How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
08-31-11, 04:47 AM
#3551
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rainy...but still thoroughly enjoyable. 
08-31-11, 05:11 AM
#3552
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75 this morning. That is a major cool down. I'll be on the road by 5:30 this AM.
08-31-11, 05:24 AM
#3553
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Cool, dry, no wind.
I saw what looked like an injured runner down on Constitution Ave, lots of police. Hope he was not struck by a car. Morning commuters are scary.
I saw what looked like an injured runner down on Constitution Ave, lots of police. Hope he was not struck by a car. Morning commuters are scary.
08-31-11, 05:58 AM
#3554
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Today is the 100th day I've ridden my bike to work in 2011. Happy JP's 100th bike2work day Everyone! Here's the details: Temps in middle 60s, wet pavement, slight headwind, 63 minutes to go 17.3 miles. Great way to start the day.
08-31-11, 06:01 AM
#3555
Stealing Spokes since 82'
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55f Decent ride in, decided to ride the SS MTB in to mix things up, but I apparently forgot to tighten down the seat binder bolt and it came loose half way.
08-31-11, 06:14 AM
#3556
Belt drive!
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Nice again this morning. 60F/16C, no wind. A guy rode by on an oddly-sized (for him) mountain bike as I was getting out of the house, so I made it my mission to catch him. I was successful. I think he was running 23" wheels. It looked a bit strange but he wasn't slow.
08-31-11, 07:33 AM
#3557
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Another nice day. I was little late today so I missed the school traffic. Did get to see a rear end accident. Typical "discovered check" where a car going much faster then other traffic attempts to swing around a car that slowed up to turn into the Dunkin Donuts line, then rear ends a car beyond that was stopped for some other reason.
Why anyone thinks you can cross Lake County IL much faster than 20mph at 8 am, beats me.
Why anyone thinks you can cross Lake County IL much faster than 20mph at 8 am, beats me.
__________________
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
08-31-11, 07:38 AM
#3558
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
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Congrats on the milestone JP! Today was my 47th. Pretty much the same condition over here in MN this morning. Cold & drizzly.
08-31-11, 07:49 AM
#3559
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I stripped down my mtn bike last week and finally put it back together last night, so I decided to take it to work as a test ride instead of my normal road bike. Nothing fell apart. 
Just a little brake rub I'll fix at lunch. A little slower ride than with the road bike, but I got to ride through some neighborhood streets I usually bypass due to the bad pavement. It was nice to get out of traffic.
Just a little brake rub I'll fix at lunch. A little slower ride than with the road bike, but I got to ride through some neighborhood streets I usually bypass due to the bad pavement. It was nice to get out of traffic.
08-31-11, 08:49 AM
#3560
Senior Member
A chilly 6C/43F this morning, sunny and calm. Pretty soon, 6C will seem warm!
Recently on my beater bike, the chain has had trouble staying on the big ring - would periodically slip down to the middle ring. Yesterday seemed to be a tipping point, and I couldn't get it to stay on the big ring at all. I thought maybe the front derailleur needed adjustment, but when I got down to check, it turned out to be a very badly stretched chain. Won't mesh with the gears anymore, just kinda floats near the top of the teeth.
Yup, I'm one of those...ride it 'til it breaks, then wonder why I have such bad luck.
Recently on my beater bike, the chain has had trouble staying on the big ring - would periodically slip down to the middle ring. Yesterday seemed to be a tipping point, and I couldn't get it to stay on the big ring at all. I thought maybe the front derailleur needed adjustment, but when I got down to check, it turned out to be a very badly stretched chain. Won't mesh with the gears anymore, just kinda floats near the top of the teeth.
Yup, I'm one of those...ride it 'til it breaks, then wonder why I have such bad luck.
08-31-11, 08:50 AM
#3561
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Eventful(for me) ride home yesterday, and ride to work this morning. Yesterday, heard a bus coming up behind me. My route has a plethora of bus stops, so this is a common occurance. Anyways, I moved over more towards the curb to play nice. Apparently me being up against the curb wasn't giving this driver enough room, cause he blew by me almost clipping my handlebars. Seriously, I could've reached out and touched someone in the bus. Scared the crap out of me!
This morning, speeding down the hill(was a little late this morning), I shifted gears and heard a snap, and a pop, and then pedaling wasn't happening. My chain had completely come off the front sprocket. Only thing holding it up in the front was the guide. Obviously not bad, was a quick fix, but on top of hitting a red light at almost EVERY light on the way to work this morning, it was a frustrating ride this morning. Still better than the best day in a car though :-P. Been doing this almost two weeks now and I'm thoroughly hooked!
This morning, speeding down the hill(was a little late this morning), I shifted gears and heard a snap, and a pop, and then pedaling wasn't happening. My chain had completely come off the front sprocket. Only thing holding it up in the front was the guide. Obviously not bad, was a quick fix, but on top of hitting a red light at almost EVERY light on the way to work this morning, it was a frustrating ride this morning. Still better than the best day in a car though :-P. Been doing this almost two weeks now and I'm thoroughly hooked!
