umpadumpy

Weather in Seattle has been warm and sunny for several weeks. It's a commuting mecca for us right now. After years of chasing technology, I took the bold step of backtracking to a simpler commuting method -- simpler bike, less bike-specific clothing and equipment, less consideration of weight, firm-soled hiking boots that I can wear around the office, flat uncaged pedals, and more time on the road. It's like a huge weight came off my shoulders; I no longer have to search half the house for all my riding gear because, well, I'm already wearing it. And the bike is already heavy, so if I put an extra apple in my backpack it isn't going to kill the ride. It's an interesting feeling, walking away from the world of weight chasing, and back towards a Reagan Era Raleigh 10-speed. Never thought I would enjoy the retro-commute, but so far I have put 300 miles on this bike since I got it. Ride On People!

Rogerinchrist

[COLOR=Green]Mrfix, you might want to check for that war paint guy in the local paper, who knows.
My second ride this week was nice, 59F this morning & lite fog. Left a little late then ran into (not literally) a neighbor walking her dog, that conversation made me even later to leave. But made OK without having to push it too hard. L knee is feeling good today as well. This afternoon is windy. 75F and 20mph head winds with 25mph gusts, sunny & dry though. Guess I needed to work on my riding technique today.

HobartDave

G'day all, I'm new to the forum, and to cycling, but loving it. I have a realy great commute, about 16km (10Miles) one way, with only minor hills going both ways. The weather this week has been fantastic, cold but fantastic. The only problem I have had is frost on some corners that don't get the sun, I'm looking forward to some warmer weather soon.

Chris L

I think what you need to do is ride further from the car doors so that they can't hit you. A horn is not going to increase the intelligence of people who open car doors.

I took a slight detour this morning, up to the spit, an extra 8 or 9km or so. I'm not sure why, but it was pleasant enough.

mrfix

Nice ride this morning, i didn't see the guy with the war paint, hopefully that was a one time thing. I'll tell you, that woke me up.

ridealot

Good ride home last night, a little warmer and more humid. This morning's ride was nice, warm and I actually saw TWO other commuters going my way. We stayed with each other for awhile then they split off on another route.

cyclingshane73

I flew into work today! Even with a stiff west head wind at 18kph I still hammered in at 33kph! Screw the wind! AAAARRGGHHHH!!!

Gotta say, Coney, I love your avatar. It cracks me up.

gravelpot

I had to drop off my car for some repairs this morning, and took the bike on the rack so that I could ride in from the garage to work. The guy at the garage asked if I needed a ride, and then he noticed the bike and said "or is that your 'alternative transportation?'" He was a nice guy, but there was a funny inflection on the word "alternative" when he said it, kind of like "oh, you're one of those." Then again, I might have been reading too much into it.

As far as the ride, it was good enough, except that with pretty high humidity and some occasional sprinkles, it was like riding through a sauna. Ugh. It was pretty sweet to ride through and around a two-way traffic jam of cars waiting to get into one of the campus parking garages. There was over a block's worth of cars stretched in both directions!

Ed Holland

Had a good "training" ride with my friend after work yesterday. Things went downhill after that when the 3rd spoke (in the last few weeks) gave way on my rear wheel. Grrr. It makes hard work when the brake are rub even if it is only at one point on the rim. Luckily I had the problem fixed and the bike was back on the road this morning - though I fear more spokes will rupture on this wheel before too long.

Cheers,

Ed

jfmckenna

The other day I went to pick up my Girlfriends car at the shop. It has a rack on the back. I paid for it and road the bike around back to pick it up and this mechanic walks up to me. He had kind of a stuttering voice and said, "do you ride that bike a lot". I said yea it's my commuter bike. We struck up a conversation. This guys got an old beat up bike that he rides all over the place! I thought that was totally cool. I never would have though a grease monkey would be such a bike enthusiast. He got a kick out of my brakeless fixie too and said he wants one.

Zin

Missed the last 2 day's commute due to work travel obligations.

The ride this morning was very nice. Light winds temperature at my place was a pleasant 55F/13C. By the time I hit the river bottoms the temperature had dropped nearly 15F/9C degrees. It was a shock to the system since I was dressed for the higher temperature.

No fish guts on the road today.

caloso

Took a nice 35mile detour on the way home yesterday, heading across the Tower Bridge into West Sac, then south towards the Delta, directly into a 10mph, 97F wind. Typical Sacramento Valley summer afternoon. Got down to Clarksburg, stopped and bought a candybar and Pepsi. That, and the wind now to my back, made me feel like Popeye after a can of spinach.

