How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
11-14-11, 07:06 AM
#4752
Belt drive!
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Location: Burlington, Vermont
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I have determined that the 8-speed internal hub on the Soho is good for about 30MPH, cadence-wise, but not much faster. 
Howling tailwind this morning. 54F/12C. Reeled in another commuter. Also, the city was flushing a hydrant, so I had to ride through a bunch of water. Argh. My poor clean bike.
Howling tailwind this morning. 54F/12C. Reeled in another commuter. Also, the city was flushing a hydrant, so I had to ride through a bunch of water. Argh. My poor clean bike.
11-14-11, 07:15 AM
#4753
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Excellent commute this morning at 51-53F and dawn to sunny with mostly crosswinds from the S @ 10-15mph. Felt great on today's ride whereas last week I felt like I was dragging. They're calling for possible afternoon rain, so I brang along the rainpants along. Saw a stupid salmon about a mile from the campus. He was going the same way I was and weaving all over the place around the parked cars.
Last edited by Chalupa102; 11-14-11 at 07:19 AM.
11-14-11, 07:29 AM
#4755
TortoiseNotHare
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Fifty degrees and mild this morning.
I had someone in a bmw honking at me as I came up to a red light, I assume this was because I wasn't far enough over to left so they could squeeze by and rush up to their place at the red light. So I slowed down even more and took the rest of the lane in an effort to show the futility of their honking....
All in all a nice ride in, albeit a little on the slow side. New rear derailleur worked well, my mechanic suggested that I try to shift in ways that are less stressful on my drivetrain.
I had someone in a bmw honking at me as I came up to a red light, I assume this was because I wasn't far enough over to left so they could squeeze by and rush up to their place at the red light. So I slowed down even more and took the rest of the lane in an effort to show the futility of their honking....
All in all a nice ride in, albeit a little on the slow side. New rear derailleur worked well, my mechanic suggested that I try to shift in ways that are less stressful on my drivetrain.
11-14-11, 08:03 AM
#4757
Senior Member
Great ride today at -6C with a 20km/h tailwind. Bare pavement for nearly the entire route made for a quick ride of just under 45 minutes. Later this week the forecast is showning overnight lows of -16C for two days.
While riding Friday I got right-hooked by the same person twice within 5 minutes! First time they pass me right before the intersection and run a stop sign turning right. Second time they pass me right before the intersection and run a red light turning right. I guess I should be grateful they didn't slam on their brakes after pulling in front of me.
While riding Friday I got right-hooked by the same person twice within 5 minutes! First time they pass me right before the intersection and run a stop sign turning right. Second time they pass me right before the intersection and run a red light turning right. I guess I should be grateful they didn't slam on their brakes after pulling in front of me.
11-14-11, 08:27 AM
#4758
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Relatively warm ride this morning (50s) after a couple weeks with morning commutes in the 30s and low 40s. Of course, warm mornings around here generally mean headwinds as my route heads mostly south in the mornings. I decided not to fight it and actually made decent time riding at a moderate pace. Hopefully the wind will continue in the same direction and I'll get a tailwind riding home.
My morning commute times have been amazingly consistent since my office moved downtown 3 weeks ago, increasing my distance from 10 to 14 miles. I am following the same route for the first 9 miles, but the last 5 miles has a lot of hills and traffic lights that push down my average speed no matter how good I'm feeling. My overall morning commute times have ranged from 54 to 56 minutes daily, regardless of how I am feeling, the weather, the bike I am riding or other factors. On my old route, I would often see a 5 minute range in morning commute times from day to day.
My morning commute times have been amazingly consistent since my office moved downtown 3 weeks ago, increasing my distance from 10 to 14 miles. I am following the same route for the first 9 miles, but the last 5 miles has a lot of hills and traffic lights that push down my average speed no matter how good I'm feeling. My overall morning commute times have ranged from 54 to 56 minutes daily, regardless of how I am feeling, the weather, the bike I am riding or other factors. On my old route, I would often see a 5 minute range in morning commute times from day to day.
11-14-11, 09:43 AM
#4759
Full Member
Wonderful weather, but a friggin' strong headwind. Feels like the fall has so far consistently brought 10-30mph headwinds in the morning. But with this as my view for the first two miles of the commute, I can't complain that much. My camera phone doesn't do the blazing colors justice.
