How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#2626
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Southern Wisconsin US
Bikes: Schwinn DBX, Trek 820
A little wind....A little rain...another beautiful day for the bike commute. If this weather keeps up I may have to upgrade my waterproofing....covering my rack pack with 4 plastic walmart bags gets to be alittle tedious. Got splashed by a cager this morning...don't think it was intentional but I did get a little rage on...quickly quelled the urge to chase them down and pummel them.
Broke 2011 miles for 2011 on the way in...that may be my new annual mileage game...pick the day I will break the "year" in miles. Enjoy!
Broke 2011 miles for 2011 on the way in...that may be my new annual mileage game...pick the day I will break the "year" in miles. Enjoy!
#2628
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Bikes: '95 Specialized Hard Rock, '03 (?) Fuji Finest
It was about 70 F when I left. Got hit with a little light rain but it wasn't bad enough to stop and bag my electronics. Others in the metro area weren't so lucky.

Hopefully my luck holds out for afternoon commute. 30% chance of t-storms when I leave. Saw quite a few bike commuters out there taking their chances too.
Hopefully my luck holds out for afternoon commute. 30% chance of t-storms when I leave. Saw quite a few bike commuters out there taking their chances too.
#2629
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
(Phish Food was my last victim, a few days ago.)This morning's ride was damp, and I got to work just before it started raining again. About 65F/18C with a headwind. The blonde trail hottie was nowhere to be found.
#2630
Car-free in the South
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 295
Likes: 2
From: SFCA
Bikes: Surly Pack Rat, Novara Trionfo retro-mod
It was about 70 F when I left. Got hit with a little light rain but it wasn't bad enough to stop and bag my electronics. Others in the metro area weren't so lucky.

