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...

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.

Pleasantly cool today, with moderate traffic volume.

Had the fastest commute of my life today. Picked up a new bike the other day which happened to be a fixed gear with hood style brakes mounted on road bars. The brakes are really only accessible when you're in the drops, and even though it's not a full track bike riding in the drops puts you in a pretty aero position. Now, I don't like having my hands off the brakes in traffic, and I didn't want to be *that guy* riding in a full aero tuck at slow speeds, so I ended up riding fast enough to justify riding in the drops the entire way to work just so I could have my hands on my brakes

My 16 minute commute got done in 13 minutes though, haha

Welcome to the Forum!

The sunrise this morning was spectacular, lot's of whispy clouds to pick up the orange/yellow glow of the rising sun. Stiff wind for the morning, as per usual, head wind in one direction, tail wind in the other.

Nice weather (considering the time of year), had to deal with two idiot drivers, unfortunately.

While making a left in a double turn lane (I was in the right turn lane), a car nearly ran me off the road when he switched to the right lane after he thought he passed me. I yelled "Hey!" which made him jump and look back when he came about one to two feet away from me (he was still moving right). Second was at a T-intersection in a park where the road I was on does not have to stop. An inpatient driver was edging forward, waiting to turn left (across my lane). He saw me coming at him, stopped edging forward, so I kept going. Then the last bit of traffic in the lane he wanted cleared up and he turned. If he waited five seconds, I probably would have broadsided him.

Kind of a bummer because I normally only have maybe one or two incidents a month (now that I know a good route). Hopefully the ride home is better

The ride and weather were great. Unfortunately, again, I got a flat. This is my fourth flat in less than 2 months, and 3rd flat while commuting to work.

So far i got 2 from glass, 1 from a pin hole tube defect, and 1 from an improperly booted tire (damaged from my first flat).

I am not sure how much more I can take before I go buy some new tires. The ones i have are supposed to have flack jacket kevlar, so i am not sure what more can be done...

Stopped by my LBS last night and picked up a few items, including a floor pump that I stuffed in my pannier that stuck up about a foot and a half. Managed to garbage bag the top of the pump and put the cover on the pannier before the total downpour which was awesome! Second time riding in the rain and got completely soaked down the front.

This morning was locking my bike up at my gym for a shower when a pedestrian walked by someone else's locked bike. Something on them must have snagged on the bike because it fell down onto the ground, hanging out into traffic, and the woman didn't even stop to pick it up! Stood it back up so that passing cars wouldn't damage it. Total disrespect for mode of transportation.

Where are you riding on the road? If you're hitting alot of glass I'm guessing you ride way over next to the curb. Try moving out to the left a bit

My first commuter flat was from glass on the Greenway here in NYC. In fact the path squeezes to only a few feet wide at one point and it was littered with glass that morning.

I never ride too close to the curb. I think this morning's flat was from riding through the perpetually dirty streets of the Bronx (the first 3 miles of my route). I spend that whole time dodging bottles, broken glass, etc. I am sure i hit the glass today while passing a garbage truck - it may have come from them...

Hot, sticky and absolutely glorious!

Seriously, someone needs to petition GM to install turn signals in their SUVs. The unseen right hook nearly got me.

Reminds me of my buddy asking whether Ford delivered their Crown Vics without turn signals or whether the CHP mechanics disabled them themselves.

Anyway, today's ride was great. Stopped in for a big cup o' Joe and the Peets Girl said "Nice morning for a ride to work, isn't it?"

Yes, it is, Peets Girl. Yes it is....

Oh wow, sounds rough. Might even be worth getting wider tires if your route is that crazy