Mars

A really lovely weekend here, warm and sunny. I don't want it to end!

I have noticed that there seems to be more harrassment from cagers in the spring than any other time of the year. I wonder if this is something that any of you have noticed. What season, if any, do you get the most hassle from the drivers in your area?

My theory is that this is the time of year when people are most likely to drive around with their windows open. In the summer, they have their AC on, and in the winter their heaters. So, the window is down, they are feeling their oats and there goes a cyclist. Might as well yell or throw something.

-=(8)=-

Definately !!
This is about the third forum and thread on this over the past 3 weeks or so.
Also, almost as bad is the Country Music that used to be trapped inside
the cabs of the caromming bigfeet trucks is now free to assualt us and create
a DELIVERANCE style soundtrack for a lot of the ride home

CigTech

Have not noticed. I think I'm just going to fast to hear them. LOL I have had, a few time, a car full of girls say stuff like... " Hey baby" ... " stop the car, I want to talk to him" ..... " You can ride me for a while" this one was the best line I think.

Any Ways here is the ARTS chart for this last week. I have been having bad head wind over the last week.

Gusboh

Should this go on the 'alternate' vlc logo?

bullethead

Mostly people right hooking me. Left later today than usual, and noticed how even a little bit of daylight makes my morning commute seem 3 times shorter. For me, pitch black darkness is just a morale crusher. less cars though. I'm trying to get back on the horse from a winter of few rides. Just coudn't get my fingers and toes warm. Better luck next year maybe...

Marylandnewbie

It was a beautiful day for riding, although it was a little nippy. Traffic on the MUP seemed a little light this morning. I don't ride enough on the roads to have a real opinion on cager harassment. People on the MUP seem slightly friendlier in nicer weather, but since there are so many people wandering aimlessly or carelessly, the politeness doesn't help.

Have a great ride today everyone.

DataJunkie

Lovely commute this am. The port-o-potties are all out. Makes things easier when nature calls.

Today was 29 miles in 2.5 hrs. Avg 13.3mph.
CigTech's chart has me jealous.

I start off nice and fast bombing down the hills by my house. Still reasonable until I hit south denver. All freakin' hills! Anyways, I expect to pick up a few mph as I drop my remaining 12 lbs and start tweaking a few things. I think to hit 20 mph as an average, I will need to change the settings in my cyclocomputer

I'm not frustrated yet. Just a bit suprised about how low my average is.

tulip

I had to drive today to take in new towels and clothes. I had a nice 40-mile ride yesterday, so I don't feel too bad about not commuting by bike today. My road bike is SO NICE! I don't commute on it much, but I really appreciate it on those longer rides. Wow, what a bike!

TuckertonRR

Front tire blew out 2 miles from my house.....Gave up and took the bus....really REALLY disappointed. Turns out I need a new tire - the old one was messed up on the inside.
Hopefully riding home (all the way hopefully) will be better...

riedelmeister

Good commute this morning. No mishaps. Storms rolled through the area last night, so the roads were slick and covered with junk from the trees. It's still a little chilly in the mornings, making it a bit difficult to dress properly for the whole ride especially when the weather forecast calls for showers during the ride in

I'll quit whining now.

xroader

Nice ride both ways for me today, but still slow. My average speed keeps hovering around cig's worst.

This was my first day of actually working a full day between the rides. (Last week was just up and back before I started my new job) I thought I has been practicing with all the crap I was going to take with me, but I swear when I put on the Panniers this morning they were 10lbs heavier than in practice.

I completely ran out of steam on the way home though. I had brought a cliff bar for a snack at work before I left in the afternoon, but I didn't feel hungry so I skipped it. Big mistake - at about the 5mi mark, I felt a little week, by 10 my legs were rubber. I made the last 5 somehow, then ate a couple of bars, a quart of milk and some leftover sausage - then had dinner. So much for losing any weight today.

This morning was great though. I was on the road before 6:30 and I don't think I saw a soul on the trail for the first 8 miles. It was, nice and cool and just a pleasent time to be riding.

CigTech

Well I think the Techtra Lite has given me its last ride.

Can I have a moment of silence. The Huffy has a flared head tube and it tried to throw the chain. Which locked up the back wheel and broke three spokes this morning. Sending me and the bike sliding into the traffic lanes to my left. So I am going to put it to rest. It was a nice fast little bike and I'm going to miss it. It gave me 1534.6 miles of enjoymet. I wished I konw where or how to fix the head tube but I feel it is to unsafe to ride any more.

