How was the commute today?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Bikes: '86 Koga Miyata Randonneur
Now that school has started, I have to take my daughter to preschool, so my opportunities to ride are reduced to one or two days a week. Unfortunately, for the past 3 weeks, I have had a nasty cold, and just couldn't do it. However, today, there was no rain, and it was about 13C. I hauled out the bike, and rode--it was wonderful! After 3 wks of no riding, I was worried about how I would do, so I was happy when I made it to work in seeming record time.
Ride home, however--slightly different. I discovered that my darling 4 yr old (who I have to drive to preschool) had gotten into my bike, and turned on my lights--dead batteries. :-( Worse, the cable to my backup generator light had been pulled loose--no lights period. :-( Thankfully, it was still light, so I wasn't quite the bike ninja, but it was nearly quite scary. Most of the time when I had to ride the road, there weren't any cars, either. Whew.... I've seriously got to rethink my lighting strategy...
-Jon
Ride home, however--slightly different. I discovered that my darling 4 yr old (who I have to drive to preschool) had gotten into my bike, and turned on my lights--dead batteries. :-( Worse, the cable to my backup generator light had been pulled loose--no lights period. :-( Thankfully, it was still light, so I wasn't quite the bike ninja, but it was nearly quite scary. Most of the time when I had to ride the road, there weren't any cars, either. Whew.... I've seriously got to rethink my lighting strategy...
-Jon
Horrible day 
details here
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/474664-electric-scooter-hogging-bike-lane.html

details here
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/474664-electric-scooter-hogging-bike-lane.html
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Land of the Lobster
Bikes: Marin Larkspur 1998
38F - Still went with the shorts, but added some gloves.
An Army of Fred
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 3
From: Lost South of Nowhere East of Edan On the Waterfront Far from the Madding Crowd (Biloxi, MS)
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads Trail
Yelled at a teenager riding on the sidewalk. Told him to ride in the street like a big boy, but I doubt he heard me. He had the hood of his sweatshirt up and I suspect he was listening to his damn iPod.
(See, this what I get for listening to McCain for 90 minutes last night. Now I'm a cranky old man too!)
(See, this what I get for listening to McCain for 90 minutes last night. Now I'm a cranky old man too!)
Hey you kids, get off the sidewalk.
</cranky old man voice>
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: NOWHERE
Bikes: noyb
Cold! I turned around by the time I got from my garage to the alley, and grabbed some gloves with fingers. Then one of my headlights went out 1/2 way to work - but the other one was nice and bright. Just love riding in before 7:00 am. There's little traffic, lots of bikes usually, and I get to see the city at dawn. The ride home however can be a little more harrowing...
Cold as well! My fingers were so cold at 35ºF I had to stop 3-4 times and blow on them. The rest of me was just fine, and the ride this afternoon was absolutely beautiful at 65.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: Fairfield, CA
Bikes: '72 peugeot PX10
My commute wasn't that great. I was having a pretty bad day and feeling a little sad. I decided to take it easy and just ride home nice and slow on the sidewalk and some older guy on the road starts yelling at me to get off the sidewalk and ride on the road.
Nice...Especially after a rideless Wednesday (migraine).
I think I've found the perfect music to ride in with : Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell.
I think I've found the perfect music to ride in with : Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Drunken Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 1
From: Teaneck NJ
Bikes: Jamis Ranger 1.0 (Mutilated !!), Trek Portland
Pretty awsome ride today. Had a very light drizzle, and I was going slow, enjoying the drizzle. Not much traffic. Only one gentleman (or a f'in *******) driving an SUV cut too close to me.
O, and not to mention, mounted my brand spanking new Arkel Panniers last night to replace my milk crate ! Still need to adjust it because I dont have enough feet clearance and kept hitting the pannier all the way.
O, and not to mention, mounted my brand spanking new Arkel Panniers last night to replace my milk crate ! Still need to adjust it because I dont have enough feet clearance and kept hitting the pannier all the way.
__________________
Nothing to say !
Nothing to say !
Neat - w/ ice on the side
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Big Ring. Little Cog.
Bikes: 2005 Dahon Speed TR, 2006 Dahon Mu SL, 2000 GT XiZang, 1999ish Rock Lobster, 2007 Dean Animas CTI
quite wet in the rain today.
And why yes those are biking shoes on my feet in the office today ...
And why yes those are biking shoes on my feet in the office today ...
__________________
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more. Bark less.
Change you can believe in - Bigfoot Nessie 08
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more. Bark less.
Change you can believe in - Bigfoot Nessie 08
Last night going home I just realized this was my first ride in the rain in over 4 months!! Had the new bike, tried my new route and it was an amazing ride, nice and cool, bike handled awesome, very little traffic...I was in bike nirvana!
Crash to reality...no ride for 2 days, had to take daughter to school, to late to ride and have training for work tomorrow, to far away to do it. Need to do a loooooong ride this week-end.
Crash to reality...no ride for 2 days, had to take daughter to school, to late to ride and have training for work tomorrow, to far away to do it. Need to do a loooooong ride this week-end.
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
I picked up my bike last night from the LBS. I had everything adjusted (for free!).
I woke up late this morning, but decided to ride anyway, even if I was late to work.
The bike was smooth as butter and quiet. The air was cold and humid with heavy fog in places. My spare headlight came loose going down the road. I grabbed it before it fell. It felt weird to ride down the road holding my spare headlight, then I realized it would make a reasonably good weapon.
After about a mile, I tucked the light in my bag.
Overall, it was a good ride, and I made it to work on time (barely).
I woke up late this morning, but decided to ride anyway, even if I was late to work.
The bike was smooth as butter and quiet. The air was cold and humid with heavy fog in places. My spare headlight came loose going down the road. I grabbed it before it fell. It felt weird to ride down the road holding my spare headlight, then I realized it would make a reasonably good weapon.

