I tried the full 17 miles today. Unfortunately, the motor on my electric bike cut off on me. It would come back on after I turned the battery off and on but then cut off again after a few seconds. I think it was too hot -- 97 degrees! I normally ride earlier in the day or later at night, when it's only low 90's. I was about three miles from home when I finally called my husband to come help. The bike weighs and ton with the motor and batteries and only has seven speeds so even though I tried to keep riding without the motor, I was just too hot and tired. The hills are the reason I got the e-bike in the first place! I'll be getting a ride to work tomorrow until I know why the motor cut off.

6am. Good ride in today, clear and sunny, absolutely no wind. Also for the first morning in weeks, no rabbits darting out from the verges. The farmers have started with the combine harvesters, countryside was lookin good.

Hot ride home last night and no wind. I made all the lights on the way home, all of them. That has to be a first. THe only thing is that sometimes I like to get stopped by a light to give my self a little breather or break.

Good ride in this morning. Seemed darker then usual for some reason.

Good ride this morning, cool (mid 70's or so) with patchy fog. I feel like a new man today. I was a mess yesterday; achey, clammy, sluggish, and a bad headache. I recovered nicely this morning and my knee is nearly completely recovered to boot. One thing, since I changed out my tires to 700x35 (from 700x28), I feel like I'm pulling a heavy load. It feels like I'm constantly overgeared and not getting a good return on my effort. I can't figure out if it's the new tires or that I may need to have my rear hub rebuilt (it keeps loosening). I meant to ride my roadie today but force up habit led me to pick up the Surly. I'll take my wheel in today so that I'm not without my commuter next week.

90% humidity so I was damp this morning. Not too hot though.

I saw a guy riding a three-wheeled recumbent.

Then I was waiting at a red light at the bottom of a hill and a guy came up next to me on an MTB. Light turned green, and I sprinted up, leaving him in my wake. Hey I take what I can get. Not too many people out riding at that time of day.

Almost didn't ride this morning but after eating breakfast I decided to ride. Came up to a stop sign where a bunch of cars were waiting and saw an SUV with a very flat rear tire. I pulled up next to the guy and told him, he got out and looked and then pulled over into a parking lot to change it. My good deed for the day

More humidity today, and I beat the T-storm on my return yesterday. Two planes today: one landing, one taking flight. Very loud on my roll past the airport. Pumped up the tires to 110 psi today and that makes 25C tires seem rock hard!

I think the weather was a bit cooler this morning (around 74 degrees). Very nice ride. The sun was low and bright orange. This is day 3 of my first week ever of commuting. I am enjoying myself beyond measure!

The weather this week has been a little cooler than last week. The temp was only ~73F for the ride in. Last week the morning temp was ~81F.

I don't know if many of the commuters around here are "fair weather" commuters or not, but I haven't seen a lot of the folks in the AM or PM that I saw earlier in the summer. Maybe it's too hot for them (afternoon high ~88-92F). I guess they be back in a month or so when the temps cool off some. It's their loss. They don't know what they're missing.
Here's to all of the "real" bike commuters.

Slightly longer ride to work today - 16 miles instead of the usual 12 - since I had to drop my wife's car in for a service. Had a very pleasant ride. Passed a guy on a 29er unicycle and had a deer cross in front of me on the road inside the state park. Very cool!

Good morning if a bit humid. I hit a high speed of 20.0 mph and I put myself in an aerodynamic tuck on the screaming down hill. Total commute distance was 2.2 miles and that was in less than 11 minutes.

Wow, what a change. This morning was 76deg a tiny bit rainy and 85% RH. I loved it, although it was a bit chilly at first.

My back still hurts, but interestingly the least pain I get is cycling even though I can barely walk.

Al

Just teasing you.

Almost got into an altercation with an SUV driver...

Yesterday afternoon on the way to work (I work 2nd shift) a dumbass in a black Surburban w/tinted windows beeped at me (hello, you don't have to do that, I already know you're there!) so I got mad and said "*** you". I didn't flip him off, however, since other people will see that and it just makes cyclists look bad. He (it was an old man and his old lady) slowed down and started making aggressive manuevers towards me, moving towards the curb and trying to block my way.

After a couple of seconds of this (I was contemplating my next move) I decided to accelerate hard and proceed to the driver's side of the giant mother ship and the driver accelerated hard and he high-tailed it outta there! I raised my arms ready to fight and he just kept on going!

I think he thought I was going to cower and run away but he didn't expect a real confrontation, especially in the middle of a four-lane highway. I even tried to catch him but to no avail! It could be that his old lady tried to talk some reason into him, i.e. he could be arrested for assault or something. I couldn't see them inside from behind thier SUV because of thier tinted windows.

It seems to me that these SUV owners think they're all tough because they drive a large land ship but they're really just insecure inconsiderate cowards. I believe if we all stand up for ourselves these people will think twice before they mess with us bicyclists.

Ditto

Anyone who commutes by bike to work 1 day a week, 1 month a year or only 1mi a day is still a real bike commuter. Making any distinction is just snobbery. Those who are only fair weather commuters deserve all the respect and support as year round daily commuters (which I am, so I am not here defending myself)

Al

It's been crazy hot in NYC the past couple of weeks. 100 degrees as I'm leaving at 6:30. I just drink plenty of liquids before, during and after my ride.

As for confronting drivers/pedestrians/cabbies, I've stopped doing it. Or at least I try not to. It just got me worked up and ruined my ride. Unless someone has nearly killed me and are clearly at fault, I let it slide. Why? No amount of screaming is going to wake up an unconsious driver. I've tried reasoning with unreasonable people and gotten nowhere.

Now I just try to ride sensibly and look out for people driving like maniacs.

Ahhhh, it's been a great week for bike commuting. The long way is the norm. I've decided I don't need seasonal changes any more, let's just keep summer.

After biking in Canada on the Women's Forum Biking Adventure, it was good to get back on the commuting circuit. Somehow after bikng Mt. Maxwell, nothing seems too bad.

Was impressed with the Many BC commuters. Watched them as much as I could. Didn't see as single bike run a red light...All seemed to excellent riding skills...must be that $3.50/Gallon gas experience eh?

I did my first train-bike commute today...a comedy of errors! I used my new folding bike, which left me high and dry with a flat only 1.5 miles into my trek to the office. I went back to my LBS and sorted things out, got better equipment, and will try again tomorrow.

All things considered, it was better than sitting in traffic!

Very hot today, had to be atleast 93. Good ride to work and home though. Didn't see much traffic tonight. Overall it was a good ride. Have a good night.

Saw some mallards in a pond by the airport. I wonder if I stopped and *really* searched the area I could see a turtle, perhaps? May the thunderheads stay behind me today on the roll home!

Skijoring I was riding home once last year and there was a massive snapper on the trail. Earlier this year I stopped and escorted a little painter turtle out of the street.

I took it easy this morning. Once again I was waiting at a red light at the bottom of a hill and a guy came up next to me on an MTB, waited til it was clear, then ran the light. I sat there patiently until the light turned green, then I reeled him in like a hooked fish on the climb. I love doing that.

Yesterday on my ride home, I was going very slowly, having some water and watching a blue heron in the water. A roadie went by me, all lycra and color. Red Specialized bike of some sort. I put my water away and sped up and stayed with him. I outperformed him on a hill but didn't pass. I'm starting to believe I'm stronger than I think I am. I wonder what I could do with a bike that didn't weigh 40 pounds.

Had to drop my car off at the shop this morning for an alignment, but I rode my bike from the shop to work, a very short 2 mile ride where I averaged over 18mph. Short and sweet.