First mechanical problem Wednesday - broken spoke on rear wheel drive side. Just came out of the hub. Kind of a bummer since I've only been commuting about 4 weeks. That's what you get for buying a Target bike, I suppose, even if it was a $225+ Schwinn. Couple nice bikers asked if I needed help as they passed, though, which I kindly refused since I was only a couple miles from home. Their kindness gives me some faith in humanity, though, at least the cycling portion of it! :-)

About to go on vacation for a couple weeks, but I'll have to make the wheel fix priority numero uno on my return. Riding the train to work today made me realize how much nicer it is to bike to work!!! Might just go ahead and have LBS double check the front wheel/spokes, too, since I haven't had it properly inspected since I got the bike. Everything seems OK (i.e., no loose spokes and wheels spins true), but so did the back until it broke a poke, so... Oh well. I'll be back to riding ASAP!

Cycled to work every day this week, my first "5 bagger" in a while. Usually the rain or other commitments will force me to drive 1-2 days a week. The weather has been perfect in NC all week, with morning lows around 60 and highs in 70s-80s. The one day when they said it might rain, the storms never materialized. Despite the nice weather, I'm still not seeing any regular bike commuters on my route. Occasionally I'll see someone for a day or two, but they don't stick it out (or ride at different times or routes).

tarwheel - congrats on your 5 bagger - still waiting for mine.

I purchased a new saddle: Specialized Avatar Gel saddle in a 143 width

I love it. It was raining this morning but nothing would keep me from road testing it on my 13 mile ride in. I LOVE IT. My hip feels better already and it was comfortable! I felt much more efficient. It also seemed slippery enough. I even rode in with just bike shorts because it was warm enough.

Wrapped my rack trunk with my courier bag with a plastic bag - not elegant. Of course I know a proper waterproof rack trunk is in my future ... :-) Hoping the rain takes a break for my ride home. I have some f;exibility with my schedule so maybe I can time my ride with the radar forecast.

:cry: The Devil's wind turbine was cranked up to 11 this morning. 30+ MPH howling off Lake Champlain. Mostly a quartering headwind but I got it square in the face for the last mile or so. At one point I was just spinning along at 8 or 9 MPH. Temps in the 50s though. Overcast. Very light drizzle.

Yeah, here too. They hover in great swarms over the MUP. Breathe through your nose and wear glasses. :D

Almost became a prius hood ornament this morning. The Driver was coming out of a cross street an I was on the Ave. He edge out passed the stop sign and I slammed on the brakes. I did a massive endo and hung there in the balance for what seemed like an eternity. It was like the matrix. The worst part was that he wasn't sure if he/she was going to stop or go. Kept pumping the brakes of indecision.

Moral of the story, ALWAYS watch out for Prius drivers.

I had an awesome ride today. They have been putting in a new LRT track right in the middle of my route to work - no way to get around it. Today I tried out the new asphalt bike path that has finally been put in after the construction aftermath. Besides it being beautifully smooth to ride on, I hit almost no red lights on the way to work!!

Plus, the weather is almost becoming spring/summery. Yeah for capris!! (not quite short weather yet - but better than tights).

ibcrewin - I am always watching out for Prius drivers but I think this situation has nothing to do with her being a Prius driver. Beemer maybe ... :-)

BTW: I have a front strobe which has, on more than one occasion, helped me avoid this situation. They can see it through shrubs and they are more inclined to stop sooner, rather than roll forward into my path.

You OK? "ENDO" means you fell right?

60Fs, slow ride in, light but steady rain. Had the opportunity to test out the Stearns rain gear the wife picked up at Big Lots. Promising. Forecast for thunderstorms today. I keep thinking that people on public transport are going to vector illness.

the wind was fierce on the ride home yesterday
i was grateful this morning for no wind and warmth and a little dampness...i was fast and i left earlier so the traffic was different

it's been a great week to be a bike commuter

How was the commute today? AWESOME!!! Usually by Friday I am really feeling the fatigue, but today I felt strong. And to top it off, when I got to work and dressed for the day, my shirt felt looser around my gut. Now if I can just avoid the pig flu, my Friday will be complete.

50F and cloudy, some headwind. Tail light batteries died en route, but it was light out by then. Looks like the weather will be the same this afternoon, so I get the wind behind me!

20-35mph winds on my last 5 commutes. Needless to say, record times one way and punishment the other. I've been riding my old LeTour simply because it has drops. On part of my ride I go down a big hill off a bride and onto a trail along the river. Guess who got a bunch of river muck in his cassette? Did I mention the river has been high down there lately? On top of that, the pedals have been clicking for the last few days. I've checked and everything is tight so I can't figure out what the problem could be. When they click, I can feel it in the left pedal. I suppose I'll have to take it to the shop, since I don't have a crank wrench to get to the ball bearings. Or I could buy a crank wrench, but I doubt the wife is going to approve of another bike purchase :)

what a tailwind on the way into Boston this morning! It meant I made great time. The ride home was super sweet, along the bike path but a bit slow into the wind, which was still blowing.

