How was the commute today? Continued.
#6426
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: 'burbs of Ottawa ON Canada
Bikes: Marin Larkspur / Giant Defy Alliance 1
A picture perfect fall day today. Cool, sunny, not too windy and the leaves are turning - a great way to start the week!
#6427
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, IL
Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 0, Rivendell- Sam Hillborne, Montague folding bike.
Frost this morning. New pair of Alpaca wool socks kept the toes toasty warm in my sandals. Somewhat disappointed in the gloves I picked up at an LBS last spring. Fingertips are some type of vinyl material for grip, but it seems to act like a heat sink.
Reworked the switches and wiring haness in my DIY light, finally made it all the way in with out a broken wire.
Reworked the switches and wiring haness in my DIY light, finally made it all the way in with out a broken wire.
__________________
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
#6428
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
50 degrees, rainy with 15 mph winds blowing the right into my face. I got a little wet and a little cold, but I still enjoyed the ride.
#6429
week three of commuting brings...more rain! Cool temps. Still going strong though, and getting better at dressing and packing.
#6430
Nice and warm at 11C/52F, calm, cloudy, dark, and spitting a bit, just enough to wet the streets, but not enough to leave puddles. I barely got wet. Really, it was about as perfect a day for cycle commuting as can be expected in Edmonton in October.
#6432
It's true, man.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
55 and beautiful, with a very nice sunrise and an attractive array of female runners.
#6433
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Bikes: '95 Specialized Hard Rock, '03 (?) Fuji Finest
This morning it was in the mid 40s F and the high is only supposed to be 67. I just started commuting this summer, so each new weather situation requires wardrobe contemplation. Sunday morning was a little warmer and tights over shorts worked nicely. For the commute, I decided to try riding in jeans since I'm not sweating much these days. Then on top I went with a long sleeve technical shirt, a track jacket and my biking windbreaker over that. Also got to try out my new winter biking gloves. Fingers were happy! My torso got a little sweaty, but not too bad. I'll just ditch the extra jacket on the way home. It was nice only changing some of my clothes rather than doing a full change like I've been doing.
This weekend I finally wrestled fenders onto my bike. That should guarantee that it doesn't rain on a week day for months on end.
People in cars this morning seemed extra cranky. All honking and impatient with each other. Luckily none of it was directed at me this time. I still think my purple panniers with flowers on them diffuse people a little.
This weekend I finally wrestled fenders onto my bike. That should guarantee that it doesn't rain on a week day for months on end.
People in cars this morning seemed extra cranky. All honking and impatient with each other. Luckily none of it was directed at me this time. I still think my purple panniers with flowers on them diffuse people a little.
#6434
I think I need purple panniers with flowers on them... 
My daughters have pretty little Basil panniers and no-one ever honks at them.

My daughters have pretty little Basil panniers and no-one ever honks at them.
#6435
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Flagstaff, AZ

It was a wonderful Fall morning at 7000ft. 41F when I left. 0mph wind, according to the weather station I check. While I still felt my usual headwind, it was less than normal! I was still able to wear shorts and a T-shirt. Flagstaff truly is a great town to bike commute in, especially this time of year.
#6436
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Bam! And now it's autumn.
#6437
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Burnaby BC, Canada
Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15
Nope. I had the right of way. That's pretty much cut and dry.
The travel lane (diamond lane) is 45 mph (most drive upwards of 60) and certain death should I move into it. The van needed to simply wait behind me to make the safer exit off of the expressway instead of swinging in front of me at the last possible second. And of course he/she didn't even signal.
The travel lane (diamond lane) is 45 mph (most drive upwards of 60) and certain death should I move into it. The van needed to simply wait behind me to make the safer exit off of the expressway instead of swinging in front of me at the last possible second. And of course he/she didn't even signal.
#6438
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Burnaby BC, Canada
Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15
Took a faster route in from my sons daycare today by going to the south of the graveyard rather than over the hill to the north. Nice quick commute on a cloudy day. Cooled off with a little drizzle at the top. The freewheel was starting to stick, so I'm going to have to really rinse it out with oil or give it a solvent bath soon.
#6439
Born Again Pagan
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario
Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB
You could also hang some Pippi Longstocking-like braided locks from underneath the tweed cap you're wearing in your avatar... your moustache might give you away, though, and then the jig would be up!
#6440
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
Clear and cool this morning at 40F; 50F and sunny coming home. We're up to about 50% leaf attrition up here, and I got lightly snowed on while hiking this weekend. Sure is good to see the sun back.
#6441
I finally got my bike downstairs (apartment living in the city) to ride to work and lo and behold, RAIN! Last week it was 113 in downtown LA, today cool and drizzling. I decided to go for it anyway which made today a day of many firsts: first time riding in rain, first time riding in a skirt, and first time riding with the new panniers.
#6442
Senior Member

