semi-wintry temperatures have returned to Maryland once again... I actually had to wear two shirts and a jacket today!

due to the amazing weather last week I cycled a lot more than I usually do and as a result my legs were still somewhat sore this morning, that plus general fatigue a fairly strong headwind made for a REALLY slow and sluggish commute in... I took a detour that put me on the PB Trail for part of my route instead of taking the parallel road the whole way in like I usually do, which I only do if I'm exceptionally fatigued/sluggish/otherwise making bad time.

the commute back was much faster and more enjoyable. it was also my weekly night ride as my night class was today. I was still fairly fatigued and the wind was still in my face (go figure) but not as much as the ride in. made pretty good time coming back and no problems. I also did my ride back with the helmet-mounted HID for the first time, damn that thing is bright!

The rain has finally given us a brief respite in the Pacific Northwest, and I was enjoying a nice DRY 15-mi. trip into Portland from Boring, when I encountered some cut-down trees that had been piled next to the Springwater trail, but had been blown into the trail by high winds over the weekend. Hit a 3-4 inch diameter log at 12 mph and went ass over teakettle, making a perfect 3-point landing (head and two knees). Thank God for helmets. If I ever doubted their importance, I don't any more! Limped all day at work from bruises and abrasions on my knees. Dear wife offered to come and give me a ride home, but I passed and biked home. Emergency crews had cleared off the brush from the trail during the day, and the ride home was sunny and uneventful.

So, this semester I am taking more credits which means more classes and more books. The days are longer and I need to take all my books. Problem is, my commuter now weighs in at 52 lbs. Not to mention the 7 lbs I gained over the winter! Gah!

Brrrrr it was cold this morning - 19d. People ask if I'm CRAZY I say Yes and "It keeps me from going insane." They think a 50 year old should know better.

Has a nice tail wind goiing home and great weather to boot

Just bought a new pair of jeans yesterday and went from a 40" waist to 33" in a year. Thats why I ride :-) and they know it!!!!

Nope - cheaper performance brand - tag claims it's breathable.

Ride to school was brutal. It was pretty cold, about 30degrees, but the wind was killer. 25mph from the south, i was peddling like a madman but going nowhere. Took me 10 minutes longer and I was sweating like a pig when I got to school. I didn't really get cold, just discouraged from the wind. This was only my 4th day riding after a 6 month hiatus, so I'm a wee bit out of shape. (I actually lost weight over those 6 months down to 138, but im not in good bike shape).

Thankfully, the wind didn't decide to switch directions like it does sometimes from AM to PM, and I had a great tailwind pusing me all the way uptown. As long as I get to school ontime, I don't mind getting through that wind in the morning, but I only had 2 minutes to lock up my bike and get to class, so its was close. Weather.com says winds will be from the west tomorrow, so hopefully less of a headwind, and hopefull I wont get blow east off the bike path :)

48 degrees both ways. The tailwind going in turned into a strong headwind coming home. Tired after riding hills yesterday during the Superbowl. Kept my cadence up today and noticed a fair improvement in my time to work.(Of course the tailwind helped a little). ;) Ilove burning off work stress on the way home. I get home with a smile.

Cold!

....need a few more weeks before i have enough of twi-light to make it home before dark. Have lights, but still don't trust all the drivers on the roads I have to take.

Winter is back everywhere, it seems. Mid-teens (F) for me. There was a small amount of powder from some lake effect snow that blew through last night.

The sun is rising earlier every day. I don't need my headlight any more.

Ride in this morning was just fine, except for a school bus driver not paying attention and pulling out in front of me. I hollered at her and she stopped; I guess she figured I wasn't hurt so she sped away. Temps here are in the 30's in the mornings and 50's in the afternoon. Drove the car over 80 miles since Friday and the bike 40.

The usual commute except my legs felt like lead. Ended up riding more in the middle lanes than usual cuz of traffic. Didn't make much difference in my ride time though.

It was a bit warmer this morning, up to 34F... But a strong breeze sucked away any gain from the temps. Pumped up my tires before I left. What a difference. Betweeen hauling a smaller load and tight tires, it was a pretty zippy ride. Guess I should check the pressure a bit more often. :)

Must have had a target on my back this morning.. had 3 or 4 cars buzz me on the highway stretch. I think the cause may be tailgaiters. They can't see the biker on the side of the road if they are driving 5 feet behind the minivan/suv in front of them. There is a mile long sidewalk there with no side streets on that stretch. Gasp.... I'm pondering riding that stretch on the sidewalk.

