cool and humid this morning, although the rain ended while it was still dark, and the roads were at most only damp. missed riding tuesday and wednesday because i was in washington dc on biz. saw a lot of nice ss/fixie rides, though!

What a great morning! Blue skies, and about 60F. Today i rode the whole way to school(I am a teacher) for the first time now that my summer job has ended. I averaged 16mph and it took me a total of 50 minutes including the stop lights. That is a grand total of about 10 minutes more commute than if I drove and car, burned over a half gallon of gas, clogged the air with extra pollution, had to deal with idiots wanting to race me, etc., etc., etc.! My wife may be a bit concerned about my safety, but I am assuring her this is not only better for my health, but probably safer as well. Nobody wants to hit a cyclist, they would rather hit another car.

My commute home last night was nice. I just sorta hooked up with a woman in a nice Marinoni and we drafted each other most of the way together back home. I think it was probably the third or second time I've met up with her. Another time she tried to catch me on a short steep climb a while back. It didn't happen.

The ride in this morning was a bit windy, however uneventful. I'm feeling a little down, knowing that the colder weather is just around the corner and I'll be locking the bike into the trainer in several weeks, when the crappy cold weather hits. I tried riding in the cold and snow one year. Didn't like it.

We've been getting some left over rain from Ivan, and fall temperatures are already starting to set in, but I had a nice ride this morning. I wore shorts even though it was 64 degrees this morning. I'm trying to get ready for winter riding. Oh, and I was ready to collapse when I made it to work (3 mile ride), because I skipped breakfast. Shame on me.

Cerberusgl: Do you come into town near the Blue Diamond plant? I haven't been on that part of the trail in a week so I'll have to check it out.

Saw a happy sight riding past the local daycare: Mom on a hybrid pulling a trailer, Dad on a mtb pulling a trail-a-bike. No kid on the trail-a-bike so I'm assuming that they dropped the older kid off at school. Now, that's the intelligent alternative to the Armored Personnel Carriers that I see some parents using to drop their kids at school!

Yep. Autumn is here! Brisk ride in at 44F. Not much wind, but as I type I can hear howling outside my office window. Crossing some railroad tracks my pannier fell off! Really strange! All was ok with it. I put it back on and rode to the office.

Ahhh, Thursday, my day at the South Minneapolis office... I love the route I take there. It was a little cool (48F) but I was dressed for it and we had clear skies. I was able to turn my lights off halfway in and saw a beautiful sunrise. 16 miles, 11 on wooded/lake views paved trails... life is grand.

For the Minneapolis crowd, could you describe your route in more detail. I always go Northeast to Southwest, and your ride must have been Northwest to Southeast, which I never have much success with (I don't do it enough to make route selections wisely).

As for me, last night two guys hooked on with CJ and I making a four-man paceline for the first seven miles or so of the Burke-Gilman. We all took turns pulling pretty evenly, with the guy on the MTB doing the shortest turn. It seemed like my turns pulling were the longest, but doesn't it always? Stayed on the trail all the way to campus, then up Capitol Hill. After the long ride, I almost didn't make it, but I prevailed (although very slowly).

The ride to Redmond this morning was uneventful; I'm getting more accustomed to the hazards on the I90 trail so I'm probably keeping a faster pace on it, but all the miles this week are taking their toll, with a mere 16.7 mph average for a 19.5 mile ride.

[QUOTE=ajkloss42]For the Minneapolis crowd, could you describe your route in more detail. I always go Northeast to Southwest, and your ride must have been Northwest to Southeast, which I never have much success with (I don't do it enough to make route selections wisely). QUOTE]

Yes, I live in a northwest suburb so I'm coming from the northwest. It's all back roads from New Hope, through Crystal and Robynnsdale where I pick up the Theodore Wirth Parkway trail, to the Bassett Creek Trail to the Cedar Lake trail, to the Kennelworth Trail to the Midtown Greenway trail. From there it's three blocks to my office, sixteen miles total. That's my Thursday route, I also go to three other offices (North Minneapolis, Blaine and Brooklyn Park) during the week on different days. It's been great, I love all my routes and I have many variations to them. Of course I've been doing it for over 23 years so I should know my way around.

