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How was the commute today?

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How was the commute today?

Old 06-30-08, 07:39 AM
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A lot of "first" today. First ride in this morning on my new Dahon Helios, Lois. I had a blast. I'm the first owner as she has been in a warehouse. My first folder. I love it uh I mean her. She is fast, responsive and SO LIGHT. I have been commuting every day since May 12th but will need my staff car to attend a Pub. Works conference so I rode the folder, Lois, to the office so I could fold her and put her in the car to travel back home. My PR, commuting to work without missing a day is still intact.
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Old 06-30-08, 07:50 AM
  #25427  
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The commute in this morning was a bit uncomfortable... only 70 F, but 90% humidity. The roads were still soaked from last night's rain and I found my Freddy clip-on fenders still allow some road spray to get onto my legs. I'm keeping an eye out on Craigslist for a used cyclocross bike with full fender mounts and good tire clearance.
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Old 06-30-08, 07:57 AM
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Very very empty. Tomorrow is Canada's day and it seems everyone is taking today off.
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Old 06-30-08, 08:38 AM
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Similarly empty. I can't believe I'm working today.
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Old 06-30-08, 08:53 AM
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Big piece of metal, picture a HUGE staple, or a bent nail, double-punctured my tire. I heard the clicking, stopped and found it. I couldn't tell that it was leaking any air though - so of course, I pulled it out and it immediately went flat.

I can't really fault the tire, as this thing would have gone through anything. Had I been on my 23c tires instead of these big 35c's I doubt I'd have hit it even once, much less a double puncture. I didn't even bother looking at the tube as I knew I didn't have the patience to perform a double patch.

Now, the question is if I should try to patch it at work before heading home, or just cross my fingers.
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Old 06-30-08, 09:00 AM
  #25431  
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Saturday

3rd time a nail goes all the way through a rim.

I call it a baptism
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Old 06-30-08, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by jwbnyc
Sounds like a reasonable compromise.
My wife was the one who pointed out that I am miserable unless I ride just about everyday.
So, rather than quitting I cut my distance in half.


-------------

Nice 14 mile commute to the light rail this morning. 60F and sunny. I am wondering if it will ever warm up to 65F in the morning so I can leave the arm warmers at home. Also, if one has road rash and wears arm warmers without a bandage your road rash tends to peel off.

I performed my intervals this morning and found it easier without having to face the fact that I just exhausted myself with 20 more miles to ride. I finished up 15 min before I pulled into the light rail station.
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Old 06-30-08, 10:13 AM
  #25433  
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First Commute...Ever

Hey, hope everyone is doing splendid today.

My commute today was amazing, it was actually my first commute ever...but it was VERY fun.

I just got a bike this weekend (a trek 4300) and I got it for multiple reasons. To commute, save money on gas, get back in shape, and enjoy my day. I haven't really been on a bike since I was 11, which is when I outgrew the first bike I ever had. Back then I rode my bike every where, every day; to the park, through the park; to school, the liquor stor, and to my friends house. I would ride to the top of this huge hill just to go soaring down the other side.

It came to be that biking was just something I NEEDED to do again. I love it! And there are so many other great benefits, I couldn't deny myself any longer. I got my bike on friday and I haven't really been off of it since. I rode some trails near my boyfriends house in the canyons, I rode around my dad's house (my old stomping ground, and yes I SOARED down that hill again! Though I found the trek up a little harder than i remembered ), through the park I used to ride in, and finally...to work today.

