How was the commute today?
Cool ride in...I wore an extra layer (sweat pants) and felt okay.
Little traffic (Marines are still on liberty for the holiday) on the roads, which was nice.
Little traffic (Marines are still on liberty for the holiday) on the roads, which was nice.
Cooler ride in as well (NC). I wore too much I thought at first. But it seemed to get cooler the further I went so it played out nicely.
I'm taking some vacation time - sprinkled here and there - to leave early on my rides home. It takes a little over 2 hours to get home. So this will have me getting home about 1/2 hour later than normal on my commute days.
I'm taking some vacation time - sprinkled here and there - to leave early on my rides home. It takes a little over 2 hours to get home. So this will have me getting home about 1/2 hour later than normal on my commute days.
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
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From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Real nice ride today. Sun coming up. Snow on the tops of the Adirondacks. Whiteface looks like you could hike up and earn some turns. Temps in the upper 20sF, and no wind.
Positively balmy compared to yesterday (37F! had to unzip my jacket!). The sky was absolutely gorgeous, too, that great big full moon was peeking out from thin, wispy clouds. I wish I would have been riding westbound so I could have seen it the whole time.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Bikes: 2007 Giant Cypress DX, Windsor Tourist 2011
It rained last night so the roads were wet and there were some puddles. Got a 16mph headwind to ride against this morning, which slowed me down considerably. In addition to that, my legs didn't feel 100%. I'm going to to give myself a B- today.
Guest
Posts: n/a
It was about 30 when i left the house so I wore snowboard mitts and my long thick ski socks which kept my feet pretty cozy. I was excited for the ride because I didn't ride at all yesterday but I did run 4 miles in the morning.
Last edited by jpdesjar; 11-12-08 at 07:57 AM. Reason: awkward wording
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Another advantage to the recent time change is that I can see the sun rise again during my morning commute. The sky was incredible this morning. It gave me something to look at while stopped by every freakin red light along my route today.
Lone-Star-Fred
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Arizona: Oven of the US
Bikes: 08 Motobecane Fantom CX
I hit all the reds too. I felt slow in general this morning, even though I really wasn't. Nice day out, though, gentle headwind and not a cloud in the sky.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
Likes: 184
From: south Puget Sound
warm and raining but not a brutal downpour w/ 40mph gusts like the weather people were talking about (hoping for?). Could still get 2-5" in 18 hrs like the forecasts say but it was moderate against that expectation for my ride in at least. My coat might even dry out by the time I go home, not so sure about my socks and hat though.
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
Didn't ride today; still a little leery of my intestinal health today.
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.
Right around 0C this morning, with a tailwind to boot. Everything was going fine until I started heading down the big hill. My headlight is on full and shining directly at this car that's waiting to cross the street I'm hurtling down. They wait... and wait... and wait... and when I get close enough, roll out in front of me. I hit the brakes and headed left to go around the back of the vehicle, yelling "****ER!!!!"
A few minutes later, I'm rolling along 12th Ave. in the left curb lane [one-way street], and a car pulls in from the left in front of me. Not a problem, totally legal, lots of space between us. I start to catch up with said car as it slows to a crawl, straddling two lanes. Behind me in the lane to my right, I can hear a large truck waiting for the driver to make up their mind on which lane to choose. This goes on for a whole block - I don't want to cut to the curb side of the vehicle, and the truck immediately to my right makes that lane a bad option. Eventually, the car pulls over to the left curb and stops. I go rolling by and catch a look at the driver. It was a really old lady, and she looked spooked. I had to keep going, as several dozen cars had backed up behind us by this point...
A few minutes later, I'm rolling along 12th Ave. in the left curb lane [one-way street], and a car pulls in from the left in front of me. Not a problem, totally legal, lots of space between us. I start to catch up with said car as it slows to a crawl, straddling two lanes. Behind me in the lane to my right, I can hear a large truck waiting for the driver to make up their mind on which lane to choose. This goes on for a whole block - I don't want to cut to the curb side of the vehicle, and the truck immediately to my right makes that lane a bad option. Eventually, the car pulls over to the left curb and stops. I go rolling by and catch a look at the driver. It was a really old lady, and she looked spooked. I had to keep going, as several dozen cars had backed up behind us by this point...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Rode a new bike to work this morning - 2009 Kona Dr. Dew! The big hill was a little tough, seeing how I haven't ridden in 5 or 6 days since the passing of my other bike
But nice to ride a bike that is geared properly, snappy shifting, and a comfy new saddle! Warm today.
j
But nice to ride a bike that is geared properly, snappy shifting, and a comfy new saddle! Warm today.
j
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Bikes: Mostly schwinn... few classics
Going back to Monday:
Return trip I set a new record. My wife was in a serious accident, she was rear ended at a stoplight by a car doing 50 mph. as soon as I got the call I rushed home. my 45 - 50 min commute(45 being my best before) was made in 37 min. It is amazing what adrenaline can do.
