How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#3329
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
Absolutely beautiful commute this morning with temps in the mid-60s and low humidity. Our massive heat wave has retreated for the time being, and it feels like autumn (even tho the temps are pretty close to long-term averages). The best part for me is the lower humidity. It's nice getting to work with dry clothes for a change. Yesterday I rode at a slow pace to recover from long rides over the weekend, but my legs felt much better this morning so I picked up the pace.
#3330
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
#3331
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Moist. 58F/14C. It was a light drizzle. I didn't wear any rain gear. I got a bit damp but not soaked.
Saw bmike from these forums riding the other way. He was the only cyclist I came across.
Some dude was walking a cute puppy on the MUP. Puppies FTW!
Saw bmike from these forums riding the other way. He was the only cyclist I came across.
Some dude was walking a cute puppy on the MUP. Puppies FTW!
#3333
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
48f Chilly, noticed a small cut in the side wall of my rear tire yesterday but didn't have any air leak and it didn't go all the way through, left with a full tire had to stop and pump it up twice, now at work and it's holding air
I'm hoping it will make it home, as I didn't bring my wallet with today
I'm hoping it will make it home, as I didn't bring my wallet with today
#3335
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
Nice ride. actually nearly perfect. Maybe I should just quit riding now, it cant get anybetter than this. Just kidding.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#3336
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
#3337
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cites, MN USA
Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T
Beautiful morning here in MN. First time ever I got a flat on the way in (They usually happen on the way home for whatever reason). I had a car & then a cyclist stop to see if I needed help (didn't, but thanks for asking) so I was thinking Minnesota nice is in full effect today. Wrong. After my long stretch of MUP & I start interacting with cars again I was nearly hit twice within five minutes time. Neither were really close calls because I was paying attention & was able to evade.
TWC said that there's 30% chance of T-storms this evening, but to me that means that there's 70% chance that there won't be.
TWC said that there's 30% chance of T-storms this evening, but to me that means that there's 70% chance that there won't be.
#3338
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Totally agree. By the time I was rolling in, NWS reports 18 mph headwind gusting to 25. Still a nice ride.
Coping with my funky seatpost is a bit of a pain in the arse (almost literally). Keep checking the tracking info on my new seatpost. It still says Thursday arrival. I'll have tools and grease with me to install the new post before I leave work that day!
Coping with my funky seatpost is a bit of a pain in the arse (almost literally). Keep checking the tracking info on my new seatpost. It still says Thursday arrival. I'll have tools and grease with me to install the new post before I leave work that day!
#3339
Could have been better, could have been worse. A chilly 7C (45F) this morning - I'm not used to that anymore! But no wind, so that's nice. The morning sun is nearing that dangerous zone during my commute time where it's low in the sky and blinding while riding east, which is 70% of my travel in the mornings. If it's blinding for me, it's blinding for the drivers behind me.
Trashed my front derailleur this morning. Chain slipped out the bottom when pedaling backwards (to get my foot in position at a stop sign); didn't notice, and when I pedaled forward, the chain bent the outside plate up. This isn't the first time this has happened (stupid me for not addressing the root problem!) and the metal was fatigued from being bent a few times, and putting it back into position today resulted in the outside plate breaking off. I think I can still shift to the big ring if I need to (I usually don't), but I would need to nudge the chain with my foot to get it back in the small ring. Bummer!
Trashed my front derailleur this morning. Chain slipped out the bottom when pedaling backwards (to get my foot in position at a stop sign); didn't notice, and when I pedaled forward, the chain bent the outside plate up. This isn't the first time this has happened (stupid me for not addressing the root problem!) and the metal was fatigued from being bent a few times, and putting it back into position today resulted in the outside plate breaking off. I think I can still shift to the big ring if I need to (I usually don't), but I would need to nudge the chain with my foot to get it back in the small ring. Bummer!
#3341
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 1
From: PNW - Victoria, BC
Bikes: 2002 Litespeed Vortex - 2007 Trek Madone 5.9 - 2004 Redline Conquest Pro - Specialized S-Works Festina Team Model - 93 Cannondale M 800 Beast of the East
50 Degrees, which seems really cool for August, but otherwise sunny calm & beautiful. There was a cruise ship at the terminal which is unusual in the morning, more common on the way home. Touristy zone was still very quiet.... won't be later today however.
#3342
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Billings, MT
Bikes: 2007 LHT--made more awesome by my Wald Basket!
beautiful weather! Nice ride on the MUP. Cars were nice to let me cross the street w/o too much hassle. I can tell that I've been riding more because I got up to almost 20mph on part of the trip and hardly felt winded.
#3343
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
It's pretty dark now when I leave the house at 5:05 a.m.; a bad time for my Cygolite's charger to die on me. Another is on the way. I'm using my spare headlight and my Blackburn Flea for now. It wasn't too bad with the moon out, then as I was cresting the ridge the sun was lighting up the eastern horizon behind the Cascade mountains. I don't know what got into me: for the first time I started standing up and sprinting up some of the hills. Then I remembered I still have to get home tonight. Oh well it will be good training, whether I get a Surley LHT or a Salsa Fargo for me next bike, neither has as low of a granny gear as my Rocky Mountain so I'll need more muscle.
#3344
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: East Coast of Central Florida
Bikes: Trek 1000, Ironhorse 4.2, Trek 800
So, today's commute was, at one point awesome and at another point, interesting. One picture is of the sunrise over the intercoastal waterway. One of the roads I ride on is along the waterway. The other picture came from my ride home. I didn't leave work at my normal time because it was POURING outside. I mean, the rain was falling sideways and was so heavy you could not see 10 feet in front of you. Anyway, as I was crossing this bridge, these two guys flagged me down and asked if I had a phone. They said they had been in an accident and needed to call 911. As it turns out, during the deluge, they drove off the road and into the water. They entered the water on the east side of the bridge and the current took their van under the bridge and to the west side of the bridge where it came to rest. I called 911 for them, the sheriff's deputy showed up, and I took off for home. All in all, I would say it was certainly an interesting day!
Last edited by iteachpe; 08-16-11 at 07:12 PM. Reason: adding trackie and correcting punctuation
#3345
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
I left early this morning so I decided to look for a short cut to avoid construction on my way home. Uh, didnt find a short cut, but did find a few nice, pleasant extra miles. Right in inner city a family of racoons crossed the street right in front of me. Just a nice ride.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#3347
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
There were several wild turkeys wandering around my front yard as I was packing up to leave. I was indoors, watching them. They ran around behind the house when I came out.
Temp was 58F/14C, sunny, no wind. Some dude rolled out on a MTB in front of me and managed to maintain about 16MPH so I rode with him. I thought something was chasing me but it never materialized after I slowed up for the MTBer. Phantom commuter racer!
#3348
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
Started in with the headlights on yesterday morning. First for that this year. Still 80 degrees. I can live with that but it will be another month before the ride home falls under 100 degrees. But again, the ride home is downhill all the way.
I'll be buying a stronger light this weekend, along with a battery charger for my office.
I'll be buying a stronger light this weekend, along with a battery charger for my office.
#3349
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
Another awesome commute in Raleigh, NC. We are having ideal weather for cycling this week -- low humidity, morning temps in the 60s, afternoon highs in the 80s. Can't ask for much better than that. I rode my retro commuter Italian racing bike with the bullhorns today and went fast. It's my most fun bike to ride, but not so good when it's raining or if I need to carry a lot of gear.






