habernac

and I see now that bringing sunglasses is now a waste of time. *sigh* Time for the all-darkness commutes. And, of course, snow tomorrow.

dcrowell

My ride home was nice as well. I was a bit worried about the evening traffic in the dark. Evening drivers are usually much worse. I got a couple of honks, but no big deal.

Along a straight stretch of divided highway, I got pulled over by the police. He just wanted to know what kind of lights I had, so that they could get them for the department bikes. I was riding on the shoulder, and he was amazed that cars were changing into the left lane to go way around me. I love my DiNotte lights.

777arty

Awesome!

i had a nice crash today. in the local park taking a lazy left hander at 13/15 mph. front tire hit the smallest amount of mud. bike went right, i kept going left.

got up, spot check, patched up some bloody bits... bike is good, on my way.

i'm sure i'm crazy for finding it humorous, but it was fun. i didn't get hurt //too bad// and was able to ride away. that's a good thing.

i had a smile on my face the whole day... i'm sure i'll feel it in the morning.

Doohickie

Perhaps the most perfect weather ever. Both ways. Low 60s going in, with a little tailwind; high 60s coming home on a nice, cool evening, just after sunset.

The cagers have no idea what they missed.

uke

Hit new personal speed record, as well as speed record on the Coda: 35.8 mph, in traffic, with the backpack, iPod, shorts, and sandals, in a stretch where my top speed is usually about 27.5 mph. Giving most of the credit to the wind.

KZBrian

My first day working from home. No more commuting, but I can continue my lunch time rides.

ilchymis

Second day cycling to work and back; a 52-mile round trip on flat country roads between Vero Beach and Fellsmere, FL. Beautiful weather... I had a headwind on the way out, but I got to ride it going back home.

Just one honking driver, of the friendly variety.

On my first day, I was weak and my legs repeatedly cramped up. But I guess that's just what it feels like to get back into the game after a few months' absence... today was much, much better.

No work tomorrow, but I'm looking forward to my next ride on Wednesday.

girljen

I'm going to sleep well tonight.

I decided to ride as hard as I could on the way home. Not only did I do intervals, I rode up (and then down, whee!) the big hill that I usually avoid. Have I told you lately that I'm absolutely in love with my Long Haul Trucker? Because I am. That bike is all made out of awesome.

JeffS

Caught a little off-guard by the dark as I left work tonight. I had my lights, I guess I just wasn't mentally ready for it to be pitch black when I walked out of the building.

Had some a-hole blowing the horn at me again. Riding on my usual 4-lane arterial, with a wide outside lane at this point. Someone behind me starts blowing the horn, stops, starts again, then continues as he finally moves left to go around (though there was plenty of room to come by in the lane). I kick it up a notch as I see that I'm going to catch him at the light.

I follow him into a parking lot and give him my 2 cents. He leads with "you're going to get you ass kicked riding like that", at which point I'm truly shocked I didn't jump on him. Surprising even myself, I stayed calm and told him I was riding legally and asked him what his problem was. Apparently, he was pissed that I didn't move into the "median" as he was calling it to allow cars to pass. Apparently, he thought I should have been in a turn lane that went nowhere but an office building rather than remaining in the lane during "rush hour traffic".

I'm rather disappointed with myself. I'm a quiet, laid back person, but I usually get very loud and confrontational in these situations. It cuts the stress and by the time I get home I've forgotten about the incident. Tonight, I could neither blow it off, nor really get in his face and I'm still annoyed.

Matt1972

It may be because I didn't have a proper cup, or two, or three of my "preflight" jet black coffee- just remains from yesterday- I felt bonked. I must've eaten six bananas through the course of my shift. I drank 50 ounces of water in the morning before going to work, so dehydration wasn't a factor. Anyway, the ride to and from was nice. Overcast during the day, foggy at night. I'm entertaining thoughts of riding to the polling station tomorrow and then to the barbershop. I noticed the price of gas stands at $2.59/gal- it just wasn't on my mind lately...

xinco

Headwind all the way home today - but at least it was somewhat warm. But I'm glad I opted for the tights instead of the shorts, as the wind would have made it too cold.

For the first time starting out from work in the dark, it wasn't too bad.

danredwing

Wet, wet, wet ride home today in Portland Oregon. It wasn't raining in the morning but I knew that the rain would be in full effect in the evening and wore my shell. As I was leaving my office, all the power over 10 or so blocks went out. My first few intersections were a little dicey as the traffic lights were out, but then I came out of the black-out area.

