How was the commute today?
06-20-08, 10:26 AM
DNPAIMFB
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Smooth like buttah on the way in, although I missed a couple of lights. Traffic was significantly reduced - must be Encana's Friday off.
06-20-08, 10:48 AM
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another beautiful morning, cool enough to wear a light jacket.
I've noticed the past couple of days that I've built my strength up enough that I'm only using my large front sprocket, not needing to drop into the 2 smaller front sprockets. So this morning was a sprint day and I left it in the big sprocket the whole way only using my rear sprockets for the hills. Feels good to be able to accomplish that...
I've noticed the past couple of days that I've built my strength up enough that I'm only using my large front sprocket, not needing to drop into the 2 smaller front sprockets. So this morning was a sprint day and I left it in the big sprocket the whole way only using my rear sprockets for the hills. Feels good to be able to accomplish that...
06-20-08, 11:36 AM
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Great morning, I wore flip flops and shorts 
06-20-08, 12:11 PM
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Had a kind of nice happening on today's commute. I was stopped at a light with a busy cross-street -- St. Paul Street turning onto Beacon Street in Brookline, for anyone who knows the Boston area. Beacon is two or three lanes each way, divided by a median with a pair of trolley tracks. Anyway, I heard a bike stop behind me and a woman said, "Are you turning left here?" Thinking she was asking in order to know what side of me to be on, I said, "Yup, that's the plan." Instead she said, "I've never done this before, this is my first time riding to work! I'm really nervous!" So I said, "Hey, not a problem, just hop on my wheel!"
So she followed me through the intersection, which required waiting for the cross-traffic to clear -- not a huge deal -- and then down Beacon. I asked her where she was going -- Longwood Medical area -- so I took a bit of a detour from my regular route to ride along with her. She was great! At one point Beacon narrowed down to one lane because of a couple of moving vans, so I said, "Oh, hey, gotta merge in here," and she said, "Hey, we're in the majority!" because right at that point, the bikes outnumbered the cars. As we got closer to her work, and we saw more and more bikes, she said, "This is great! Look at all these bikes!" We were part of a pack of about six by the time we got to her turnoff for work, and she was totally lovin' it.
Ain't commuting great???
So she followed me through the intersection, which required waiting for the cross-traffic to clear -- not a huge deal -- and then down Beacon. I asked her where she was going -- Longwood Medical area -- so I took a bit of a detour from my regular route to ride along with her. She was great! At one point Beacon narrowed down to one lane because of a couple of moving vans, so I said, "Oh, hey, gotta merge in here," and she said, "Hey, we're in the majority!" because right at that point, the bikes outnumbered the cars. As we got closer to her work, and we saw more and more bikes, she said, "This is great! Look at all these bikes!" We were part of a pack of about six by the time we got to her turnoff for work, and she was totally lovin' it.
Ain't commuting great???
06-20-08, 12:33 PM
Belt drive!
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^^^ Cool. 
06-20-08, 12:50 PM
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I had a lot of company today. There were many new cyclists out on the roads today. It was our city's 'Bike to Work Day'. I'll be interested to see how many are still at it next week.
06-20-08, 01:52 PM
----
Had a kind of nice happening on today's commute. I was stopped at a light with a busy cross-street -- St. Paul Street turning onto Beacon Street in Brookline, for anyone who knows the Boston area. Beacon is two or three lanes each way, divided by a median with a pair of trolley tracks. Anyway, I heard a bike stop behind me and a woman said, "Are you turning left here?" Thinking she was asking in order to know what side of me to be on, I said, "Yup, that's the plan." Instead she said, "I've never done this before, this is my first time riding to work! I'm really nervous!" So I said, "Hey, not a problem, just hop on my wheel!"
So she followed me through the intersection, which required waiting for the cross-traffic to clear -- not a huge deal -- and then down Beacon. I asked her where she was going -- Longwood Medical area -- so I took a bit of a detour from my regular route to ride along with her. She was great! At one point Beacon narrowed down to one lane because of a couple of moving vans, so I said, "Oh, hey, gotta merge in here," and she said, "Hey, we're in the majority!" because right at that point, the bikes outnumbered the cars. As we got closer to her work, and we saw more and more bikes, she said, "This is great! Look at all these bikes!" We were part of a pack of about six by the time we got to her turnoff for work, and she was totally lovin' it.
Ain't commuting great???
So she followed me through the intersection, which required waiting for the cross-traffic to clear -- not a huge deal -- and then down Beacon. I asked her where she was going -- Longwood Medical area -- so I took a bit of a detour from my regular route to ride along with her. She was great! At one point Beacon narrowed down to one lane because of a couple of moving vans, so I said, "Oh, hey, gotta merge in here," and she said, "Hey, we're in the majority!" because right at that point, the bikes outnumbered the cars. As we got closer to her work, and we saw more and more bikes, she said, "This is great! Look at all these bikes!" We were part of a pack of about six by the time we got to her turnoff for work, and she was totally lovin' it.
Ain't commuting great???
