Hi All,

Commute was absolutely fantastic today. Headed out about 1/2 an hour earlier than usual and had no busses to contend with :) Clear skys cool weather (about 10C ) and managed to shave another 4 minutes off my commute time.

did the STP (Seattle-To-Portland) ride last month and had trained quite a bit to finish in one day (206 miles, 16.5 hrs (left little dust for folks to eat, but was fun)). Anyway, since then I've continued to ride, but just on the weekends. It was gnawing at me, not riding as much as before. So, I decided I needed to resume the partial-commute to work (>7 miles each way... full commute would be 33 miles each way (not enough time in the day)). Did it yesterday & today, in the rain. Felt great! Gave me more energy at work too.

Delightful.

Clear blue sky, sunshine, strong tailwinds; delightful

Summer finnaly arrived here. Hot humid weather. Very sweaty on the ride in today. Tempature today to get in the 90's with the humidity it supposed to feel like 100.

Besides that traffic had been ok the past few days.

I had a wonderful ride in this morning. Due to time constraints with four children and a wonderful wife who needs a little help in the morning with them, I can't get my whole commute in, so I usually drive most of the way, and then ride the last couple of miles to save some gas. I figure even if I save 10-20% I am doing something for the environment, not to mention my wallet. Today I got out of the house a little earlier. I rode the last half about 5 miles in nice weather. Last nights rain was still apparent, but I didn't get too wet. Have a great day everyone.

Awesome commute this morning. Ran late getting out of bed, so just threw some clothes on, brushed my teeth (my hair is only 1/8" long) and started to work on my bicycle. It was chilly at 52 degrees this morning, and I only had my standard bike shorts and a golf shirt on, but I did put some long socks on. BRRrrrr. Gave me the extra incentive to work harder to get more body heat. It worked. Arrived to work sweating, but not enough to make me cold, and it was only when I slowed down. SO glad I started riding to work, its days like this that make it worth it even more.

Had the day off today but since I was up early, I got out my Moto Grand Jubile to ride my regular commute route in to work & back. Picked up a bagel at the supermarket to share with my wife who was just getting up & around as I returned. Looks like its going to be a nice day: clear with a few high clouds.

Got reminded of the need for caution when passing stopped traffic on the right today. Car pulled into a restaurant in front of me without a turn signal. I was almost going slow enough to have missed him entirely but his bumper just caught my front tire and the bike went down but I managed to stay up. Anyway, mental note on going a little slower when passing backed up traffic. Otherwise it was a beautiful commute. This summer has been the nicest summer for commuting down here that I can remember. Temps have been awesome.

Yesterday: What is with the trend of very small bike mounted gangly teens who wear earphones, no helmet, weave between traffic, the sidewalk, and parked cars with no regard for pedestrians, other bikers, or getting killed by a bus?! Two of them nearly wiped me out last night-- one wheeled in front of me suddenly from the sidewalk and I had to brake hard, this was going down a steep hill, too, the other came out of the left lane after crossing traffic against the light and nearly clipped my rear wheel, then wove onto the sidewalk and cut me off at the traffic light, which was red, almost causing another collision. I yelled, but wasn't heard over the headphones, which I could hear from several feet away. I was actually afraid to pass them because they were so erratic. A driver who encountered one of the dumber sidewalk-to-road maneuvers in yet another near accident took the opportunity to yell something obscene about punk idiot bikers at the next light. Then he noticed me pulling up next to him on the right, and actually apologized, saying he didn't mean me, he sees me almost every day and I'm one of the good ones.

I'm just glad he sees me. My slightly warm fuzzy feeling (though it could've been anger at the bike punks, too) about aware drivers completely evaporated when some lady WHO ACTUALLY SAID HELLO TO ME then tried to make a right turn into me later in my commute.

The thermometer outside the house said 41F when I left. The humidity was also way up. There was a heavy layer of dew on everything. High level clouds kept the sun from warming me as I rode. Having to dodge school busses again. Sure is nice to be riding. :D

Bob

Don't you know that you disappear into another dimension once a car passes you? That can be the only explanation for this phenomenon. Once theoretical physicists figure out exactly how it occurs that'll be the last piece of the Grand Unified Theory.

A warm breeze from the north this morning, which is an indicator that it'll be superhot this afternoon. Surface of the sun hot. Yay.

Nice and easy. The kind that makes you feel good to be on a bike.

Yesterday I decide to take an alternate route home, 12 miles for more exercise. 4.5 miles in I get a flat on the front, crap. Whip out the tool, pump and patch kit. Open patch kit, doh! Only rubber cement, sandpaper, and the instructions, no more patches!

So I make a patch out of rubber cement an a piece of the paper from the instructions. It gets me home, and to work today. Other than that it was a good ride. I guess I should get some tire liners or better tires, since it seems I'm getting serious about commuting.

How MacGuyver of you! ;)

um... Do you think you could work on that disappearing-into-another-dimension-after-a-car-passes thing? Maybe there's a rubber cement patch for that part of the Grand Unified Theory...

Well said javagrrl!
Skipped riding yesterday due to having the plumber over right when I get off work.
Today was 69F no wind this morning really humid. Got splattered with small bugs again as my route parrallels a stream for a while, got one in my eye & swallowed another, so much for skippin' breakfast. This afternoon it's 80 & humid w/ 5-10mph head wind. GOTTA workand ride tommorrow.

No commute today but I did take the commuter up to the drug store to pick up some stuff. A little muggy but a nice ride.

I did my first commute on Friday. :D It was not as hard as I thought it would be. 34 miles round trip. Next week I am going to try to do it 3-5 days.

First tailwind in two months. Cool and overcast. Completes two full months without setting foot in a motor vehicle (car or bus). Just passed seven years without owning a vehicle.

Rowan, you are my hero. I am so looking forward to getting rid of my car! I am moving into the town that I work in this winter or next spring, whenever I can find an affordable apartment, and as soon as I do, I am getting rid of the beast. I am so envious of carless bikers. :)

Gee, thanks. <blush>

Which comes first -- find affordable apartment and ditch car, or ditch car and get better apartment? :)

I had a pretty decent ride in this morning. A bit of a north wind blowing that sort of became a headwind when I started west. Otherwise it was pretty decent.

A little foggy and humid this morning. I had a strange fatigue in my legs from running yesterday, it made the last hill before the office a real challenge.

Excellent ride this morning. I leave around 5:30. Get to work around 6:40am. About 65 deg in KCMO. My ride is about 14 miles each way. I usually get to commute three days a week. If I had one wish (this morning) I would wish drivers would learn to use turn signals! I try to be predictable but it makes in tough when the cars themselves are unpredictable! OK, I'm finished griping! By the way.....how far is your commute?