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How was the commute today?

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Old 01-06-09 | 12:03 AM
  #29426  
dygituljunky's Avatar
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

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

Originally Posted by MIKEnDC
I give him my best WTF!? look as he starts babbling about how I'm not supposed to be "out here" in the middle of the road. Still taken aback and somewhat irritated, I asked him if he knew anything about state law. Nodding emphatically, he said, "Oh yeah, I know the law." (professional driver and all that, I guess)

I said, "Well, you better read it again."

He replied, "But you ain't got no motor--no way you can keep up!"

"I don't have to!"

After a comical 'yes you do, no I don't sequence,' I finally said, "Well, when you get a badge come talk to me."
@ "Well, when you get a badge come talk to me."

I have a badge and I ride in the road ... because it's LEGAL (here in Georgia and in most other states).
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Old 01-06-09 | 12:08 AM
  #29427  
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

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

Originally Posted by JoeyBike
That was YOU!!???
Haha! But I saw no helmet cam on this dude and I wasn't in Nawlins.

Although I probably saw you when I was there on vacation in October (but didn't know it) because I was near and at the main Cafe du Monde around nightfall; I saw some bicyclists doing some wacky things while I was there, too. I'll wave at every hoon-cyclist with a webcam the next time I'm there and yell, "Hey, JoeyBike, ya crazy hoon-biker!"

Last edited by dygituljunky; 01-06-09 at 12:09 AM. Reason: added smiley
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Old 01-06-09 | 12:29 AM
  #29428  
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From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by apricissimus
The only thing I can think of is that the guy was upset at me for taking the lane and slowing him down so he tried to do the same to me. I had taken the lane for all of about maybe 300 feet. Why do people have to be such arseholes? That got me in a bad mood for the rest of my ride.
I had a very similar thing happen to me last month. I thought I was getting a standard right hook, which increases the blood pressure plenty. But I'm pretty sure the guy tried to force me to the curb with a right hook, because when I started sprinting around him to the left, he took off straight. If he had tried to left hook me then there would have been a problem. This is on a one way residential street with parking on both sides, and it's just narrow enough that getting doored is a real possibility if you don't take the lane. It's one block up from the main drag, so I always figure if people are in a hurry they ought to just go up a block and go nuts.
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Old 01-06-09 | 05:27 AM
  #29429  
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From: Maryland, USA

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

37F/~2C with a light rain.The road spray was a little chilly on my bare shins and ankles, but otherwise a nice, non-stop ride in--which means that I was not called into any dialogues with self-appointed arbiters of social behavior (aside from talking to myself all the way in, of course ).
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Old 01-06-09 | 06:35 AM
  #29430  
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From: Vienna-not Austria

Bikes: Motobecane Fixed Gear, Giant OCR 2, Gary Fisher Sugar 4, Cannondale F 500

About 35 F and rain. Wore full gore tex and it worked out nice. Broke a rear spoke about halfway into the ride. Wheel is still fairly true; should still be able to ride home.
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Old 01-06-09 | 07:23 AM
  #29431  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

First commute in 2 or 3 weeks. Wasn't too bad. 20F, light crosswind. The MUP has some sections of postholed ice that required slowing down, but mostly it was clear or covered in light frozen sleet.

Storm coming tomorrow.
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Old 01-06-09 | 03:07 PM
  #29432  
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From: Arizona: Oven of the US

Bikes: 08 Motobecane Fantom CX

No bike commute this morning. I got myself all ready, got out to the garage, and found that a rather large piece of metal had found a new home in my tire. I was having a rough morning already, so I just swore and wandered off to catch the bus. I'll fix it when I get home.

I think it's time to invest in some Gatorskins.
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Old 01-06-09 | 03:20 PM
  #29433  
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From: "The Last Best Place"

Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho

Had my first ride with the DiNotte tail light. Nice!
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Old 01-06-09 | 03:30 PM
  #29434  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

35 and foggy. Felt colder than 35. I think it's that 100% humidity that just chills you to the bone. Otherwise, a fine morning to ride a bike.
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Old 01-06-09 | 03:37 PM
  #29435  
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From: Milwaukee
First commute since end of November. Temp was around 20F and no wind. Nothing out of the ordinary happened except that there seemed to be a hundred new potholes to navigate around. Hopefully this quiet weather pattern holds for a while, cause I was sick of driving and the trainer in the basement was getting rather old too.
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Old 01-06-09 | 03:39 PM
  #29436  
GATC
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From: south Puget Sound
heavy mist/light drizzle. But it's been full-on rain for a while now, not looking forward to the ride home so much.
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Old 01-06-09 | 04:09 PM
  #29437  
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From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
nice ride in this morning, but it was rather ominous that some guy was spreading salt on his dry sidewalks. Now there is ice everywhere. Haven't decided if I'm riding home or not.
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Old 01-06-09 | 07:06 PM
  #29438  
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From: Colorado Springs

Bikes: Trek 7.3 FX, IronHorse Warrior

First post

Hi everyone.