Great story! You should share it with the Advocacy and Safety crowd. I think they often lose sight of how powerful a simple action like yours can go much further towards encouraging and educating riders than a lot of hot air.
As for me, my commutes are different now that it's summer. Most of my rides are to various locations and it's making my commute miles add up. Yesterday 44 miles of commuting, the day before 53 miles.
06-20-08, 01:52 PM
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Finishing up a week of 112-114F commutes. Summer is finally here.
Al
Al
06-20-08, 02:05 PM
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Hot today! 85 when I left the house, 90+ by the time I got to the office, should be pushing 100 by the time I head home.
Nice encounter: I was at the front of a left turn lane waiting for the light, a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk. Just before he came even with me, he stopped and picked up a coin on the street. "Hey," I told him, "You got some good luck today!" He laughed, handed me the penny and told me that he was having a pretty good day already, so here was some good luck for me on my ride. And whaddaya know, I hit every single light from that point on.
[Note: must remember to remove penny from jersey pocket before it goes in the washing machine. Lest a Good Day turn into a Bad Day!]
Nice encounter: I was at the front of a left turn lane waiting for the light, a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk. Just before he came even with me, he stopped and picked up a coin on the street. "Hey," I told him, "You got some good luck today!" He laughed, handed me the penny and told me that he was having a pretty good day already, so here was some good luck for me on my ride. And whaddaya know, I hit every single light from that point on.
[Note: must remember to remove penny from jersey pocket before it goes in the washing machine. Lest a Good Day turn into a Bad Day!]
06-20-08, 04:34 PM
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Woke up 530 am
8 mile ride to bus station
10 min wait
1 hour ride
5 mile ride to work
now ... 40 mph TAILWIND waiting for me outside
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww!
8 mile ride to bus station
10 min wait
1 hour ride
5 mile ride to work
now ... 40 mph TAILWIND waiting for me outside
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww!
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06-20-08, 06:18 PM
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Had some wild thunderstorms today with hail. Managed to ride home after they passed but got pretty wet - wish I had put my fenders on this morning. Now to go clean my bike.
06-20-08, 06:21 PM
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Rain rain rain rain. It was nice though, no problems and kept cool. New fenders due to arrive Thursday, watch it not rain for weeks after that 
06-20-08, 10:57 PM
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This morning was good. I took a different root to work, which tacked on an extra two miles each way to my ride. It was a good ride though. On my way home there was a 20mph head wind and it didn't help either that I had to stop at every single cross walk this time simply because I hit the lights all wrong.
06-21-08, 08:46 PM
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I figured that it has rained on me more or less every day this week, so Friday I took public transit. What do you know... it was a gorgeous day.
06-21-08, 09:07 PM
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First commute today just under 11 miles on the ride in. Nice weather even the little bit of rain. Had to duck and cover from the thunderstorms on the way home.
Jsen
Jsen
06-21-08, 09:26 PM
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Two trips to wal-mart. Great weather. First trip, just got two 12 packs of soda and butter. Learned a lesson: don't use one grocery pannier for heavy stuff. Second trip was much lighter, and at dusk so it was nice and cool
Second trip was much lighter, and at dusk so it was nice and cool
06-22-08, 06:21 AM
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Quite possibly the slowest, laziest commuter EVER.
This "weekend" (Wednesday thru Saturday) kicked my butt...lots of trips to the pool, errands with the baby in the bike trailer, playing at the playground, and so on. To top it off, I have a cold now. So I coasted as much as I could and took lots of breaks.
x_x <--this is me right now
This "weekend" (Wednesday thru Saturday) kicked my butt...lots of trips to the pool, errands with the baby in the bike trailer, playing at the playground, and so on. To top it off, I have a cold now. So I coasted as much as I could and took lots of breaks.
x_x <--this is me right now
06-22-08, 10:33 AM
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slowish, cool and alot of bugs. Not as bad as the gnat/beetle fest the other day but still...
With the sun coming up earlier I guess its no suprise for BugFest at 430 am...
With the sun coming up earlier I guess its no suprise for BugFest at 430 am...
06-22-08, 08:21 PM
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The ride home was even slower and lazier than the ride to work. I had some nice weather to enjoy, it was warm but cloudy. Perfect! So I dawdled even more than I would have if I was just trying to nurse a cold.
The only interruption to my idyllic moment was a couple having a domestic on their front porch...but even that reminded me that I was on the way home to see my wonderful husband who doesn't yell at me and my adorable little daughter.
The only interruption to my idyllic moment was a couple having a domestic on their front porch...but even that reminded me that I was on the way home to see my wonderful husband who doesn't yell at me and my adorable little daughter.
06-22-08, 09:47 PM
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The ride home was even slower and lazier than the ride to work. I had some nice weather to enjoy, it was warm but cloudy. Perfect! So I dawdled even more than I would have if I was just trying to nurse a cold.
The only interruption to my idyllic moment was a couple having a domestic on their front porch...but even that reminded me that I was on the way home to see my wonderful husband who doesn't yell at me and my adorable little daughter.
