How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#2702
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Temps in the low 60sF/16C and no wind. I caught up to a woman (regular commuter) pretty quickly after I left the house. I was up too late and didn't feel like pushing at all so I hung out behind her (far enough behind so she didn't think I was an axe murderer stalking her) all the way into Burlington. She was doing 13-15MPH so it wasn't too slow.
Looks like rain this afternoon.
Looks like rain this afternoon.
#2703
Car-free in the South
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 295
Likes: 2
From: SFCA
Bikes: Surly Pack Rat, Novara Trionfo retro-mod
Made a personal best time on my 7 mile commute today. Got to work in 26 minutes vs my usual 35-40. I am going to give the credit to my recent bar lowering, and tires @ 90PSI. It was pretty nice being able to "drop" with my porteur bars.
#2704
Clyde that Rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2008 Jamis Aurora,1988 Specialized Hardrock, 1980? Kuwahara Carrera
I passed someone!!!! And he was going in the same direction!
I only get to pass maybe 10 cyclists a year, often it's couples or kids. Today was a low-wage cyclist on a BSO with shopping bags on his handlebars riding very casually. I saw him about a 300 yards out, caught and passed in less than 0.5 miles! I will not let my accomplishment be belittled!
Other than that, 2nd consecutive day on my Kuwahara. She rode well, but compared to the Hardrock, she's quite flexy so I gotta remind myself constantly that I can't torque on her the way I do the mountain bike.
I only get to pass maybe 10 cyclists a year, often it's couples or kids. Today was a low-wage cyclist on a BSO with shopping bags on his handlebars riding very casually. I saw him about a 300 yards out, caught and passed in less than 0.5 miles! I will not let my accomplishment be belittled!
Other than that, 2nd consecutive day on my Kuwahara. She rode well, but compared to the Hardrock, she's quite flexy so I gotta remind myself constantly that I can't torque on her the way I do the mountain bike.
#2705
On a Mission from God
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 5
From: Thibodaux, LA
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
I was ready to leave the house early this morning, so I decided to take the short route and cruise along at a leisurely pace. I stayed below 12MPH the whole way, still got to work ahead of time, and just plain enjoyed the ride. Exhilarating.
#2706
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
Bikes: '96 Tommasini Tecno, '02 Lemond Victoire, '13 All City Nature Boy, '22 Specialized Fuse
Gorgeous day, but marred by a complete @eR$#@$&. My commute is down Georgia, which for those familiar with DC is a major road that widens and narrows. At one point the shoulder is a bit wider to allow for cars to park along the side. During rush hour there aren't that many cars parked along the shoulder, which allows people to take the lane to turn right. I think there is a parking restriction in place for certain stretches.
Today some fool decided he would use it as a passing lane. He would dart out on to the shoulder, zoom ahead of traffic, and cut back in before he hit the next parked car. All w/out any signals. He almost hit me twice in the span of two blocks. I just had to confront him. I started trying to be rational, but next thing you know f-bombs are flying.
I know, zen, zen, zen... but it was almost like he was trying to prove a point. He definitely saw me the first time he cut me off, the second was just malicious.
Sigh. Adrenaline doesn't help rational conversations
Today some fool decided he would use it as a passing lane. He would dart out on to the shoulder, zoom ahead of traffic, and cut back in before he hit the next parked car. All w/out any signals. He almost hit me twice in the span of two blocks. I just had to confront him. I started trying to be rational, but next thing you know f-bombs are flying.
I know, zen, zen, zen... but it was almost like he was trying to prove a point. He definitely saw me the first time he cut me off, the second was just malicious.
Sigh. Adrenaline doesn't help rational conversations
#2707
Large and in charge
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Mokena, IL
Bikes: At one point it was a Trek 700 something. Now it have Velocity Psycho wheels, a tape job. Thumb shifters (Shimano Deore). Corncob grouping, and drop bar ends all wrapped up in tape.
Gorgeous day, but marred by a complete @eR$#@$&. My commute is down Georgia, which for those familiar with DC is a major road that widens and narrows. At one point the shoulder is a bit wider to allow for cars to park along the side. During rush hour there aren't that many cars parked along the shoulder, which allows people to take the lane to turn right. I think there is a parking restriction in place for certain stretches.
Today some fool decided he would use it as a passing lane. He would dart out on to the shoulder, zoom ahead of traffic, and cut back in before he hit the next parked car. All w/out any signals. He almost hit me twice in the span of two blocks. I just had to confront him. I started trying to be rational, but next thing you know f-bombs are flying.
