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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 10-18-10 | 06:18 AM
  #6601  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

42F with a quartering tailwind. The top third of the Adirondacks were purple in the morning sun. The ski trails on Whiteface stuck out in bright white. The weekend storm left a lot of snow at higher elevations.

Someone let all the cute women out of their nests this morning. Bicycling and running.
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Old 10-18-10 | 09:40 AM
  #6602  
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From: Chicagoland

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Today was my first commute after some unexpected maintenance earlier, with cool temperatures and a couple of loose dogs to worry about. Nice ride, and the woman in the SUV who made a right turn on red in front of me without looking didn't bother me. I knew there was no way I could be as important to her as her phone call and stayed safely away.
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Old 10-18-10 | 09:57 AM
  #6603  
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The commute this morning was AWESOME to say the least!!

I commute to the gym and to work ..So, this morning I did something different. I commuted to the gym on my motorcycle. Then the urge for the bicycle was so strong, that I called in that I would be a little late for work, and shot back home parked the motorcycle, showered and changed up, grabbed my 85 Raleigh Competion, and off to work. This is a double dose of FUN.....

Now, if somebody would ask me which one is the most fun to ride? It is a toss up!!


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Old 10-18-10 | 11:09 AM
  #6604  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

^Nice bikes. It was a good commute this morning at 48F and partly cloudy with winds from the W @ 7mph. Commuted on my new ride: a recumbent trike. My average speed was pretty close to what I was doing on my recumbent bike (15mph), and I had headwinds this morning. I would imagine that the more I ride it, the faster I will get. I think I'm going to modify my route home because for about 1/4 mile on one of the roads, it is still ripped up waiting to be paved. They should have had it completed by now. Hopefully they have it done soon.
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Old 10-18-10 | 11:16 AM
  #6605  
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Another enjoyable autumn commute with all six senses atingle.

Brought in clothes for tomorrow, when the plan calls for running to work. I don't particularly enjoy the act of running, certainly much less than I do cycling, but I'm looking forward to running the 10k into work.
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Old 10-18-10 | 12:28 PM
  #6606  
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From: Seattle
Was my first commute of the year that was truly dark when I left.
I miss daylight, luckily it will come back in 5 months!
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Old 10-18-10 | 12:45 PM
  #6607  
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From: south Puget Sound
44F, foggy and sunny depending
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Old 10-18-10 | 01:09 PM
  #6608  
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Originally Posted by no motor?
Today was my first commute after some unexpected maintenance earlier, with cool temperatures and a couple of loose dogs to worry about. Nice ride, and the woman in the SUV who made a right turn on red in front of me without looking didn't bother me. I knew there was no way I could be as important to her as her phone call and stayed safely away.
That the idea, stay cool and navigate smoothly away from the danger!!
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Old 10-18-10 | 01:29 PM
  #6609  
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From: Canada

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

-4C with a light tailwind for the ride in this morning, so I got to experiment with some cooler weather clothing. I tried a Helly Hansen baselayer shirt by itself, which was warmer than my Axiom shirt, but the wind goes right through it. I had to stop after a few km and put my rain shell on to block the wind. I wore a thin polyester balaclava which was great except for the fact it was difficult to breathe through, so I kept it pulled below my mouth. My jeans weren't keeping my legs adequately warm so I have to do something about that.

I wanted to get some studying in before a test so I left while it was still dark and got to enjoy sunrise in the park. On the way back someone had their poodle on a 20 foot leash stretched across the path in the park, which I didn't see until a bit too close.