The commute was fantastic, there's a bike trail for the beginning half of my commute (about 1.25 miles) and it's nothing special, it sort of runs alongside a road, and then I go through a small park before coming to a fairly low traffic road that I ride along for just about the rest of my commute. By far the SCARIEST part is the HIGH traffic intersection right before the 5 and 55 freeway on/off ramps. I might find a way to bypass this area in the future. But all in all an awesome commute and I'm looking forward to riding my bike... EVERYWHERE. =]

Have a wonderful day everyone. If you made it through that post with out your ears bleeding... kudos to you! They will be shorter in the future.
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Old 06-30-08, 10:23 AM
  #25434  
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Your enthusiasm about biking is making me smile.... thank you for the sunshine.
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Old 06-30-08, 10:34 AM
  #25435  
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My buddy and I were deep into a discussion about Russia, Britain, the Great Game, petro-politics, and Islam, when we heard the unmistakable sound of a bike going down on the pavement. We turned and there was a woman on the ground. She hopped up pretty quickly. We asked if she was okay and she said that she was, and said (with just a little bile in her tone) that her husband had already gone up around the bend and left her there. We said we'd tell him when we caught up.

That guy is going to be sleeping in the garage for a week.
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Old 06-30-08, 10:42 AM
  #25436  
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Big piece of metal, picture a HUGE staple, or a bent nail, double-punctured my tire. I heard the clicking, stopped and found it. I couldn't tell that it was leaking any air though - so of course, I pulled it out and it immediately went flat.

I can't really fault the tire, as this thing would have gone through anything. Had I been on my 23c tires instead of these big 35c's I doubt I'd have hit it even once, much less a double puncture. I didn't even bother looking at the tube as I knew I didn't have the patience to perform a double patch.

Now, the question is if I should try to patch it at work before heading home, or just cross my fingers.
Patch it. It will seem like wasted effort, because you'll end up not needing it. Choose not to, and there's a great change Murphy will come for a visit
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Old 06-30-08, 10:46 AM
  #25437  
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
My wife was the one who pointed out that I am miserable unless I ride just about everyday.
So, rather than quitting I cut my distance in half.
Sounds like a very reasonable (wise?) approach... wisdom = applied knowledge, or something like that.

if one has road rash and wears arm warmers without a bandage your road rash tends to peel off.
One word: Tegaderm. More words: nasty rash from a softball slide (always say I'm not gonna slide, but when faced with the decision, i seem to always slide... dumb...), healed with new skin in 7 days, all discoloration gone in 17 days... Unbelievable stuff...
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Old 06-30-08, 10:49 AM
  #25438  
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Originally Posted by AmberRae
Back then I rode my bike every where, every day; to the park, through the park; to school, the liquor stor, ...
Welcome to the club! I'm afraid to even ask what you were doing riding to the liquor store as an 11 year old? Or did I read that wrong somehow?

Anyhoo, keep having fun on the bike!
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Old 06-30-08, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by ctoddrun
One word: Tegaderm. More words: nasty rash from a softball slide (always say I'm not gonna slide, but when faced with the decision, i seem to always slide... dumb...), healed with new skin in 7 days, all discoloration gone in 17 days... Unbelievable stuff...
That does it. I am going to give tagaderm a try.
Thanks
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Old 06-30-08, 11:16 AM
  #25440  
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72-73 degrees this AM and 100% humidity (spitting as I rode in).
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Old 06-30-08, 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
That does it. I am going to give tagaderm a try.
Thanks
One note - you might have to tape it down on the edges, and it will drain (it is NOT absorbent) - feels strange, looks bad, but worth it. And don't change it - shower, etc. with it on - for 7 days. When you take it off you'll be shocked...

Edit: I guess that's more than one note...
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Old 06-30-08, 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ctoddrun
Welcome to the club! I'm afraid to even ask what you were doing riding to the liquor store as an 11 year old? Or did I read that wrong somehow?

Anyhoo, keep having fun on the bike!
They sell candy at the liquor store. =]
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Old 06-30-08, 12:57 PM
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Skipped my commute today - my ongoing elbow injury (climbing related) flared up on a commute last week .... I managed a climb on the weekend, but biking seems harder on my elbow than climbing. Strange but true.

I felt bad not biking ... it is hot in Calgary, but perfect cycling weather.
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Old 06-30-08, 01:10 PM
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Great to Hear Good News

Originally Posted by AmberRae
Hey, hope everyone is doing splendid today.

My commute today was amazing, it was actually my first commute ever...but it was VERY fun.

