caloso

Wind and allergens. My eyes look like they did when I was still drinking. But I'm alert and at work on time.

bcritch

gaz - I hear you about being saddle sore! I was after an 8 mile, recreational, ride on Saturday! People say, though, that saddle soreness will wear off with more riding. I bet the NY bicycle commute would be fun!

ahpook

Right out the gate, on a street with 2 narrow lanes in either direction and no bike lane, some lady in a big beater Bronco was honking at me and yelling. I motioned for her to go around (which other people were able to do without a problem) but she was gunning it, riding up on me and yelling. As she passed she said something like "You bike like [redacted]!!" I am ashamed to admit that I lost my cool and rode up to her window at the light, which of course she powered closed and sped off, laughing at me. GRRR. Gotta remember: "Smile and wave. Smile and wave."

The rest of the ride was great

caloso

Nothing like a little constructive criticism of your bike handling from a cager....

Tree Trunk

Noticing a lot of newbies out on the road -- no helmets, for the most part. I saw two this morning. And there are a lot of people out there who look to be recreational cyclists who are now commuting. There is a lot more bike traffic out there. Could it be gas prices are finally starting to put more people out on bikes?

SpiderMike

I have people at work asking me bike questions today. And last night some one mentioned how they were going to buy a Vespa. Then my buddy mentioned I ride my bike to work. She still looked at me like I was weird.

vtjim

I had the best commute home this afternoon. Temps were in the low-to-mid 70s and I had a modest tail wind.

The rail trail was getting a lot of use, this being the first truly warm day of the year. That's okay. I've gotten good at timing things so I can pass peds and slower cyclists with a minimum of delay, while not being an a-hole about it.

I was dropping recreational cyclists left and right when I noticed something brunette and fit-looking ahead of me on a mountain bike and moving along at roughly my speed. I caught up to her and, maintaining a respectable distance, hung out behind her for a while. The scenery wasn't bad. A-hem.

But then a blonde woman on a road bike turned onto the trail ahead of us and took off like she was on a mission from Lance. She was clipped in and dressed for a proper ride. I decided to pass mountain bike woman and catch road bike woman instead.

She was a worthy Mind Racing adversary and made me work to catch her. I'm not sure if she even knew I was back there because I didn't see a mirror. She did push harder from time to time and I kept up. At one point we were cruising along at around 25MPH.

Eventually we got off the trail and into a residential neighborhood and she turned where I need to go straight to get home, so the fun was over. It was my fastest commute yet. I really need to find a group of riders with whom to commute...

madhouse

My ride in this morning kicked @$$!!! I had to ride with my backup light because I forgot to charge my main light... Other than that, there was a barely mentionalble head wind, 55F and I felt like I was using someone elses legs! I saw 4 deer... twice (I made a left and they had cut diagonally across the section.)

Rogerinchrist

I try to blame my ex for my allergies, she always had them, I didn't 'til we divorced. Now I got 'em too. *as he sneezes & rubs red eyes*
Anyway.... 55F ! this am and calm. 75F sunny and steady side wind (20mph) comin' back.

spidercyclist

Great ride to day to work and home. It had to be about 75 F . Just wish by ride on days like this was longer , but no extra time . Have a good day .

vrkelley

Wow Adventures! Hang in there! Excellent ride 39F AM and 60 PM...that's quite a temperature jump. Sunny in Seattle. We went a day without rain

CommuterRun

Now that I've recently added running to my routine my legs are too sore to ride. It's been so long since I've done any running I'm starting all over again. Friday afternoon I set a new average speed record for my commute. Monday I drove to work early with the bike in the back of the Land Cruiser and went for a run, followed by riding home in which I nearly tied my new avg speed record. Rode in Tuesday morning then drove home Tuesday afternoon so I could drive in this morning to run.

Now, mostly my thighs, but also my calves, a little, are so sore I have to back down stairs.

Maybe I wouldn't feel like such a willow if I had started a little slower on the running thing. Like not making my first run a 4 miler.

Just wait 'til next week. I'll be Baawck.

jeff-o

Waaaaa, had to take the car today.

Not only are they predicting a 90% chance of rain this afternoon (I have no fenders) but I also have places to be after work that would close before I could ride there. And, my legs are a little pooped from being worked so hard for the past 5 days, after months and months of inactivity. And yes, the bucket seats in my car are comfy.

