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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 12-20-11 | 10:25 AM
  #5226  
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Headwind on the way in; I'm hoping it stays constant and is a nice tailwind on the way home.
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Old 12-20-11 | 11:11 AM
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39F, 84% humidity, clear roads, great loaner bike, and a beautiful riding companion... one could not ask for more than this.
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Old 12-20-11 | 12:15 PM
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From: Minnesota

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Today's my final 2011 commute and this morning's 22F is about our normal high for the day. We've been spoiled in Dec around here. Yesterday I hit 500 miles commuting for the month, a Dec record for me. Today is adding to that, pushing the month's overall total to 700 miles.
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Old 12-20-11 | 12:58 PM
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From: Los Angeles area

Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.

41 Deg.F starting out today, dark of course but no wind to speak of. Seemed like fewer cars on the road and fewer passengers when I got on the Metro Green Line.

Actually found a seat (that is rare!) on the Metro, one of the end ones where I have room to have my DaHon folded at my knees, i.e. not in anyone's way but so I can keep an eye on it.

Easy ride to work after that. Hope the evening commute is as good!

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Old 12-20-11 | 06:23 PM
  #5230  
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From: El Paso, TX

Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle

Originally Posted by MNBikeCommuter
Yesterday I hit 500 miles commuting for the month, a Dec record for me.
Congratulations! 500 miles is a great month anyway, but especially a MN December!
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Old 12-20-11 | 06:28 PM
  #5231  
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From: El Paso, TX

Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle

It was supposed to be 25 degrees this morning, but when I got up it was 40! So it was a pretty balmy pre-dawn spin compared to what I expected. Streets were full of puddles from an overnight rain, the southern tip of the blizzard that's terrorizing New Mexico . . . so I needed to be careful, because El Paso drivers love to play "Splash the Pedestrian/Cyclist" so I had to keep my eye in the rear-view mirror and time things just right so I didn't get to work soaked!
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Old 12-20-11 | 06:48 PM
  #5232  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

No riding yesterday because I was studying most of the day for my finals the next few days.

Good, but sluggish feeling commutes today.

41F and dawn to mostly cloudy with mainly crosswinds from the NNW @ 11-13mph gusting to 18mph on the commute in. Felt pretty slow on this ride. My legs were tiring out quickly. I made ok time, but something just didn't feel quite right. I had made a seat adjustment by tighting the straps over the weekend. I stopped about 2/3 into the ride to mess with them. I think the wind may also have had an impact.

42F and partly cloudy this afternoon with mainly crosswinds from the NNE @ 4-9mph. Still wasn't feeling 100% and a little slow, so I made a quick stop to mess with the straps again about 1/2 way. Felt a better for the most part, but still not great. Had to stop with about 4 miles left because nature was calling. While I was stopped there, for the 3rd time today I messed with the straps. I guess 3rd times a charm because finally everything felt the way it was supposed to. Finished the rest of the commute home feeling great.
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Old 12-21-11 | 05:27 AM
  #5233  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

A good ride in, and still warm at 46f (8C). The traffic is starting to lighten up, but the afternoon traffic is still crazy with wild eyed zombies trying to get out to buy gifts for people, because they have to.
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Old 12-21-11 | 07:58 PM
  #5234  
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From: El Paso, TX

Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle

This morning a brisk 28 degrees. I felt very comfortable however, I could see my breath in my headlights As I was approaching work, I saw a guy out for a run. He looked to be 65+ years of age, and was running through the 28 degree weather with only shorts and running shoes! No shirt at all. Crazy or Macho, I don't know, but I think I'll pass on copying him!
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Old 12-22-11 | 05:32 AM
  #5235  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

Another decent morning here at 49F (9C). The traffic has gotten lighter and today was the lightest. The fellow who started cycling in the dark along my travel, is still doing it. I don't know how many days, but I see him a couple times every week. It's a small stretch where we actually meet as I make a left and he goes straight. I have been doing this route for years, and I have rarely ever had a consistent rider as this fellow, so this is nice.
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Old 12-22-11 | 06:53 AM
  #5236  
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37F/3C with a quartering headwind. I got a little too warm and had to unzip the nylon jacket. First day of winter and it feels like a nice spring morning! Not that I'm complaining.
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Old 12-22-11 | 07:53 AM
  #5237  
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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

My final bike commute of 2011 and one of my slowest due to a stiff headwind. The wind is coming out of the SW, which means that warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico is pouring into the Southeast. As a result, temperatures are very mild and we've had on-and-off showers the past two days with more on the way. The upside is that it's very warm and the low was about 60 F, about 30 degrees above normal for this time of year. The downside is the wind, high humidity and rain. Fortunately, I avoided any showers during my morning commute although the roads were very wet, and hopefully my luck will continue this afternoon.

