Typical day. High 80s in the AM, and 103 in the afternoon. One of the best parts of my day!

Dark this morning. I used to ride to work with the sunrise, and now it's just dark lol.

I was released for a half day today at noon, but had to stay 4 extra hours to pick up the slack of a coworker. The ride home I made great time though getting the stress out.

Holy cow it's hot, though.

You know, I really enjoy commuting but, since it got hot it seems people have gotten real dumb. this evening a lady started around me, gave me plenty of room then just as she got almost past me she decided to turn right, er right in front of me. i got stopped and would have missed her anyway, but then she realized, I guess that I was still there, remember she had got over and gave me plenty of room, I guess she forgot why she was way over on the road, anyway seconds later she is right hooking me realized it, then dam near hit the cars getting ready to pull out on the street we were passing her on. She slid to a stop on the YMCA grass, drove back on the road and pulled into the parking lot. She was an old lady so I did not stop and explain things to her. How do these dummies live so long. Sorry about the rant, now I feel better.

O before that a couple of guys down town, suit types, while I was sitting at a light, were asking about biking and how far a reasonable commute, bikes to get and stuff. They might be on here, I told them you guys were pretty smart. And the Morning ride was great.

That is the best feeling in the world. I love it when I pull out of my road onto the main road through town, with a car next to me, and by the time I get to work that same car is driving by as I'm locking up.

Ride home was rough... Summer Ohio wind in my face the whole damn way. So glad to rest up tomorrow.

Torrential downpours! I think I swam home. :p
I love the change. Much better than the constant hot and hot with wind.
For some reason I took my PI wind vest and I used it to help me stay visible in the rain. Bright green is cool. :p

You know, now that I think about it, the other tube looked like it was giving way a little bit in the same spot. I'll go with your suggestion next time I have to take the tire off. Hopefully that will be later, rather than sooner.

I swear, I've been learning so much about repairs, maintenance, and tune-ups since I started commuting by bike. Putting miles on a bike necessitates it. Thank goodness for Sheldon and other helpful people like yourself.

Hell, a bike only has so many moving parts. How anything with a combustion engine can work so long amazes me.

First commuter post here after lurking for weeks.

Morning ride was less crowded than Monday. The overnight rain must clear the streets. Still, saw a couple of familiar faces dodging the traffic on Clinton Street, making their way to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Reade Street was blocked by a flatbed truck delivering a bulldozer to a new building site. Chambers full of traffic. But the West Side highway's bike trail was pretty empty for a summer morning.

Rode up to 24th Street and crossed over to 7th Avenue without a glitch.

Legs were tired all day. Knees aching. Never felt that before. Must be getting used to this.

Ride home was hotter. Strong wind blowing from the West. Again, West Side highway was pretty empty but the Brooklyn Bridge was packed with peds. Didn't see too many crossing the bicycle line to take pictures and finally saw that Fourth Water Fall (had been wondering where it was - it's just under the Brooklyn Esplanade).

Followed a guy on a Fixie the rest of the way. Made it home in 45 minutes without rushing. Probably my personal record at this point.

One of the two zipties holding the detector part of my speedometer snapped somehow. I heard something after a block and found the issue. I went by Urbane and asked 'em for a spare ziptie.
Slow ride home. I kept thinking I was hearing noises from the bike so I didn't push it.

Hot as heck today here in the Triangle. Ride home was rough. Felt like the infamous summer of 2007.

I drove to work today on account of the rainy weather. I had some errands to run, anyway. Driving home, the cars ahead were slowing down to avoid a ninja cyclist. I sort of yelled out the door, "You're too slow, dude!"

First Commute This Decade
 

Getting out of shape ... sick of buying gas ... used to love biking ... probably a pretty typical commuter conversion story...

Step 1: Trade in the 1999 Schwinn Mesa GSX for a 2008 Specialized Stumpjumper HT (quite the upgrade, huh?).
Step 2: Take it on one medium length ride (10 miles)
Step 3: Take the plunge!

25 miles RT
Wind Negligible
Morning: 80F, 46 minutes
Evening: 105F, 46 minutes

LOVE IT!

Fine. A six mile ride to work and leading a group of cycle tourists on an eight mile ride to wineries. The less fun part was loading and unloading bikes and kayaks, setting up lunch for the ungrateful riders and dealing with a broken trailer hitch.

Welcome to the new members/commuters. I forget that I've only been a member here since January (though commuting for a good bit before that) when I think, "Who are all these people?"

