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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 05-13-11 | 06:14 AM
  #1926  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

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Had a major thunderstorm last night, but by this morning, it had fizzled to a slight sprinkle. I suited up just in case, but I sweated more than I got rained on. The wife has decided I am now riding to work just to prove I can. She's such a smart woman...



Next few days will be interesting.... for those who have been following the Mississippi river flooding, it's about on us now. Baton Rouge has water touching the tops of the levees, and everything south of there is going to get some water. Hopefully none where I am, but we'll see.
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Old 05-13-11 | 06:39 AM
  #1927  
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46f Had a quick ride in, not sure why but was ten minutes early and I think I left at the same time.
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Old 05-13-11 | 07:14 AM
  #1928  
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Took a few mins longer than usual as there was light rain and I didn't want to slip up, and I kept sneezing. But otherwise, pleasant enough.
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Old 05-13-11 | 07:55 AM
  #1929  
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Broken glass bomb in the bike lane turning left after a light, nowhere to go but through it. Today we find out if the Mr tuffy liners are doing their job.

Stopped raining, but didn't mind the rain so much as the wind is usually calm or a tailwind home while it it raining.
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Old 05-13-11 | 08:04 AM
  #1930  
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Finally back on the bike after a month of other priorities.

Beautiful morning for it and it looks like I'll have a tailwind tonight, too.
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Old 05-13-11 | 08:39 AM
  #1931  
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Lost a PB Superflash to the road after a hard bounce. The 2 cars right behind me nicely went around the 3 pieces (battery and two sides of housing) so I was able to go back grab it and put it back together. Need to find a better place to mount it for the ride home I guess.
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Old 05-13-11 | 08:39 AM
  #1932  
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Kudos to every cyclist who rode here today... was 74 degrees F and this would have been wonderful if the wind had not been howling at 30 mph and gusting well beyond that.
No kudos for me; I took the bus. Wind was one of a few excuses I had yesterday. As I was walking home from the bus stop, I was passed, slowly, by a guy on a bike riding on the road against that 30 mph wind. Funny sight too: he was riding a geared drop-bar bike, but in way too high of a gear to be pushing wind (cadence around 30). In addition, he had his drop bars rotated up, so the drops were on top. And he wasn't holding onto the handlebars, he was holding onto the brake levers. So, he was sitting completely vertical, pushing high winds in high gear. I just shook my head.

Much nicer today, almost no wind, though a bit chillier than the last couple days at 5C. Got to do a nice sprint through a construction zone to try to keep pace with the cars ahead of me and not slow down the cars behind me too much. I've discovered that I can go pretty fast if I want to (for a short distance).
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Old 05-13-11 | 09:15 AM
  #1933  
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40F and foggy
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Old 05-13-11 | 09:23 AM
  #1934  
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Originally Posted by groovestew
No kudos for me; I took the bus. Wind was one of a few excuses I had yesterday. As I was walking home from the bus stop, I was passed, slowly, by a guy on a bike riding on the road against that 30 mph wind. Funny sight too: he was riding a geared drop-bar bike, but in way too high of a gear to be pushing wind (cadence around 30). In addition, he had his drop bars rotated up, so the drops were on top. And he wasn't holding onto the handlebars, he was holding onto the brake levers. So, he was sitting completely vertical, pushing high winds in high gear. I just shook my head.

Much nicer today, almost no wind, though a bit chillier than the last couple days at 5C. Got to do a nice sprint through a construction zone to try to keep pace with the cars ahead of me and not slow down the cars behind me too much. I've discovered that I can go pretty fast if I want to (for a short distance).
You are too humble... you are a friggen beast on a bike.

Am riding to the frame shop today and am thankful it's only a 6 mph crosswind I have to deal with and the ride back, (today or tomorrow) should be really nice as the winds are not supposed to pick up until next week.
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Old 05-13-11 | 09:53 AM
  #1935  
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Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
Next few days will be interesting.... for those who have been following the Mississippi river flooding, it's about on us now. Baton Rouge has water touching the tops of the levees, and everything south of there is going to get some water. Hopefully none where I am, but we'll see.
good luck! hope the water leaves you alone
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Old 05-13-11 | 10:30 AM
  #1936  
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From: Louisville Kentucky

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70F and humid. I wore jeans and polo shirt (casual Friday). I rode the '77 Buick (Surly LHT). I really would have rather stayed in bed.

It'll probably be raining and possibly storming for the return home.
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Old 05-13-11 | 10:50 AM
  #1937  
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Originally Posted by truman
Finally back on the bike after a month of other priorities.

