2019! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#401
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,686
Likes: 2,605
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
This afternoon is gonna be interesting because I'm donating blood. I'm gonna ride to the hospital from work, and then home from the hospital is only 1 mile, but it's probably gonna be quite the affair. I think I'm gonna pound a bunch of ice cream, pedal super slowly 1 mile home, and then sleep for like 12 hours. Wish me luck.
#402
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 119
Likes: 6
From: North of LA, CA
Bikes: FX3 Frankenbike, Emonda SL5
Thank you for donating! Just a mile home will be a breeze (unless there's a gale of a headwind, of course!). Just make sure you're well hydrated (and no, a jumbo margarita doesn't count as hydration, although it'll give you a hell of a buzz! and no, don't ask how I know). I usually felt the donation more on days 2-4 after donating than the day of.
#403
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,851
Likes: 201
From: south Puget Sound
38F, gray, buzzed by bald eagle.
MUP apparently plowed, shoulders/bike lanes still a mess. No problem hugging the fog line though.
MUP apparently plowed, shoulders/bike lanes still a mess. No problem hugging the fog line though.
#404
Cold. This winter is starting to feel long. More icy stuff coming tonight so probably won't ride tomorrow, but temps rising toward end of the week. Spring is coming!
#405
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I brought the MTB today and not the trike. Starting to get that "last time I'll be able to before..." feeling in a lot of what I do and this is one of them. After this week the MTB is going in the back of the garage and not sure when it's coming out again. The tandem and the Paramount are already there.
__________________
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."
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 02-19-19 at 12:25 PM.
#406
Let's Ride!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Saw hi 20F this morning on the way in and hope the weather forecast is correct regarding my ride home. Getting darker out there
#407
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 183
From: Queens, NY for now...
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
I thought I was done with shakedown cruises but maybe not. I didn’t have the tools handy to fix this dumb mistake I made. It was making a scuffing noise like a dragging disk and shifting a little strange... Also might sweep the handlebars back a little for a perfectly neutral wrist
#408
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I ran the chain under the stay.
__________________
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."
#409
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 183
From: Queens, NY for now...
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
#410
Cold and wet, both ways, the low lying portions of the trail already filled up enough to drag my chain through the water. It's supposed to rain through the weekend with storms here and there so I'll probably be staying off the Greenway for the rest of the week.
#411
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
There is something that still confuses me. The Terra Trike website has a screed about cross chaining of the type you see here on BF that would make total sense when applied to a regular bike. But the trike has an idler in the lower run and a chain tube on the upper run in the middle of the trike that keeps the chain line in the same place at all times. It's literally impossible to cross chain.
__________________
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."
#412
Morning Commute 27°F, 7mph wind, sunny
Evening Commute 36°F, 11mph wind, overcast
The fire engines from last night were because of a fairly major housefire caused by a bad kerosene heater. So mystery solved. Today had fairly normal traffic, no exceptional incidents and only one guy I felt like giving a single finger salute.
Calling for fairly heavy rain tomorrow so I'll probably just bus it to work.
Evening Commute 36°F, 11mph wind, overcast
The fire engines from last night were because of a fairly major housefire caused by a bad kerosene heater. So mystery solved. Today had fairly normal traffic, no exceptional incidents and only one guy I felt like giving a single finger salute.
Calling for fairly heavy rain tomorrow so I'll probably just bus it to work.
#413
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
The sleet on my way home last night only hurt on the last big hill where I get up to 30mph. That stung a bit. I have a neighbor that I see regularly on the closest to home half of my route. Last night he passed me, went up a bit and turned around to ask if I was okay. He drives a pick-up so it would have been easy to toss my bike in the back and ride home with him. I only had about 3 miles left and wasn't cold or really wet even. I told him I was fine but thanks. Very nice of him to check on me.
This morning it is raining and about 36F. Taking the car is usually not an option, or at least makes things complicated for the family if I do. But today I could take the car without that. I got dressed to ride anyway and left the house in what seemed like pretty light rain. A quarter mile in my face was already pretty wet and cold. I decided to turn around, go home and drive instead. So instead of cold and wet I arrived to work warm and dry, especially since I used the heated car seat.
This morning it is raining and about 36F. Taking the car is usually not an option, or at least makes things complicated for the family if I do. But today I could take the car without that. I got dressed to ride anyway and left the house in what seemed like pretty light rain. A quarter mile in my face was already pretty wet and cold. I decided to turn around, go home and drive instead. So instead of cold and wet I arrived to work warm and dry, especially since I used the heated car seat.
#414
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Ugh this new bike just can't handle the ruts. Might have to go back to the old bike with 26's. 33 and little wind so was a pretty good ride overall.
#415
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 499
Likes: 89
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '73 Schwinn World Voyageur, '98 Nishiki BSO
I had the most difficult road conditions I've faced yet. We had some freezing rain through the night that changed to snow around 6AM. By the time I left the house there was about 2" on the ground. It kept coming down hard, alternating between big wet flakes and pelting sleet until about the time I arrived at work. The roads were mostly unplowed with 0.5-1" of packed snow on top of a thin layer of ice. Traction, even with my studded tires was terrible. I took the sidewalks and bike paths when I could. Wasn't as slippery there, but I had to plow through a few inches of fresh snow. But I got to work, without a wipeout. I'm glad my ride is short.
Should be better on the way home. It's supposed to warm up into the 40's with some rain for the commute back home. I'm expecting it to be wet and sloppy, but less treacherous.
Should be better on the way home. It's supposed to warm up into the 40's with some rain for the commute back home. I'm expecting it to be wet and sloppy, but less treacherous.
#416
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
holy freezing rain, batman!
i probably made the wrong call this morning and rode into work.
after 8 miles of it, me and my bicycle were fully encased in a layer of ice.
icicles were forming on the visor of my helmet and from the ends of my handle bars.
i should have taken a picture, but my phone was buried too deep in my bike bag to dig it out.
but thank Pizza God for studded tires! steady and true in some woefully slippery/sloppy conditions.
i probably made the wrong call this morning and rode into work.
after 8 miles of it, me and my bicycle were fully encased in a layer of ice.
icicles were forming on the visor of my helmet and from the ends of my handle bars.
i should have taken a picture, but my phone was buried too deep in my bike bag to dig it out.
but thank Pizza God for studded tires! steady and true in some woefully slippery/sloppy conditions.
#417
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,851
Likes: 201
From: south Puget Sound
35F, misty, completely 100% uneventful
#418
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,530
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I want to mark today’s ride statistics. This is my last commute before my surgery. I’m feeling good today, as good as I can. With my condition I have two competing ceilings, my chest pain or my medications. This is about the best balance I get. Most of my rides are closer to 100W and less than 9 mph.
The surgery is not a cure for my enlarged heart. It will still be stiff and low volume. But the chest pain and maybe my need for blood pressure meds should disappear. The recovery is more about the sternum than the heart. I'll be on the trike at the end of April, I hope, and back on a regular bike in autumn. I probably won't do anything that challenges the bike's suspension for a year.
I’ll return to this in 6mo and a year and see how I’m doing.