I'd like keep biking this winter, but I want to see if I can handle a few -15 to -20C days before I buy studded tires. I'm also waffling on whether I should use my mountain bike or touring bike in the snow. I'm leaning towards using the mountain bike as I feel it gives me more low speed control.
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Old 10-18-10 | 02:56 PM
  #6610  
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From: Chicagoland

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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
That the idea, stay cool and navigate smoothly away from the danger!!
Yep, the motorcycle training pays off here again. I've been wondering how you were doing with bicycling, it sounds like you're doing fine - keep up the good work!
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Old 10-18-10 | 03:59 PM
  #6611  
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That Raliegh is a beauty.
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Old 10-18-10 | 06:37 PM
  #6612  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Great commute home this afternoon at 59F and partly sunny with winds from the NW @ 16mph. I saw one other bike at the rack today, which is sad. When school first started, there were about 10 bikes. Changed the route a little to avoid the ripped up road that's waiting to be paved, and it worked out great.
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Old 10-18-10 | 07:20 PM
  #6613  
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From: Atlanta

Bikes: Cannondale T700s and a few others

was 44f at my house when I left but it had to be 40f or less down in the valley I run though on my way to the work. My shins were hurting from the cold. Still warm in the afternoon so I really trying not to break out the pants yet. LOL Think I may invest in some lend and arm warmers and I may be able to stretch my shorts weather into November.

I normally do not ride sidewalks but with the cold and how idiot drivers seem to be pinching me to the curb on a curve in a climb out of the above mentioned valley I decided to take the less stressful but slow sidewalk through the valley. About got a jogging ninja couple at 6:40am. Both in dark gray sweat pants and navy blue shirts. Even with my Night Rover headlamp I wouldnt have seen them till I was about to hit them even at the slow pace I was going.

GA is REALLY bad about side walks on only one side of the road so I was actually on the against traffic side since it is the only complete sidewalk through the area. The woman was using a iPhone as a flash light and that's what I saw just in time to get stopped and not run them over.
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Old 10-18-10 | 07:43 PM
  #6614  
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From: NE OK

Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke

Had a car pass me close enough that if I had wanted to, I could have just leaned my elbow on the roof of her car. 84F on the way home, but forecast says 20 degrees cooler tomorrow with 70% of precip... (and I don't have proper rain gear yet )
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Old 10-18-10 | 08:31 PM
  #6615  
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From: Morrisville, NC

Bikes: Raleigh Mojave 4.0, Univega Via Carisma

It was my first commute in about 3 weeks due to some maintenance coupled with laziness. Great first day back at it.

Low 50s and perfect skies.
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Old 10-18-10 | 09:56 PM
  #6616  
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From: Becket, MA
My bike has been suffering from severe neglect. I guess you really do always hurt the one you love. I use this bike so much and it really takes the abuse well. BUT today I decided to give it some TLC and wow did it open a can of worms! Started with a bit of wobble I noticed in the rear wheel- had a broken spoke. Fixed that. Then realized that despite the trued wheel it was still rubbing on the brakes- needed adjustment. But that meant the brake cables needed to be pulled and lubed, they were so dry they were sluggish. Threw on new brake pads while I was at it.

Since I'd gone so far I decided to deal with something I'd been ignoring for a couple of years- a worn out bottom bracket. I'd picked up a replacement cartridge a year ago and still hadn't gotten around to pulling the old one and putting the new one in to replace it. Oh, this was intense, the bike is about 10 years old and I've never pulled the cups. The plastic cup, despite a touch of lube (yes, I did turn it in the correct direction) shattered as I attempted to turn it. The drive side, steel cup was wedged in so solidly it wouldn't move. Soaked it in lube and had to take off to work on my folder.

Got home tonight and picked up a bolt (8mm x1.0 x 30mm) that could hold the remover in place while I torqued it to the max. Well, after a lot of persuasion it worked. Pulled out the cartridge, cut the plastic cup in half (w/out damaging the threads) and cleaned up the threads, put in the BB and I'm all set! The bikes all cleaned up and lubed and I can't wait to ride in tomorrow.

