Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

How was the commute today?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How was the commute today?

Old 10-30-08, 06:52 AM
  #28276  
harleyfrog
An Army of Fred
 
harleyfrog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Lost South of Nowhere East of Edan On the Waterfront Far from the Madding Crowd (Biloxi, MS)
Posts: 1,003

Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads Trail

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
The bed was waaaaaay too warm and cozy this morning. Slept late and drove to work this morning. *ack* Well, there is still tomorrow.
harleyfrog is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:09 AM
  #28277  
vtjim
Belt drive!
 
vtjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Posts: 2,614

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Slow! Well, slow for me. Stayed up way too late last night. Had a bit too much beer. Still a bit jet lagged (from New Zealand - 17 hour difference). So it all caught up to me this morning. Dragged myself along at 13MPH most of the way. 15 if the tailwind hit me right.

I saw exactly one person on the 5 miles of MUP. A trail-regular who walks a lot. Temps in the upper 20sF. Dry.
vtjim is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:43 AM
  #28278  
VolGirl
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 201
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nippy out, but was pretty comfortable except my shirt wouldn't stay tucked so cold air got to my back. And I should have worn the glove liners. Cold digits. Should be a much warmer ride home though.
VolGirl is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:53 AM
  #28279  
cobrabyte
one life on two wheels
 
cobrabyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 2,556
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times in 14 Posts
Originally Posted by 12bar
Record cold yesterday morning 44 F and it only got up to 65 F for a high and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, now this is riding weather.

yup! I stay in st. petersburg right across the bridge, and this has been the best week for commuting EVER!
cobrabyte is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 08:00 AM
  #28280  
genel
Senior Member
 
genel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Antioch, IL
Posts: 328

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 0, Rivendell- Sam Hillborne, Montague folding bike.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Definitely cool all week long, about freezing in the am and about 50 in the pm. I've had a rash of problems this week.

Flat Tues am.
Lost a support rod for front rack. A critical part of my DIY light setup.
Flat Wed pm Replaced rear tire, an IRC with about 5k on it. Never flatted before, now two in a row. Replace with a Conti 4 season Grand Prix.
Forgot my odometer today, so didn't get to watch it roll over to 4000.
More then the usual number of close passes on every ride this week, I've been getting a bit paranoid. Make that more paranoid. I know they're out to get me.

Supposed to be a nice ride home later, already looknig forward to it.
__________________
"Why is there a hill after every meal, but not a meal after every hill?"
--Overheard on Grabaawr
genel is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 09:08 AM
  #28281  
Pig_Chaser
Senior Member
 
Pig_Chaser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,143

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Awesome commute, it was -3 and i dressed perfectly, just a tad cold until i warmed up and then mmmm comfortable.
Pig_Chaser is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 09:14 AM
  #28282  
superfuzz
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
First post!

Anyway, it was a cold, but sunny morning after a mostly rain and snow mixed day yesterday. I hit a patch of slick road tar and fell pretty hard right in front of a line of cars. Just got some mild brush burn and my neck is a little sore, but I roughed up my bike a bit. I know the handlebars are bent, and I think I might have bent my front wheel a bit.

Hopefully it won't be too bad of a fix.
superfuzz is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 09:29 AM
  #28283  
clg
I chase bikes!
 
clg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Jersey, that's in the USA
Posts: 141

Bikes: Motobécane Grand Record, Surly LHT, and LHT Deluxe Build

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Was 32 degrees F when I got up this morning but probably near 40 by the time I hit the road. Beautiful day, wasn't windy like it has been the past two days. Been trying out my winter clothing; I wore mittens with liners but had to switch to gloves after a couple miles, hands were too hot. My wife keeps nagging me about getting a living will and trying to jinx me. She is concerned that I'll be trying to ride this winter when the roads are unsafe and although I intend to ride through the winter I'm not going to ride when the roads are iced or otherwise dangerous.
clg is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 10:00 AM
  #28284  
thebeatcatcher
my legs are carbon
 
thebeatcatcher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Great ride, first in about 3-4 weeks due to marathon training/completing and equipment issues. Finally have the commuter set up and working, today was its first ride actually (I know, I'll post pics soon).