The only interruption to my idyllic moment was a couple having a domestic on their front porch...but even that reminded me that I was on the way home to see my wonderful husband who doesn't yell at me and my adorable little daughter.
06-23-08, 12:31 AM
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Left earlier this morning, as I had a meeting before work.
Less traffic, and was a fast commute. I'm also riding my 'other' bike, and gears definitely make it faster.
But boy was it cold. About 8C. If this keeps up I might need to wear a long-sleeved shirt! My fingers were very cold when I got to work, and were rather tingly for a while.
Less traffic, and was a fast commute. I'm also riding my 'other' bike, and gears definitely make it faster.
But boy was it cold. About 8C. If this keeps up I might need to wear a long-sleeved shirt! My fingers were very cold when I got to work, and were rather tingly for a while.
06-23-08, 02:55 AM
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Interesting ride home (also interesting that I rode to work, worked, and then rode home whilst all you guys were presumably in bed!) as my rear der gave up the ghost on the way in.
I didn't notice at the time, but I changed gear near to work, and the chain kind of snagged for a second. Didn't think anything of it at the time, but it seems that it was caused by the tensioning spring in the rear der failing. (It's about 20 years old, so I can't really complain, but hey).
So I came to ride home, and the chain is all floppy and I can't pedal backwards without the cage snagging on the sprockets. What to do?
I managed to get it into a weird 'large/largeish' gear combo, which was enough to pull the chain taut enough to stop it snagging. I then rode home, taking care not to pedal backwards! Quite a tiring ride; luckily it's mostly downhill, but the gear combo I had was rather high, and coupled with the slack chain and the slow speed I was maintaining made the few climbs a bit hard work.
I guess I'll be back on the single speed tomorrow! That's the trouble with gears. Just something else to go wrong...!
I didn't notice at the time, but I changed gear near to work, and the chain kind of snagged for a second. Didn't think anything of it at the time, but it seems that it was caused by the tensioning spring in the rear der failing. (It's about 20 years old, so I can't really complain, but hey).
So I came to ride home, and the chain is all floppy and I can't pedal backwards without the cage snagging on the sprockets. What to do?
I managed to get it into a weird 'large/largeish' gear combo, which was enough to pull the chain taut enough to stop it snagging. I then rode home, taking care not to pedal backwards! Quite a tiring ride; luckily it's mostly downhill, but the gear combo I had was rather high, and coupled with the slack chain and the slow speed I was maintaining made the few climbs a bit hard work.
I guess I'll be back on the single speed tomorrow! That's the trouble with gears. Just something else to go wrong...!
06-23-08, 05:07 AM
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70F/21C with a light sprinkle.
The past few weeks I've been riding an aluminum cross-style bike (Redline)--got a fairly digestable price on ebay for a fork and frame. I'd never really ridden an AL frame before, so I was curious. I've liked it better than I thought I might, though even on fairly mild bumps it seems have an "ejector seat' tendency to pop my tookus up into the air. Turns out that that the frame was just a little too big, as well (top tube longer than I like, and the standover height is...shall we say, ticklish?).
Anyway, I have a steel framed replacement all ready to be built up (LeMond Poprad), so I had to go back to the old hybrid I've been riding for the last year+ while I transfer parts from one cross-style frame to the other.
YE GODS!! What a TANK I'd been riding all this time. Sheesh!
The past few weeks I've been riding an aluminum cross-style bike (Redline)--got a fairly digestable price on ebay for a fork and frame. I'd never really ridden an AL frame before, so I was curious. I've liked it better than I thought I might, though even on fairly mild bumps it seems have an "ejector seat' tendency to pop my tookus up into the air. Turns out that that the frame was just a little too big, as well (top tube longer than I like, and the standover height is...shall we say, ticklish?).
Anyway, I have a steel framed replacement all ready to be built up (LeMond Poprad), so I had to go back to the old hybrid I've been riding for the last year+ while I transfer parts from one cross-style frame to the other.
YE GODS!! What a TANK I'd been riding all this time. Sheesh!
06-23-08, 05:24 AM
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another absolutely beautiful Hoosier morning. Great ride. Even had company a few hundred yards.
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06-23-08, 05:31 AM
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Realized that I had ridden all of last week without a pump. I discovered this last night as I was moving stuff from one backpack to another. I move this pump from my commuting pack to a Camelback on the weekends when I go mountain biking. Kind of a big deal as I seem to flat frequently on my commute and the thought of having to walk home or taking the Metro bothers me. Also, I rode a nice, clean bike in this morning. After letting my bike suffer through Friday night's downpour outside and uncovered, I figured I owed it a nice wipedown. Now it's clean and shiny.
All things considered (left late, rt. hamstring tightness, general fatigue, etc) it was a good ride in this mornig: cool, dry, avg speed of 18-19 mph. Hopefully I can outrun this afternoon's thunderstorms.
All things considered (left late, rt. hamstring tightness, general fatigue, etc) it was a good ride in this mornig: cool, dry, avg speed of 18-19 mph. Hopefully I can outrun this afternoon's thunderstorms.
