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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 09-06-11 | 05:36 PM
  #3626  
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I let the dogs out
 
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From: Boulder, CO

Bikes: 2011 Fuji Roubaix 1.0, 2003 Ti Merlin Solis, & 1994 Raleigh MT200

On the way in to school today, it was only like 55 degrees. It was much colder than it has been in a while, and I was shivering in my day-glow jersey and bike shorts. I cut the commute short, because I didn't want to take the long way through the cold.

On the way home, it warmed up a bit, but there was a constant threat of rain. I got a few drops of rain on me here and there, but I came out dry.
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Old 09-06-11 | 07:30 PM
  #3627  
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura

Originally Posted by wphamilton
It was odd that I didn't see a single cyclist today. A little wet and low 60's tends to keep them in but I almost always see at least one or two. Maybe everyone is afraid from the flash flood warnings.
My co-worker/riding partner and I both rode in. LOVED the weather here in Atlanta, today.
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Old 09-06-11 | 08:50 PM
  #3628  
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From: Becket, MA
Back to my Boston commute after a summer of Berkshire riding and Cape Cod commuting/riding. It was rainy, quiet on the bike path and there were a lot of geese. Some new construction on my bike path and some missing trees due to Irene.
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Old 09-07-11 | 05:49 AM
  #3629  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter

Heavy rain, then 2 miles into my ride, BANG!, and the back tire was gone. I walked home the 2 miles, changed everything to my MTB and back out into the rain, smelling like a wet dog. Mornings like this are bound to happen, if you ride regularly, but it is a good thing that they are rare me, especially in the morning darkness. It's always a pleasure to take the MTB out, as the ride is lower and hill climbing is much easier.
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Old 09-07-11 | 06:01 AM
  #3630  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Squeezed in a ride from home after work yesterday as the sky finally cleared from TS Lee. Then as I was heading home from my loop, I noticed the sky getting very black again to the south with occasional lightning. Booked it home and the bottom dropped out 5 minutes after I got back. It was like this all day in NC -- bands of showers from the tropical storm followed by partial clearing and then more bands of showers.

Rode to work this morning because the rain has cleared for now and I figured I could time my commute home between shower bands if necessary. The air was warm and extremely humid and my clothes were soaked after riding 10 miles.
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Old 09-07-11 | 06:18 AM
  #3631  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Raining this morning. Temps around 60F/15C.

I had somebody pull out in front of me from a driveway. You know how you can tell someone isn't going to stop based on their speed? That plus the fact that the driver was looking the other way meant I was already on the brakes. When the driver finally turned his head and saw my neon green self, he stabbed the brakes and jerked to a quick-skidded halt halfway out in the road. I was already aiming behind him, so I aborted that and made a lazy arc around the front of the car, shaking my head ruefully as I did so.
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Old 09-07-11 | 07:02 AM
  #3632  
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From: Keller, TX

Bikes: 1985 Trek 400; 1999 Specialized Rock Hopper (rigid, slicks); 2007 Crosscheck

Today was the first commute after a very long (multi-year) hiatus. I've been riding quite a bit this summer, but schedule and weather kept me from the commute. The kids are back in school, and the heat here in N TX finally broke, so here we go again. Today was beautiful, even a bit chilly. It's going to take me a while to remember the nuances of the route and figure out what's changed (a few new stoplights, new potholes, new school zone) but today felt great.
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Old 09-07-11 | 07:42 AM
  #3633  
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From: Billingas, Montana
Left the house at 6:30, about 58 degrees, slight breeze. After a few blocks, I wished my fingerless biking gloves were not fingerless! Maybe I need to go shopping.

My commute is a 5 mile ride, mostly on side streets with no traffic at all. Nice!
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Old 09-07-11 | 07:58 AM
  #3634  
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From: Milwaukee, WI

Bikes: Felt VR5, '85 Trek 520, '84 Trek 890

First commute ever to my real job this morning. (I'm a school teacher. My summer job doesn't count.)