A total badass commuter on a fixie passed me safely and courteously at the slight upgrade at 125th St. I was taking it slow until then, but he inspired me. I'd seen him before, so when I caught up to him at the 104th St playgrounds I told him he was free to hop on my wheel if he wanted to get out of the headwind a bit and not kill himself on his one gear. Near 65th St or so he took over, gunning me through my last mile. "Wow, that really makes a difference!" he said with a smile as he pulled ahead of me. I pulled off at 45th St really winded. That dude had some super strong legs, and the challenge of staying fast in the headwind was pretty fun.
Bad rumor once I got to the freight elevator of my office building, though. Apparently the landlord is sick of bikes in the building and is going to build a rack outside and not allow any bikes in the elevators. Without security and a roof, though, the rack will be useless. Hopefully it's just a rumor, but if not we'll try to sic Bloomberg's bikes in office buildings law on him. Too bad that law has gaping loopholes.
A total badass commuter on a fixie passed me safely and courteously at the slight upgrade at 125th St. I was taking it slow until then, but he inspired me. I'd seen him before, so when I caught up to him at the 104th St playgrounds I told him he was free to hop on my wheel if he wanted to get out of the headwind a bit and not kill himself on his one gear. Near 65th St or so he took over, gunning me through my last mile. "Wow, that really makes a difference!" he said with a smile as he pulled ahead of me. I pulled off at 45th St really winded. That dude had some super strong legs, and the challenge of staying fast in the headwind was pretty fun.
Bad rumor once I got to the freight elevator of my office building, though. Apparently the landlord is sick of bikes in the building and is going to build a rack outside and not allow any bikes in the elevators. Without security and a roof, though, the rack will be useless. Hopefully it's just a rumor, but if not we'll try to sic Bloomberg's bikes in office buildings law on him. Too bad that law has gaping loopholes.
11-14-11, 10:58 AM
#4760
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I had my first encounter with a squirrel who couldn't make up his mind today, and he avoided running into the wheels by a few inches. I'm not sure who was more scared.
11-14-11, 03:14 PM
#4761
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Excellent commute home at 62F and overcast with mostly crosswinds from the S @ 9-13mph. Made fast time and felt great during the whole ride. Not sure if it was me, the cleat adjustment I made last week, or oiling the chain. Maybe it's a combination of both. Also, my commute route is getting a little better because they're starting to clear the branches lining the shoulders of Rt 20.
11-14-11, 04:06 PM
#4762
Old, but not really wise
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Warm! Really warm. As in 'an object lesson on checking the weather before leaving the house' warm. I was dressed for last week's commuting, but should have been wearing shorts and t-shirt (okay, perhaps a slight exaggeration - the windbreaker was probably still okay).
I will definitely shed layers for the ride home, but I unfortunately have only my full coverage gloves, because I'm riding with a 'borrowed' backpack (from my wife -- it is my former backpack, that I ceded to her when I stopped riding to metro except on rare occasions), instead of panniers, so my carrying capacity was much diminished. I'm using the backpack because my workhorse is getting a new chain and cassette, so I'm on my MTB backup.
Worse, I took the rack off the MTB on Friday as I decided to go out and ride some single track for fun, and because I have heel strike issues with the rack anyway. I think I'll put it back on for winter, though, as I plan to use the MTB for the crappier weather, and I'll want to use panniers even with the less than perfect situation.
I do enjoy the change of pace the MTB provides, esp. when riding the towpath, but I am definitely more comfortable on the Dew Drop.
I will definitely shed layers for the ride home, but I unfortunately have only my full coverage gloves, because I'm riding with a 'borrowed' backpack (from my wife -- it is my former backpack, that I ceded to her when I stopped riding to metro except on rare occasions), instead of panniers, so my carrying capacity was much diminished. I'm using the backpack because my workhorse is getting a new chain and cassette, so I'm on my MTB backup.
Worse, I took the rack off the MTB on Friday as I decided to go out and ride some single track for fun, and because I have heel strike issues with the rack anyway. I think I'll put it back on for winter, though, as I plan to use the MTB for the crappier weather, and I'll want to use panniers even with the less than perfect situation.
I do enjoy the change of pace the MTB provides, esp. when riding the towpath, but I am definitely more comfortable on the Dew Drop.
11-14-11, 05:23 PM
#4763
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Uneventful rides in...traffic was a little heavier in the neighborhood than normal which was odd for such an early 6:30 am ride. The temperature is dropping already and it'll be a colder ride home than it was on the ride in. Again, it's pretty good riding weather with little rain. And what rain is coming we are hoping/not hoping it will snow. I've got to get my snow-bike in working shape in the next several days just in case. My husband thought it was pretty awesome that I was completely horrified at the thought of *not* riding my bike if it snowed..."...and be stuck in a car or a bus for god-knows-how-long? I think not!" Of course, it likely won't snow at all.
