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How was the commute today?

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Old 03-20-09 | 05:46 PM
  #30551  
drummingpariah's Avatar
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From: Berkeley, CA
Originally Posted by con
About 3:30 or so on work days I start glancing over at my bike sitting a couple feet away from me in my office and I start getting excited about my commute home.
I know EXACTLY what you mean, but I stayed later today so it started at 4:30. Now I'm out of here, back out into the sunshine!
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Old 03-20-09 | 06:35 PM
  #30552  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

Nice ride in, saw a couple of "hipsters--I guess", dressed in all black, on black fixies, one wearing a Misfits-like skull face mask thingie, the other-the girl-with white hair streaming behind her. It was an interesting site at 6:00 in the morning. I saw them again in the afternoon, still wearing the same get ups, and said something dorky as we passed eachother like "hey, I saw you guys this morning!" Clever. Other than that: saw my first Osprey yesterday, left my blinkie on overnight (still had good battery), need to work on bike a little this weekend......that's about it.
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Old 03-20-09 | 06:42 PM
  #30553  
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From: Jacksonville, NC

Bikes: 2007 Trek 7.3FX

Thanks to a reassignment, my commute has stretched from 6.5 miles to just about 12 miles (one way).

Today was the first day I rode there and home and my legs are dead. I'm hoping they're just tired and that they'll be fresh tomorrow morning for a slow-group ride in conjunction with a City street festival.

The rides were great, though. Saw several critters (fox, bunny and deer) and enjoyed watching the sun rise this morning and set this evening.

I will say that I'm ready for the weather to be "warm" all the time...Cool in the morning and cool in the evening is killin' me...
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Old 03-20-09 | 08:54 PM
  #30554  
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From: Becket, MA
did my 20 mile commute then got home and went for a 45 mile road ride. Sunny weather but it was cold!- about 25〫F. It was fine- I was dressed for it but then I got a flat and my hands got really cold while I was fixing it. Took a few miles of making fists and shaking my hands to finally get them to work again. Just happy to be getting some miles in this time of year beyond my commuting miles.
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Old 03-21-09 | 08:12 PM
  #30555  
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From: East Falmouth, MA

Bikes: 2008 Jamis Satellite

After reading that, I feel like a puny runt... I rode to work today for the first time this year. All 4 miles each way I almost bought it on the way in- I mistimed the light and almost got run over.
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Old 03-21-09 | 10:26 PM
  #30556  
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From: Toronto, ON
My front brake cable broke early this morning as I was trying to stop rolling downhill towards a busy intersection.

Not a special event on its own, except that my rear brake cable busted about a month ago. And I was lazy and busy enough to put off replacing it until... late last night.

Hmm... Maybe there really is some benign superpower...
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Old 03-21-09 | 10:28 PM
  #30557  
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From: Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by jeffpoulin
Extremely windy today which made for a tough commute.

Oh, and I got hit by a car. I was on a one way narrow street and a car tried to pass me without having enough space. His passenger side rear view mirror hit my handlebars. Luckily, both I and the bike were okay. The driver had the nerve to tell me that I needed to watch out behind me. The jerk.
Wow. I sure hope karma catches up with him.
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Old 03-22-09 | 06:05 AM
  #30558  
MKE
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From: Milwaukee, WI, USA
I am new at this. But this seems interesting.

Been commuting on bicycle for a few years and am interested in what people are up against in their respective corners of the world. I currently ride a 17 mile roundtrip commute in SE Wisconsin. Winter is winding down and Spring has me excited for longer joy rides rather than the "strictly business" commutes the cold, dark months offer.

Today was warmish and calm. Early AM shifts (leave the house about 0400) every other weekend give me a different perspective. I am used to a late morning/early afternoon ride with all the lunch and mid day traffic. This morning I had the full 8.5 miles to myself with mellow winds and 38 degrees (3 C). Still dark that early, but pleasantly so.
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Old 03-22-09 | 12:19 PM
  #30559  
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From: Saginaw, MI

Bikes: 2009 Trek Allant, 2000 Trek Navigator, 1982 Schwinn LeTour

I went to seminary in Mequon. Rode all over Thiensville, Brown Deer, German Town, and Northern Milwaukee, especially when my car stopped driving over 35mph without stalling senior year.
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Old 03-22-09 | 01:35 PM
  #30560  
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From: Fairhaven, Massachusetts

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Originally Posted by Matt1972
After reading that, I feel like a puny runt... I rode to work today for the first time this year. All 4 miles each way I almost bought it on the way in- I mistimed the light and almost got run over.
We are almost neighbors. I can see Falmouth from my house in Fairhaven.