08-31-11, 12:42 PM
#3562
Tawp Dawg
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Boneheaded move of the year: rode 8 miles to campus this morning through the pouring rain, only to find upon arrival that I'd forgotten my lock. Had to skip a lecture to ride back home, then drive the car back to school in order to make the next lecture on time, meaning I had to drop $10 for parking to boot. Apparently I thought that I gotten stronger overnight, as I didn't notice the lack of a ten pound chain wrapped around my bike's frame as I carried it down the stairs this morning.
It was a nice ride, though, and I certainly didn't mind it being twice as long as usual.
It was a nice ride, though, and I certainly didn't mind it being twice as long as usual.
08-31-11, 01:41 PM
#3563
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
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08-31-11, 02:25 PM
#3564
Tawp Dawg
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^^^
Actually, yes. Even though I pedaling easier than usual on account of the rain. Huh.
Actually, yes. Even though I pedaling easier than usual on account of the rain. Huh.
08-31-11, 06:15 PM
#3565
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very nice and smooth ... 71 f on the way to work ..... suppose to be 57 by the time i go home ...
08-31-11, 06:43 PM
#3566
Not safe for work
Crazy driver in an old, rather beat up looking car kept driving on and off the side streets on a portion of my commute. I'm gonna guess he was lost but that doesn't excuse rushing thru stop signs and vroooming like a maniac mere inches from me and several pedestrians, then backing up in the wrong street before vrooming past the stop sign for a second time. Dude is gonna hurt somebody that way.
08-31-11, 06:57 PM
#3567
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The commute today was pretty awesome. Saw another beautiful sunrise over the intercoastal waterway. This afternoon's ride was tolerable as the skies were mostly cloudy and the temps were only in the high 80's. Next week is supposed to have highs in the high 80's instead of the usual mid to high 90's.
08-31-11, 06:59 PM
#3568
Wheezing Geezer
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I rode to work all 3 days so far this week. Tuesday morning, there was lightning in the west the entire ride in, but we only got a few sprinkles of rain at work and nothing at home. There was a stiff south wind to ride home against all 3 days, and I'm still on tired legs from the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred on Saturday. The older I get, the longer it seems to take to recover from that kind of effort.
I ended up with 790 miles in August, not bad considering how hot this month was, I'm thinking. The September 1st forecast for tomorrow afternoon? 104 degrees, so it's still going to be a hot ride home.
I ended up with 790 miles in August, not bad considering how hot this month was, I'm thinking. The September 1st forecast for tomorrow afternoon? 104 degrees, so it's still going to be a hot ride home.
08-31-11, 07:03 PM
#3569
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105. Down from the 100teens and a 10% humidity drop. Felt like winter out there today. Wonderful.
08-31-11, 09:23 PM
#3570
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Morning commute I had a cross wind that switched between straight across to a slight cross tail wind. My boss had it in his face for his entire commute. On the way home I had hoped to make it another 10 miles but the wind was still there and stronger. It would have been a full on 20mph headwind so I went home and got the car for my other trip.
09-01-11, 04:32 AM
#3571
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Decent ride in at 60F (16C). They are repaving some of the roads, which I ride on in the dark. The areas are lit up like a cricket game going into dark. I am timid around noisy heavy equipment moving around even when there is that much light. They should be done by tomorrow morning.
09-01-11, 05:55 AM
#3572
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Middle 60s, no wind, FOGGY! Nice ride. A dead skunk jumped into my circle of light as I passed and nearly freaked me out. I was about 10 minutes early out the door so all my usual traffic contacts happened in the 'wrong' place. Looks to be a warm ride home with middle 90s forecast. Ugh!
09-01-11, 07:04 AM
#3573
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Another nice day. Traffic very heavy though. I guess all the schools are now open. Too bad more kids don't ride. Back ups were so long that I got caught in a couple of gridlock situations.
Tinkering with my DIY headlights last night. New LEDS are so bright I'm wondering if they're legal. I guess they're about 1000 lmns total.
Tinkering with my DIY headlights last night. New LEDS are so bright I'm wondering if they're legal. I guess they're about 1000 lmns total.
__________________
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
09-01-11, 07:11 AM
#3574
Belt drive!
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Nice.Another nice day, indeed. 60F/15C, sunny, no wind. I was up way too late last night with a buddy. We demolished most of a bottle of WhistlePig rye whiskey.
So I wasn't the most energetic cyclist this morning. I caught a regular commuter and rode behind her. Usually I pass her but not today.Oh and I got meowed at by a domestic kitty.
09-01-11, 07:24 AM
#3575
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Epic commute yesterday, my longest ever. Rode my usual 10 miles to work in the morning, and added another 51 after work. Rode 11 miles home to pick up some food and water, another 10 miles to the park where my friends meet for a Wednesday afternoon ride, another 20 miles with my friends and then the final 10 back home. I was pretty toasted the last 10-15 miles because I apparently didn't eat enough. My weight this morning was 3.2 lbs less than yesterday, despite drinking fluids all day. Rode to work again this morning at an easy pace and my legs felt surprisingly fresh.