Good ride to work and home . I all most did not have a parking spot today on the bike rack . Because of all the motor cyclist packing there motor bikes to close to the bike rack . I wish they would move the motor bikes parking space . Most of them only ride a hand full times a year . Have a good nite .

Newbie here -- both to the forum and to commuting. I'd just like to express my gratitude for all the great advice on the forum, all the inspiring commuter stories, and share my beginning experince as a commuter:

I have a varying 17.5 km to work: first through the center of Stockholm (Sweden, btw) and then gradually more countrysidish until the last 5 km on a more or less MTB trail with deers and horses as curious spectators.

I've been lucky with the weather so far, no wind and sunny (but chilly) in the mornings, and some wind and light rain in the afternoon to make it interesting. My intention is to keep it up through summer and fall so that I am prepared for the Swedish winter!

(Sorry for any mistakes in the writing, I am Swedish and English is therefore not my first language :)

Yeah, why do they do that?? They park too close to the bike racks here as well. The bike racks are closer to the entrance than any parking spot, maybe that's why they do it...

Anyway, fantastic morning for riding. About 10 C, light traffic, no wind. Just super. It made me wish the ride was twice as long. I did almost fall over because of my clipless pedals, though...

Welcome! And your English is very good. :) Riding through a Swedish winter sounds like fun. Buy some studded tires.

Today was my first really summer-like commute. It was about 55F degrees (15C) and I had plenty of sunshine. Yesterday I ordered 3 jerseys and two new road tires. I thought commuting by bicycle was supposed to save money! :eek: :D

yes, welcome stockholm! your english is certainly better than my swedish.

today skies are fair, 59 °F but headed for the 80s. couldn't help but notice, however, that the motorists did not, in general, share my elation over the glorious morning. why do you suppose that is?

The usual commute today in miles but sluggish. I felt kind of like riding with the emergency brake on.
I saw 3 people get off the bus up the road. All three simultaneously lit up as soon as their feet hit the ground. All three began coughing after the first puff. All three were under 40. All three would be much better off quitting smoking and using the money to buy a bike. At $6/pack, they would have a new bike in no time.

I personally want to thank each and every one of our bike commuting colleagues in the Northeast and Northwest for sending us here in the South this week of rain. :rolleyes:

The ride in wasn't too bad. A brief shower at the beginning got me fairly damp, but it soon ended and just had a bit of mist the rest of the way in. 62°F

Happy trails!

Oh it was nothing, really. ;)

Glorious ride today. 3 deer ran across my path as I rode through the local state park on the way to work. Vtjim: first warm day....bummer, your winter/springs are just tooo long, do like your snow tho'
maptester: sorry about the rain, we, just north of you, have been soaking up the rays

2nd time commuting today. Have ridden over 100 mi since the first time I rode to work. Final hill was MUCH easier :) A balmy 53* on June 1 :rolleyes:

Gads, I thought it was suppose to warm up once we got to June! Wet and cool ride in this mornig, aiming for 58 degrees this afternoon. Nasty wind out of the southwest, that will make for a slow ride home. Oh well, at least I am not driving!!

Today I was very conscious of claiming the lane on a particular stretch of 21st Street where I've been buzzed a couple of times. There's a slight downslope from Q to L streets so I can maintain 22-25 mph without strain where the speed limit is 30mph. Forget the right wheel track, I grabbed the dead center of the lane.

Worked well and had no problems with the motorists. I wonder what they think of that crazy guy on the road bike with a tie and button down shirt.

Holy ***** Batman...

the bike was in perfect form this AM... too bad I wasn't. New cassette... 5 new teeth for those hill climbs... new chain; all just lubed up and ready to go. New saddle (ever break in a Brooks). Heck, new shorts, and cleats. Darn new combination, felt like greased lightening.

Too bad my stomach felt a bit off... I just could not push hard enough to really take advantage.

Still... I did nearly 1MPH better average speed than usual. Maybe by Friday I will be ready to really rock and roll.

Saw some downside to bike lanes today... two right hooks and a student that nearly got creamed making a left from a BL... Of course the motorist went straight from a left only... not at all their fault, eh?

Man, did I get snakebit by flats today! :mad:

#1 - Under 1/2 mile from work, front tire goes PFFT! :( Suspected construction debris and walked the bike in. Took wheel and repair kit inside; figured I'd fix it over lunch. At least it was the front wheel and not the nutted rear (this is a fixie). Couldn't find the leak, so popped in the spare tube. THANKFULLY I kept the old tube to try to patch it later.

