Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

How was the commute today? Continued.

Search
Notices
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.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-13-09, 02:13 PM
  #51  
Senior Member
 
doorunrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 115

Bikes: Giant Rincon '08, Nashbar CX Homebrew

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Rode in on a C&V bike today

Today I decided to try my old, old Schwinn Sierra "MTB" bike instead of the road bike I have been using. I think it qualifies as a Classic & Vintage model.

The thing is the Sierra is too small a frame and the seat doesn't go high enough. We'll there was quite a difference between the two! I usually use this bike to run our dogs on Springers and we don't go that far and at an easy pace.

But, actually, it wasn't a bad ride. Traffic bulges worked in favor today and so lane changes and left turns were all good.

Here in Northern Florida the weather was nice this morning, but it promises to be brutal later today.
doorunrun is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 05:00 PM
  #52  
----
 
buzzman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Becket, MA
Posts: 4,579
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 4 Posts
great ride in today- the weather was perfect spring weather.

Had to stop for an appointment on the way home and a woman was taking photographs. As I parked the bike I heard her say to her companion, "Look at that cool bike. Let's get some shots of that when he's gone."

I should post a pic of the bike but it's really not much but it is "interesting" looking. All black- everything on it is black, front and rear racks, spokes, rims, bell, lights but a honey colored leather Brooks seat. I'd just locked it to a black metal staircase. To me it looks cool I'm amazed anyone else finds it of interest.
buzzman is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 05:03 PM
  #53  
----
 
buzzman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Becket, MA
Posts: 4,579
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by caloso
This morning I yelled at a woman in a Jetta to put down her Blackberry and pay attention.

well................................................did she?

Only counts if she did.
buzzman is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 05:12 PM
  #54  
GATC
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: south Puget Sound
Posts: 8,728
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times in 27 Posts
rain rain rain... I pansied out and after biking home, got in the car and drove to retrieve my daughter and her trailer from the daycare. Just too tired to lug her up the hill in this weather. Oh yeah plus I came home early enough that I had dried out and warmed up before I left to get her.

I am going back out to bike to my son's school though, ride home w/ him.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 05:15 PM
  #55  
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

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

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2953 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Originally Posted by buzzman
well................................................did she?

Only counts if she did.
Nope. Fail. She probably couldn't hear me because she was talking on the phone at the same time.
caloso is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 05:25 PM
  #56  
Senior Member
 
tarwheel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896

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

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
BTWW dinner

Itjustbe - Is that in Durham? Raleigh is having a breakfast for bikers on Friday morning, but I'm not sure if I will go. It would add 10 miles to my commute and make me late to work.
tarwheel is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 06:45 PM
  #57  
Senior Member
 
nmanhipot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 463

Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Faster than normal - 18.9 mph. Off and on drizzles, 72. I love being able to get by without winter gear. Best of all, I didn't flat!
nmanhipot is offline  
Old 05-13-09, 09:58 PM
  #58  
Newbie
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Stanford, CA
Posts: 42
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
On my commute home today four (!) cars made a right turn in front of me without signaling at all. And that was all within 10 blocks or so. Nowadays I pretty much assume that a car will turn right as I approach it from behind, so I only overtake on the right when they really can't go anywhere but straight.
chalex is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 04:42 AM
  #59  
Seeing things
 
MIKEnDC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 518

Bikes: '73 Bertin, '04 LeMond Poprad, Miyata 1000, and counting...

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Oh man, did I have a nice ride in today! Nothing different or notable about it, really, but the conditions (~60F/15C with light southerlies), the light traffic (a truck driver gave me a friendly toot as I was spinning my top gear down a long grade), and my simply feeling pretty strong all conspired to leave me feeling just great about riding.

I often feel sorry for people who "have to" drive a car (either for logistical reasons, or just plain incompetence), but never more so than today. (three big grins from the Michelin guide)
MIKEnDC is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 06:31 AM
  #60  
Belt drive!
 
vtjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Posts: 2,614

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The headwind wasn't as bad as predicted, but it was still pretty harsh. Hopefully I'll have a nice tailwind for the ride home! Temp about 60F. Cloudy.
vtjim is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 06:39 AM
  #61  
jpdesjar
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
the ride in was lovely this morning
it was about 50 or so when i left the house and i made good time too

i have been seeing more bikers too!
i think i need to tinker on the bike a little bit tonight...adjust chain tension and clean chain and check tire pressure...all that good stuff

 
Old 05-14-09, 06:40 AM
  #62  
Senior Member
 
capejohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Posts: 1,880

Bikes: Giant easy e, Priority Onyx, Scott Sub 40, Marin Belvedere Commuter

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 33 Posts
Got a late start and had to hammer most of the way to work. I was up to 14MPH at times.
capejohn is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 06:52 AM
  #63  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 448
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I had two showers this morning, one with hot water and soap and the other with cold water and a driving wind. Had to be inventive at work building a clothes line from an extension cord and stringing it between two parts bins. I hope my cycling clothes are dry for the ride home. I dislike pulling on wet clothes. Plus 14 degrees C high today of 19.
duckbill is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 07:09 AM
  #64  
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
 
making's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenwood Indiana
Posts: 2,805

Bikes: Surly Crosscheck

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1542 Post(s)
Liked 868 Times in 521 Posts
Find a small desk fan and aim it at them. Helps a lot.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
making is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 07:29 AM
  #65  
Soul filled with grease
 
mangosalsa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hills-Vegas, NC
Posts: 254

Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Saw many bikes out this morning, sight for sore (tired) eyes. I'll be at the RTP Headquarters breakfast tomorrow morning, rain or shine. Should get there by 8.
mangosalsa is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 07:46 AM
  #66  
Senior Member
 
Pig_Chaser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,143

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It was snowing this morning. Okay, i guess it was just little ice crystals that disappeared on contact with the ground without even making the pavement wet, but still.
I left early and the streets were deserted. It was awesome.
Pig_Chaser is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 07:50 AM
  #67  
Senior Member
 
Itsjustb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 991

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by tarwheel
Itjustb - Is that in Durham? Raleigh is having a breakfast for bikers on Friday morning, but I'm not sure if I will go. It would add 10 miles to my commute and make me late to work.
Yes, it was over here in Durham, where South Miami becomes 54. We didn't have nearly as big a turnout as usual--maybe 5 or 6 of us, where in years past we've had 12-15. Strangely enough, we saw a solid 6 or more cyclists ride past the restaurant. We waved to a few but no one stopped in.

Originally Posted by mangosalsa
Saw many bikes out this morning, sight for sore (tired) eyes. I'll be at the RTP Headquarters breakfast tomorrow morning, rain or shine. Should get there by 8.
I'll be there too, probably a little after 8 o'clock. Hope to see you there, as I've only ever met one other BF member (Big Ron). I'll be riding a red, white, and black Scattante or a Fuji Touring if the weather's really bad.

I heard from the BtWW breakfast coordinator this morning. She's arranged for us to have sausage and bacon biscuits.
Itsjustb is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 08:04 AM
  #68  
Senior Member
 
genel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Antioch, IL
Posts: 328

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

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nice weather today, but very heavy traffic. Long backups at most of the lights. Slows down the commute quite a bit, as the backed up traffic often blocks the shoulder. Spotted another commuter going in opposite direction. That's the fourth or fifth this week, could be start of a trend.

Looks like the highway crew finally got out and cleaned the glass off the shoulders.

20 mph headwind promised for the return ride.
__________________
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
genel is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 08:12 AM
  #69  
jpdesjar
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Originally Posted by duckbill
I had two showers this morning, one with hot water and soap and the other with cold water and a driving wind. Had to be inventive at work building a clothes line from an extension cord and stringing it between two parts bins. I hope my cycling clothes are dry for the ride home. I dislike pulling on wet clothes. Plus 14 degrees C high today of 19.
crumpled newspaper in shoes works really well...just replace with dry paper every hour or so
i keep a pile of already crumpled paper with my shoes at home so if my shoes are wet i just stuff em'
 
Old 05-14-09, 08:34 AM
  #70  
Soul filled with grease
 
mangosalsa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hills-Vegas, NC
Posts: 254

Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Itsjustb
I'll be there too, probably a little after 8 o'clock. Hope to see you there, as I've only ever met one other BF member (Big Ron). I'll be riding a red, white, and black Scattante or a Fuji Touring if the weather's really bad.
Right on, see ya there. Is Big Ron the guy that rides the Heron?

Originally Posted by Itsjustb
I heard from the BtWW breakfast coordinator this morning. She's arranged for us to have sausage and bacon biscuits.
Nice. After putting in the full ride to work and back every day this week (48 a day), I am starving. I didn't think a "Clyde" like me would get this hungry, but it's happening. Been eating clean food so the biscuits will be a treat for sure.
mangosalsa is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 08:49 AM
  #71  
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,592

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

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5234 Post(s)
Liked 3,609 Times in 2,357 Posts
really crummy, had to use car yesterday and today. the car is no fun at all. too dam slow; no wind; no excitement; can't pass people in the shoulder; have to follow morons in their cars. can't wait 'till tomorrow!
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 09:05 AM
  #72  
Who farted?
 
Ka_Jun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,287

Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by making
Find a small desk fan and aim it at them. Helps a lot.
True. Took it easy on the way in, caught a new guy, another new guy caught me. Threatening thunderstorms, temp was nice and comfy. Felt bad for another commuter's bike I lock up, next to. Chain has gone from a deep brown to that blaze orange rust, nice orange Peugeot, too. He should take better care of it.
Ka_Jun is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 10:11 AM
  #73  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: St. Anthony, MN
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Bike to Work day in Mpls. Cold (45F) for this time of year. NO more bikers today, and no rides organized from my part of town (shoulda done it myself). Lots of people in cars failing on bike to work day, tho.
john3656 is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 10:12 AM
  #74  
GATC
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: south Puget Sound
Posts: 8,728
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times in 27 Posts
50F, damp
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Old 05-14-09, 10:24 AM
  #75  
You gonna eat that?
 
Doohickie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Posts: 14,715

Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 164 Post(s)
Liked 67 Times in 44 Posts
Change of pace.

The weather has been very mild in the mornings all week, about 60-70 F and moist. This morning there was virtually no mist; it was just muggy from last night's rain which had mostly evaporated. So from that standpoint, pretty much the same as the previous several commutes.

The change of pace came from my ride. I took a break from my standard commuter (94 Nishiki hybrid) and rode my 1983 Raleigh Marathon. I had done some maintenance and upgrades since the beginning of the year and frankly wasn't too happy with the bike anymore. This week I finally got the bottom bracket cups adjusted just right- no drag, no slop, no ticking on every revolution, no lateral movement in the chain ring relative to the front derailleur. It was heaven. I still find it hard to believe that someone threw this bike into a dumpster. It runs so well, the wheels are so true, the bearings so smooth. Love it.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.


Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Doohickie is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.