1st truly dark, complete before sunrise, of the season

Another nice riding morning, temp around 40 deg, light wind, and rising gas prices. Within a week gas prices jumped nearly ten cents. I saw it posted at $2.86 at a self serve this morning on my in to work. Makes you want to keep biking.

It was about 35 deg when I left this morning. Since I ride East, the sun is usually blinding, but not too bad today. I actually met up with two other cyclist this morning. Typically, I'm the only one.
Going home it should be in the 60s with a crosswind (as always!)

No ride today. Home with sick kid. Fretting that snow is moving in for Wed. and Thurs. Not sure if I'll be able to ride. Glum.

Left late, put the panniers on the wrong side and had to switch them around, stopped to remove two layers and somehow got to work in less time than usual. All in all a good ride that ended with the question of "don't you know it's supposed to rain this afternoon?"

That's a monster commute. I salute you. You do that daily?

Should be interesting in the next day or so:

"Tuesday's high is expected to be 88, and drop to 63 by Wednesday. Winds are expected to hover around 25 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 to 58 mph, the Weather Service said. Strong and gusty winds is forecast to generate widespread blowing dust that may result in local coarse particle concentrations that pose a health risk"

My normally 60F morning commute will be about 35F Thursday morning. No period of adjustment!

Windy.

My cycling accident-Getting hit by a van!
 

Thursday night 10-22-2009, around 8:30pm, I was hit by a van and knocked off my bike.

It was around UTD campus where the roads are super wide and pleanty of room for vehicles and cyclists. The area is well known for many cyclist that train on those roads with minumal car traffic.

I was doing some cycling training, I was wearing a reflective vest, blinker light on my bike and helmet and I was on my far right. The road lane one way is about 4 cars wide one.

All I heard was a reved motor, and a corner of my left eye a white van with green trim side swiping me at my left hip and dead on my left arm ,on my tricep.

He/ or she hit me so hard I was unclipped from my bike rolled hard head first to the tar mat. I was wearing a helmet but I still seen sparks as I hit the road.

A car stopped behind me and woman from across the park ran to my aid . I laid for a few seconds to come to, then realize what happen and rolled myself of the street unto the grass/curb.

The van never stopped. It was a hit and run. I missed work the next day and got medical attention. No broken bones just soft tissue damage. Friday and all weekend it was ice and motrin.

I still get headaches and My left sholder, arm and left hip are sore. I am back at work and I'm getting range of motion in my arm back slowly.

My bike belive it or not didn't suffer damage. The chain fell off with the impact and back break had to be adjusted. Funny that this first thing I asked after I came too I was asking if my bike was ok.

I could be angry but at who? I was hit by surprise and from behind so I didn't even get a chance to see a face. I pray before riding and I feel it could of been much worse.

I give myself another week to lay off riding then get back to training, provided that I'm pass most of the pain and my arm is good enough to steer.

Rainy this morning, and looking like rainy tonight. Or at least still wet. Missed the worst of the rain, though and was OK just wearing my long sleeve tee (which got a little wet but is druing in my office now). I need to look into getting a lightweight rain shell. I've got a heavier jacket that's water resistant enough to use when it's colder and rainy, but these 50-60 degree rainy days are too warm for it...

I'm excited about my ride home, though. I'd neglected my brakes a little too long, and finally got a set of new pads and a replacement cable for the rear. Rotated front pads to the back, installed the new pads up front (so as to have the best, most reliable stopping power up front) and replaced the cable at lunch. (Nice to have bike parking in the basement of my building by the maintenance department - no one cares if I'm tooling around on my bike in the middle of the day).

I'm a dorky nerd, I guess, but I'm actually excited about riding with the new brakes (sadly it's the first thing I've changed/added on the bike in MONTHS).

No downpours, but I'm sure I'll have to quick clean/lube the chain tonight... rain, rain go away. :)

Magnificent777, sorry to hear about your crash, but I'm glad to hear that you weren't hurt more seriously and the bike is OK. Take it easy and I hope you're back to 100% ASAP.

My commute today... 1001 miles.

:)

The word for my commute today was "Slush". I need some shoe covers or winter spd boots.

