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How was the commute today?

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Old 12-01-08 | 10:55 AM
  #28926  
commo_soulja's Avatar
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From: C-Ville

Bikes: are fun to ride

Originally Posted by ews
Snow commute. I freaking rule!
Props to that! I'd probably wimp out if it snowed here. (not like it would ever happen)

It was a balmy 52 degrees, overcast with a misty fog on the way to work this morning in Mt View.
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Old 12-01-08 | 01:05 PM
  #28927  
GATC
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From: south Puget Sound
Sunny, fast ride. Cloudy now, rain is coming. Would be nice if it holds off until I run out and grab lunch stuff, since I forgot to pack leftovers in the frenzy of getting going this am for the 1st time since Wednesday...
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Old 12-01-08 | 01:17 PM
  #28928  
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Belt drive!
 
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

It's nearly 50F in Vermont now.

I'm dressed for 34-degree rain. My ride home is going to be... Warm...
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Old 12-01-08 | 01:18 PM
  #28929  
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From: Milwaukee
Had at least 6" of wet snow to deal with this morning. No bike commute for me. Rest of the week doesn't look to good either.
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Old 12-01-08 | 01:18 PM
  #28930  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

First commute in awhile. I was off for two weeks for a little vacation and then T'giving week. Not an auspicious start to the month: cold, foggy, and I flatted about a mile from the office.
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Old 12-01-08 | 01:21 PM
  #28931  
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Cold darn it cold. Upper 20's ice on the ponds but clear and crisp.
Yeeup we have a lot of those days in Nevada. Although I would like more precipitation the roads are nice and dry, ahhhhh!
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Old 12-01-08 | 03:31 PM
  #28932  
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From: Nebraska (Go Big Red!) and England.

Bikes: GT OUTPOST "All Terra"

Oh my it's dark ...

... my first commute this week was in the dark both ways. Seems like it's only at this point I realise that the lights I have are about as dull as me. I had to ride from streetlamp to streetlamp. Also, I see everyone else is a lot faster than I am at getting going. What? Do I have to be a quick change artist? It would seem like it! Still, I'm doing better all round than the guy that I pass each day that cycles in his underware. I guess he thinks he can dry off and put his work clothes on later. Thankfully it's colder today and he's put on some pants. Semi-Naked Cyling is something for all commuters to consider. Well OK, perhaps just in Summer Tomorrow we're looking at Ice rain or snow. Nice ...
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Old 12-01-08 | 03:46 PM
  #28933  
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Wear a helmet
 
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From: Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, UK

Bikes: 1975 Dawes Super Galaxy 531 tubes, 1998 Condor Squadra

Today was eventful especially the ride home. The ride in from my drive (hybrid car/cycle commute) was sketchy because of the black ice everywhere and I didn't exactly have the tyres to compete with it either so it was my balance battling the ice instead. I took it fairly slow on the way in thinking that I will get some wider tyres with more tread on the way back, from the LBS near my work (3 miles about).

After work I headed off to the BS and ideally wanted some 32s instead of the 28mm Conti's I have on now and they only had 38mm. They kindly let me use their workshop with the bike in the stand and they didn't fit my 1975 Dawes tourer which I thought would have plenty of clearance :-( Back go on the original tyres and they let me keep the new tyres there to be refunded tomorrow. I ride from the shop starting the 14 mile ride to my car and on a large, busy roundabout my rear tyre blows and I find myself hobbling into a side street. I knew my bike didn't feel right!

The problem was- I was fitting my original tyres against the time because the shop shuts at 6pm and it was about 5.50 when I started to put them back on. I left a pinch in the inner tube and I could even feel the bump when I starting riding, doh.

After entering the first side street I came to I luckily had my pump and spare inner tube, THAT was a god send and I eventually rode home after repairing the bike under a street lamp and in front of a trucker with his lights on- so good amount of light to work in!

