How was the commute today?
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F@$%ing wind!

circus bear
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Windy. REALLY windy! Gusts to 40mph, constant 'breeze' of 20. Unclipped twice in preparation to bail when wind took control and almost tossed me off MUP into river.
Still fun tho'! Need to Q-tip my ears to get the dirt out now...
Still fun tho'! Need to Q-tip my ears to get the dirt out now...

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The thick fog made it less fun than it should have been. Visibility was basically zero. I literally could not see both edges of the road at the same time. But other than that I had a very nice ride.

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It's nice when traffic is light!

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What a nice morning in NC today! It was relatively warm (low 40s) with no fog or rain or wet pavement for a change. That made it much more bearable getting caught by every red light on my route. The high winds are supposed to reach here tomorrow, but I will probably gut it out. I hate the wind as much as most cyclists but my route is fairly protected by trees except for a 1.5 mile stretch that seems to head right into the wind most of the time.

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it was a fun riding through the fresh snow this morning...my shoes got pretty wet but they should be dry for the ride home
i am really digging this winter commute thing
i am really digging this winter commute thing
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commute to work was good today. I'm loving this. Getting out there and riding to work has done wonders for my stress levels. The weather was pretty good. Chilly for here (about 65 maybe). It's always warm on the way home in the evening though. This summer is something I'm not really looking forward to. Miami weather...rain and hot. Winter is good though.

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Well it had to happen sooner or later. Forgot to pack a shirt. Luckily things are casual here and I got by with an UnderArmor t-shirt that I had in my locker. Guess it could have been worse--haven't had to "go commando" yet!

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The windstorms over the weekend left the road totally littered with downed branches. The cars had brushed them aside within the lane, but sticks were all over the shoulder starting right at the fog line. On the gravel back roads, they were just all over.
On the way home last night, I was fighting about a 15 to 25 MPH headwind. Then about 2 miles from home, a sideways gust caught a stick and blew it into my rear spokes. The stick came around, caught both sides of my SKS fender stays, bent them up and ripped them out of the fender, and shattered the back 10 inches or so of the fender before the stick broke.
I was thinking I could live with it like that, but with the rear stays not holding the fender, it wanders back and forth and hits the tire.
Of course, my old fenders were retired because the REAR was broken as well, again by something getting caught in the spokes. So I can't even pull that out of the parts box to fix things.
On the way home last night, I was fighting about a 15 to 25 MPH headwind. Then about 2 miles from home, a sideways gust caught a stick and blew it into my rear spokes. The stick came around, caught both sides of my SKS fender stays, bent them up and ripped them out of the fender, and shattered the back 10 inches or so of the fender before the stick broke.
I was thinking I could live with it like that, but with the rear stays not holding the fender, it wanders back and forth and hits the tire.
Of course, my old fenders were retired because the REAR was broken as well, again by something getting caught in the spokes. So I can't even pull that out of the parts box to fix things.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.

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I intended to ride at a more casual pace than this morning but I ended up riding at basically the same pace as a siren in spandex. She first came up behind me around mile 2.5 and we matched pace for about 3 miles. I finally caught back up with her at a red light just before our routes split and I said, "-huff, huff, sniff, huff- SHOO! You're tough to keep up with! -huff, GRIN, huff, huff-" She laughed and greeted me and then the light turned green.
Clydesdale/commuter-me had to be pushing near on two or three times her weight up the road and I still kept up.
Clydesdale/commuter-me had to be pushing near on two or three times her weight up the road and I still kept up.


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This is Great
It's clear and in the 50's here in the east bay area of nor cal. great day to be in the saddle!
Mike Mac
Mike Mac

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The ride home today had great weather. It started in the low 50s, and was probably high 40s by the time I got home. I was amazed to see that I averaged 14.9 mph, when I normally average 12.5 or so... then I realized the wind was at my back for most of the ride. 
There were a few rude drivers, but I could barely hear them through their rolled up windows.

There were a few rude drivers, but I could barely hear them through their rolled up windows.

