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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 04-25-11 | 09:16 AM
  #1601  
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45F, steady rain. I rode geared 'cause I felt like I was FLYING Saturday, even pulling the trail-a-bike w/ my 6 yr old, and sure enough, I felt like I was FLYING today coming in, but according to my phone my rolling time and avg speed were right in between the two single-speed trips I timed the previous two weeks, and w/ a lower peak speed than either as well.
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Old 04-25-11 | 10:21 AM
  #1602  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Awesome commute this morning at 57F and overcast with slight winds from the NNE @ 4mph. Had the fastest ride in to school this semester, and I was feeling great the whole time. Brang the rain gear because they're predicting showers for later on today.
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Old 04-25-11 | 10:52 AM
  #1603  
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From: seattle, too many links

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Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg
45F, steady rain. I rode geared 'cause I felt like I was FLYING Saturday, even pulling the trail-a-bike w/ my 6 yr old, and sure enough, I felt like I was FLYING today coming in, but according to my phone my rolling time and avg speed were right in between the two single-speed trips I timed the previous two weeks, and w/ a lower peak speed than either as well.


same thing happens to me when i switch to the geared bike.. "MAN IM CRUISING...."
check the garmin... "uh.. slower?"

and today was wet as all get out, had a nice convo with another commuter tho.
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:09 AM
  #1604  
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From: Lincoln, NE

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Light rain just the right temp outside that I was comfortable with my raingear on and my cheap messenger bag on my back that kept everything dry. I rode the Schwinn Le Tour I bought yesterday and it was a very nice ride.
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:16 AM
  #1605  
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Finally broke 1000 logged miles on this morning's commute with my Jamis since 1/30/11, the day I bought it. Legs were well rested from the long weekend spent working on the other bike build and it was a fantastic day outside. Good start to the week (even though I was late for work)!
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:54 AM
  #1606  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

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

Parts for the new commuter are coming in today! Not sure if I'll have it together in time to ride tomorrow... weather is nice, but very windy.
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Old 04-25-11 | 01:39 PM
  #1607  
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From: Santa Fe, NM

Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa

Arrived home near midnight last night from a trip to our land in Colorado, went straight to bed and slept in. Drove.
I went home at lunch, tossed some food down and rode back to work. All is right with the world once again
It was mid 40'sF and drizzling.
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Old 04-25-11 | 01:41 PM
  #1608  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

First day on the bike in a week. I was able to do some running while we were on vacation, but always feels a little weird the first day back, you know?
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Old 04-25-11 | 02:39 PM
  #1609  
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From: Tahoe

Bikes: Motobecane Single Speed, Trek Mountain Track Xtracycle

knew it would happen, took of the studded snows on the Xtracycle last night for semi slicks and of course it snowed this morning. Murphy's law. So I rode the beach cruiser which got a new rack, handle bar basket and pannier bag from my old set up. Cleaned the garage this weekend so my bikes would have their own parking space with all tires and gear in the same place. Very nice. Tomorrow the single speed hopefully.
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Old 04-25-11 | 04:26 PM
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Those three days of actual spring last week were so fantastic I forgot it was still November. Reality came crashing down this morning and will be in my face at ~40-45 mph on the way home.
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Old 04-25-11 | 04:35 PM
  #1611  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

Yeah, we were in Boston last week. Had a great time but were getting a little tired of the rain and we were looking forward to returning to NorCal.... where it was raining this morning. D'oh!

Looks a little sunnier now, but looks like I'll have a head wind for the ride home.
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Old 04-25-11 | 04:47 PM
  #1612  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Another awesome commute home at 58F and overcast with slight NE winds switching to NNW @ 4mph. No rain, but the roads were wet so I wore my rain pants, and I'm glad I did. Went over 1500 miles for the year on this ride. Supposed to hit 80F tomorrow afternoon.
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Old 04-25-11 | 05:00 PM
  #1613  
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From: Atlanta

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great ride. Temp was perfect this morning (63f). Rode home for lunch and it was 74f. Made it home between showers at the end of the day.
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Old 04-25-11 | 10:28 PM
  #1614  
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From: Jamis, WA

Bikes: Jamis Aurora Elite

The head wind in the last 10 miles sucked... and I'm especially tired.... but that 30 mile stretch is starting to get routine.
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:03 PM
  #1615  
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From: YEG

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Ran into a headwind all the way down to the shop and then had to take a long detour as they had closed the main central bridge for cleaning which warranted a ride down into the river valley and up the other side and back into the city which is good for some challenging short climbs and steep grades.

Met up with some friends and they commented on me riding my fixed gear and them having touring bikes... and I did have to wait for them at the top of the climb out of the river valley.