I need to get some rain pants and shoe covers. :-) Luckily I put full fenders on my Trek Portland over the weekend because the clip-ons weren't cutting it. Shoes, shorts, socks and head were dripping wet, back of shorts, and shirt were completely dry.

I sure enjoyed the pasta my wife had made upon arriving at home!

Dan

Thomas Brock

Damp ride in...No rain, but the world is still wet from overnight showers.

It's Election Day here in the U.S. So, um, you know, go vote.

tarwheel 

Funny, one of the reasons I voted early was so that it wouldn't hold up my bike commuting. Today I woke up to steady showers, so I drove to work afterall. I haven't driven to work in 2 weeks, so I don't feel bad about it. I usually drive once a week to bring in clean clothes and food for my fridge, as well as take home dirty laundry, so I was due to drive. Plus, I'm not one of those cyclists who like to ride in the rain. As a matter of fact, I hate it.

Thomas Brock

Friends that are working polls in your area are saying there's lots of rain. We're getting small sprinkles and drizzle at the coast.

jpdesjar

it was a pleasant morning for riding a bike...i was pretty relaxed and since i left a bit early the traffic was minimal, supposed to get up to about 60 later on i may have to get out at lunch time and ride around

amit_shah25 

Upper 40's F, no wind, a bit foggy. Beautiful morning. Saw some preparations for voting (and almost ran into the curb doing that !!!!)

dcrowell

I almost couldn't push myself out the door this morning. I even tried to rationalize it... If I work from home, then I'm not driving

Anyway, I won't lose weight without effort, so off I went.

My ride was uneventful, until I got to the bridge. Another recumbent rider was coming the other way. We both waved. I've never met him, but I think I know who he is from an email list I'm on. His commute normally brings him across the bridge before me, but either he went to vote first, or he just overslept.

Now that I'm at work, I've got that "happy glow thing" going on, and I'm very glad I rode.

VolGirl

Lovely day to commute. Low 40sF this morning, probably 70ish for the ride home. I wish I had time for a long road ride today as the weather is supposed to turn for the weekend.

jpdesjar

same here...i would love to get out and get some miles in today, perhaps i can ride around a bit at lunch time

vtjim

Upper 40sF this morning. Headwind, but not like yesterday's blow. I was a bit over dressed, actually. But not too bad. I saw several different bicycle tracks on the damp pavement, but only saw one cyclist going the other way.

Someone vandalized some stone artwork near the MUP, painting something like, "Destroy democracy! Don't vote!" Shouldn't 12 year-old kids be home in bed or something?

Doohickie

Another gorgeous morning, and I got a chance to educate a young man on how NOT to do the right hook maneuver.

I pass a high school on the commute, and a kid pulled into the parking lot inches in front of me (and that was with me braking HARD). I followed him to his parking spot and chewed him a new one. I started out a-spittin' and a-sputterin' because I was so mad, but in the end, I said, "Hey, you just can't do that to a bicyclist. Worst case for you, you have a dent in your car. Worst case for me, I'm dead. You could have killed me. Do you want to live with something like that?"

SouthFLpix

My legs were a bit tired, so I was not able to push myself as hard as I like, but it was still a good commute. The weather is very cloudy, so I'm worried about rain on the return ride.

JeffS

Showed up at the polls this morning on my bike in light rain. Walked right in and was back on the bike in 5 minutes.

The reason I didn't vote early is because the early locations were out of my way, and in hard to cycle to areas. Worked out well, as the regular location is right at the front of my neighborhood. Everyone I know whovoted early had an hour wait. I'm not sure what happened today.

Definitely got more than a few odd looks with the bike and spandex, but I wouldn't have driven up there if you'd paid me.

kgriffioen

Last night was my first ride home in complete darkness. I was kinda worried about it all day long but to make a long story short it was a lot of fun and I was not worried about my safety on the roads. My safety on the MUP was another story. Because of the unusual warmth (70ish) there were lots of walkers, runners out there that were completely invisible. I guess I will move on to the streets where its safer. I also had to dodge on two occassions deer that came out of the woods by the river. Deer without running lights or blinkies I can live with, invisible runners/walkers, well there is no excuse for that!! Looking forward to tonights ride.