[QUOTE=zacster;11273145]I hate to jinx myself, but why do some people get so many flats? I ride in NYC and don't have a problem and our streets aren't in great shape. I don't ride on flat resistant tires, nor use tire liners.

I seem to have to worst time in winter with flats. One time on a snow covered street, I picked up a nail that went through two sides of the tire. in other cases pieces of glass caused several flats, especially going across two bridges that are highway interchanges. For some reason, people like to throw beer and alcohol bottles on the bridge. Although, I am starting to see plastic minuture bottles. My worst flat was last year a couple weeks after the major snow storm, the sidewalks were still covered, so I had to changed the tire on the street narrowed by snow walls. I ran that tire several times and never found out why it went flat, but I had a spare tube and was none worse for the wear. Some people beeped at me as they went by. I just took it as a symbolic gesture of encouragment.

It started dripping for my last couple miles, but nothing serious, and that is good, because I didn't rainproof my packs. All the street lights are finnally on, so after two weeks of riding in the dark, the lights are back. I checked the weather and it looks like thunderstorms, so I will plan my exit based on the ability to make home between storms.

Rode super slowly, but it was still around 35C/95F when I left home this morning, up to around 43/109F with the humidity (thankfully the humidity wasn't too high...). Was still pouring sweat, but at least I cooled down reasonably quickly once I sat down at work.

Getting ready to go home now... the sun has gone down but it's still 37C/98.6F, 44C/111.2F with humidity.

:eek:


14C/57F when I left home. :p The way I felt when I woke up, I thought I was going to be as slow as death, but I wound up having a pretty fast commute. Passed two riders. Saw something come on the MUP behind me but it never caught me. Came up behind a roadie at a red light. Bottom of hill. Light turned green and we went. He mashed. I spun. I stayed with him to the top, then we went different ways.

Short, only 7 miles this morning. 73 degrees. Suppose to be 96 on the way home, but after gbcb post I aint gonna complain.

Temps in the afternoon continue to be 95° - 100°+. Should end on Saturday.

This morning I was a bit behind schedule and arrived 15 minutes later than usual. As I was finishing locking my bike and removing my paniers, a gentleman who was walking toward the office building from the parking lot stopped to chat.

He said he's seen my bike in the morning and wondered who rode it. He asked questions about my commute and seemed quite impressed that I was commuting by bicycle. He thought a round trip of 12+ miles was a "long way" and that I was pretty nervy to negotiate the traffic on the 4 lane street in front of the building.

It was a pleasent chat and a bit of an ego boost. Nice that someone has a positive view of what it is we commuters are doing. It was a nice way to begin the work day.

Some cabbie decided to use the bike lane as a right turn lane and cut his turn sharply. My problem with all this was I was right next to him while he did this so I raced ahead to beat him to the corner, rode up the curb cut and launched myself up to get some air and land in front of him. Reckless? Yes! Fun? YES!!!

Made it in before the rain and wind. Probably won't be so lucky on the way home.

Slow easy ride in to work today. The weather was nice and the trails were empty.

Terrible timing today: left too late to get in any decent detour and too early to ride directly to the office. So I just sort of rode around Downtown/Midtown. Lame.

I think once you're above 35C/95F you're free to complain as much as you want :D. I was dripping yesterday on the way home even BEFORE I got on my bike.

Even hotter today. 36C/96.8F in the morning, heading up to 39C/102F right now... 46C/114F with humidity. The aircon in my office doesn't work so well, so it's 30C/86F at my desk. Lovely...

Yesterday was my driving day, when I run errands and replenish supplies in my office, take laundry home, etc. It was supposed to rain, but our forecasters blew it again. They are terrible at predicting rain. It was extremely hot and humid again, so it felt good riding with the A/C for a change. Back in the saddle today, and I'll end up with 90 miles commuting for the second week in a row. The weather is supposed to be a little cooler and less humid, if you can call 95 F cool.