#2 - About 2 miles from home - front tire goes PFFT! again! :( :( Another rider coming up behind me heard it, too. Declined offer for help. Called wife and asked her to meet me at nearby 7-11. While waiting and ignoring various locals who were loudly commenting on my bike problems (cheap entertainment, I guess), I had a look at tire. No obvious damage, but the valve stem snapped off when I tried to pump it up. :eek: Decided I had nothing to lose, pulled out the bad tube from flat #1. Found the leak after a few minutes, patched it, and had tire most of the way back on when my wife showed up. Felt good, I could have ridden home (or so I thought) and walked it if necessary. Finished the repair when I got home while getting dinner ready.

#3 - Son asks if we can go for a bike ride after dinner. YAY! :) Hop on fixie, get maybe a 1/2 mile from home and the tire goes flat again! (gradual, no PFFT! this time). Return home grumbling, drag out MTB (Specialized Armadillos and heavy duty tubes) and go for ride. Inspect flat after we return. No holes (even with tube in sink full of water), holds air fine. No obvious debris inside tire. Replaced rim strip just in case, reinstalled tube.

I'll see if the tire is still inflated in the morning. I'll probably ride the MTB untill I can ride the fixie around the neighbohood a bit and convince myself the curse is over! [Zero flats all season, then 3 on same wheel in one day. I'm thinking maybe the valve stem was loose and a pinch flat the first time.] Oh, I'm carrying TWO spare tubes from now on and my BEST pump.

Nice commute today in much better than forecast weather: was supposed to be showers in the morning turning to steady rain this afternoon but instead we had 53F &mostly cloudy in the morning turning to broken clouds with sun breaks & 60F this afternoon. No rain at all & unusually light traffic! Boss came around today to warn us to be on our best behaviour tomorrow as the Secretary for our agency is holding a planning meeting in the big conference room. We commuters decided to ride our best (read cleanest) bikes.

Lots of traffic on the way home tonight. I saw some guy on a bike on the way home. He didn't have any lights or reflectors on his bike. I also had a hard time finding a place to park. Too many motorcycles and scooters parked too close to the bike rack so I had to put my bike on the wrong side of the bike rack. Overall, still a great commute. Have a good night!

Well big surprise on the way home... some dude in a F-150 pulls up and says: "nice bike dude... "

Could not believe my ears. Way cool.

I had an errand in downtown Chicago to do after my workday. Incredibly beautiful out, took a nap next to my bike in Grant Park. I was awoken by two radio controlled airplanes flying above my head, playing with the seagulls. It was nice. Then I went home.

Another awesome day to ride. Nearly all greens too, though I'm not so sure my legs were used to that. I think I've conditioned myself to ride in spurts with a little rest at each light, so when I get all greens I'm a little more tired than usual.

Near 60F. Sunny. Bit of a quartering headwind. I passed a woman who was wearing a dress and riding a cruiser.

It's Trail Hottie season again, too. In addition to the mountains and the lake, I get the blondes and brunettes. Could be worse!

When I die, go to heaven and get a job, the commute will be just like this morning. 52F, tailwind, hit all the green lights, new yellow jersey. Nice.

Well, I live in the UK, Winchester to Portsmouth, Windy and Overcast....44 mile round trip...love the route hate the big trucks

We had a dusting of snow yesterday! Made the ride home interesting! Luckily it is pretty much gone this morning, but it was still a bit chilly out. I still need to get long fingered gloves, but by the time I do, it will finally warm up! Nice ride in this morning though.

A pretty good commute this am.....against the wind all the way but it didn't seem to matter. I just remembered somthing that happened the other day.....I pulled up to a traffic light beside a motorbike. The dude on the bike make's a joke and says "wanna race?" Ha, ha, funny joke. We go about our business (I turn left go a block and turn right and go 5 or 6 blocks - motorbike dude goes straight) as I am cruising through the next signal (green light for me) low and behold, who is sitting waiting for the signal to turn comming from the right - the dude on the motorbike. I thought to myself, "Who's laughing now you smart ass sob?". Of course it was only by seconds that I beat him but a win is a win.

I laughed all the way home.

It has been on the cool side for the last few mornings. Today was gray and gloomy and for the first few miles I was wishing I had arm warmers or something to keep the breeze off my upper arms. But by the time I got half way to work I was fine. :o
This mornings temp was 59F (15C). June 2 in Atlanta is supposed to be warmer! When is it going to be summer?

On a happier note -- for the last week the ride to work and home has been better than earlier in the season. Since it is supposed to be summer, I started riding in bibs rather than mtn bike shorts. Seems like I can ride harder and faster. Gee, I wonder why? ;)