How was the commute today?
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 1
From: south jersey
windy day II ! flew in, slower return.
going home, at state road 47, in the dummy lane for left turns, i informed a ford ranger truck driver of his low tire pressure (drivers rear) when i noticed a police car behind me (rear view mirror). last week i was told by a "police officer" i was not supposed to be riding on the road so my mind started thinking about responses to this officer, if he stopped me, of local and state laws/statutes i now have. the left-hand-only signal did get tripped, the cop respected my space, there was no issue.
a hard work day and good commutes = happy biker!
going home, at state road 47, in the dummy lane for left turns, i informed a ford ranger truck driver of his low tire pressure (drivers rear) when i noticed a police car behind me (rear view mirror). last week i was told by a "police officer" i was not supposed to be riding on the road so my mind started thinking about responses to this officer, if he stopped me, of local and state laws/statutes i now have. the left-hand-only signal did get tripped, the cop respected my space, there was no issue.
a hard work day and good commutes = happy biker!
SERENITY NOW!!!

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Ride to work was fine. Then I took a trip to Brooklyn at lunch to pick up some Proofide. I should've known to call the store directly before heading out to make sure they had it. Turns out the Manhattan store assumed the Brooklyn store had it when they didn't. I didn't find out til I walked in and asked. Oh well, got 10 extra miles out of it, but my legs were tired going home.
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
Good ride to work and home. It was windy on the way to work and on the way home. I hope I get to ride tomorrow.
Have a good nite .
Have a good nite .
or tarckeemoon, depending
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 2
From: the pesto of cities
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
Sudden hail=brain freeze.
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
20F with a stiff tailwind. Made good time today on the Peugeot.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough, MA
Bikes: Felt F85 (2007), Fuji Regis (1980's)
Strong headwind the whole way home last night. Had a good ride in this morning. Low 40s but more humid today than yesterday made me hotter and sweat more on the way in. Should be a nice ride home this afternoon in the mid 60s with less wind.
Back in the game...

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
Bikes: 1985 Trek 400; 1999 Specialized Rock Hopper (rigid, slicks); 2007 Crosscheck
Beautiful this morning - 63F, light wind that didn't bother me at all, light enough to take the MUP for a bit and avoid a left-turn stoplight. Not quite record time, but within 30 seconds even though I wasn't even pushing hard. Awesome! Already looking forward to the ride home...
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 1
From: Beantown
Bikes: 2011 Tsunami, 2004 Fuji Team Issue and More!!!
Nice ride this morning! 33F with a fair tailwind, I'm amazed at how windy it has been the last week. During the commute in yesterday I nearly flatlined that truck driver, well on the way home I nearly nailed some chick ( NO! not that kind of nailed
) running accross Comm.Ave. She stops half way, says sorry and then giggles. Traffic wasn't too bad this morning so I took a bit more lane than usual, all was good.
) running accross Comm.Ave. She stops half way, says sorry and then giggles. Traffic wasn't too bad this morning so I took a bit more lane than usual, all was good.
Railgun of Patience
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bikes: 1997 KHS Summit
Gorgeous outside. Don't know why I drove earlier this week.
On the down side there was some idiot cager halfway in the bike lane, which I use since traffic is always at a stand still most of my commute. Tapped on the windows as I went by.
On the down side there was some idiot cager halfway in the bike lane, which I use since traffic is always at a stand still most of my commute. Tapped on the windows as I went by.
Day 4 this week. Boy, I can't believe I took such a long brake from bike commuting. Even in the cold, it is good.
23F & light winds this morning. Managed to race a school bus from stop to stop. I finally won!
23F & light winds this morning. Managed to race a school bus from stop to stop. I finally won!
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---
Former 340# Type 2 Diabetic.
My web site.
Proud member of Colorado's Best Cycling Club - Club Hypoxia
---
Former 340# Type 2 Diabetic.
My web site.
Proud member of Colorado's Best Cycling Club - Club Hypoxia
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
Likes: 0
From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
Got my chain issues sorted out last night, I used the Ultegra derailleur as a chain tensioner. A cool trick I learned about on BF was to use some old der. cable and just run it from the barrel adjuster to the normal cable clamp. I had already adjusted the limit screws, but using the tension in the cable to get the last few mm worked very well. The barrel adjuster allows some serious fine-tuning. Sweet!
We started getting ice fog last night, which turned to snow in my neighborhood. I still took the skinny tires out, as it was about 1cm of accumulation. 28mm slicks can pick up a lot of snow and fling it onto your shoes with alarming speed. I only got a block before my feet were coated. Other than that, it was an easy ride in.
We started getting ice fog last night, which turned to snow in my neighborhood. I still took the skinny tires out, as it was about 1cm of accumulation. 28mm slicks can pick up a lot of snow and fling it onto your shoes with alarming speed. I only got a block before my feet were coated. Other than that, it was an easy ride in.
