While downtown, I was going straight through an intersection and someone in a Jeep Cherokee going the opposite direction was turning left across my path. Two cars went before him without incident, but then he turned directly into my lane while I was in the intersection! I braked hard, yelled "HEY! What the hell!?" and shook my head. The guy looked like he was noticing me for the first time.

I wasn't going very fast, either. There were a ton of people walking around on the sidewalks, so hopefully some of them will think twice next time they think the intersection is clear.

3 days into my commute and the bike is holding up better than I am. Experiencing a slight ‘pull’ in my right calf which doesn’t bother me when I’m cycling but is painful when I walk. I will RICE it tonight and hope for the best. Couple of cold Kona Brews might do the trick also!! Feeling stronger on the climb home in the evening and I only stop once now to admire the view compared to 3 times on my first ride. Speaking of views the sight of the blue Pacific is something to see first thing in the morning. We occasionally get spinner dolphins in the bay here but I have not seen any on my commute – that would just about make my day.

Colorado front range-definitely the rainy season-but a great "out and back" to work today. A couple of weeks into the commuting season and the lifestyle has taken over-what's on the iPod, what i eat (bananas AND peanut butter are awesome) and need to start drinking more water. let's be safe and make it through another week.

First Biking Noble Truth: Suffering Exists, and the point is?

My interview with MSNBC went well today, except I learned when I saw it later they implied I had gone carfree. My family and I keep a minivan, carfree just isn't practical for us, we're carlite.
Then my boss decided to pay me for the time I spent doing the phone interview. Our company tries to make good enviromental choices, so he felt this was covered. Ride in was great today, ride home not so good. The front derailleur on my new bike is out of adjustment for the 3rd time in 11 days. Darn Tiagra POS. Back to the LBS Friday, and this time I'll ask them to show me how to adjust it.

Very short commute today as I'm working from home. I did manage to get up early and take the cruiser over to the coffee shop for some java and a bagel. Now with .58 miles under my belt, it's back to work for the next 12 hours...uggg....

Aside from the usual B.U. Bridge squeeze play forcing me to give some chick the "One Finger Salute", all was well. She's beside me blipping the accelerator trying to decide if she wan't to fall in behind me or dart in front. She decides to dart in front where I proceeded to pass her once more, I Saluted her as I passsed :D. It's nice to see the Sun back out so I'm looking to put 25miles on the legs after work.

Beautiful morning for the ride in today. Sun rising with temps in the mid 50s and not much wind. Took it easy and even caught up to another commuter and followed him for about half a mile before he turned. He had two panniers so I know he was commuting. I don't see many commuters on my route so it is nice to know there are some out there. I think I have seen more bikers this week than I have all last month. Mid 80s later today for the ride home :)

The weatherman predicted rain this morning, so I rode my DF with fenders. Looking out the window now, I see that he was wrong, again...

Good ride though, warm enough to go with just shorts and a t-shirt!

Same here. Maybe it's a North Carolina thing lately--I've seen 3 commuters this week, which is 3 more than I see in a typical month.

This is the first ride of the year where I have had to hammer harder in than I usually do on the loop home. There was a big squall line of showers heading in from the West. I made it all the way to within about three blocks before it started coming down and even then made it into the building before I got got more than damp. It has already blown through and clearing up. The ride home later will be spectacular.

Yep, the fairweather commuters are springing up all over.

I usually see several of the same folks every day, but many new faces recently (or some I haven't seen over the 'winter')

Getting pretty warm, time to start bringing in a towel and grabbing a quick shower in the morning. I'm seeing a bunch of commuters now, had a nice chat with a few yesterday. This morning I pulled up at a stoplight behind this old car that had really big versions of magnetic poetry on it. Talked with the guy, read the poetry. Cool stuff.

Foggy! I used my headlight for a while. Upper 40Fs.

Came up behind a couple on MTBs, wearing backpacks. Commuters? Not sure. I said g'morning and hello as I passed.

Then I came up behind a blonde woman with a Navy hoodie who I've seen before. She must be a commuter. I took up residence several yards back and let her pace me. (Was up a little late last night with some friends... Low energy.)

Gah! It was below freezing this morning. I had to break out the lobster mitts. <grumble> ANyway, it's supposed to be 19C later today, with no wind or clouds. I might have to take the afternoon off. :D Traffic was pretty decent today, but I missed a light because I wasn't paying attention. I also didn't get to motorpace off any minivans.

