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How was the commute today?

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How was the commute today?

Old 07-02-08, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by clg
I got to my department and parked my bike, a few minutes later I heard an explosion that sounded like a firecracker. I new right away what it was, my tire blew.
A tire only blows out when the tube is outside the rim, the tire is shot or it's (the tube) getting out a spoke hole, even if it deflates in the tire, the tire will hold the air in. Only when the tube is outside the tire that you get an explosive blow out. I'd check the rim & rim tape and tire 'cause something isn't right, i've learned a whole lot about tires/rims/tape in the last month because of the same problem. For me it was a simple matter of new good quality rim tape and it's been smooth riding ever since..
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Old 07-03-08, 05:11 AM
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Fine, uneventful ride in this AM. 4 for 4 this week. Had a pleasant exchange with a white panel truck. He did me a small kindness by using his turn signal and not being impatient with having a cyclist in the lane in front of him. I gave him a wave and he gave me a toot on his horn. Much better than the typical exchanges i have had with panel trucks...or any trucks for that matter.
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Old 07-03-08, 05:25 AM
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wussed out this AM, raining quite a bit. My wife drove in this AM so I still did not have to drive my truck.
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Old 07-03-08, 06:00 AM
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Drove to work today for the first time since June 13 -- almost 3 weeks. Would have liked to keep the streak going but the laundry was starting to pile up in my office, and I needed to restock food and supplies in my office and do some other errands. My other excuse is that I'm riding a July 4 metric century tomorrow with friends, and I want to rest up my legs. I have ridden almost every day for the past few weeks, and the old legs were starting to feel tired. So, hopefully I will start another streak going on Monday.
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Old 07-03-08, 06:04 AM
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Today is my short riding day, 10 miles one way, and I needed it, two consective 42 roundtrips and my legs were sore as heck. Anyways, on the way in I was crusing along taking it easy and then a cyclist pops out of nowhere; he spoked me lol I'd actually seen him at least 5 times going in opposite directions but this time we were going the same way.

We talked about our rides and how far we were going. I don't think he was a commuter but he's pretty dedicated to getting out every morning and riding around downtown Houston.

In all, great ride into today. Houston mornings have been awesome.
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Old 07-03-08, 06:12 AM
  #25531  
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another beautiful commute this morning. The weather here in NC this week has been perfect. Hope you all have a great 4th...see you next week.
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Old 07-03-08, 06:38 AM
  #25532  
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While getting on the bike today, noticed a gouge the size of a half a dime in my new bontager tire. All the way down to the tread. Didn't think it wise to ride with that much tread showing, so had to drive in, in spite of a picture perfect day. Rats.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:23 AM
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Got shouted at again by a warden on Pyrmont Bridge (MUP). As I approached him, he yelled 'slow down, slow down'.

Now, there is a problem on that bridge with cyclists hooning over too fast. I'm supportive of measures to get them to slow down. And that's why I take it nice and steady. There was no one in the vicinity, and I was probably doing about 10km/h.

He then called out '5km/h speed limit'. (That's about 3mph). Now, this is odd, because (aside from the fact it is actually quite hard to ride that slow) the area is clearly marked with 10km/h speed signs.

So I stopped, and queried the warden about it. He was adamant that it as 5km/h. I asked him about the sign, but after at first refusing to believe me he told me that 'it was wrong'.

I was a bit annoyed about the whole thing, to be honest. It's quite clear that the wardens are shouting at all cyclists, regardless of whether they are riding irresponsibly or not. If you are on a bike, as far as they are concerned you are going to fast. Period. And the fact that they clearly don't know what the speed limit actually is (he looked very confused when I told him about the signs) hardly inspires confidence.

That kind of spoiled an otherwise nice ride. Oh well.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:28 AM
  #25534  
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Nice weather today. Got a late start but still only saw 2 other commuters. Guess everyone took the day off.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:32 AM
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Pretty nice ride in today. Only one idiot in a cage. I'm riding the white line on the left side of the lane because I'm turning left and actually am in the process of filtering up to the light. Anyway, the lane on the right is wide open, and some numb nut in a small car, like a corolla lays on his horn behind me. Like, damned dude, you can't drive past me? there's a good 12 ft of space and your car is at maximum 7ft across. I almost stopped and walked back to tell him he had no business behind the wheel of an auto if he could not drive through that space. I've seen Semi's drive through tighter spaces.
Anyway, the rest of the ride in was really nice.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:51 AM
  #25536  
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Finally a 17 mph tailwind in the morning when its not wasted (Lakefront path is too crowded to ride fast in the afternoon). Got up to 25-27 mph. Record commute time.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:53 AM
  #25537  
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On the way hone yesterday, I rolled my folding bike into the train and I noticed that there were three road bikes in the car to my right, and a fw more in the next car. They were part of a larger group of tourers, going from New Orleans to New York City. I'm not sure how they managed to get touring bikes on the train during rush hour, but they did.