Wheee
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: S. FL
Bikes: Schwinn Rocket 88 phase 1/ Surly 1x1/Cannondale R700 WSD 650c
first time in 3 weeks or so, I had to put gas in the car...
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If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
https://www.myspace.com/qwtrailbuilders
rip sydney
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
https://www.myspace.com/qwtrailbuilders
rip sydney
SERENITY NOW!!!

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Traffic. Lots of it. And bad truck drivers making 3 part right turns. Added an extra minute to the commute.
pinkrobe: how's your no-handed, birds up trackstands coming along?
pinkrobe: how's your no-handed, birds up trackstands coming along?
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
Bike Nerd
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 1
From: Mid- Michigan
Bikes: mid 80's Fuji Supreme (commuter), LeRun unicycle thingy Raleigh Centrurion
Nice ride in today, I should change to smooth tires but I want to put 700 wheels on the old fuji and am waiting on my new wheels. It is getting too hard to find a good tire selection for the 27 inch wheels.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Bikes: Steelman eurocross, Surly CrossCheck, IRO Rob Roy...
Wet. Dang wet.
Full Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Camarillo, The VC, California
It was nice this morning, sunny and only a bit cool. It took about ten minutes to get to the office.
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I was stuck at the office late last night. My boss was supposed to come back in but didn't so he let me sleep in and come in whenever. So I left the house about 9 and took a longish route to work. It was raining lightly but a nice cool temperature. I rode most of the way no-hands, just for fun.
At the lights I worked on my track stand. For some reason, I can do it more easily on my geared bike, using the front brake. On my fixie, I'm still getting the hang of rocking back and forth. My dream is to someday pull off a Nathan Fabian.
At the lights I worked on my track stand. For some reason, I can do it more easily on my geared bike, using the front brake. On my fixie, I'm still getting the hang of rocking back and forth. My dream is to someday pull off a Nathan Fabian.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Bikes: BikeE AT, Firebike Bling Bling, Norco Trike (customized)
My first commute of the new year was on my new BikeE semi-recumbent and was quite enjoyable on the way in: bright sunshine, crisp, cool air and, my oh my, that bike is comfortable to ride and quick too. Wish my legs were in September shape though. The ride home was a little more harrowing. There have been a number of reports recently remarking on how bad drivers are getting, how irresponsible and outright reckless they are becoming. Well, if I hadn't noticed before, I sure did today. Cars were zipping by with only inches to spare, not even slidng over to their left a few inches to ensure there was clearance. Good thing my new bike is equipped with a mirror, so I could see these kamikazes coming. There were more overly-aggressive, selfish and outright insane motorists out there today then I have ever seen before and I have been riding regularly for twenty-five years. Now, the difference between the two rides could be that I use a bike lane in the mornings and choose a non bike-lane route on the way home, but usually the route home isn't that busy yet at 4:15. Perhaps the cagers, accustomed to only seeing an endless sea of bumbers in front of them, see the open stretch of road and can't resist the urge to race down it as fast and wildly as possible. Maybe it's the rejuvenating spring air that induces such euphoric rapture in them or maybe they're all secretly trying to kill themselves (and others), but want to make sure they get on the news for the horrific accident they caused. I don't know. But tomorrow I'm taking the bike-lane route home as well as to work. As Sgt Esterhaus used to say on Hill Street Blues, 'let's be careful out there.'
SERENITY NOW!!!

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Ride home was fine. Got passed by a guy on a very tall Specialized road bike. I was probably doing 14-15 and he was doing almost twice that. Made me wish I had the power to get my mtb moving that fast.
Welcome back EnigManiac. On my trips to Toronto, I've noticed a small minority of drivers that all seem to think they're in the Fast and the Furious. Be careful out there.
Welcome back EnigManiac. On my trips to Toronto, I've noticed a small minority of drivers that all seem to think they're in the Fast and the Furious. Be careful out there.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 1
From: south jersey
Originally Posted by EnigManiac
My first commute of the new year was on my new BikeE semi-recumbent and was quite enjoyable on the way in: .... The ride home was a little more harrowing. There have been a number of reports recently remarking on how bad drivers are getting, how irresponsible and outright reckless they are becoming. Well, if I hadn't noticed before, I sure did today. ... I don't know. But tomorrow I'm taking the bike-lane route home as well as to work.
i sometimes commute with my bikeE CT. i strongly recommend adding a safety flag. i also have front fairing, panniers, and a behind seat bikeE bag, makes the bike look bigger, i guess. cars around here seem , (for the most part), to welcome (or tolerate) my presence on the road and give me the space i claim. you do ride with traffic and with helmet? i usually commute w/a 1985 performance lite sport tourer.
i also could ride a shorter route, but car traffic is too intense, so i do the routes where i feel more comfortable. experiment in your ride, find what works for you, and hold your lane (spinning safe).