I rolled into the driveway about 7:45, all the stresses of the workday blown away by that Delta wind.

kf5nd

Warm and humid again in Houston. It's getting ready to rain again in the afternoon, Gulf moisture streaming onshore.

ollo_ollo

The Puget Sound area has had weeks of great weather, cool at night & in the early morning but warming into the low to mid 80s by late afternoon. I manage to ride my Summer bikes a lot lately but am having trouble finding time to do the necessary clean, teardown, & lube of my Rain bikes and I still have two frames to repaint before the weather turns.
[I got up early to take Khiva the Squirrel Slayer for a long run. I left her plenty of extra water and set up the camping gazebo in the backyard for shade] Caloso: My friend has an Australian cattle dog known as "The Duke of Squirrel" hereabouts. Sounds like your dog is a kindred spirit

cyclezealot

Today, I did my second commute in two days..Usually do one..Feels great..Afraid might not have time for my usual Saturday Recreation ride to make up for..
But drivers, they are a trip...I was stopped at a red light at an intersection which is used for a freeway on ramp..
Cars were backed up. The second lane can be used for either a right turn onto a freeway ramp or to go straight ahead, through the intersection..Designated for both directions with markers over the freeway.
So some impatient person in a red hot Mazda convertible( think R26, are they.?)Well, this person could not accept the fact the car ahead choose to go straight instead of entering the freeway..This person in the convertible, the explectives. Constant hand gestures. The car ahead had the AC on so this person went unheard, except for me the cycists who pulls up behind this wacko.. Like to repeat the funny stuff he said, but BF rules do not admit.
WE cyclists live in an open environment. Wonder if we ever make such fools out of ourselves..Guess, we are more likely to realize we might be overheard by others... What was scarry, as this creton entered the freeway, he had his hands off the wheels gesturing the car ahead.

mrfix

A little on the humid side this morning, I felt a little lame on the way in, it's the last day of a high mileage week when I get home tonight I'll be just over 325 miles since Sunday morning, 250 of them commuting here and there with loads that range from light to heavy. I'm going to take a break tomorrow and go to the beach.
Cyclezealot, the best is when a young lady is stopped at a red light and having an all out argument with the boyfriend on the cell phone with the windows down. The hands are flying and the language is strong and they generally have no clue as to what's going on with traffic, they don't see you or know you are next to thier car. People like that need to take a ride on abike and slow down, Life is just to short.

cyclezealot

Yeah, Mr. Fix..The example of the guy in the Red Mazda...Must say, as he sped off onto the freeway, I surely gave him space; even though he cut in front of my lane.

jfmckenna

The population of my little town has gone up 40,000 over night. The kids are back to school. Traffic is heavy

On my way in I take a short section of bike path that no one is ever on when school is out. I expected to see people and did not too many. But what I did not expect to see was when cruising around this corner was a back hoe pulling out a fallin tree with a giant swarm ov bees!

gravelpot

I'm usually more concerned about whether I'm showing too much crack in the back of my shorts.

Nice ride in this morning, but pretty humid after last night's rain (preceded by one of the most fantastic lightning shows I've ever seen). This afternoon will probably be miserable.

On the up side, one of my neighbors pointed out that Orion is already appearing in the morning sky, so summer is definitely on the wane...

Zin

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!

....................................its FRIDAY

..................................................... its FRIDAY

......................................................................... its FRIDAY!

Sorry. I just couldn't contain my joy in celebrating the END of the work week.

Great ride in this morning. Temp was 55F/13C. Very humid from the rain last night. Steam rising from the river in many places as well. Been using the aero-bars on my new bike. Its interesting to see the speed jump when in them. I imagine its kind of funny looking too. Full-on tourer, rear panniers, blinky lights, and the rider thinks he is in an ITT! What the heck. I've been having a lot of fun learning how to use them.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

cyclingshane73

I second that! Yippie! Its Friday!

Well, I paid for the hammering I did yesterday last night and this morning. Legs felt dead. Ah well. Probably good I don't push it. Going out for my usual weekend distance ride tomorrow.

caloso

Very pleasant morning in the Big Tomato. Chamber of Commerce weather. Tradition holds that it must be at least 100F during the State Fair but it will probably not reach 90 today.

I need to post this on the other thread, but this morning every other commuter I saw was a woman. One was riding a pink cruiser with a big basket and huge chrome fenders. That thing looked like it must have weighed 50 lbs.

RichardW

Saturday and I'm at work. How crap is that? And the last few days thunderstorm have washed so much debris into the tracks that I get a blow out on the way - shredded the rear tyre. Luckily I keep a spare folding tyre in my bag so I fitted that and detoured by my LBS to get a new spare.

Cold wind but lovely sunshine and a great way to sweat out last night's overindulgence. By the time I got here I was smiling again.

Jean Beetham Smith 

For the first time, I'm celebrating not commuting. Work has been monstrous the past 3 weeks. Some days I've gone home after a 12 hour day without lunch or even a drink before I ride home (don't stop to take a drink, get out there while you can mode). It has been solid night every week. 3 weeks and my legs are putty, cramps are almost continuous. I have 2 days to recover. I won't be on my bike this week-end, sleep and rehydration are my main priorities. I will of course go in to pick up my custom Baileyworks messenger bag at Broadway Bicycle School and take a look at the expanded Harris Cyclery store. OT might allow some indulgence.

Rogerinchrist

Friday's ride started at 55F no wind, went pretty quick for not riding much. Going home was about 75F again with a light South wind. Not much of a problem seeing as I'm going nearly due East on the way in & due West home. Did have to push the ride home because I pick up my children right after work (I'm a single dad). Looking forward to Monday.