Congrats, Born2mtb! Sorry to read of your troubles (hopefully there were passengers on the bus who reported the driver's inattention - let's assume that's what it was).

My ride in this morning was near-perfect. A tad chilly, but that wears off pretty quickly during the one long gradual ascent that begins perhaps a block from our apartment complex. When I ride the bike to work I'm damn-near insufferably chipper for most of the day. For mood enhancement I've found nothing better. A thought: Maybe drug rehabilitation and depression therapy should be augmented with cycling? Silly, but...hmmmm...

-Rob

Well, I went out on the porch this morning and waved my arms around with no shirt on, doing my temperature check as I do every morning, I said yep, it's cold. I went in, dressed in shorts and tights, warm wind jacket, heavier socks and shoe covers, heavy insulated gloves and a cap, I finished breakfast and headed out, boy was I off with my reading, I had to make three stops to shed layers, It was around 50 degrees and overcast, I took the long way in and enjoyed the still calm morning, traffic was on the heavy side but who cares, I was on the bike and it was great. Have a great day everyone.

63 F /17 C and raining here in DC. It was dark enough so I flipped my dynamo for lights.

A little warm in my raingear, but that will stop being a problem in a month or two. It looks as if our "endless summer" here has finally come to an end.

Paul

mrfix, I get out of my bed in the morning and say, yep it's cold. Regardless of the temperature. I just feel cold for a first couple of hours. I'd probably die of hypothermia if I tried to measure the temperature outside with no shirt on.

--J

It usually works for me but this morning I was way off. I think it's because I picked up a new set of neoprene shoe covers on the way home yesterday and really wanted to try them out, At 55 degrees they're warm.

Last night I passed up 2 buses! Ok, so the second bus I passed had had an accident 20 minutes before and was backing traffic up, but the first bus was an honest to goodness pass. I must have passed 2 blocks of stopped traffic in front of the accident. It was a good ride. This mornings ride was good as well although less interesting. I got off late and was surprised at the drop in traffic after 9:00. It is nice to be able to ride at 9:00 AM again without sweating my eyeballs out. Well, I guess thats it for me today.

Mrfix - maybe there was a rare eastern chinook wind in between your checking the temp and being out in it! I always check the weathernetwork on TV for temperature, but it gives the airport temp which is about 30km southwest of my house, then I head 5km northeast towards Lake Ontario where the weaher is different anyways. Oh well, dressed too warm is easier to fix than dressed too cold!
2 nice rides last eveining and this morning. Still riding the road bike + backpack, got to my home LBS at 10 to 6 last night to look for tires for my commuter, they closed at 5:30. I looked at the work LBS during the day, didn't see any tires I wanted to buy.
Temp was 10 C (50F) this morning, supposed to go up to 18 C today (65F), clear sunny sky. A great day for riding, looking forward to the trip home.

I backed off the speed a little this a.m. and enjoyed riding at something less than a sprint. Did the 13 mile commute in to work. Overall, it was one of those rides that accrues enough benefit so as to overshadow the downsides of bike-commuting, probably for the next couple weeks.

yesterday was just one of those days - got a rear wheel puncture on the way home so had to change that with me resplendent in my flourescent yellow jersey in the middle of Rock Creek Park with a sniper still on the loose

once the puncture was fixed a few miles further on something shattered/exploded near my front wheel - it was getting dark and I have no idea what it was so I just kept pedalling

to top it all off it then started raining.......

....I took the Metro today, not because of the above but because I had some meetings

Commute back to my daughter's school was cool. Watched her field hockey game then left to go mountain biking with my buds, which was excellent.

26 commuting miles for the day + about an hour's MTBing !!

Yesterday's trip home was a bit of a disappointment - a beautiful sunny day until you were within a few miles of Lake Ontario, near the lake it was overcast and dreary. Bought some cheap Kenda slicks at the home LBS for the commuter bike (new name - was Tonsafun, now it's the Dorkmobile -the crooked front fender and skinny tires just give it that total dork look)
This morning's ride - warm & DAMP! - 12C, 53F, misty, drizzly, foggy. Visibility was ok, got to work with a dry back, wet front. It's becoming the commute of the perpetual headwind. The last 5 trips have been into the wind.

