Nice ride in with a tailwind, temp about 68°F. On my way throught Decatur, I met a group of 10 or so kids ridding bikes to school, shepherded by a couple of parents, one on a tandem. And then passed another group of 4 kids and a mom going to a different school!

There is hope for the future... :D

Good ride... very humid and a low dense fog. It was like riding into the Hound of the Baskervilles… in the summer time. I passed by the University's intramural sports complex and the view was so cool. I wished I had a camera.

This morning's ride was pretty much a comedy of errors. Before leaving in the morning, I usually take out any trash from the day before. Having run out of our normal garbage bags a day or so ago, and being forced to use some less than ideal ones (In commercials, they would be refferred to as 'wimpy, wimpy, wimpy'), the bulging bag burst this morning as I was transferring it to the outside can. Diapers, vegetables, coffee grounds, etc. sprayed my legs and feet.

After cleaning up and changing shorts, socks, and shoes, I began to pedal away at which point my freshly charged halogen headlight konks out. Upon opening the back of the case to pretend like like I might know what the problem is, a piece of broken metal falls out onto the ground. I assumed that it might have had something to do with my lack of light, and decided to wait until the sky lightened up to leave, having only a helmet headlight as a reserve.

The first few miles actually went well, the wind was cool and and the drivers were pleasant and law abiding. Crossing the river was nice, the water was reflecting the brightening sky and flowing between rocks, churning in hydraulics and rippling in eddies. As I reached the far side of the bridge and stop in a patch of dewy green grass to wait for traffic before crossing, I almost slip as I lose traction from the steaming dog turd I have apparently stepped squarely into.

The remainder of my ride was pleasant, aside from the wrinkled noses of nearby pedestrians as we wait at red lights. Now at the office, having bagged my funky shoe to clean later, and scrubbed my pedal as much as possible, I'm coming to accept that it's mornings like this that help me to truly appreciate the vast amount of really good, (and by good, I mean poo-free) days I get to enjoy by cyclo-commuting. I will now go get a cup of coffee, and try to dispell the feeling that, Warner Bros. style, an anvil will drop out of nowhere and fall on my head.

As I was walking my bike into the building this morning the (unfortunate but apt) theme song from "The Facts of Life" played in my head. AND NOW I CAN'T STOP IT.

Regardless, it was a bit of a rough ride, I felt weak, there was a light mist that made the humidity yuck on a stick and my glasses were constantly wet. But I got to ride in, so it's all but forgotten.

Except...

Ya take the good, ya take the bad, ya take 'em both and there ya have...

That was probably one of the groups participating in the Safe Routes to School program. Today is International Walk and Roll to School Day. I got to ride with the group that met at Clairmont Elementary and rode to Glennwood Elementary. I was the only person with taillights and one of three that had headlights. We had about 25 kids in our group and 10 parents. We even had a Decatur policeman riding with us. I thought about asking how I could get one of those reflective vests he wore that had "POLICE" across the back in big letters. :)


It was kind of strange getting up and out the door and riding in the dark. I usually leave home around 8AM. Today I left home at 6:50AM. Those early rising cagers drive just as bad as the ones I see later in the morning. :crash:

Ride in was good except my legs felt tired. Couldn't have been the laps around CP last night. I tried taking it easy, but couldn't. I just don't have the willpower. Or maybe I don't have the courage to go slow enough to get run over by a bus. Or maybe I was just craving coffee and bagels so badly I would've run over a different bus to get some caffeine. Now if only this conference call would end so I could get some caffeine.

Good ride in. Fastest time yet. Got stuck behind 3 commuters this morning that must have been riding like 7mph. I had to ride for quite a while behind one of them because there was no safe room to pass. Everyone was pleasant this morning, except for a crazed dog that tried to take my leg off... thinking about getting some kind of spray. This one neighborhood I ride through seems to leave their dogs out a lot.

Aye, a wee bit chilly today. There was a bit of ice in my water bottle and my ears got pretty cold. No near-death incidents today, although a guy in an Audi went 6' past a stop sign before noticing us.

Yesterday's ride home.

It's all here except pictures of downtown Ft Worth. Go figure, when I actually WANT to stop ever so often, I get all green lights...

My buddy on the Trinity Railway Express:
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100507.JPG

Lancaster Ave. bridge (about halfway across)
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100506.JPG

Gravel path thru Trinity Park - parallel to University Dr.
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100502.JPG

Trinity Trail at University Dr.
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100503.JPG

Low water crossing between Hulen and Bryant Irvin. Spotted 4 wild turkeys in this area, yesterday.
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100504.JPG

Spur trail to Foster Park
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100505.JPG

Fun descent in the morning darkness.
http://lightwater.1cis.com/commute05100509.JPG

Horrible conditions today. I just check Yahoo weather and found that the temp this morning is 76, humidity was at 12%, and winds were blowing at 28 mph, and my ride was all into the headwinds. The ride was OK, lots of stuff blowing around from the size of a dust particle to the size of a garbage can. I kept my head down and just pushed on. Today I took the route by the school as there are more houses to block the wind, which didn't really help, but I hit the stop light perfectly and made it to the office in about 10 minutes. The ride home will be down wind.

October trial bike commute---

Day Three:
Avg speed up to 14.4 yesterday afternoon and on this mornings commute, 7.5 miles each way. Knee is starting to hurt after the ride, not during. My freaking nagging knee injury from my early 20's.