When we got off the train at Newark Penn Station, they got off with me. there were 50 or 20 of them! They had flags and bags and were wearing hippie-style clothing. A wonderful distraction from my daily commute.
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Old 07-03-08, 08:19 AM
  #25538  
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glorious day
drank green tea with lemon
legs felt strong
didn't have to get out of the clips for the whole ride
this might be a first
 
Old 07-03-08, 08:41 AM
  #25539  
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Reasonably quick despite a respectable headwind. Upper 60sF, and overcast. Didn't see anyone out riding. Maybe the weather chased them back into their cars. Supposed to rain a lot today.
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Old 07-03-08, 09:29 AM
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Last nights commute was awesome, a new record average speed: 32.47km over a distance of 26km. Wasn't fast enough to stay ahead of the roadie that smoked me on Hwy 2 though... that dude was moving. He closed the gap and passed me fairly quickly and i was doing 40kph. Close to home a couple of rednecks hasseled me at the lights... they were good natured about it and we all ended up laughing.
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Old 07-03-08, 10:21 AM
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Ride home Tuesday was interesting - saw 3 other cyclists. Didn't manage to catch up to two of them before they turned off my route, but I passed the third on my way home. As I approached from the back I could see that he was on an old steel bike, and as I got closer I realized that it was a vintage Allez that was parked at the rack at my office that day. Nice bike - a bit worn looking, but pretty sweet. We chatted for a minute as I passed him. He's new to the commuting game, and a bit out of shape. We were riding on a sorta curvy country road. A car drove up behind us so I pulled ahead of him to make way for the car, wished him a good night, and took off. Wish I'd thought to ask him where his commute takes him to, or his name - he works in my building (along with about 900 others) but I don't think I've ever run into him in the office before. Anyway, that's truly the first interaction I've had with another commuter on my ride in 15 months (total, not continuous) of commuting to this office.

Ride was nice that night; the computer battery died so I was free of the tyranny of the cadence. Haven't yet replaced it, so ride in was similarly free. I found myself drifting mentally this morning,though. Good thing traffic was light due to tomorrow's holiday. I'm getting spoiled by the moderate temps - dare not hope they stick around for the rest of the summer!
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Old 07-03-08, 10:26 AM
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Okay. I'm an idiot with too many bikes. (My wife would agree.) I have THREE bikes at work right now. Short version: twice this week I caught a ride home with my wife. I will have to load two of them into the minivan this afternoon.

Anyway, it's a lovely morning again in Sacramento. I wish I didn't have to rush into the office and enjoy the ride a bit.
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Old 07-03-08, 10:53 AM
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Legs were a bit sore this morning, but I managed to make it in quickest to date. It was a bit humid, but overall it was not a bad ride. Took a walk at lunch, and though hot, there is a lot less humidity. Should be a nice ride home.
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Old 07-03-08, 11:09 AM
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Not long enough... never long enough (2 miles, one way). I should move further from work.
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Old 07-03-08, 12:00 PM
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Working in our city office today so the ride was only about 10 min. Easy, Sleazy, Japaneasy on a beautiful albeit a bit windy day in the windy city.
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Old 07-03-08, 01:16 PM
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I was crap in June. Only rode two of 14 possible commute days. [Though did two half-centuries]. But better for July - three for three so far.

Been dodging the afternoon storms this week. Made it home five minutes before the rain on Tuesday, and left just after a big storm Wednesday. Today it's windy but it should be a tailwind.

This morning I saw the most cyclists I've seen in one morning ride - close to a dozen. For the second day in a row I dusted a lady on her comfy looking Trek hybrid, but a few minutes later got dusted by a commuter in full kit on his flashy Cannondale that probably cost 10 times my Bridgestone.

Working on getting my new commuter into service: A comfy Motobecane Super Mirage. Bring on the cushy, clunky classics.
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Old 07-03-08, 01:40 PM
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commute today was good. didn't fall into any bushes or run into any poles...so much improved from other rides i've been on recently!
yay me
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Old 07-03-08, 02:04 PM
  #25548  
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flat!
tire!

that's what i get for riding ultra-thin sew ups on the road. an $80 tire that lasts 500 km and push-to-work day.

grrr.
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Old 07-03-08, 06:09 PM
  #25549  
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I had a double commute because one of my customers needed help after my day job.

On the way there, for the first time, a motorist passing from behind in the next lane over yelled something rude at me, "Get on the sidewalk, dumb***!"
At the time it was a four lane road, 30mph speed limit, few cars and I was within 2 feet of the right curb going 18mph.
I did not acknowledge him.
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Old 07-03-08, 07:17 PM
  #25550  
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I had a great ride home today. I got my first hottie to give me a stare down along with a sweet smile as she walked in the crosswalk at a red light. I of course, returned the favor and said "Hello". I also got offered a beer along the bayou from two guys that were throwing a fishing net for bait. I turned it down as I had to get home. Lastly, people on the trail today were just in a good mood, I got several waves and "hellos". Must be the upcoming holiday, happy 4th everyone!
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