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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 03-29-11 | 11:31 AM
  #1226  
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From: south Puget Sound
Originally Posted by zoltani
I've tried to convince myself I like g*****ss and rain through the power of self suggestion.....it's kinda working.

Good ride today as always. I like the fact that it is a "reverse" commute so I get to stare at traffic backed up in the other direction while only a few cars pass me on my side.
For me the misery was more because I was running later so deeper into the heart of the cager rush hour. The rain was just icing on the cake. Though it's supposed to be a lot wetter the next couple of days.
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Old 03-29-11 | 01:41 PM
  #1227  
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From: Vancouver, WA

Bikes: IRO Angus

I've only been riding my bike for a couple of weeks now, living in washington rain is just an almost everyday occurance so I make sure I wear my northface coat but everytime I do my half hour commute it seems to stop for that short period of time, Idk why lol. But so far I'm loving it, I should have been biking years ago.
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Old 03-30-11 | 05:09 AM
  #1228  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

Not too bad, at 35 F ( 2 C). We are expecting rain for the next few days, and I started wearing rain gear, although I forgot my bike cover, so hopefully, it holds off until I get out of here.
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Old 03-30-11 | 05:18 AM
  #1229  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial

It's raining cats and dogs here, thunder, lightning, tornado watches, etc. The wife doesn't want me to ride in this, and I can't blame her.
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Old 03-30-11 | 05:57 AM
  #1230  
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Nice ride in, getting warmer I think it was close to 40 plus I missed the forecasted showers.
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Old 03-30-11 | 06:41 AM
  #1231  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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44f raining, hoping for a nice afternoon.
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Old 03-30-11 | 07:18 AM
  #1232  
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From: Simcoe County, Ontario

Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"

It was COLD, but fun! 29km through sunrise with a temp range of -7 to -5 Celsius. Should have worn boots though...
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Old 03-30-11 | 07:54 AM
  #1233  
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From: Canada

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

Two weeks straight of morning headwinds. They have been slowing me down, but it hasn't felt like much extra effort. The early light is bringing out the joggers, lots of them.
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Old 03-30-11 | 08:51 AM
  #1234  
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From: Vancouver, WA

Bikes: IRO Angus

Still doesn't want to rain when I ride, passed a few cute looking joggers today.. I rode by and said "SUUUUPPP" in a stoner tone.. It made me laugh ,... since my headlight fell off last ride because the attachment broke I taped one of my led flashlights to my frame.. soo ghetto it's almost awesome
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Old 03-30-11 | 08:51 AM
  #1235  
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From: south Puget Sound
50F, raining. If this is not a Pineapple Express because it's from Japan, not Hawaii, does that mean it's a Plutonium Express?
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Old 03-30-11 | 09:01 AM
  #1236  
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I'm ashamed and embarrassed that this thread got to 50 pages before I could contribute, but c'est la vie. First cycle-commute since December. About -3C, breezy, grey. I did my old familiar route through mainly residential and trails, some main roads. The main roads were fine, residential was mostly okay - there was almost always a bare strip of pavement to ride on - but the trails were horrible. Hard, rough ice and crusty snow that rattled every bone in my body, even with a front suspension fork and 2" tires.

Also, I've apparently misplaced my hill-climbing legs.

Nice to get that first commute of the year out of the way, though.
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Old 03-30-11 | 11:10 AM
  #1237  
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From: Falls City, OR

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Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg
50F, raining. If this is not a Pineapple Express because it's from Japan, not Hawaii, does that mean it's a Plutonium Express?
Bleah, warm wet and foggy here too. The rain gear was a mistake, I should have just worn swim shorts and packed a towel and dry work clothes. I'm hoping it's dry this afternoon.
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Old 03-30-11 | 11:24 AM
  #1238  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Nearly got right hooked this morning, mostly because I was just zoned out and didn't ride assertively. Reminder to self: pay attention!
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Old 03-30-11 | 12:59 PM
  #1239  
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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)

Tried a new alternate on the way home last night, because there's a designated bike lane. Not sure it enhances my safety, but I think it is a little faster. Took Metro today because of the predicted rain and 'wintery mix' though so far no sign of it coming yet. Oh well.
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Old 03-30-11 | 03:54 PM
  #1240  
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From: NOWHERE

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Originally Posted by jdgesus
had to ride to west seattle this morning, im sorry for anyone that has to commute to and from there... whatever the hell they're doing to roads down there, and their weird re-routing of the bike lanes.... its not good.
Ah, that is my commute. It's even better during rush hour and especially great when there's a football/soccer/baseball game or a wreck that closes any of the other roadways in that area. I think of it as awareness practice. Whatever happened during the evening at home or the day at work I have to shake it all off and freaking pay attention. Like avoiding the stretch limo that suddenly took a left turn up a wrong way street, oblivious to the "no left turn" sign and the two cyclists currently in the intersection.

