Traffic on the ride home yesterday was pretty heavy. Must have been a wreck on the interstate. Windy too, must be getting some after effects of the latest hurricane.

Ride in this morning was windy again and cool around 55F. Supposed to be a nice day.

yesterday was a hard day of riding for me. In the morning I had the strong wind in my face, and it shifted during the day and became even stronger. Plus I was going to my mom's so the ride back was LONG and windy. I was so glad to ge there. Then on the way back from her place, I was cruising along pleasantly, with no wind, when a flat happened.

This is when I notice that my bike repair shop had removed my quick release on the back wheel when he changed it, and tightened the nuts to no end. That alone took me 10 minutes. I was clothed to bike, so stopping in the wind being all sweaty was cold. Heh. Days like this when I get home, I know that when the ride is hard and the sh*t goes down, I can still face it!

The temp was surprisingly chillily this morning at 62 degrees but it was a great ride to work. I left the house early and took a leisurely pace on my commute. It was just one of those mornings you have big stupid grin on your face.

i've seen foam on my knees while backpacking in the rain. i'm certain it's soap.

i work with combined sewer overflow issues and i can assure you, it was not raw sewage. you would have smelled something.

and welcome to the forum, btw.

and today's ride was pleasant (no foam, no smells). finally getting some proper september coolness in the air. still waiting for a little rain, though.

i put a rack and panniers on the bike, instead of wearing a backpack, and while i appreciate having a less sweaty back, i have noticed it takes more effort, in the form of engine braking, to slow my fixed gear on the downhills and to stop at traffic lights. i'm probably using the front brake more than i was before.

It's funny how non-cyclists feel that one shouldn't cycle if there is rain, if one gives blood, if there is traffic, if it's too remote, etc. The key point after giving blood is not too cycle too hard.

I would actually say something similar: Don't drive after you have given blood, because your reflexes might be a bit low.

Didn't enjoy this morning. No real reason but somehow this morning I didn't slip into the usual bike zen brain. Left home ratty, got to work ratty, still ratty. Hoping the ride home is better.

Another beautiful day here in Chicagoland. I rode in again this morning. It was cool and crisp so I threw on a long sleeve polypro shirt with a tshirt. Started with a jacket but shed it quickly once I hit about 3 miles. With the price of gas likely to go up I figure I should give my self a price per mile bonus of about 3 cents up to about 40 cents saved per mile. that will help me pay off my bike earlier via car savings and I might be able to buy a road bike next. I was thinking of getting a specialized sequoia. Any thought from anyone?

Good Day All. The ride in was pretty good. A little wind in the face and 5C. It seemed odd though to see the moon in the western sky this morning. In the early part of my commute I drive by a PetroCanada gas station. Police were directing traffic. Supposedly Brett Butt was there from Corner Gas (local celeb) and they were giving away free gas. Traffic was backed up for blocks with people trying to get in and out of this gas station to get their free gas. I am sure you could here my laugh for miles. And so to all those people who think cyclists are nuts.....Cheers.

richardw: You can practice and make this "zen" come more easily, even when troubled/ratty.

Try focussing on physical sensations (muscles flexing, fast breath), and what is going on around you (the cars, the road, the bumps on the road). When you find yourself thinking about something else, come back to it. Keeps you there in the now, and makes you much more aware of what is going on @ the moment.

welcome to the board screech - yeah, the ride home yesterday in DC was a doozie - I actually decided not to take Rock Creek in case there was flooding

yesterday morning I witnessed a strange, but pleasing phenomenon - the bike trail through Rock Creek Park in DC crosses exits from the parkway in several places - in years of commuting I have learned to approach these with some caution, as despite there being clearly marked pedestrian striped lines, our friends cooped up in their metal boxes almost never stop - imagine my surprise then when in four different places yesterday morning cars stopped to let me cross - I was flabbergasted!

ride in this morning was a beaut - sunny and 60s

I noticed on my way home last night at the gas station that I always pass that the price had gone up 10cents a gallon. Maybe it is a good thing my car died!

I've rode in all week (granted, it's only Wedsnesday). The weather has been perfect everyday, a bit windy yesterday. This morning's ride was particularly enjoyable.

