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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 05-12-10 | 07:37 PM
  #4751  
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From: Chicagoland

Bikes: 1997 Schwinn Searcher GS, 2007 Dahon Curve D3

I managed not to get rained upon at all today. Rode in when it was cloudy. Rode home when it was cloudy. I was home not 20 minutes and now it is a steady rain. I guess I'll pay for that luck in the near future.
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Old 05-12-10 | 08:18 PM
  #4752  
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I commuted my 1st time on bike 16 miles each way. It was sunny and beautiful. Lots of other friendly bikers out there 2 helped me find my way at different points
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Old 05-13-10 | 04:30 AM
  #4753  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

It was a decent ride in and a bit drizzly, but nothing soaking. The temps are staying good around 6 C (44 F). The afternoons, cloudy or not are very nice. Being sleeveless with shorts is a good feeling. Saw my first early morning rider of the year, going in the opposite direction, all lit up. I caught a
glimpse of an arm raised in a headlight going by, so I responded in like.
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Old 05-13-10 | 06:01 AM
  #4754  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Muggy. A very warm 68 F when I left home, and I made great time. Another bike commuter actually passed me, on a mountain bike no less, but I didn't notice him until he was going by. I rarely ever see other bike commuters on my route. I didn't bother giving chase because I've ridden every day this week with long weekend rides coming up.
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Old 05-13-10 | 06:15 AM
  #4755  
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

22nd ride to work since November 15
felt strong, stronger than ever
cool temps and I like wearing a bandanna with my new headband
toes got cold but days of toe warmers are looong gone, right?
dropped my chain at one point, after I passed a pretty girl walking. I downshifted too hard at the end of the cogs. don't know what I was thinking. oh yes I do ... whoa ...! I do love spring.
computer needs a new battery but it will last today

13.3 miles
29.1 max
15.3 avrg
52 min saddle time
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Old 05-13-10 | 06:19 AM
  #4756  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

I was up waaaay too late last night.


Slower than normal, but not too much. A nice morning though. Sunny, around 40F. No wind at all. I stopped and watched some Canada geese with their babies.
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Old 05-13-10 | 06:41 AM
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

Cool ride in with occasional sprinkles, other than the headwind, it wasn't a bad ride. I'm sitting here looking at yet another flat. Luckily the tube held until I got to work in fact, I didn't realize it had flatted until just a few minutes ago. This is the 3rd or 4th flat I've had in as many weeks. I'm currently riding on Continental Ultra Sports and have been enjoying the speed and handling but dreading the decreased flat protection. I've put off replacing them with something with a higher level of protection but, I've had enough. I just got out an order for some Conti Tour Rides and, although they're slower with greater rolling resistance, they give me much more peace of mind. I'll change the tube over lunch and ride home on a mushy rr. tire, again (my new office doesn't have access to a bike room/floor pump so, I'll use my hand pump which may get me to 40 lbs or so).
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Old 05-13-10 | 08:00 AM
  #4758  
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It's getting warmer so my pace is having to slow some to control sweating. But you can't beat a sunny day.
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Old 05-13-10 | 08:19 AM
  #4759  
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From: Overland Park, KS

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Originally Posted by ZmanKC
Ride in this morning was fine if a bit cool and windy. The ride home could be interesting. The forecast is possible severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornados.

I almost wussed out and took the car but I'm hoping to get lucky.
It looked threatening when I left work a bit after 4:00 PM so I put on my rain gear. Well, no rain so about half way home I quickly took it off at a stop light because it was so uncomfortably warm.

Within 10 minutes the skies opened up and I got soaked to the bone. :-)
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Old 05-13-10 | 08:29 AM
  #4760  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Welcomed the cooler temps this AM. Good ride in and legs felt strong. Last night and tonight were first rides on new saddle (I must have gotten the last one) Dialing it in and it's nice and comfy. Way better than the crappy, stock, way-too-wide, riding-on-springs saddle I've had for too long (i.e., over a year). I'm no saddle expert, and I'm sure a Brooks would be nicer, but I'm quite happy for the less than $20 I spent.

