How was the commute today?
Dark as usual. The temp must be high 50's. I rode my '72 Columbia Tourist V. She's a heavier ride but it's fun riding a vintage bike to work. 2 large dogs ran down the street towards me and I readied myself with my can of Halt. But they just ran by without a word. Apparantly their owner had opened his door down the street to let them in.
Ernest
Ernest
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Excellent ride today. Bit of a tailwind. 50F. Some sun. I felt peppy and was loping along at 17-20MPH most of the way. Today I only saw one other cyclist, an older woman going the other way on the MUP. I saw so many yesterday that I thought people were taking this "alternative commute" week more seriously than in previous years. Maybe not though.
circus bear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Austin
Bikes: 97(?) GT Richochet, 00 Schwinn SuperSport
Other than almost having a head on with a ninja skater, very nice ride in. Just put together a GT Ricochet this past weekend for commuting and camping, so working out the bugs and all the little adjustments to get things 'just so'...
Glad spring is finally here in Colorado!
Glad spring is finally here in Colorado!
Who farted?
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V
Waved it off, this morning. Last night, chest was rattling and I had to climb in granny the whole way up the hill (after considering walking it). Beautiful day, too, what a waste.
Couple of firsts last night:
1) Swallowed my first bug of the year! It was smallish, i failed to identify it before swallowing.
2) First Flat.
Went to fix the flat this morning and guess what? It was a failed patch! Probably at least a 5 month, 400km old patch (at the very very least). I guess technically that's another first for me, I've never had a patch fail on me before.
1) Swallowed my first bug of the year! It was smallish, i failed to identify it before swallowing.
2) First Flat.
Went to fix the flat this morning and guess what? It was a failed patch! Probably at least a 5 month, 400km old patch (at the very very least). I guess technically that's another first for me, I've never had a patch fail on me before.
Guest
Posts: n/a
i haven't swallowed any bugs yet this spring but i have collided with them, it's funny when they bounce off of your face
the ride in was nice this morning, it's supposed to rain a little this afternoon so i may be riding with wet shoes on the way home...beats driving though
the ride in was nice this morning, it's supposed to rain a little this afternoon so i may be riding with wet shoes on the way home...beats driving though
Older than dirt
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 2
From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
rain, rain, rain. 18 miles home in a mix of drizzle and pouring rain. Did I say I was wet? LOL
The ride home was pleasant but fast. The weather report threatened rain and it was darkly cloudy so I high-tailed home. People along my route were rather friendly today and I got lots of waves and greetings, my route goes through a rather rough part of town so I took advantage to wave back and make nice.
Halfway in my ride, I finally spot another commuter ahead of me. It was like a mirror image of Fredness. He was on a hybrid but had a nice rack like me and panniers. He wore a helmet like me and also a flourescent vest (my vest was folded on my rack). He glanced behind to check for cars and spotted me. He did a doubletake but kept going. That was the third commuter I've seen in a year and a half.
Ernest
Halfway in my ride, I finally spot another commuter ahead of me. It was like a mirror image of Fredness. He was on a hybrid but had a nice rack like me and panniers. He wore a helmet like me and also a flourescent vest (my vest was folded on my rack). He glanced behind to check for cars and spotted me. He did a doubletake but kept going. That was the third commuter I've seen in a year and a half.
Ernest
Raptobike Rider

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Raptobike Lowracer, Redline Conquest CX, Cruzbike Vendetta
Today it was a bit of rain, but it was a dry PNW rain and so it was a good commute.
__________________
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
Awesome...
I rode in on a pretty much stock Phillip's 20 folder and came home on a suspended drop bar folder... the return ride was much more fun and I went out of my way to make it a longer ride.
I rode in on a pretty much stock Phillip's 20 folder and came home on a suspended drop bar folder... the return ride was much more fun and I went out of my way to make it a longer ride.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
It was a cloudy, but warm ride this morning. I beat any rain in, but lots of standing water to avoid or not. If it wasn't so cloudy, the light in the morning would be wonderful. The temp was at 50 F ( 10 C), but going up to 70 F ( 21 C), and that is good. There might be thuderstorms, but they are always so hit or miss, that I just look for places to duck in, if they happen.
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX


Upper 40sF. Rained harder than I thought it was going to. I didn't wear proper attire, so I got pretty damp, so I'm now commando.
I saw a total of one single person (pedestrian) on 5 miles of MUP.
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.
Today was my first day on the bike in over a week. I missed Little Red!
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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.
Guest
Posts: n/a
wet ride home yesterday, my shoes are still drying at home stuffed with newspaper
the ride in this morning wasn't too wet, mostly just coming up from the wet pavement and as soon as i arrived at work it started raining harder so my timing was good
it looks like more of the same for tomorrow and friday
the ride in this morning wasn't too wet, mostly just coming up from the wet pavement and as soon as i arrived at work it started raining harder so my timing was good
it looks like more of the same for tomorrow and friday
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: White Bear Lake Mn
Bikes: 88 Schwin Voyageur, 84 Schwinn World Sport, 85 Univega Alpina Uno, 85 Fuji Espree, 09 Novara Strada, 06 Jamis Durango, 03 Specialized Expediton Sport, 09 Surly LHT, 12 Novara Gotham
Great! Had a few deer next to the trail look me over as I passed by, a beautiful hawk skim over my head by just a few feet and what seemed like hundreds of rabbits crossing the trail in front of me...man they can zip in front of your wheel pretty quick!
