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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 06-04-09 | 10:57 AM
  #401  
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From: WNY

Bikes: Trek 7200

First day back on the bike after car accident. Legs felt good considering. Temp 55*F, no wind, sunny... so was ideal conditions to get back.
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Old 06-04-09 | 11:11 AM
  #402  
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imi
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From: Gothenburg, Sweden

Bikes: Bianchi Lupo & Bianchi Volpe Disc: touring. Bianchi Volpe: commuting

Originally Posted by Absolute
2nd day, made it both ways. For a second on the way home, I thought I was going to end up on my *****. When my shoe lace went into the chain wheel. Pulled over and just tucked the lace into the shoe.
For those that ride with their dress shoes on, what do you do to avoid this from happening?
I loop the knot under the tongue rather than under the laces (which I used to) though this might not work so well on "fancy dress shoes" aswell as trainers (only type of shoes I own... that says too much about me I'm sure
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Old 06-04-09 | 12:02 PM
  #403  
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Did my second commute in to work today... 10 miles each way, took 46 minutes to get here. Using a hybrid bike, not a road bike. Headwind all the way this time, which sucked, but I was still faster than the last time, so that's good. Was hoping to get it done in under 40 minutes. Hopefully the winds stay the same on the way back!

Today, for some reason, I feel like I could eat everything in the office... Didn't feel that the last time, or at least, not nearly so much. Ah well, I've probably earned a few more calories!

Plan on doing this once per week. Too much stuff to cart back and forth on a regular basis (laptop, food, etc), and I go to the gym the other days. Still ride on a couple other days of the week, just not to work.

Clint
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Old 06-04-09 | 12:49 PM
  #404  
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From: Holyoke, MA

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

it was great. even the knee felt good.
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Old 06-04-09 | 01:29 PM
  #405  
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From: near Chicago
Originally Posted by CNeufeld
...
Plan on doing this once per week. Too much stuff to cart back and forth on a regular basis (laptop, food, etc), and I go to the gym the other days. Still ride on a couple other days of the week, just not to work.
I started that way. Now I aim for 4 days per week, and am satisfied with 3. I just learned that I like doing this, and found ways to accommodate it.

Looks like 73F and sunny for my home trip
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Old 06-04-09 | 01:35 PM
  #406  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Been awhile since I rode the old Gazelle. Gosh, there's nothing like the buzz of a Campy freehub. Sounds like a hive of angry bees.

The ride itself was pleasantly uneventful. Cool and breezy, not much traffic. Can't ask for much more.
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Old 06-04-09 | 06:16 PM
  #407  
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Originally Posted by harpdog
I started that way. Now I aim for 4 days per week, and am satisfied with 3. I just learned that I like doing this, and found ways to accommodate it.

Looks like 73F and sunny for my home trip
So you're saying I've started down a slippery slope?

I can't see that happening this year, but next year, the local aquatic/fitness center will be opening up. That means I can do my working out on my schedule, rather than trying to cram it in on my way to work. I think I'd also want to get a road bike, instead of my hybrid. I miss my old Nishiki International; I remember it being much faster. But back then, I was about 20 years younger, so... However, since I'm trying to do a triathlon or two, I can see another bike sometime in my future anyway.

On the plus side, the way home was much faster than the way there. For the round trip, I'd taken 8 minutes off my previous time. So apparently my training is working, even if I'm not commuting every day. And we were 57F and cloudy for the way home... The way there was 41F. Bit chilly till you get the blood pumping! But not so sweaty.

Clint
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Old 06-04-09 | 09:12 PM
  #408  
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From: Reno, Nevada

Bikes: Marin Riftzone, Ridley Orion, Jamis Allegro Commuter , Univega road bike

Passed a sleeping duck. Raccoon crossed my path. Peaceful ride along the river at 5:30am every morning.
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Old 06-04-09 | 09:36 PM
  #409  
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From: GTA

Bikes: Dahon Mu SL 08 / Matrix 08

cute... found a girl taking a picture to a dear, eating leaves on the side of the path, not caring for humans passing by.

lots of rabbits jumping around, and more birds than i can count trying to eat, meanwhile people are zooming by on their bikes.

humans are evil, we are bothering nature....
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Old 06-04-09 | 09:45 PM
  #410  
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----
 
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From: Becket, MA
whoa, a totally new commute today. I am out in my western MA digs and commuting 14 miles each way to work.

The difference between a 20 mile bike path urban commute and a 28 mile road bike commute with major elevation changes- the ride begins (and therefore ends) with a massive hill (sections of 18% but an average grade of 12% for one mile)- is pretty intense. Downhill on the way to work and up hill on the way home. There are really no level sections for the entire ride.

Managed to do the ride into work in 46 minutes and the ride home in roughly the same. Carried a lot of stuff into work today- but left clothes there so I wouldn't have to carry them everyday. Had a rack pack and a large front bag so I was carrying a ton of stuff- including 3 books, which I'll have to carry pretty much every day.

Should be an interesting summer commute wise.
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Old 06-05-09 | 04:49 AM
  #411  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter

It was steady rain today, 54 F ( 12 C). Lights from oncoming traffic made it a bit problematic, but I made it. The good thing about warm weather and rain is that there is less to get wet when you wear shorts and a t-shirt. Rain all day, so hopefully things dry out, otherswise I will be putting on wet clothes.
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Old 06-05-09 | 06:34 AM
  #412  
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From: Wilmington, NC

Bikes: Miele Doral, Bianchi Boardwalk, Cannondale R300

Drove a car today. Ack. Hated it.

