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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 11-03-11 | 06:34 AM
  #4576  
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47F/8C with a tailwind. Pretty smooth sailing. Possible rain this afternoon but at the moment it's very nice out.
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Old 11-03-11 | 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by vtjim
47F/8C with a tailwind. Pretty smooth sailing. Possible rain this afternoon but at the moment it's very nice out.
Yep, wool and vest for return ride home into that headwind....but it was fast coming to work for me. Whoosh.
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Old 11-03-11 | 07:19 AM
  #4578  
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From: Raleigh, NC

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Another cold morning in NC, mid-30s F. I've been getting by all week with tights/leg warmers, long-sleeve jersey and vest, just on the edge between feeling cold and comfortable but at least I'm not all sweaty when I arrive at work. Wore some warmer gloves this morning and that helped a lot. It has been warming up a lot in the afternoons, so I end up filling up my seatbag with clothes for the ride home.

Daylight savings time is ending this weekend, so that means the return of daylight for at least part of my morning commute. That will be nice but I'm not looking forward to arriving home in the dark.
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Old 11-03-11 | 07:50 AM
  #4579  
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From: NoVA

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Originally Posted by tarwheel
Another cold morning in NC, mid-30s F. I've been getting by all week with tights/leg warmers, long-sleeve jersey and vest, just on the edge between feeling cold and comfortable but at least I'm not all sweaty when I arrive at work. Wore some warmer gloves this morning and that helped a lot. It has been warming up a lot in the afternoons, so I end up filling up my seatbag with clothes for the ride home.

Daylight savings time is ending this weekend, so that means the return of daylight for at least part of my morning commute. That will be nice but I'm not looking forward to arriving home in the dark.
Ditto. I prefer riding to work in the dark instead.
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Old 11-03-11 | 07:53 AM
  #4580  
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Cold rain on the ride home last night. Would have been fine except my rain gear didn't keep me completely dry. Gotta figure out some other way to keep my hands and feet dry before I ride in the rain again!
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Old 11-03-11 | 08:40 AM
  #4581  
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From: Canada

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-4C with a 15km/h headwind. I should have learned my lesson yesterday and added another upper body layer, but didn't. Aside from a cold stomach I was probably dressed almost perfectly. Time to dig out the scarf for the additional 1/4 upper body layer in the mornings. I'm really impressed at how well my shoe rain covers keep my feet warm. They work much better than the so called thermal covers I bought last year and are much easier to put on / take off.

Another leaky water main meant ice in one spot this morning. The forecast for snow this weekend has been downgraded to a chance of flurries.
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Old 11-03-11 | 08:44 AM
  #4582  
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From: south Puget Sound
38F and drizzly.

The last big intersection of my ride has been a one-lane each way construction zone (down from 2 car + 1 bike lanes each way plus turn lanes) for a couple weeks; the job was supposed to end next week (it started downstream of this intersection in May; the whole cross street has been closed that time, the job only now puked out onto the street I ride), but they updated the sign to reschedule the ending for January 31, which if you squint looks a lot like February.

I hope the extension retracts the work back to the road being revised and gets the hell out of my intersection, but who knows, I guess. The intersection is unpleasant enough that I'm thinking of going back to taking a parallel street and then a connector w/ no shoulder, which is also unpleasant w/ current traffic patterns, but more predictable (the no-shoulder connector used to be fine because nobody took it, but now all the traffic displaced off the closed road is using it).
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Old 11-03-11 | 08:58 AM
  #4583  
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Ordering rain gear today . . . cold rain this morning.
But nothing lasts forever . . . even cold November rain . . . .
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Old 11-03-11 | 10:07 AM
  #4584  
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From: Santa Fe, NM

Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa

Warmer today, 32F/0C. I saw two other cyclists on the ride in - a typical early winter figure. In the summer months I see alot of folks on bikes. Dozens.
Soon I'll be lucky if I see one other person the whole commute. I like the solitude of Winter commuting. Dark, quiet, cold. Just me and the sound of my studded tires. It fits with the energy of the Winter months - drawing within and quieting down.
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Old 11-03-11 | 11:16 AM
  #4585  
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Water moving slowly in Bangkok, i think everything will turn to normal in 15 days.






Last edited by Mardmakarm; 11-03-11 at 11:17 AM. Reason: fixing words
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Old 11-03-11 | 11:26 AM
  #4586  
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From: Inland Empire CA

Bikes: Peugeot UO8; Italvega N Record; Colnago Super; Schwinn Paramount Track; Gios Torino; Unknown MTB

Craziest commute in my 2 years of commuting...after battling 30mpg headwind to the train station, find out that while I was on my way there, a train derailment couple miles away closed the tracks for 2 hours. Got home eventually in the dark and cold.....hopefully today will be better.

Oh man, then today, double punctures mile and a half from home....nice walk.