I just had to repost this from my local forum:

:D :D :D :D

Wow! I'm glad you weren't hurt worse!

Steady rain and heavy at times, but warm at 50 C ( 10 C). I was able to ditch some of the clothing
that I have been wearing. Good thing, since some of the clothing from yesterday is still drying.
There was less water coming out of my clothes this morning, more like small puddles, as compared to
yesterday where rivers formed. I don't mind the rain yet, as it is still warm, but some sunshine
would be appreciated

I had one front brake pad slip off the rim yesteday, which was not good going down hill. I am not a fan of my cantilever brakes when I only have one set, but I was able to stop with some heavy pulling back
on the cable, which I always feel like it is going to snap.

Left earlier this morning so it was still dark out, so I grabbed my taillight.
It was a more pleasant ride because there was less traffic out.
I am going to try to leave by 7 every morning.

The ride home may be a bit wet so I am armed with my rear fender.

Snow!!
 

My first ride in snow today. I've been building up a winter beater (free bike I got at a garage sale) with studded tires. It worked reasonable well but I think I had too much air in the tires.

The hard part is yet to come. We're supposed to get another 5-9 inches during the day. (I've got standing offers of rides if I need them).

Paul

The plentiful rain of the last couple days had stopped by the time I left home around 8. It was a nice, comfortable ride in, complete with some beautiful fall leaves (both on and off the trees), a gaggle of geese hanging out in some puddles near the river and a slight fog to shrowd the monuments as I crossed the Potomac. Quite nice. I do want to see the sun sooner or later again, though. :)

First snow ride this winter for myself.

Brought out the old single speed 26" MTB. It handled the snow with ease.

they did mention fog this morning on the news... FOG with big letters. London town type fog. heavens to betsy it was thick. I am nuts for riding in that pea soup but as it's my only way to work ... I owe I owe it's off to work I go... Otherwise the ride was pretty nice. 54 deg and calm.

LOL. It's a 305 and I found it on sale at Best Buy for $169. Came with the HR monitor but not the Cadence\Speed. Got that piece @ GPSCity for $35 additional.

It's nice if you're a stats person (I am)

Naa, that would kill me :P. I normally do only the last 24.8 miles of it daily. Car's busted and the dealer can't seem to fix it and I had to be at work for a "must attend" meeting.

The north wind is still blowing hard, cold, and dusty.

Tuesday morning was in the upper 30's but dry. Had a nice ride in to work. When I was unlock my bike for the ride home I noticed two broken spokes. The wheel was still pretty true so I rode it gingerly to the LBS for repairs.

Thank you.

Everyday I see improvement and my arm has more range now. I finally was able to look over my gear and a more closer look at my bike. The bike is ok and I made more minor adjustments. My helmet however has hair line cracks and the safety aspect is compromised. I will give it another week but I for sure have to buy another helmet.

Absolutely glorious morning for the commute. Low 50's, so just enough snap in the air to keep it cool, yet warm enough that didn't have to bundle up at all. I'll take days like this anytime!

A pleasant ride in, with no rain and warm 52 F (11 C). Every warm day brings me just a little bit closer to next spring. This morning in my typical reverie in the dark, I happened to see a deer standing erect in the middle of the road. It was startling, then I had to think. I grabbed for my brakes and looked around to make sure there were none others following, as they no doubt were hiding in the tree line. It bolted, and I could hear it's hoofs on the hard top.

Wet slippery leaves everywhere, rode with the studs and that helped.

One of the downtown old buildings started losing chunks last night so they had a 3 block radius closed off, had to take a mini-detour.

Went out for a few tasty brews and some cribbage last night, so that slowed me down a bit this morning, but I enjoyed the ride very much. It was about 40º and one of the nicer sights this morning was when I was rolling over the bridge on the last leg of my commute. The trees framed the river with bright oranges reds and yellows, gorgeous.


Edit* Got a flat on the rear tire on the ride home yesterday. I picked up a shard of glass from the road, since it was raining it must have stuck to the tire and then it found it's way through to the tube. I haven't had a flat tire in months, I had to call my wife to come rescue me, it was the phone call of shame.