It was great and the morning was very challenging for a commute. There was about 5 or 6 inches of new snow on the ground and the back streets were pretty difficult to navigate. Hard pack on top of ice and the freshstuff on top of all that. Not a lot of straight line riding. I didn't fall but came close three times. Again, the studs performed well and I think my core muscles are getting into better shape. It was like freestyling out there with a heavy pack of books on my back! Lots of fun to say howdy to the cagers scraping their cars off to wait in line getting to work.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: College Park, MD
this morning's commute was good, if somewhat sluggish for some reason. temps were in the high 40's, just cool enough to need pants and jacket, and a mild headwind. no problems, other than being slower than usual. basically a smooth commute in. I also had to stay late for a class assignment but got a break in between my last class and the assignment so I rode around town a little bit. that was fun.
due to the aforementioned class assignment keeping me late, my commute back was a night commute, and it seemed a lot more intense for some reason I can't put my finger on. it was later than I'm used to getting out, I'm sure that had something to do with it. felt like it took me forever to get ready to leave. there was a little more traffic than usual, and I was going faster and pushing myself harder than usual. but still a good commute with minimal problems. a car passed me by about two feet, on my street of all places. at least they gave me two feet. all in all, a really fast, fun ride back.
due to the aforementioned class assignment keeping me late, my commute back was a night commute, and it seemed a lot more intense for some reason I can't put my finger on. it was later than I'm used to getting out, I'm sure that had something to do with it. felt like it took me forever to get ready to leave. there was a little more traffic than usual, and I was going faster and pushing myself harder than usual. but still a good commute with minimal problems. a car passed me by about two feet, on my street of all places. at least they gave me two feet. all in all, a really fast, fun ride back.
Last edited by o-dog; 03-16-06 at 09:49 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia, pa
Bikes: Specialized Roubeaix Elite
First ride in two months this morning coming in to work. I forgot how much I love it.
Muscle bike design spec
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,688
Likes: 3
From: Sterling VA
Bikes: 70 Atala Record Proffesional, 00 Lemond, 08 Kestrel Evoke, 96 Colnago Master Olympic, 01 Colnago Ovalmaster, 76 Raleigh Gran Sport, 03 Fuji World, 86 Paramount, 90 Miyata CF, 09 Ritchey Breakaway CX, Bianchi Trofeo, 12 OutRiderUSA HyperLite
A couple surprises this morning
Sorry, no rain chaning to snow; 44F not 32F (actually not a surprise, weatherman 0 for 6 now). I can deal with flying snow with my thin tire road bike but not sticking snow.
I leaving earlier to try out my DIY lights recently and been seeing more joggers /exercise groups. This morning I saw 3 women running while jumping rope! One loooked to be about 70. Another pair had one woman with an elastic band over her waist pulling a second woman.
My new lightman amber strobe escaped it's mount and scittered accross an road / trail interection. It held up well and kept pulsing even though the cover popped off. A nice size, well made, with solid on / off button. I'm not sure if it is that much better than the 8 LED blinky but I think it will do fine.
Sorry, no rain chaning to snow; 44F not 32F (actually not a surprise, weatherman 0 for 6 now). I can deal with flying snow with my thin tire road bike but not sticking snow.
I leaving earlier to try out my DIY lights recently and been seeing more joggers /exercise groups. This morning I saw 3 women running while jumping rope! One loooked to be about 70. Another pair had one woman with an elastic band over her waist pulling a second woman.
My new lightman amber strobe escaped it's mount and scittered accross an road / trail interection. It held up well and kept pulsing even though the cover popped off. A nice size, well made, with solid on / off button. I'm not sure if it is that much better than the 8 LED blinky but I think it will do fine.
Temps in the low 30's this morning, partly sunny. Wind wasn't as bad.
On the first part of the bike path I ride in the Cleveland Metroparks, I pass a pond. On it were 2 geese, one chasing the other who was honkin' away. They did this right next to me and we all went in the same direction--the path follows the pond for awhile. It was quite a sight.
The geese were the only ones out and about until I came to the end of my bikepath, where a guy was walking his two dogs. They were off their leash and I was nervous. But, they were very well behaved. Pretty impressive for labradors, who are usually rambunctious.
All in all, a great ride. Still no hint of spring.
On the first part of the bike path I ride in the Cleveland Metroparks, I pass a pond. On it were 2 geese, one chasing the other who was honkin' away. They did this right next to me and we all went in the same direction--the path follows the pond for awhile. It was quite a sight.
The geese were the only ones out and about until I came to the end of my bikepath, where a guy was walking his two dogs. They were off their leash and I was nervous. But, they were very well behaved. Pretty impressive for labradors, who are usually rambunctious.
All in all, a great ride. Still no hint of spring.




