Nice commute this morning, cool (45F), but nice (I was dressed for it this time). Total different picture this afternoon, 69F, a total different outfit for the ride home... just like fall. I'm not ready for this.

August roads - empty - bliss

62F & clear at 6AM this morning, 81F during my 3:30PM return home. On the way in, I overtook & passed a fellow about my age (64) riding a hybrid commuter with panniers. Just said good morning as I passed, couldn't ride along with him or I would have been late to work. I ate to much at the annual Bar B Que so took it easy all the way home.

Only the 3rd or 4th hot (87F/30C) muggy (85% humidity) of the summer. Maybe that means there will be equally few cold (below 0F) days this winter. Well, I can dream. Meanwhile I'm waiting for my new batteries to come in. It is definately twilight when I'm leaving for home now.

Today was a department picnic. Rode there, only 2.5 miles, played some soccer and ate some BBQ then rode back. Felt good to take the bike there instead of ride in a car. Someone left a basketball at the park, so I ingeniously lashed it to my rack using some velcro, ulock and cable lock. Net effect? Now I feel smart and fit.

Starting to see that my bike is a REAL alternative to a car. Almost everywhere I need to go is now in my biking range. Also getting used to the feeling sweating and drying without feeling disgusting.

It went better today. I'm less affected by the heat and enjoyed the ride!

My new alternative route to work is fantastic. It is 4 miles longer (total just over 14miles) and is beginning to feel almost like a proper ride. Plus there is an escape route if I'm running late for work. There is an extra hill to climb, and the new section is on really quiet country lanes, passing through a couple of attractive villages. It is really good to make changes now and again and keep things fresh. So far, I have achieved average speeds well into the 18's. I have also developed a much larger appetite at lunchtime.

Have a good weekend folks.

Cheers,

Ed

I decided to do some work on the right shifter for my road bike last night and ended up getting in real deep. Little springs everywhere and now its totally f**k'd. :mad: I couldn't get it back together. So I rode the MTB bike that I have only rode once all year in this morning. Chromo cranks, flats, riser bars, big fat tires and five inch travel fork. No complaints. It felt good to bust it out this morning. I had a good ride. :)

Unbelivably cool for August in Texas! It was still in the 60's when I left and will only be high 80's on the way home. A couple of years ago it was over 100 every day and only a few lows went below 80. I wish it would stay like this for a long time! Great ride in today.

Cold again this morning. Added an extra layer up top. Good thing too. Its funny, as I ride more and more, it is taking me longer and longer to get warmed up. Heck, by the time I'm warmed up, I've only got about 1.5 miles to go. :rolleyes:

I'm leaving work early today. Hope to get a nice ride in. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

Bob

Great weather, low 60's. We took a new route in which let my wife's muscles warmup before any good hills. I was in route to my doctor's office and had the rear tube blowout while I was doing about 20. :eek: Fortunately, the doctor and the LBS were within easy walking distance. Had to replace the rear tube and tire; the sidewall had worn off from the wire rim, after only 800 miles! The LBS (Bike South near Emory Univ. in Atlanta) let me change the tire inside the store and offered the use of their air pump--nice! :D

This morning was another personal best for the ride into work - still have not reached my goal - but it is definately in reach.

Temps were in the upper 50's and no wind. There were 8 other bikes out this morning and one roller-blader. The kids are starting back to school this week, I saw one school bus driver that looked lost.

I can't believe it… Austin, Texas in August I did not dress warm enough! The first half hour I was so cold I thought I was going turn around go home. I know it was only 68 degrees but I was dress for the high 90's. I had to push it to stay warm. The weather has been so nice as compared to the norm. The evenings are so perfect to enjoy a patio and friends. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

The summer that never was continues!!. Only +13 C, 55 F this morning, at least it was sunny for a change. I don't think we've had 3 sunny days in a row this summer. I rode my recently acquired touring bike (Velo Sport Appalache 15) in this morning with a "good jag on", about 20 pounds of tool box and 10 pounds of clothes and paper work stuff and lunch in the panniers and rack bag Lots of weight on the back, but the bike was still responsive enought to slalom around some recently deceased skunk parts half way to work.

