How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#2776
Hrumph!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
Bikes: 2007 Dahon Cadenza w/ Alfine IGH11, modified MEC Desire w/Alfine IGH8,+ 2 ebikes: Bionx PL350 & 36V eZee FHB/Tidalforce frames.
Got to work at 05:42 this morning and discovered that my helmet, jacket and pants had acquired a light speckling of chalky white bird poop. Strangely enough I felt no luckier than I did when I crawled from the warm safety and security of my bed at 05:10.
Poop.
Poop.
#2777
Guest
Posts: n/a
Perfect on the way to work, ok on the way back. I had my first encounter with a ninja though. The only light's they had were one of the 3 LED cat-eye rear lights with near dead batteries, and some cheapo led flash light that effectively did nothing. I couldn't tell it was even on until I was right beside the guy. I told him he needs better lights.. but He didn't seem too interested. Hopefully he doesn't get hit.
#2780
Guess it'll be quiet on this thread today. Happy Independence Day Americans!
Decent weather, a little breezy, but a nice commute in. Really hammered for the last several blocks to make the lights, which is what I normally do, but when I got off my bike a minute later, I knew something wasn't right. I guess all the blood started pooling in my legs and I started to feel light-headed. Nearly passed out walking into the gym so I sat on the floor in the hallway for a while until the blood returned to my head. Not a nice experience.
Decent weather, a little breezy, but a nice commute in. Really hammered for the last several blocks to make the lights, which is what I normally do, but when I got off my bike a minute later, I knew something wasn't right. I guess all the blood started pooling in my legs and I started to feel light-headed. Nearly passed out walking into the gym so I sat on the floor in the hallway for a while until the blood returned to my head. Not a nice experience.
#2784
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
58f Nice morning weather wise, but I hate when the 4th of july falls on week days was really hard to sleep through all the fireworks that finally tapered off at 3 am just in time for me to get two hours of sleep. Had tons of fireworks on the road to navigate through this morning also, at least somebody had fun last night
Also doesn't help that after my normal shift which ends at 3pm I have to come back in at 10:30 pm and work until 3pm the tomorrow
by this time tomorrow morning I should be pleasant.
Also doesn't help that after my normal shift which ends at 3pm I have to come back in at 10:30 pm and work until 3pm the tomorrow
by this time tomorrow morning I should be pleasant.
#2786
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Very pleasant this morning. Temps in the 60sF/~18C with a quartering headwind. I passed a guy on a recumbent. Unusual to see them around here but they're not unheard of. Then some other guy came up behind me at a red light, but jumped the light, so I waited for it to turn green, then dropped him on the climb away from it. Silly commuter racing!
#2787
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 0
From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
Cool enough but there was a lot of tree debris on the roads from recent storms, and three roads where I had to "cyclocross" (pick up the bike and walk through). Air quality levels are gonna be baaad on the home commute and I didn't bring my pollution mask with me :/
#2788
11C, sunny, no wind.
For a while now, I've wanted to try commuting on a single speed or fixed gear, but I don't have such bikes in my stable. Yesterday afternoon, I dropped off my commuter road bike at Sixty Fiver's shop for some repairs and maintenance, and he was more than happy to lend me a Single Speed Frankenbike that he had built up from spare parts (it has a coaster brake!). So I'll have that for a few days. I have to admit that while riding home, I wished for other gears. There was a light headwind most of the way home, and given the choice, I would have geared down because I had trouble getting my cadence up. This morning was better, since there was no wind at all. The looming challenge was the moderately steep hill near the end of my commute, but in the end, I made it up without too much difficulty.
So, been there, done that I guess.
For a while now, I've wanted to try commuting on a single speed or fixed gear, but I don't have such bikes in my stable. Yesterday afternoon, I dropped off my commuter road bike at Sixty Fiver's shop for some repairs and maintenance, and he was more than happy to lend me a Single Speed Frankenbike that he had built up from spare parts (it has a coaster brake!). So I'll have that for a few days. I have to admit that while riding home, I wished for other gears. There was a light headwind most of the way home, and given the choice, I would have geared down because I had trouble getting my cadence up. This morning was better, since there was no wind at all. The looming challenge was the moderately steep hill near the end of my commute, but in the end, I made it up without too much difficulty.
So, been there, done that I guess.
#2789
Clyde that Rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2008 Jamis Aurora,1988 Specialized Hardrock, 1980? Kuwahara Carrera
Warm and sunny. Didn't push myself too much. Traffic was light on the first day back after the Independence Day holiday.
