yucky mucky day here in DC - its been raining steadily for about 12 hours so it was a slightly slower than usual commute as I negotiated the various flooded sections of the bike path and eased up a little on speed to account for the freshly fallen leaves - I did get to try out my booties for the first time however and I was really impressed and pleased - my feet were bone dry and I didn't think I looked that dorky at all!

Brrr. Temperature was so cold this morning I had to dig out the knee warmers! I found myself wishing I'd brought the arm warmers too by the time I got to work. Nice to see the end of these triple digit plus days at last! It was a great ride in overall. By the way, I did not get selected for jury duty (it was Grand Jury so if would have been a 4 month commitment 2 days a week! Kind of glad I didn't have to do that, not that I wouldn't be willing if asked, just glad it didn't come to that!).

I drove out to Falls Church to drop off my wife's car for an oil change, unoladed the bike, and rode off to work down the WO&D and Custis trails. These parallel Route 66 and make it possible to ride for about 5 miles (9 km) without a stoplight or stop sign -- a very strange feeling, but nice. Cloudy with light rain -- kept my coat mostly unbuttoned at temperatures were around 62 F / 16 C. I'm looking forward to the ride back to the shop nonight, but not the long, slow drive through rush hour traffic from the shop to home.

Paul

Nice cool ride in this morning - it was great to leave home with the sun coming up rather than in the dark! Definitely have the batteries charged up for the lights on the ride home, though....

Ahhhh, it was a little chipper out this morning (32F/0C) but it was nice to see daylight. It should also be a nice ride home, just a litte different having to use lights on that end of the day.

Last Friday night I was happy to get off the bike after riding a bunch of miles recently. I went from work to see my daughter's field hockey game. Quick change artist that I am, nobody even knew.

Was raining pretty steady on the way in, but was totally dry. Gotta love an enclosed bike. :)

Riding in the cinders./So Cal fires.
 

Well, 24 miles from home and the hot ash reigns down.No car....Gotta pedal.. First 8 miles were pretty awful. Air was acid. Fires were out, however. Smoldering still going on.. If winds stay down, hope our local fires will be out. Most of fire action all night were about 4-6 miles away. Across a lake.
We could see the fire action with our remote camera..Bad air choked the plant ventilation system. Winds somehow stirred the firey storm away from us.
Did not use a mask those first 8 miles,but would have been a good idea. Air was dark, against what would have been a bright sky.
When circled around south of the fire, air gradually improved. When crossing the pass over into San Diego county the air was probably 70% brighter and clearer(cleaner?).. Most of the fires in San Diego were south of my home.
It was an experience and sets my determination to leave the car in the garage, whenever possible. First commute to work, (when the bulk of my co-workers were present.) I wore my new Voler jersey, "Stamp out cars,' Ride a bike to work.
Some co-workers looked supportive. Car addicts looked annoyed.
My time to home on bike. About 2 hours, 15 minutes. Best ever 1 hour, 42 minutes. pay the price for almost 3 months off the bike.
Smoke and ash worse than a clammy and wet? Travel Time would have probably been worse in the rain?

Was raining on the ride home, with strong headwinds. I got buffeted around a bit, but managed good time. I was a tad wet on the shoulders, but otherwise dry.

Rain and heavy wind in total darkness. Yup, fall has fell, it is almost winter. Really slowed down on my steep descents with all the wet leaves and acorns on the road. I was surprised at how good I felt climbing those same hills though. Anyway, it is a lot better than wildfires.

Anything is better than wildfires (with the possible exception of dust storms).

Nice enough ride in this morning. All that crap from the stupid car race last weekend (where some morons got totally owned by a little hail storm) is still up in Surfers. I can still see the South Pacific though, so it isn't all bad.

I got to wear fleece again today! Yippee! :D I just love the way that stuff feels! Another 12 miles on the Wonderbike, and still no sign of my new 'Bent... Any day now. I can only imagine.:)

Today is my day off. Was going to ride to bike shop 25 miles away in Escondido and pick up a new spare light.
Just opened the front door.. Air is worse today than commute home yesterday from the areas raging fires.
Guess getting in a ride would be worse than smoking about twenty packs of cigarettes? Probably won't get in a ride? See what happens. I think and hope most of the fires are at least 20 plus miles away.
Possible consider riding up in the stiller morning air and taking the bus back..I know my planned group ride is off.
Commuting to the bike shop for business is considered bike commuting?

Another cold and frosty ride this morning - great stuff. They are finally forecasting some rain for the UK this week (much needed) and I'm almost looking forward to it!

Cheers,

Ed

Brilliant blue sky and no wind for the ride in this morning. Quite a change from yesterday. And back into the slop tomorrow.

Hi,
I prob seem like a reasonably together kind of guy. This morning, I am late (surprise, surprise) getting going so I pedal to work like a madman. I may have beaten my personal best time for riding to work, dunno, forgot to turn on the speedo. After the morning run, I rode down to the bike shop
to put a few bucks on my trainer/commuter bike. Looked down at my watch after I'd been there a while (which I haven't adjusted for Daylight Savings yet) and think 'Oh ****'.
Take the shortest way home (on the busiest street, natch) and get home in 45-50 min, (which is great time for me). Walk into the kitchen, and instead of 12:30.... the clock says 11:30! And then, and then, I realise.......I'm an idiot (but a faster one than I was yesterday :)

Even though it's gloomy wet and cold I had a great ride in. I think it's the cool, crisp clean air (sorry about that, cyclezealot) and the leaves blowing around that make it fun. Of course if you go north of here (northern Minnesota) they got up to 7 inches of snow so I feel greatful for what I have. I wasn't looking forward to daylight savings time but I actually am coming out better on the "lighting" side of it.

Great ride in today from Willow Glen. Felt strong after a day's rest after conquering Mt Hamilton on Sunday.

Chilly for Atlanta this morning. But this afternoon may be perfect. I can't wait to get out of this office.



Buddha

The few, the proud, the quite possibly insane, metro Atlanta Bicycle Commuters.

Riding in smoke from So Cal Fire
 

Smoke form the fires out here pretty thick...
Didn't commute the 6 miles yesterday, but felt like I had to this morning.
Pretty thick, I took it easy and didn't go above 20mph at the DH parts...
Ash falling, coughed a few times, got a few flakes in my eyes...
Had a bit of ash all over myself when I got to work, just brushed it all off.
Wondering how the ride home will be. :(

First day back commuting after some time off. It was damp, and drizzly temp in the mid 50s. I was dressed well enough and pretty comfortable the whole ride. There was a slight headwind and I really felt like I was dogging it. After about 3.5 miles I realize my rear tyre was fairly flat. Pumped it up and the last 1.5 mile was a lot easier :)

It felt like spring today here in Maine. The temps nudged 60 F by mid-day. It made for a mighty fine ride in and hope. Still wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts. Gotta love it.

P.S. See my Mango site for three new pictures showing the intensity of the reflective markings for night safety. Enjoy!

The morning commute was beautiful - right up to the part where I blew out the sidewall of my front tire ten feet from the door of my office! I guess that creeping dry rot in the rubber finally caught up with me... and now it's time to look for a new commuter, since it's not worth springing for a new tube and tire to put on my $25 1987 department-store Murray ;)

The afternoon commute, by subway, was significantly less beautiful.

-chris

Set off at 7.10am this morning, according to a radio broadcast I overheard from somewhere it was already 34 deg C -- I don't expect it to get any cooler this evening unless we get a storm. Nice headwind this morning though.

Hey Chris, what is 34 celcius translate to in F degrees?