Stay strong, Ron. ABC and Atlanta's biking community needs you! It's tough working and having a hobby in the same field, not much room to get away. If you need a riding partner this weekend or any other then let me know. Or go fishing or take up knitting or go do something else for a couple of days.

(And I hope I haven't contributed to your mood.)

The ride was great this morning. After some wrench twisting, anger and some locktite I don't sound like loosebolts. I still don't like how squirrely the bike is with the one pannier on the side. When I got in a noticed this on the radar I shouted NOOOOOOOO!!!! I really need to purchase fenders I currently only have 5 dollars.

http://www.wzzm13.com/radar/radarloop.jpg

Awesome ride on the way in this morning. Some days the sunrise here is spectacular. Once in a while it's unbelievable....today was one of those days. The sun sneaking up, under the layer of clouds tied to our impending storm, made for the brightest red sky I've ever seen. Alpine glow off the mountains was incredible. Some days it's worth getting up early.

The other side of that coin relates to the old seaman's saying... "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red Sky at night, sailors delight." I'm betting that I'll be putting the cover on the bike and/or riding home in the rain.

Here is the mindset that usually gets me through the work week...

1] It's a job, it's supposed to suck. That's why they have to give you money to get you to do it.

2] If it was fun, they would call it a hobby and charge ~you~ for it.

So buck up Ron, do their silly crap, and take as much of their freakin' money as you can... It's a fair trade. :) And ride your bike so at least some part of the day doesnt suck.

#1: What's that Drew Carey joke? You hate your job? There's a group for that. It's called EVERYONE, and they meet at the bar! :D

#2: That is so true.

I wouldn't not ride on the weekend because your job sucks. Go ride BECAUSE your job sucks. And drink some beer. :beer:
It's Friday!

Worked from home today
Beautiful weather outside
Means a lunchtime ride
:)

No I just downloaded the picture

That is so awesome!

First rain ride of the month, a drizzle/mist morning. But upper 50s temps so quite bearable. I put on a windbreaker over my jersey and rode. Got to work, and the wife called and needed me to help her get something out of the attic. She's leaving town at lunchtime, so I planned the timing, left at 10am, still heavy drizzle half the way home.

I timed it so I could catch the bus back in. A ride home this afternoon would have been sooo much better (and drier according to the forecast)!

great! nice and cool. tons of cyclists out ...

Windy ride home yesterday so that wasn't much fun, especially having taken the heaviest bike in the lot. Had to dodge a lot of stupid prairie dogs - Boulder loves their rodents. To top it all off I even got passed in the parking lot 100ft from home by a helmetless-jeans-sneaker-backpack-wearing student. Sheesh.

Morning ride in on the Surly this time was much faster and easier. Temps in low 40's and overcast so more layers but it was still an almost no-sweat ride. Got some doughnuts at King Soopers to offset any weight-loss that might have occurred.

Thanks for the kinds words GT. Some days it IS the job but most days its the people I work with. I guess the boss either failed Management 101 or never bothered to take the course in college. :(

True. It's a job and too many days not fun at all.

#1 isn't true for every job. I really liked my last 3 jobs. I left them either for more money or because of corporate downsizing. :(

Thanks everyone. :beer:

Gusty!

Missing. I drove in today. :(

But maybe I'll leave early and ride later. :)

Strong headwind going home last night. Peaceful cool foggy coming in this morning.

Great ride. Saw a large buck pass in front of me no more than 20 feet. Beautiful weather this time of year here. NC

49F and wore heavier tights. While pedaling at a faster cadance, the tights seemed constricting at the knees. Winter isn't even here...not sure what to do about that**************************************************

RonH hang in there! Definitely remember it's only a job. But nothing wrong with taking a day off from the bike once in a while either. Take a walk that day or read a book. Getting back on the bike will feel like a real treat then. You might also want to get a full physical, if you haven't had one in a while, just to make sure there's nothing going on physically (even a low grade infection- like mild prostatitis) can give you unexpected mood swings or slight depression.

here's to you :beer:

Very ominous black clouds were forming in behind me on the ride in, so I hauled ass. I caught and passed an Audi S4 on the way in. It was a real duel, and it was neck and neck until we got to the last corner before our parking garage. He got stuck in the outside lane and I tucked in behind another car and he was forced to come in behind me. If I see him again, I'll recommend that he ride in to save time. :D

What are we talking here, $50? $100?