On a lighter note. I'll be starting my commute on the Peugeot PB-14 on the 4th. I have the next two days off to get it ready for the commute. I hope it will give as much enjoyment was the Techra Lite has.

Cyclaholic

I had an unscheduled dismount last night on the way home. At about mile 26 i have a short descent where i hit about 40mph, at the bottom I take a right hand sweeper, it had just started drizzling rain and as I took the right hander at around 27mph both wheels started sliding out from under me, but the rear found traction again almost immediately - that's when cycling turned into pole vaulting! I did a classic superman through the air, had enough air time to quickly check over my shoulder for traffic and sure enough there's a big truck right behind me hard on its brakes (isn't it weird how that split second seems to go into slow motion?). I landed on my belly, forearms, and thighs, and slid about 10 feet. No damage except for a fingernail sized road rash on each knee. The bike made it except for one smashed xenon tail light and a slightly bent brake lever.

The truck driver was a gentleman, he stopped and came over to see that I was OK, even offered me a lift home which I thanked him for but declined.

I rode home high on adrenalin, what a rush!

CigTech

Cycaholic, I know what you mean about the slow motion. When the back wheel locked up today, I hade a secound to look over my shoulder for traffic and there was none. Glad you came out of it not to bad.

tibikefor2

Cyclaholic: you are one lucky dude......

Lithuania

That was my third commute into work today and the fastest time so far. I made it in right under 1:40. I did get some bad news yesterday though. My shift is moving from 7am to 4pm to 6am to 6pm so that means I am going to have to leave at like 3:30 to insure I get in on time and then when I get home at night its basically going to be straight to bed.

Marylandnewbie

Cyclaholic -- glad to hear cyclaholics bounce!
Riskus -- too bad about the time change, but glad to see you're sticking to the bike commuting lifestyle.

I managed to throw my chain off last night through some stupid shifting moves -- just proves that no matter how many miles you ride, you can still do dumb things. A very pleasant, uneventful ride this morning. Although with all the pollen and grit in the air, I wind up at work feeling like my eyes have been sandblasted! Looking forward to a warm sunny ride home.

tibikefor2

Ditto to Newbie's experience this am.

DataJunkie

Don't set your alarm for 4:00pm instead of 4:00 am. Argh!
I woke up 2 hrs late and had to drive in. Such a beautiful day and I had to spend the commute in a car.
That and the commute to 90 minutes due to horrible traffic. If I had not thought I had a meeting I would have spent the extra hr and showed up to work 2.5 hrs late.
*grumbles*
My friday exchange clothes day is going to be tossed this week for an extra day commuting via the bike.

hubcap

Ugh. That's gonna be tough.

Humid this morning, and the trail was sort of soft from all the rain last night. The bike is clean no more. I really need to get something that will accommodate fenders.

Lithuania

yeah im thinking im going to need to start eating dinner on the ride home

but the good thing is I will only be working 4 days one week then 3 the next.

xroader

Riskus - Man, too bad about the time change, 12 hour shifts are rough. But the short week is nice - I think I would opt for that if I could (or even better 4 x 10 hours, since you end up working over 9 hours most days already.)

CigTech - I'm gaining on you - I averaged just over 15 mph today on the ride in. On the way home I was a little slower, but not as bad as yesterday. I'll have to start keeping a chart like yours.

Lithuania

i used to work 10 hour shifts and ive even done 12 hour shifts on over nights. Im just bummed because this new schedule takes me from working m- f to weds to sat.

My ride home was chill. I was a little weak from the fast ride in and I thought I was going to limp home a few times but I kept getting a burst of energy. I added 2 - 4 miles and stopped for dinner after about 16 - 18 miles. Quick burger and fries and rode the last 10 miles pretty good.

My neck is really starting to bother me when I get off my bike so I stopped at Spokes in Vienna on the way home to inquire about a fitting.

JugglerDave

What a beautiful commute home today, 32 miles of 65-70 degree weather, light tailwind, and I did the 32 miles in 2:07 which isn't too bad for me.

One strange incident; a pickup truck with windows open passed fairly closely and I thought the driver 'barked' at me as he passed. Then 2 seconds later the head of a dog popped up from the passenger side. It was funny because the single bark was 'perfectly timed' as the truck passed.

CigTech

XRoader, I happy to see your improving. But you know I'm about to start riding the Peugeot Pro Racer PB-14 on my commute. So I hope I can improve my ride time with the litter Peugeot.

If you want I can send you the Excel file that I use to make the chart and keep my ride data on. I all so have a Excel file that show you the speed for any given gear and Cadence. Just let me know if you want it.