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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 03-31-11 | 08:39 PM
  #1251  
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From: seattle, too many links

Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike

finally feeling slightly better.
road out to the tax lady, instead of directly home, found out we owed less then i thought. win
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Old 03-31-11 | 09:50 PM
  #1252  
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I finished up my first month of being without a car today with 110 miles (I really only had no car for half the month, so i'm looking to have at least 200 miles next month!)

The ride wasn't bad in the rain, but at night it became hail! Hail hurts! hahah
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Old 03-31-11 | 10:35 PM
  #1253  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

Commute home included a 40 mile hammerfest. I love Thursdays.
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Old 04-01-11 | 05:20 AM
  #1254  
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ugh, caught a flat about halfway in. Luckily it was not raining and I am in the city so limping the bike to my office was no biggie. I'll find a nearby LBS today but I really think I need to augment my setup with a spare tube, that tool...and figure out how to actiually change a it.

Otherwse, was a fairly nice commute.
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Old 04-01-11 | 06:05 AM
  #1255  
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From: Southern Wisconsin US

Bikes: Schwinn DBX, Trek 820

I GOT HIT BY A DEER!!!.........April Fools!

Best ride of the my first week back. Forecast rain/snow didn't show...it was over 30 degrees AND I had a slight tail wind...At mile 8 about 1/2 way in I got a severe case of BIKERS HIGH that kept me cruising comfortably the rest of the way in. As an added bonus, Today was the first day I could hear the Spring Peepers in the wetlands as I passed. Happy FRIDAY!
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Old 04-01-11 | 07:15 AM
  #1256  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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Slow lazy ride in this morning, I over did it mountain biking last night, sore, sore, sore today.
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Old 04-01-11 | 07:33 AM
  #1257  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

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

Very little wind, so I pushed my speed a bit... still didn't break any records, but I feel pretty good, which means I can push harder before I reach my limit. I usually only average 14+ MPH when there's a strong tailwind, but I did it today without. Oh yeah, temps were the lowest they've been in weeks, it was 51.
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Old 04-01-11 | 07:57 AM
  #1258  
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From: Canada

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

I noticed a crack in the rear derailleur of my touring bike after the ride Wednesday, so I'm on the mountain bike today. Too bad the LBS doesn't prioritize the work for people who are actually using their bikes this time of year. I was late getting going this morning so I had a decent amount of light right from the start.
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Old 04-01-11 | 08:24 AM
  #1259  
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April Fools - flat tire in 100% humidity

I was running a bit late for an 8am start after a couple days of 9am schools (I'm a substitute teacher). About a half mile away I'm about to stop to pull off my wool undershirt and become presentable when swish swish swish major leak in the front tire, slime splashed all over fenders. Uh oh. And being April Fools, I played a trick on myself and left my phone at home. Doh!

Start pumping, maybe it'll hold, no luck. Time to pull out the spare, but the head of the transverse cable on my brake is wedged, can't get it loose, won't be able to get the wheel back in. Meanwhile, did I mention the humidity? Ok, its 86% not 100%, but I'm getting drenched. Tried the pump again, maybe the slime fairy will come through for me if I spin the wheel once more - it held! Pump it up to pressure and get back rolling. Meanwhile, niagra falls that is my head continues its wet ways.

Get to the school office just in time to sign in, she says "oh, is it raining?" Big sigh, I'm not such a fan of this body of mine. But the good news is that its planning time first block, I don't have kids for another hour or so. Duck into my classroom, close the door, and try to find any moving air to begin the drying process. At this point I think I'm going to be able to teach without grossing them out. And I just heard from the teacher next door that we're combining classes most of the day (ROTC) so I'll just have to be the behavior guy not the leader.

So not the best start to the day, but it could have been lots worse!
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Old 04-01-11 | 08:24 AM
  #1260  
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Bikes: 2010 Trek FX 7.2, 2006 Felt F80

39F - I was a little underdressed, but will enjoy it big time this afternoon when it hits 70!

I think I smelled a little honeysuckle on the MUP this morning . ..
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Old 04-01-11 | 08:25 AM
  #1261  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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Originally Posted by ZManT
39F - I was a little underdressed, but will enjoy it big time this afternoon when it hits 70!

I think I smelled a little honeysuckle on the MUP this morning . ..
+6million
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Old 04-01-11 | 08:35 AM
  #1262  
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No honeysuckle here yet...

