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How was the commute today?

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Old 11-17-08 | 08:39 AM
  #28651  
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From: Edmonton, AB

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

After a week in Ft. Mac it was good to be back. I was really pleased to be able to cycle this morning. The ride was great, fairly stiff SE wind which meant a headwind in one direction and tailwind in the other so all it all it wasn't too bad. Legs were a bit lethargic though after nearly a week off the bike.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:08 AM
  #28652  
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From: Wheat Ridge, CO

Bikes: K2 T-9 Crosswind

I never have time to update from home anymore! Just use your imagination for my evening commutes.

This morning, I actually left early...but only so I could get an energy drink. I still don't have a working rear blinky, so I stole my husband's Planet Bike absolutely ridiculous super blinky. It is AWESOME. I might have to get one of those for myself.

I almost got hit by a newspaper. A delivery truck was on my block, pulled over to the wrong side of the street. The driver tossed one paper out to the west...then another to the east, across the street, directly in front of me! WTF!

Other than that, the commute was uneventful in the good way.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:10 AM
  #28653  
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I thought I was safe from rear lighting issues running a dinotte and a cateye. Nope!
My second topeak aero wedge committed suicide. Unfortunately, I mount my cateye to the back of it using a belt clip. My dinotte's battery pack is also in the aero wedge. To top it off I have a short in the dinotte that is now worsened. I ended up attaching the blinkie to a strap on the back of my pannier.

Other than that it was nice and warm this morning. A good slow ride.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:11 AM
  #28654  
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From: In the 212

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42F and sunny. Traffic wasn't as bad as I anticipated so I made it to work quicker. Almost cut off 3 cyclists traveling together that had the light at an intersection. I stopped, did a faux-trackstand while waiting for them to pass, then I continued on.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:12 AM
  #28655  
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Originally Posted by girljen
I never have time to update from home anymore! Just use your imagination for my evening commutes.

This morning, I actually left early...but only so I could get an energy drink. I still don't have a working rear blinky, so I stole my husband's Planet Bike absolutely ridiculous super blinky. It is AWESOME. I might have to get one of those for myself.

I almost got hit by a newspaper. A delivery truck was on my block, pulled over to the wrong side of the street. The driver tossed one paper out to the west...then another to the east, across the street, directly in front of me! WTF!

Other than that, the commute was uneventful in the good way.
The newspaper delivery folks scare me. They drive on the wrong side of the street with their emergency lights on while barely paying attention. How is this better than having kids deliver?
Anyhow I tried that once and lasted two days. $600 a month to trash my car and spend several hours each morning? No thanks.

Last edited by DataJunkie; 11-17-08 at 09:20 AM. Reason: lat<>lasted
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:15 AM
  #28656  
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From: Denver

Bikes: Specialized Epic Carbon 92', Old-school fully-rigid specialized Hardrock

Awesome commuting weather in Denver today, where was everyone?
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:28 AM
  #28657  
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From: Jacksonville, Florida

Bikes: Bianchi Axis (commuter), Specialized Tricross S-Works, BMC Team Machine SLT01, Mercier Kilo TT

A cold start this morning in Florida, 42 degrees and dark. I felt ok arriving to work, but I need to find a good balaclava and leg warmers for the months ahead. I brought some items for the week, such as shoes. I should be getting my rack/trunk bag today in the mail, so no more backpack.

For the times ive been riding, i havent seen a single commuter.. where are the Jacksonville folks?
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:30 AM
  #28658  
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From: Riverdale, NYC

Bikes: 2008 Specialized Sirrus

~32-35* in the 10mph cross/headwind. Took an extra 5-6 minutes this morning.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:49 AM
  #28659  
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From: Cowtown, AB

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

We got some snow on Sunday, followed by freezing rain. On go the studs. My rear wheel looks like somebody stepped on it - it's that out of true. Thanksfully the disc brakes aren't affected by the 1" deflection in the rim. Other than one driver sliding out of control towards us, the ride in was fine.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:55 AM
  #28660  
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Sucked, I didn't dress warm enough. I think the middle of my knees still feel cold, after being at work 2.5 hours.
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Old 11-17-08 | 10:06 AM
  #28661  
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From: Louisville Kentucky

Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy

Originally Posted by girljen
I almost got hit by a newspaper. A delivery truck was on my block, pulled over to the wrong side of the street. The driver tossed one paper out to the west...then another to the east, across the street, directly in front of me! WTF!
At least it wasn't squirrels!
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Old 11-17-08 | 10:48 AM
  #28662  
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From: Milwaukee
Was about 30F, light winds and no precip this morning. 4 layers on the top half and some wind breaker pants over my shorts on the bottom half and my new smart wool socks on my feet. I think I could have used one less layer on the top. I wasn't hot but I sure did seem to sweat a lot. Aside from that an uneventful ride in although it was one of my more quicker rides. Weather looks to be the same for the entire week so it looks like I will go 5 for 5 on the bike.
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Old 11-17-08 | 10:52 AM
  #28663  
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From: Jacksonville, NC

Bikes: 2007 Trek 7.3FX

Cool (I'd say "cold" (37(F)) but I know there are many colder commutes here). A little wind, but not bad.