I was just looking the bike over with a co-worker who is fascinated by the fact that I ride my bike to/from work. Wouldn't you know it, my old tubular on the rear is FLAT!

Anyone have a clincher 130mm Campy wheel with 8 speed cassette for sale cheap?

I'm not spending another penny on tubulars!

Awesome commute today...started out early(oooh 10am) before the California heat kicked in, and did my best time so far. 16.5mi in 1hr 5min...if that hill were only smaller!

Looking forward to beating my time tomorrow!

Left LATE this morning!! Boy was I glad that the NOAA radio was wrong about the 10mph tailwind (it HAD to be stronger). Made it in time though, a little excitement does one good once in a while.
NOAA was wrong about the winds this afternoon too, not a tailwind as they predicted! Oh well tomorrows another day.

No offence to any that might be reading but, do weathermen & politicians go to the same schools?

Today was my 2nd commute into work this week and only my third ever! What a thrill it is to ride into work fully awake with the blood flowing rather than the high blood pressure caused by being stuck in traffic for the 9 miles it takes me to get here! So far it has taken me only 15 minutes longer to ride to work.

Rode today in 35 minutes with an avg speed of 15.0 mph for the 9.01 miles. (Hilly ride) This morning started at a nice temp around 60F but by the time I got in it was close to 70 F and humid!

45F this morning with brilliant sun! The ever present wind gently at my back. It was a good ride.

Hated it. Hated it. Stuck in the tin box today.

Nice ride in along the American River BT (16 miles). Lots of deer, turkey and even a coyote (probably heading home from a wild night). Noticed the Fall thing. Still wearing a t-shirt and some of the low spots were a little cool. Did a personal best this week logging 120 miles. That's good for this fair-weather rider. Just got a HID light and plan on trying some Winter riding. Of course for you cold-climate types my weather is probably like your Summers. Have a great weekend.

WhooHoo! Got to ride home in shorts and jersey! Going to get cold and wet this weekend.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thursday was the best weather all week but I had a lunch meeting & couldn't cycle. Today it was 52F & mostly clear at 6AM, still fair at lunchtime but we had thunder showers late in the afternoon which brought us some brief downpours.

Commute sucked...was at the pub 'til wayyyy late, rode into work in my buddies SUV. God why...at least I got my team jersey in mail when I got home...JUST IN TIME TO MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY!

Sunday=30+mi in pennance

This past week I commuted 4 times! Last week was 3 times in one week, I am hoping to make it in on the bike all 5 days next week. I have realized that there is a headwind going both ways, which I can't quite figure out... The wind must change direction during the day. I am going to have to start living at work, and working at home to take advantage of the wind!

Yesterday's ride in was kinda cool, 45F & moist. long sleeved T with a short sleeved T over it & shorts ( think summer will be here soon). Suppose I should start thinking about getting some leg warmers? Afternoon ride was 70 ish & rushed. Beauty eh?

Just coming off two week vaction. I missing my daily commute. I do not miss my job though . I ride a lot even on vaction . thanks .

I think you'll find that depends on the speed of the wind. If you're riding at 25km/h, but the wind is only 10km/h, you'll probably feel the wind on your face even when it is "behind" you. However, if you then immediately turn around and ride the other way, you'll soon notice the difference. Of course, the wind does sometimes change direction, which makes it even more fun.

The wind is definitely changing directions at the end of my day on most days. It has been very windy here lately too, as in small trees bending over pretty far. I had wondered if it was my speed, but even at intersections and stop lights, it is still bending, and like I said, the trees are blowing like crazy too.
Ah well... Guess it is all good in the end as long as it stays warm!

On another note...I biked out to visit my parents today, and my father asked me what I was going to do when winter came. I replied, "Get studded tires", to which my step-mother responded, "I want to run over people who ride their bikes in the winter"!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't even bother trying to explain it to her. I just asked her to please not run me over!

Could she be joking? Or jealous?

Anyway, from personal experience, shop early, especially if you want 700c studded tires. Last Winter, I had a hard time finding a shop that would even want to order mine! 26" tires are a bit easier to find, mostly because of MEC.

P.S. Try to stick to Nokians if you can afford them. Very good traction and carbide studs that will last many many years.