A glorious sunrise over Lake Ontario, I was going to stop and snap a pic, but was too late leaving home. Maybe I'll leave in time for a picture tomorrow!

Good Monday morning to everyone!

Warmer this morning. ~55F/13C. Was able to get away with the lighter weight tights and wind jacket. A long sleeve jersey would have been in order if I had one. I was quite a bit over dressed with the jacket.

Interesting note from pinerider regarding the, "skunk parts." I had to do the same thing, only I was weaving through fish parts.

Bob

How do you get fish parts on the road?? Have the walking fish from Florida made it to Nebraska already??? :D

Greg

Overcast & 57F at 6AM today but the clouds had burned off by my 3:30 PM commute home in 82F weather. I acquired a set of Campagnolo clincher wheels for my Bianchi & was able to locate a N.O.S. casette for their 8 speed SunTour freehub. I still needed a spacer & when I added it, there was also room for 1 more cog! I ended up with a 9 speed 11-24 & since the bike is set up for friction shifting, no problems with indexing. Had fun with the extra options plus a bit more speed from the 11.

I can't speak to Nebraska, pinrider. But here in Montana there are a couple of possible scenarios.
1. Eagles dropping them when flying over after they have taken them from the river.
2. Critters dragging them from the river over the roadway leaving the remains.
3. (most likely) Local fishermen tossing the parts-pieces onto the road after cleaning the fish. :rolleyes:

You see, my commute is along the Missouri River for a good portion of it. Refer to the thread below for the whole skinny on the rural part of my commute. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=59011

I can deal with the fish parts. I'm just happy that I have only come upon a very dead rattle snake and not a live ticked off one. :D

Nice ride in today. Weather was good, getting a little warmer. The bike felt sluggish, It fwlt like I was peddaling hard but not going anywhere. Probably just me and not the bike

The temps were in the low to mid 60s, but they were the cold mid 60s. You know the type... where you feel it is cooler in the vallleys and the chill bites when your by the moving water. Despite that it was a great ride in this morning. No other bike count this morning.

I rode home a new way yesterday, it was a bit longer (19 miles) and very nice.

Hmmmmm... it's starting to be a little on the dark side when I head out in the morning. It won't be long until I'll have to start using my lights, I'd better start charging up my light batteries. Great commute in this morning, warmer then it's been (60F). We might see 80F for a high today, but then it's suppose to cool off (again). It's been a weird summer, if you want to call it that.

I brought the "A" bike into work today, thinking about a long ride after work. A half mile from my house I noticed a horrible squeak and turned around. Of course, when I got home, the squeak had disappeared but I re-lubed and wiped the chain anyway.

I wish there was something I could squirt on my legs to make them run smoother. God, was I struggling this morning. Just last week I was riding strong in the front group of my local shop ride/hammerfest. This morning I was suffering trying to keep up with the morning commute.

Another great day, 57F at 6AM & 82F in the afternoon. Had a fast ride in on my Miyata today but due to a team lunch, could not do my usual roundtrip home & back at lunchtime. Don

good commute today, 6 miles headwind both ways. The way back was a pretty strong headwind, but i still made it. Passed another fellow commuter on the road, and as I was locking my bike I saw him ride up, and another commuter that I didn't see on the road came riding up also. I also noticed 3 commuter bikes locked up outside. so that makes a total of 6 commuters that I know of (the other two took their bikes into their offices). Work is at least 3 miles from any houses, so everybody has at least that much of a commute. Feels like I'm part of an elite club!

Today was also the first day that I wore my cycling shorts without another pair of shorts over them. I've been self concious about wearing cycling shorts, but for some reason, today I didn't care. Once I got to work I caught a glimpse of myself in a window and I don't look all that bad....so I guess I can leave the other shorts at home from now on.

Yesterday's ride was about 50F to start, no wind though. Haven't ridden much this year. Really haven't ridden to work in about 6 or 7 weeks (long story). So I took it really easy, only 7.6 miles one way, nice 70ish temps on the way home. Bit of a sore L knee, but worked it out last night & today with ice, stretching and a little 5 miler tonight. Having found this forum seems to be motivating me. Am planning to ride tomorrow despite the call for afternoon showers, by then I'll need a shower anyway!