heat wave is over in the mid-atlantic. best temps in the last few weeks. missed the first train so I rode an extra 8 miles to the next stop and got the next train. Yesterday while I was riding to a noon work meeting, I passed a tourer with tire problems. Stopped, we talked(he was at mile 550 on a 560 mile tour), he said his spare tube was also flat. I gave him my spare and headed back to the meeting.
Oboeguy: you're lucky. Some folks have no idea about the right side of their car

Nice ride in again, these low fifity degree temps are spoiling me! Possible thunderstorms later this afternoon, so I may be dancing through the raindrops.
Also just signed up for a metric century later this fall! Woo!

It just doesn't get any better. Not a breath of wind, fresh air from overnight rain, 15C and full on sun. Bring it on baby. This morning it felt like I was one of the fortunate few who were let in on this secret.

Today was my first ride of the week. I took Monday off to paint and was too tired/fatigued on Tuesday and Wednesday to ride. I think the fumes must have gotten to me since I was lethargic, light headed, and crampy for those two days. Finally, I felt well enough to ride in this morning. As it turns out, I missed the hottest days of the year and had a beautiful ride in. It really ocurred to me just how much I love my commute, I felt part of things again. I was so detached from things in my car. I've also been using my HRM everyday, it's giving me a lot of useful information such as: my morning commute was averaging just 22 minutes door to door, and that I've largely been riding out of my most productive weight loss zone. I've already lengthened my ride and am targeting a specific zone to encourage more weight loss over muscle/cardio building. It fits more with my "commute as training" philosophy. Now I'm shooting for, at least, a 30 minute ride with a minimum of 70% of my effort ocurring in my optimal training zone. I haven't used it mountain biking yet, I have a feeling that it will blow the thing up.

About a block from the office, I'm gliding up to a red light on the left hand side (This particular street is one-way and has bike lanes on both sides). A car or two up, a driver dumps out half of his cup of coffee on the street, right in the bike lane. I pull up and say, "Well, I guess I'm glad you didn't wait 10 seconds longer to do that."

He's shocked and apologetic. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you."

I don't say another word; I just give him the Death Glare until he averts his eyes.

Nice thick marine layer this morning meant cool and somewhat overcast conditions for the ride in -- perfect biking weather. I felt like I was taking it easy, but the cyc said 31:45 when I rolled in to the parking lot, which is about the best I've ever done (my commute is just under 10 miles). Maybe I'll be able to escape a bit early today and take a nice detour home and go for a 30 mile day.

I was glad to see a dip in temperatures today. Though it's usually nice enough in the mornings, this morning was what I'd call perfect. The ride home should be nice as it appears I'll have tail winds waiting (they'll never last).

Today for lunch, I biked over to the local Mexican restaurant (would that be an LMR?). Anyway I was greeted by some rather excited wait staff. Through much broken english, I finally understood that they had seen me in the paper several weeks back (their memory is definitely better than mine). They hit me with the usual twenty questions concerning cycling. I don't think I've ever received such a warm welcome, just for riding a bike.

Looking forward to taking the long way home today.

Competitive juices kicked in this morning. Five road cyclists came up behind me at a red light, right after I had pulled out of the BP station (picked up a sandwich to take for lunch). I'm on my hybrid commuter with full bags. The guys looked serious. When the light turned green those guys saw nothing but my dust. I feel a little guilty -- they never had a chance. Two of the guys caught me 3 miles up as I waited for a light and waved as they turned right.

Geez, I'm feeling good and cocky. Someone needs to knock me down a few notches. I dropped a friend of mine this past Saturday on a road ride. He's been dropping me for 12 years. At one point, he said "Man, you're hammering" -- and I looked down to see that I was doing 28 mph, then kicked it up some more. We were riding into the wind, on a flat. When he finally caught up to me, he said "OK, whoever you are, what did you do with Steve?".

Maybe all this commuting I have been doing the last two years is paying off!

OK, someone hand me a pin to pop my huge ego!!!