A beautiful mid 40s morning. It was raining a bit yesterday so the humidity was increased a tad.
Left a half hr late and took my time. Legs felt like lead weights.
Somehow I managed to show up to work only a half hr late. What the heck is the point of hurrying?

Just got into work. It was probably in the mid-50's, which I didn't anticipate since it'd been warm the last few days and I don't believe anything the weather forecasters say anymore; just cool enough to make wearing shorts and a t-shirt not quite enough, but if I put on my windbreaker I would've been too hot. There was a headwind the whole way in... extremely frustrating. I'd been averaging around 15mph, this morning I averaged around 11 or 12. At one point on the trail, there was a big limb that had fallen in the night. Definately too big for me to move on my own. I figured the park ranger approaching it would move it, but he just drove his big ol' truck right over it and waved as he passed me. All in all, it was an OK ride in. Hopefully it will be better this afternoon when I head home.

I guess gas prices and nice weather are bringing out the bike commuters.
I've seen a few new faces in the crowd this week.

Got to ride in my first shower of the spring (only light sprinkles) the last 2+ miles of the ride home last night.

Another great ride this morning. Wore my orange HHCMF shirt (not the first time) and for some reason got some "interesting" looks from the cagers.

Nice ride in although my allergies are really wearing me out. Also, my legs still feel soft from mountain biking on Monday. All in all it still beats Metro or the car. I ran into one of my recent cyclo-commuting converts at work this morning. It's great, she's so excited about riding it reminds me of when I started. I have to get her straightened out on the clothes and backpack though. Should be a nice ride home.

No commute today, lost my blinky yesterday on the ride in, AND one of my forward facing lights (a cheap, made in china 45 LED flashlight) is on the frits. sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, this morning it wasn't so I said "forget it" went back inside, had some breakfast, changed, and drove to work. only 5 hours of sleep didn't help my motivation for riding in today either.

Looking into a new headlight as we speak...any good recomendations? I like the whiteness, and the run time I got with my LED flashlight, but need something of better quality. I also have a blinking and very bright head mounted PhotonFusion, but I want something I cam mount to my stem if possible...

A confluence of factors seems to be bringing out the commuter newbies: gas prices, the late arrival of spring, and Bike to Work Week. For the most part, they seem to be doing all right. I haven't seen any really egregious or dangerous riding.

I woke up at the time I was suppose to leave! :eek:

I forgot to set the alarm on my watch. :(

So, I jumped out of bed, ran into the bathroom to brush teeth and groom, then I jumped into my bikewear and out the door--about 15 minutes.

I was surprised by how much energy I had compared to other mornings that I had plenty of time to get ready. Usually, I drink at least one cup of coffee and sometimes have some toast. No time this morning.

I did more standing-climbing than usual and for longer durations--altitude change is +500 feet to work. Once I got to work, I felt fatigued--the kind that you get from a really good workout. Pressing the lap button on my Cateye, I noticed that I had set a new speed PR. Usually I average about 14 MPH with 15 MPH being my past PR. This morning I managed 15.9 MPH! :D

I better take it easy going home, though. I probably fried my legs this morning.

Ha! I just ran into a car while on my ride home for lunch.

I was cruising through a shopping district (low speeds - I can take the lane and keep up w/ traffic) following a little too close to a car ahead of me. The car put on his turn signal, slowed and turned left across the opposite lane into a parking lot. Then, for no apparent reason, the car stopped diagonally halfway across the yellow line.

I then skidded to a stop on his rear bumper. At first I was angry, and then I laughed at myself - realizing that if I had been driving a car and did the same thing, I would have been at fault.

At least the driver asked if I was OK as I pulled around him and pedaled away. I gave him the 'thumbs up' and got the heck outta there. :D

Jack, by any chance, was this on 9th Street in Durham? For some reason, drivers there are worse than usual; pulling halfway across 9th and then stopping is a regular occurence, according to my wife. She works at Duke Med and has to park near 9th unfortunately.

^ bingo !

The weatherman predicted rain with thunderstorms this morning. So, I got my bright rain jacket because I was determined to ride. I packed my shoes in the bike rack. Normally I leave this pair at the office. Needlesss to say, I lost my shoes somewhere along the route. When I get to work I realize that the blouse I was going to wear is missing a button and the jacket is way too big. Maybe I should go home, oh yeah, I took yesterday off for a mental health day. Yesterday was beautiful. Today, I will spend as much time in my office because I only have my bike shoes.