50°F, 5-15mph N head wind. I need full-finger gloves and a head warmer. Brrrrrr.
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Old 09-07-11 | 08:14 AM
  #3635  
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From: Alpharetta, GA

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Originally Posted by ctoddrun
Today was the first commute after a very long (multi-year) hiatus. I've been riding quite a bit this summer, but schedule and weather kept me from the commute. The kids are back in school, and the heat here in N TX finally broke, so here we go again. Today was beautiful, even a bit chilly. It's going to take me a while to remember the nuances of the route and figure out what's changed (a few new stoplights, new potholes, new school zone) but today felt great.
Welcome back!
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Old 09-07-11 | 08:49 AM
  #3636  
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Originally Posted by ctoddrun
Today was the first commute after a very long (multi-year) hiatus. I've been riding quite a bit this summer, but schedule and weather kept me from the commute.
Hey, me too! This week is flat-out gorgeous here, just about as good as September gets -- lots of sun, very light winds, highs in the mid to upper 70s. You couldn't ask for better weather. The last two mornings it's been around 60 degrees during my ride to work. I'm still re-mastering the routine, but I picked this week to start because I have a light meeting schedule at work this week. My commute is about 3 1/4 miles, about 2/3 of which is either bike trail or bike lanes -- nice and easy. Lots of other cyclists on the route, too. I feel both relaxed and awake by the time I'm sitting in my office, which is a very pleasant change.

I'm definitely a fair-weather commuter, and the inevitable ice and snow will put me out of commission til spring when it comes, but I'm going to enjoy this until then!
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Old 09-07-11 | 09:13 AM
  #3637  
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From: Oklahoma City, OK
The temperature crashed from being 106 in the afternoons to being in the low 80s. It was cold enough for me to contemplate a light jacket when I left in the morning.

I freakin love it! Was getting sick of the heat.
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Old 09-07-11 | 09:15 AM
  #3638  
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From: Lexington, KY

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Trek FX 7.2

Hi all, I've been commuting everyday since Memorial Day but I have yet to post here. Thought I'd give it a go.

It's been raining here all week since a cold front moved through and met up with Tropical Storm Lee. I ride with bright flashing lights, front and back, and wear highly visible clothing. I pack my gear in panniers.

This morning, as I was riding up a busy road, in what might graciously be called the bike lane, a semi blew past me mere inches away. I could have touched it with my left hand without reaching. That kind of thing angers me because there is no reason for it. I'm not big on retribution, people make mistakes, but if a driver cannot, or will not, operate heavy machinery in a safe manner, they should not be allowed to.

Next time such a thing happens, I'm going to try and be prepared to get the license plate number. Maybe I should put a camera on my bike so I can capture such things. Don't know what I'd do with it though.

Sorry, just kind of felt the need to vent a little.
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Old 09-07-11 | 09:17 AM
  #3639  
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From: Edmonton, AB
Welcome to the new and returning commuters!

This morning was about 10C/50F, sunny and calm. Summer is here for the week, and it looks like we'll have warmer weather now than we've had all summer so far. The nice thing is that the shorter days means it cools off nicely at night, making it much easier to sleep.

I ride past an off-leash dog park that doubles as a hot-air balloon launch point, so I'll frequently see balloons being inflated as I ride by. Saw one being set up this morning, and when I got to my office, I saw it float by in the distance.
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Old 09-07-11 | 09:34 AM
  #3640  
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From: Becket, MA
Originally Posted by Malachi292
Hi all, I've been commuting everyday since Memorial Day but I have yet to post here. Thought I'd give it a go.

It's been raining here all week since a cold front moved through and met up with Tropical Storm Lee. I ride with bright flashing lights, front and back, and wear highly visible clothing. I pack my gear in panniers.

This morning, as I was riding up a busy road, in what might graciously be called the bike lane, a semi blew past me mere inches away. I could have touched it with my left hand without reaching. That kind of thing angers me because there is no reason for it. I'm not big on retribution, people make mistakes, but if a driver cannot, or will not, operate heavy machinery in a safe manner, they should not be allowed to.

Next time such a thing happens, I'm going to try and be prepared to get the license plate number. Maybe I should put a camera on my bike so I can capture such things. Don't know what I'd do with it though.

Sorry, just kind of felt the need to vent a little.
Congrats of getting a summer of commuting under your belt!

3+ months means you've made it a part of your life.

Feel free to vent- we all do. And it does indeed suck when the fun of commuting by bike gets marred by bad drivers. Fortunately, 99% of the time it's such a blast you wonder why everyone isn't doing it. My wife and I refer to our commutes by bike as being on vacation every morning and then again at night on the way home.