Edit: the ride home was much more typical. I’ll save it too

The surgery is not a cure for my enlarged heart. It will still be stiff and low volume. But the chest pain and maybe my need for blood pressure meds should disappear. The recovery is more about the sternum than the heart. I'll be on the trike at the end of April, I hope, and back on a regular bike in autumn. I probably won't do anything that challenges the bike's suspension for a year.
I’ll return to this in 6mo and a year and see how I’m doing.

Edit: the ride home was much more typical. I’ll save it too

Last edited by Darth Lefty; 02-21-19 at 12:05 AM.
#419
Let's Ride!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Drove today. winter advisory and people driving in freezing rain around here are idiots. I rode home yesterday in freezing rain. I was hoping for some snowflurries but no luck .
#420
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 2,388
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
After two days driving due to winter storm, snow and wind, this morning I headed out in low-wind sunshine with a starting temp of 9F finishing at 18F at the office.
#421
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Bailed again on the ride this morning. But my wife dropped me and the bike off so I'll probably ride home. Just wet and cold out. And supposed to continue through Saturday.
#422
Just took the bus yesterday because rain. Back on the bike today. 32 degrees, calm winds, sunny. It's getting to the sun directly in my eyes in the morning due to heading directly east time of year again.
#423
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Yesterday it was above freezing and raining so the previous snow was mostly slush. I assumed (there's that word) that this morning it would all be gone and mostly was... except for a couple sections of MUP, and at 28F those sections of slush had turned to rutted ice. Slipping wasn't the issue. it was maintaining control while bouncing around, because of course I didn't slow down. Almost lost it once and that was enough to scare the crap outta me and then I did slow down. Yay winter...
#424
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,686
Likes: 2,605
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Back in the saddle again. I chickened out the last couple of days because of the weather forecast, and after two days when I'd have had one commute in light rain, I decided to risk it. Sure, there's floods in the area, and a few districts canceled school today because of the flooding, but it's not where I live. I guess I need to listen to myself when I tell people, "Just because it's a rainy day doesn't mean it's going to rain all day, or even at all when I'm riding."
So cool, darkly overcast and damp, but not raining. And instead of balancing badge, coffee, umbrella, and a bag full of stuff after parking 200 yards from the door, I got the bike rack parking spot 15 yards from my office door.
So cool, darkly overcast and damp, but not raining. And instead of balancing badge, coffee, umbrella, and a bag full of stuff after parking 200 yards from the door, I got the bike rack parking spot 15 yards from my office door.
#425
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,851
Likes: 201
From: south Puget Sound
27F, sunny. Tail light battery dead, forgot to charge it last night. Did not get rear-ended. Charging now.