But... It just feels like I cheated this morning. Like I let myself down. Ah well, hopefully I can resume again tomorrow, if the weather holds up. There's a cold snap + more rain on the way...

balto charlie

Everybody seems to have some allergies. Lots of pollen coating everything in these parts. Great ride this AM, shorts and a 'T'. Could use a little rain, just a little.
VTjim: Your first warm day!! wow, love the NE summers but those long winters.....

gaz

2nd day of commuting ever - went very well. I almost didn't bike, because I have to pick up a suit near work, and can't really carry that with me. But then I figured I would just pick it up on the next rainy day... Less saddle soreness today, so I think I'll get used to it and be fine without having to get a new saddle.

Made better time than yesterday, since I know the route a little better.

Oh, and I got a "cool bike" from two female pedestrians on the way. (I have a Dahon Speed P8 folder).

I'm so glad to be doing this!

tulip

Went the old way today. Yesterday on my stealth route, I surprised a homeless guy under a bridge and made his cat run away. I felt kinda bad about that. He looked so surprised. Good ride, maybe I'm getting a little faster. Maybe.

SaskCyclist

Great commute. Today and last night. The termperature is hovering around 0C in the AM and 15C in the pm with very little wind and full sun. This morning was another one for my record books. 24 minutes door to door. I droped every cyclist I could see that didn't turn off to go a different direction. I went for a hair cut last night on the way home and the stylist who I sort of know seems very interested in how and why I bike everywhere. The funny part is he works about a km from his home and drives all the time. I guess the cost of driving and risk of living a shorter life just doesn't mean anything to him. I find that I understand less and less and have a lower tolerance for people who can't motivate themselves to pull their butts off the couch and enjoy life.

Rant off.

billh

Uneventful . . . Day #2. I'm on a roll. For those keeping score, the negotiation of the combined straight/right turn lane went as planned today. I was first in line and positioned enough left to let right-turners by but there were not straight-goers so did not learn what they would do. However, I acted as traffic cop by waving through hesitant right-turners. Must have waved through 3 cars, mostly over-polite women. The male drivers had no qualms about buzzing me. Fine as long as they don't hit me.

RonH

The weather has been spectacular all week.
I guess summer is right around the corner. It was 52F (11C) when I left the house. I was wearing baggy shorts and a long sleeve T-shirt. Had to pull the sleeves up all the way at the 4 mile point.
The ride home is supposed to be 78-80F (~26C). I can feel those warm breezes already.

I did have to admonish an elderly driver who passed me kinda close (~12"-15") (~30-38 cm) in a shopping mall parking lot I cut through. There were no other cars in the parking lot so she has PLENTY of room to go around. Caught up with her in the bank parking lot. She said she didn't realize she was so close.

caloso

What is that, about 5 or 6 city blocks? He can't be bothered to walk? I wonder if he might be persuaded that he's ruining his car by driving it such short distances?

clevernamehere

Had to take the Car today...

Bike was stolen while I was at the school, mentoring a grade 4 student.

I locked it up to a tree & we were shooting hoops outside, about 50 feet away. The bike was in iat him & started running toward him. He was very quick & hopped on the bike & took off. I couldn't catch him... wasn't sure I wanted to attack someone in front of the boy I was mentoring anyway.

Wouldn't you know it, my insurance is useless in this case... $500 deductible plus a premium increase for next three years totalling $250... works out to exactly what my bike with the accessories is worth, so no sense making a claim.

Looks like I'll have to fix up my old Norco Montery road bike (c. 1987) & ride it for now.

I'm scheduled to give a talk to our department tommorrow about bike commuting... kind of ironic that I'll be driving to work the day I give the talk.

...sorry, just had to vent.

Cerberusgl

There is construction going on on the bike path so I decided to cut across town. The ride is about 3.5 miles less but the traffic lights slow it down. Timewise its is a couple of a minutes shorter. Weather is nice. My new open pros are still true after breaking 5 spokes last month on two different low spoke count wheels I happy to be back on some 32s.

vrkelley

Hang in there guys...when we get heavy rains here or I'm too sore, I tell myself that there will be better days. And today was a better day with no rain, hail, frozen fog etc... a wonderful commute.

vrkelley

ch0mb0

good show! don't stop. it's quite the way to get going in the morning. ever have any questions that might make your commute easier, fire away.



* * * * *


as for today's commute? today was a good day.
crown heights, brooklyn ---> hell's kitchen, manhattan = 39 minutes
not too shabby for me.

Rode in extra extra early (730 am!) Seeing more bikes and more fixies on the road now. cheers.