Last edited by lrchan; 11-03-11 at 09:24 PM. Reason: Update
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Old 11-03-11 | 11:57 AM
  #4587  
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Only half a bike commute yesterday. Second prenatal appointment was in the AM, so my wife and I went to that together before she dropped me and my bike off at work. Rode home after work. Had a great ride. Passed what appeared to be a club cyclocross ride going the other way through grass, gravel, over some downed tree branches, etc., next to the MUP. Lovin' the cooler weather. Best time of year hands down.

This morning was 41F for the ride in. Sun was strong and I knew I'd have a slight tailwind, so went with just shorts and short sleeve tee shirt. Felt great. I was right in that sweet spot where my body heat was perfectly offset by the surrounding air.
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Old 11-03-11 | 12:15 PM
  #4588  
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Originally Posted by Mardmakarm
Water moving slowly in Bangkok, i think everything will turn to normal in 15 days.

Whoa. Cycling upwind is annoying enough, I can't imagine trying to cycle up-current. Cool pic, I like your boat.
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Old 11-03-11 | 12:26 PM
  #4589  
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From: Fairfax, VA commuting to Washington DC

Bikes: 2010 Kona Dew Drop (the daily driver),'07 Specialized Roubaix (the sports car), '99 ish Kona NuNu MTB (the SUV), Schwinn High Plains (circa 1992?) (the beater)

I was very pleased to see that the tree was, indeed, gone yesterday afternoon, so one less thing to worry about this morning. weather was a bit warmer, so I skipped the beanie, and didn't zip my jacket all the way up. I really need to go pick up those lightweight gloves from my mom, though. Sweaty hands.

Interesting note: There is a guy who drives a Subaru Outback, and he and I cross paths at 14 St. and Jefferson Dr. SW (the mall, in front of the Smithsonian). For many weeks, he has done his best to pass me on Jefferson, despite the fact that I usually ride 20 MPH here (the posted speed limit is 15). It never matters, because we always get to the light at 7th street and have to wait. Today, he just hung in behind me for most of the way, until I slowed some. I smoked him off the line as we headed for 3d st. :-)
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Old 11-03-11 | 01:39 PM
  #4590  
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I did the SUPER COMMUTE today!!

Okay, I head off for work at about 7 am. Temps hovering around 37 to 43f. I click off the 7 miles to the subway. At my breakfast spot, the sun is coming out big time. Finish breakfast, and I can't stand it.. I call in that I will be late this morning. . I ride, ride and finally I go to work, a good two and half hours late. I park the bike in an empty cubical(another story), hit my computers, look and see what I have to do(I am still in bike clothes ), answer a couple emails, and really see nothing major going on.. Sheesh, I tell my supervisor, I am outta here. Taking the rest of the day off. Ha, I hit the ouside, and this 71 year old man, was like a 10 year old, just riding everywhere. Finally, I stopped at the inner harbor, ate lunch out side, ran into some bike buddies, and they invited me to a ride on Sunday. Cool.

Such is the way of a Super Commute Day.. BTW, I was riding my 89 Centurion Ironman Master, this bike makes every mile feel like a golden mile!
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Old 11-03-11 | 03:43 PM
  #4591  
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This morning I poked my head out the door, 34 degrees and so I decided to drive - - Then on the way I saw no less than 5 bicyclists riding to work in the cold air. So, I felt like a wussie all day because I'm the one that took his car . . . So tomorrow I'm riding no matter what the weather is so I can feel better about myself again!
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Old 11-03-11 | 04:32 PM
  #4592  
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Originally Posted by tractorlegs
This morning I poked my head out the door, 34 degrees and so I decided to drive - - Then on the way I saw no less than 5 bicyclists riding to work in the cold air. So, I felt like a wussie all day because I'm the one that took his car . . . So tomorrow I'm riding no matter what the weather is so I can feel better about myself again!
That's the spirit!
For the 30-40 degree range I find the following to be perfect:
- micro fleece long sleeve shirt
- tights
- rain shell / rain pants (to act as a wind break) - no shell pants abouve 35
- thin balaclava (below 33-34) - I use a Pearl Izumi. It is super thin windstop, so not too warm, not too cold.
- Sugoi medium weight gloves
- regular cycling socks and my usual mountain bike shoes
- glasses with yellow lenses

This works great for me. It is best to start out feeling a touch cold - you'll warm up after the first mile.


When I lived in Knoxville I drove more frequently than I would have liked, and would always pass the same die hard guy on one particular road, regardless of the weather. I always kicked myself for being such a wuss when I passed him in my lazymobile.
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Old 11-03-11 | 05:35 PM
  #4593  
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Originally Posted by canyoneagle
That's the spirit!
For the 30-40 degree range I find the following to be perfect:
- micro fleece long sleeve shirt
- tights
- rain shell / rain pants (to act as a wind break) - no shell pants abouve 35
- thin balaclava (below 33-34) - I use a Pearl Izumi. It is super thin windstop, so not too warm, not too cold.
- Sugoi medium weight gloves
- regular cycling socks and my usual mountain bike shoes
- glasses with yellow lenses

This works great for me. It is best to start out feeling a touch cold - you'll warm up after the first mile.


