Good ride home yesterday.. gotta love those slicks. And today's ride in was pretty good too, except for the headwind.

I was a bit groggy on the commute in, having stayed up way past my bedtime watching football at a friend's house.

We're having some great weather down here in NC... excellent riding temps, and I love Autumn mornings.

Finally replaced the ancient Conti Sports on my old Motobecane with some new Panaracer Paselas... wow - what a difference!

Got my new tires put on my bike last night. I had the standard issued (for my Fuji Ace) Kenda Kwest tires that lasted three years of sitting in the garage and now 900 miles of commuting. So, I upgraded to a Bontrager Race Light Hard Case. They look and feel great.

Unfortunately, today was not a commute by bike day. I rode my Harley in to work. The reason: performing some adjunct professor service downtown at a local college from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

What I found out from my ride in today is that it takes me the same amount of time to ride into work as it does to drive! I had been making a larger "course" to keep my weekly mileage up; but, if I ride the "short course" to work, it is the exact amount of time by bike as it is by car/motorcycle.

Oh well....get to test out the new tires tomorrow!

Chris

"Dude...!"

He, the dude, was there just as I exited the bridge over the intersection of Highway 2 and 27th Street, a major north-south arterial. The bridge feels like flying over the traffic, and when you're down with the autos, it looks like flying over the traffic. The sun was just rising, and the clouds were painted with lavenders blending to pinks and oranges.

I had made it a point to leave early this morning. I've been trying to get to work earlier; doing so makes the commute easier -- it was much easier getting across O Street this morning -- and the office is more peaceful before everyone arrives. For autumn, it was muggy and warm, but the gusty wind was promising a change later tonight.

Traffic on the trail was light too. I'd only seen a few people along the way, and none for the last mile or so. The bridge has three segments. I was just leaving the first, and there he was.

The first thing I saw was his gray t-shirt, followed by his shades, helmet, and, finally, bike. I didn't notice the make, but it was rigged out for commuting. He was up, out of the saddle, hammering. The bike was all over the place, jerking from side to side, and coming right at me in my lane.

I hit the brakes, but because the path narrows over the bridges there weren't many places for me to go. He glanced up, noticed me, and jerked his bike over into his lane, almost losing it but somehow staying up on two wheels. I looked back over my shoulder to where he was wobbling over the bridge. My heart pounded both from exertion and the adrenaline that had just been dumped into my bloodstream. I tried to think of some way to express that, though we'd been lucky enough to avoid it, if he'd just calm down the probabilty that we would have ended up in a tangled mess at the end of the bridge would have been even less.

"Dude...!"

I think I am finally transitioning into the winter cycling mode. Even though it has been cold'ish and wet this week, I have not even blinked an eye at commuting to work. Even did a 20 mile ride on Sunday morning in low 40F temps. What a scary development.

It was 36F/2C. North winds at around 11MPH. Roads were wet and there was a light rain falling. The snow that was forecast for overnight did not materialize. The smell of wood stoves filled the air. Foliage is in full brilliance. The sound of my wheels on the wet pavement. This was a great commute!

Stopping by the LBS after work to pick up my new Gators! WhooHoo! Perhaps my feet will stay warm now!

I worked out at the gym last night and then rode home. Oy, that was not a good time. The road bike was nice and light going up the hills, but I was tired from pumping iron. This morning started out better, with temps just above freezing, no rain and minimal wind. I was able to fix the chain on my SS [sort of], so I rode that. It felt slow, but I really like the stopping power.

About 1/3 of the way to work, an SUV tried to pull a U-turn right in front of me. The problem was, his vehicle was far too big, so he ended up perpendicular to the sidewalk, leaving me about 18" of road space. I was going to give him the stink-eye, but I concentrated on making the gap. Disaster averted.

Later, less than 100m from my parking spot, some dork decides to cut left across two lanes of heavy traffic. She/he drifts left in front of me, then signals, then comes to almost a dead stop, then goes again, pauses, then lurches left once more. At the same time, another vehicle was trying to go right - I recall from physics class that two objects cannot occupy the same physical space at the same time. I guess the drivers didn't take physics. I was almost taken out three times in 15 seconds.

I like commuting - it keeps my reflexes sharp.

October trial bike commute---

Day Two:
Didn't forget my computer today, so I got a precise distance of 7.52 miles (flat), avg speed 14.2, time 31:45 minutes. This is my first time to avg over 14, so I'm feeling good. My goal is to make the full 15 mile commute (each way) with an average speed of 15mph. Head wind coming home yesterday broke my confidence in that goal.

Got outta bed at 6:55AM, at my desk drinking coffee at 8:14AM.

