Had my first flat of my commuting career this morning. Naturally, my CIO starts blowing up my personal phone 30 minutes before I am even supposed to be at work freaking out for no reason, and when I tell him I am trying to fix a flat and that I would be in at my normal time, he starts insisting that he come give me a ride, to which I inform him that changing a flat on a bike is a 5 minute deal. I get the flat repaired... pass him driving the opposite way...

Geeze, at least your boss is a good guy, mine would have tried to run over me. hehe.

Not yet, but if the heat doesn't get me, surely the cold will, right? Of course, I rode in that kind of heat yesterday afternoon and killled over 70 oz. of water in under 2 hours.

Friday afternoon, I left the office just at the tail of the rain, but because it had been heavy and I thought it might have cooled things off, and mostly because I wanted the extra conspicuity, I decided to try out my heretofore unused Showers Pass jacket. I don't think I'll wear a rain jacket in the summer ever again -- I was just as wet as if I'd been riding in constant rain, and I probably would have been drier had I left the jacket in the pannier, because the breeze would have dried me off as I rode.

About 4 miles from home, while riding on the MUP, I got a flat (first of the year?). I pumped the tire up, rode another 2 minutes, and flat again (and thanks to the lady cyclist who stopped to make sure I had everything I needed!) So, sure, I could have changed it on the side of trail, but I wimped out, limped it to the next good spot by pumping it up two more times, and had my wife come pick me up. It might have been faster to fix it, honestly, but I didn't feel like sitting around in the post rain muck messing with it. Oh, it might be worth mentioning that it was my front tire (which makes me an even bigger wimp).

Not strictly a commuting issue, but I used this as an excuse to put on some 23c tires that my daughter's boyfriend lent me to try out for my century, and once mounted I took them out for a 'fun' ride yesterday afternoon. They might be faster than my 37c tires, but I KNOW they're harsher -- my blinky popped out of its housing 3 times in 30 miles. I promptly switched back to my 37s for commuting duty (and then took metro this morning because I need to be at a swim meet early this evening to time-- Back on the bike tomorrow, though!)

I guess the commuting upshot here is I'm impressed with you guys who commute on skinny tires all the time -- maybe I just need to HTFU but it seems like I'd have stuff shaking loose all the time if I rode on skinny tires. Anyone have a sense of whether I'd see a noticeable increase in comfort if I moved up to 27c? I want every reasonable advantage on my century, but I'd like to have all my teeth at the end.

As for the heat, remember you've got a nice wind blowing on you. It's the post-ride melting that's bad. :)

Kinda the same idea as a blast furnace or a convection oven. :lol: But hey, I am drinking my 4th bottle of water and have another one on my bike. I am ready. :lol::):(:cry:

Don't know about 27's. The bike I usually use for long distance rides has 32mm tires, and it's pretty cushy compared to my commuter road bike with 23's. I've done a couple long distance rides (century+) on my road bike and felt pretty rattled by the end. Road bike sure feels faster, but I've determined that I prefer the bigger tires for long distances, unless I'm deliberately going for speed over comfort. But that's just personal experience, and much could also depend on the bikes themselves.

I am alive, and vtjim is right, no problem until you stop. I have had another bottle of water, I really dont feel dehydrated. Nice ride and really no big deal, till you stop

I took a look out the window this morning as I was getting ready to leave, and decided it would be a good day to be late. A minute later, the wind hit, forty or so, and then gusting much higher (a rather large tree in front of the place acquired a 30 degree list), followed by the hail and the rain. Ten minutes later, it was all over, and had a nice cool ride into work. Did have to dodge several downed trees and large branches and ride through a flooded street.

I'd been planning to leave a bit early, to get to work before the storm; I'm glad I didn't.

Day started out well...decently warm but not too bad and I did my commute in the fastest time yet. Coming home was just terrible though...95+ degrees (100+ heat index), the air was stifling, and I wrecked for the first time. Was in the road median turning left onto the MUP and while signaling the turn with my left hand, my right hand, which was gently braking, caused my rear wheel to lock up because of the ice-like road paint, causing my bike to fish tail and eventually take me down with it. Scraped my knee a little is all, but it was pretty embarrassing. Then later down the MUP some guy allowed his dog to dart across the path as I was in the left lane starting to overtake him (and after I'd already ringed my bell at him), forcing me to slam on the brakes. At least he was very apologetic, which I appreciate.

Not sure I will ride tomorrow... my left knee is acting up, and if it's not feeling better I don't want to stress it (though driving a stick shift car isn't much better). Meh. I'll probably ride anyway. Ibuprofin works wonders.

At 100 degrees, it was still a wonderful commute. Humidity is down.