It was about 63F/17C this morning when I left. Sunny, with a light headwind. I left 10 minutes late. Legs felt a bit like cement but I wasn't too slow. Not many cyclists out. I had the misfortune of being behind a garbage truck for a little while. That's one vehicle you do not want to draft in the summer. I was muttering obscenities like a lunatic.
:notamused:

After a record-breaking hot and sticky summer, this morning was perfect in NYC. 70ºF/20ºC at travel time, and the rains yesterday cleared out a lot of the humidity and smoggy haze (and washed away the road dust from the construction sites). Through Jackson Heights and Sunnyside, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the ancient trees lining the historic districts. On top of the bridge, Manhattan gleamed in the morning sun like a jewel. Light traffic while crossing the east side past the luxury retail stores, and along Central Park South, all the horse-drawn carriages were lining up waiting for the tourists.

Then a pigeon crapped on my knee.

Good morning, New York.

That was life bringing you back to reality.

Awesome.

I am not worthy. 97 degrees is silly. I drove.

Had two different cars pull out right in front of me in the space of 10 minutes. One person looked right at me and apparently didn't see me despite the lime green kit I wore today. The other driver didn't even look at all. I'm not sure who's worse.

Other than that, a nice day. I rode the race bike today and took the opportunity to check out the glue job I did on my new tubulars. Now that I think of it, on the panic stops they felt pretty solid. So I got that goin' for me.

Which is nice.

Holy crap.

Beautiful sunrise commute (first bike commute ever), with clear skies and about 55F. Was a little cold at first, but quickly warmed up.

Now you are addicted. Sorry forgot to tell you.

No flats, animal attacks or crazy drivers? Nice weather? Dont even sound right. Congratulations by the way, how far is your commute?

This morning was like trudging through 13 miles of soup in Richmond, VA. Fortunately the cloud cover was heavy, which kept the sun from beating down on me. Local weather forecast for this afternoon is showers and thunderstorms with highs in the upper 80s. This could be my first rainy ride home!

Lesson learned today: wet shoes + stock pedals = ridiculously slippery starts. I may have to consider an upgrade.

Congrats!!

Well written, I enjoyed it. I usually have to get to work before I get crapped on.

:lol:

Weather makes all the difference!
 

I had been riding off and on and feeling really beat. I was wondering if I was just on my way to becoming a busted up old man! Today, however, it was cool and pleasant this morning. I took off on my bike and discovered all my old strength was still there! I made it to work in record time! Amazing what an effect the heat can have! Think I'm just going to take it easy 'till September or thereabouts.

I didn't get to ride even once this week. MTWT were humid, today was nice but I had the hard task of taking a booze cruise at noon for work. I thought about riding to the boat, but figured I didn't want to be all sweaty since I wouldn't have any place to clean up. And then there was the question of how I'd ride home after a few beers.

Sorry if anyone read this, I didn't think my earlier post from work actually worked.

I had a great day in and a better day on the way home with a tail wind. Low humidity and temp in the 70's.

Tiny little commutes breeze in hot weather (95 degrees, record high). 6 miles round-trip to gym and back, where I rode 24 miles on a recumbent bike, oddly, then 2.4 miles round trip to work, night time on way back.

As I tell everyone who asks if I can stand the heat, "it's not hot until I stop." Then suddenly, I start gushing sweat. But I made a promise to myself that after this past winter and a long cold snap that featured below-zero temperatures and no electricity for part of the time, I would not complain about the heat this summer. 95 is fine as long as it's not 10 below. That's not riding weather - at least not until I get some better gear :)

Spooky part of the day: pedestrian got hit by a hit-and-run driver about 90 minutes after I went through the same intersection.

Hopin' for no rain tomorrow - wanna go to the gym and go shopping.

arghh i dont like waking up and riding to work in the dark i dont want summer to go away, it was actually a little chilly this morning i wore a windbreaker felt odd having something cover my arms :)