Now to make some good tips pedicabbing on Saturday so I can throw some more $ at upgrades to my bike.
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Old 05-13-10 | 09:03 AM
  #4761  
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Warmest morning in a long time at 10C. Very nice ride in. On a long hill, I passed a guy riding his bike on the sidewalk, and a woman walking her bike on the road. Seems to me they should have switched places.

I'm really loving my new commuter, an early 80's Bianchi road bike. It's so light and nimble, and just flies on it's 23mm tires. I'm not as fond of the modified route I need to take to avoid gravel, though.
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Old 05-13-10 | 09:28 AM
  #4762  
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From: Cardiff, Ca
Beautiful ride in this morning. I was a bit tired to start but after the first mile I warmed up and flat out hammered all the way. Broke the 42 minute saddle time, 41:40 to be exact for my 12.3 mile commute, for the first time this year.

The cagers even seemed to be courteous this morning. I had this one downhill stretch coming off a left turn at a light. I was first in que and took the lane and maxed at around 36 mph, at the bottom stopped at a light some gal in a Prius that was following me even gave me a thumbs up.
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Old 05-13-10 | 09:42 AM
  #4763  
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From: south Puget Sound
45F and blinding sun. First sub-50F commute of the year in shorts, no tights. Metabolism slowly dewinterizing...
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Old 05-13-10 | 10:17 AM
  #4764  
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From: Chicagoland

Bikes: 1997 Schwinn Searcher GS, 2007 Dahon Curve D3

Originally Posted by jbeck
I commuted my 1st time on bike 16 miles each way. It was sunny and beautiful. Lots of other friendly bikers out there 2 helped me find my way at different points
Welcome to the bike commuting world! Consider going to fill in your profile information so we know where you are and what you're about. A 32 mile round trip commute is pretty respectable! I don't know if I could hack that every day...

It was pouring this morning, so I took the car. It is discouraging, but not enough to put on rain gear & sweat. At least not yet, hehehe.
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Old 05-13-10 | 11:23 AM
  #4765  
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From: St Petersburg, FL

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Bianchi Volpe

It was so awesome I can't describe it. Perfect weather - I'm back in my sandals with bare toes. And it's just light enough to take off with my sunglasses at 6:30 AM.
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Old 05-13-10 | 11:30 AM
  #4766  
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From: SouthWest Washington State

Bikes: Schwinn Broadway Hybrid (2010)

After dealing with a headwind last night all the way home, this mornings commute was pleasant at 43* and clear. Tried a different route that turned out to be only 1/2 mile longer (current round trip of 17 miles), but more traffic. Only saw 3 other bikes this morning on the way in. Last night was passed on the path by a couple using a pair of power assisted bikes, headwind didn't seem to bother them any.

Tonight commute looks to be clear and about 77* and a homebrew in my future when I get home, this is my friday off (two thumbs up to that)
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Old 05-13-10 | 04:16 PM
  #4767  
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

the ride home was quite good but I don't like these running shorts over my trisuit. also I tore a small portion of fabric at the bottom of the zipper. dam. the zipper works fine but I should sew the bottom of the zipper back together with he fabric. I was in a hurry and tugged on the top too abruptly grrr that's what I get for rushing

12.9 miles
26.7 max (homeward is uphill)
13.9 avrg (ditto)
55 min saddle time
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Old 05-13-10 | 05:06 PM
  #4768  
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From: Marysville, CA

Bikes: 1992 Rocky Mountain Fusion, Yuba Mundo, Specialized Venge

30F on the way in, but it felt much nicer since the wind was absent. I had to manuever around a bus parked on the shoulder to get home tonight. It would have been different if he were broke down, but I am sure he stopped to get a soda or something at the convienent store.
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Old 05-13-10 | 10:10 PM
  #4769  
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From: Becket, MA
Had a "Silly Commuter Racing" moment on the way home tonight.