I just got a bike this weekend (a trek 4300) and I got it for multiple reasons. To commute, save money on gas, get back in shape, and enjoy my day. I haven't really been on a bike since I was 11, which is when I outgrew the first bike I ever had. Back then I rode my bike every where, every day; to the park, through the park; to school, the liquor stor, and to my friends house. I would ride to the top of this huge hill just to go soaring down the other side.

It came to be that biking was just something I NEEDED to do again. I love it! And there are so many other great benefits, I couldn't deny myself any longer. I got my bike on friday and I haven't really been off of it since. I rode some trails near my boyfriends house in the canyons, I rode around my dad's house (my old stomping ground, and yes I SOARED down that hill again! Though I found the trek up a little harder than i remembered ), through the park I used to ride in, and finally...to work today.

The commute was fantastic, there's a bike trail for the beginning half of my commute (about 1.25 miles) and it's nothing special, it sort of runs alongside a road, and then I go through a small park before coming to a fairly low traffic road that I ride along for just about the rest of my commute. By far the SCARIEST part is the HIGH traffic intersection right before the 5 and 55 freeway on/off ramps. I might find a way to bypass this area in the future. But all in all an awesome commute and I'm looking forward to riding my bike... EVERYWHERE. =]

Have a wonderful day everyone. If you made it through that post with out your ears bleeding... kudos to you! They will be shorter in the future.
Yeah that is certainly great to hear, keep riding, it's an experience in itself, and you get back be happy, you saved gas money, and feel good for the ride Awesome Points.

So far as my commute, well it is early in the day I will offer that up when the day completes.
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Old 06-30-08, 01:27 PM
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Last Monday on my way in I had to go around a man taking a **** on the Manhattan bridge bikeway, today the pile of **** was still there which is pretty impressive considering the rain we had this last week. The city has set up some "waterfalls" one can be seen from the bridge, I have to say I am underwhelmed and not liking the added foot traffic. Why they set up an art installation that can only be seen from a bike path and then invite millions of tourists to visit I can't quite figure out. I got my second puncture in as many weeks. The tire came off w/o the aid of my tire levers and when I held the thing up towards the sky the sun shown through in more spots than I could count. I think it is time some some new tires. I was only 10 minutes late but left my helmet on my handle bars and had to excuse myself 10 minutes later, when I realized, to go fetch it. Still a better commute than a hot steamy ride on the subway.
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Old 06-30-08, 02:48 PM
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Ugh. Got my first squirrel this morning. My buddy and I were jra and there he/she sat just on the edge of the trail. I was in front of my buddy so I decided not to break formation. He/she chose the wrong direction to run and I squished him/her. It was a sickening crunching sound. You can bet I won't be telling my 5 year-old.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:10 PM
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OK ride this AM, but I was really feeling my age.
Then I caught sight of a flag and realized I was really feeling a headwind.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:13 PM
  #25448  
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Didn't think it was possible.

Originally Posted by Bulldozer
Ugh. Got my first squirrel this morning. My buddy and I were jra and there he/she sat just on the edge of the trail. I was in front of my buddy so I decided not to break formation. He/she chose the wrong direction to run and I squished him/her. It was a sickening crunching sound. You can bet I won't be telling my 5 year-old.
I didn't think it was possible to hit a squirrel with a bicycle? I doubt you could do that again in a lifetime. **** happens! The thing about squirrels is that when you try to avoid them you're more likely to hit them, at least that's my experience with the car.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:16 PM
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While not easy, it is possible. I caught the squirrel in the middle of something on the side of the trail. The squirrel noticed me too late and made the wrong decision. Strangely, the closest trees were to my right but he went left -- crunch.
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Old 06-30-08, 03:33 PM
  #25450  
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My bike had a flat overnight, so I grabbed my son's bike for the commute. My first real ride on a MTB. I found myself leaning way forward over the bars to reduce the wind resistance. Very smooth ride but much slower. I'm sticking with the road bike.
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