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How was the commute today? Continued.

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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How was the commute today? Continued.

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Old 05-26-09 | 06:16 AM
  #251  
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From: Greenwood Indiana

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Sun starts to come up sooner and sooner, so the birds are up during the first half of my commute now, that is the suburban part. Pretty nice morning, warm, dry and now with music.
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Old 05-26-09 | 06:20 AM
  #252  
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From: Maryland, USA

Bikes: '73 Bertin, '04 LeMond Poprad, Miyata 1000, and counting...

I've ridden through heavier rain, but not often (or on purpose). Last June we had the remnants of T.S. Hanna roll through-I was hoping to get to where I was going before it arrived and didn't. This morning felt like that.

And I was running late. At my usual time, I got about 100 meters from my front door before a bolt of lightning came down within a mile or two directly in front of me. I doubled back and gave it about twenty minutes for the cell to pass through. Still got soaked, but I'll live.

I thought about taking the bus instead, but it takes longer and is just more of a hassle...
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Old 05-26-09 | 06:39 AM
  #253  
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From: Edmonton, AB

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Very strong wind for a morning commute. Luckily it was a tailwind. I saw another commuter pull out in front of me but before I caught up he turned off the road I was traveling on. It was a rare sighting indeed, a road bike riding commuter actually riding on the road. You don't see many of those in these parts.
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Old 05-26-09 | 06:49 AM
  #254  
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Nice this morning. Temps around 40F, sunny, and no wind. The MUP was all cleaned up from a marathon on Sunday. Just the occassional empty gu pack on the ground.
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Old 05-26-09 | 07:24 AM
  #255  
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Brutal head wind today. I earned my 12mph. Otherwise, nice. About 60 deg, mostly cloudy. Plus, after a saddle adjustment last week, no more knee pain! Woo-hoo!
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Old 05-26-09 | 08:16 AM
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It seems everyone has brisk wind this morning, me included. Not raining but threatening to. I expect to get wet on the return trip.

If you have the option, do you change your route to try and avoid the wind or do you take on the challenge of a harder workout?

I took a longer way in just so I would not have to fight the head wind.
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Old 05-26-09 | 09:16 AM
  #257  
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Originally Posted by duckbill
If you have the option, do you change your route to try and avoid the wind or do you take on the challenge of a harder workout?

I took a longer way in just so I would not have to fight the head wind.
I try to avoid giving up ground on my commute. I have a South to North route and for my current inbound route I found the route that keeps me going north for as long as possible. The wind this morning was blowing first from the northeast and at one point from the northwest. I was getting it full frontal and from the sides. But I stayed the course. I just hope the same wind is there on the way home because it will be a good tailwind then.
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Old 05-26-09 | 10:01 AM
  #258  
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From: south Puget Sound
52F and grey; brisk I guess. Stopped for blood-draw on the way to work. Otherwise uneventful.
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Old 05-26-09 | 11:19 AM
  #259  
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From: Holyoke, MA

Bikes: 2003 Giant Iguana (ONCE yellow), '86 Team Fuji (Blue/Yellow), '87 Schwinn Le Tour (Frost White)

warmer than i thought it would be this AM--50's-ish? and i realized i forgot my shorts for the ride home--i'll be sweating it out in double-layer tights!

i could just wear the boxer briefs, hmmmm...
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Old 05-26-09 | 11:42 AM
  #260  
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Uneventful ride in this morning. Mine was the only bike on the rack; I think the forecast of scattered t-storms all day scared everyone else off (in their defense, my commute is only 4 miles).

It's been a long boring day at work so at 11 am I thought about going home. Then I checked the Doppler for the area. Take a look at the attachment. Needless to say I didn't go.
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Old 05-26-09 | 12:07 PM
  #261  
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Surprisingly fresh legs this morning. Just gorgeous weather. Mid-50s, blue sky, soft breeze from the west. Should be mid-80s by this afternoon.
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Old 05-26-09 | 01:17 PM
  #262  
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Awesome ride in today. AM Weather is finally above 50F
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Old 05-26-09 | 01:18 PM
  #263  
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Ha ha! There's a good reason to stay at work!

