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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 10-04-10 | 07:19 AM
  #6426  
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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!
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Old 10-04-10 | 07:28 AM
  #6427  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 07:52 AM
  #6428  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 08:29 AM
  #6429  
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From: Alexandria, VA
week three of commuting brings...more rain! Cool temps. Still going strong though, and getting better at dressing and packing.
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Old 10-04-10 | 08:43 AM
  #6430  
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From: Edmonton, AB
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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 08:57 AM
  #6431  
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From: south Puget Sound
37F and gray
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Old 10-04-10 | 09:36 AM
  #6432  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 09:43 AM
  #6433  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 10:16 AM
  #6434  
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From: YEG

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I think I need purple panniers with flowers on them...

My daughters have pretty little Basil panniers and no-one ever honks at them.

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Old 10-04-10 | 10:21 AM
  #6435  
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From: Flagstaff, AZ
Originally Posted by abracapocus
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.
Thanks, I look forward to a few months of dry commuting.

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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 10:28 AM
  #6436  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

Bam! And now it's autumn.
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Old 10-04-10 | 11:53 AM
  #6437  
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From: Burnaby BC, Canada

Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15

Originally Posted by rex_kramer
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.
But the bike lane is in a right hand turn lane. That communicates to the driver that you will be turning right. At best it gives him a mixed message. If you move into the through lane, you communicate that you are going straight and not turning. Don't go far enough that you're in the path of traffic, just that you're not turning right and they can't pass you. Motorists are pretty good about not hitting things that are travelling parallel to them.
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Old 10-04-10 | 11:56 AM
  #6438  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 09:05 PM
  #6439  
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From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB

Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
I think I need purple panniers with flowers on them...

My daughters have pretty little Basil panniers and no-one ever honks at them.

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!
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Old 10-04-10 | 09:15 PM
  #6440  
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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.
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Old 10-04-10 | 10:09 PM
  #6441  
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From: Hollywood :)

Bikes: TREK WSD 7000

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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 12:16 AM
  #6442  
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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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 04:45 AM
  #6443  
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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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 05:58 AM
  #6444  
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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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 06:00 AM
  #6445  
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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

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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 07:06 AM
  #6446  
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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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 07:33 AM
  #6447  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Originally Posted by tarwheel
It was great arriving at work this morning with no sweat...
+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...?
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Old 10-05-10 | 08:09 AM
  #6448  
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From: Lake City, fl
No commuting this week, vacation, but nice rides on Saint Augustine beach every morning!

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Old 10-05-10 | 08:55 AM
  #6449  
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From: Edmonton, AB
6C/43F, clear, a little breezy. I tried to draft a garbage truck but it was too fast for me.

Originally Posted by rockadayjohnny
Low 40s but clear. The stocking hat came in handy but I may have overdone it with the long johns.
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.
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Old 10-05-10 | 08:56 AM
  #6450  
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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.
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