11-14-11, 06:14 PM
#4764
Tractorlegs
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I thought it was going to be in the 30s this morning like all last week, but it was 55 - so a very pleasant cruise in. Only thing was the streets were wet from an all-nite rain so I took it easy (half-gonzo instead of full-gonzo). School was not in session today, so on my wind assisted ride home I did not have to dodge a lot of high school students like usual! (If you can dodge a high school student, you can dodge a ball)
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Trikeman
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11-14-11, 06:15 PM
#4765
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Warm enough (57f) for shorts this morning! Long sleeve base layer was almost to much for the 75f for the ride home.
Similar temps for tomorrow but rain.
Similar temps for tomorrow but rain.
11-14-11, 06:15 PM
#4766
Tractorlegs
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Headed to work Saturday morning through two more inches of fresh, and beat the plows again for fresh tracks all the way up N st. Another two inches fell during the day; on the way home I had to walk the bike up the Hillcrest trail (doesn't get plowed and not enough snow yet to run a groomer down it), and up the sidewalk for the last block before the house (fully buried under 6-8 inches of stiff plow wake from the road plows).
Three more inches fell last night, and it was still dumping this morning when I left the house, so I left the bike at home and skied to work today. Broke trail the whole way in, so it was slow going, but it was a lot nicer being out in the open air than cooped up in the car waiting for some knucklehead to rear end me at the next light. Plus, I don't have to scrape windows.
There's a better picture on page 359 of the Commuter Bicycle Pics thread. It's a Nashbar Cyclocross X build, nothing fancy. It's got a set of Nokian Hakkapeliita 240s on it right now for ice riding, but it's really only a backup bike as far as winter's concerned. The main winter ride was halfway through a hub service, so I wasn't riding it that day:
^^Snapped coming home from work last night. I prefer an upright position and wider tires for riding in the snow. The only downside to the green bike is that it weighs more than twice as much as the Nashbar, so when it gets too deep I have to push it through the snow, whereas the Nashbar is light enough to carry on my shoulder.
Guts? Naw, I'm a skier. That is what we skiers call a beautiful day; you'd have a hard time keeping me inside on days like that.
Three more inches fell last night, and it was still dumping this morning when I left the house, so I left the bike at home and skied to work today. Broke trail the whole way in, so it was slow going, but it was a lot nicer being out in the open air than cooped up in the car waiting for some knucklehead to rear end me at the next light. Plus, I don't have to scrape windows.
There's a better picture on page 359 of the Commuter Bicycle Pics thread. It's a Nashbar Cyclocross X build, nothing fancy. It's got a set of Nokian Hakkapeliita 240s on it right now for ice riding, but it's really only a backup bike as far as winter's concerned. The main winter ride was halfway through a hub service, so I wasn't riding it that day:
^^Snapped coming home from work last night. I prefer an upright position and wider tires for riding in the snow. The only downside to the green bike is that it weighs more than twice as much as the Nashbar, so when it gets too deep I have to push it through the snow, whereas the Nashbar is light enough to carry on my shoulder.
Guts? Naw, I'm a skier. That is what we skiers call a beautiful day; you'd have a hard time keeping me inside on days like that.
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Trikeman
Trikeman
11-14-11, 07:24 PM
#4767
Tawp Dawg
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12º this morning, 15º and gloriously sunny coming home. Still staying off of the MUP until it gets skied down a bit, and the sidewalk at the end of my route had been plowed; no pushing today, just pedaling. I'd recently picked up a dayglo yellow Carhart stocking cap for daylight riding; at one point during Bio lecture this morning the girl next to me leaned over and asked me what the professor had just said, because she couldn't hear it over my hat.
Thanks!
Thanks!
11-14-11, 08:04 PM
#4768
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I've put 11 miles on my car in 4 months. I drive it across the street to cart groceries home. I might replace the thermostat this weekend. I've had the parts since July.
Dead wind and dry 45 going in, dead wind and dry 63 coming home. Glorious.
Dead wind and dry 45 going in, dead wind and dry 63 coming home. Glorious.