It was a nice, cool 20 deg F commute in this morning, and there was a nice sunset coming back.

However...
When I left school the sun was setting, so I put on my reflective vest and turned on my lights when I left. By the time I got home 9 miles later it was dark and my rear blinkie was off. I don't know when or how it turned off, but it really bothers me that it did. At least I was also wearing a safety vest and have reflectors on my panniers, but still...

Has anyone else ever had that happen with a PB Superflash? It's the first time that's ever happened before for me.
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Old 01-06-09 | 07:08 PM
  #29439  
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From: Jacksonville, Florida

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

I had a good commute this morning, some fog/mist this morning.. but not bad. Traffic has picked back up to normal now that the holidays are past.. that was nice while it lasted. Temps were 56°/79°F.
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Old 01-06-09 | 07:12 PM
  #29440  
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From: Jacksonville, Florida

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

Originally Posted by cthunter01
Hi everyone.

It was a nice, cool 20 deg F commute in this morning, and there was a nice sunset coming back.

However...
When I left school the sun was setting, so I put on my reflective vest and turned on my lights when I left. By the time I got home 9 miles later it was dark and my rear blinkie was off. I don't know when or how it turned off, but it really bothers me that it did. At least I was also wearing a safety vest and have reflectors on my panniers, but still...

Has anyone else ever had that happen with a PB Superflash? It's the first time that's ever happened before for me.
I have the superflash.. I havent had mine turn itself off. You probably hit a bump and it loosened a battery inside. I took mine apart to check the batteries and noticed one battery connection wasnt holding the battery very firmly. This was probably what happened to you.. it jolted out of place.
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Old 01-06-09 | 07:29 PM
  #29441  
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Louisville Kentucky

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

Originally Posted by dcrowell
I think I've broken the "I can't do it" mentality that keeps me from riding everyday. I intend to start now. Expect to hear from me again with my complaining about wimping out.
That didn't take long. I didn't ride today, several reasons, none good.
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Old 01-06-09 | 08:37 PM
  #29442  
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From: Berea, Kentucky

Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock

40s and rain...took the short route...
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Old 01-06-09 | 09:36 PM
  #29443  
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Got a nice soaking on the ride home. It was 75°F between the drops. I love the tropics in the winter.
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Old 01-06-09 | 09:41 PM
  #29444  
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Originally Posted by dygituljunky
I'll wave at every hoon-cyclist with a webcam the next time I'm there and yell, "Hey, JoeyBike, ya crazy hoon-biker!"
Just shooting me a PM a couple days in advance would be a lot easier! I don't always wear the helmet cam, although I really should.
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Old 01-06-09 | 10:29 PM
  #29445  
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From: Bristol, CT

Bikes: 60's SpaceLiner, 60's Ross Futura, 60's Sears spyder, 70's Zebrakenko, 98 Ross Chimera Hybrid, 90's Schwinn Frontier, and ThunderHorse, my trusty mountain steed, also my gf's 64 Schwinn ladies cruiser and her purple lowrider are at my disposal.

on the way in I had a car full of teenage girls ride by and go "woo! yeah! your bike's the ****!"

I had to smile and wave
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Old 01-06-09 | 10:49 PM
  #29446  
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Holyoke, MA

Bikes: 2003 Giant Iguana (ONCE yellow), '86 Team Fuji (Blue/Yellow), '87 Schwinn Le Tour (Frost White)

again, i didn't commute today, nor for the last 4 months, but i did work on a bike. obsessively. it was great!

i really want to finally get my surly LHT so i can throw on some studs and ride in this icy poo we call winter in new england.
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Old 01-07-09 | 12:42 AM
  #29447  
dygituljunky's Avatar
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From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA

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

Originally Posted by JoeyBike
Just shooting me a PM a couple days in advance would be a lot easier! I don't always wear the helmet cam, although I really should.
But doing things the easy way is so ... well ... EASY. lol
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Old 01-07-09 | 05:33 AM
  #29448  
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Seeing things
 
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maryland, USA

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

Yuk. 33F/0-1C with a steady rain (just southeast of the freeze line, apparently). The rain gear was working fine, though (I'm breaking in a pair of Showers Pass 'Roadie' pants--pricey but they work great).

Now where was I? Ah yes, "to resume:" yuk.
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Old 01-07-09 | 08:09 AM
  #29449  
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L T X B O M P F A N S R
 
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Malden, MA

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi San Jose, Redline 925

Cold, wet face + wind + sleet = pain! One of the top ten worst rides I've ever had, I think.

Still beats taking the T though.
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Old 01-07-09 | 08:33 AM
  #29450  
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Fat Guy Rolling
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
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From: Louisville Kentucky

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

After feeling like an abject failure yesterday, I rode today. 29F, wet snow, roads were wet, but clear. Good ride, if a bit slow.

Rode the elevator up to my office with the President of my company with my slushy bike in tow. It was fun.

I hope the roads are still clear on the way home.
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