Temp about 13C when I left home. Slight headwind. There was fog on the St Lawrence river, so I couldnt see if the bridge was raised for a ship at the St Lambert locks. If I see it raised I divert to the Jacques Cartier bridge - which is the same ride distance but involves a 130' climb. Fortunately there was no shipping going through the locks. When I got to St Hubert airport the fog was so thick I had to stop and put on my blinkies. My glasses also fogged.

52F & overcast at 6 AM, had a quiet ride in on my Specialized touring bike, only 3 cars passed while I was toodling along on South Bay Road alone with my thoughts & the cheerful whir of the bottom bracket generator as it lit the road for me. Still overcast & 58F at lunchtime so I hope the forecast clearing occurs this afternoon. Don

If you can see a thought as it arises
This awareness will at once destroy it.
Whatever state of mind should come,
Sweep it away, put it down.

Both good and evil states
Can be transformed by mind.
Sacred and profane appear
In accordance with thoughts.

- Han Shan Te Ch’ing (1546-1623)

Hang in there Man.
- WonkerJaw (1973-20??)

I've missed a few weeks posting my commute, mainly due to a bad case of cranky; I've been avoiding human contact as much as possible. But the last few rides were great; only one incident that nearly killed me. This one involved a twelve-year-old with a soccer ball.

I was on the Lake path near Recreation Dr. when I heard the kick; snapped my eyes over just in time to catch the horrified expression on the kid's face, then braced myself. The ball came down out of the branches like it had been thrown by God himself and came so close to my head I heard the whistle as it cut through the air. It hit less than a foot in front of my wheel, then bounced off to be somebody else's problem. For about a second of red-eye rage I considered wheeling around and chewing the kid's face off, but he'd been literally white with terror when he realized what he'd done, so I just cussed quietly to myself for about a quarter of a mile while my blood pressure went back to normal levels. If that thing had hit me in the head, it would have knocked me out, helmet notwithstanding.

Yesterday afternoon was not the most pleasant commute ever -- the wind was gusting from the north up to 30 mph and I could barely make headway against it. Had to detour into the streets for most of the ride home -- though I did manage to hit the part of the Lake path that swamped me and soaked my pants to the waistline. =)

It was kind of cool, going through the streets. I'm going to have to find a better "too windy to be at the shore" route home, though -- the one I took yesterday was way out of my way and had far too many seriously annoying drivers on it. One guy in a seafoam Honda kept blocking the bike lane ahead of me every chance he got, and dear lord, those cars are slow...

This morning was absolutely beautiful, bright sun, cool enough that many of the joggers had hidden indoors. Niiiiice.

Welcome back Merry!!!! Been wondering about ya.

Cool this am. at about 39F, no wind and a beautiful full moon on my back! Could see my shadow before day break. Wonderful afternoon, 70F with a very light tail wind (for once). More tomorrow.

Great ride to work,But on the way home all most hit someone on there bike .He was going the wrong way, on a one way street .He did not have any light on his bike .I had a head light and flashing lights on by bike . I all so seen a lot of nite people out . Other then that it was a nice night . Thanks

Guys, thanks for the helpful zen posts. Ride in this morning in the weather we describe here as driech - grey, drizzley, dark, twilight all daytime. Still a bit preoccupied but feeling a lot more like my usual calmness-on-a-bike self. Good stuff.

I am finally starting to shake off an appauling cold that has been my constant companion for the last week - so I have been limiting mileage to the minimum. Unfortunately, the rainy ride today was not particularly enjoyable. Not only that but while giving te bike a quick wipe down to remove the gunk that was on the rims, another spoke gave up the ghost. Grrrr.

Cheers,

Ed

Hooked up with one guy going downtown. With the accident on the 401, Yonge st. was bumper to bumper from (funny enough) major mack down to steeles. Doing 40kph+ on the flats.

What a blast.

Cool this morning with a low of 46F. Nice ride though. Had a couple of people pull out in fromt of me only to stop at the last minute. That sucked.

cloudless, 48 °F to start. traffic lights in town were unsynchronized, so that added some time. but time on the bike, even waiting at lights, is sweet.

Upper 30s (F) at Burlington airport this morning. Shorts, windbreaker, hat, gloves. Bit of Limp Bizkit on the Rio and I was good to go.

I saw one Serious Biker Chick heading north on the trail. Yellow jacket. Full luggage. We nodded in acknowledgement as we passed one another.

I wish I had a camera yesterday though. Spooked a couple of neighborhood deer (female).