PaulH

Same for me. I dropped off my wife's car at the shop and rode to work, mostly, on the WO&D and Custis trails. I don't ride trails much, and I was amazed at the sheer luxury of 7 miles without a single stoplight or cross street. THis should also probably come under "Advantages of Bike Commuting", because my wife is free to borrow my car. It was a great trip in cool, pleasant weather. (of course, the trails in Falls Church VA are very hard to find from the roads, but that is a different matter)

Paul

cat

I had a good ride in, despite a flat. I chatted with a gentleman riding a fixie at several traffic signals. Very impressive to see. The legs on him were HUGE. Anyhow, I don't think it will be something that I try anytime soon

caloso

It was a wonderful morning to ride a bike. Saw two young mule deer bucks bounding through the high grass near the bike trail. Saw a small hawk or kite hovering like a hummingbird above the levee, searching for mice I guess. Back in town, I ran into a friend as he was dropping his young sons off at daycare. We had a nice chat before I had to get going to the office.

You just can't have a morning like that in a car, can you?

Kodama

Seems to be a great day everywhere and no exception to this here in my part of the PNW. Finally a morning with no wind (made up a bit for the very strong headwind going home last night) warm weather and for no understandable reason a fairly empty trail. I also saw some wildlife that I've never seen before-- a pair of small weasel looking things. Very small so maybe they were youngsters, with reddish brown bodies and a black tip on the tail. Foxes maybe? I've never heard of foxes in these parts. They ran across the Sammamish River trail near the Redhook brewery. Any ideas?

caloso

Beerhounds?

Mine'sAPint

Damn those beerhounds!!!

Kodama

Nah, not enough belly to be beerhounds.

Jean Beetham Smith 

47F/8C, clear & beautiful this morning. Chris L, we had the same temps! No special sunrise or set for me though. I did startle a deer today, which is unusual, they usually just stand and watch me go by. If I stop we can get into a staring game, but I don't like to make them feel threatened. Anyway this one ran across the road with all the grace, and hoof clattering, of a moose.

Rowan

We're in way different parts of the continent, but that moonrise was just sensational. In Hobat's case, the moon looked like a huge cheesewheel rising up over the hills -- 20 or 30 times its normal size. No red sky, though. And I spotted an aircraft with all lights blazing "hovering" in the middle distance ready to land at our aiport. Another awesome sight. Last Sunday it was an F-111 fighter jet that roared overhead (we don't get many defence aircraft down here -- we're not worth defending!).

I really do wonder if the "cardines" ever appreciate what they are missing out on.

The wind picked up a bit last night (and I had a front-tyre flat), and was stronger again this morning. Driving home tonight and back to work tomorrow morning in an office pool car because of a meeting way out of town (so, yes I do have a dark side).

R

John C. Ratliff

I've had two really nice commute days here, with weather in the mid-80s F. Very nice weather for the Portland area. Yesterday afternoon I was also able to show the City of Hillsboro the place where their path grabbed my front wheel, and threw me for a header (in slow motion, as I was not going fast). He said that they would fix that, and that he would talk to the City about my front rim being bent too.

John

Jaimie65

Riding to work yesterday morning, my commuting buddy and I were heading along one of our major roads doing about 30 clicks (km/h) when we noticed a car starting to pull out of a local motor inn.

Initially it appeared the car had seen us so no dramas until... @#$%# !!!. Double near miss no sauce. My commuting comrade then pointed out to me that I had frightened two innocent foot users nearby half to death with my somewhat exaggerated yelping.

We followed the car up to the next set of traffic lights and it became clear the Mr. Passenger was suffering severe embarrassment as a direct result of Mrs. Drivers' decision making prowess.

About six minutes later we noted a beep from a car passing us - lo and behold Mr. Passenger has become Mr. Driver. Best apology from a car I've ever had.

Rowan

Hey Jaimie65

What was that bright-light UFO that followed you home last night?

