How was the commute today?
04-01-09 | 08:27 AM
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
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
Sheesh I'm tired of snow but the ride as always was wonderful. 
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
04-01-09 | 08:44 AM
The Drive Side is Within
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,344
Likes: 47
From: New Haven, CT, USA
Bikes: Road, Cargo, Tandem, Etc.
04-01-09 | 09:14 AM
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
NC is expecting some heavy rain this afternoon so I rode the commuter today instead of the road bike. I have to say, the commuter is much more comfortable than the road (steel vs aluminum, nice wide tires, wider handlebars with gel tape) but damn the components on it SUCK. I couldn't get it to drop completely into gear (constant chain-rattle) and it ghost-shifted probably 20 times. All this when I had it tuned-up again only about 200 miles ago. 
04-01-09 | 09:17 AM
36F and rain rain rain. My 7 yr old bailed and rode in the car w/ mom and li'l sis. And I forgot my coffee. Argh.
04-01-09 | 09:44 AM
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Bikes: Fuji RC supreme road bike and an old reworked Raleigh Super Record mixte made in Japan for commuting
Good ride in, colder than I like (in the 40's) but it should be nicer for the ride home.
04-01-09 | 09:46 AM
FNG
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
From: Quarry Stone
Bikes: Raleigh Special * Nishiki MTN Winter Commuter * Trek Soho 3 * Specialized Langster Seattle
04-01-09 | 10:14 AM
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
Breezy.
04-01-09 | 11:22 AM
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Rain this morning but I was wetter inside then out, too many clothes for +4 C. Accidentally made a full sized Dodge Van use their brakes in a round-a-bout. They had the right of way but I entered way to hot to slow down so I just smiled and waved thanks for letting me through. 
04-01-09 | 03:16 PM
Female Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 915
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Bikes: Citizen Tokyo (Silver), Schwinn Collegiate (1980's)
Today, my commute is chilly and drizzly. Yuck.
04-01-09 | 03:54 PM
There's no place like ~/
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley, CA
Pulled into the left lane (to turn left at a light) and was honked at by someone who flew up behind me, then he squeezed up on my right and started yelling at me (with his window up). At the light, while I was waiting to turn left (yes, I had even signaled before he pulled up behind me!) he explained that bicyclists are supposed to be in the bicycle lane or on the sidewalk (illegal, by the way).
So I looked up the vehicle code today, and it turns out I was actually doing the correct, legal thing:
So I looked up the vehicle code today, and it turns out I was actually doing the correct, legal thing:
21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
04-01-09 | 06:21 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Downtown Detroit, Mi.
Bikes: Surly LHT, 94 Cannondale track bike, 80's Cannondale track bike, 60's Raleigh 5 speed, 1888 Eldridge wood wheel track bike and my old 76 DG BMX from when I was a kid.
It was soooOO nice out today!
04-01-09 | 06:27 PM
30 mph headwinds on a mountain bike for 23 miles. ugh
I encountered a weather phenomenom for the first time. Snow, thunder storm, and hail at the same time. Bizarre.
So... snow, hail, wind, lightning, a bit of rain, and a ton more wind.
I am utterly exhausted. You know you did something wrong when you are shivering under a very hot shower.
For some odd reason I am taking mass transit into work tomorrow.
egads.
Oh and I did not eat enough. Almost ran out of energy.
I encountered a weather phenomenom for the first time. Snow, thunder storm, and hail at the same time. Bizarre.
So... snow, hail, wind, lightning, a bit of rain, and a ton more wind.
I am utterly exhausted. You know you did something wrong when you are shivering under a very hot shower.
For some odd reason I am taking mass transit into work tomorrow.
egads.
Oh and I did not eat enough. Almost ran out of energy.
04-01-09 | 07:26 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario
Bikes: Kona Dew Plus, Giant Trance X4
It was an interesting commute for me today. Heading out in the morning, I was caught in the rain. While heading home, the chain on my bike snapped! Luckily it happened close to a bike shop I regularly shop at, so it was only like a 5 minute repair and I was rolling again. Otherwise I would've been screwed.
I am now definetly inspecting the chain more carefully prior to riding.
I am now definetly inspecting the chain more carefully prior to riding.
04-01-09 | 08:50 PM
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
Likes: 1
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.
Long commute home, sorta. I left work, hopped on the train with the folding bike, and met mrbrown in NYC for dinner and some bike chat. Took the train back to work, picked up my laptop (I dodn't want to lug it around the city), then took the train home. Since each leg is two trains, that's 8 trains today, counting going to work.
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Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
04-01-09 | 09:02 PM
just over the next hill
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe 2006 Fuji Tahoe
Drove home for lunch and rode back to work. Enjoyed the ride it was in the 50's. It felt good to be a little tired at work. The ride home had more wind, all good.
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Enjoy the ride.
Bianchi Volpe 2006; Fuji Tahoe 1990
Enjoy the ride.