Lot of trouble getting into my commute this morning. Wet roads with no rain. Bike is making more creaking noises - should take it to the bike shop this weekend. My leg muscles are sore from the "spinning" class I took at the gym yesterday. And, I'm not sure I like that new route I found; very light traffic, but it crosses several busy roads without a stoplight. Plus, it's supposed to start raining for my commute home.

Despite all that, I'm still glad I biked in rather than driving.

Tim

got 40 miles in yesterday. Dressed perfectly in the morning, long sleeve tee shirt, jeresy, vest, tights.

In the afternoon 5:00pm just the Jersey and shorts, underdressed! Pulled over to the side of the road to put on a jacket 3/4 of the way home, It was cold, fall is here.

Got quite a few looks from people as the traffic lights, as I had both my NiteRiders on (helmet, and Bar light). Hey if they are looking at me, I figure I'm safe!

Nice slow ride home yesterday, cold wet ride in this morning. Pinerider, there are no disappointing bike rides, there are just challenges and opportunities. Some rides may feel challenging during the ride but what a great feeling looking back after you get where you're going, kinda makes ya want to go back out there and start over sometimes. Think of the things you experience and learn on the rides that aren't perfect. Sometimes those rides are far more worth doing than the easy relaxing ones.
Have a great day.
Oh yea, ride the bike, no matter what.

Mrfix, let me rephrase - the ride wasn't disappointing, the weather was! I'd envisioned a carefree ride in glorious sunshine, what I got was a so-so ride in dismal overcast.
Even this morning's ride in the mist and fog wasn't disappointing, it was a character builder!

Pinerider, Based on your posts I feel you already have character and you are a dedicated cylist, athlete and all around good person.

Thank you Mrfix! I have always found your posts to be informative, interesting and I appreciate your vision for the "other stuff" that becomes part of the cycling experience, but is not the actual "operating the vehicle" aspect. It takes huge amounts of cycling dedication, athleticism and character to even consider a 38 mile round trip daily commute like you've been doing!
Anyone else want to join our mutual admiration society??

Why thank you Pinerider, I didnt think anyone noticed. I'm just an old guy doing his insane thing.

Mrfix,

I, for one, look forward to your nearly-daily posts to see how your commute went. Your bits of encouragement help keep me motivated!

Tim

Why thank you Tnorman glad to hear, keep on ridin the bike.

Hate to interrupt!

This morning was cool and misty. A lovely fall day!

I haven't had time for a long ride in quite a while, so I set out to make a 20 miler of the way home....wonderful day, sunshine and fall colors....yellow butterflies clustered all over purple flowers...flocks of birds taking off as I pedalled by. Sweet.

I must have got out of shape, though, my butt hurts.

Today was another cool day for riding here in Maine. The leaves are now just starting to turn. Rain loomed on the horizon, but nothing has fallen here yet. Hoping for a long recreational ride on the tandem this weekend.

Hope all enjoy the 3-day weekend!

Legs were a little rubbery from all the riding recently and the MTBing last night. I'm planning a 75-mile trip tomorrow from San Jose to San Fran so I think I'll limit my rides to this morning's trip.

Perfect way to end the week! A nice ride home in the rain. Traffic was heavier than usual (being Friday), but seemed pretty tame. A nice warm shower afterwards felt really good!

I've got to work on Monday, so it'll be a good opportunity to have a nice bike commute with very light traffic (holiday in the US).

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tim

My commute was great today, though this morning was the coldest I've ridden yet. Have to get some liners for my gloves!

Riding home was even better, for one reason: I finally knocked that steep hill down outside our complex. My lungs were flapping around on the outside by the time I summited, but I made it. Seated all the way yet!

-Rob