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-   -   How was the commute today? 2011 Edition. (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/704867-how-commute-today-2011-edition.html)

Fizzaly 11-15-11 08:29 AM

34f Not a bad ride in, though I have the Kuwie torn down for some new parts so I rode the single speed in, which was slow going due to the fact that I had to bring several boxes for shipping with me and on top of that my laptop, my legs got a workout this morning.:)

wphamilton 11-15-11 08:32 AM

I'm sorry to hear that BNT. I wish you the best of luck in finding a new job.

CptjohnC 11-15-11 08:35 AM

I elected not to ride today, no matter how much it pains me. My work schedule this week, and the threat of bad weather combined to have me take metro for the first time in two weeks. I likely won't ride again before Friday. :-(


Originally Posted by BridgeNotTunnel (Post 13494791)
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.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I've been laid off twice in the past 3 years, so I feel your pain. All the best finding a new position.

AlmostTrick 11-15-11 09:10 AM

Low 30's light head wind, and plenty of foggy spots. Seen and waved to a bike commuter going the opposite direction at about the halfway point of my ride in on three different days now. Quite rare around here.

dygituljunky 11-15-11 09:30 AM

Best of luck BNT.

Last nights ride in to work was slowed slightly by towing the kid trailer. It was strangely muggy with temps around 24 C.

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and added a significant amount of weight to the trailer. I bottomed out my gears on the way home, several times. It also took me about 10-15 minutes more moving time to get home.

EDIT: see the pseudo-cross-post in the "What Utility Rides/Trips/hauls/errands did you do today???" thread for a couple of pictures.

ambitions2o 11-15-11 09:54 AM


Originally Posted by BridgeNotTunnel (Post 13494791)
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.

Best of luck with everything.

MileHighMark 11-15-11 10:16 AM


Originally Posted by BridgeNotTunnel (Post 13494791)
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.

Sorry to hear/read that. Been there myself.

CliftonGK1 11-15-11 11:40 AM

I've been spoiled, with all the not having any traffic confrontations for a few months; but this morning took care of that...

It's my standard winter gripe: I'm lit up like a danged Christmas tree. How could you NOT SEE ME? Moreso, how could you not realize there is, at the very minimum, something in front of your vehicle such that you should cease forward movement?
Headlight on bike, blinking helmet light pointed at driver, rear blinking and solid lights, reflective tape on entire bike, reflective sash, yellow/reflective jacket, reflective piping on pants/gloves/shoe covers, blaring on Airzound horn, and this guy didn't quit rolling until I put my foot on his hood.
Did you think it was the rapture or an alien abduction? I really wonder if some people just roll out of bed, put on the first clothes that don't crackle or stink too bad, and plop themselves immediately into the driver's seat before fully waking up.

OK, I feel better now. Just needed to vent, even though it's the same thing every year for all of us.

BridgeNotTunnel 11-15-11 12:20 PM

wow, thanks all.

along with a death in the family, it has been a heartbreaking, mind numbing, month so far.

i was laid off nearly a year to the day from when i started bike commuting; just a fact there.

do not want to hijack thread.

thanks, again.

CVB 11-15-11 12:55 PM

Grateful to be employed, able to ride, and unmolested by cars.

No inattentive motorists on my ride last night, but an inattentive red fox standing in the middle of the greenway last night. He was looking the other way, didn't see me coming. Man, did he jump when I rang my bell at him from about 20 feet away!

phx1973 11-15-11 01:11 PM


Originally Posted by BridgeNotTunnel (Post 13494791)
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.

Sorry to hear that. Good luck finding your next job.

con 11-15-11 01:38 PM

It was another stunning morning on the Central Coast; cool, crisp and bright blue skies. I had to be careful on parts of the commute in town because the sun was so blinding as I rode into it I knew the drivers behind me in all likelihood could not see me at all.

My thoughts go out to those each day that no longer have a job to commute into. Hang in there, things will get better.

jrickards 11-15-11 02:06 PM

I feel like I'm in the confessional when I say "Forgive me fellow bikers for I have not biked to work in 15 days". However, yesterday, today and tomorrow are abnormally mild for a local November so I decided to ride today. Perfect weather, 6C, clear, dry, few cars. Thursday is forecast for a -3C start to the morning with overnight snow so I might avoid the cars during the first snow of the season and take the city bus instead.

gecho 11-15-11 03:05 PM

This afternoon's weather was NOT as forecast. The temperature dropped to -7C and the wind increased to 40 gusting to 50km/h, making for a chilly ride home. The skin below my glasses was getting numb. At least I had the good sense to pack my my respirator and goggles this morning. I also had the coldest feet of the season, I should have packed my shoe covers. My upper body was a little on the cool side but tolerable. I had a shell in my bag but I hesitate to put it on because it traps too much sweat.

