How was the commute today?
06-27-03, 01:07 PM
#2701
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Took it easy when I rode home for lunch. It was a cool 87 F/30.6 C and 59% humidity. Off the bike for the weekend...back on Monday. And it looks like I broke my standing record of 600 commuting miles in one month (have already logged over 600 miles and still one commuting day to go).
06-27-03, 01:15 PM
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No commute today. I was late at the office and my wife was downtown so she picked me up. Thought about riding home but it was getting dark and I didn't have a light for this bike. Since I was just in another thread snarking on people who ride without a light, I'd have felt like a hypocrite. Plus it's not safe.
06-27-03, 02:15 PM
#2703
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I got a flat at the spot i do not want to get a flat (bad neighbothood). My mini pump would only get the tire up to 80 lbs then it starts leaking, I think I need a new one. Anyway, after pushing the hypos, bottles, and bums aside to sit, I changed the tube and was on my way.
I hope I make it home with without a flat, otherwise I'm screwed.
I hope I make it home with without a flat, otherwise I'm screwed.
06-27-03, 02:59 PM
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It was so damn pleasant today. About 70 degrees, little wind. Going home for lunch I finally just left the jacket behind--teeshirt's plenty. I go through the busiest intersection in the state (left-turning traffic to get to a Super WalMart) but with the bike lane it's a breeze. It's so neat to just roll by all the waiting cars to take my place at the head of the bike lane. I feel so cool and graceful out there....simply smashing. I briefly considered taking my car back after lunch, so as to be able to shop...but I just couldn't do it. I'll shop later...
06-27-03, 03:56 PM
#2705
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Repeat of yesterday but with only gusts of tailwind, though it looks like it's managing to keep a steady rate for the ride home head wind. Temperature is creeping up, though it's supposed to peak tomorrow in the low 80's. Which to be honest is fine by me 70-80's is my favorite riding weather. Keeps it in a comfortable upper 60s for the ride in, which for me is shirtsleeves with no shower required. Anyway, for those in the PNW and everywhere else, enjoy the weekend riding. 
06-27-03, 09:37 PM
#2706
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I just posted the following about my ride today on the thread about the Portland, Oregon fatalities this week under the Advocacy and Safety area:
When I first heard the news about these bicyclists, it was one day after my office colligue and I had been discussing road design, and the right of bicyclists to ride on county roads in this area. He came in on Wednesday morning, and said that his arguement had been born out by these fatalities. My statement was that this guy probably should not have been on the road, and that this probably was not the first time that he had been in trouble for driving drunk. I also said (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) that if he had previously gotten drunk and been driving in Germany, he would have been locked up. Today's Oregonian bears out what I said as true. Here's the article:
Van driver in fatalities unlicensed
Today, in honor of these bicyclists, I rode my bicycle to work for only the second time in a year on a Friday. I have had two accidents, involving cars, and both were on a Friday. I've taken many measures to ensure that this never happens again, and one of those is not to ride on Friday. My personal feeling is that drivers get very weird on Fridays. Whether this is from an accumulation of road rage throughout the week, distractions thinking about the weekend, or hurry to get home to begin the weekend, Friday is a bad day to ride.
But today, I rode. It was a glorious day to ride, and I wanted to be on my bicycle. But I wanted nothing to do with cars, at all. So my route was planned with the desire to have "Zero Car Interactions" during the ride. I defined this as having a moving car pass my moving bicycle, in any direction, within ten feet. By using bicycle paths, sidewalks, and back roads, I was able to get to work and back, and then to the store, with Zero Bicycle Interactions on the way to work, and only one on the way back.
I am also a diver, and I now think of cars in the same terms that divers think of sharks. Divers watch them closely, stay away from them, and don't swim when they are in a feeding frenzy.
I now watch cars closely, stay away from them, and usually don't ride on Friday, which is the driver's equivalent of a shark feeding frenzy. But today, I rode, but on my terms and without interactions. The one car that came close, was on a back road and drove slowly.
John
Van driver in fatalities unlicensed
Today, in honor of these bicyclists, I rode my bicycle to work for only the second time in a year on a Friday. I have had two accidents, involving cars, and both were on a Friday. I've taken many measures to ensure that this never happens again, and one of those is not to ride on Friday. My personal feeling is that drivers get very weird on Fridays. Whether this is from an accumulation of road rage throughout the week, distractions thinking about the weekend, or hurry to get home to begin the weekend, Friday is a bad day to ride.
But today, I rode. It was a glorious day to ride, and I wanted to be on my bicycle. But I wanted nothing to do with cars, at all. So my route was planned with the desire to have "Zero Car Interactions" during the ride. I defined this as having a moving car pass my moving bicycle, in any direction, within ten feet. By using bicycle paths, sidewalks, and back roads, I was able to get to work and back, and then to the store, with Zero Bicycle Interactions on the way to work, and only one on the way back.
