making it a part of life
 

The great thing about bike commuting is you are certain to get a ride in that day, hopefully. The cooler the weather, the less likely you'll be soaked in sweat by the time you get to work. I only have a couple miles of commuting, but I give it my all. The plan is to bike through the winter as well.

A frigid 4C/39F when I left my house, colder in the river valley where I spend half my commute. I'll have to start dressing warmer soon - my fingers were going numb even under full-fingered cycling gloves.

Seems to be some kind of military games happening in the city today involving canoe portages. Saw them setting up in a park I ride through - bunch of military vehicles in the parking lot, and couple hundred canoes lined up on the grass. About a mile further I saw the temporary dock set up in the river. Downstream and out of the valley, saw a few more military vehicles parked on the provincial legislature grounds - maybe a checkpoint or the finish line? Anyway, it looked cool.

I can't believe how stupid I can be with some of this bike maintenance stuff. Couple days ago, I discovered that my chain was badly stretched, so last night I replaced the chain. Was pretty proud of myself too - first time I'd ever done that myself, simple task that it was. But did I check the cassette for wear? Nope. Did I even take it for a test ride last night? Nope. Got on the bike this morning, and at the cassette, the chain skipped like school girls in a playground, or a scratched record on your dad's HiFi, or Dick Van <Female *****exual> (can't say "****" on BF apparently) in the movie "Mary Poppins", or, well, whatever else skips a lot. More skipping in the gears I use most (naturally). I managed to find a couple gears that didn't skip as bad, and hobbled to work. So, I guess I'll replace the cassette now. Hopefully the chain rings are okay.

Also, today was the day that Alberta's new Distracted Driving legislation came into effect - no hand-held devices can be used while driving (even at stoplights). Don't know if I feel safer or not yet.

It was cold this morning. My thermometer was reading 7ºC, and apparently the official airport station read 0ºC. September 1 and Fall is here. I could see my breath on the way in, and it won't be long before I need full-fingered gloves for the mornings.

To top it off, my ride is straight east, and the sun is now at that awkward angle where there's no way to block it. Had my sunglasses on, but was still largely blind. A couple more weeks, and the morning will be pitch black.

Winter is coming.

I wish. 75F this morning, expected to be 104-106F by the time for the ride home. Wildfires are raging east of my ride, so the roads are full of emergency vehicles.

This morning was fine, except when I was going over the last overpass to get to my office. I came up on a Fire chief's truck in the right lane sitting about 4 car lengths back from the next car. After waiting a few, I went around figuring he was trying to decide if he had to get on the interstate or not.

After the light turned, right after I'd gotten through the intersection, he popped his sirens and lights when he was RIGHT on my ass. Scared the **** out of me. I pulled over to get out of his way and he blew by. A co-worker of mine happened to be sitting at the drive-through right at the intersection, said it looked like he came a few inches from hitting me.

Another perfect morning with temps just above 60.

Today I did something I don't do enough of: I took a good look around, at the morning. (Kept my eyes on the road too of course.)

My commute is like three blocks now... I only take my bike if I need to run errands after class.

While I love these wonderful going on into fall mornings, it makes me miss those few warm summer days we had. I actually wanted some full fingered gloves this morning. The "dip" into the lower part of my commute route was quite cool and I felt chilled for the first time in a long time. I suppose a summer of early mornings with the need for sunglasses and no arm warmers is counting in at a low, low less than 10 days total. Here's hoping for a long Indian Summer into the end of September.

Great ride - disapointing outcome. Left the house at 6:15 under cloudy skies and temps in the mid 60's and rode approx. 20 miles along the Los Angeles River Trail, through Chinatown, and into Downtown. I had planned on meeting a co-worker at the Nickel Diner on Main, and it was closed for the week for cleaning and renovation. No maple - bacon doughnuts for me this morning:(

I got cold this morning. It was 43 degrees at my house, and I was wishing for full gloves and a long sleeve t shirt. At least I brought a fleece pull over to put on after my ride so I didn't get cold waiting for the bus.

An argument for fenders (may not be applicable to all): that moment when, while keeping on eye on the two oncoming canines and their unleashed human companions, you don't notice the large pile of wet moose **** on the path until it's too late so slow down and avoid (it was a pretty big pile, easily a foot and half wide). Seriously, does no one pick up after their ungulates these days?

Greaaaat, I pulled a muscle laughing at this one. Now I'm going to be off of the bike for a few days. (Just kidding).

In reality, I haven't been sleeping well so I wimped out on the way home this morning and was reminded how excruciatingly slow public transit can be, especially if you've just barely missed your connections and have to wait the full cycle for the next bus/train. I borrowed a car to get into to work and home in the morning for tonight's shift. Hopefully I can sleep better tomorrow.

Had some moron pull out in front of me, while I was going full clip down the big hill on my commute. Caved in his front fender (or at least left him a nice big black mark from my shoe) with my foot as I laid the bike over to swerve out of the way, whilst swearing at him, colorfully. He never even saw me, despite the bright yellow day-glo vest, until he'd hit me. Thankfully, everything landed just right, so I'm not hurt much. You should have seen the look on his face, though. I hope he crapped himself, and will LOOK the next time he pulls out of a driveway.

