Chilly again this morning, I could see my breath which means I had to wear long pants and a windbreaker. This afternoon it's supposed to go up to 17C, so I won't need that jacket for the ride home. I'm looking forward to when I can ditch the long pants and jacket for BOTH directions.

50'sF, sun, no wind, tired legs. Nice ride but I gonna need a rest soon.

Bike to Work Week rocks! I have rode 2 out of 3 days so far. Unfortuneately it will be my last until next week due to morning meetings and home commitments to compete with getting to work on time.

Just changed my knobbies on my mountain bike to slicks, what a difference. I rode just as hard but had an easy 2-3 mph change in speed. If not for the headwind I probably would have set a new personal commuting record. Averaged 17+ mph for my 12 mile commute and easily reached 20 many times(that rarely happened with knobbies). My wife wonders why I don't just ride when I wake up, how can a non-athletic person ever understand the euphoria that comes with the xen of biking. I can't seem to put it into words for her.
My personal success story, I have converted a fellow teacher here at school to be commuting on bike as well. Take that Big Oil!

Had a good commute in today. Cool and comfortable. Passed a couple of commuters on MTBs going in the opposite direction.

I don't know how people can ride in work clothes. I get all squirmy and uncomfortable just thinking about that. :)

Monday evening I was in Montreal, Quebec, to see Porcupine Tree (great band!) and noticed a very large number of cyclists out and about. Fixies, MTBs, roadies... It was nice to see, except for the couple of wrong-way cyclists and red-light runners.

After the show there seemed to be bicycles locked up all over the place! I don't remember seeing that many bikes in the past. Maybe I just never noticed before I started commuting.

Here is a question for everyone. How often do you clean and lube your chain? I seem to be lubing about every hundred miles or so. I bought new lube_ Cross country? supposed to be more durable and last longer. Any feedback on this stuff?

It is getting warm in Atlanta! A little sweaty but pleasant ride to work. It was "foggy" but felt muggy.

If I lubed my chain every 100 miles, that would be about every week! I should do it more often than I do, probably. Currently about 2x year.

Last night's ride was fine and uneventful, just like I like 'em. This morning I had to detour through the heart of DC (Metro Center, Convention Center), riding with busses and taxis, hit a pothole BAM! thought for sure that I would get a flat, or even a bent rim. My luck held, however, yet again. The rest of the ride was fine.

I lube (not heavily) every morning before my ride, but I clean my bike every 4 days or so (it's fun!). Averaging 150 miles a week makes it necessary. Could also be the Air Force conditioning >:-)

Today's commute was weird - rarely do I see wind that early in the morning, but no matter which direction I was pedaling, the wind was in my face. Bah. Still better than driving.

Every couple of months, which is about 1000 miles. I start feeling guilty at about two weeks, forget a week later, remind myself the next week, repeat for a few weeks, and then notice the grinding sand sound about the eighth week. I give my chain another six months.

Good morning ride. Cool for this time of year, low-60s at 5:30, and weirdly hazy.

This morning was a perfect 65 degrees, and light traffic. A dump truck driver did toot at me as he prepared to pass, but I think he just wanted to make sure I knew he was starting to pass on the narrow two-lane, in case something unexpected were to happen on the road ahead, creating a squeeze. Nothing did.

Monday was the best. After work I rode 5 miles directly to our town's monthly Planning and Zoning Board meeting (I serve on the board) and changed back into my work clothes in the rest room. They have a shower and locker room in the other town building directly next door, but I was running late, and was not very sweaty. We actually had two successive meetings in different buildings with a short hike between them, so I hopped on the bike again to travel between them, and a few of the other board members expressed some envy at my cycling compared to their walking. When the meeting was over at 10:30 PM I rode home in my work clothes and enjoyed the cool evening air. A few people asked me questions about my bright headlamp and tail light as I left.

-Steve Goodridge

Ah the weather is nice, it's bike to work week and the snotty racer boys are out in number. Yesterday, one passes me with a vengeance. Click, click. I'm on his wheel. He looks back. Whaaaaaa? Ups the pace. I'm on his wheel like a fly on flypaper. Nothing they hate more than a geeky commuter sucking their wheel. Push harder, racer boy. It's going to take more than that to shake me off your wheel. Stand up. Stand up and sprint for me racer boy. Sprint like a monkey. Haha. You're not as fast as you thought eh. Racers aren't the only fast ones out here. Yeah, turn off, chicken. Turn off. I got your number.

It was nice this AM. But I left my house at 6:50 this morning, so it was already in the high-60s, still cooler than the past couple of mornings.