Bianchi Volpe 2006; Fuji Tahoe 1990
04-01-09 | 09:51 PM
overcast on the way in... wet and rainy on the way home. Rode the bike path home tonight- it was rainy and dark. Passed two people jogging, saw one rider going in the opposite direction other than that completely empty for about 8 miles. I clicked along into a relatively unforgiving headwind most of the way home.
04-01-09 | 10:26 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Oaks, CA
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads Elite, Specialized Trcross Comp
True story - So today, I turn right out of the parking lot of my local Ralphs supermarket and am coasting downhill toward a red light. Out of nowhere, this guy flings open his door forcing me to swerve and skid to the left, (fortunately, no cars were coming). I must have startled the guy, because he says, "whoa, sorry!!", as I come to a stop. I was really fuming, and I turn around and kind of yell at him, "Hey dude, watch what you're doing, you almost took me out!!" and turn back around to face the light. He apparently took offense at my comment and snarls, "I said I was sorry, what the f*** else do you want." I don't respond, just shake my head and wait for the light to change. The guy then walks over to my bike, and instead of kicking my ass, says, "Hey, I was out of line, I apologize for that". I was really shocked, but manage to say, " Don't worry about it, I appreciate the gesture - just be careful next time".We shake hands, the light changes and we each go our separate ways.
Is there a moral to the story? I don't know other than a little courtesy, (in both directions), goes a long way...
Is there a moral to the story? I don't know other than a little courtesy, (in both directions), goes a long way...
04-02-09 | 12:11 AM
There's no place like ~/
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley, CA
True story - So today, I turn right out of the parking lot of my local Ralphs supermarket and am coasting downhill toward a red light. Out of nowhere, this guy flings open his door forcing me to swerve and skid to the left, (fortunately, no cars were coming). I must have startled the guy, because he says, "whoa, sorry!!", as I come to a stop. I was really fuming, and I turn around and kind of yell at him, "Hey dude, watch what you're doing, you almost took me out!!" and turn back around to face the light. He apparently took offense at my comment and snarls, "I said I was sorry, what the f*** else do you want." I don't respond, just shake my head and wait for the light to change. The guy then walks over to my bike, and instead of kicking my ass, says, "Hey, I was out of line, I apologize for that". I was really shocked, but manage to say, " Don't worry about it, I appreciate the gesture - just be careful next time".We shake hands, the light changes and we each go our separate ways.
Is there a moral to the story? I don't know other than a little courtesy, (in both directions), goes a long way...
Is there a moral to the story? I don't know other than a little courtesy, (in both directions), goes a long way...
04-02-09 | 05:51 AM
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,138
Likes: 6,363
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
El Gigante, around here, if there is a collision of that type, the person operating the moving vehicle is responsible, not the person who opened the door of the parked vehicle. In your case, that means you. It may be the same in California. Check it out. Another moral, besides courtesy, is that it's your responsibility to ride far out enough that a door opened "out of nowhere" doesn't affect you.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
04-02-09 | 06:20 AM
SA[in]NE
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: WNY
Bikes: Trek 7200
38*F, no wind suppose to be 65 going home, should be sweet.
Except next week they are calling for snow, man spring is screwy around here.
I wish the weather would switch over so I can take my MTB in for a tune up. I just don't want to be without it if there is going to be snow or ice.
Except next week they are calling for snow, man spring is screwy around here.
I wish the weather would switch over so I can take my MTB in for a tune up. I just don't want to be without it if there is going to be snow or ice.
04-02-09 | 06:29 AM
Commuter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite
First day in shorts for the calendar year! Woo-hoo!
04-02-09 | 06:46 AM
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9
Nice ride. 50's and very foggy, the air was saturated and little drops of water bounced off of my headlight, face, etc-but, not quite like rain. I left the jacket at home and opted for two shirts and half-finger gloves, it was just right. My rr. brake was a little tight (couldn't get much leverage at the lever to effectively brake) so, I decided to work on it when I got to work--messed it all up. Hopefully, I can fix it for the ride home or I'll be heading home on only one brake. I think it'll have to be cleaned, re-adjusted, etc this weekend. Other than that I'm focussing of saving more $ and therefore bringing in breakfast, lunch and, snacks-the backpack is getting heavy. Should be a nice ride home w/ temps in the 60's.
04-02-09 | 06:56 AM
The Cataract Road Bullet
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Welland, ON, CAN
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
(scream of exhilaration following first commute of the year.)
41 degrees coming in, should be mid-60s coming out. Yeah babe.
(scream of exhilaration following first commute of the year.)
41 degrees coming in, should be mid-60s coming out. Yeah babe.
04-02-09 | 07:26 AM
Older than dirt
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 2
From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
Let's hope the ride home is better, considering they weren't calling for it to be spitting this morning.
04-02-09 | 07:36 AM
circus bear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Austin
Bikes: 97(?) GT Richochet, 00 Schwinn SuperSport
Going home yesterday my shifting froze in all but one of the lowest gears. Took the bike an hoiur and a half to de-ice.
This morning all was icey with a lot of glaze about. Slower commute this morning than going home last night.
still beats driving.
This morning all was icey with a lot of glaze about. Slower commute this morning than going home last night.
still beats driving.