RE cheat-Commute. Sometimes you just gotta. :(

Great Tip and plenty of room on the shoe...thanks RonH

This was my first commute in the rain. Apparently the weather forecast wasn't quite accurate as it was still reading "Cloudy" under current conditions as I stepped out into the rain tonight. I'm really glad I brought the Showers Pass jacket, rain pants and my rain cover for the pannier as I would have been soaked through otherwise. I have to say the venting on the jacket worked superb with the pit zips down. I got a little clammy under the hood but overall I was much drier than I should have been without the gear.

Now I just need to remember to bring clear glasses to keep the rain drops out of my eyes.

The ride in was great! I started out 10 minutes later than usual, so I was really hammering along. All of a sudden the edge of my headlight spot starts wavering, but only on one side. It's not a loose fixture... it's another commuter's light that I see coming up behind me. We chatted for about 10 seconds while he whipped past me, and I chased his blinkie the rest of the ride. (This guy was certified haulin' @ss, and really just flew by me. 10 seconds was all the time he slowed down to say hi, but it was a nice gesture and I was happy for it.)
Work, while very busy, was also good. There's a guy that has had his bike on the back of his car for the past few days, and I asked him about it. He's been riding after work, just exploring the MUP network around here... but he's interested in bike commuting and only lives about a mile away from me. I gave him my number, and he's gonna call me when he puts slicks on his bike so we can meet up and commute in together. :D Rockin'!

The ride home was not so good. I totally lost my cool at some ******y cager that intentionally tried to hit me.:mad:
I was on my way down the hill on 175th toward the center of Woodinville, WA. It's a 1 lane going down, 2 lanes going up, with no center-median turn lane; about 3/4 miles and 6% grade. There's a wide bike lane, and I am riding just right of the paint. It's a 35mph zone, and I am doing 33mph. A small silver VW up the street is stopped to wait for a break in uphill traffic so they can make a left. I get passed (far too fast) by a maroon Ford F-250, who has to hit the brakes when they realize the VW is stopped to turn. I know the trucker saw me, because he just blew past me. I swing to the middle of the bike lane, to give a few feet of berth when I pass the truck and VW, and the trucker looks back, waits until I'm on his quarter panel, then peels out into the bike lane directly in front of me. :eek: I saw him laughing in his rear-view as I rear-brake and skid it, but that laughter changed quickly when he realized I wasn't wrecking/flying off into the woods/whatever his intended effect was. :mad: :mad: I popped my left foot out of my pedal and proceeded to kick the cr@p out of his passenger rear quarter panel without losing much momentum. He edged over further, trying to force me off the road (which I fully understand, since I just dented up his truck) but I dropped my butt over the rear wheel and hit the brakes hard. He went ahead of me, all the while I was yelling at the top of my lungs for him to stop his truck and get the **** out. He sped up to about 50mph to get away from me, but then decided that instead of chancing getting stuck at the light at the bottom of the hill (where I very likely would have kicked his truck some more) :fight: he'd cut through the park'n'ride lot. Well holy cr@p if the fat guy can't sprint, because I chased his butt through the parking lot until he cut off a bus and got out onto the open streets on the other side of the lot.
I've got mixed feelings on the entire encounter:
1) I shouldn't have gone ape-s**t on the guy to the extent that I did. One kicking would have proven my point, but I actively chased him down for more and I'm a little dissapointed that he ran away instead of stopping. I should have just let him go when he took off.
2) I scared off someone in a Ford F-250. Me. On a bicycle. Made someone in a full-ton truck run away like a scared puppy. And I hit 42mph on a 16 year old mountain bike with 1.5" semi-slicks, decked out as a full commuter. I shouldn't be proud of what I've done, but when this happened I snapped back to my indestructable teenaged lock-swinging CM days in downtown Cleveland. There is still a part of me that sees this as a "victory." Me vs. car; eff-you, I win.

One way or the other, I'm just recounting this as part of the "How was your commute?" thread because that's how I see it: It was part of my commute. I'm not particularly proud of how I acted. I'm not particularly ashamed of how I acted, either. This is how it went down, and tomorrow will be a better day. If you have opinions one way or another, I don't want this thread to become a "right way/wrong way" flame war, so I can post this as a separate thread. PM me if you think it should go that route.

