Today was my first bike commute since April 9 since I was on vacation, but I rode about 260 miles on my week off. Took my commuter bike on its first tour along the NC coast, and had a great time. I put a smaller seatbag on my bike and removed the front and rear tail-lights, but other than that, rode just like it's set up for commuting. I' had never ridden a tour on an actual touring bike before, and it was nice have room to stash extra food and clothing.

A bit wet but I just got new kool-stop brake pads. The all weather salmon kool-stops WORK!!!

First bike commute today!

It's only 2 miles, so it's not some major achievement, but I had a good time. The cars that were behind me went around without buzzing me or honking (that might be different if I had left the house 30 minutes later). The only noteworthy event was the pedestrian guy that asked, "Aren't you worried about getting hit?" I just told him, "Nope," and kept on riding.

Anyway, weather was great - felt like high 60s, overcast, breezy. Now I just gotta figure out what to do about helmet hair (losing the helment isn't an option - so says wifey).

Yea, what is it with the wind in a city? It can be hard to stand up in at times!

Hey all. Today was my first day commuting ever. It wasn't that bad today at all. I ran into a flat as soon I left because the tube was ripped where the valve stem was. After replacing the tube and getting on my merry way I realized how out of shape I am, and that messenger bags aren't all they are cracked up to be. All in all though, a pretty good ride.. gorgeous weather, relaxed traffic, and lots of scenery.

Going home should be fun... I'm going to go eat now.

Tailwind last night
Tailwind this morning
life is good.

First ride in a couple weeks... mostly because of sloth :-( Cool, foggy and dripping moisture blanketing Long Island this morning, my new fenders got a work out. No matter how many lights, and how much reflective/ bright colored clothing I have, morings like this make me want more... I want to be so insanely lit that there is no way I can be missed from any angle. I want to be made of pure light! However, it felt good to ride again. I need to establish a better routine.

On a positive note...About half-way through my ride, my reflective pant strap fell off when making a turn at a light. The motorist behind me saw this and coincidentally got the red at the light... she honked a couple times and I turned my head to see the fluorescent yellow band lying in the street. I pulled a U turn to go get it and the motorist, very kindly got out of her SUV, picked up the band and walked across the street to hand it to me. I thanked her, reattached it and jumped back on the road. She passed me while I was resetting the band and I promptly passed her as she was in a line of cars at a light. I offered a kind wave as I passed. I'm glad that she went out of her way to help me out and really exceeded my expectations that she got out of her cage, and endangered herself just to return a little piece of reflective fabric to me. Kinda gives me a warm fuzzy, although I know this is a 1 in 100 Long Islander. It's a shame that she wasn't 15 years younger and attractive.

Beautiful and sunny in the upper 60s/low 70s. Left work a little early yesterday to get to a dental appointment and a sunny ride. Got all geared up, snapped pannier on bike, helmet, gloves, sunglasses check. Started pulling bike away from rack...what the...?...someone had locked their bike to the rack inadvertently locking their lock through my rear rack. I was stuck! This was a lightly ridden, new bike, no fenders, barely any lights, new seat, no dirt accumulation...fair weather rider (haven't seen the bike in the cage before this day)...stymied. Had to get the transportation office to issue me an "emergency cab ride" to my appointment since by that point the bus wouldn't get me there at all. And I had to leave my bike at work so I couldn't ride in this morning. GAH! I left a nice note (really, it was nice!) on the renegade bike. Today, I received a $10 gift certificate to the coffee shop and sincere apology from the newbie, yep, a newbie. She was nice and super embarrassed and won't make that mistake again. :D

Waved it off, yesterday. Came in today, saw a dude w/ a flat, stopped to see if he was cool (he was), good to get riding, again. Cool, semi-damp. Looks like maybe rain on the way home.

40s F and sunny, very warm-feeling 40s (vs the cold/clammy 40s of last week)

Just before I left the house I saw my neighbour's kid sprinting to the bus stop.

A few minutes later I rolled by the bus stop and she was standing there looking angry.
"Miss the bus?" I said
"Yeah"

We didn't say anything more but we quickly made eye contact and we both knew.
She should get a bike.