#2790
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Hot, as will be until late September at the earliest. Had to wake up a passed out guy blocking the underpass. First time I've run into anyone there. There's no avoiding that road, there are signs stating that all person and cyclists must use that underpass to cross there. I was nice to him. Too much celebrating last night appeared to be his problem. I do need to figure out what to do if it appears to be someone less harmless in the future. The infrastructure of this city is horrible, even for cars, which makes it worse for cyclists (even more irritated than usual drivers. )
#2793
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
I ride regardless of the air quality warnings. Didn't even know there was one til you mentioned it.Worked this weekend so the one day off yesterday didn't seem like enough. Ride in this morning was nice though. Coolest sight this morning was two Buddhist monks decked out in their red robes riding CaBi bikeshare bikes. Had to do a double take. I was also amazed how quickly they'd removed the trash from the National Mall. It was all gone this AM. Kudos to the cleanup crews!
Lots of cycling in my life this month. Continued commuting, an overnight bike camping trip, and, of course, my daily dose of the Tour de France. I love it!
#2794
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 325
Likes: 4
Bikes: Old Cannondales: '85 ST400, '85 ST500, '85 SR900, '01 R600 CAAD4
Really nice weather this morning, in the 80s. Got one honk on my way to the greenway because I was taking the lane since the bike lane by my apartment was (surprise, surprise) obstructed by livery cabs, but ignored it. Had to negotiate lots of trash north of Riverbank, and the NYPD fellows taking down the barriers from last night's festivities on the greenway itself, but I took that as an opportunity to enjoy the view of the Hudson. Forgot my helmet, though, which made me feel really weird!
#2795
Gorgeous day here, school is out for the summer and most of this week's riding will be for the fun of it... 
Just built my oldest daughter a new mountain bike so we will have to hit the river valley after we slather ourselves in bug repellent... if anything is taking the shine off of things it is the billions of mosquitoes out there.

Just built my oldest daughter a new mountain bike so we will have to hit the river valley after we slather ourselves in bug repellent... if anything is taking the shine off of things it is the billions of mosquitoes out there.
#2796
Not safe for work


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
I saw side by side freshly squished squirrels on my ride home. Can squirrels make a suicide pact? The rest of the ride was uneventful but very enjoyable. I definitely prefer riding outside of the usual rush hour, mad dashes. Gotta plan this some more.
#2797
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup WA
Bikes: 2009 Bianchi Via Nirone; 2010 GT Transeo W4F; 1985 Raleigh ElkHorn;1987 Schwinn Sierra
Foggy and cool 49 this am. Bunnies and birds on path. Sunrise... 78 sunny light breeze, minimal traffic. Any day on my bike beats a minute in a car.
#2799
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
It rained and rained heavy in Las Vegas for an hour or so Saturday evening (it never rains in Vegas) then there was the fireworks last night. As soon as I got on my usual commuting MUP there was washouts and rocks the size of grapefruits ever 30 feet or so. Then there was dozens of broken bear bottles as this part of the trail passes right by where the fireworks are lit off. This is a trail that I just polished with a leaf blower 3 weeks ago but it was only the section of trail that runs along the contour of the land for about 0.3 miles. The trail then turn to run uphill. In the uphill stretch all of the mtb pea gravel that has been building on the trail was washed off by the rain.
On the way home I got a flat in the same glass very close to home. The tire actually went flat as I was checking the mail. As soon as I clipped in I went over like a tipped domino. Landed right in the landscaping so the loam was soft. Skinned knee and another flat repair. Still a good ride 'cause I had the lungs and legs to do it.
BTW, I was right under the fireworks last night...on my bike and they were grand. Happy birthday America!
On the way home I got a flat in the same glass very close to home. The tire actually went flat as I was checking the mail. As soon as I clipped in I went over like a tipped domino. Landed right in the landscaping so the loam was soft. Skinned knee and another flat repair. Still a good ride 'cause I had the lungs and legs to do it.
BTW, I was right under the fireworks last night...on my bike and they were grand. Happy birthday America!
#2800
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Bikes: 2007 Giant Cypress DX, Windsor Tourist 2011
Puncture about a mile from home. I didn't have any tubes with me, just a patch kit, so I decided to walk it in the rest of the way. I suspect that my rear tire might be toast, but I'll take a closer look in the morning.




