How was the commute today?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Itsjustb:
Yesterday's weather was incredible. Winds were terrible.
Today, back at it. About 40 F with a little bit of wind, but nothing like yesterday.
A decent ride, but I'm getting SLOW!
Yesterday's weather was incredible. Winds were terrible.
Today, back at it. About 40 F with a little bit of wind, but nothing like yesterday.
A decent ride, but I'm getting SLOW!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Thanks Kudzu! I just read tarwheel's report of 60-mph gusts. I didn't realize they got that high yesterday; now I'm glad I didn't ride.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
I had to take a bus in to work yesterday; I missed my stop coming back because of power outages (couldn't see my landmarks at night). Had you tried to ride, I think you would have soon regretted the decision.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
First ride with my new bike. I bought a 2007 Devinci Caribou (touring bike) to replace my 1970s Apollo Prestige. The apollo just didn't cut it for the commute (37 miles round trip), it would break down way too much. I now plan on converting the apollo into a single speed or fixed gear, I haven't decided yet.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 181
From: south Puget Sound
back to heavy mist/steady drizzle from horizontal downpour, very peaceful
Mucho windy today! The temps weren't bad. I only got one 'you're crazy' today from my co-workers!
These are the same jackasses that go out for a smoke in the same cold weather!
These are the same jackasses that go out for a smoke in the same cold weather!
Broken neck Ken


Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 3,516
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Trek Mt Track XCNimbus MUni
Was a day of (re)learning for me.
In the am, rediscovered that riding with studded tires is hard work
In the pm, switched to the rebuilt Super Sport and rediscovered the need for fenders.
In the am, rediscovered that riding with studded tires is hard work
In the pm, switched to the rebuilt Super Sport and rediscovered the need for fenders.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA
Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura
Windy. I wound up riding along-side another rider for a bit so we chatted along the way; that was pretty nice.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Berea, Kentucky
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
23F but felt much colder...my toes hurt...
Last edited by metalchef87; 01-08-09 at 07:03 PM. Reason: Correction...
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
Much warmer today, probably due to the high cloud cover rather than that freezing mist. Good legs today.
FUN! I just got a new single speed 29er which i am commuting on. instead of avoiding all the bumps/cracks/sidewalks/etc, I can now aim for them! also 75F beautiful
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,978
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
Bikes: Cannondale T700s and a few others
First Commute is 3+ weeks (I was on vacation the last two weeks of Dec but did a lot of pleasure rides then). Had a lot of rain this week till today so I drove (I have next to no wet gear). Nice ride in now that the weather broke.
Got to try my $15 REI dent sale used Night Rover. Works good but the batteries are shot and it was showing that it needed a charge after 45 minutes (we played with it at work). Trying to condition the battery to see if I can bring it back. Looks like I can rebuild the pack for about $30 worse case.
Ride home was a little windy but thankfully it was mostly a tailwind with some side gusts I had to lean into since I had the panniers on the bike. Overall it was really nice to ride again.
Got to try my $15 REI dent sale used Night Rover. Works good but the batteries are shot and it was showing that it needed a charge after 45 minutes (we played with it at work). Trying to condition the battery to see if I can bring it back. Looks like I can rebuild the pack for about $30 worse case.
Ride home was a little windy but thankfully it was mostly a tailwind with some side gusts I had to lean into since I had the panniers on the bike. Overall it was really nice to ride again.
Seeing things
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: '73 Bertin, '04 LeMond Poprad, Miyata 1000, and counting...
26F/-3C. First full (5-day) commuting week in a while (with use-or-lose, I'd taken every Friday off stretching back to Thanksgiving). But dead legs, a mentionable headwind, and cold fingers couldn't deter me from reveling in the clear view of a nearly full moon beckoning me onward. Very nice, indeed.
<preaching to the choir>And people think we're crazy for doing this!? Personally, I think the crazy is on the other foot.</preaching to the choir>
<preaching to the choir>And people think we're crazy for doing this!? Personally, I think the crazy is on the other foot.</preaching to the choir>
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA
Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura
I think I was pushing myself since it was the last ride before the weekend; I was already tired and I was just pushing myself to get home.
Last night on the way in and this morning on the way home I had several things simply fall off of my bike. Last night I lost a braze-on bolt near the drop-outs for my pannier rack (I fixed that before I left work). On the way home this morning, one of my headlights came off in my hand, one of my taillights was millimeters from getting left in the road somewhere, and the garment bag pannier tried to jump off the rack while I was crossing a busy intersection.
At least I made it home with everything ... except my groceries (which I left in the fridge at work so I can expect that they'll be thrown away before I can get back to pick them up this evening).