PS.

Is this thread really slow lately for everyone else? Takes a while to get into it and to post for me lately.

windy yes, at least the rain was minimal huh? temps were good too

nice ride today, the temps dropped back down into the fifties so not to sweaty when I got there.

On the way home, I had to move into the left-hand lane to avoid a line of cars queued up for the KFC drive thru. This is, apparently, the only KFC in Providence (no joke), so the drive-thru line stretched out into the middle of a major thoroughfare. Riding through the line wasn't an option, so into the highspeed lane I go...

Thursday: spotted a woman wearing short dress riding bike, blowing thru every red signal (I always caught her up gong at my own pace). A few guys were following her and also blowing thru the stop signs. At one point as I passed her and her band of admirers, one guy accerated past her and turned around to get a glimpse around the same time I was passing this bunch. The guy had a look, wobbled, I had to take an extra wide route to avoid a crash. Another guy also had a look and proceeded to fall in front of me. Luckily I avoided him too.

Friday: a larger woman riding a commuter oriented bike (I don't know what. One it was but it was definitely more pashley like that full on commuter like) was riding at a pretty quick pace which impressed me. Chatted to her for a bit, she'd been riding for a year and boughb her new bike earlier that week.

Later in the commute a nice lady cyclist was turning right at the junction (we drive on the right) so I proceeded to pass her on the left riding around 18mph when she decided to carry on going straight and blow straight into my line. Another avoided collision.

What is it thesedays, must be sun or something. Even the drivers are getting a bin pacey.

Looked out the window to blue skis this morning but alas it was a Sun with false promises. Like the unwanted guest who would not leave, winter temperatures of 2 degrees C chill my muscles and tear my eyes with its north wind. The only salvation for this cilly ride in to work was the void of heavy morning rush hour traffic.

42F and cloudy - a bit nippy in sweat shirt and shorts. Saturday morning quiet - took the more direct route - a real treat on mostly fresh pavement, 2 lane winding highway with only 3 cars passing me. SHould be 66F for the ride home later - back to the generally safer and less travelled (but longer) route for the ride home later.

As usual, Saturdays are a leisurely commute. It was misting a bit but nothing too serious. The amount of construction in the bike lanes is offset by lesser traffic congestion. I only had one problem with a pedestrian. She was standing in the bike lane as I was crossing an intersection during a green light. I went into to traffic lane and asked her to get out of the bike lane as I was heading towards her on the left. She said "Oh, a bike lane? Where's the bike lane?" I pointed to her feet as I rode past. She said in an angry tone "Well, then why aren't you riding in it??"

Cheating, but yesterday's commute was into Glasgow. Following the river Clyde, chasing deer and foxes along my way. Enjoying watching the swans, ducks and geese. Then the university boat racing teams out practicing. Then the surreal "armadillo". Then I cross the Clyde and head up to work.

I love my commute.

Moist. 53F/say 11-12C with light wind and rain. I think I caught a window where the precip was a bit lighter. Looks like that's what the week will largely be--but that's the spring around here. I guess I'll try and stock up my locker with newspaper (for shoe-stuffing). I certainly had to tap into my stash this morning. :D

Rain, Rain, Rain and more rain. I got a little lucky, because at 5:10 it was a downpour, but by 5:40 it lightened up a bit. Of course there is only one level of soaked, so it was little relief. The temp was good around 50 F (10 C), and that helped allot. Everything will be dry by quitting time, so it can get wet all over again, when I leave. I love that feeling of pressing warm water from socks between my toes, when I peddle up hill. My strategy for this afternoon will be to drive through all the standing water, become soaked again, then the rain won't mean much to me.

Today is my 10th day in a row bike commuting. That's probably a record for me, as I usually ride 3-4 days/week depending on the weather. We haven't had much rain lately and the temperatures have been mild, so I haven't had any excuses not to ride. That should change this week as the forecasters are calling for thunderstorms every afternoon. Of course, that's what they said about the past weekend and we didn't get a drop of rain. Packed my rain jacket, just in case, but it will probably be too warm to wear it even if it does rain this afternoon.

10th day in a row! I'm jealous! Today may be the only day I ride to work due to assignments requiring my car and the weather Friday. :(

Ride in was cool and fun, nice and fast. Still love my new saddle. My right thumb is bothering me so I'm shift more with my front derailer and staying away from the rear the best I can. Nice to have 3 rings up front. I'm sure my thumb issue is due to the unconventional shifter mount. Wonder how long it will take to swap the rigging.