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
Bikes: Brodie Force w/ Xtracycle, Dahon Helios, Merida Folding, Pacific Carryme, Softride Classic
Commute in was a little tiring and no rabbits to chase meant it took 56 minutes instead of 51. Rained on me for the first 1/3 of the ride then dried out. The ride home was more pleasant. Crossing the bridge back into Richmond I spotted a roadie going slow so I sped up. Turns out its the cyclist whom I met the previous week with the titanium bike. We hooked up and rode together talking until I had to turn off. Nice ride.
#6443
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
A chilly, but dry ride in. It feels good not to be soaked walking in the door. The temp is around 42 F ( 5 C), and enough for a jacket, gloves and a light hood, but still in shorts. It takes me forever to give up my shorts. Although, the chill on my knees was felt today on downhills.
#6444
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
48F with a light tailwind. I chased down a roadie and stayed with him most of the way in. There were a couple of cyclists in front of us but he wasn't going fast enough to intercept.
Yesterday I took the fields-and-woods route home. The trails go through low ground and I didn't think about it before I left. There was a lot of standing water from the heavy rains last week. Also gobs of mud. My tires were caked with the stuff. I couldn't even see the tread and it was collecting on various bike parts. My chain started skipping because of it. Yuck.
I got to some community gardens, and they have hoses, so I gave the bike a quick cleanup. When I got home I did a proper drivetrain cleaning and lube.
Yesterday I took the fields-and-woods route home. The trails go through low ground and I didn't think about it before I left. There was a lot of standing water from the heavy rains last week. Also gobs of mud. My tires were caked with the stuff. I couldn't even see the tread and it was collecting on various bike parts. My chain started skipping because of it. Yuck.
I got to some community gardens, and they have hoses, so I gave the bike a quick cleanup. When I got home I did a proper drivetrain cleaning and lube.
#6445
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
What happened to the 50s? Our morning lows were in the 70s through mid-September, and then we had about one week of morning temps in the 60s. This morning it was in the upper 40s and it's supposed to be that cold every morning this week. I'm not complaining though as I'm sick and tired of the hot, humid weather we had all summer and early fall. It was great arriving at work this morning with no sweat, even wearing a vest, knickers and arm warmers.
#6446
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Bikes: Nishiki Olympic (ret. 2010), Jamis Coda
Low 40s but clear. The stocking hat came in handy but I may have overdone it with the long johns.
#6447
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
+1
Getting back into my kind of riding weather. Temp was 47 when I left home. Did sweat a little, but that was from having to fix a rear tire that went flat overnight (slow leak from a puncture caused by a very sharp nasty little piece of rock), and it all evaporated away as soon as I got rolling along in the cool, dry morning air.
I have some extra time after work today, so I'm hoping to turn my 7 mile commute into a 20 mile commute and hit a couple spots in DC I've been meaning to hit by bike - the Met. Branch Trail up to Brookland (my old haunts) and the new park opened up between Nats Park and Navy Yard.
Of course, given my tire issues (today was not the first flat by far, and I have about 3K miles on these $10/ea. Nashbar tires), I am considering an replacement/upgrade (32 mm Vittoria Randonneurs?) Maybe I should use my extra time to go pick up some new tires...?
Getting back into my kind of riding weather. Temp was 47 when I left home. Did sweat a little, but that was from having to fix a rear tire that went flat overnight (slow leak from a puncture caused by a very sharp nasty little piece of rock), and it all evaporated away as soon as I got rolling along in the cool, dry morning air.
I have some extra time after work today, so I'm hoping to turn my 7 mile commute into a 20 mile commute and hit a couple spots in DC I've been meaning to hit by bike - the Met. Branch Trail up to Brookland (my old haunts) and the new park opened up between Nats Park and Navy Yard.
Of course, given my tire issues (today was not the first flat by far, and I have about 3K miles on these $10/ea. Nashbar tires), I am considering an replacement/upgrade (32 mm Vittoria Randonneurs?) Maybe I should use my extra time to go pick up some new tires...?
#6449
6C/43F, clear, a little breezy. I tried to draft a garbage truck but it was too fast for me.
Long johns? I'm still wearing shorts until the high 30's
Live and learn. I still haven't figured out how to dress for sub-freezing temps.
Live and learn. I still haven't figured out how to dress for sub-freezing temps.
#6450
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Burnaby BC, Canada
Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15
Nice ride in this morning, a little chilly at 7C. Rode without the TAB as I didn't need to drop my son at daycare. Took the Brunette River Trail in the dark this morning to make my ride a little longer and will go back the same way.