Thank WADOT for the routing. They have no idea what to do with cyclists (from experience talking with them). This is all prep-work for the new tunnel; it includes a "flyover" intersection for entry into the Terminal 46 down there.

Did you get to experience the route in the rain and ride through the lakes (I am not exaggerating) that appear in the west bike lane? I get to do that tonight. Thanks rain. When will you go away?
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Old 03-30-11 | 08:04 PM
  #1241  
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From: Riverside, CA

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I don't know what happened in a week but summer just showed up in S. Cal. 84F coming back home and 58F riding in. Riding around 90F+ shortly following it seems... Lot of laundry time I see coming...
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Old 03-31-11 | 04:37 AM
  #1242  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

A decent ride in the misty rain, at 37 F ( 3 C). Outside of the glasses having to be wiped, you wouldn't know it was raining. Until at least you stop and start undoing your bike, then all the rain pours off of you onto the stuff you would like to keep dry. Rain all day.
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Old 03-31-11 | 06:48 AM
  #1243  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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53f Soooo nice out no complaints outta me, rode the MTB into work today gonna hit the trails after work.
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Old 03-31-11 | 07:09 AM
  #1244  
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From: Louisvlle, KY

Bikes: 2009 Trek XO-1, 2006 Trek 7000

Originally Posted by fletchh
Not too bad, at 35 F ( 2 C). We are expecting rain for the next few days, and I started wearing rain gear, although I forgot my bike cover, so hopefully, it holds off until I get out of here.
What type of rain gear do you have? I have a good water-proof shell and gloves and I know about toe coveres but my biggest concern is pants! do they make rain cycling pants? how about keeping water from going down your neck as the jackets don't seal that part very well like they do the waist and wrists. Also, I wear glasses.
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Old 03-31-11 | 07:26 AM
  #1245  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial

After the nasty weather we had yesterday, the cold front came in, northerly winds and temps back down in the 50's. Ride in was okay, but my Sunlite Traveler saddlebag keeps falling into my spokes... I either need to stiffen it up, or lash something to the rack to keep it out of the wheel.

Also, laced up my dynohub front wheel last night, hopefully will get it tensioned and trued this weekend!
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Old 03-31-11 | 07:54 AM
  #1246  
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From: Boise, Idaho

Bikes: 2010 Trek FX 7.2, 2006 Felt F80

Outstanding ride this morning - 48 degrees, no wind to speak of. Aside from getting dropped by 2 roadies on Emerald just after the overpass (nice job if you're reading this) it was a stellar ride. Still very dark when I set out - bought a new 2w light yesterday to go with my 1/2w - what a difference!

really looking forward to 68 degrees

Fizz - most of my office went skiing today, have fun on the trails!
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Old 03-31-11 | 08:45 AM
  #1247  
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From: south Puget Sound
50F, thick mist. Steamy inside the raingear...
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Old 03-31-11 | 09:22 AM
  #1248  
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Infamous Beijing spring dust storms have begun. Great. Upper teens Celsius finally, though napparently dropping tomorrow. Precipitation count since New Year's = snowed one time in Feb. Amazing.
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Old 03-31-11 | 06:24 PM
  #1249  
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misty rides out and back today. Had to stay at work past 7pm so my ride home was actually tourist and car free for the most part...sooo nice.
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Old 03-31-11 | 07:30 PM
  #1250  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Been commuting all week, but unfortunately haven't really had the time to get on here.

This week was a great week of commuting totalling 160.2 miles. Went Monday to today and tomorrow is gonna be my driving/rest day if school isn't canelled due to the snow storm that we're supposed to get Weather this week was pretty nice, but all the wind did make it challenging. Started taking a slightly different route, and I really like it. Got new cycling shoes on Tuesday and I think they are finally set up right.

This morning it was 38F and dark/dawn with winds from the ENE @ 3mph. On the way home this evening it was 44F and overcast with winds from the E @ 6mph.

I always seem to see the weirdest things on Bay St. Earlier this week I saw 5 guys pushing a car up the road. I guess it had ran out of gas or something. Today, I saw a car up the road hit the brakes, then I saw the reverse lights go one for about 2 seconds. The vehicle was in the dead center of the lane and it seemed that the driver just parked it there. They didn't have any hazard lights or blinkers on or anything. I stopped to try to figure out what was going on. A car pulled up behind me and a few seconds later beeped the horn at the stopped car in the middle of the road. A few moments later, more vehicles stacked up behind us and people started beeping their horns, but no response from the stopped car. The vehicles that were waiting behind decided to pass and as soon as it was clear, I passed as well. No idea why that car stopped like that but it was pretty strange.
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