Nicer afternoon to ride... sunny and warm the whole way but was thankful for the rain gear on the way home and would not be socked to see snow on the ground if it gets colder.

I'm a teacher, so I just resumed my commuting this week. It was a gorgeous week here in Shanghai - sunny skies, morning temperatures around 24-25, afternoon temperatures around 30 - perfect bike riding weather. :)

I rode nearly 1000 miles over my two months of vacation, including 5 100km+ rides (one full century), so I feel much better about my 45km round trip commute this time round - so I did it 4 of the 5 days this week and only didn't go on Monday because I had an errand to run in the morning before I went to work so I took the Metro that day. I feel great about commuting, and am planning to ride 5 days a week this term - just the view of the city I get from the top of a bridge along my newly altered commute route makes the whole ride really worth it.

No worries about winter weather here any time soon - won't be chilly until mid/late December, and even that won't be anything compared to what some of you guys will be riding in by that stage.

Oh man. I've had those from a bakery here in Vermont. Yum!

No ride for me today. 2.5-mile hike to the bus. Pub crawl after work. Cab home.

Watched some idiot almost get right-hooked by the bus, too. Bus had a clean pass, then we waited at a red light for a few seconds. Light turns green, bus starts the right turn, and here comes doofus up the right side of the bus in the 3' or so of pavement between the bus and the curb. :eek: He stopped in a big hurry. College is back in session. People need to learn how things work again, I guess.

My ride home yesterday was very fast. I spotted a roadie and had to push low 20s for a while to catch her. I know there are fast women (cyclists!) but they're like 4-leaf clovers around here. I never see them. I rode behind her for about 3 miles until she slowed way down. I passed and waved. She continued behind me but didn't hang.

I piled up a lot of mileage this week because I'll be traveling over Labor Day weekend without the bike, so I wanted to get some extra riding in ahead of time. Since Sunday, I've ridden 188 miles including two metrics (if you include my 10 mile commute + 51 after work on Weds). My legs were feeling it this morning and my pace was slow, so it will have to be a recovery day. Beautiful morning for riding tho, with temps about 70.

I have a hard time commuting about 2 days a week because my billion dollar company has a hard time understanding that I'm wanting to quite car commutes. They don't understand that my only current use for a car is to run errands for the company. Well I also have a motorcycle with panniers and a trunk. I'm seriously thinking about selling my car.
72 this morning. That's about 15 less than its been. I'm video taping my ride this morning with a helmet cam.

Discovered my front tire was down..pumped it up and it held for my 30-min commute. Fresh, moist air after a night of storms.

Warm & Windy this morning. Very little traffic. No complaints here...Another great ride in to start this Friday! Enjoy!

Reasonably pleasant temps (though warmer than earlier in the week); humidity a bit higher but quite tolerable; much less traffic (probably because of the holiday weekend) so a quick, smooth ride in. Except that a bird pooped on my arm.

Changing after I got to work I realized I still had the car keys in my pocket! The wife will have to wait to go shopping :innocent: or ride her bike.

Cool and damp this morning with little bike traffic. I switched to Forte Strada road tires (decided to give them a try at $9 apiece) recently and they seem to handle the wet trail pretty well, they're fast and handle moderatly well, to my surprise. We'll see how durable they are but, they'll do for Fall commuting.

Today is the second time I've been passed by a guy on a hybrid bike, he cruises past me and pulls away at approx. 22/24 mph. I can catch him but he's really fast and I'm working surprisingly hard to catch him. The thing I can't figure out is how he does it. He's on a hybrid, with platform pedals, upright riding position, sneakers and, athletic shorts/shirt and backpack. He barely seems to be pedalling and, I don't see any indication of electric assist (I know of 2 others who use this, one of whom said his top speed is about 21 mph). Not only does he pass me (mind you I typically cruise at about 19/20 mph) but, he also accelerates well, for example; after slowing and turning on to the ramp for the 14th Street bridge, he's pulling away unless I stand on it and really push. Oh well, not a big deal, just perplexing, we all know the signs of a fast cyclist but, this guy exibits none of the obvious-with the exception of real speed. I'm pretty sure there's a motor there somewhere. I must find it!

Anyway, a safe commute to all and nice holiday weekend.

The guy is probably on the juice. :D

Consider myself to be fast enough to rarely get passed by anyone but there are times when I wonder what the guys riding mountain bikes and carrying backpacks are on when they blow by me like I am parked.

I think they might have this thing called "youth" working for them.

Buses here have a conspicuous sign on the back right with a picture of a bicycle and the message "Do not pass on right!" You'd think it would be common sense, but...

I saw a guy like that too this summer. Boggles the mind.

Well, my beater bike now has a new chain and a newish cassette, and it's back to humming along nicely. The commute is so much more pleasant when the equipment works well!

8C/46F this morning - better than yesterday's 4C - but a north-west breeze and damp air added a significant chill.

Try not to wish for it, guys!