buzzman

streets ride in- it was fine but in the winter I'm pretty obligated to take the whole right lane down Brighton Ave and Commonwealth Ave because the snow has still effectively narrowed the streets to make it impossible to share the lane with a car or to use the bike lane on Comm Ave.

It's fine but today there were so many double parked cars, trucks and construction areas that I kept having to switch over into the left lane with all the traffic.

Then this guy on a fixie (no brakes, cell phone in hand) blows the red light next to me and proceeds down Comm Ave riding the broken white line between lanes. As I catch up to him before the next light I'm about 25' behind him and realize now we are effectively slowing traffic to our speed. I'm in the center of the right lane and he's roughly on the white line and, for some reason, no one dares pass us. Fortunately, at the next light I stop and he goes on but it's a riding style that may work when you're the only cyclist on the road or every other cyclist chooses to ride the line at your same speed but it was screwing me up. Especially since even if you outpace a rider like this unless you run every light they're going to keep on passing you.

I did admire his skill but it was not one I wanted to adopt.

The way home was a completely other ball of wax. Took the bike path home and it was great for most of it until I got to Brighton when it was slick wet ice for many sections. But it was fun.

Standalone 

The bike bug really bit me around age 11. But taking a friend around behind a buddy and me on a tandem on a long board would have been like my dream come true. Too bad I had never even heard about a long board in 1992 or so. If they even existed!

You've gotta snap a photo...

My church choir ride: did the 14.8 mile r/t twice today--- took the 4 year old to his junior choir, and then back. Ate some penne sausage and broccoli rabe and then stole the toe clip straps and headlight off the Fuji, put them on the Panasonic, and finally had my first decent ride on the Panasonic. I loved it.

I had about four gears-- the RD needs some major adjustment if not a little bending of the hanger. But it was enough -- 2nd and third gear in the back and both chainrings really covered even the monster hill (which used to house Nike missiles back in the day, and the steep little hill I live on.

The two rides really opened up my lungs. I could hit Low Eb's below the staff with far more ease and volume than usual, and the rest of the low range was huge (for me-- my wife's an opera singer, and I'm nowhere near that.). Riding, especially into rehearsal, has been the very best thing for my voice. If only riding into work could likewise make me a better teacher!

It was warm and spring-y for both rides. The water in Long Island Sound is still in the 30's-- at its coldest of the year as all the snowmelt chills it, so there was a little misty fog for the 9:30 PM ride back and a little chill. The warm air definitely has the upper hand, though. Viva spring!

vja4Him

Good ride today. Commute was 10.51 miles. Stopped by the PO, then the bank. Decided to buzz out to the LBS and see if they had the small mirror for my helmet. The only mirror they had was the one for eye glasses, which didn't work with my glasses, but does fit my baseball cap perfectly! Took me about one hour to get used to it.

Stopped by Save Mart to get more groceries. Packed over $40 in groceries home. Was raining when I came out of Save Mart. After only a few minutes was raining pretty good. Then I got hit with a strong head wind all the way home, and freezing cold rain! Was soaked by the time I got home.

Pedaldown

I completed my first commute yesterday. 15 miles one way and loved every second of it- well almost every second. Brunswick is not all that Bike friendly and I have to share the road with logging trucks.
Its amazing how much more this town became "mine" as I rode through it. Things that I never would have noticed at mach 2 in my car seemed to pop up all over the place.
It threatened rain as I left work but I went anyway (determined to start) and it mercifully held for me. I'm sure that misery is in store for me later.

I listened to music and quite liked it. Ryan Bingham has a song that has a locomotive quality to it. I found myself repeatinig it over and over. "South side of heaven"-

I noticed that passing fast food joints left me feeling disgusted. The smell...ugh. I don't have that problem in my car or even on my motorcycle...

I'm compiliing a list of mods that I would like to complete on my bike- The first is a seat post with suspension, the second is to true the rear wheel and get better commuting tires. I'm sure it will grow.

-PD

MIKEnDC

^^^^ Welcome aboard! Commuting is great stuff! The mantra I had in head this morning was that of Daffy Duck: "Yikes!, and awaayyy...!," because:

Windy!! 56F/13C and clear with a steady 15mph cross/headwind. Got hit with a few blasts that may have been twice that. Good ride, though--except for that daffiness in my brain...

bugly64

My Garmin etrex vista went "flying off the handle" bars today. Just a few light scratches happened and it still works. I had a rough dismount at the Post Office and must have jarred it to loosen it.