I was dropped off this morning, and plan to ride the full 15 miles home this evening.

Refering to my previous post: I like the "right-turn half fakey" idea, although if the light is green I will typically ride thru and then turn 90 degrees and wait for the next green. I'm typically turning left on busy streets (capitol, hamilton, cambell), which make it difficult to make an immediate U-turn.

If you take the blue route per attached, you could get killed as the cars can go straight or turn left on the green light. I prefer the aqua route. Go straight, verify cars are turning then turn wide left. If cars are heading straight, I can abandon and head towards the NE corner and wait for the light. This intersection is Capitol Expy and Narvaez Ave. Diagram has North pointing down. I'm riding from the adjacent park&ride.

Problems: Just my knee. I hope it strengthens enough to not prevent me from riding.

SharpT

SharpT - Why not line up behind the last car in the center of the rightmost left turn lane? That is what I always do. You will need to merge left well before the intersection to do this.

Al

Why not line up behind the last car in the center of the rightmost left turn lane?

Cars are backed up for 1/2 mile, so I would have to ride backwards for awhile (crossing over the traffic making a left) then U-turn past the previous light. Not practical.

Also, I am curious about the legality of riding to the front of the line at stop lights. I used to do it all the time on my motorcycle, although I always had superior acceleration to the cars.

SharpT

You're not supposed to filter up to the front of the line on a bicycle (or a motorcycle for that matter I think). Is it not possible to get over early enough to take your place in line? Maybe I'm not understanding the situation correctly...

32ºF/0ºC for the morning ride to work. Still snowing lightly with a nice blanket of fresh snow on the lawns and in the trees. Its all melted off now. Back to fall for a few more days.

So how do other cars get in the line? Do it the same way they do. Sure you may not like waiting in a 1/2mi line, but it is the safest way - you can then make a choice between safety or speed. Alternately you can cut into line several cars before intersection, but line up in the center of the lane so no car goes straight when you are right biased in the lane. No matter what you do (either get in line or cut in line) stay in the center to left side of the rightmost left turn lane .- just like you did (hopefully) on your motorcycle.

Zin: What kind of tires are you using for winter riding? I live in Minnesota and I'm thinking of swapping out my tires (which are 700c by the way) for better traction in the winter. I'm just curious. Oh and congrats on the 49 pound weight loss! Good for you!

Like the pink line I added - if you can't get to back of line, negotiate with driver to get in front of one (i.e. cut in line). Stop where the larger dots are (between cars) and go with traffic on green light.

Al

In this situation, I usually take the pink route. It's been the best compromise between VC and efficiency.

Can you make a right turn and then make a U turn? What's the traffic like on the street that's running horizontal on the drawing?

On the way home last night I had a funny run in with a dog. A sheltie that lives in a house that backs up to the MUP that I take home always has something to say when I go by. He's usually on the deck, but last night he was in the yard. There must be an invisible fence cause there's no real one. Anyway as he was tearing through the yard towards me barking his fuzzy little head off he just sort of tripped and fell for no reason. He never stopped barking or "pedalling" his legs through a complete roll and kept barking as I rode away LMAO. I laughed all the way home.

Nice ride in this morning. Cool but very humid. Wednesday mornings are usually the mornings I ride with the kids to their school on my way to work. Well, my 10 year old son just started cello lessons every Wednesday, so we've moved it to Thursday. Can't imagine carrying a cello on a kids MTB.

Mike

Hi Quickbeam. Right now still on rain slicks. (700cX23) Once we get into a more snowy pattern, I'll switch to CX tires. (700cX30/32 knobbies) I am also thinking about picking up a set of Nokkian 106's for when I have to deal with snow pack and ice. Most of the time around here the snow is not on the ground for long so have not shelled out the cash for the Nokkians.

Be sure to check out the WINTER CYCLING FORUM here on Bikeforums. Tires have been discussed quite a bit. Also, there are several Twin City winter commuters who are willing to give you specifics for the harsh Minnesota winter.

Good luck and enjoy the winter commuting season. ;)

Thanks for the tip on the winter cycling forum Zin. I didn't realize there was one on here!

This morning it was raining and I got a flat. Other than that it was a good ride in. :)

Nice looking commute, truman. Thanks for sharing.


I suffered my first "non-commute" day in months. Had some out-of-town errands to run. Dammit :mad:

My legs still felt tired coming home, adding a minute extra to my commute. Then I spent almost 4 hours! looking for a parking spot that was legal all day tomorrow. Then I have to do it all over again tomorrow. Makes me wanna go psycho some days.

ride in was totally uneventful, but I decided I need more light in the morning.

SO...
On my way home (not really) I went to my LBS to get a light. I got there picked out the one I want and went to the register to pay for it....no plastic. We only have one card and my wife had taken it out of my wallet and never put it back.

So I had an extra 2 miles added to my commute today...oh well, I hope this doesn't ruin my standing in the short commute club.

drove today. every time i do it i'm amazed at the hills. never happens when i'm actually on the bike for some reason.

Driving rain in the morning and light rain in the evening. Not my favorite ride because the rain was cold. Still I arrived at work this morning feeling great. My co-workers, however, are still amazed that I ride rain or shine and can't believe the rain doesn't make me miserable. They don't know what they're missing.

Good ride to work & home .Saw two other commuter today going the other way . It good to see other people commuting . Have a good nite .