BTW, the folder was amazingly efficient, made great time.
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Old 10-19-10 | 04:35 AM
  #6617  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

When I woke up, it was thundering, with lightening and pouring rain at 40 F ( 4 C). I went about my normal routine and after a bowl of oatmeal and a pot of black cardamom tea, the thunder and lightening was gone, but it was still pouring. By the time I got my lunch together and dressed for the rain, it turned light, and stayed that way my whole way. Just wet is always better than soaked. I love it when I get lucky.
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Old 10-19-10 | 05:53 AM
  #6618  
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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

Back into my daily commute routine after missing several days last week due to a cold and work. I had taken one of my bikes to the shop to get the rear wheel trued and tensioned and picked it up over the weekend, so I'm riding it again this week. Yesterday, after leaving for work I noticed that my position felt off on the bike. After a mile or so, I realized that the mechanic must have test-ridden my bike and moved the saddle. So I had to ride 22 miles to work and back with my saddle in the wrong position. When I got home and checked it, the saddle was about 2 cm too low. I'm lucky that I didn't injure my knees. Note to self: measure saddle after picking up bike from the shop.
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Old 10-19-10 | 05:59 AM
  #6619  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Low 30sF, and fast, with a light headwind. Something was shadowing me. I was doing 20MPH for a while and it wasn't dropping back. Very unusual. I was dressed for the temperature, and after about 2 miles of fast cruise, I started to overheat. Eventually I pulled over to take off my gloves and unzip my jacket. The shadow went by. Turned out to be a roadie in full lycra with a messenger bag. (Compare & contrast with my 35 pound dualie MTB with fat all terrain tires) I then shadowed him until we went different ways. He was fast. Possibly the fastest rider I've ever encountered on the MUP here.
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Old 10-19-10 | 09:17 AM
  #6620  
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Originally Posted by no motor?
Yep, the motorcycle training pays off here again. I've been wondering how you were doing with bicycling, it sounds like you're doing fine - keep up the good work!
I am advancing so well in bicycling, that I am learning how to sneak a bike pass the wifee!!

Also, today I found out I need a beater bike too.. Nasty and rainy weather this morning. No way I am going to commute on one of my beauts in this stuff. . Going to pick up something real cheap from the thrift or CL, for days like this..

Be safe,
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Old 10-19-10 | 10:28 AM
  #6621  
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From: Overland Park, KS

Bikes: 1999 Giant TCR 2T 2009 Giant Cypress DX 2015 Giant Anyroad 1

Was riding home last night on my normal route and witnessed a car crash at a 4-way stop. I was approaching the intersection and was on heightened altert as I always am at this intersection. I was maybe 50' from the stop sign when I noticed the car approaching on my left didn't seem to be slowing down. My eyes followed it into the intersection where a pickup truck who had stopped was now pulling into the intersection.

A healthy crash insued and the car proceeded over the curb in front of me narrowly missing an above ground natural gas valve station. The driver of the car that ran the stop sign was an elderly woman who said she didn't see the stop sign.

Stay alert fellow commuters. There are too many drivers out there that have no business being behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
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Old 10-19-10 | 11:27 AM
  #6622  
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From: south Puget Sound
38F pea soup
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Old 10-19-10 | 11:27 AM
  #6623  
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From: Potomac, MT, USA
Originally Posted by tarwheel
... So I had to ride 22 miles to work and back with my saddle in the wrong position. When I got home and checked it, the saddle was about 2 cm too low. I'm lucky that I didn't injure my knees. Note to self: measure saddle after picking up bike from the shop.
Revise that note to yourself to instead carry the tool necessary to set your seat to it's proper height.
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Old 10-19-10 | 11:39 AM
  #6624  
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From: Antioch, IL

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 0, Rivendell- Sam Hillborne, Montague folding bike.

Nice couple of days. Flat going home yesterday. Third or Fourth pinch flat in as many weeks. Fairfield road is getting so bad it's nearly impossible to avoid traffic and stay clear of pot holes and loose pavement.

Rebuilt my light mount last night, basically 1 inch alum angle barcket but I riveted a doubler in the middle where it broke at the oint it bolteds to the front rack.. I'm going to have to rethink the design to try and deal with the vibration.
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Old 10-19-10 | 12:06 PM
  #6625  
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From: Chandler, AZ

Bikes: 2006 Specialized Expedition Elite

Decided to ride the whole way home yesterday after work. I usually take the light rail from downtown and about a 7 mile ride home from there. Very nice out, about 85. Definetely not the fastest, groggy Monday. Otherwise, very fun.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/53549910
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