Chris L

Yeah, but it's summer over there? This morning it was about 12 deg C - officially the perfect riding temperature. Actually, it was the same on my pre-dawn ride this morning. For some reason, Surfers Paradise was unusually quiet this morning. Maybe they were in fear. Today I dragged out an old bike that I'd recently had fixed up after having a spanky one stolen from work not so long ago. Gave a very different ride, but I flew!

chewa

Last few weeks of commuting have been good, but the constant headwind going home all last week was replaced by no wind or a slight helper on Monday, but back to headwind last night.

I snapped a powerlink on my new chain on the way home last night. it sounded like a rifle shot, but luckily did not break both sides so limped on until I could stop.

Of course, my chain tool was at home (don't need one with a powerlink - right) but my riding companion had his..

Took out a couple of links. Riveted the chain and got home. then reinstated a few links.

Boy was I oily, and that on a chain less than a month old with less than 400 miles on it. I think I must have overstressed it when removing links to fit with no excessive slack.

Makoa

This morning was first morning of commuting for me this week--so much rain, so little willpower. (Previous two years of consistent commuting were drought years. We're having record rain levels this year, and I'm finding it harder to get on the bike. It's a willpower thing. I'm working on it.)

It was just a little foggy this morning, but roads were still wet from last night's rain. In preparation for going to a single speed commuter (less parts to get wet), I did most of my ride this morning in a 42/16 gear (MTB, city tires). Worked the legs a little at times, but it felt good, and I was a couple mintues faster than usual.

mrfix

Left the house this morning under heavy cloud cover and 50 degrees F, pushed a slight head wind the whole ride, it started to rain lightly about half way in and kept raining for the remainder of the ride. The rain was cool but light and kind of enjoyable, makes for interesting situations on the metal bridges. Where's summer? I've been waiting, it should be in full swing by now.

darrencope

Nice ride in this morning. Overcast and warm (about 17 C and) and very humid (97% humidity)...and that's at 7 am..phew... what's it going to be like tonite? I doubt tonite's heat will slow me down though, as I think I'll be home in record time -- I'm leaving immediately after work for a 4 day canoe trip, and I'm super excitied...

Andy Dreisch

I'm back to ignoring the speedometer again. I'm also into a solid pattern of 20-milers to and from work with hills. This once was about my limit on a regular basis but now I can do it fairly easily. The trick is hill climbing, something I've done more and more of recently. I treat the commute itself as nothing but a giant sprint.

Anyway the SJ area is very cool once again -- we'll be lucky to hit 80 today. Traffic's noticably lighter recently and the traffic lights were generally favorable today, making for a pretty fast ride in.

SteveE

It is a nicer commute -- whether in the car or on the bike -- in the summer months when school's out and people start taking their vacations. Quite a noticeable drop-off in the number of cars on the road in the AM.

Andy Dreisch

I agree, SteveE, it is nice with less traffic. It seems that this year there has been a bigger drop off than prior years. Or maybe I've been paying more attention.

The downside of fewer cars on my commute is that there are more trucks back-to-back to contend with. Oh well !!

brennser

didn't get out of work till 9 last night and cycled home in a downpour

this morning had me cycling in light rain and through the mud and puddles of the previous night

in a word, miserable

tchazzard

Ah, life in New England....two nice days after two days of rain...now back into the rain. I wore a light weight rain coat for the ride in to find out it really is not a rain coat. I got soaked. I have been using my ceramic heater to dry things out for what looks to be an even wetter ride home.

Chi

Damn wind ... I hate wind ... it's been frickin windy here every day I've ridden.

Andy Dreisch

I had wind, too. A massive tailwind that scooped me up at work and dropped me off at home. I sprinted nonetheless and still got quite a workout.

Chris L

Oh man, That's something I never get tired of! This morning I watched the waves roll in from the clouds out to sea. The different light tones they made on the ocean looked almost biblical. I must have seen it thousands of times, and It always manages to catch my attention. Just marvellous!