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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How was the commute today?

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Old 03-09-09 | 08:33 AM
  #30351  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter

Good ride

Today was an easy ride at 50 F (10 C). It was shorts and no outer shell. Downhill was tad chilly,
but it was so nice not to be bundeled up and having my legs free to push wildly as I please. This
being the first riding day for shorts since the fall is cause for celebration, although the weather can
change the other way just as quickly in March. Last Monday was 6 inches (15 cm) of snow and this
Sunday it was 72 F (22 C), so there are no delusions about the changes in March.
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Old 03-09-09 | 08:37 AM
  #30352  
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From: Edmonton, AB

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Cold this morning, and there was still allot of drifted snow. I had to walk the bike for about 200m, then i had to re-route and took a busy street.
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Old 03-09-09 | 09:00 AM
  #30353  
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From: New Haven, CT, USA

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First Commute on new folder, Dahon Curve D3.

I bought it so that I could leave later in the morning... but the weather channel radar on my laptop showed a fun little thunderstorm heading right in my direction, so I raced out ahead of it.

It caught up with me a mile from the train, but I got in before getting soaked. Walked right on the 6:17 train that actually went express right to my stop-- the only train that does this. I was SUPER early, even after waiting much of the rain out under the tracks.

Getting to work early is a huge added benefit to this commuting thing.

Gear: my seatpost did some slipping, it'll need adjustment, and the brakes are rubbing up front after a few potholes. It's hard to 'get light' on the Dahon, so the wheels will need some adjustment right away. I'm at the max height for the Dahon, and if you add the 20-25 lbs I had on my back (shoes, coffee, water, lunch, gradebook, clothes), I'm right at the max weight, too.
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Old 03-09-09 | 09:16 AM
  #30354  
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From: south Puget Sound
snowy! Lots of snow. Clean road underneath so no traction issues. Passed one biker going the opposite way, and passed one going my way bundled up like Charlie Brown going skating.
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Old 03-09-09 | 09:40 AM
  #30355  
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From: Denver

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

Pretty tired this morning but the ride did me well. 40's and low winds, not bad.
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Old 03-09-09 | 09:44 AM
  #30356  
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Wonderful commute this morning - very light traffic, dry at last, only hit 2 lights and drafted a bus for about 3/4s of a mile! Consequently took over 90 seconds of my previous best time. Well chuffed!
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Old 03-09-09 | 09:53 AM
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[QUOTE=Standalone;8495450]
Walked right on the 6:17 train that actually went express right to my stop-- the only train that does this.QUOTE]

Just curious how the train commute works. Where do you put your bike? Can you take it on the train or is it locked up at the station?
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Old 03-09-09 | 12:10 PM
  #30358  
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From: New Haven, CT, USA

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DUCKBILL,

The folders are allowed on the trains, and Metro North just changed their rules to not only allow folders, but to no longer require that they be bagged.

Full size bikes are not allowed during "peak hours" (about 4 AM to 9 and 4 Pm to 8 or so), excepting a few "bike trains" offered on weekends, mostly for roadies who wish to leave NYC to ride out in Connecticut and such on a weekend. And for that, you need a $5 permit that is good forever.

Up until today, I had been locking my vintage panasonic up at the station, and then walking from the destination station 1.5 miles to my place of employment.

The folder cuts the locking time and walking time. Plus, it's just a nifty thing to own!
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Old 03-09-09 | 01:06 PM
  #30359  
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From: Austin, TX

Bikes: Fuji RC supreme road bike and an old reworked Raleigh Super Record mixte made in Japan for commuting

It was DARK on my way in this morning, but other than that a very nice ride in.
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Old 03-09-09 | 01:31 PM
  #30360  
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From: Malden, MA

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi San Jose, Redline 925

Today was the first time can recall ever riding my bike to work and not seen another cyclist. Not one. I got a really late start to the day (left for work at 9:30), and I was riding through some awful weather (rain/snow mix). But still, pretty unusual.
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Old 03-09-09 | 06:02 PM
  #30361  
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From: NYC Metro Area

Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère

I went back home and revised my outfitting after the first few blocks because I misjudged. Cold and rainy--but pretty!


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Old 03-09-09 | 06:36 PM
  #30362  
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From: south Puget Sound
hail on the way home. I thought my 7 yr old would be annoyed but he liked it, talked about the weather that produces hail vs snow or rain. He might even have been right for all I know.
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Old 03-09-09 | 06:56 PM
  #30363  
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Awesome ride. First day it was warm enough to wear shorts in with a light jacket. 78F on the way home.
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Old 03-09-09 | 07:30 PM
  #30364  
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From: K.F., Orygun

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Cold ass cold...17 degrees, light snow again, warming up all the way to 30 midday with a 10 mph headwind home. bleh. Spring had better be here soon or I am going to start complaining.
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Old 03-09-09 | 07:52 PM
  #30365  
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From: Holyoke, MA

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

was just fine! had to gas up the Ford on the way home though!

actually, i'm waiting for my Surly CC to arrive, so no commuting by bike for a bit...
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Old 03-10-09 | 04:22 AM
  #30366  
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From: Maryland, USA

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

Cool @ 37F/3C. No wind to speak of, and a mostly clear sky. The full moon made the poor efforts of my headlight seem futile.