Click <a href="https://www.vimeo.com/2626739">this tutorial</a> on how to run a red light.

Your not a former "Stang Banger" are you?
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Old 03-22-09 | 05:08 PM
  #30561  
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I'm getting more opportunities to ride this week. It was beautiful our every day last week except Friday and that was the only day I could ride. Oh well, let's see what happens this week.
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Old 03-22-09 | 08:57 PM
  #30562  
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From: Becket, MA
made excellent time into town this morning. I thought I must be getting into some decent shape. Should have realized I was getting some extra assistance from mother nature. Pounded home into a headwind on the way back and was slow as molasses.
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Old 03-23-09 | 05:03 AM
  #30563  
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From: Maryland, USA

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

36F/2 or 3C with a very persistent northerly (right to left crosswind for most of my way) that gusted up above 20 here and there. Colder on my fingers than I would normally hope for spring, but early days yet.

Cleared out my sinuses very nicely, though!
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Old 03-23-09 | 06:05 AM
  #30564  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

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

It was cold again, 26 F (-3 C). Not deadly cold, but with spring around the corner, untolerable. It will not warm up again until Friday. The ride was in cold weather gear, of which I am sick. Other than the temp, it was an easy ride.
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Old 03-23-09 | 06:42 AM
  #30565  
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty

Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS

The ride was just peachy- 62 degrees and a strong tailwind. The ride home is gonna be tough with 25 mph headwind, though.
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Old 03-23-09 | 07:11 AM
  #30566  
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From: Sacramento

Bikes: Surly Cross Check

Finally back on my bike today after two weeks. My knee is still not 100% but it didn't complain much. It was cold by NoCal standards this morning (near freezing).
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Old 03-23-09 | 07:20 AM
  #30567  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Light tailwind. Temps down in the mid-teens F. Some sunshine. An enjoyable ride. I'll have a headwind for the ride home as well.
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Old 03-23-09 | 07:26 AM
  #30568  
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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

I'm still recovering from the cold I caught last week, but at least I was able to ride today. I was only able to bike commute one day last week due to being sick, and I probably should not have ridden that day. Now comes the fun part of waiting for my sinuses to finally clear up. My legs feel fine but energy levels are down and breathing is impaired. I don't catch many colds or get sick in general very often, so I'm not used to riding when sick. It definitely takes some of the fun out of it, although I usually feel better after I have exercised.
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Old 03-23-09 | 08:25 AM
  #30569  
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Originally Posted by jeffpoulin
Extremely windy today which made for a tough commute.

Oh, and I got hit by a car. I was on a one way narrow street and a car tried to pass me without having enough space. His passenger side rear view mirror hit my handlebars. Luckily, both I and the bike were okay. The driver had the nerve to tell me that I needed to watch out behind me. The jerk.
My response to that (which I thought up but have never had the opportunity to use) is "Yeah, I should have seen you coming and moved to the center of the lane so that you can't try to pass when there isn't room. In the future I'll make sure to take up the whole lane when I see you coming."
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Old 03-23-09 | 08:57 AM
  #30570  
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From: New Haven, CT, USA

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This is looking like yet another 4 out of 5 week. Skipped today-- had a few things to do on the way home and then heard about 30MPH gusts out of the north...
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Old 03-23-09 | 09:17 AM
  #30571  
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From: Highland Park, NJ, USA

Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.

This has been a lousy morning. My train was late getting into Newark, so I missed my connecting train to work. The next train was in an hour - during rush hour, weird. On top of that, I left a clava and a pair of gloves on the train.
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Old 03-23-09 | 09:49 AM
  #30572  
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34F and, counter to weather report, DRY. Speedy ride, maybe stored up burst after 3 days off. See what I've got tomorrow.

Replaced handlebars over the weekend, it was nice this morning, hopefully that lasts too.
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Old 03-23-09 | 10:32 AM
  #30573  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

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

Chilly north wind. I was fine except for my fingers--just wearing glove liners and that wasn't really enough. Legs were a little heavy but not too bad.
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Old 03-23-09 | 12:03 PM
  #30574  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

Headwind. Irritating.
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Old 03-23-09 | 12:38 PM
  #30575  
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From: Hills-Vegas, NC

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

Nice morning ride. Very low traffic for a Monday too ... odd. According to the radio, which I hardly
listen to when riding, the temp went from 33* to 43* during the commute. Now it's 63* and I can't
wait to get back out there. Saw 1 other bike today.
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