:lol:

No commuting today but some errand-running, picking up some office supplies. Well, actually errand-running was just an excuse to ride in beautiful cool weather through some cool neighrbourhoods. Here is what I encountered on the ride:

* cute friendly puppies
* a tiny amazed kid staring and pointing at me: "Biker, biker!" :)
* leaves changing colour in the large cemetery I rode through (where I always get lost :D)
* some courteous drivers
* friendly cashier
* refreshing light drizzle

Great ride!!! Only thing is: that NY Kryptonite lock I got a few days ago weighs a TON! I can really feel its slowing me down.

I was waiting for someone to post this! Glad you didn't let me down! :-)

Took the previous 3 full weeks off due to being out of the country getting married and in Croatia on honeymoon.
Finally cycled to work Thursday and Friday, having needed the car the first few days this week (jet lagged Monday, softball game straight after work Tues, and general errand on Wed.)

I'm completely bushed. 3 weeks off def drops your fitness level, despite the fact that we did some kayaking and mtn biking, plus lots of swimming.

My ride in is mainly uphill, with the downhills coming on the way home. After 4-5 months of biking almost constantly, I hardly realized this fact, it was all easy. This week was a stark reminder!

Getting psyched to get my fenders and lights on, and start layering, and see how far into winter I can push it- I'm shooting for year round with the exception of the snowy days.

a little shorter commute today than usual but a nice one nonetheless. sweet weather, just perfect.

nice. i stopped to mess with my brakes this morning and lost a washer somewhere in the long grass. need to replace the pads anyway. pretty sunset on the way home again, some encounters with pedestrians that gave no aggro . . . i need reflective tape, new brake pads, wet lube and maybe a new helmet this weekend.

guys just noticed a cool flickr group where we can post our commuting and bcyle pics

http://www.flickr.com/groups/42588151@N0

My commute home from work yesterday was...interesting.

1) A big white pickup coming up behind me....I looked behind me to make sure he knew I knew he was there. He didn't budge. I edged out just a little bit so he knew I was there. Still didn't budge. I finally threw out my hand and waved it so he would see me. Still didn't budge. I was forced onto the shoulder of the road.

2) Two high school/college girls were jabbing away in their car as they drove, their right side tires on the white line. I saw them coming up, kept waving to get their attention, then was forced onto the shoulder. They never budged, I watched them go for about a mile, constantly staying on the white line.

3) A van full of, probably high schoolers, drove past, one of them had his hand out the window and yelled something, I think it was "I'm touching you, I'm touching you!". Then they drove off and past. They must have turned around again, cause they came past me again. The same kid was half out the window, had his hands up in a position that reminds me of someone holding a guitar or a rifle or something (he wasn't obviously) and shouted something. I swear, it sounded like he shouted "Ex Parrot".

I think someone put something in the drinking water.

I just returned from Europe and saw ads for Croatia and Kasikstan on the tube. It looks like someplace to put on my list of holiday destinations. You concur? Any pics. (Of Croatia).

I know what you mean about the jet lag. Mine hit after four days. It's still slapping me 7 days later.

+1 ... Wife and I are going to Split soon. Got pictures? :)

New to this forum but have been riding for over 50 years now. I ride 19 miles each way 3 days/week across some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The last few weeks it's been dark when I leave at 5:00 am, but this gives me a chance to see the sun rise over the mountains with the inlet waters adjacent to the trail. Moose and porcupine are on the trail frequently which really gets your mojo going! Lighting is important this time of year since there are not lights on the bike trail I ride. In a few weeks the trail will be full of skiers (including me), but I'll still be riding w/ my studs.