A warm morning at 75 F ( 24 C). Yesterday, was brtual going home, but I managed to ride a couple streets that were tree lined and that helped allot. I slathered allot of sun block on, but with the sweat everything was water coming off.

The air is thick this morning. 72F/22C and 93% humidity. No wind. I came upon someone on an older road bike at a red light. Bottom of hill. When the light turned, I followed him. To his credit, he was pretty fast on the hill, but his bicycle was making all kinds of creaking, ticking noises. I got the feeling he was pushing it hard for my benefit. :p

63f Nice morning, rode the "new" three speed in this morning and what a wonderful difference it was. My riding style on the drop bar kuwie is fast and efficient, on the cruiser its slow and relaxing. Though I may have to get a different saddle sooner than I thought that triangle chunk of leather is just a bit too wide for my butt.

I reluctantly decided to drive today due to the extreme heat. It was already 81 F at 5:30 am today, and the high is forecasted to reach 102 with a heat index in the 110-115 range. I am skeptical about it actually getting that hot, but have ridden on days when the temps exceeded 100 and didn't like it. The worst part is sitting at long traffic lights on large streets, where the real temps must be higher than 110 F. The high temps have been reaching the 90s here almost daily since mid-May so my body is well acclimated to the heat, but I know from experience that 100+ temps are another matter -- particularly when humidity levels are high like they are now. My legs could use a break anyway since I've ridden more than 200 miles over the past week and more than 800 miles in the past month.

First ride in about a week. Expecting it to be warmer than it was this morning, so not too bad on the way in. Made very good time too. The ride home will be another matter as temps are expected to hit 100. I'll pack lots of water and try to take it a little slower.

Warm and sunny this morning (77f). Great ride though it's supposed to be just as hot today as yesterday. :(

Ride home yesterday was HOT. Temps in the mid nineties, with high humidity and a heat index well in excess of 100 and a 15-20 mph headwind thrown in for good measure. Given all that I had a remarkably comfortable ride home. Just took it a little easy.

Forgot to mention I passed 1500 commuting miles YTD yesterday morning. With vacations behind me and extra miles expected startin Aug 22 with grad school kicking off I'm well on my way to another 3K+ miles commuting year. :)

This morning was nice, relatively speaking, but looking at a similar afternoon commute as yesterday. One forecast I saw predicted 101 w/ heat index of 110+. Oughta be fun! :thumb:

I feel bad. It's 80's and high 70's here in MN all week while the rest of you guys are gettin' cooked.

Certainly can't complain about the heat here. 13C (55F) and drizzly this morning. Felt sluggish, I guess the lack of sleep is catching up.

60F, gray, geared again. Even higher speeds than yesterday! But slower average.

83F at 0630. It'll be 101 or more going home. I added a few miles this morning because I felt like it, then made it my business to pursue and pass and leave behind a kitted-out kiddo on a racy little Cannondale, who snorted and said, "Nice pannier..." as he went by at my turnaround point.

I caught up and shadowed him out of his draft for awhile. He kept turning it up a little at a time, looking back more and more frequently. Finally, he started standing up and hammering every few hundred yards. Next time he looked back I was still with him and having a drink from my water bottle.

He slowed up where the path turns off to a gravel detour for a few hundred yards, and the advantage went to my fat Schwalbes. I said, "Your left...Nice day for a spin..." as I went by. As I get older, it gets harder to sound nonchalant and not suck wind when I talk to them, but I think I managed it.

By the time we reached pavement again, he was well back, and dropped off farther over the next few miles. I tried to hold the pace to keep him falling back. I thought he might attack when I had to slow way down for an uncontrolled Labrador on the trail but he didn't. I saw him again after I left the trail and crossed over the 7th Street bridge into town.

I may have imagined it, but I swear I heard him mutter as he passed under, "Next time, crusty old dude, next time..."

:D I've had that same experience and it's hilarious. Immature and silly, but funny.

I forgot to mention this morning that I was having problems reeling in some guy who looked like he was on a MTB with luggage. Eventually I got close enough to see he had an electric motor! :rolleyes: And he was using it. When I got near enough, I could hear it whining.

I got dusted on the MUP by an old guy, and it wasn't until he went past and I was able to categorize that whine that I felt better about it. I felt so sluggish at the beginning of this morning's ride. My legs did NOT want to climb anything! I even gave some thought to bailing at a metro station and taking the train the rest of the way. But about 1/2 hour into it, things were feeling better, and overall I made okay time (got lucky with several lights, truth be told). Not really looking forward to the ride home with the predicted heat, but it is what it is.

Seems like everyone is tired. Humm, maybe it is becaue of the heat.

Yesterday, on the way home, I was going so slow I got dropped by a guy on the sidewalk.