Big headwind early tonight, but it dropped off north of Currumbin. Apparently a big dust storm was expected, but it hasn't hit us yet. Should get here overnight. :eek: I just hope it's gone by the morning. Can someone explain to me wtf is going on if the coast gets a dust storm?

Cold, wet, rain, snow and heavy traffic, built some character today Pinerider.

We had our first snow of the year this morning. It was 35 F out and no frost in the ground, so the stuff was not sticking to anything other than trees and grass. It made for a wet, yet scenic ride into work.

It's been freezing rain and snow all week. I've been driving.:cry: You can call me a wuss, now.

I'm pretty annoyed, I expected reasonable biking weather through October, most of November, and even December (considering the last few years.) The temperatures are 20 degrees below the average for this time of year. I don't remember snow on the ground in October since I was about 6 year old. (whine, whine, gripe, moan....)

If the coast is getting a dust storm does that mean the dessert gets a hurricane? Anyway, broke a spoke in an open hole in the road for a sewer lid that was missing. I put on the original back wheel that came with the bike (which is not quick release unfortunately), and rode on in. I haven't ridden the past few days because I figured I would try to adjust the back wheel back into true. That is when I discovered the bad spoke. Anyway, back to the commute. This was my first commute with clipless pedals and the skinny back tire. I had one close call at a stoplight with nearly falling over but the pedal was wedged into the curb and gave me an extra 2 seconds to get out before falling. It had rained earlier this morning and the air smelled absolutely wonderful. I think I like the clipless pedals even though they are tricky when coming to a stop. Good ride. I was getting real tired of the freeway traffic in my truck. Glad to be back on the bike. Oh, hit 1500 miles of commuting this morning. A bit of a milestone for me.

It was a glorious morning earlier today, the sky was clear of clouds, the stars were shining bright and they were only put to shame by the moon, which was unbelievably bright. The road flew past under my wheels like I couldn't believe and I got to work in record time, of course I dissappointedly stopped outside work and dismounted, but I tell you I could have cycled forever this morning.

this afternoon going home was a different story , Yes the sky was still clear, but that's the only similarity, I underestimated how cold it was so I didn't put all my clothes back on, and I froze, but that was the least of my worries. The headwind was so strong that it was a struggle to get home and then when I did manage to get some speed up some A-Hole decide he want to overtake me and then promptly stop with me nearly riding straight up his exhaust.

Still that's the beauty of commuting it's an adventure:)

Ouch !

PaulL 1500 miles commuting - I bow down to your achievement ;)

Congrats, Paul, that's quite an accomplishment!!! My total commutage so far this year is about 1500 kilometres. Hopefully i'll have another 2 months worth to accumulate.

Mrfix, my character cup runneth over again as well! This morning was +3 C (37F) with a 15 mph headwind out of the north. The ears got a little chilly and I had to pedal fast to go slow. The important thing is , I got to work, soon I'll have the pleasure of riding home!!

I forgot to mention last night that during my commute I passed some nice neighborhoods in the Santa Clara and San Jose area. Along the way I got to see a substantial part of the World Series!! It seems that most every house had the game on and I was able to catch glimpses the whole way.

Unfortunately, I got a little nervous when I saw nothing but red caps on the batters for quite some time. Little did I know that the Angels had back-to-back 4-run innings !!!

COLD!...WET!.... YUCK!!!!!!!!!

Nice ride, in spite of the surprise snow. I was getting a little nervous because I was still riding slicks, but everything melted by my trip home. Earliest snow here that I can remember.

Snow, around here, would sure suprise me.

:rolleyes:

Knowing us, it would be a day off and the news would talk about the heavy snow all day: "A record three inches of snow fell on Atlanta last night..."

The farmers almanac is forcasting a rough winter. I cant wait to cycle thru a foot of snow!

VERY, VERY COLD! I bought some good winter cycling gloves at the LBS so my hands are the only thing that didn't freeze. We got our first snow of the season last night and I rode this morning anyway. Wimped out and had my buddy give me and the bike a lift home. Have to get some better winter gear.

Well, the dust storm as has passed, but the smoke is back, evidently the brain-dead muther f**kers (i.e. firebugs) are at it again. I rode today but I really shouldn't have. I had a sore throat for the next two hours and I've still gotta ride home yet (unless I leave my bike at work and get the bus home or something) :cry: .

For those who have rain or even hail, I would gladly trade places with any of yuo at this point.

The rain and snow stopped! Right around noon--
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
So Inky Dinky Inkwolf got on the bike again. :D

It was a nice ride in, about 40 degrees. I wore a cap under my helmet and an actual jacket instead of just an extra T-shirt and rain jacket.