I know, zen, zen, zen... but it was almost like he was trying to prove a point. He definitely saw me the first time he cut me off, the second was just malicious.
Sigh. Adrenaline doesn't help rational conversations
Today some fool decided he would use it as a passing lane. He would dart out on to the shoulder, zoom ahead of traffic, and cut back in before he hit the next parked car. All w/out any signals. He almost hit me twice in the span of two blocks. I just had to confront him. I started trying to be rational, but next thing you know f-bombs are flying.
I know, zen, zen, zen... but it was almost like he was trying to prove a point. He definitely saw me the first time he cut me off, the second was just malicious.
Sigh. Adrenaline doesn't help rational conversations

#2708
Beautiful morning. ~60f/16c. Not much wind. Supposed to be a very nice day today so I'm especially looking forward to the ride home. I need to get my hybrid back out and make sure it is in good condition so I can stop skipping rainy days!
#2710
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
Bikes: Wally World Huffy Cranbrook Cruiser (with siily wicker front basket)
#2711
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins, CO
Bikes: 1981 Raleigh Super Record, 2012 A. Homer Hilsen
Today was commute #2. The weather was great, a little chilly so my head and ears froze, but one of the guys brought homemade Baklava
, so the ride in was totally worth it. I'm pretty sure the calorie loss from the ride vs the calorie gain from the Baklava was a wash though.
, so the ride in was totally worth it. I'm pretty sure the calorie loss from the ride vs the calorie gain from the Baklava was a wash though.
#2714
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cites, MN USA
Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T
Back in the saddle today for the first time on my new wheels. They are nothing special made in Hong Kong singlewall crap meant to get me through the summer but oh my what a difference from my old ones - It was like dancing with a new girl, hardly felt the road at all. And when I reached work my left elbow actually didn't hurt.
#2715
First commute of the year (the weather around here has been HORRIBLE and unpredictable) and I can't believe I ever got to work any other way!
6.55 miles in 32:08 according to iMapMyRide. Totally stoked to ride home, and now I get to bike for lunch too!
6.55 miles in 32:08 according to iMapMyRide. Totally stoked to ride home, and now I get to bike for lunch too!
#2717
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Today was commute #2. The weather was great, a little chilly so my head and ears froze, but one of the guys brought homemade Baklava
, so the ride in was totally worth it. I'm pretty sure the calorie loss from the ride vs the calorie gain from the Baklava was a wash though. 
, so the ride in was totally worth it. I'm pretty sure the calorie loss from the ride vs the calorie gain from the Baklava was a wash though. 

Good riding the last couple days. Been super busy at work. Need to dress up a lot this week sol I've been ferrying suits the last couple days. Good to have full-size panniers for that. It's been humid and increasingly hot, but relief is expected the next couple days.
Brooks saddle continues to break in nicely.
#2718
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
Coorperate people here from Dallas today. I can't park my bike in my office when company is here so I didn't ride. I actually feel compelled to got out for a ride right now but I seldom start recreational riding when it is 108 degrees outside.
I don't get to ride in again until Friday. Ain't that a drag!?
I don't get to ride in again until Friday. Ain't that a drag!?
#2719
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
Another grand commute in, with temps at 71 F ( 22 C) for 3 days in a row. I love the cool moring air, of course it is punctuated by the smell of vehicle exhaust.
#2720
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
Very nice day. Dropped my air pump, the pickup truck behind me immediately ran over it. I guess I had not used it for a while. Anyway it was a cheap blackburn I think. Time to upgrade.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#2721
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Pretty nice again this morning. Sunny, slight headwind but not bad. Temps in the mid 60sF/18C. More humid than I care for though.
Yesterday I had a howling tailwind for my ride home. Win!
Yesterday I had a howling tailwind for my ride home. Win!
#2725
First commute in a couple of weeks. Was on vacation last week and busy schedule the week before vacation precluded riding. Beautiful morning, slightly marred by a flat coming in. Just changed out the old tube last night (broken presta stem), and brand new tube went flat about halfway in. Couldn't identify the issue, so I changed it out for the spare I had in the saddle bag. Kept the faulty tube and will check for leaks later when I get home. The tube change put me back about 15 min on the commute, and I would give high marks to my CO2 pump as it inflated the new tire in about 5 seconds. All in all, a little more eventful commute than I would have wanted, but good to be riding again nonetheless.