Met a guy who takes 98% of the same route as me, so now I may have found a commuting buddy and some new people with which to start riding on the weekends come spring.
thebeatcatcher is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 10:05 AM
  #28285  
jpdesjar
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Originally Posted by harleyfrog
The bed was waaaaaay too warm and cozy this morning. Slept late and drove to work this morning. *ack* Well, there is still tomorrow.
it was hard to get out of my cozy bed also but i managed to get going about a half hour earlier than i normally would and i am glad because i enjoyed the ride more with less traffic and all, i didn't feel as rushed
 
Old 10-30-08, 10:23 AM
  #28286  
Thomas Brock
Senior Member
 
Thomas Brock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 189

Bikes: 2007 Trek 7.3FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Cold this morning (35 when I left) and there was frost on cars as I went past. The ride was pretty comfortable since there wasn't much wind.

I'm getting some lined wind-pants to replace the sweat-pants over my cycling shorts. I may need to get a pair of spandex shorts for under them. Joy.
Thomas Brock is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 11:59 AM
  #28287  
metalchef87
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478

Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Such a beautiful ride today...60 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, very little wind...I threw in a couple extra miles just to take it all in. I wish it was like this all year round. Past week has been pretty cold though, but with my windbreaker, a t-shirt, and my compression shirt, plus just a pair of jeans I have been fine. Coldest weather has been 35 and rainy.
metalchef87 is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 12:00 PM
  #28288  
Itsjustb
Senior Member
 
Itsjustb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 991

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Weird commute today. My wife normally does daycare drop off but she has the day off. I got up early, dressed The Kid and took her to day care by car...even tho the day care is about a mile from my building. Drove home, changed, and biked to work.

This afternoon we're taking The Kid to Christmas pictures. My wife is picking me up here at work, we're driving to the pictures, then coming back here where she will drop me off so that I can ride home again.

It's an addiction, I swear.
Itsjustb is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 12:02 PM
  #28289  
metalchef87
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478

Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by clg
My wife keeps nagging me about getting a living will and trying to jinx me. She is concerned that I'll be trying to ride this winter when the roads are unsafe and although I intend to ride through the winter I'm not going to ride when the roads are iced or otherwise dangerous.
So I take it you are going to drive those days? How is driving a car on icy roads any different? My wife is doing the same thing to me, but in central Kentucky it doesn't get too bad, although we definitely have our icy days from jan-march. I have just convinced her that if it is too dangerous to drive, then I won't bike, but otherwise stay outta my way!
metalchef87 is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 12:30 PM
  #28290  
clg
I chase bikes!
 
clg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Jersey, that's in the USA
Posts: 141

Bikes: Motobécane Grand Record, Surly LHT, and LHT Deluxe Build

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by metalchef87
So I take it you are going to drive those days? How is driving a car on icy roads any different?
The only difference is the road is narrower when there is snow and ice otherwise it's the same. I think the car drivers are worse around here in ice and snow which makes riding a bike that much more dangerous. But your right; my wife wants to pick me up when conditions are bad but when it's that bad it's also just as bad for her to drive which I think was the point you were making.
clg is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 12:41 PM
  #28291  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,100 Times in 1,414 Posts
Rode the kids to daycare for the last time of the season. It was a beautiful ride this morning. True quality time with the Wonder Twins.
caloso is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 12:59 PM
  #28292  
pinkrobe
DNPAIMFB
 
pinkrobe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cowtown, AB
Posts: 4,655

Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Brisk, maybe -1C. The new DIY light worked great, but has a tendency to angle upwards as I ride. I'll fix that before I ride home tonight...
pinkrobe is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 03:20 PM
  #28293  
HardyWeinberg
GATC
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: south Puget Sound
Posts: 8,728
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 463 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times in 27 Posts
pre-sunrise, nice.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 06:23 PM
  #28294  
madhouse
Senior Member
 
madhouse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Podunc, Minnesota
Posts: 416

Bikes: '14 Bacchetta Corsa, '93 Ryan Vanguard, Action Bent SWB USS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
One of my best!!! I was shocked by the low 70F temp and very much overdress... It felt more like an upper 80F day. But I was fresh with a 6 mph tailwind and I maintained a 20 mph average. My typical average is 16 mph +/- based on weather and body conditions. It felt GREAT!
madhouse is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 06:48 PM
  #28295  
buttmonkey
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: oakland california
Posts: 37

Bikes: giant fcr1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Chillier than I'm used to. I thought about buying some gloves. And some rain gear.

To Berkeley and back to pick up a check. Stopped at the market on the way back for shrimp and cheese. Cheesy Grits! A man must eat.
Later to East Oakland where is drizzled a bit. Just enough to drive the rain gear idea further into my skull. And fenders. Put on about 20 miles today.
buttmonkey is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:47 PM
  #28296  
JMRobertson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Morro Bay, CA
Posts: 346
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I made best time on the home bound trip... 49:20. 45 min is within reach.
JMRobertson is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:56 PM
  #28297  
DataJunkie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Another lovely commute home. A nice 70 degrees.

I think my bike wants attention.
-Front tire has a slow flat
-Rear wheel broke a spoke
-The chain needs replacing
-It is dirtier than all heck
-My chain tension keeps going slack. I think my new method of putting my back wheel on is causing issues.

Guess we know what I will be doing this weekend.
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 07:57 PM
  #28298  
LesMcLuffAlot
Pedal faster not harder.
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thunder Bay
Posts: 576

Bikes: Ummmm...Cannondale F4000..Ummmmm...Yeti ARC-X Cyclocross..Ummmm...Rocky Mountain Vertex TO with a BionX PL350 Electric Conversion...Ummmmm..Rocky Mountain Cardiac..Ummmm..thats it for now I think. I'd have to go look in the basement to be sure.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The ride to work -5C at 7am. Base layer, insulating layer, windproof layer, subzero gloves, shoe covers, toque. The ride home 8 hours later? 23C at 4:15 pm. WTF it's 2 days before November? Rode home in my cycling shorts and tshirt. Wasn't enough room in my backpack for all the extra clothes I needed for the ride to work. Had to leave some there in my locker. Must be first nations summer.
LesMcLuffAlot is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 08:33 PM
  #28299  
daredevil
cyclepath
 
daredevil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: "The Last Best Place"
Posts: 3,550

Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by LesMcLuffAlot
The ride to work -5C at 7am. Base layer, insulating layer, windproof layer, subzero gloves, shoe covers, toque. The ride home 8 hours later? 23C at 4:15 pm. WTF it's 2 days before November? Rode home in my cycling shorts and tshirt. Wasn't enough room in my backpack for all the extra clothes I needed for the ride to work. Had to leave some there in my locker. Must be first nations summer.
A person does tend to accumulate and need a lot of stuff commuting eh? I got clothes everywhere at home and at work. I need someone to come in and help me organize everything. Batteries, lights both front and back with chargers for them, clothing, shoes for all seasons, etc. The problem is, I want more stuff!
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
daredevil is offline  
Old 10-30-08, 08:49 PM
  #28300  
Caleab
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 272

Bikes: Trek 7200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
first rain of the season today, so I didn't ride today.
I promised the ol' lady that I wouldn't ride in the rain until I got properly equipped.

goregous after work though... made me happy that my bike was in the shop today anyway.
oh yah.. did I happen to slide on some new fenders while it was in the shop (no charge)
that's cause I have an awesome LBS
Caleab is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.