I hope everyone here has a nice Christmas and New Years. It's been a great year for bike commuting and cycling in general.
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Old 12-22-11 | 08:27 AM
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Pissed that I didn't ride today. Haven't ridden the bike to work since Thanksgiving, due to the ewther and having to take some days off for various things. The weather has been crap for the last two weeks, didn't even notice that it was 45 & dry this morning. I'm now sitting at my desk thinking how nice the commute would have been.
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Old 12-22-11 | 08:29 AM
  #5239  
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From: Alpharetta, GA

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Drizzle, fog and the trail walkers are cheerful, the deer not so much seeming more anxious than usual. A coyote pack has moved in or passed through, maybe that's why. I took it easy to enjoy the weather, hardly ever getting over 18 except on the street portion.
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Old 12-22-11 | 08:42 AM
  #5240  
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beautiful weather. I overdressed and was a bit sweaty on the way it, but it was so nice to be commuting for the first time in probably 3 weeks.
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Old 12-22-11 | 08:58 AM
  #5241  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

My last commute to school for 2011.

Good, but slow ride this morning at 48-50F and dawn to overcast with mainly headwinds from the WNW @ 12-14mph gusting to 27mph. The wind slowed me down, but my legs were also feeling pretty sore for some reason. For the commute home I won't be leaving till probably after 3:50pm because of my final. This will be the first time this semester riding home in the dark. My lights seemed pretty bright this morning, so this afternoon/evening shouldn't be any problems.
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Old 12-22-11 | 09:21 AM
  #5242  
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From: Fort Collins CO

Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007

21F and 4-inches of snow, rode the pub cruiser (single speed beach cruiser). Challenging, one of the few days I could have justified owning a surly pugsly.

Did 10 miles back home last night from the pub, long pub detour. 1/2 an inch of snow on the touring bike with kenda 161s, no problem. Dont know if that would have been the better choice this morning. The commuter is having fender rubbing on the tire issues this morning and didn't have time to sort it all out.
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Old 12-22-11 | 09:49 AM
  #5243  
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Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa

18F with a thin layer of snow over wet/icy pavement (depending on which streets were pre-salted). I was happy to have the studs on today.
I saw a few places where cars had clearly lost traction and veered into the bike lane - a sobering reminder to be aware of the world in my rear view mirror.
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Old 12-22-11 | 11:02 AM
  #5244  
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From: Near Boulder Colorado

Bikes: old Stumpjumper, Riv Simple One, Riv Cheviot

Yesterday, not today. Beautiful sunny morning. Left home around 7:30. Temperature pretty close to freezing. Lovely weather. Left work shortly after 5:00 just as snow started to fly. Very light flakes at first, got heavier. Arrived home about 5:45, snow was getting heavier and just starting to stick to the road. Pretty good timing. Didn't need lights in the morning, lights all the way in the evening. 13.3 Km each way. One short climb, but mostly downhill to work. There's a good chance it's my last commute of the year.
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Old 12-22-11 | 11:17 AM
  #5245  
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From: Falls City, OR

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93

25 and clear, and a sky full of stars. I keep saying to people who complain about the cold that this is as good as Western Oregon winter weather gets. But my parents moved me over here from Prineville when I was 8, and I can't say I've ever adjusted. Good grief, that was 40 years ago....
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Old 12-22-11 | 12:27 PM
  #5246  
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Last commute of the year for me today. Great temps for this time of year, 45 on the way in and should be 60 for the ride home. Great year of cycling overall for me this year. Over 3,000 miles total and rode my first century in July. Hope all of you on the forum have a great holiday.
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Old 12-22-11 | 03:59 PM
  #5247  
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Temps was great today. After dealing with mid to low 30 degrees a couple weeks ago, 45 degrees felt like summer time. Instead of 4 layers down the bottom, I only had two. One pair long johns, and Under Armour Cold Gear.. The ride was so sweet, in the morning, that I extended it an extra 10 miles.. The ride back, was just as good. Temps went up to the mid 60.. Dam... Can't believe this weather in Mid December...Not complaining though..
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Old 12-22-11 | 04:40 PM
  #5248  
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From: Bloomington, Indiana

Bikes: 2019 Giant Contend 3

Rode about 14 miles from my house to the train, which is another 14 miles to the office. That was all drama-free. But once I got to the office I pulled out my keys to see I grabbed the wrong set, which did not include my u-lock key. Doh! I had to beg our office security guard to let me bring the bike in the building, up the elevator and in my office. He let me do it under protest. Normally no bikes allowed in the building. Lesson for you all, double check your keys in the morning!
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Old 12-22-11 | 05:52 PM
  #5249  
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

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

Drenched ride in to work. Raining so hard I had a driver ask if I needed a ride; I turned her down.

It really wasn't that bad.

Last edited by dygituljunky; 12-22-11 at 06:00 PM. Reason: clean up
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Old 12-23-11 | 01:52 AM
  #5250  
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From: Vienna, Austria

Bikes: N+1

Not so cold, but wet and slippery. Still better than being stuck in the daily traffic jam :-)
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