During the morning's ride I had a drag race with a rabbit. I look over and see a rabbit hauling butt on the median to my left. I check my speedometer and he's doing 30km/h and pulling away from me. After about 10 seconds he declared himself the winner and stopped.

GriddleCakes 11-15-11 04:38 PM

5º and sunny. Tomorrow's forecast is for more of the same, plus 30 mph winds gusting to 45; I hope they give the roofers currently hammering away across the street the day off.

Catgrrl70 11-15-11 05:08 PM

32 when I left the house this morning.
First time this winter to wear the serious winter biking gloves and I was glad of it.
Sunny and cool now - should be a nice ride home.

wphamilton 11-15-11 06:22 PM

I had a first this evening! For the first time ever on a commute, I didn't see a single person on the eight miles of the Greenway. Not even a jogger. It's almost bizarre because it wasn't that late or all that wet and the temperature was fine!

dygituljunky 11-15-11 06:44 PM

Comfortable temps and raining. Traffic was a zoo.

One of the intersections I cross has a red light for traffic going straight and a green arrow for traffic turning right combined with a no turn on red sign. I pulled up to the red light and waited. I saw a vehicle approaching from behind with a right turn blinker on and the green right turn arrow was on; I'm waiting to go straight ahead. As the guy approaches, he starts blaring on his horn. On the second honk, I turn around and give him the "what?" look. A few honks and middle finger/f-you exchanges later, and he sticks head out the window to say, "You mf-er, You wonder why people don't appreciate you." I respond by saying, "Dude, I'm going straight. You can't make me run a red light." That shuts him and his horn up until I get the green light. Of course, as I'm accelerating away, he lays on his horn making his right turn.

I assume he wanted me to pick my bike up and move so he could get by ... which I gladly do for those who ask nicely or wait patiently with their signal on.

He probably wouldn't honk at a big rig, another suv or car, or even a motorcyclist mopeder, asking them to scoot their vehicles to the side.

I'm sure he's also the first one to complain about "scofflaw cyclists" who "ALL run red lights and stop signs." Whatever, dude. You got to your destination when you got there.

Other than that one knucklehead, it was a great ride in the rain.

Mark Stone 11-15-11 07:22 PM

Over 50 degrees this morning, mighty warm! Then a major league tailwind on the way home - feelin' good!

Igo 11-15-11 08:01 PM


Originally Posted by BridgeNotTunnel (Post 13494791)
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.

That's not good but don't stop posting.

Igo 11-15-11 08:10 PM

I never see anybody on my commutes. Not in the best weather in the world. Not on a beautiful brand new groomed MUP or the mild traffic roadway with bike lanes. No joggers. No dog walkers. Nothing. I am dumbfounded why somebody built this great ride just for me.

Originally Posted by wphamilton (Post 13497319)
I had a first this evening! For the first time ever on a commute, I didn't see a single person on the eight miles of the Greenway. Not even a jogger. It's almost bizarre because it wasn't that late or all that wet and the temperature was fine!


reducedfatoreo 11-15-11 08:36 PM

BNT: Hope they gave you a bit of severance so you can go on a tour or two. You'll find something better!

Fall headwinds yet again, but a lovely morning ride nonetheless. Between yesterday and today a few old oak trees decided to dump every single leaf they had on the path. That'll be interesting when the leaves get wet...

The evening commute was cut short by rain, as I don't have my all-weather ride built up yet :(

fletchh 11-16-11 05:59 AM

Another warm morning at 57F (14C). Coming up on the highway exchange during my ride, I saw a car barreling up the ramp, intending to make a left in front of me, so I stopped, the car stopped too, and annoyed that I lost my momentum up the hill, I continued past the car. Just then the car spoke to me, so I pulled over in between exit ramps and the car made a right off the ramp, and a young lady on a cell phone asked me for directions to 695E, so I started telling her, then she interrupted me and said she wanted to go 70W. I was wondering how she got where she was, but that would have been another conversation. I gave her directions 6 times, and would have given her an alternate route, but she was already confused and trying to multi-task on the phone. Of course this is all in morning darkness. Hopefully, she found her way. Then I realized with cars barreling off both exit ramps, that I was still in high gear, so needless to say my cadance was off for the last couple miles of my ride.

vtjim 11-16-11 07:04 AM

46F/8C, very light tailwind. Not feeling so hot. Fighting off a bug I guess, so I took it easy.

gecho 11-16-11 07:53 AM

-13C with a 22km/h tailwind. The wind had been much stronger when I started, so the extra layer I wore ended up being a bit much. Today was the first day I switched from tights to a long underwear / shell pant combo. I need to put the battery for my Stella light in a different spot. I was riding with my respirator this morning and the spit / condensation dribbled out the exhaust valve covering the battery in ice.

Tomorrow I'll have to bring out the heavy army surplus sweater. The morning ride is supposed to be -20C with a 40 gusting to 60km/h headwind.


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