I am also a diver, and I now think of cars in the same terms that divers think of sharks. Divers watch them closely, stay away from them, and don't swim when they are in a feeding frenzy.
I now watch cars closely, stay away from them, and usually don't ride on Friday, which is the driver's equivalent of a shark feeding frenzy. But today, I rode, but on my terms and without interactions. The one car that came close, was on a back road and drove slowly.
John
Last edited by John C. Ratliff; 06-27-03 at 09:47 PM.
06-28-03, 10:47 AM
#2707
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Well, last night's commute was a first for me. Have you ever gotten in the middle of a commute and just didn't feel like completing it? I do every so often. I usually overcome this by re-focusing on the ride's benefits, gobbling some Gatorade, and ending up with a good ride. Other times I lose concentration, energy, and drive. In this mode I react slowly and lose the edge needed to commute safely. It's been quite some time since this happened to me and it happened last night.
I called my wife and she picked me up. This is a first. I did manage to get 16 miles in on a 30-mile route.
I'm p**sed b/c I looked forward to the 100 degree heat (something I could look back on during the wet winter months, you know). I rode home fine the other night when the temps hit 105 where I live so it's not necessarily the heat (which I love). I think I've just overdone it recently.
Oh well, I'll get back into it on Monday.
I called my wife and she picked me up. This is a first. I did manage to get 16 miles in on a 30-mile route.
I'm p**sed b/c I looked forward to the 100 degree heat (something I could look back on during the wet winter months, you know). I rode home fine the other night when the temps hit 105 where I live so it's not necessarily the heat (which I love). I think I've just overdone it recently.
Oh well, I'll get back into it on Monday.
06-28-03, 11:09 AM
#2708
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I rode my whole commute (45 kilometres) for the first time yesterday on the way home. It was great, except for the flat tire half way home, then my pump wouldn't work, then I had to walk 30 minutes to a gas station, then their pump wouldn't put air in my tire, then the next gas station would only put 30 pounds in. The rest of the ride was ok, a little cushier and slower than I would have liked. A couple of construction areas really congested traffic, it's harder to get around it on the road bike. My usual MTB commuter is great for hopping curbs, etc to pass curb hugging motorists intent on slowing down my progress as they crawl along in the congestion.
I prepared for the big ride by staying out late and drinking at a retirement party the night before, so I felt like crap all day at work. Once I got on the bike, everything was fine!
I prepared for the big ride by staying out late and drinking at a retirement party the night before, so I felt like crap all day at work. Once I got on the bike, everything was fine!
06-29-03, 06:13 PM
#2709
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Originally posted by Andy Dreisch
Have you ever gotten in the middle of a commute and just didn't feel like completing it
Have you ever gotten in the middle of a commute and just didn't feel like completing it
Took a long route home on Friday night. Saturday saw me on a 35km ride around the 'burbs with a woman who has just taken delivery of a new roadbike (Giant OCR3) and wanted some tips on riding it -- mainly changing gears with the Sora levers, and getting the fit tuned in.
Sunday was bad weather -- strong sou-westerly winds (20+ knots) and heavy rain. I didn't go outside all day.
Woke up this morning to look out on Mt Wellington with a blanket of snow down to the 800-metre level, and showers with a cold wind still out of the south-west but not quite so strong.
In a perverse way, it was a pleasant sort of ride, and there were a few other bike-commuters going in the opposite direction on the Tasman Bridge. I do need to get some new waterproof trousers, though, as the current ones are now six years old and have lost their ability to keep water out.
More of the same weather is expected over the next two days.
R
06-29-03, 09:46 PM
#2710
Every lane is a bike lane
Originally posted by Andy Dreisch
Well, last night's commute was a first for me. Have you ever gotten in the middle of a commute and just didn't feel like completing it?
Well, last night's commute was a first for me. Have you ever gotten in the middle of a commute and just didn't feel like completing it?
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06-30-03, 05:02 AM
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Rough start this morning, I was fuel on a couple of extra stouts that I had last night, I worked it out in first few miles and rolled in ok. I think I pushed carbo loading to the limit, What was I thinking. Nice overcast morning, humidity not as bad as last week.
06-30-03, 06:14 AM
#2712
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Hi Folks,
Today was definitely a "take it easy" commute, since yesterday I completed a 75 mile charity ride. Actually I feel pretty good, but decided it would be a good idea to let myself recover. It was a great ride though!
Somewhat overcast and muggy for the commute this morning.
Cheers
Ed
Today was definitely a "take it easy" commute, since yesterday I completed a 75 mile charity ride. Actually I feel pretty good, but decided it would be a good idea to let myself recover. It was a great ride though!
Somewhat overcast and muggy for the commute this morning.