Had to find a packing spot, Only two bikes packed there and taking up 6 spots . But still agood ride to work and home . A little rain on the way to work . Have agood nite .

Count me in, too.

This morning was beyond better if that's possible. I even upped my average speed to over 20k/h for the first time -- yay! :D

Cool thing morning, since it rained a little overnight. The ground was still wet when I left, but luckily my slicks don't kick up much spray, so I didn't get wet. I don't have fenders either.

I kept waking up last night and listening to pouring rain. I thought this morning's ride was going to be more of a scuba dive than a bicycle commute.

But it was just a light rain all the way in. Nothing soaking. One downed tree partially blocking the trail.

I've been bonking the past couple of days. Don't know where my energy is. Hmm.

I've started a trend! Yesterday, there was a Hardtail mountain bike parked at "my" rack! :) It even had the same kind of lock I have (Onguard U-lock with cable) so I was able to copy the owner's example and do a better job of locking my bike.

Finally, relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. Highs only in the mid 80's today.
As I rode through campus, there was a huge crowd gathered near my building, a throng
of dancers from the ADF doing exercises around a large drum circle. It made me want to stay
outside with them, and just blow off Friday at the office!

I hear you * jack * We finally got the same break. Temps. have been in the mid to upper 90's. But this morning was a wonderful 79 degrees, a small breeze and 81% humidity.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Same.

I can honestly say that I've stopped thinking about pedaling and where the top of the hill(s) is and just ride now. I consider that my biggest accomplishment.

- Don

It was a nice ride today, not nearly as hot as it has been of late. I do need to get to the bike shop, though, to have some work done. Manual adjustments on the rear derailer aren't fixing my problem, entirely. Think I need someone with tools and a little more expertise to help me out. Too bad it is a 35 mile drive to the shop!

Either the hills are flattening out or I'm getting stronger.

Nice ride, one over-exposure from another trail user (which I'll post about later), and quite a few other commuters out there.

Nice fifty-five degrees, but a 20mph southwest tailwind. Not bad for going in, but it will be a pain going home!
I am having the same energy problem as VtJim. I seem to be bushed in the afternoon. I think I need to eat more lunch!

For the first time in a while, I almost felt like I needed arm warmers this morning. If it wasn't for the backpack providing some warmth I probably would have taken them.

I've finally got the routine down to leave home early enough to completely pass through Central Park before 7AM (so no cars). Very nice commute today, thanks to that, and thanks to a unusually low idiot ratio behind the wheel.

:roflmao: On my way home for lunch, I picked up a 4x6 photo on
the side of the road... Some poor girl in Durham is now wondering,
"Where did I put that silly topless photo I needed to throw away?" :eek:

http://www.duke.edu/~jhe3/images/0.jpg

My legs felt like two dead weights this morning, thanks to a particularly energetic game of football last night. The ride was pleasant, but slower and shorter than preferred.

Have a good weekend folks,

Ed

Tailwind.

Was crossing a street and saw friends (married couple) walking toward the trail. They waved at me. I stopped. We chatted for a while. (He commutes by bike, too.)

Said our goodbyes, and then I got caught in an afternoon downpour. It felt great. By the time I got home I was properly soaked. I hosed the dirt off the bike and brought it inside.

My wife greeted me at the door with a "black and blue" (Guinness floated over blueberry ale.)

Hard to complain... :p

:beer:

Tailwind. Headwind. Tailwind. Crosswind. Headwind. Crosswind. Headwind.

28mph, gusting to 40 (or so NOAA told me). Felt like it to. Swirling like a mother-trucker, too. It was blowing so hard on my back as I came down a hill to a stop sign that I thought my brakepads might have fallen off.

black and blue, eh? No blueberry ale, so straight Guinness will have to do! Man, I need a beer... :D

Today's my day off but I got a bike fit -- saddle raised almost five inches! -- and had fenders and vertical bar extensions put on, plus the first free tune-up on my Trek 7200. Then I came home and ordered rain and winter gear (on sale) from REI. I am really getting into this! :D