Hopefully my luck holds out for afternoon commute. 30% chance of t-storms when I leave. Saw quite a few bike commuters out there taking their chances too.
Hopefully my luck holds out for afternoon commute. 30% chance of t-storms when I leave. Saw quite a few bike commuters out there taking their chances too.
Yep. I am in Clemson, and not only did I get hit hard with this batch of storms this morning, but I also got rocked by the INSANE storms yesterday evening. It felt great though, even if I had to ride out the worst of it in a parking garage yesterday. This morning felt amazing though, and I made the best time thus far!
#2631
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Bikes: '95 Specialized Hard Rock, '03 (?) Fuji Finest
@robyr our wed. afternoon storm included high winds that battered my car around. don't even want to think about being on the bike in that. rain, no prob., high winds and close lightening strikes, i'd rather not.
#2632
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
80 degrees at 7:30 and a dewpoint over 70 made for a sticky commute in. Yuck. At least I had a slight tailwind and made good time despite a short night's sleep.
#2633
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cites, MN USA
Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T
The MN people have been quiet all week on this thread.... It's been crappy rainy weather all week here. It' supposed to be nice tomorrow but of course I need to be somewhere right after work, so I'm driving.
#2634
Old, but not really wise
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 814
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA commuting to Washington DC
Bikes: 2010 Kona Dew Drop (the daily driver),'07 Specialized Roubaix (the sports car), '99 ish Kona NuNu MTB (the SUV), Schwinn High Plains (circa 1992?) (the beater)
This morning's temp wasn't bad, but it was sooooo humid. I managed to not get rained on (after throwing my cell phone into a bag) which was good. But, I was as wet as I would have been if I had been rained on, because it was humid. Did I mention that it was humid? One bright spot was that I made most of my lane changes and other traffic crossings very smoothly.
I had a smooth ride both ways yesterday, though I definitely was feeling the heat - heavy legs esp. on the way home. This should be my 4th 100 mile plus week in a row, and I think perhaps I need to focus a little more on nutrition and on taking real recovery time.
I had a smooth ride both ways yesterday, though I definitely was feeling the heat - heavy legs esp. on the way home. This should be my 4th 100 mile plus week in a row, and I think perhaps I need to focus a little more on nutrition and on taking real recovery time.
#2635
Clyde that Rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2008 Jamis Aurora,1988 Specialized Hardrock, 1980? Kuwahara Carrera
Humid! First bike commute in a couple weeks. Legs felt fine, bike seemed good. I'm thinking I might have to repack some bearings in my rear wheel at some point in the near future. That will be a new experience for me.
Looks like a good chance thunderstorms will cancel softball game today, so I may get to ride home during or immediately after a thunderstorm.
Looks like a good chance thunderstorms will cancel softball game today, so I may get to ride home during or immediately after a thunderstorm.
#2636
Unlisted member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Back in the humid 60's this A.M., really nice. We had some big storms here Tuesday night, and I rode around a bunch of downed trees/branches. As well as only 2 meanderthals on the bike path, I'll take this ride again anyday!
#2638
Banned.
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Jamis, WA
Bikes: Jamis Aurora Elite
Sorry but us Seattle folk are laughing our arses off. Funny you guys do snow so well but cower in the rain.
#2639
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Grey chilly and damp - typical UK summer! Roadwaorks along most of main road section so no cycle "path" - "path" in inverted commas cos it's not a path, just a road section too narrow to be safe. There are no houses - or even buildings on this stretch, so it would be reasonable to use the pavement - no one walks there - but no - this is illegal. On the stretch where there are houses, there's a very deep verge that could easily accommodate a cycle path - but no, we're supposed to take our chances with the juggernauts that thunder down the road. Yeah - am angry! The UK goverment keeps going on about how good cycling to work is but do f-all to make it safe.
#2640
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cites, MN USA
Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T
#2642
Snakes on a bike
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Bikes: 80's CCM Mixte ~ SS 70's Apollo ~ Soma Extra Smooth
First time I've ever commuted in the rain (lucky timing this summer mostly). I only ran into two other cyclists on my way in, usually l see maybe 10 so I felt pretty hard core. And my new aluminum back wheel is breaking great!
Since the sky was doing that sunny/drizzle thing there was a rainbow too. I noticed when I was on the bridge, so it was over the water, mountains in the background, beautiful sky. Great start to the day.
Since the sky was doing that sunny/drizzle thing there was a rainbow too. I noticed when I was on the bridge, so it was over the water, mountains in the background, beautiful sky. Great start to the day.
#2643
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
No bike commute today. Off work and heading to Bike Virginia for a 6-day tour in New River Valley.
#2645
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Damp again, from overnight rain. Temps in the low 60sF/~16C and overcast. Caught one regular commuter. Passed him eventually and we exchanged hellos, then I caught another commuter I haven't seen before.
Oh, and in Vermont, we don't cower at rain OR snow!

TGIF!
Oh, and in Vermont, we don't cower at rain OR snow!


TGIF!
#2648
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Simcoe County, Ontario
Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"
Had a very nice ride in. Wet roads with no rain for the first 10-ish km, light-drizzle for the last 5, with a dry, windy stretch in the middle. Head-wind the entire time to keep the sweat to a minimum, and light motor traffic along my route.
I wasn’t racing the clock or pushing it this morning, but still managed 69 minutes, which equals my 2nd fastest super-pushing-it time from last year.
I wasn’t racing the clock or pushing it this morning, but still managed 69 minutes, which equals my 2nd fastest super-pushing-it time from last year.
#2649
Traffic jam as always, and bicycle lane has been flooded by motorcycle as always.

Btw, there's a new cargo bike "Trek Transport" arrived at Probike in Thailand today.Look very interesting!

Btw, there's a new cargo bike "Trek Transport" arrived at Probike in Thailand today.Look very interesting!

Last edited by Mardmakarm; 06-24-11 at 07:11 AM. Reason: fix words
#2650
Clyde that Rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2008 Jamis Aurora,1988 Specialized Hardrock, 1980? Kuwahara Carrera
Moist... yesterday was humid with temps a bit warmer than today's but over night we got some rain and the thick clouds seemed to keep the temp down a bit. Nonetheless today's ride was surprisingly fast. Nothing unusual to report other than a freshly squished opossum in the bike lane. I find it disconcerting when I see roadkill in the bike lane, because clearly, some motorist had to be in the bike lane to run over the animal.