Lots of leaves on the MUP, though. Kinda hard to see where the pavement was and wasn't.
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Old 11-17-08 | 12:00 PM
  #28664  
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From: Los Angeles

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Some guy just "had" to cut across onto a parallel street, directly in front of me so that he could go into a McD's parking lot while I was probably going around 30-35mph (bottom of a hill). I had to brake, rear wheel locked up a little.. he couldn't wait literally two seconds to merge behind me. What a dooshbag..
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Old 11-17-08 | 12:03 PM
  #28665  
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From: south Puget Sound
40F light fog (vs pea soup yesterday)
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Old 11-17-08 | 12:12 PM
  #28666  
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From: Durham, NC

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL

Originally Posted by bhop
Some guy just "had" to cut across onto a parallel street, directly in front of me so that he could go into a McD's parking lot while I was probably going around 30-35mph (bottom of a hill). I had to brake, rear wheel locked up a little.. he couldn't wait literally two seconds to merge behind me. What a dooshbag..
You didn't chase him down and let him know what an idiot he'd been? Maybe I'm crazy but chase drivers down when they pull maneuvers of brilliance like that.

Commute today was uneventful.
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Old 11-17-08 | 12:33 PM
  #28667  
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From: Los Angeles

Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik

Originally Posted by Itsjustb
You didn't chase him down and let him know what an idiot he'd been? Maybe I'm crazy but chase drivers down when they pull maneuvers of brilliance like that.

Commute today was uneventful.
I was already running late for work, and after he merged over there was a median with bushes in between us. Wouldn't have been worth my time, but yeah, it was pretty annoying.
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Old 11-17-08 | 01:46 PM
  #28668  
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My first commute to university and it pouuuuuured with rain. I still enjoyed it though!
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Old 11-17-08 | 02:40 PM
  #28669  
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Wauwatosa, WI

Bikes: 2000 S-Works M4 Hardtail, 2000 S-Works M4 Road, 2001 Litespeed Unicoi, 1999 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 SingleSpeed, Cheap Chinese SS/Fixed Commuter

I've always lurked around in the forums but now I've finally grown a pair and decided to post. I've been commuting on and off for a couple of years now but my goal is to do this full time - year round.

It was a brisk 19°F out this morning at 6am when I left for work. Testing out the new SS on the way in. Kinda liking it but I am pretty sure I need to slide the seat back a hair. I also need to get a new blinkie since mine decided it didn't like being attached to my seat post. I think I saw 3 cars the whole way in on my 8.4 mile commute.
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Old 11-17-08 | 05:23 PM
  #28670  
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Mid-30's and dry on the way in, and upper-30's and light rain coming home. Enjoying a nice Hoegaarden beer to celebrate my epic achievement. Did not see many other bike commuters on either leg of the commute.
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Old 11-17-08 | 07:10 PM
  #28671  
Riding 50 years
 
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From: Madison, WI
27 and overcast this morning in Madison, with wind chills into the teens (read, while going downhill). Tonight I used my Xmas lights for the first time, prompting encouraging words from other commuters on the MUP and smiles from joggers. Apparently drivers had no trouble seeing me, either, as several cruised by slowly ten feet away, as if taking a closer look.

All in all, a perfectly lovely 7-mile ride home in the dark, despite the cold and a stiff headwind out of the north for the last mile. Why haven't I ridden into the winter before? I've commuted for too many years to count, but always gave up when winter set in. Not this year.
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Old 11-17-08 | 07:26 PM
  #28672  
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From: Louisville Kentucky

Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy

My ride home tonight was different. Traffic was normal. It was dark. I stopped and and had horrible gas station coffee on the way. I saw some (very light) flurries. For some reason though, I was in "the zone". I normally enjoy the ride in the morning, but dread the afternoon/evening ride. I loved tonight's ride. I don't really know why.
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Old 11-17-08 | 09:23 PM
  #28673  
Gray Haired Commuter
 
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Two completely different rides today. I left the house this morning with the temp at 39F (what's known as cold in south Texas), and rode home in bright sunshine and 70F. More of the same tomorrow. I built a new tailbox for my bike which comes in handy when shedding a lot of morning clothes for the afternoon commute.
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Old 11-17-08 | 10:28 PM
  #28674  
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From: Flint, MI

Bikes: '12 C-dale HT; '89 C-dale sr300; Trek 820

My first "winter" commute. The temperature was the high 20s. There was a light dusting on the ground and my '69 Continental rode like a dream.
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Old 11-17-08 | 11:14 PM
  #28675  
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From: Becket, MA
don't know why but a very speedy ride in this morning. not so speedy home, however.

found out my friend got jumped on the MUP into Jamaica Plain last night (11:30 pm). Fortunately, he screamed bloody murder after being thrown from his bike and the assailant ran away.
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