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,447
Likes: 4,541
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
It rained. I used a black plastic bag to make a "custom" ooooo .... helmet cover with tape. It looked fine but I will continue my new quest for rain protection - I've got upper and lower body all set - need to properly address the shoe situation and the helmet. I also used a thin cap thinking the brim would be helpful - it wasn't really.
Hosed off the bike with a few fills of my water bottles when I got here - I like clean derailers, don't you? It will dry out and get sunny - so I'm looking forward to a fun unencumbered and faster ride home. I did some swearing this morning because the weather and shoulders and cars convinced me that one section of Hudson Rd. in Sudbury, a hill leading to a complicated intersection, convinced me that I should take the sidewalk - bumpy, with cracks and puddles. I dislike big puddles - they get me wetter - if that is possible - and they hide weird holes under their smooth surfaces.
So happy to be at work, clean; warm & dry.
Hosed off the bike with a few fills of my water bottles when I got here - I like clean derailers, don't you? It will dry out and get sunny - so I'm looking forward to a fun unencumbered and faster ride home. I did some swearing this morning because the weather and shoulders and cars convinced me that one section of Hudson Rd. in Sudbury, a hill leading to a complicated intersection, convinced me that I should take the sidewalk - bumpy, with cracks and puddles. I dislike big puddles - they get me wetter - if that is possible - and they hide weird holes under their smooth surfaces.
So happy to be at work, clean; warm & dry.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Very sunny but cool ride in this morning. Riding over Margaret Avenue bridge I noticed hundreds of blue straws that made a crunching noise when the tires went over them. Now why would anyone throw away all these straws? Up and over to the other side and there at the bottom of the hill is a street sweeper with, you guessed it, blue sweepers. The guy was making a bigger mess with loosing all those blue bristles then his intended task.
Great and fast. I woke up before my alarm which was set an hour earlier so i got a real jump on the day. There was no traffic. It was awesome.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 181
From: south Puget Sound
Pretty much this, unfortunately. Usually I am pretty immune to rain but when it (with the wind) is wiping out the spring flowers before I get a chance to take them in, bringing the scenery right back to November, it is definitely putting a hit on me. The ride is painless, and I'm on my warm metabolism so I'm not suffering physically at all, at least (other than my crazy shoulder)
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Got a call from one of the plants I support at 2:00am....Since I was up from 2-3:45am fixing someone else's problem and had to be at work again at 8:00am I decided to sleep in and drive.
And if you ever decide to call the IT guy at 2am because you 'don't want to wake up the regular guy' - you are definately not cool. That IT guy isn't paid to work after office hours are over.
And if you ever decide to call the IT guy at 2am because you 'don't want to wake up the regular guy' - you are definately not cool. That IT guy isn't paid to work after office hours are over.
commuting Canuck
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery
great ride in today, first time this year I broke an hour.
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
My training partners brutalized me on our pre-work ride this morning. I needed it.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Been really busy at work so no chances to post here till now. Some interesting things in the last week or so:
1) Got "goosed" leaving work. I was riding out of the parking deck on a bright, sunny day and could just barely see something approaching me from my right. As my eyes adjusted I realized it was a goose (we have dozens of them here at my building) in full attack mode--wings spread, hissing and spitting. I'd slowed because of my limited vision and it was nearly the end of me; I barely managed to accelerate again and get away from him.
2) Riding home last week there was a guy stopped at a light to my right waiting to turn. As I approached his car I saw he was wearing a surgical mask.......alone, in his own car. HUH????
3) Slammed my fist into 2 different cars this weekend commuting/running errands.
The first one was a little old lady who went way left to get around me, then went way right and cut me off. Fortunately I was already braking to stop at the red light ahead. Still I stopped right behind her and pounded my first into the trunk, then walked the bike alongside the passenger window and explained to her what an idiot she'd been.
The second one was the next day. Again approaching a light, but the driver in front of me didn't go even though the light was green. The driver behind me went way left to pass me, but then realized she had to stop because of the car in front of her. Now she was stuck....so she just started merging right. Unfortunately, I was already there. I smacked my fist into her passenger side window, she jerked the car left and pointed at the car in front of her. Lady, I don't care that the person in front of you is an idiot, that doesn't mean you can be one too.
1) Got "goosed" leaving work. I was riding out of the parking deck on a bright, sunny day and could just barely see something approaching me from my right. As my eyes adjusted I realized it was a goose (we have dozens of them here at my building) in full attack mode--wings spread, hissing and spitting. I'd slowed because of my limited vision and it was nearly the end of me; I barely managed to accelerate again and get away from him.
2) Riding home last week there was a guy stopped at a light to my right waiting to turn. As I approached his car I saw he was wearing a surgical mask.......alone, in his own car. HUH????
3) Slammed my fist into 2 different cars this weekend commuting/running errands.
The first one was a little old lady who went way left to get around me, then went way right and cut me off. Fortunately I was already braking to stop at the red light ahead. Still I stopped right behind her and pounded my first into the trunk, then walked the bike alongside the passenger window and explained to her what an idiot she'd been.
The second one was the next day. Again approaching a light, but the driver in front of me didn't go even though the light was green. The driver behind me went way left to pass me, but then realized she had to stop because of the car in front of her. Now she was stuck....so she just started merging right. Unfortunately, I was already there. I smacked my fist into her passenger side window, she jerked the car left and pointed at the car in front of her. Lady, I don't care that the person in front of you is an idiot, that doesn't mean you can be one too.