I'm in what's called "Tech week", which in the theatre means a series of "10 out of 12's"- days where you work 12 hour days with 2 hours of break just before the show opens. It's an exhausting time and given that I just finished a semester teaching full time at a college concurrent to my other work I'm feeling like I don't have much ooomph on my bike rides this week.

So tonight as I left the theatre around 11 pm I vowed to "take it easy" on the way home and just smoothly and gracefully make my way home. But as I was riding along a hidden section of road running parallel to the Mass Pike that leads to the back side of Fenway park I'm moving nicely along the flat quiet stretch on this windless night and pass a couple of guys on single speeds. (I'm on my big old hybrid with milk crate, 26" wheels and carrying my usual ton of crap.)

As I pass one of the cyclists, I had "dinged" him with my bell because his erratic riding style led me, wrongly, to believe, that he was about to cut across the road and turn left suddenly. Instead, as I pass, he yells out, "Oh! So this guy wants a race!"

Actually, it was the last thing I wanted tonight but old instincts die hard and as this kid thrashes his bike up to speed and starts to gain on my back wheel I feel my upper body relax, my elbows drop and my legs start to spin, and spin, and spin until I'm cranking at about 110 rpm in a pretty substantial gear. I wound it out to I don't know what kind of rpm and as I felt him dropping off I clicked into one more higher gear and turbo'd away at what felt like warp speed. The satisfaction I felt as I heard him let out an involuntary groan and sigh as he fell further and further back was worth all the effort.

I know these things are stupid, especially when you're as out of racing fitness as I am, but they can be fun. I'm awfully glad he didn't totally humiliate me.
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Old 05-14-10 | 06:01 AM
  #4770  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Another warm, muggy morning. I rode one of my racing bikes today because I have a surplus of clothes and food in my office and didn't need to carry anything. It was fun going fast for a change, even though I kept reminding myself to take it easy so my legs will be well rested for the weekend rides. Still ended up with my fastest morning commute in a while, despite catching nearly every red light. Only downside was that i was drenched in sweat when I got to work.
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Old 05-14-10 | 06:06 AM
  #4771  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

A very nice ride in this morning, I felt really strong for the first time in a while. It was also a nice perk that I made it in without another flat. I got a flat upon arriving at work yesterday and then again near home this, after replacing the tube at work. I nearly washed out on a sharp turn as the tire flatted, I got lucky and caught the back end. I was so close to home that I pumped up the tire as best I could and limped home as it deflated. The current tube seems to be holding but, I realized that my rr. hub has worked itself loose again so, it's back to the shop this afternoon.
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Old 05-14-10 | 06:06 AM
  #4772  
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Windy, extremely windy head and cross wind a little rain. I was right on the backside of a thunderstorm. Still better than driving.
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Old 05-14-10 | 06:17 AM
  #4773  
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From: 52°57'N 6°21'E

Bikes: Giant OCR

Didn't get to ride today. When I had to leave home and took the bike, I noticed the front tire was flat. Can't be bothered to figure out if it's really a flat or just deflated right now, as I have to ride the bike back home in the dark tonight. Don't feel like changing a tube or patching it in the dark...
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Old 05-14-10 | 06:24 AM
  #4774  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

Well, my joy over this morning's flat-free ride was short lived; I just glanced over at my bike and, guess what, another flat. And, I don't have another tube to replace it with. Well, Eff it! It sits and I take the freakin' Metro home this afternoon.
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Old 05-14-10 | 08:16 AM
  #4775  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Originally Posted by mjw16
Well, my joy over this morning's flat-free ride was short lived; I just glanced over at my bike and, guess what, another flat. And, I don't have another tube to replace it with. Well, Eff it! It sits and I take the freakin' Metro home this afternoon.
mjw - What are you running over? You sure nothing's still stuck in your tire that keeps flatting your tubes? Are you pinch flatting? Bad rim tape? Whatever it is, I hope you get it solved and can put as end to your frustrations.

If it's something you're running over, let me know. I imagine a good bit of your commute is on the MVT, and I'll want to keep my eyes peeled lest I run over it myself.

Last edited by EKW in DC; 05-14-10 at 08:36 AM.
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