Big_e

Dark as always. Nothing to report. I had enough time to stop at my donut shop.
Ernest

tarwheel 

Best morning commute I've had in a long time. Temps were in the mid-50s F with the wind at my back or side most of the time, and I had good luck with the red lights for a change. Rode my single-speed with a light load since my office is well-stocked with food and clothes. The mornings are also getting noticeably brighter and my headlight now is more useful for being seen than seeing. Finally, my legs were fresh from taking the day off riding yesterday.

FredOak

Rain, Sleet, Snow and winds 50+ with gusts to 70+, no riding today...damn!

mjw16

Nice and warm, mid 50's, wore shorts, two shirts, finger-less gloves, and no skull cap. The gusty winds were from the West so, they didn't affect me too much. I felt pretty good and made great time. Can't wait for my new chainring, chain, cassette, tire to get here. I figure I'll change everything in mid-March. Should be a nice ride home.

breakaway9

I love riding in the snow, today was no exception... I did feel bad for the guy that wiped out next to the train station on his mountain bike though... Studded tires really do make a difference. Here is a quick shot i took from my cell phone while stopping to clean the fog and snow off my glasses...

dschwarz

Temperature was great but after a few minutes of riding into a 50MPH headwind I decided not to risk it. Telecommuted instead. :-(

CCrew

25-35mph winds with gusts to 50mph. Tailwind, so it rocked Knocked 20 minutes off the regular commute. Looked down at one point on a flat stretch and was cruising @ 26mph not even trying.

I'm going to pay for it going home I'm sure!

noteon 

25-35 mph winds with gusts to 50 mph. Headwinds, so it SUCKED!

On the other hand, once you've conquered Mother Nature on your way to the office (which took 1:45, average speed 6.5 mph), the rest of the day's nuisances are nothing.

Doohickie

Finally rode in this week. Early in the week there was bad weather, yesterday was just a busy day with no extra time. Today.... I could ride. Perfect weather of about 50 degrees, nice 70s for the ride home. I brought some shorts.

apricissimus 

Ugh. That sounds awful. I hope you have those same winds at your back on the way home.

Heather H

It is beautiful here today! but no riding for me I'm resting my legs in preparation for a half marathon this weekend.

Heather H

Wow! you guys riding in that kind of wind are HARD CORE!! I start getting nervous when the wind is above about 20MPH or so. Yikes!

rumrunn6

Heather - Good plan & good luck w/ the 1/2 marathon!

HardyWeinberg

Forgot my sunglasses yesterday, I found when it was blinding sun out at go-home-time. So between the squinting and the soaking (inches of standing water remaining from the morning's slush pretty much the whole way home, and I had removed the fenders to avoid fouling them w/ snow earlier) was just uncomfortable by the time I got home.

Put the fenders back on for this morning (which wound up being this afternoon, didn't head to the office until 1pm)

caloso

Had to stay late at the office last night. But it was pleasant to ride the deserted streets home.

apricissimus 

The wind was a pain tonight, but it was not as bad as some of the other accounts I've been reading BF today. I don't think it was quite as windy here as in some other places. I only had one instances where I felt like I was pushed aside by the wind. The rest was just grinding against a steady headwind.

KitN

I nearly got killed today because of the high winds. Not fun! https://www.bikeforums.net/northeast/510757-high-winds-nearly-got-me-killed.html

vja4Him

Rode 9.4 miles today. Quite a change from yesterday (freezing cold rain and strong head wind). When I left the doctors, the gears on my middle sprocket were messed up. Fortunately all the gears on the small and large sprocket are working just fine. Now I need to figure out how to fix the problem ....

CCrew

I was right when I said I was going to pay for the screaming fast tailwind. 15 miles in pure 35mph gust to 50mph. Still rattling the windows in the house. Hour ride took 1:35 and got literally blown off the trail three times into the grass. I felt like those weatherpeople that act like idiots and stand in hurricanes!

If it's like this when I wake up I'm driving in tomorrow, my quads are *killing* me!