Finally I can post about a commute in this thread. Commute into work today was great. It's funny how a bike somehow makes you seem friendlier to other people. I rode the bus for a month while my knee was healing without a "Hello" from anyone. This morning I show up with my bike at the bus stop and had 3 folks come up and talk to me.

Was nice this morning. Overcast but no rain. Low 60sF. A woman cyclist was lying on her back doing stretches on the MUP. At first I thought I was going to have to render first aid. She looked a little startled when she noticed me. Probably embarassed. We said hi to each other. She wasn't hard on the eyes.

COMMUTING STINKS!

... only kidding.

But those dam cagers ... this one woman illegally crossed the double yellow line around a blind curve right be fore a set of train tracks even though I took the lane and put my hand out to keep her from passing. She got lucky but could have been toast and taken someone with her.

Another highlight was the truck style side view mirror in the road that everyone was driving over shattering it and making pieces fly all over toward me. Glad I was wearing eye protection, but I'm not looking forward to going home that way. There was lots of glass ...

I got lucky and missed any rain. Going home ... now that will be a completely different story.

OK - gotta work!

Just got my bike back from the shop on sunday. Got new shifters: Ultegra Bar ends, New Levers: Paul Comp cross levers, and new Handlebars: Bullhorns. Oh and a new stem.

Bike feels a little lighter, the old components must have been heavier than the new. I need to play with the handlebars a bit to get them in the right position, but the bike felt great, and fast!

Also, the opened up a dunken donuts on one of the routes I can take to work. BONUS.

Gaaah! Late!!
I took forever to get ready, and had to make up for it by dropping the hammer. Every time I do that, I tell myself that it's gonna be the last time. It never is.

Are you noticing that days are getting shorter? It's still light when I leave for work in the mornings, but it won't be long before it starts getting dark again. We are having a bit of a cool spell in NC -- cool for August, that is. Morning lows have been in the 60s the past few days and highs in the upper 80s. Feels nice and my commute times have been shorter due to the temps.

Took the day off my bike on Sunday after riding a fast metric century on Saturday. Went kayaking for about 2 hours, and it felt great. Good workout but great recovery from cycling. Legs felt very fresh this morning.

I did almost 60 miles last Thursday and didn't ride until this morning. I felt real good for my 17 mile commute. It was fun to feel and even see the difference the new bearings and grease have made. I flew last Thursday on the Cap Cod Rail Trail, but it wasn't until I did my regular commute that I really appreciated the improvement.

I dislike how long it takes to get my ass in gear in the AM, and I even got up at 4:30!

Is this a place for commuting rants as well? Because this morning was a bad commute for a Monday or really any day.

very cool this morning. Around 63 degrees at 8am. Weather claims humidity is in the 70-80% range, but i thought it was really comfortable today. Maybe being on the water helps a bit.

Rain is predicted for the ride home. i haven't ridden in any significant rain yet, so i'm looking forward to it

Cooler - 65 degrees and humid, light rain spits. The afternoon ride home will almost be guaranteed wet - the forecast is for rain, very heavy at times. I'll have to check the radar and time my departure so I'm just riding in rain and not thunderstorm/downpour.

Was riding through a temporary construction zone as a road crew was working on some potholes when a guy barked at me, obviously trying to intimidate or scare me. Offered a universal greeting as I went on with my ride. Shortly thereafter, pulled up at a light behind a fellow commuter (female, yay!) offered a "Good morning" and got a smile back in return. We both were heading to the same place (university), but I turned off before her (guess she was going to a different part of campus.) This represents the first time I've seen a female commuter in the AM on the way to the U. I was extremely impressed that she used every proper hand signal (more so than I tend to) and followed every traffic control device (more closely than I prefer to... stop signs suck, but I don't blow through them at speed, she stopped!) All in all, an enjoyable morning commute. Other than some storms predicted for midday today, the weather for the rest of the week looks really good for commuting! Maybe I'll do all 5 days this week!

Back in the Saddle today! After being on vacation for a week, it was back to the commute this morning. I was loaded up for bear too, since I needed to replenish my supplies, but the new gearing on the new crank still made the trip in good time. My wife is on vaca for this week as well, and has the dogs and such w/ her, so I am free to stretch my evening commutes out as much as I want. Tonight i am thinking of heading to my brother's house, then home, which would give me 20 miles instead of 10. We will see!

I was taking it easy this morning, enjoying the cool August morning and all of a sudden - POP! The tire wasn't flat but it was hard to pedal and I stopped about 1/2 mile later. At first, I couldn't find the problem. Finally figured out the pop was probably a spoke and sure enough, there was a broken spoke. The back wheel doesn't turn at all, but I managed to ride the final mile to the office. If I can't get it fixed/replaced on the way home, I'll finally have to figure out how to use the rack on the bus. Bummer.

it felt really good to be back on the bike this morning, took a couple days off last week due to the rain so my legs were really fresh this morning or so they performed that way

didn't rain on me this morning but it may this afternoon, hopefully there will be some sun in the forecast later this week

Ok my commute

Well this morning I had it out with my first Edmonton driver. Just riding to work and going through a small one lane construction zone. Also the sidewalk was closed. Well after we get through the guy (in his 40's) behind me in his minivan starts yelling at me as he drives by. So I throw my hands in the air at him. (No fingers mind you) So the guy lock up his front tires and swerves at the curb as to cut me off. I'm a bit back so I just coast by him. So He speeds back up and starts driving beside me and yells at me to have respect for people. I'm thinking "I'm the one just trying to ride to work" So I starting yelling back, I couldn't hold it in anymore. So he swerves at the curb again but this time try's to get out of his door and starts yell at me to stop and asks why I being such a ***** and not getting off my bike. Again he gets back in his MINIVAN and rolls up beside me again yelling at me to stop so he can try to fight me. I simply tell him I'm just going to work and i can't stop. After a second he says me to and peels off.

So after he is gone and I get to the next light I feel that I'm just shaking.... haha. Also I start thinking dam getting a plate number might have been nice. So I continue my ride to work and when I get there and minivan is in the parking lot next to the building and it's the same color as the guy's from earlier. I walk over and grab the plate number but I don't think it's his.

So Now I get to think about if said "driver" will be back on the ride home or tomorrow morning. And if I should have any plans for him....

Ah, a smooth and easy ride today. Actually, there was one thing. A fire truck was blocking 2/3 of the road, forcing everyone to make a detour onto a side street, including me. There were about 20 cars lined up waiting for the light to change, but I filtered all the way up to the front and caught the green as I was still rolling. I sprinted for two blocks, looked back and saw that the first car in the line was holding up everyone else by waiting to make a left turn. Free and clear, I sailed on and out of sight.

There was this driver who was honking me for taking a lane, but I'm used to ignoring stuff like that. I waved when he passed me and I hope he saw when I pulled past him...

Otherwise, it was OK. I finally put more air into my tires and I think I was going faster for it.
I fasted yesterday and then went 40kmph down Avenue... Probably not wise. I was drained when I only got halfway down Avenue. I turned off and took the side streets at a more relaxed pace.

You went riding while fasting?!

No. Yesterday I fasted (24hr). Well, Sat 9pm to Sun 9pm or so. Today I rode.

Supposed to be warm and sunny today. Cool and misty so far. Nice fast ride.

Wow. That guy has some serious issues.

Yeah what a good start to the week....

Ah, ok. Me too...

Surprisingly, i felt pretty darn good this morning. That day without food/water may have done some physical (and spiritual ) good.

Carry mace and use liberally?

I might think about that. This is the first time I really had a driver go off on me. I can just hope the commute will go good the rest of the week.