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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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Old 07-19-11 | 10:38 AM
  #3001  
GATC
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High 50s, grey. Pretty speedy.
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Old 07-19-11 | 11:35 AM
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79 and steamy at 5am....Next couple days will be a challenge...

95+ on the way home turns time on my bike ride into time in a traveling sweat lodge...

Enjoy!
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Old 07-19-11 | 11:59 AM
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I had diapers changed as a toddler that were drier than my bike shorts were after this morning's commute.
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Old 07-19-11 | 12:34 PM
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From: Twin Cites, MN USA

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Originally Posted by MNBikeCommuter
I had diapers changed as a toddler that were drier than my bike shorts were after this morning's commute.
No doubt man!

While waiting for my rescue yesterday (See earlier post) I was able to literally wring the sweat out of my jersey & the legs of my shorts like I'd just climbed out of a pool.
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Old 07-19-11 | 12:46 PM
  #3005  
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From: Western Massachusetts

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Last two days the morning rides were in the mid 60's and my ride back home has been...well, hot hot hot!!!!
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Old 07-19-11 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Surrealdeal
97 degrees yesterday, heat index of 110. Full-tilt fiascoes.

First there was this flat tire, that I sweat about a quart of fluids fixing:
Hey, that part was my commute yesterday too, although a big piece of glass in my new tire! And yeah, there was a stream running from the "fix site" by the time I got going again. But the chain behaved.
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Old 07-19-11 | 01:36 PM
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From: Twin Cites, MN USA

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Originally Posted by MNBikeCommuter
Hey, that part was my commute yesterday too, although a big piece of glass in my new tire!
Yeah that was a real day brightener for me too. My tire only has 600 miles on it and now it's got this freaking screw hole in it. I put a patch on the inside wall but who knows how much this will shorten the life of the tire.
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Old 07-19-11 | 04:13 PM
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Nice ride in today, high 50s and muggy. Good riding weather - muggy is not "muggy" as the rest of the US typically knows it. New bike path opened in the southbound commute, maybe only about 1/4 mile of it but it's plush compared to the rest of the route. Until one gets to the north end of it and tries to re-enter the traffic grid.

It's only about 63 now. It was supposed to be ~72. I know most of the nation is baking away, but jeez, we aren't even hardly getting any sun. At least it's not pouring down rain for a week straight but this is getting a little depressing.
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Old 07-19-11 | 05:27 PM
  #3009  
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Took my 2nd commute today. Went a little worse than the first one but that was not unexpected; I chose the first one to occur on a day with optimal weather so I could eliminate that as a concern and focus on the pure logistics of the ride. Today was much hotter, and much more humid. When I woke up weather.com literally said 95% humidity. Walking outside was like walking into a very hot pool of lightweight water... but I already had everything set up, so I figured why not try a mile or two and see how I like it. I left at 6:30 so if it wasn't going to happen I had plenty of time to change my mind, turn back, and drive.

After 5 miles I still felt ok so I decided to keep on going (19 mile route). The entire morning part of the trip was great; arrived just 2 minutes later than my first trip (had less of a tailwind today), so I went up to work changed clothes, and watched the TDF before everyone else in the office started showing up. https://connect.garmin.com/activity/100260148 It's somewhat amusing to arrive at work... on a bike... having twice the commute of everyone else... and still being there an hour before everyone else.


Felt less lightheaded during the day than last time. Ate 2 slices of pizza for lunch but that was a mistake, I felt sick to my stomach for a few hours; I keep forgetting my stomach has shrunken ever since I started eating less, so even one large slice is enough to make me feel stuffed. 4pm rolls around, I pack up, swap my clothes, and head out again. Unfortunately the temperature had turned brutal since this morning, and the humidity was just as bad. Started off just going slow to see how my body would handle the much warmer weather... and didn't really get a chance to go fast at all on the return. Just tried to keep a slow and steady pace to avoid over exerting myself. Saddle started getting uncomfortable around mile 13 on the way back, which made me lean on my hands more, which made my hands numb. Really mostly uneventful; uphill into a 12mph headwind on a very hot and humid day... not fun. Near the end a ****ing tractor trailer veered into the shoulder where I was currently existing, came within half a foot of killing me in my estimation. I was too in shock to even react however, just kept pedalling and somehow he managed to not hit me. Shouted Hallelujah when I finally got home. https://connect.garmin.com/activity/100384022


A funny thought hit me as I was picking up my mail. A year ago I only went out to pick up my mail once a week because I hated walking that far (... embarrassed to admit it's only 50 feet from my door). And now for the 2nd time in less than 7 days I biked 19 miles to work, and 19 miles back. God damn I feel great, even if that was a crappy ride, I feel great.


For the foreseeable future I am going to keep picking one day a week to bike to work. When I get to a point where I don't feel like crap on the ride home I will increase that to 2, logistics permitting.
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Old 07-19-11 | 05:39 PM
  #3010  
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Originally Posted by Surrealdeal
97 degrees yesterday, heat index of 110. Full-tilt fiascoes.

First there was this flat tire, that I sweat about a quart of fluids fixing:
Oh wow, you're screwed.
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Old 07-19-11 | 06:57 PM
  #3011  
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HHAhHaha. I was thinking the same thing.
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Old 07-20-11 | 04:40 AM
  #3012  
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Nice ride in with a cooler feeling after the rain last night at 74 F ( 23 C). The hot stuff starts tomorrow, and goes through the weekend.
I got annoyed this morning, because a large SUV in front of me going down hill, was going slower than I was, and for whatever reason it drifted right, so I could not get around it. It killed my run up the next hill. Not that working on a hill is bad for me, but I like that push up the next hill.
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Old 07-20-11 | 05:17 AM
  #3013  
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Hot...after I do my morning run, I hop on my bike. So I am already heated up, I was dripping sweat by the time I go to the office.

