How was the commute today?
10-08-08, 11:55 AM
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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
10-08-08, 12:41 PM
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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
10-08-08, 01:07 PM
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38F - Still went with the shorts, but added some gloves.
10-08-08, 01:36 PM
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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>
10-08-08, 01:56 PM
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maybe with a little whistling on the 's'
10-08-08, 04:30 PM
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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...
10-08-08, 07:15 PM
hi
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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.
10-08-08, 09:33 PM
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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.
10-09-08, 06:10 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 06:16 AM
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10-09-08, 06:42 AM
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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.
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Nothing to say !
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10-09-08, 06:58 AM
Neat - w/ ice on the side
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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 ...
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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
10-09-08, 07:03 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 07:20 AM
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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).
10-09-08, 07:23 AM
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10-09-08, 07:52 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 07:59 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 08:00 AM
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brrrrrrr!
10-09-08, 08:07 AM
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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!
10-09-08, 08:13 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 08:13 AM
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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
10-09-08, 08:28 AM
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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.
10-09-08, 09:21 AM
Who farted?
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Rained a bit on the way home last night, cool morning, got to watch the sunrise as I came in...beautiful morning.
10-09-08, 09:48 AM
GATC
40F and foggy. Fullfinger gloves today, also thicker shirt than yesterday. Still shorts though. 2 straight days of limited kid-shuttling.
10-09-08, 10:25 AM
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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.