Hovering right around freezing this morning, light winds (tail and cross for the ride in). After the gong show that was Wednesday's commute, I altered my route to take more roads and fewer (and different) trails. Better, but still pretty sketchy on the trails in spots (ice, frozen slush). Climbing the big hill felt a little better today.
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Old 04-01-11 | 09:02 AM
  #1263  
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From: south Puget Sound
45F and clammy

It's like this but w/o the mountains to shelter us in the offseasons:

https://theoatmeal.com/blog/seattle_weather
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Old 04-01-11 | 09:05 AM
  #1264  
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From: philly.
Originally Posted by dcb23
ugh, caught a flat about halfway in. Luckily it was not raining and I am in the city so limping the bike to my office was no biggie. I'll find a nearby LBS today but I really think I need to augment my setup with a spare tube, that tool...and figure out how to actiually change a it.

Otherwse, was a fairly nice commute.
yep you should carry tube/tools to change a flat.

Another ~35F commute in the rain/sleet this morning. Cant wait for this fun to be over.
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Old 04-01-11 | 09:14 AM
  #1265  
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From: PDX

Bikes: Reynolds 853 Jamis Quest 1990s

Wonderful ride this morning. I decided to use Mapmyride to actually check my commute from my house to downtown's first stop light.
I took me 37 minutes to go 8.79 miles which is 14.3 mph. Wow!! I did not realize that I was going that fast.

Plus I discovered that I have a 210 ft Start Elev., a 774.0 ft Max Elev., a 561.0 ft Gain, and a -574.0 ft Descent. Which is fine except I have to reverse that to go home. I start at 20' above sea level and commence to spinnin'.
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Old 04-01-11 | 09:21 AM
  #1266  
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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

Our weather over the past week or so went from record high to record low temps. We also finally got some rain after months of dry, drought causing weather, and it has rained nearly every day for the past week. Welcome to NC in the spring. We need the rain, so I'm not complaining, but it arrived the same time as my new commuter bike, which doesn't have fenders yet. So I haven't ridden the new bike very much because I don't want to get it all dirty when it's brand new. As soon as I get fenders installed, then there will be no excuses.
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Old 04-01-11 | 10:05 AM
  #1267  
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From: Tahoe

Bikes: Motobecane Single Speed, Trek Mountain Track Xtracycle

another amazing morning commute, rode the single speed today, nice quick ride in a wonderful 30F, way home yesterday was 58F so warm.
Looking forward to another warm ride home today, in shorts and leg warmers this morning.
But rain forcasted for tomorrow, then a drop to 17F for Monday, Tuesday which means back to studs.
Ahh fickle weather what would we do with out you?
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Old 04-01-11 | 10:17 AM
  #1268  
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Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Sweaty in just a cotton button down and chinos. I think my internal thermostat is going to need some time to reset itself. Otherwise, a wonderful ride in. I rode the Gazelle -- nothing like the liveliness of Reynolds 531. I hope I get a chance to put in a few miles at lunch time.
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Old 04-01-11 | 06:37 PM
  #1269  
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100F for the ride home today.
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Old 04-01-11 | 07:02 PM
  #1270  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

So I'm riding in this morning, and I happen to glance down toward my front skewer. My sleepy brain has a monologue: "Hmm, that tightening lever dealie isn't where we usually put it." "Yes, that is odd, isn't it? Maybe you should signal the extremities to bring us to a stop and investigate." "Great idea, old chap!" I stop and dismount. Front skewer is completely loosened. Not vandals. Just a lot of rough handling over ice & snow. I tightened her back up and off I went. Just glad I didn't try to hop anything before I noticed.

Then, on the ride home, my day was made. Burlington ran some equipment over the awful section of the MUP, rendering it passable by mountain bike. Here's before & after:


It's the little things, I guess.
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Old 04-01-11 | 07:06 PM
  #1271  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

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Originally Posted by noisebeam
100F for the ride home today.
By the way, you're on my list. Just sayin'.


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Old 04-01-11 | 07:25 PM
  #1272  
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From: seattle, too many links

Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike

evil rain.. oppressive to say the least.

had to run over to west seattle again.. WTF ARE THEY DOING DOWN THERE.
its a mess, esp the bike lane re-route.. got turned around a few times
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Originally Posted by yummygooey
crabon/campy/rapha/roadie-bro.

next step is recumbent.




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Old 04-01-11 | 08:26 PM
  #1273  
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From: south Puget Sound
I got to bike home in the downpour after taking 3 hrs to drive 70 miles on the freeway back from a meeting
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Old 04-01-11 | 08:40 PM
  #1274  
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From: YEG

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No commute today... just 80 km of nothing but enjoying the ride.

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Old 04-02-11 | 09:47 AM
  #1275  
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From: Tempe, AZ
on the way home, Stopped at a locally-owned convenience store called "Friendly Market" to pick up a few beers. the guy running the register was strapped! (armed). at first I was thinking "that's not very friendly" but then, maybe that's WHY everyone's so friendly!
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