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Black Friday Commuting

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Old 11-27-08 | 11:12 PM
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From: Redding, CA

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Black Friday Commuting

ok, so not really commuting, but riding/shopping.

Man.. I'm stoked! The weather has been crazy here, but a good crazy. Excellent riding weather.
So now I'm just waiting Friday morning. Crazies on the road, racing from one place to another and me on my bike.
hah! man, I just wondered if anyone else did the whole "Black Friday" thing on bike?
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Old 11-27-08 | 11:23 PM
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Im thinking about riding to one of my LBS's thats running a big sale to get a few small items and to get a ride in.
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Old 11-27-08 | 11:32 PM
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not just rushing but pissed and stressed too. why would anyone want to get up at 4 in the morning to only save a few bucks? myself I have never been to one of the morning sales and I don't plan too.
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Old 11-27-08 | 11:33 PM
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Gonna ride over to REI in the AM. Good to be able to park in 5 seconds. Looking forward to it.
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Old 11-27-08 | 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by steveknight
not just rushing but pissed and stressed too. why would anyone want to get up at 4 in the morning to only save a few bucks? myself I have never been to one of the morning sales and I don't plan too.
Wake up at 4? Pfft some people were already camping out today in the afternoon.
Anyway I don't want to drive through those parking lots in a tank, let along on a bike.
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Old 11-28-08 | 12:01 AM
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if I ride I have to go through the wal mart parking lot. wish me luck.
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Old 11-28-08 | 07:39 AM
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I found the roads empty this morning. No truck traffic. Very few cars. Made the morning commute a pleasure! I rode the empty streets the entire way, never had to divert to the sidewalk, even on the suburban speedways. A tad chilly, but worth it.
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Old 11-28-08 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by UmneyDurak
Wake up at 4? Pfft some people were already camping out today in the afternoon.
Anyway I don't want to drive through those parking lots in a tank, let along on a bike.
I was at office depot from 11 to 6, but I didn't get there by bike - I really wouldn't want to haul two computers and a 22" monitor for 6 miles exposed to the cold (the products, that is).
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Old 11-28-08 | 09:38 AM
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From: Vienna VA (DC metro)

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No shopping for me due to having to work... silly military...

But the WO&D was AWESOME! It may as well have been Feburary. I saw the same six guys I always see minus the runners and strollers... Fast and fun!
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Old 11-28-08 | 09:41 AM
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buy_Nothing_Day
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Old 11-28-08 | 09:43 AM
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The LBS I work at is having a sale from today through Sunday, so it's pretty slow here right now. Sort of steady, but slow for the number of people we have working.
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Old 11-28-08 | 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by crazybikerchick


I biked to work today (I work at a Bike Shop), like I do every day. At least this year I didn't get almost hit by a cager/salezombie as happened last year.
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Old 11-28-08 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by alhanson
No shopping for me due to having to work... silly military...
No "training holiday"?
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Old 11-28-08 | 04:47 PM
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Well that was no big deal though I did pull a few Joey 20+ mph commuter tactics in the mall parking lot. Got some new gloves at REI and rolled over to the local LBS which was...deserted. Greggs is a great shop too. Felt bad for those guys.
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Old 11-28-08 | 04:53 PM
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From: Missouri, USA

Bikes: A 2007 Trek 4300. 22.5", 1981 Trek 610 24" (61cm)

My LBS didn't have any sales, but it was fuller than usual. I was there to get a new saddle, so naturally, I took the bike.
After trying out a few I decided on the Specialized Sonoma Sport. We'll see how it works.
PS: Thomson seat posts are nice, but the "infinite adjustability" is really a pain when swapping out saddles in a hurry.
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Old 11-28-08 | 06:30 PM
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From: Rochester, NY

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I live downtown, which was all but completely closed this morning. Something seemed a little off when I got up. Then I realized I couldn't hear any traffic in front of my building.

The library is in a predominantly residential neighborhood. I could have commuted with a blindfold on for all the traffic I had to deal with.

Of course, coming home this time of year is a completely different story. This house with 100,000 Christmas lights is right on my way. Video here.

Naturally I'm wary of traffic through there--especially with on-street parking--but I kinda like having something on my commute that other people have to to go out of their way to visit.

OTOH, even the DiNottes get lost with these lights.
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Old 11-28-08 | 10:34 PM
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didn't ride on Black Friday this year or last year but I did two years ago.

the already-quiet side streets I take to get from my parents house to my house were empty as could be, it was great!
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Old 11-29-08 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by crazybikerchick
I observed Buy Nothing Day by helping my son work on his '74 Raleigh Grand Prix. We didn't go riding, though.
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Old 11-29-08 | 07:46 PM
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I went out and and rode in the country side since everyone was in town shopping and away on vacation. Commuting keeps the legs in shape but nothing beats riding wherever just because. Needed to drop some turkey weight anyway.
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Old 11-29-08 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by crazybikerchick

Wow, I celebrated without even knowing. I bought nothing.. well, the fact that I'm broke might have something to do with that.
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Old 11-29-08 | 09:04 PM
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I stay the hell in my house on Black Friday. I hate shopping on the best of days, the only way I'd go into a store on BF would be if I were out of food.
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Old 11-29-08 | 09:17 PM
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From: northern California

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Picked up a new helmet at my LBS. The old one was stolen when I fell asleep during the early morning bus ride part of my commute. The shop had never had my size before (XXL) but but had one this time. Probably found in some long forgotten part of the shop as it was under $40. Now I can put thinner foam pads in and use the rain-hood on my jacket inside the helmet.
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Old 11-29-08 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by tsl
Wow... no mentions of the Grizwalds!?

We hid out at home. No sense in going in that mess when we can shop in my PJs!
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Old 11-30-08 | 07:35 AM
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Originally Posted by steveknight
not just rushing but pissed and stressed too. why would anyone want to get up at 4 in the morning to only save a few bucks? myself I have never been to one of the morning sales and I don't plan too.
hey, i got up at 4.45, but to go for a 20 mile ride not to save a few dollars. There was a lot more traffic than I was used to at that time in the morning...but it doesn't matter since I am treated better by cars at that time than I am during the day.
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Old 11-30-08 | 07:55 AM
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I hate shopping on the best of days
....except at a bike shop!?!
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