Last night on the way in and this morning on the way home I had several things simply fall off of my bike. Last night I lost a braze-on bolt near the drop-outs for my pannier rack (I fixed that before I left work). On the way home this morning, one of my headlights came off in my hand, one of my taillights was millimeters from getting left in the road somewhere, and the garment bag pannier tried to jump off the rack while I was crossing a busy intersection.
At least I made it home with everything ... except my groceries (which I left in the fridge at work so I can expect that they'll be thrown away before I can get back to pick them up this evening).
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
I hit nearly 60MPH! Oh, I drove.
I haven't been posting here lately because I've been hiking 2.5 miles to the bus every morning instead of riding. The MUP (only direct way) is a mess.
But I wanted to share this: I can't remember the last time I drove to work, and this morning I feel tired, kinda lethargic, and almost "bloated." Ugh. Self-powered commutes are the best.
I haven't been posting here lately because I've been hiking 2.5 miles to the bus every morning instead of riding. The MUP (only direct way) is a mess.But I wanted to share this: I can't remember the last time I drove to work, and this morning I feel tired, kinda lethargic, and almost "bloated." Ugh. Self-powered commutes are the best.
These go to eleven
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Distrito de Columbia
Bikes: BF Pocket Crusoe; B Tikit; dust-gathering MTB
great weather in DC land. Nice 30f/1c/272kelvin ride in with little wind. Tired ass legs! Sunshine today and should be nice ride home, too.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere
Bikes: Kona Jake (2006)
Roughly the same for me in NoVA, but I did have a headwind, heading West. I was out of town and/or off the bike for the 2 full weeks prior to this one, and have ridden every day this week- am a bit worn out.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Beautiful Boise, Idaho
Bikes: 2000 GT Outpost Trail
Fun commute in this morning. It was mid-60's and the road was wet from overnight rains. I don't have fenders yet, so I got a nice wet spot on the seat of my shorts. Oh well, I enjoyed the whole ride. This is my third commute and I am finding that it doesn't seem as far as teh first two times. In fact, I kind've wish it was a little longer (it's about 7 mi).
Guest
Posts: n/a
15ºf with no wind and some icy spots but the roads were mostly clear
saw another commuter on my route and i could hear his studs on the pavement
biking all year is really fun
saw another commuter on my route and i could hear his studs on the pavement
biking all year is really fun
Nice and quiet ride in to work today. Dark as usual. Instead of my MTB, I rode my Schwinn LeTour and got to work plenty fast. I overdressed and was sweating bullets by the time I got to work. Glad I have my bike shorts in the locker at work, I'll wear those going home.
Ernest
Ernest
Commuter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Specialized Epic Carbon 92', Old-school fully-rigid specialized Hardrock
Denver weather is awesome today, no wind and 40. Glad I forced myself to bike even though we had a few beers last night.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
I hit nearly 60MPH! Oh, I drove.
I haven't been posting here lately because I've been hiking 2.5 miles to the bus every morning instead of riding. The MUP (only direct way) is a mess.
But I wanted to share this: I can't remember the last time I drove to work, and this morning I feel tired, kinda lethargic, and almost "bloated." Ugh. Self-powered commutes are the best.
I haven't been posting here lately because I've been hiking 2.5 miles to the bus every morning instead of riding. The MUP (only direct way) is a mess.But I wanted to share this: I can't remember the last time I drove to work, and this morning I feel tired, kinda lethargic, and almost "bloated." Ugh. Self-powered commutes are the best.
Took the new bike again today. My word but it's so much easier and faster on a real road bike than my P.O.S. commuter.
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
22F, slight headwind, light(ish) traffic. A good ride, but my feet were a bit cold. I got passed on the right in heavy traffic by another commuter. He was passing cars also.
Tonight's ride home is supposed to be warmer, but with a chance of rain.
Tonight's ride home is supposed to be warmer, but with a chance of rain.
We are still getting snow, nothing is plowed decently and temps around 20*F with wind chill down to 0-5*F.
So now that the back injury has subsided it looks like the trainer and maybe weekend rides but the route to work is still impassable...this sucks, it isn't the weather that's killing me it's the street departments!
So now that the back injury has subsided it looks like the trainer and maybe weekend rides but the route to work is still impassable...this sucks, it isn't the weather that's killing me it's the street departments!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Naples, Floirda
Bikes: Trek, Giant, Schwinn, Sun Recumbant
Beautiful rider in SW Florida today. Started out in mid 40's. Funny today I felt better than the other but my time was worse. Go figure still better than driving.




