This morning it was quite cold, with north winds of about 30km/h. Luckily I do south in the morning and north back from work. But I scared the living cr*p out of me. We had a beautifull day yesterday, it went upto about 10c, and so the streets were all soaked due to the melting snow. And I have one place where I go under a bridge, and thats where most melted snow accumulates. Well, biking to work this morning at -13c, I was in a reactive state, not pre-thinking my ride, and going about 30km/h with wind. I hit this bridge area, and it was just one long 100m stretch of iced road, I was so lucky that I was alone on the road, feeling how the bike was swurving side to side, but somehow I held it all together. Its my first month of commute, and its still quite wintery here in Winnipeg, and I have learnt alot, including three crashes. Otherwise all went well.

I'll take your word for that -- I've never had a bad day on the bike.

Today was another day of using the bike trailer to pick up my daughter from school after work. It's always a workout for me, but the beautiful weather made it a particularly enjoyable one.

Paul

It rained off & on all day, typical Spring commute. Since I had decided to bigin a daily count of other riders today, I only encountered one lone rider during my to & fro.

it was a wet one for me today. The ride home was much wetter than the ride to work. After my 17 miles from work to my truck (yes, it's another 15 miles for me to get reach my final destination), I was able to wring the rain water from my fleece gloves. But it was still a great ride!
I'm getting back into the commute after what one might call a hiatus (I call it laziness and several pounds of fat). I was out of town on Monday, but managed to get 3 days of the 34-mile round trip (put me over 100 miles for the week and I haven't started my weekend training rides, woo-hoo!

I was robbed the last few days of bicycle commuting by The Job ( and I was really robbed yesterday, the so called meeting I was required to attend never materialized) anyway in continuance of the job killing me, here I am on a Saturday. Luckily there appears to be no bugs to squash so I'll just continue on in my ride in an hour or so :)

Anyway it is windy and mostly cloudy with big evil (but fluffy) rain clouds. The wind is blowing directly east and seems to be clearing the sky behind it. Also it is pretty warm, mid 50sF It seems.

My first commuting post! :)
My commute takes about 30 minutes and is around 5 miles. I'll be extending the route because the morning is full of early sun rays!! :) Not that there is anything wrong with a dark morning ride, I'm just enjoying the change.Perfect weather this morning. I'm a most grateful rider!

Another weekend workday for me, with actual work going on this time :( Today is even more beautiful than yesterday with much clearer skies, less wind and about 60F. Rode in just shorts and t-shirt -- so nice. I took a really hilly route in for some harder riding in case I'm not able to get back out during the light. Also the rail trail should be avoided like the plague on sunny weekend days.

Today was the most incredible riding day of this year: I was a bit cold on my way to work in shorts & sweater as it was 33F & clear with no wind at 6AM, 73F & sunny when I came home in the afternoon. My count of other cyclists seen on the commute was a record 25! Plus in their own category, a teen age boy & girl each riding a unicycle. I saw them on my way home at lunch time.
Cyclists were out in force Olympia today, riding everything from expensive road bikes to balloon tire cruisers. Included in my count were a roadie fixing a flat, a fellow riding a Novarra pulling a trailer and a young lady walking her hybrid bike up a hill. Don

Took the day off and rode to my doctor appt. got there early so went out cruiz'n on the east end of town to add some additional miles. 22 miles in sunny mid 60F weather. I don't think I could ask for more!

Today I rode to Escondido to get some things for my work partner who is beginning to get into cycling..Been helping her work on her recumbent...She is looking forward to our Thursday beach rides...Rides he bent about the plant to get ready for it.
But going up the big hill to Escondido on the way to the LBS, three cyclists in Heinekein garb passed me by...Asked the one who slowed down, does he speak German..
Said he is a Yugoslav... In a non complaining manner talked of the less freindly locals in regards to cyclists.Said local police told him, that cyclists should be banned from the streets...He was somewhat amazed at that.......
.What brought the topic up, he complimented my jersey..I was wearing my Velo "Bike to work" jersey with the stamp out car logo...Said from what he saw so far, I am brave....
Liked the terrain but did infer cycling is less appreciated in our part of the world..
. Meant to ask, why the three all wearing the Green Heinken gear...Possibly. Is there a Heineken team? But the one who slowed up, had enough of poking along and tore off up the hill like a bat out of hell.
Enjoyed the sunny ride, but today, our winter seemed to be waning, and spring temp's almost felt more like summer.

[QUOTE]But going up the big hill to Escondido
Did you see the advertisement for grand ave. bikes in/on the bike lane? What store do you go to? Today was a Summer day.