Now that we have had her checked out and all I feel a lot better, she is okay, chances are the Jeep is totaled however.
Return trip I set a new record. My wife was in a serious accident, she was rear ended at a stoplight by a car doing 50 mph. as soon as I got the call I rushed home. my 45 - 50 min commute(45 being my best before) was made in 37 min. It is amazing what adrenaline can do.
Now that we have had her checked out and all I feel a lot better, she is okay, chances are the Jeep is totaled however.
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Congrats on the new bike, Japhy!
Yelled at some woman to put away her frickin Blackberry while she drove. I think I startled her. Good.
Yelled at some woman to put away her frickin Blackberry while she drove. I think I startled her. Good.
Guest
Posts: n/a
/\ that's awesome, I always mock people who are talking on their phones while driving by making a gesture as though I was on a phone...it's funny to me
Barbieri Telefonico
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bikes: Crappy but operational secondhand Motobecane Messenger
30 degrees
no long underwear
no balaclava
no problem
no long underwear
no balaclava
no problem
__________________
Giving Haircuts Over The Phone
Giving Haircuts Over The Phone
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 51
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From: Naples, Floirda
Bikes: Trek, Giant, Schwinn, Sun Recumbant
My ride
I commutted yesterday. 30 miles to work with 15mph headwinds gusting to 20. Ride home was nice with 12mph tail winds Time home was a little faster. Ha!
<user defined text>
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
Bikes: 80's peugeot. Somewhat knackered. Lovely new Salsa Casseroll singlespeed.
Glad your wife is OK, funrover. Now you know how fast you can go, you'll never be satisfied with 45 mins ever again!
Slow ride this morning. Just felt a bit tired, so I cruised along. Warm, too.
Slow ride this morning. Just felt a bit tired, so I cruised along. Warm, too.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Berea, Kentucky
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
It was close to 50 degrees on the way in and on the way home...decided to add a few extra miles to my ride home...so beautiful. People are starting to put out xmas decorations...makes for a nice beautiful ride. Supposed to be cold tomorrow though, no prob.
Enjoy

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,165
Likes: 0
From: Seattle metro
Bikes: Trek 5200
Cancelled due to a storm that extends all the way out to Japan! WOW
chilly this morning and tonight on the ride home (32〬).
Rode in at a brisk pace. Met up with my wife for the ride home. Gorgeous.
Rode in at a brisk pace. Met up with my wife for the ride home. Gorgeous.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,269
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From: Colorado
Bikes: Mostly schwinn... few classics
LOL, well I do have new goals. But I honestly never want the situation to arise like that again!
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Posts: n/a
Today was my first commute since May. I'll spare you the excuses.
Ride in was OK. I'm about ten minutes slower than previous commutes on my 17 mile inbound ride. Nothing to report on the trip aside from the fact Eastern PA is beautiful.
The return trip began to go downhill quickly when the drizzle arrived hours before it was forecast to start. I left work at 10:35 this evening, and the rain began before 11:00. I first noticed it when riding across the wooden pedestrian bridge over the Schuylkill River. I was cold and very wet by the time I got in, but somehow or other I managed to turn in my best time on a homeward ride. I guess rushing to get home before the rain began to freeze motivated me.
Ride in was OK. I'm about ten minutes slower than previous commutes on my 17 mile inbound ride. Nothing to report on the trip aside from the fact Eastern PA is beautiful.
The return trip began to go downhill quickly when the drizzle arrived hours before it was forecast to start. I left work at 10:35 this evening, and the rain began before 11:00. I first noticed it when riding across the wooden pedestrian bridge over the Schuylkill River. I was cold and very wet by the time I got in, but somehow or other I managed to turn in my best time on a homeward ride. I guess rushing to get home before the rain began to freeze motivated me.
Great ride! It was dark as usual. Halfway in my ride, I pass a house with two dogs loose at the front. They barked and gave chase, I turn around and chase them back. They run up on the porch half whimpering and barking. I win so I ride on.
If you can't run with the big dogs, keep your butt up on the porch!
Ernest
If you can't run with the big dogs, keep your butt up on the porch!
Ernest
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Likes: 3
My once a month drive to work for a doctor's visit was today. I seriously do not understand how anyone can commute daily on our interstates here. 30 miles at high speeds with a car length separating vehicles. Did it for 5 years. yuck
Anyhow, I drove through a pile of tumbleweeds and my only thought was that would have been easier to avoid on a bike.
Yesterdays ride home was wonderful. No wind and since it was the last commute of the week I was able to ride as fast as humanly possible. No need to conserve.
Anyhow, I drove through a pile of tumbleweeds and my only thought was that would have been easier to avoid on a bike.

Yesterdays ride home was wonderful. No wind and since it was the last commute of the week I was able to ride as fast as humanly possible. No need to conserve.