After about a mile, I tucked the light in my bag.
Overall, it was a good ride, and I made it to work on time (barely).
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
32F and clear this morning. This was my first ride in to work in that kind of temp and I must say that dexterity will be a skill that I hope returns. Heat is a wonderful thing.
An Army of Fred
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 3
From: Lost South of Nowhere East of Edan On the Waterfront Far from the Madding Crowd (Biloxi, MS)
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads Trail
Woke up this morning and no hot water.
Had to wash my hair in the sink.
Weather a bit cool (60°, wind N at 10mph). Donned my tights and long sleeve jersey, tossed the bike shorts and short sleeve jersey in my panniers and took off. Only had a hand full of cars overtake me the whole way (probably around 4 total), which is unusual. About the time I got to downtown Gulfport, I was feeling a little light-headed, so I stopped at a gas station and bought a Snickers Dark candy bar and told the manager that I needed fuel.
Didn't feel like facing W. Railroad the whole route, so I took a side street that runs parallel for about 95% of the way. Didn't bother to track my time, but I know I wasn't tearing up the roads.
Had to wash my hair in the sink.
Weather a bit cool (60°, wind N at 10mph). Donned my tights and long sleeve jersey, tossed the bike shorts and short sleeve jersey in my panniers and took off. Only had a hand full of cars overtake me the whole way (probably around 4 total), which is unusual. About the time I got to downtown Gulfport, I was feeling a little light-headed, so I stopped at a gas station and bought a Snickers Dark candy bar and told the manager that I needed fuel.
Didn't feel like facing W. Railroad the whole route, so I took a side street that runs parallel for about 95% of the way. Didn't bother to track my time, but I know I wasn't tearing up the roads.
commuting Canuck
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery
brrrrrrr!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, MD
Bikes: All-City Space Horse, Trek 5000 WSD
Late start, overdressed, missed my morning OJ, but so glad I rode today. It was so beautiful this morning! Hopefully I can find the rattle in my bike before the ride home since it was very annoying. Aside from the rattle, I would give today a 10!
Don't be that guy
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Portland, ME
Bikes: 1988 Peugeot Bordeaux
First bike trip of the week today. I've been tired as hell lately and couldn't force myself out of be. Lame excuse, I know.
Anyway, a warm 53F or so this morning. Wwet streets this morning so I wore light tights, long sleves, and full gloves (circulation problems when I'm cold and damp). Turned out to be just a bit too much, but my ride isn't long enough for it to matter too much.
Oh, and the new fenders kept me dry and happy.
Anyway, a warm 53F or so this morning. Wwet streets this morning so I wore light tights, long sleves, and full gloves (circulation problems when I'm cold and damp). Turned out to be just a bit too much, but my ride isn't long enough for it to matter too much.
Oh, and the new fenders kept me dry and happy.
Guest
Posts: n/a
it was a little damp this morning and the air smelled like moist earth and moss, the afternoon ride home is supposed to be sunny and warm, looking forward to it
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
Likes: 0
From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
Last night's commute was awesome. I stopped off at the pub on the way home, got a Ship burger and a couple pints of the good stuff. After leaving said pub, I got to ride home in total darkness for the first time this season. I flipped on my lights as I was leaving, and everyone shielded their eyes. 
This morning, things are chilly. -4C! I haven't had to ride in anything below freezing since April. I had to scramble a bit to find my legwarmers and shoe covers, but got it together after some futzing about. My mittens were right where I left them after last week's mitten-and-shorts ride.

This morning, things are chilly. -4C! I haven't had to ride in anything below freezing since April. I had to scramble a bit to find my legwarmers and shoe covers, but got it together after some futzing about. My mittens were right where I left them after last week's mitten-and-shorts ride.
Who farted?
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V
Rained a bit on the way home last night, cool morning, got to watch the sunrise as I came in...beautiful morning.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
40F and foggy. Fullfinger gloves today, also thicker shirt than yesterday. Still shorts though. 2 straight days of limited kid-shuttling.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Ride today was uneventful except for popping my nalgene bottle out of my bag on a speed bump just inside campus. Drivers were very polite, let me do a u-turn and retrieve it.