Hotwheels...I always seem to head to Escondido on Tuesday's for some reason when Grand Ave. Bikes are closed.. Been in the store once. I was impressed...Owner has an interesting history.He is a major tandem dealer. Yes, going up the big hill, hard not to see the ad on the road...
I normally go to Performance in Escondido..Their mechanic has a very good reputation..Cyclists floc to him..
You from North County? Great cycling heah?

beautiful day in the northwest, record highs for the year. Must have been a tailwind for me tonight as I smoked on the way home. Of course I roasted wearing my IP Amfib tights. Chance of rain the next couple of days.

Friday's ride home really sucked. I broke a couple of spokes on the way home. I was about 5-1/2 miles from home too. I called home to get a ride but no answer. I find out that my wife and little son went to the mall to get him some new shoes. The walk home sucked.

Anyway the commuter is out of service until the shop can get the wheel fixed. I am on my old road bike until then.

Bad luck Ridealot - hope you get things fixed up soon.

I over-estimated the temperature this morning and was a bit chilly earlier on in the ride. There were also thick patches of fog in paces, which gave things a eerie feel. Good riding though.
Cheers,

Ed

Indeed!
The owner of Grand Ave. is a nice guy, I've talked with him a couiple of times. Nice to know about Performance's mechanic.

I understand he used to own a top end bike shop over in Solana Beach..Maybe the Nytro store now?

Ok, Sun Diego? hotwheels, enter a "Location/Where you live" in your profile, I like to see where people are.

This morning? 63 degrees, calm and clear...

I can see this summer's 6:30am commutes are going to be 80 degrees...

I have been riding at 5:15 in the morning just because it's empty cool and the view is just great as I look to the foothills and mountains to the east of San Diego County. It's really ideal riding conditions.

It was back to normal Spring weather in Puget Sound Country this morning: 48F & light rain but by late afternoon it was sunny & 55F. The rain scared off all the fairweather cyclists & I only saw two other commuters today. Don

Hotwheels..What are your favorite rides..Guess our favorite is from Welk, up Lilac Rd. to the east. Then down Cuser Canyon, down into Rainbowvia Rice Canyon, and back up Schearer's grade to Welk..That is a pretty standard ride.. Going South on Cuser Canyon is a pretty challenging ride... Of course everyone knows about Palomar Mtn... Ever done Cole Grade road from Pauma area..
Used to like riding out to Lake Wolford...The whole area is being destroyed by traffic and drunks from the Casinos...

About today's commute..Was mostly recreational, but since I did an errand, I will classify it as a commute.
But, Yesterday I did 52, today 31...After in the shower, I noticed the outline of my gloves taking root about my wrist.The tan line is becoming noticeable..I like that.
But, due to family business, I need go to Michigan for the next week...So, I will be incommunicado for a week and no likely riding. The disappointment to a cyclists vanity..No cycling outlines on my body by next week...Had been able to stick around sunny So Cal, they would have been pretty well developed.

Had some fun the last couple of days:

On a trip to the shops on saturday I noticed a wobble in my back wheel. On closer inspection I discovered two broken spokes. I got it fixed on Monday, and put the wheel back together Tuesday morning before leaving. On my first attempt to shift into the seventh gear I realised I'd put the spacer on the wrong side of the cog, and it wouldn't stay in gear. So I rode all the way there and back either spinning too fast or too slow for most of it (seventh seems to be my favourite gear - didn't even realise until I didn;t have it). On the way home I rode through a pile of broken glass and got myself a slow leak. I had to be home early, so I didn't have time to repair it, so I just pumped it up a couple of times and limped home. When I pulled the tube out this morning I found the hole right on the ribbed part of the tube (I have no idea why there's a ribbed part on the tube - seems like a bad idea to me). I tried to repair it with a patch, but as I suspected it didn't stay stuck. My only spare was a 1.9" tube, which I prefer not to put in my 1.25" tyre, but it seemed to work ok as a temporary fix.

I wonder what'll be next.

(obligatory weather report) At least the weather's nice this week. Sunny, low 20's C, and not much wind. Perfect.

I've done that hill a couple of times, it's tough, for me. I think my favorite ride is Nate Harrison Grade road. You need a mountain bike. 10 miles up 3500-4000ft elevation gain. I won't do it in the heat though. I tried that last summer and was miserable from the gnats the entire time. When I have the time I like to ride out to Palomar Airport road and go as far south as possible on Coast Highway (summer stock). Going up lake wohlford hill from east valley parkway is a great hill, from there I'll do the Escondido-Pauma Valley loop, I'm tired after that. Trip 24 from Cycling San Diego, an awesome book!!!