A few months ago I picked up this locally made chain lube called ATB (absolutely the best) - that is I think one of these wax/solvent type ones. But it requries much less frequent application (every few weeks) and less frequent cleaning due to dirt pick up than other similar wax/solvent ones I've tried. I like it.

Al

:D :roflmao: :D

Been there... It's fun, isn't it?

Sweet :D

<stream of consciousness mode on>
Well… bike feels right, brakes are good… hey, I gotta a green… OK, down the road past the next stop, and holy Toledo, another green… get inta left turn mode… check and…

Well she’s cute and blond… but does she see me… Noooo… didn’t think so… that’s it sweetheart, just pull a “right turn on red” right in front of me… and what… you’re gonna hog the right lane too… Hello… can I get over!!! Oh, she is staying in the right… What the hey… hammer down. Oh I see… she’s going to Krispy Kreem… Ain’t gonna stay cute that way darlin’. Jeeze guess they didn’t teach STOPPING at a red in that driver’s ed class you took last month eh? Sheesh… Head check and hammer down…

Well the little derailleur tweak and chain lube did me well… Man, I never go this fast here… cool. OK maintain the track, watch for the clown coming out of that driveway… Cars passing you fine… Head check… Cool… hammer down.

Ah, the downhill… and a Bike Lane… cruise… OK, the onramp, check, check again, pull out… smooth. Now the uphill… Ug. Hey, not too bad… using a higher gear… ahhhh lube. Whew, at the top and turn and position… watch out for the cars along here… dropping off their kiddies. Hold position… make ‘em go around and now… check, signal and check aaaand left turn position. Good.

Wait… long line of cars… Oh exhaust gas… how fun… why the heck do “all” cars have the exhaust at the right rear… Ug. Hey VC guys, waiting behind cars, sucks… Green, and go.

Oh, the coffee angel… gee blonde too… and still doing the sign dance… huh.

Look at that van up ahead… he doesn’t see me… dude is blind… Hey jerk… here I am in the middle of the lane and… oops knew it… pulled right out… OK I’ll just slip behind… but man I am staying right out here… Jeeze look at that… the pavement is just mangled along the right tire track… Bike lane is clean… but so far over… nobody will see me there… head check… good, clear… downhill. Zoom past this cyclist… shift and zoom zoom. Up hill… but I got speed man… go.

Wow, no traffic… pump and I can make the left turn lane…. Whew… no problemo… got the light too. Cruz and breath… Cool.

Whip the right and wow, still pumping good… higher gear too… and up to the light… my lane and stop. Now if a car would just come along an’ trigger this thing… hey good.

OK onward. Wow, no traffic again… cool. Left turn and right up ahead… watch for the big asphalt bump… jeeze on a new road too… sigh. OK, and position, headcheck and wow a green… Pump you fool… shift… watch that clown on the right and whoa… 26MPH cool… and stay your course… watch that intersection and wow… made that light too. OK, another left and cruz… catch breath… Up to Campus Point and into the left turn lane… this one here… Ahhhh… Wait for the green. Drink.

Wow, BMWs have the exhaust on the left… welllll thank you. Ooooo, Alumni of UCSD… blond too… hmmm.

OK green and go… ahhhh… long bike lane… down hill and no intersections… relax… On ramp coming up… and headcheck… move over… human speed bump time… Bet it freaks out cars seeing bikes in the freeway ramp… aaaand hold position until I get around this curve and over to the lane… good.

Watch for the drain grates… jeeze you’d think CalTrans would be smart enough to not put grates here… sheesh… time to merge back… head check, and wow, she is slowing down to let me in… totally cool… merge in and ug, more exhaust.

OK down the lane, hold the lane… good and whoa… another train Oh, The Coaster… OK… wait here. Water.

Green light and WTF… jeeze she’s looking for a tape or something… Head’s up sweetheart… (Horns honking… ) OK let’s go. Make the left and ahhhh flat… hammer down. Watch the driveways… and slow for the mangled corner… what a joke… need an SUV here… sheesh…

OK, head check, downshift, climb… check, hey no one behind me… get into the left turn and synchronize with all that oncoming traffic… there’s a break… get ready… Oh it’s Susanne… Yup… the “crazy guy on the bike” works with you… smile and climb the driveway. Here.
<stream of consciousness mode off>

Tru nuf, but the forecast says that summer has arrived. "Very Hot Commute Club" anyone?

I'm in. ;)
My bike thermometer only goes to 123 F though. That won't be enough for actual road temps during rush hour (usually 10-15deg above official temp), even when in shade.