Streets were clear, nice ride.
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Old 07-20-11 | 05:56 AM
  #3014  
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Originally Posted by Surrealdeal
(Only now do I fully appreciate what that ugly plastic pie plate that goes between the freewheel and the spokes is for)
Ah, the proverbial "dork disk." I always rolled my eyes when people reported removing them. They're not there to look at. Still, you've had a bad day. Have a beer on me. Why does stuff always stick in the back tire?

At least your day wasn't as bad as this guy's.

My ride this morning was uneventful but there sure have been a lot more cyclists out this week. I caught a glimpse of something black way behind me and decided to play rabbit. It never caught up. Meanwhile, I reeled in a guy wearing flip-flops riding a mountain bike with a messenger bag. This amused me for some reason.

The heat & humidity is supposed to get up here into Northern Vermont today. Not real excited about that.
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Old 07-20-11 | 06:45 AM
  #3015  
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51f Chilly I had to put long sleeves on this morning, felt good to ride in though.
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Old 07-20-11 | 07:10 AM
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Hot, sticky like the rest of the week coming in, and fully expecting another steamy ride home... the excitement today came in the form of a large tree (trees?) blocking the bike trail (guard rail on one side, steep hill on the other). Luckily I wasn't far behind three guys and they were still there helping each other over so I got a hand (as did the woman behind me). It was stormy last night and I guess that's what did it.

Probably my last commute of the week today, with heat indices predicted over 110 tomorrow/Friday I think that's beyond my limit...
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Old 07-20-11 | 07:43 AM
  #3017  
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From: Twin Cites, MN USA

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Originally Posted by vtjim
Ah, the proverbial "dork disk." I always rolled my eyes when people reported removing them. They're not there to look at. Still, you've had a bad day. Have a beer on me. Why does stuff always stick in the back tire?
I replaced five spokes last night, was able to get the wheel reasonably true. However I could not get it reasonably round. I packed it up in the trunk & drove again for a second day running.

About halfway to work the "Check Engine" light came on.

I can't make this stuff up. It's been that kind of a week.
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Old 07-20-11 | 12:12 PM
  #3018  
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From: Twin Cites, MN USA

Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T

Rear wheel trued over my lunch hour, will be back on the road tomorrow.

It's a scorcher out there, I'm really missing out on some badass points today. Hats off to all you fellows going out in it this afternoon.
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Old 07-20-11 | 12:46 PM
  #3019  
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From: Western Massachusetts

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My early morning ride was great but the 2PM ride was brutal. Felt like hell out there, and I was only out there for 15-20 minutes. Thank God, I got tomorrow off.

I'm deciding whether or not to ride on Friday, pay day.
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Old 07-20-11 | 12:52 PM
  #3020  
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Originally Posted by Headphones
My early morning ride was great but the 2PM ride was brutal. Felt like hell out there, and I was only out there for 15-20 minutes. Thank God, I got tomorrow off.

I'm deciding whether or not to ride on Friday, pay day.
Only a 20 minute ride? That's it? You should definitely ride on Friday.
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Old 07-20-11 | 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Surrealdeal
I replaced five spokes last night, was able to get the wheel reasonably true. However I could not get it reasonably round.
I thought once a wheel lost that many spokes that it was typically toast and not really worth maintaining? Maybe loosen all the spokes and start from scratch?


My morning commute sucked... hit a patch of mud, went down hard, my left knee, shoulder, elbow and hand all hurt. I'm concerned that I jacked up my knee cap.

Should I ride home? I'm thinking yes cuz that'll loosen up the knee. Otherwise I'm thinking that if I don't ride tonight, that it'll all tighten up and I won't be able to ride until next week.
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Old 07-20-11 | 01:41 PM
  #3022  
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I've pretty much given up commuting for the time being. Heat, work schedules, etc., just make it too much of a hassle. I've started riding at night to get miles in. It's just more practical for me right now. Maybe once the weather breaks I'll start riding to work again.
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 07-20-11 | 02:08 PM
  #3023  
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From: Twin Cites, MN USA

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Originally Posted by RadioFlyer
I thought once a wheel lost that many spokes that it was typically toast and not really worth maintaining? Maybe loosen all the spokes and start from scratch?
Yes sir. Your LBS calls that "Retensioning."
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Old 07-20-11 | 02:33 PM
  #3024  
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Good ride this morning!! Really loving my 28km commute. I had intended to leave early enough to throw a few extra k onto it before work but didn't get the chance today.

I love the heat so no problem there, though I was sure glad I'd installed a 2nd bottle cage last night because that thing came in VERY handy!!
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Old 07-20-11 | 02:56 PM
  #3025  
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Getting toasty! 96 with a generous tailwind going home last night. Already over 80 degrees for the AM commute today with a high of 95 expected. Calling for 103 on Friday and a heat index of 110-115. :sweat:

No let up in sight either which means my s36o to around Harpers Ferry this weekend will be in near 100 degree temps. I think I'll be quite thankful for the canopy of trees on the C&O during the day Saturday. May have to take a quick (against the rules) dip in the Potomac to cool off in the afternoon. I'm worried more about getting comfy for sleeping in the heat of the night, but after 70 miles in the saddle during the day, something tells me I'll sleep pretty well regardless...

Meant to mention I passed on of those ElliptiGo bike things going the other way this morning. I still think they're weird and IIRC ridiculously overpriced, but apparently at least one's been purchased.

Last edited by EKW in DC; 07-20-11 at 03:12 PM.
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