Problems: Well I forgot my belt for the 2nd day. Kind of nuisance. Also forgot my cell phone. I had everything setup last night, but I put my phone on the charger. It was kind of stupid, because the cord is long enough to reach my pil'o'stuff.

I have a question on how to handle intersections when you are attempting to turn left, such as the one below. I try to avoid these, but I will have 1 or 2 each way.

Ah, and I didn't see the bobcat today.

SharpT

Today was good. The weather was between an offshore flow and a Santa Ana, a bit cool, high 50's, but low humidity. The ride was fine also, I sped up to hit the stop light, thus making it to the office in about 10 minutes.

Had an evangelical ride this morning to spread the commuting gospel. A coworker called me last night to take me up on the offer to ride with her to work. So I swung by her house and we rode a casual route into work. She was pumped!

SharpT, in that instance, I would take the left turn only lane as a car would, then move carefully to the right, after making the turn. I would NOT take position between cars, as your diagram indicates you do. Alternatively, you could take the left-or-straight lane but use it to get up onto the sidewalk for a bit, in the NW corner of your diagram, but that's got its own set of dangers.

If you take the left-or-straight lane, you face drivers in the left lane who will not consistently STAY in that lane, and they will cut you off or run you over. Riding between cars in any lane of that intersection looks like a recipe for road pizza with commuter cheese.


*edit - I have a similar intersection set up on my route in. I go straight through it and take a quieter thru street a couple blocks farther along.

Did anyone on this list lose a blinkie on the Route 50 trail near Route 27 in Arlington, VA, last evening? I have it.

The days are definitely getting shorter. It id now usual for the Nexux sensor to turn on my lights on the way home.

Paul

First commute in fog- a little nervewracking. Since it was dark and foggy, even more of the sensation of being in an endless tunnel..... JOY

Telecommuted today. Reason: lame excuse involving arriving home late last night. Tomorrow for sure!

Great ride in today.. T-shirt and shorts. Gotta love rolling out the driveway onto a 1.5 mile 30mph downhill. It's especially fun at 5am before you've had any coffee. The wind chill really wakes you up in a hurry!

Saw the same big ol coyote in the dark rural area this am...today he just lurked in the field watching as I went by. That's an uphill, not sure I could out run him if it became an issue. Mounted the peper spray on the outside of the trunk bag before I left this morning. Coyotes are pretty shy, so I doubt it will ever be an issue. But since it looks like he's a regular of the area, can't hurt to be prepared. If he's gonna eat me, I may as well be properly spiced !

Tomorrow should be the first no shorts day... supposed to be 28F in the am.

Don

I've got a photon fusion that I've custom mounted to the top of my helmet. They make a bicycle mount for it, but it's currently out of stock and I like having a light on my head anyway. That way I can point it where I want (in someone's face if needed). It has something 8 LED's so it's very bright and batteries a long time too. In high traffic areas i put it on strobe mode, and that really gets peoples attention. I also ride with a little cheapy bar mounted light in front, that I got off ebay for 6 bucks. It kinda sucks, and it's only a matter of time before the mounting hardware gives way, but it's nice to have two. The fusion comes with a head strap, but but having the light in the front of my head with nothing to balance is kinda crappy, also made my helmet fit funny. So I mounted it to the top of my helmet. I had to ruin the head strap thing, but *shrugs* I bought it for bike riding so....I also roll with a 7 LED blinky deal on my rear.

As for fog, I use some anti-fog stuff made by rain-x it's for cars (available at autozone type shops), but i put it on my riding sunglasses (have clear lenses from them...too) don't know about putting them on expensive perscription glasses but...there are lots of things out there, google anti fog, or check your local (good) eye glass store, my dad used to use this stuff that was kind of a mint green waxy type stuff, came in a jar and you apply with fingers, then whipe off.

any way, no ride today, having carbon fork put on my bike (older trek 2200 three tube carbon bike) finally decided to get the carbon where it matters :-)

Heh, I did that a couple of weeks ago.

Commute in this morning was fine. Tried the Marathon tires for the first time on my commuter (the folder). The switch from faster tires didn't slow me down too much but it did add some peace of mind for the ride home in the dark (more junk on the MUP from a day of careless / non-caring users ==> faster tires getting chewed-up).

Good weather and pleasant rides for the last several days. But it's getting dark earlier and I need to get a brighter headlight.

The only blemish was a Liedtka Trucking flatbed (number 443) that expressed his displeasure of me being on the road by using his trailer to nudge me toward the gutter. I emailed the company about the incident and explained what Va. state law has to say about the rights of bicyclists. But so far no reply.