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B E A utiful today! 60 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! The weather man says it is the last nice day for a long time though!!!! Oh well I rode 10 miles just to enjoy it. Supposed to snow Friday, time to break out the knobbies.

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Awesome.
Just warm enough not to need a jacket just base layer mid weight tights and a Jersey. Still on vacation but needed to burn off some of the good food I have been eating. Did a 44 mile loop this afternoon on the Silver Comet. Its so nice not to have to deal with cagers and just ride.
I need to get on my work computer tomorrow to check some stuff so I will ride in for a few minutes.
Just warm enough not to need a jacket just base layer mid weight tights and a Jersey. Still on vacation but needed to burn off some of the good food I have been eating. Did a 44 mile loop this afternoon on the Silver Comet. Its so nice not to have to deal with cagers and just ride.
I need to get on my work computer tomorrow to check some stuff so I will ride in for a few minutes.

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Not so good.
I didn't ride my bicycle. On the 23rd I rode the motorcycle and I was hit by a truck that ran a red light at 35 mph. Luckily all that happened was my hand was crushed! I probably won't regain use of it, but I am alive! I am home now and things are ok, even though I had to get an attorney because the jerk is lying, saying he had a green light!
Only pedal power from now on....after I recover from the surgeries.
I didn't ride my bicycle. On the 23rd I rode the motorcycle and I was hit by a truck that ran a red light at 35 mph. Luckily all that happened was my hand was crushed! I probably won't regain use of it, but I am alive! I am home now and things are ok, even though I had to get an attorney because the jerk is lying, saying he had a green light!
Only pedal power from now on....after I recover from the surgeries.

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Dark as always. Kinda windy but just enough to make it challenging. Why is it I never get tailwinds? Quite ride in. I got chased by two chihuahuas but they hardly posed enough of a threat to wake me out of my zen. Nothing to report.
Ernest
Ernest

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That's it, I'm wiped out. I've done 53.6 miles in 4 days. Tomorrow (tonight for you daytime dwellers) is definitely a rest day.
The ride home was gusty and I was making stupid decisions due to my fatigue. And, ya know, the combination of headwinds and uphills really sucks.
The ride home was gusty and I was making stupid decisions due to my fatigue. And, ya know, the combination of headwinds and uphills really sucks.

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hoggster, glad to hear that you're mostly ok. I hope your hand recovers. Keep us posted.

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AGGGHHHHH...it was a beautiful, windless, 32*F night last night...got the bike out, greased, oiled, tightened up things, got my gear ready for the morning....then
we go another foot of freaking snow! Right lane is plowed over, path is plowed over, slippery as hell, accidents all over the place...back on the trainer!
we go another foot of freaking snow! Right lane is plowed over, path is plowed over, slippery as hell, accidents all over the place...back on the trainer!

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HORRIBLE commute in. 35 degrees and overcast with a headwind for the entire 5 miles. Days like this make me wish I had a car


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I had to get my truck inspected by today, but I didn't want to miss bike commuting on the last day of the year. So I dropped off my truck at the Ford dealer last night and rode my bike to work this morning. Will pick up my truck on the way home.
Another beautiful day in NC -- sunny and mild. However, a front is moving through the area during the day, and it's supposed to get very windy (40+ mph) and colder. A fitting way to end the year. Happy New Year's fellow commuters.
Another beautiful day in NC -- sunny and mild. However, a front is moving through the area during the day, and it's supposed to get very windy (40+ mph) and colder. A fitting way to end the year. Happy New Year's fellow commuters.

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Despite minor mechanical issues, one rude driver, and a headwind, it was lovely commute. Light snow flurries, clear roads, friendly FedEx driver who has waved twice this week. I have rode to work all three days this week, and felt great after getting here. Ah... now I need a nap. 
I have the next two days off. Happy New Year y'all!

I have the next two days off. Happy New Year y'all!

Freewheelin' Fred
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Heavy fog again today. And wet. Yuck. I've got to get some rain/mist proofing. Fortunately my fenders arrived last night. I'll install them soon as I get home!

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the wind made me work a bit harder this morning but i am glad to got to ride on the last day of the year
happy new year~
happy new year~