I'm covering for someone at work this week, so my 9-5 is 6:45-4. I'm not a morning person in the slightest, but riding in just after sunrise has actually been kinda nice. But this morning was supposed to be solid thunderstorm, and while I can handle either getting up two hours early or riding in the rain, the combination of the two held very little appeal. So I borrowed my girlfriend's car and drove to work on a bright, sunny day. So now I'm kinda pissed about that and am without the benefit of my morning cardio. Damn it.

Hey, it's 8:30, time to get on the bike and... oh wait, I'm already here. Damn it.
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Old 06-05-09 | 06:55 AM
  #413  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

High 40sF and a little bit hazy. No wind. Saw some other cyclists. I was pretty quick again today.
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Old 06-05-09 | 06:59 AM
  #414  
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The commute was rainy mid low 60s. Ended up going down when a ped. jumped off the curb right in front of me; she didn't look before stepping off and then froze in panic. The crosswalk wasn't asphalt, but cobble stone that get slippery wen wet. Went down on my right, doing my best to not hit the lady head on. Still ended up clipping her.

I'm ok, just a busted knee with no other physical damage. The lady was fine, just wet from falling. The bike is totally fine with just a minor rash on the rear rack.

A cop was waiting for a green and saw the whole thing. He pulled up behind me to block traffic while I gathered myself and chewed out the lady. I stopped him giving a jaywalking ticket; hopefully the lady learned her lesson. If I was a car, she would be dead.
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Old 06-05-09 | 07:00 AM
  #415  
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I am a little worried about my Dodge pick-up. It hasn't been used for quite some time, (because of the bicycle). I found the remains of peanut and sunflower seeds along with some twine on top of the engine, nestled between the intake manifold and the left valve cover. I hope the wiring is intact. Anyone know how to dicourage the little guys from making my truck their home?
Only 4 degrees C again this morning, still waiting for the warm weather. Anybody know where it is? Anybody...Bueller?
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Old 06-05-09 | 08:20 AM
  #416  
jpdesjar
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i rode over 100 miles this week!
last sunday i did a 37 mile ride and i did about 14 miles each day commuting...woop woop!

i feel good about this number
 
Old 06-05-09 | 09:02 AM
  #417  
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From: Milwaukee
Did a five for five this week with out any incidents to speak of. Tried to mix my routes up from day to day to keep things interesting.

Today the weather is quite nice but the rest of the week was fairly cool. I am patiently waiting for some more summer like weather but tomorrow the forecast calls for a high of 55F.

What is this global warming thing that fools are trying to convince the unwashed of???
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Old 06-05-09 | 09:07 AM
  #418  
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From: near Chicago
Originally Posted by availpunk9
Ended up going down when a ped. jumped off the curb right in front of me; she didn't look before stepping off and then froze in panic.
My brother was a pedestrian in this scenario and ended up with the lower leg broken in 2 places as it bent around the bicycle wheel. Too bad about your knee, but glad everyone is OK.


I had a chilly 42F when I left home wearing a wind jacket, shorts, and terrycloth mittens. 50F showed on the bank near work when I arrived.

On the way, I got doused by a helicopter spraying for gypsy moth control (yeah, they are a threat to vegetation in my area, and I don't think they tell fortunes or dance around a fire at the edge of town...)
Thge choppers spray an insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki in a waxy base which was getting in my eyes. I had nowhere to escape to.

All the government info says it's harmless to humans...I don't know, but I haven't had the urge to pack a wagon and hit the road as a tinker or perform driveway sealing scams....




Last edited by harpdog; 06-05-09 at 09:12 AM.
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Old 06-05-09 | 09:24 AM
  #419  
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From: Santa Fe, NM

Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa

The morning ride in was wonderful - first day this year that I didn't need the wind shell to cut the morning chill. 60 degrees and cloudy - roads were pretty quiet, lights were mostly green - hard to complain!
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Old 06-05-09 | 02:39 PM
  #420  
New York Commuter
 
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From: New York, NY

Bikes: Falcon Olympic

Terrible! Wasn't ready for the rain, almost hit a squirrel in Central Park, rode home in sopping wet gear, and snapped my stem as I pulled up to my apartment. Worst. Commute. Ever.
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Old 06-05-09 | 02:42 PM
  #421  
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From: Olathe, KS

Bikes: Trek Soho S

Originally Posted by kimronthomas
Terrible! Wasn't ready for the rain, almost hit a squirrel in Central Park, rode home in sopping wet gear, and snapped my stem as I pulled up to my apartment. Worst. Commute. Ever.
wow... that sucks... at least it's friday!
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Originally Posted by KitN
You don't need to dress up like a spandex super hero to ride your bike.
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Old 06-05-09 | 02:42 PM
  #422  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Had a platelet donation this morning before work. It always makes me smile when I have to promise not to engage in any strenuous activity for the next 72 hours.
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Old 06-05-09 | 07:50 PM
  #423  
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old clunker
 
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From: near Chicago
So after my gypsy moth spray morning shower, my bottom bracket started squawking on the way home - bad. Called wife for a ride to the bike shop...
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Old 06-05-09 | 08:37 PM
  #424  
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From: New York, NY

Bikes: Falcon Olympic

Originally Posted by jdmitch
wow... that sucks... at least it's friday!
And summer break's ALMOST here!
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Old 06-07-09 | 06:48 PM
  #425  
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From: New Hope/Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I had a great week of bike commuting last week. I got in 146 miles and the weather was great, a little windy, but great.
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