Home safe now, and thinking of what I could of done to prevent all those stupid things

- check tyres after pumping for bulges even in a rush!
- weigh up whether you should really go to the BS after work or not

OH well

Sam
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Old 12-01-08 | 03:53 PM
  #28934  
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty

Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS

Originally Posted by vtjim
It's nearly 50F in Vermont now.
indeed! It's only 46 here in Texas!
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 12-01-08 | 04:06 PM
  #28935  
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From: Redding, CA

Bikes: Trek 7200

beautiful ride in this morning.
first commute since getting my clipless shoes/pedals this weekend.
Woot!
how awesome. I wish someone told me how much nicer riding with clipless is.
even went out of my way by 3 miles getting to work just because =)

also.. side note... this is my first year commuting. So to say that I've commuted into December makes me feel good. Sadly, we've not had much rain, but need it badly. Since I have agreed not to ride in the precipitation, it's awesome for me, but sucks for our land. We need the rain badly.


and again... Woot to clipless!
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Old 12-01-08 | 04:32 PM
  #28936  
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From: Northern New England

Bikes: recumbent, mtn bike, road bike

Originally Posted by Doohickie
indeed! It's only 46 here in Texas!
44 here in Maine
commute in was a little dicey: snow followed by rain @ 34 deg F: slush.......getting my studded tires on asap........the ride was OK at 6am in the dark.........should be OK tonight at 730pm
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Old 12-01-08 | 04:58 PM
  #28937  
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From: Berea, Kentucky

Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock

32 and ice/snow falling from the sky...but I was fast! I averaged 22mph on the way in because of the 10mph tailwind...and 18mph on the way back in...which is pretty good for me...usually average 15-18mph.
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Old 12-01-08 | 09:33 PM
  #28938  
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confused
 
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Columbia, MO

Bikes: 1984 Trek 510; GT Peace 9r

Commute was canceled today: a thin layer of ice everywhere. I rode up to the main feeder street, and as I rode away from the stop sign, found myself doing spinout after spinout. Then looked at the feeder street's surface, and saw ice all down its length.

Turned around, put the bike away, and decided to walk to campus (I teach).

On my walk in, I saw a poor fellow trying to ride into town; he fell at least three times that I saw. The last fall looked painful, but he said he was okay.
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Old 12-01-08 | 11:22 PM
  #28939  
40 and lovin' it!
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From: Calgary, Canada

Bikes: Univega Alpina 604 mountain bike, Cannondale Warrior 700 hybrid, Miyata 1000LT touring bike

The commute started warm (9C), but as I dropped into the small valley (Nose Creek), the temp must have dropped about 10C. It usually drops a few degrees but this was very noticeable. During the day we had a change of weather and I had to strain against a cold northerly wind, adding 20% to my cycle time! Tonight we are getting snow but I hope to cycle with my slicks still! Is that crazy?
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Old 12-01-08 | 11:30 PM
  #28940  
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura

For some reason, my average speed dropped to about 5 mph. The low average speed made for a long 9-mile ride.

The weather was pleasantly cool at about 45 F.
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Old 12-02-08 | 05:58 AM
  #28941  
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maryland, USA

Bikes: '73 Bertin, '04 LeMond Poprad, Miyata 1000, and counting...

34F/1C with about a 10mph headwind. meh. Conversation with a pedestrian as I was struggling into my (still unfamiliar) eggbeaters in front of my building:

"Man, that's some bright headlights you got there!"

"???" (he was walking up from behind)

"You can see those things for miles!"

"Yeah, that's the idea."

"Do you drive when it rains?"

"I don't drive at all."

"No, I mean do you ride when it's raining out?"

"I ride year 'round."

"Well yor sure in tip-top shape..."

"Workin' on it..."

<sigh>
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Old 12-02-08 | 06:53 AM
  #28942  
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From: WNY

Bikes: Trek 7200

32 today, black ice everywhere...studs rule!!!