The ride home posed new problems. My breath kept frosting up my glasses, so I had to look over them or try to breathe off to the side. When oncoming cars came, I couldn't see anything but the glare off my frosty lenses. I took the long way--less traffic--and it was an excellent ride. The moon was just a little past full, and was shining through a thin veil of cirrus clouds, a big, rainbow-edged halo around it. The dogs barked, but didn't chase.

It was a great day to commute by bicycle in the Portland, Oregon area today. Cool in the morning, bright sunshine in the afternoon, and I came home late in "the cool of the evening." The greatest time was in the afternoon. It was 3:30 PM before I could get out for a late lunch. I rode to a bakery, bought a loaf of "harvest white" bread, a rhubarb/strawberry fat-free muffin, and had a free slice of "apple crunch" bread for lunch (the loaf was for supper, and a surprise for my wife). I rode a rectangular route, to get some time on the bike in the sunshine. It was great for a ride, and because it was cool, I hardly sweated at all. I stayed in my regular clothes going home, and stopped by church to participate in the church choir practice for only the second time. I then headed home in the dark; the lighting system working well, and I'm ready for tomorrow.

John

My week is turning around... The smoke has cleared, the dust has settled and my knee is functional again. I spent most of the ride home whooping and hollering with delight, and I couldn't care less if people thought I was a lunatic (even though they're probably right!)

I drove the truck today, have to visit the dentist just after noon. I feel all dragged out without my morning ride. On the positive side, as I was driving this morning I glanced up at the outside temperature indicator and it said 22 degrees, So as I was sitting in the heated seat thinking about the parts of my commute I was missing , the cold made me appreciate my truck. I think it's going to be a long cold winter.

John & Chris - Like the late John Denver sang, some days are diamonds, some days are stones. Looks like yours was a dianond, John. Chris, sometimes it takes a few bad ones to learn to appreciate the good ones more!!

Mrfix - It was -2 C (28 F) at my house this morning when I left, +2 C (35 F) for the second half of my ride. Ears were cold till the furnace got going after a half mile or so plus my neoprene gloves were still wet from yesterday, but all in all, a nice ride in. No heated seat, but I was still fairly warm.

Speaking of diamond days, last night's ride home was a beauty! I played 2 hours of pickup ball hockey after work, drove to look at a classic cedar/canvas canoe for sale (bought it!), then rode home in the moonlight with a bit of a tailwind. (Was it a tailwind or just the excitement of buying something I've wanted for a long time and finding it at a great price???)
I didn't get home until around 9:00 pm, but it was a great evening!

Pretty good ride this morning except for an embarrasing incident. I was sitting at a light next to a bus and decided I wanted to shift down just as I was coming to a stop to try and balance at the light. Of course as I shifted to the smaller chainring I forgot that the chain usually comes off if I shift all the way. Well of course, it is even more difficult to balance with shoes clipped in when your chain is off the chainring and I was not up to the challange. I fell over before I could get a foot out. The bus driver just ignored me but I just know everyone in the bus found it highly entertaining. I got a small rasberry on my hip for the trouble so i don't even have a grand injury to show off! Well, anyway, nothing serious, just kind of funny. Kind of a chilly morning starting out. (I am still getting used to clipless pedals apparently).

Forgot my jacket and I was chilly. Gave me an excuse to zoom along at 20 MPH+ during the straightaways. 13 mile route.

Also realized that I picked up a 1-inch long piece of metal that punctured the outside of my rear tire but not the tube. It's still in the tire. Looks pretty cool. I think I'll leave it.

Reminds me of a wipe out I took last year. I was zooming along down a gravel bike path. I lost control making a sharp left hand turn towards a road the bike path intersects with. I wiped out right in front of a bunch of kids on their BMX bikes. They were very amused.

It was very cold this morning and I am seriously thinking of getting a balaclava because my face was freezing , but it was amusing to go into work and listen to everybody moan about how they had to scrape the ice of their cars.

The homeward run this afternnon was chilly but the sun was shining and things just seem a lot better when the sun is out.

The weather forecast predicts storms ahead,if they can only hold off until after work tomorrow I'll be happy.

Tired of being mistaken for a woman by passing contruction workers in dualies, I decided to tuck all my hair into my helmet. My neck was absolutely freezing. I wish I'd thought of this during the summer.
I'm not accustomed to cold weather riding...usually my season is over by now, but I'm trying to press on.
On a different note.... Karma was hard at work tonight. The teenager who gave me the horn-and-finger combo for having to slow down behind me on a hill a few weeks ago was at the scene of her wrecked car, ironically at the same spot I was saluted. :eek:

Did you greet her as you pedaled by with a big smile and a HOOOOWDY! ? :D