Anyway, 68F/20C and broken clouds in the pre-dawn. Pretty nice riding weather (though I still maintain that 50F/10C is just about perfect). Second day in a row my ride in has been non-stop. I usually catch at least one light. I've tried several variations to see which one is most likely to be uninterrupted, but I think it's just the luck of the draw. Don't get me wrong, though, it's all good... :D

Cool 79 degrees. Although it was a bit humid, it was a break from the 90+ degrees we've been getting in the mornings. It's dark when I head out at 0515 so it's just my Nightrider headlight leading the way. Had no dogs chasing chasing me today and that's always a plus. It's just two groups of dogs that chase me in different locations along my route. once I slow down, they loose interest and move on. The bad news is that I'm hearing a clicking noise when I peddle so I may have to take the bike in to the LBS again. I like my bike to be as quiet as possible so I can travel under the radar and slip by any dogs.:) Hope the repairs don't take long because the LBS doesn't lend out loaner bikes.
Ernest

Yesterday's commute home was the second fall I have had in my adult life on a bicycle.

The first was when I was attempting to ride a tall bike that a friend of mine built.

This time, I was frustrated because I needed to go back to work to pick up something I didn't think I would need. So i was racing back, a bit angry, I took the corner a bit too fast and realized I wouldn't be able to make the turn tight enough before hitting the curb on the other side of the driveway.

So I straighted up and Slammed on the brakes. Except I missed the rear brake with my hand and when straight into the curb. I knew I was going to hit it, and I didn't want to break a spoke, or taco my tire, so I took my weight off the bike when I hit the curb, to reduce the force to the bike. I went flying and did a smooth somersault right to my feet. Picked up my bike and went on, with not a single scratch.

A Couple of cagers saw me and applauded. I was satisfied. The chain came off the front chain ring and it took a second to re-engage, but what can you do.


This morning was nice and cool, so the ride wasn't too sweaterific. I let the bike do the work this morning since there was a head wind and didn't overexert myself.

I almost ran into a bird.

I was on a bridge and a robin or something flew across the lane and I was within a foot of running into it. I thought birds and people had this understanding not to run into each other?

Beautiful weather this morning, but I didn't ride Fredkenstein to work. I rode my Harley instead. I have two people wanting to look at it; one will meet after work on campus and the second when I get home tonight. I did get my reflective sheet for my bucket panniers yesterday. I brought them into work, cut them to size, and will install this evening. Tomorrow I ride.

Good thing I left my bungee cords on the rack... I ended up picking up another bushel of apples on the way home. I got a lot of weird looks with that strapped on the rack behind me!

ha! nice one. It's a good thing we're a heavilly surveyed society. It's probably on tape somewhere.

Last night's ride home was kick @ss. I was so damn tired at work because I only slept a couple of hours. But I hauled butt going home because it felt so right. Made record time home. Rewarded myself with the frozen gatorade I had been hauling around.

This morning's ride didnt' feel as good. But I made record time by shaving off 15 min. The difference between commuting on a road bike and a full suspension mountain bike is night and day.

I had a close encounter with a skunk. It was a few feet away from me on the road, then turned and scurried back into high grass. Did not spray, I still smell pretty. Well as pretty as possible after riding 14 miles to work. Nice ride in, something else strange, seen a lot of loose dogs today, cant remember seeing any before. Two big dogs were in the street, but barley looked up as I rode by. I am beginning to dread the rides home though. Not real pleasant lately.

Nice ride in until 3 blocks from my office. I pass a building with a lot of pedestrians and bikes and it is always tricky here. I usually take it very carefully with one hand on the brake but this morning did something stupid and almost hit another cyclist. I'm very embarrassed about that, but if it makes him feel any better, I really wacked my hand on the wall when I put my hand out to keep from falling over. All he had to do was brake so no harm done. Now it hurts when I type. Patience really is a virtue, especially around this one building. Otherwise, the ride was fine.

Real nice weather this morning. Low 60s & crisp. Sunny with some clouds. Reeled in an attractive young woman on an MTB with roller blades hanging off her frame, then I heard a weird click from the area of my cassette. I had been doing some trail riding last night so I stopped and made sure my powerlink was secure, which it was. Re-reeled in the woman, passed, said hi (she said hi back), and then she "caught" me at a red light. I followed her a block up the hill before turning into my building.

My bike has mud on it. :mad: :D

Pleasantly cool today, with moderate traffic volume.