Cheers
Ed
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06-30-03, 06:15 AM
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Perfect ride this morning. 65F, a little humid, hazy red sun, and almost no traffic. This is the best time to ride for traffic; school is out, and people are taking their summer vacations.
Nice weather is forecast for the rest of the week; maybe I'll try to commute by bike all 4 days (Friday is a holiday).
Nice weather is forecast for the rest of the week; maybe I'll try to commute by bike all 4 days (Friday is a holiday).
06-30-03, 06:46 AM
#2714
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Well, I did not make the ride home last Friday, the flat I got in the morning done me in. THe patch held until work and did not hold air the rest of the day. I had to bum a ride home from a coworker.
The ride in this morning was nice. It was cool and pleasant. This may be the only day this week I get to ride. The rest of the week is supposed to be real rainy.
The ride in this morning was nice. It was cool and pleasant. This may be the only day this week I get to ride. The rest of the week is supposed to be real rainy.
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06-30-03, 09:27 AM
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Well, I made up for my aborted commute on Friday with a "commute" home from my daughter's basketball tourney. 32 miles at a blistering pace. This was after a 2-hour hill run in the morning where I twisted my ankle!!
Whatever funk I was in on Friday has gone away.
Whatever funk I was in on Friday has gone away.
06-30-03, 11:30 AM
#2716
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Summer is here! I commuted in upper 90 degree weather and had a warm ride in. It wasn't unpleasant though. Found them installing a new bike rack for me when I got to work. whoo hoo!
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Sunrise saturday,
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06-30-03, 01:29 PM
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What a difference a day can make. Our humid weather finally broke. It was a 64 F/17.8 C this morning, no wind and a slightly overcast sky. It is currently 84 F/28.9 C and is supposed to hold for a few more hours. But alas, there is a nice cool wind blowing off the ocean.
06-30-03, 06:19 PM
#2718
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My commute was about as miserable as I've had in a while. The usual Monday morning tiredness, compounded by being woken 45min early by them pressure washing my building, then add on very strong headwinds. Oh, and my rear tire which I'd replaced the night before was not quite up to ideal pressure, but not so low that I felt like stopping to pump it up. Oh and I dropped my lunch as well. Clearly one of those days. Looks like all the winds have blown away the clouds and drizzle so maybe it'll be nicer for the ride home. At least I've got the tire up to pressure.
06-30-03, 06:41 PM
#2719
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The weather improved a lot for the ride home last night. The wind dropped to a zephyr, and my legs felt great. I took the long route home. This morning what sunny for a while. Mt Wellington had another layer of snow and some neat mist around each side, leaving the peak exposed.
06-30-03, 09:34 PM
#2720
Every lane is a bike lane
Well, I think it's safe to say that our pathetic excuse for a "winter" is just about over. On the pre-work pre-dawn ride it was about 15 deg C, and it's just got warmer. This without the sun (it's been overcast the whole time)
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I am clinically insane. I am proud of it.
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07-02-03, 05:19 AM
#2721
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Well, the ride home on Monday just plain sucked. Two flat tires on brand new tubes. I went to the bike shop on Tuesday night and the shop guy said to try some new rim tape. THe shop guy was great, he replaced my tubes and gave me some new rim tape.
So today the ride in was nice, bairly any traffice and cool temps. No flats yet. Hopefully the ride home will be just as good.
So today the ride in was nice, bairly any traffice and cool temps. No flats yet. Hopefully the ride home will be just as good.
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07-02-03, 05:35 AM
#2722
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A very nice ride in this morning - cool and nice with the sun shining brightly. Gotta love mornings like this
07-02-03, 05:35 AM
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Rode the Bridgestone again this morning, A nice clear cool summer morning, light traffic and no head wind. Took my time and covered the 18.5 miles at average speed of 17.6 mph.
07-02-03, 06:18 AM
#2724
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Good commute, much cooler than yesterday morning. Only about 56F. Used the mtb.
42:14 trip
11.87 miles
16.8 avs
42:14 trip
11.87 miles
16.8 avs
07-02-03, 06:58 AM
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Did I say Monday was perfect? Today was even more perfect 58F, very little humidity, clear sunny morning. I left 30 minutes late, so I decided to go all out. Bested my PR on that new 24mi route by 1.2mph! (19.5 vs. 18.3) Even so, I got passed by someone going even faster. It was all I could do to keep up with him in his draft for the next 2 miles. Felt great when I arrived; too bad I have to work now...
58F, very little humidity, clear sunny morning. I left 30 minutes late, so I decided to go all out. Bested my PR on that new 24mi route by 1.2mph! (19.5 vs. 18.3) Even so, I got passed by someone going even faster. It was all I could do to keep up with him in his draft for the next 2 miles. Felt great when I arrived; too bad I have to work now...