11-15-11, 02:52 AM
#4769
Commuter
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Only my second day of voluntarily commuting. I found a dollar coin on the road on my way to work and of course I picked it up. That’s another dollar that I don’t have to earn 
On a whim I cut through a train station. It means walking my bike and carrying it up and down a flight of stairs but it also means I avoid a high traffic area with pinch points. In fact I had my first car accident blemishing my 20 year driving record was there where a van driver in a hurry failed to give way
I’m using i-Kam Extreme glasses and to be honest I have mixed feelings about it. My main desire for the glasses is to pick up licence plates. However it’s a hit and miss affair. In low light - nah. But even in the full light of day the quality can be lacking. Yet it can pick up plates when I’m not even focusing on them.
On a whim I cut through a train station. It means walking my bike and carrying it up and down a flight of stairs but it also means I avoid a high traffic area with pinch points. In fact I had my first car accident blemishing my 20 year driving record was there where a van driver in a hurry failed to give way
I’m using i-Kam Extreme glasses and to be honest I have mixed feelings about it. My main desire for the glasses is to pick up licence plates. However it’s a hit and miss affair. In low light - nah. But even in the full light of day the quality can be lacking. Yet it can pick up plates when I’m not even focusing on them.
11-15-11, 05:41 AM
#4770
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A very out of place mid november morning at 59F (15C). I had to get my summer clothes out of the box, because I didn't know that I would need them. Racoons were having words out back, a couple birds singing in the dark, and a bumble bee skirting along the concrete. I think everyone was confused this morning.
11-15-11, 07:08 AM
#4771
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Tough ride in this morning due to a stiff headwind. Temps were very mild in the low 60s but the wind made it feel cooler. Should be a much easier ride home this afternoon if the wind continues at same strength and direction, but that's a pretty big if. Stayed up too late last night, was late getting going this morning and the wind slowed me down a lot, so I reached downtown about 10 minutes later than usual and was surprised how much heavier the traffic was. That's good incentive to get going on time in the mornings. A few minutes can make a huge difference with regard to rush hour traffic.
11-15-11, 07:09 AM
#4772
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52F this morning when I walked outside around 5:30. Hoped on the bike and had a good ride going, since I was a bit late leaving the house this morning I saw a few more commuters than usual. It was a great ride over the Queensboro Bridge and down 2nd Ave. No problems.
Until I hit 52nd and 2nd I hit the metal slab they just put there this week. Both tires deflated and that was it. Decided to grab a Gatorade at Duane Reade and take a subway down (cabbie wasn't too happy about the bike in the car, but he was paid nicely).
Now I get to learn about bike wheels.
Until I hit 52nd and 2nd I hit the metal slab they just put there this week. Both tires deflated and that was it. Decided to grab a Gatorade at Duane Reade and take a subway down (cabbie wasn't too happy about the bike in the car, but he was paid nicely).
Now I get to learn about bike wheels.
Last edited by ambitions2o; 11-15-11 at 07:27 AM.
11-15-11, 07:53 AM
#4773
Senior Member
-5C with a nice 35km/h tailwind, for a ride time of less than 43 minutes. I managed to catch all but the last light green, so there was no rest breaks the entire ride. There was a period of flurries during yesterday's ride home, it reminded me how a little bit of fresh snow is great at concealing road hazards.
I did some work on my rear brakes during the weekend and they squeal a lot less now. Hopefully it stays that way.
The forecast has been changing a lot. Tomorrow morning will be warmer, but now Thursday morning will be -20C then up to -3C for the ride home.
I did some work on my rear brakes during the weekend and they squeal a lot less now. Hopefully it stays that way.
The forecast has been changing a lot. Tomorrow morning will be warmer, but now Thursday morning will be -20C then up to -3C for the ride home.
11-15-11, 08:00 AM
#4774
TortoiseNotHare
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Rode home at 11am yesterday.
I was laid off after almost 4 years.
This is likely my last post in this thread for a while.
Time to plan a few rides.
I was laid off after almost 4 years.
This is likely my last post in this thread for a while.
Time to plan a few rides.
11-15-11, 08:28 AM
#4775
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The temp was about 3 degrees C, with clear skies and a moderate head-wind. I was tired and still felt like arse from a stomach bug this weekend, but needed the ride more than an extra 30 minutes of rest. It really felt like a slog in places this morning but I'm very glad that I did it.
This week was my last bike-commuting week of the year in 2010, I'm planning to extend the 2011 season at least a week or two.
Cheers!
This week was my last bike-commuting week of the year in 2010, I'm planning to extend the 2011 season at least a week or two.
Cheers!