After the warm stretch of weather we've had, this morning seemed more like autumn than spring--and, oh yeah, it's still winter. And for some reason I couldn't get that old Led Zeppelin song Ramble On out of my mind ("...the autumn moon lights my way...").
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Old 03-10-09 | 05:42 AM
  #30367  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Yesterday morning I was fussing about the darkness on my morning commute with the time change, but by afternoon I was loving it. I had to work 1.5 hours late, so I had daylight all the way home in addition to 80 F temperatures and a tailwind. That was sweet.

The commute this morning was great. The full moon was incredible, and I had a tailwind again on the way to work. My legs were rested up better from the weekend rides, and I caught nearly early traffic signal on green, so I made great time. I wish all commutes were as nice.
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Old 03-10-09 | 06:01 AM
  #30368  
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From: Raleigh, NC

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other bikers

Originally Posted by apricissimus
Today was the first time can recall ever riding my bike to work and not seen another cyclist. Not one. I got a really late start to the day (left for work at 9:30), and I was riding through some awful weather (rain/snow mix). But still, pretty unusual.
That is incredible. I have the opposite situation. I rarely ever see other bike commuters on my route. We have a lot of cyclists in my city but very few commuters. Kind of sad.
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Old 03-10-09 | 06:16 AM
  #30369  
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From: Southern Maryland

Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite

A brisk 40F today. I saw another commuter!!! That is really rare for me. In a county of perhaps 100,000 I think that I've only seen 6 different people commuting. We should form a gang.
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Old 03-10-09 | 06:25 AM
  #30370  
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From: Ottawa ON

Bikes: '04 Trek 1000, '05 Devinci Millenium; 07 Spec. Allez

Woo hoo! First commute this year! Excellent conditions at -5C and wind assisted no less

23km in 1 hour on my kid's hybrid, a Raleigh 'Cross-Lite' with regular pedals. It's similar to an FCR. The hybrid only cost me about 9 minutes over my normal roadie commute time. That won't come out until I'm certain that icy patches are nil. Made the mistake of not drinking frequently enough from my w/b and the nozzle iced up on me. Wx forecast is +3C this afternoon and +9 tomorrow with gusts to 60kph. That should be interesting.
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Old 03-10-09 | 06:27 AM
  #30371  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Upper 20sF & overcast. No wind. A bit more snow on the MUP than yesterday, but it was still fairly easy-going. I had to walk in a couple of places where it's just too gnarly to be comfortable. Supposed to be in the 40s later today, with rain. That should take most of the snow off except for the gnarly spots where it's thick.

Here's my steed just beyond one of the bad places.
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Old 03-10-09 | 06:53 AM
  #30372  
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From: Hills-Vegas, NC

Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji

Made it to work, but had to walk the last 1/4 mile or so due to the rear wheel needing a tensioning. I love when you get a wobble and pull over to check it the first time. I lifted the rear end off the ground, spun the wheel, and of course, it spun true. Went to check for a possible bubble in the tire and grabbed a couple of spokes ... they are squishy like soft cheese. Oh well, should have packed that spoke wrench.

All in all the ride was good. Brisk air, big moon out, new bike to ride, etc.
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Old 03-10-09 | 08:45 AM
  #30373  
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From: Cape Cod

Bikes: Lotus Odyssey - Shogun 400 - '75 Raleigh Tourist - Raleigh Grand Prix - Gitane Tour de France- Schwinn Le Tour - Univega Maxima Sport (winter bike) Trek 950

Yesterday was the typical New England day Mark Twain referred to when he said if you don't like the weather wait a minute. Left home under a steady light rain which stopped about a half mile into the ride. The last quarter mile it started to drizzle. Not long after getting to work it started poring, changed to sleet then snow. No accumulation. Back to a steady drizzle. About an hour before getting out of work I have to drive to the next town over, no rain. Drive maybe 3 miles rain sleet wind. Turns to all snow on the way back. At exactly the town line its back to rain. I'm out of work in fifteen minutes. Put all my rain gear on go out the door & not a drop of rain or a puff of wind all the way home.
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Old 03-10-09 | 08:56 AM
  #30374  
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mangosalsa, that should never happen. Retension your wheel! If you do it right, it won't come undone again.
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Old 03-10-09 | 09:01 AM
  #30375  
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From: Hills-Vegas, NC

Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji

Yep, it was on my mind when building this one. These wheels were in the shed for a year or so and I knew I should have had them tensioned before today. Live and learn.
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