Arrrggg...a beautiful ride in this morning was nearly scuttled by a flat. Third one in two weeks. The first two were my fault for letting the tire pressure get low. I think this one was a beer bottle. I'm considering running over to the LBS during lunch to get a cheap floor pump for the office. Those small hand pumps are a PITA.

I'd rather ride in the dark than the twilight. I'm a lot more visible in the dark, especially with drivers driving into the setting (or rising) sun.

The ride in was the whole reason to come to work. Between projects and bored as all heck. Is it time to leave yet?
Anyhow, I have an order coming with my eggbeaters, headlight, and a new tail light- an LD1000. Almost perfect timing. The mounting bracket on the back of my old POS tail light broke. I improvised with a roll of red electrical tape and attached it to the back of my rack. I'm looking more ghetto as time goes on. The electrical tape and the cable ties.....
Only one more day and my order will arrive.

Warmer ride this morning, already around 40 when I left my apartment. Tired this morning due to my 10pm indoor soccer game last night. Rode in the short way to make up some time but still took it easy. Should be sunny for the ride home later on.

Last night on my ride home I was approaching an intersection with a light. It turned green as I was still a hundred or so yards away and i know it's a short light so I figured I wouldn't make it. Well I kept going and it stayed green. As I started through the intersection I saw a little girl pressing the walk button to keep the light green for me. Didn't have time to thank her but it made my ride home great :)

Lovely morning, blue sky, about 68* Supposed to be this way all week long. Yay! :)

I was waiting at a traffic light about a block from my office this morning and a guy in his car next to me rolled his window down and started chit chat… “Nice bike, is it fast?” I laughed and said it’s as fast as I can get it to go :o he went on, blah blah, then said, “so what you get about 15 miles a day?” And I said yeah just about that. The light turned green and I wished him a good day…. Then I got to thinking…. How would he have any clue as to my mileage??? Random guess??? Now I’m a little freaked out :eek: I stopped by City Hall and picked up the newly printed bike lane maps… hmmm... I think I’d better alternate my route.

Someone (I know who) in my office is leaving things like trash, old office furniture not being used and other crap, where I have been parking my bike (in an empty room that is not currently being used by anyone other than my bike) :mad: There are other places to put these things, within that office, but someone is putting them in the area I have been storing my bike…. so, I moved all the stuff neatly to another area and put my bike in its usual place. :p

I am SO looking forward to my ride home tonight :D

I waited until a little after 8 before heading in so I wouldn't have to use my light. It's getting brighter but colder everyday. I expect we'll get the -30 weather before the end of the month...

Pleasant ride in today. :) Nothing unusual, which isn't a bad thing.

note to self... get up early enough to avoid the morning rush hour cause it = pretty bad traffic and more idiot drivers than usual... got buzzed twice and was stuck behind a 20+ car traffic jam that I was really tempted to filter around but didn't... other than that, a pretty good commute in overall

the ride back I had a really bad gusting headwind the ENTIRE way home (literally, I would change directions and it would still be in my face)... weather.com said it was only 13MPH but it felt worse than that

Warmer this morning again and the wind was pretty mild. It took about 10 minutes to get to the office.

Oh my! After 7mos of driving 52 miles one way to my job my wishes have come true and today I started a new job 9 miles from home and I just finished my first commute. Oh, how I have been waiting for this opportunity and it felt so good to wake up and jump on my steed and pedal to work...The looks of reverence from my co-workers and questions like, "How old are you?" "Do you ride your bicycle in the rain?" "Where do you live?" . Although some understood and congratulated me for "helping the environment and traffic."

So, fellow commuters I raise a glass to you all and am proud to say I am one of you.

(Now we'll see how I do on a rainy cold morning :))

Wooo it is so warm today! I was sweating harder than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs on my way to school. wooo-wee! As for the commute? It was a typical LA commute on two wheels. Honk honk here and a honk honk there... Nearly somersaulted over the car door, :eek: abruptly swung by the next frivolous Follywood glamour girl with mobile tellie in one hand and coffee in the other, again--makes one wonder how she opened the door!? ahh well, i shant be dismayed! :p But the day is not over just yet, back to campus I go and then work. Hope there are pleasant days all around. :) Toodles and wish me luck!

Hmmm. It's 4:15 and I'm debating with myself. I need to be home by 6. I normally leave work at 5 and it's only 4 miles direct to my house. I'm wondering if I should try to get some extra miles in or swing by the LBS to pick up a wheel for the fixie project.

What to do, what to do?