Originally Posted by Itsjustb
It's been a long boring day at work so at 11 am I thought about going home. Then I checked the Doppler for the area. Take a look at the attachment. Needless to say I didn't go.
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Old 05-26-09 | 01:24 PM
  #264  
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Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho

finally some significant daylight on my 5 am ride...
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Old 05-26-09 | 01:54 PM
  #265  
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Originally Posted by Doohickie
It's actually "Sunset Orange"
hihi pardon me doohickie... that's still a lovely looking sunset orange bike!
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Old 05-26-09 | 01:55 PM
  #266  
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I had the scariest commute of my life tonight. I had to get home early and the forecast called for thundershowers. Got most of the way home just fine, but with about 3 miles to go, I see a huge lightning bolt about a half mile up the road right where I'm going. At this point, I'm so close to home and running late, so I ride right into the worst of it imagining that being struck by lightning is really quite rare. This terrain is mostly flat farm land with nothing but a few scattered houses around. As I'm riding, I see a bright flash and less than a second later the loudest crack I've ever heard. Whew, I thought, that was close. I tuck down and ride as hard as I can through this exposed area. Rain and hail are now pouring down in buckets. With less than a mile to go, two more lightning bolts struck a few seconds apart, both within a couple hundred yards since the flash and that god-awful crack were nearly simultaneous. Never have I been this close to lightning before and it was truly terrifying.
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Old 05-27-09 | 04:28 AM
  #267  
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Originally Posted by jeffpoulin
...Never have I been this close to lightning before and it was truly terrifying.
That's what turned me back for a bit yesterday--what I saw was as close as I wanted to get!

And while yesterday's ride had me trying to remember the specifications for the ark (RIIIIGHT! What's a cubit?), this morning's drizzly fog (or was it a foggy drizzle?) had me appreciating the pleasure of picking the best line rather than the stretch of pavement with least running water on it. A bit muggy even though 55F/13C, but I have no real complaint...
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Old 05-27-09 | 06:07 AM
  #268  
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From: Raleigh, NC

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I have been extremely lucky with the rain lately. It started raining soon after I got to work yesterday and dumped 1.5 inches during the day, but the showers stopped about 15 minutes before it was time to head home, so I didn't get wet. My fenders did a great job keeping the water on the pavement off my and my bike. On Monday, my friends and I dodged showers for 60 miles and never got caught.

The morning, it was foggy but the roads were dry and there were no showers. Hopefully my luck will continue this afternoon, as scattered thunderstorms are predicted later in the day.
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Old 05-27-09 | 06:22 AM
  #269  
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From: Greenwood Indiana

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I love those big huge ice cold raindrops, not. But a great ride in anyway, very warm so the rain really did not feel too bad. I have to figure out something with my glasses, cant see in the rain with them, cant see at all without them.
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Old 05-27-09 | 06:25 AM
  #270  
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Just like MIKEnDC, 20 miles of drizzling mist. On the bright side, supposed to be thunderstorms this afternoon
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Old 05-27-09 | 06:26 AM
  #271  
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Originally Posted by making
I have to figure out something with my glasses, cant see in the rain with them, cant see at all without them.
If you find something let us all know... I'm in the same boat as you.
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Old 05-27-09 | 06:33 AM
  #272  
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From: Southern Maryland

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Misty this morning. Can't wait for the ride home in T-storms!!!
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Old 05-27-09 | 07:32 AM
  #273  
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Wasn't at work 15 minutes and the skies opened up. Brought my rain gear but I hope I'm as lucky as tarwheel.
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Old 05-27-09 | 08:01 AM
  #274  
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I had an abbreviated ride in this morning. I had to drop the car off for a recall and the dealership was right on the way to work The service rep asked me if I needed a ride anywhere (after watching me pull a bike and helmet out of the trunk). I said "no thanks, I have a ride" and pointed to the bike. He kinda smirked at that...
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Old 05-27-09 | 08:11 AM
  #275  
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pleasant riding this morning...a tiny sprinkle happening
i brought the poncho for the ride home but forgot my rear fender...doh
i don't think i am leaving enough time for myself to get ready in the morning and i am forgetting the important stuff...i can just wrap the brooks in a plastic bag...should be fine

i may just tough it out tomorrow and friday (more rain)
 


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