Good fast tailwind on the way home (yay!). Beat a rainstorm by about 5 minutes :)

Liedtka? Lied To Kover A$$?
Good thing you got the truck no. If no response from the company, maybe the police wouldn't mind hearing about it if it's a slow day.

Today was trash day & on the way back to work on my lunch circuit, I hit one of those hurking big plastic cans on wheels. I was riding thru a local neighborhood & just topped a hill picking up speed when a car coming the other way turned left right at me(must not have seen me at all) & I swerved right &they passed close behind into a driveway. I looked back over my shoulder & yelled a few $&#@%! at her open window, turned back around & there was this big plastic can about 2 feet out in the roadway. Struck it a glancing blow with my right bar/knuckles/brifter & it went right over. Now I have a cut & bruised index finger to explain to my wife. The brifter's not damaged, just needed repositioned. Gotta learn more self control! Don

First REAL night ride.... Rode to a meeting after work, then had a 9 mile ride home in the dark (8:20-9:00pm) Lights worked good, not much traffic to worry about. Made for a good milage day too (38 miles)

beautiful ride in this morning: cold, clear, all the good stuff. it's weird though: i can ride when i'm doing it, but in between rides i'm so tired right now that i kept locking myself into the bathroom for little ten-second insta-naps all day to keep going. thought it would wear off but it hasn't, and the muscle stiffness isn't going away either. so i think i should take a break tomorrow.

came home some of the way - over the bridge at least. on the other side i let a bus take me n my bike up the hill, then i got off and rode the last 3k or so. nice to have them, but getting the bikes on and off those racks is no day at the beach either.

my neighbour was putting her garbage out as i arrived, and she said 'you're living dangerously, riding your bike around here in the dark.' it made me laugh; it was just after dusk and i was all lit up front and rear on both bike and helmet, flashing like a christmas tree. 'i don't go on THOSE roads,' i said, and for some reason she seemed to think that made sense.

guess what's just under the bridge on my side, when i take that sidewalk? a - ta-dah - car graveyard. spent some time eyeballing it and thinking what a Profound Statement Photograph some first-year art student could take if they came by with a cell-phone right then. would i pose thumbing my nose?

Good ride to work and home .I rode the ss today .
Work was even good tonite . Have a good nite .

I found the perfect anti fog for my glasses. It's called (gross) cat crap. It really works great. check out < http://www.catcrap.com/>
Cat Crap Anti Fog Lens Cleaner - By Glassafe
This stuff really works!!!

Ride today was good. I have given up on the "up and over" route. I found out that the "long" way takes only about 2 minute longer and is a lot easier on the old knees.

I don't know how to put a link in my post>

Ok I figured it out. so now...check this out :)

Nice diagram. Blue route, all the way. If there are more lanes it might be worth doing a right half-fakey, a'la
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=125448

Great, roads were a little wet from the rain last night. Still warm enough at 6am for short sleeves but only for a few more weeks. Only had one person honk today, an kept up with a moped for the last 2 miles of my trip.I did not see any other bikers today.

What a great ride this morning! Not only was the weather ideal and I feel re-charged, but I'm back on my old commuter bike. It's my old Nashbar, steel frame mountain Frankin-bike that I built 2 or 3 years ago and began commuting with. I bought it back from a friend who rarely used it and converted it last night to it's original specs (clipless pedals, seat, lights). Not only is it cheap and reliable, but the geometry is great for commuting as well as long distance and loaded touring. I had to stop 3 times to fine tune the seat hight/angle but the rest was like old times. The Surly is a great ride but I could never get the setup right. The geometry and/or setup made for a fast, versital ride, but something was always uncomfortable. I tweaked my left knee and struggled with a groing strain/sprang that only seemed to affect me on that bike. After 3 front-end, 2 or 3 saddle, and 2 drive train changes, I figured it was time to give it up-I'll move over the parts that I can and probably sell the rest. Anyway, I feel so good on the old bike that I'll probably extend my commuting into December as the weather allows (I thought I'd have to give it up at the end of October to rest my knee).

Great ride in this morning, the 28F temp never materialized... is was a balmy 36F. I'm in the process of figuring out what cold weather gear works for what temps.

This morning was spandex shorts, lined nylon pants, and the jacket shell without the liner. Using the hood under my helmet kept my ears from freezing off on the initial downhill blast. Had to unzip everything once things leveled out and turned to the uphill.

Thought I was going to go all the way in without seeing any of the woodland creatures that haunt the predawn darkness. Alas, less than one block from the office a fox bounded across the four lane into a vacant lot. Nice to know I'm not the only one up at that hour :-)

Don