And of course I rode back. My body is well acclimated to the cold weather. I'm hardly wearing much, but I'm tired of it. The more intense light of spring seems to be here, but the weather isn't.
Later, I rode to Brooklyn to volunteer at the bike coop. I really like going there on Monday nights. And of course I rode back. My body is well acclimated to the cold weather. I'm hardly wearing much, but I'm tired of it. The more intense light of spring seems to be here, but the weather isn't.
And you are probably better off just riding down 2nd Avenue if you need to head dowtown on the east side.