If you ride the same route every day and that truck passes again get a number and call the trucking company's dispatcher and make a complaint.

Hope to hear from you again!
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Old 09-07-11 | 09:41 AM
  #3641  
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From: Chicago

Bikes: I have five of brikes

for the 3rd morning in a row now, i've had to battle stupidly strong headwinds blowing right at me off the lake from the NE, 20-30 knots. not exactly fun.

at least the rides home have been exciting! and it is kinda cool when lake michigan gets all crazy and violent. this strong NE wind pattern is supposed to stick around for one more day at least.
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Old 09-07-11 | 12:35 PM
  #3642  
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From: Canada

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

I've decided to add some extra distance to my morning and/or evening commutes while the weather is still warm. That should increase my daily distance from 31km to around 50km. By the end of the week a narrow section of highway with no shoulder should be twice as wide and freshly paved. This removes the one sketchy section of a loop outside the city I like doing.
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Old 09-07-11 | 01:39 PM
  #3643  
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
for the 3rd morning in a row now, i've had to battle stupidly strong headwinds blowing right at me off the lake from the NE, 20-30 knots. not exactly fun.

at least the rides home have been exciting! and it is kinda cool when lake michigan gets all crazy and violent. this strong NE wind pattern is supposed to stick around for one more day at least.
Those were some seriously crazy headwinds eh?! I was hating that riding in to work but man the zipping home with that tailwind was a blast! I came around the curve at Oak Street day before yesterday and a huge wave rolled up the path and next thing I know I'm rolling through three inches of water with no fenders. Soaked my legs, shoes, and fresh clean socks! Then, the speed sensor on my Cateye CD R220 craps out. Maybe those sensors really *aren't* waterproof? Anyway, Cateye is sending a new set of sensor leads out - until then I'll be running my old Cateye Strada to get my speed data for the ol' commute and training rides. Man, those winds though! Crazy!
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Old 09-07-11 | 05:36 PM
  #3644  
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From: Alexandria, VA
Wet ride in, wet ride home, but the temps are pretty nice.

Forgot the combo to the shower room this morning...did a quasi clean up in the men's room. Not a pleasant day.
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Old 09-07-11 | 06:33 PM
  #3645  
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From: Maryland

Bikes: rockhopper, delta V, cannondale H300, Marin Mill Valley

Dry ride in, dry ride home, but I rode in the rain all day between the commuting, carrying cardboard boxes on my flat bed trailer. It's a pain keeping boxes dry in the rain. At least it was warm enough to ride in sandals, so I didn't have to spend the day in wet shoes.
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Old 09-07-11 | 06:56 PM
  #3646  
Igo
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From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV

Bikes: Giant Defy 2

Still 100 degrees in Vegas but again, that's on the downhill commute home. 72 this morning. 10 more degrees and I might have to share part of my route with another bicycle if one ever shows up. Haven't seen any all summer.
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Old 09-08-11 | 04:33 AM
  #3647  
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From: Greenwood Indiana

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56 degrees and raining. I still have not figured out the glasses thing. Today I just wore my glasses and rode in the rain, instead of contacts. They did get covered in rain, but suprisingly I could still see pretty well, did hit a bump I probably would have missed otherwise. I think I will quit worrying about it and just wear whatever corrective lenses I have on and ride.
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Old 09-08-11 | 04:45 AM
  #3648  
Igo
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From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV

Bikes: Giant Defy 2

Rain-X on the glasses. A trick I learned long ago for motorcycles and white water rafting.
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Old 09-08-11 | 04:50 AM
  #3649  
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From: Greenwood Indiana

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I tried that and it works, but it made my glasses cloudy. I will try it on my old glasses and just wear them in the rain. Thanks for the idea.
Originally Posted by Igo
Rain-X on the glasses. A trick I learned long ago for motorcycles and white water rafting.
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Old 09-08-11 | 05:31 AM
  #3650  
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From: Lexington, KY

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Trek FX 7.2

56 and heavy misting here this morning. No wind to speak of. Commute went smoothly.

Last night on the way home I had a flat tire. It lasted till I got home, barely. But, at least I didn't have to fix it in the rain, or walk.

I'm giving up on these Vittoria Randonneur Hyper tires. I got them the last week of July and this is my 5th flat. I see that Schwalbe finally has its Marathon Plus back in stock for the size I want, that's what I'm going to get next.
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