One of the benefits of riding all winter is you hit spring with well tuned legs and always finding a little extra inspiration whenever the road points straight up.

Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 04-26-11 at 09:48 AM.
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:12 PM
  #1616  
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
When I start wearing shorts in the spring I always carry long socks and shell pants... the weather can turn on a dime here.

Forecast for the Easter weekend is shorts, followed by more shorts as we are finally getting some double digit temperatures.

Extra pants are a good idea. Especially since the evenings get quite chilly. I also thought about knitting leg warmers because they'd be lighter weight and smaller than pants.

Today's ride was rainy. Rain. Rain. Rain. Lots of rain. And more to come for the next bunch of days. At least this meant I had the MUP to myself. Yay! Not even dogs and their humans were outside. I need to get a cool weather pair of waterproof gloves. It's too warm for ski gloves but only wearing fleece gloves is painful.
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Old 04-25-11 | 11:38 PM
  #1617  
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From: Flint, MI

Bikes: '12 C-dale HT; '89 C-dale sr300; Trek 820

58F, wet, perfect.
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Old 04-26-11 | 04:32 AM
  #1618  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

A very warm morning at 70 F ( 21 C). We don't usually get these morning temps until July or so, but I will take them when I get them. Lots of pollen in the headlights, and it is nice to hear everything around me without a hood on. Can't tell when thunderstorms might happen, but will play it by forecast.
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Old 04-26-11 | 04:49 AM
  #1619  
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From: Alexandria, VA
Downright warm this morning, high 60s-70. More bikes and many more runners out.

I'm thrilled to see the bike lanes extending closer to where I begin my daily commute, I can see the outlines for painting in the street. In addition, a dedicated left turn lane is being painted in at a point where I usually have to sit in traffic and wait to turn.
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Old 04-26-11 | 05:50 AM
  #1620  
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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

Great commute this morning with temp about 70 F and light South breeze. My legs felt much better than yesterday, despite riding my heavier touring bike loaded with extra food and gear. Yesterday my legs were tired from driving 5 hours the day before. Forecasters are calling for a 50% chance of showers this afternoon, so I packed my raincoat altho it will probably be too warm to wear it.
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Old 04-26-11 | 06:02 AM
  #1621  
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52F / 11C. Calm. Foggy. Visibility less than a quarter-mile in some places on the MUP. Earthworms everywhere! I was doing a lot of swerving. I know they're just worms, but I feel bad.

I'm thinking it's time to switch to my trunk rack. I was feeling the heat from my backpack today.

Yesterday's ride home was fun. Got into a commuter peloton behind two roadies. The lead roadie spooled up a little bit but the second roadie didn't keep up. I just stayed behind second roadie. He was setting a comfortable pace around 18MPH. Eventually he turned and I reeled about half the distance back on the first roadie before I had to turn.
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Old 04-26-11 | 07:09 AM
  #1622  
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Upper 60s here in Philly and plenty of sunshine. This was my first bike commute to work since October 2009 (I had gotten laid off and spent a year doing consulting work, where my commute to the coffee shop was 100 yards from my house). I got my new job in November 2010 and rode the bike for the first time this morning. I commute from Mount Airy to Center City and was thinking about maybe driving halfway and picking up the bike path on Kelly Drive, but I decided to just do the whole 11 miles door-to-door. It was fanTAStic to be back on the bike again. Hopefully I'll feel the same way after the uphill commute home tonight
 
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Old 04-26-11 | 08:02 AM
  #1623  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Too warm for my taste, especially considering it's still April last I checked. Mid 80s with a 15mph headwind last night and already 70F this AM, though with a bit of a tailwind, which was nice.

Crowds of tourons on the Mall are thinning out, too. All the spring break families and school groups are gone, thank Darwin! A little bit easier trek from the Potomac to my office this week as opposed to last.
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Old 04-26-11 | 08:06 AM
  #1624  
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From: Dallas

Bikes: 2013 Carve with Rigid Salsa Fargo & 2005 Allez

Nice ride @ 60F w/ a ~5mph headwind. I've only ridden 5 days this month and it felt great to be back, but I need to really get back into it. I was doing great (missed 2 days in 4 months prior) until after a buddy's bachelor party. Had a 3 day hangover and I've been making excuses since then (too windy, too wet, too tired...). Hopefully I won't have to dodge tornados on the way home tonight.
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Old 04-26-11 | 08:45 AM
  #1625  
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From: Edmonton, AB
Nicest morning of the year so far. 3C, light tail wind. I wore shorts for the first time this year! The trails are finally almost ice-free, so I'll be taking off the studded tires this week if I can.

Many of us who change our clothes after the commute have had days where we forgot an item of clothing...today was the first time where I discovered I brought extra! Found an extraneous undershirt in my pack this morning.
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