Yesterday, my wife called my workplace at 8:30 AM-- our son couldn't move his neck! I locked my dahon in a cabinet, left my class with my coteacher, and caught an immediate ride home!

He's fine-- it's some kind of atomic neck cramp that people can get when they have a cold... but it was scary to see!

I have to take the bus to the train station today, and walk a half hour. Could be worse--- I coule be driving!!! :D

Temps in the 40s. First morning ride this year when I haven't worn full length pants. :) Mild headwind. Damp from rain over night, but not enough to get picked up by the tires. Sun coming out from behind low broken clouds.

I came across a roadie with a flat. :( He was putting on rubber gloves as I approached. I asked if everything was okay. He said he had to change his flat tire. I asked if he had everything he needed, and he did. Now I'm thinking I should have offered to help, at least.

6C this morning (43degF), sunny. Didn't get much sleep, Cycled on empty stomach (doesn't bother me much). Got first flat after 6 months (Conti Gatorskins) but at least it happended at a nice spot (park, grass). Got back up and running in 10 mins. The CO2 pumped me up to 70psi (normal 120).

It felt so good being the bike.

Paying for the tailwinds with a couple of headwinds. It's cooler this morning but 2C is still really nice cycling weather.

My commute this morning was excellent! I felt very strong. I have a 10-mile (16 km) commute, uphill all the way to work. I think a combination of factors worked towards this newfound strength. I couldn't even find the "hard uphill" stretches. It all felt easy.

- my condition is improving
- I changed my handlebars which gives me a better climbing position
- I changed my pedals so I used my SPD shoes
- no wind, whereas I've usually had a headwind

It's 51F (10.5C) and there's no real wind today. It's supposed to rain this afternoon, so I brought a rainjacket. No more avoiding cycling just because of a rain forecast!

It was a nice ride in, comfortable temp 38 F (3 C). I beat the rain in, and hopefully, I miss it when I go home. It's not supposed to get warm today 56 F (13 C), but it is getting to be an anomally, so I'll just ride it out and in shorts.

Took me a couple of kilometers to want to be on the bike this morning because of cold stinging rain driven by a good head wind. Hopefully the wind dosn't change directions during the day so it will be at my back on the way home. I am still wearing water resistant winter tights at 3 degrees Celsius but should be in shorts soon if the hot weather from the west gets here in the next day or so, (fingers crossed).

39F, headwind, man I felt slow. Another commuter caught me, this morning.

41F, neglected the gloves this morning, had cold hands. No wind today (compared to 25mph headwinds yesterday) Supposed to get to 60 today, should be a great ride home!

57º, sunny, no headwinds to speak of. Beat a girl on a Buddy 125 off the line, and kept pace with her for about half a block until a straightaway gave her the advantage. I think I'm too competitive to commute!

50F felt colder than 46F yesterday, cloudy clammy today vs sunny and glorious yesterday.

Haven't commuted by bike since last week Wed (took a mini vacation and then two days of rain). Anyway I consider this mornings weather (40f, sunny, little or no wind) to be absolutely perfect. Parts of my normal route are closed for construction so I had to add a couple of miles. Now the ride in is close to 16 miles, but I am not complaining.

So as I was standing at the open front door this morning, looking out at a rainy, windy day and on the verge of bagging the bike in favor of the car, my daughter came down the stairs and said "Man up Dad. It's earth Day!".

Now let me tell you, when your teenage daughter has to tell you to "man up" ... wow, that's all I needed! On went the bike clothes and I ended up bucking a headwind all the way to work. Rain was light though so I didn't get too wet. But even with the wind and rain it was a fine commute. I feel so manly!

I'll have a tough commute home this afternoon as a front is moving through the area with very high winds. Sustained winds are about 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, and my commute will be mostly into the wind. It's my payback for yesterday when I had a nice tailwind all the way home. I almost took my singlespeed today, and I sure am glad that I decided not to. Pedaling uphill into the wind with only one speed is no fun.