I made it fine thru last summer, but it was a mild one relatively.

Al

Yeah, but... "it's a dry heat." :D Yikes.

You gotta a thermometer on the bike... now that's class. Can't get AC on that ride though can you?

Broke a spoke on Sunday's ride so was unable to commute in Monday. Had appointment Tuesday, so today is first day back in the saddle. Morning commute was nice, little fog which burned off early in ride. Overcast right now so may get some rain on ride home. I lube my chain every other week.

The thermometer is actually built into the cheapest speedometer I could find ($15 from Supergo).

As to AC - shirt soaking works, but unfortunately is usually bone dry 5min into the ride.
I've thought about (but won't, don't worry) putting a pressurized misting system (like: http://www.mistymate.com/mmp16.html ) to turn on at stoplights. ;) I find its probably easier to dump water on my head.

Al

Had to fight my way to work in the rain and a headwind. Got sweaty since my rain gear doesnt breathe that good and I had a sweat shirt underneath it. Rode home with a tail wind! Also found out today I have to start working swing shift 3pm to 11:30pm. So looks like I will be ridding around at 12pm at night now. I might have to upgrade my lights. If you guys got off work at 11:30 would you just gome home and sleep or ride around and do something for a few hours?

Nice, but slow, commute home. I took a slightly different route just for fun. It worked out pretty well, with the only sticky part crossing New York Avenue at 5th Street NW. It wasn't too bad, once the cars stopped (red lights don't mean stop here).

No riding tomorrow. Last week when I was pumping up my tires, the valve stem broke. The tire has been holding air, but I pump up my tires every week, and I can't do that with only half a valve stem. I went to changing tubes tonight, only to discover that the tube I've been carrying around with me has a Schrader valve, whereas my rims take only Presta. I guess the bike shop sold me the wrong tube and I didn't notice. At least I didn't get stuck with a flat and that tube.

Next ride-bike to work day. I'm a bit apprehensive with all these one-day cyclists on the roads. But I appreciate their efforts and perhaps some will join the regular commuter ranks.

Good ride to work and home .No cars and no people out to nite . It was a nice quiet ride home tonite .
Have agood nite .

Ride home last night was good. Made some good time and had an avg speed of 17mph. Pretty happy with that.

Today it is supposed to storm in the afternoon, so I rode my rain bike in. Supposed to get pretty windy to. Weeeee!

A glorious morning. Blue skies. Sunny. ~40F. No wind at all.

I got dropped though. Hard. By a mid-sized bird. Just flew right by and I couldn't keep up. :)

Just barely warm enough for shorts, but I still needed a jacket. A good ride though, despite the closest pass yet by a car... some punk in a minivan.

Oh man, I can't wait to commute in the Catrike I've rented for next week. I hope it doesn't rain too much!!

I really needed to tell someone about the conditions of the commute this morning. You would think people who live here would get it but most simply take it for granted and each day they get up and drive from their house to their work and don't experience mornings the way I do. I knew you guys would understand. This morning is 9C with minimal wind and absolutely not a cloud in the sky. Visibility is 24 km and the ceiling is unlimited. It feels like the sun is shining brighter than ever and making scenery more vivid than ever. Humidity is 94 percent (it rained lightly all day yesterday). The smell in the air is intense; it smells like a cross between an evergreen/pine forest and a greenhouse. The geese get it; 6:30 and they were already out basking in the sun. Older folks get it; they were out for a stroll in huge numbers. The best part is that it will likely be like this for weeks (except for maybe the intense smell; it dies off when the humidity drops). If I could post the freshness that is this morning I would... sorry guys; we are not that technologically advanced yet.

Hope you are having a great day!

Another great ride, mid 50's. I think we are going to get some rain on "Bike to work day" Hopefully it won't prevent folks from biking. Getting ready for a wknd tour...my first. I've only drove the car to work 1 day in the last 4 weeks.

I forgot to mention my ride home last night. Halfway home just about through the park I catch a glimpse of a newbie trying to drop me. We both make a right hand turn and the race is on....thank god for a rear view mirror. I could practically see him breathing hard. I didn't bike all winter just to get dropped by by a newbie. Once I realized he was there and cranked it up a notch he didn't have a chance. He tried a few times but I just kept it steady with the hammer all the way down. This went on for a couple of k's; by the time I turned off togo my way and slowed down a little to catch my breath I was just glad he had to go straight because I don't know how long I could have kept it up. A little adrenaline pumping sure makes the commute more interesting and a better workout.

It was lovely.
It's a beautiful day here on the Front Range...hot air balloons were in the sky.