When I lived in Knoxville I drove more frequently than I would have liked, and would always pass the same die hard guy on one particular road, regardless of the weather. I always kicked myself for being such a wuss when I passed him in my lazymobile.
Thanks Canyon Eagle for the clothing tips!
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Old 11-03-11 | 05:58 PM
  #4594  
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From: NYC

Bikes: Giant Escape 2 Hybrid

I guess this isn't my week.

Back tube flats going down the 59th street bridge.

Thankfully there is a convenient LBS at the foot of the bridge.

I have a spare tube, but I guess being a New Yorker (or lazy) makes me a sucker for convenience.

The mechanic told me a sliver of wire worked it's way under my tire, and popped my tube....

10mins/10$ later I'm riding home, and I never even deviated from my route.

One really nice thing about NYC commuting is, I'm never more than a mile or two from an LBS.

Tomorrow I am leaving work a little early to go watch my brother test for his brown belt at a mixed martial arts academy where he trains.

I have decided to bike it as it is only 14 miles, and would take at least as long to get to using public transport due to the location.

my apartment is conveniently at the halfway point between both locations. no brainer.
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Old 11-03-11 | 06:39 PM
  #4595  
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Originally Posted by Mardmakarm
Water moving slowly in Bangkok, i think everything will turn to normal in 15 days.

Wow, looks like you need to borrow my other recumbent pedal vehicle.

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Old 11-03-11 | 09:17 PM
  #4596  
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Still loving the NYC commutes. Getting used to the rhythm of commuting here. Must be ever vigilant. Tonight I almost pulled the kind of stupid move I'm always groaning about- I was moving along at a steady pace on the West Side Bike path and decided to cut over into the village to see a friend then decided to swing left into an area with tables in order to call him first. Slowed as if I was about to cross to the right and then started to cut to the left to make the call when suddenly I caught two swiftly moving cyclists passing me on the left. I came so close to almost taking them both out and it would have been totally my fault.

Got to keep my eyes open and totally aware at all times.
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Old 11-04-11 | 05:52 AM
  #4597  
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Originally Posted by buzzman
Still loving the NYC commutes. Getting used to the rhythm of commuting here. Must be ever vigilant. Tonight I almost pulled the kind of stupid move I'm always groaning about- I was moving along at a steady pace on the West Side Bike path and decided to cut over into the village to see a friend then decided to swing left into an area with tables in order to call him first. Slowed as if I was about to cross to the right and then started to cut to the left to make the call when suddenly I caught two swiftly moving cyclists passing me on the left. I came so close to almost taking them both out and it would have been totally my fault.

Got to keep my eyes open and totally aware at all times.
Welcome back. "Head on a swivle" is my mantra. As I'm sure you're aware, in this town, 6 inches of course deviation can mean the difference between a good day, and a very bad day.

Nice, cool, about 50 degrees for my ride into Manhattan. 10mph headwind on the 59th st bridge.

Trying to take the left side of the street for better "lane positioning" I cut across two lanes as the light was changing to cross first ave. If the van in the left lane had jumped the light I would have been hit, and it basically would have been my fault.

A woman stepped out into my path on 5th avenue without looking. I gave her the, "you didn't even look!!!" yell as i passed, startling her noticibly.

Daylight savings ends, soon it will be dark for both ends of my trip.
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Old 11-04-11 | 09:13 AM
  #4598  
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From: south Puget Sound
32F and foggy. Today instead of the weeklong goat rodeo of cones and flaggers shifting lanes and heavy equipment at my final intersection, they only had the bike lane and right-turn lane closed, so I could just plant myself in the center of the rightmost remaining lane and cruise right through. So that was an improvement.
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Old 11-04-11 | 09:54 AM
  #4599  
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From: Canada

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

It was -8C when I checked the weather, so I decided to add a layer. Wearing my thin stretch long underwear under my thermal tights made them fit perfectly. I also tried out a ragg wool sweater which made a great mid-layer as its loose knit breathes well. When I got to university the temp was -5C, but I didn't feel over dressed.

For yesterday's ride home it was 11C with a 20km/h tailwind. I was pushing hard and made the trip in 31mins and just under 30km/h average. Had I stuck to the road and not switched to the MUP, I would have easily have broken my personal best trip time.

I told myself that I'd take it easy on this morning's ride, but my speed kept creeping up. After sprinting to catch a light, I gave up on the idea of a slow ride.
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Old 11-04-11 | 09:55 AM
  #4600  
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Warmer this morning (about 50 when I left home) than other days this week, but rather windy. Spent my 7.5 mile commute riding into a sustained 20-25 mph headwind... Good workout at least.

Weather forecast calls for the wind to stay out of the north all day, so with any luck I'll get a nice 15 mph tailwind to send me into the weekend!
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