And what the hell is with these aggressive drivers this morning...I swear the worse the driving conditions the dumber they get...I finally took the middle of the damn lane it was getting so riduclus and they still were buzzing me.
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Old 12-02-08 | 07:08 AM
  #28943  
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Athens, GA

Bikes: 2008 Dahon Mariner D7, 1992 Cannondale T600, 1989 Schwinn Traveler

Everything was frosty and beautiful this morning. I felt slower than usual, probably due to taking a week off from riding, but I was dressed appropriately for the cold so it was a nice commute anyway.
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Old 12-02-08 | 07:12 AM
  #28944  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Slow! Headwind plus studded tires and I just had no energy. Some drainage upgrades have the MUP closed for a few days so I had to detour up onto the road. No big deal. Temps in the upper 30sF. Not too bad.
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Old 12-02-08 | 08:12 AM
  #28945  
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You gonna eat that?
 
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty

Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS

Yesterday's headwind was today's tailwind as the wind shifted from the north to the south. So the ride in was effortless and felt much warmer than yesterday even though it was about 5 degrees cooler (just above freezing this morning). I guess that means I'll be heading into the wind going home, but that should be okay since the high may get up to 70.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.


Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 12-02-08 | 08:21 AM
  #28946  
jpdesjar
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Rode in today on the new conti twister cross tires and they work great so far. There was a little ice in certain places so I was taking it a little slow and when I took off from a stop I could feel the back tire slip a little. Yesterday I took them for a test ride through some muddy trails near my house which was a blast, I could ride one trail and then be back on the street for a bit and then jump into another, fixed off road is a good time and a lot of work too.
 
Old 12-02-08 | 08:40 AM
  #28947  
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura

The ride was generally pleasant but again slower than usual coming home. Knee pain when I mash has me carefully spinning. Frost developed on the knuckles of my fleece gloves; that's so cool! (pun unintended but still claimed)

Well, not entirely pleasant :

What is it with cagers being so offended by folks on two wheels? Seriously, I got buzzed as much on the commute home this morning as in the whole of my previous experience. Did they not see the five blinkies out back? Did they not see the commuter yellow shirt and helmet cover?

And what's with the lady at the polling place (today's runoff day) yelling at me to move my bike away from the front entrance of the school as soon as I get off the bike and before I can get my bearings? The lady's attitude seemed to be that it was my problem that the school didn't have a place to secure a bicycle: (Me) "So, ma'am, I don't see a bike rack up here, do you know if there's one somewhere else on the property?" (Her, with sass) "I don't know, sir, the children don't ride bikes to school." (Me) "OK, ma'am, do know of anywhere I can lock my bike up?" (Her, more sass) "No, I don't, sir, I guess it's just your responsibility to lock up your own bike." Seriously, she's door monitor for the school (making her the default initial information person) and she freaking started the whole thing. To the pricipal's credit, the principal did send another staff member out to say that I could park my bike inside, just outside the polling station room.

I seem to have noticed a trend that people drive even worse on polling days than any other day (On Super Tuesday, I got in an argument with a guy that I yelled "HEY" at after he tried to right-hook me).

Alright, I'm going to go to sleep now and enjoy a day (hopefully) free of automated political phone calls for the first time in several months.
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Old 12-02-08 | 08:52 AM
  #28948  
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commuting Canuck
 
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Calgary

Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery

brutal ride home last night. 50 km/h headwinds for part of it. snow today and I was too lazy to take the slicks off my bike. And I have a dentist appointment. So I'm being a wuss today.
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Old 12-02-08 | 09:11 AM
  #28949  
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From: Edmonton, AB

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

Gorgeous ride in but the snow's starting to fall, it'll be an interesting ride home.
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Old 12-02-08 | 09:17 AM
  #28950  
Commuter
 
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Denver

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

Denver was 50 and sunny at 6:30 this morning, oh yeah.
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