Beautiful morning for it and it looks like I'll have a tailwind tonight, too.
You must ride north in the morning like I do. I ride in at dark-thirty, so the wind wasn't too bad this morning, but it should be a good tailwind riding back to Crowley this afternoon.

I'll enjoy the easy ride today, and the day off the bike tomorrow. I'm doing a 200k on Sunday, and I'll probably add bonus miles to next Tuesday and Thursday's commutes to get decent miles next week, since I'm flying to DC on Friday and will be off the bike for three days.
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Old 05-13-11 | 12:32 PM
  #1938  
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Too warm and humid for me this morning, and now it's nice and cool out. I stopped at a friends house and used her hose to cool myself off on the way in, it's nice to have friends like that.
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Old 05-13-11 | 04:25 PM
  #1939  
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dont forget to check your cleats every once in a while!
mine came unscrewed today.... oops...
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Old 05-13-11 | 05:34 PM
  #1940  
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Today was my official first day of commuting. How did it go? HHMM well 5 miles in(6miles each way) I got a 3 inch nail stick in my rear tire. I handled it very well for someone who didn't bring a spare tube. Called my job and they rescued me. LOL I did patch it up later and did a return. Another 5 miles in a lady who driving her car I know saw me(hopefully) tried to still almost knock me down getting into the street. I'm afraid I cursed but it was a fear curse not a anger curse. Hey lady pay attention!!! I need a air horn or something. Any suggestions? 5 miles seems to jinx me today. But in all I had a pretty good ride in a good amount time. So glad I made it in one piece.

Last edited by she; 05-13-11 at 05:37 PM.
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Old 05-13-11 | 06:17 PM
  #1941  
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Second commute of the season. Woke up and it was 35F and I could see the tree tops moving pretty significantly. Oh well, dragged my a$$ out, properly dressed and had a great ride. Turns out the wind was at my back and I was dressed just about right - no cold spots and a slight sweat. Felt great when I got to work and am looking forward to the ride home on a Friday evening!
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Old 05-13-11 | 06:46 PM
  #1942  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

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Originally Posted by she
I need a air horn or something. Any suggestions? 5 miles seems to jinx me today. But in all I had a pretty good ride in a good amount time. So glad I made it in one piece.
You need an Airzound. Fantastic little thing.

Originally Posted by Camilo
Felt great when I got to work and am looking forward to the ride home on a Friday evening!
This is why we do what we do. Days like that make it all worthwhile.
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Old 05-13-11 | 09:59 PM
  #1943  
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Gotta love a good tail wind. Rode up a long, gradual hill in a gear mainly used for doing 20 mph on flat ground.
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Old 05-13-11 | 10:16 PM
  #1944  
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My commute was the warmest in a long time. I decided to wear sandals on my bike and it felt wonderful. I also saw a coyote when I ride my bike thru the cemetery on my evening ride. My first coyote! He ran away and I'm glad I'm not made out of chicken drumsticks.
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Old 05-13-11 | 11:10 PM
  #1945  
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Originally Posted by groovestew
Gotta love a good tail wind. Rode up a long, gradual hill in a gear mainly used for doing 20 mph on flat ground.
I wish.

Rode the full 55km to the frame shop today and what usually takes me under 2 hours took an extra 35minutes as I was going the other way and had to pedal downhill... got a ride back from the shop which was nice.
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Old 05-14-11 | 11:03 PM
  #1946  
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Rainy and humid ride. Looks like this whole week will involve lots of rain. Maybe I should wear fins instead shoes?
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Old 05-14-11 | 11:24 PM
  #1947  
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Raining hammers and pitchforks sideways today.
I wussed out and drove.

https://www.wunderground.com/radar/ra...=0&lightning=0
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Old 05-15-11 | 04:45 AM
  #1948  
she
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From: Long Island NY

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Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
You need an Airzound. Fantastic little thing.



This is why we do what we do. Days like that make it all worthwhile.
Thanks Funky I ordered one today!
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Old 05-16-11 | 04:29 AM
  #1949  
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A strong ride in with good temps at 60 F ( 16 C), and no rain. I packed for it, and probably will be heading out in it, but it is supposed to be like this all week, rain during some part of the day. Last week was so nice with just sunny skies, and those kinds of weeks have been too rare this year.
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Old 05-16-11 | 05:48 AM
  #1950  
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I may have to break down and buy a summer-weight rain jacket with the kind of weather we've been having lately -- scattered afternoon showers almost every day. Of course, as soon as I actually buy a jacket, we will go into another drought and it won't rain for weeks, so the ethical thing to do would be go without.

My weight loss finally seems to be paying off for cycling. My average speeds have been steadily increasing as the pounds have dropped. I've lost 21 pounds since Christmas and just 2 lbs shy of my goal.
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