Misty drizzly rain on the way home- MUP happily free of pedestrians!

usual 6.5dst, round trip, traffic wise. was exited to see other commutor (w/helmet) riding (on the sidewalk). it's been a good 6 months since i've seen him riding. he waved and rang his bell, i waved back, said 'hi', and tried to honk back but i think my "airzound" was an over-statement (serious db there).
a good day!

This morning's commute was a bit rough. I reorganized my backpack yesterday, and forgot my flat kit. Well, Murphy's law followed me to work, and 5.6 miles in (1.2 miles to go, mostly uphill!) I got a flat. The rear got a little wobbly and I could really feel pavement changes. Pulled over and the rear tire was noticably soft, but not rim-riding, thank goodness. I caught a large construction staple. :(. Anyways, with plenty of distance left to go, I called my wife and had her cart me the last bit into work. On the upside I was able to give her the list of things that I needed to fix it, so when she brought me dinner this afternoon, she brought in my patch kit, but brought in my floor pump. On the upside she did swing by the LBS and bring me a brand new tube just in case! Hopefully it can just be a backup, she got a thorn-resistant tube, but I think I'm going to pick up a set of Tuffy's tomorrow on my way home and a regular tube to carry with me.

On the good side of this morning I was riding on the road, and averaged almost 19MPH up to my flat, which isn't bad considering the hill that I start out with, and the number of traffic lights I have to deal with. I bumped the pressure up to 65psi (max rated on my 26x1.5's) and was able to pick up about 3MPH average over the same commute @ 55psi. I had no problems with being crowded out of the lane or anything, and everyone was quite courteous. I ran into a few other cyclists on the way, both of them PSNS workers that were quicker than I was, we were up hill & they were on roadies with fancy pedal/shoe combos. I'm on a slightly more road-worthy MTB.

was totally demented with klutziness today. total one-woman three-stooges routine. i have no idea why, but if i could find the thermometre i'd check myself for fever. just some weird short-circuit between the mental intention and the physical follow-through. things like putting myself into a wobble/near fall on the narrow bridge mup by involuntarily grabbing (much too hard) at the front brake i'm not used to and never use by itself, walking into the lock hasp on the bike cage with my face, i don't even remember the rest . . . good thing i was not in a car. the kind of day when i really should have kept myself at home with the doors carefully closed to prevent disasters.

be it said though that the driving population was out of their collective tree this morning too, and i don't know why that would be either. delayed effect of long weekend? everyone too confused to function because what feels like tuesday is really wednesday this week? something aggresso on tv last night? the groke only knows. everyone revving it towards every stop line where there's a red light and then slamming the brakes, so that you freak out just in case because you have no idea from their (mechanical) body language what they're planning to do. i must have pictured myself being broadsided 5 times in a near-6-mile ride. but the weather is still insanely gorgeous, so eh.

Overslept this morning. Decided to get over it since it won't be the last time it happens, and just hopped on my bike and left. 51F with a light drizzle. I added a jersey layer and I felt fine all the way. Took a shower and I feel like new. :D

GreenAnvil

Not so bad this morning. Low 50s, F. The ground was wet from rain last night. A little headwind. I saw a couple of domestic cats, a few squirrels, and some geese and ducks in Lake Champlain.

One squirrel crossed the MUP in front of me at a street intersection. It was on the sidewalk, so being a legal pedestrian, it had the right of way. I slowed down to let it cross. :D

No cagers backing out of driveways in front of me today. :rolleyes:

Good ride this morning. I was awaken at 4:30 this morning by my roomate. Evidently he's on a new plan to sleep only four hours every night and be extra productive for the other four hours. This better not impact my desired full eight hours...

And congratulations to my brother for his first bicycle commute this morning. Seven miles from our side of town to the Zoo for a training session. Hopefully this spurs him to make the ride to his office, which is also seven miles.

No commute in today. I have a working lunch to go to and 25 miles is a bit far to ride, do lunch, and get back to my office in 1 1/2 hours.

Yesterday afternoon I let a cager get me riled up. I was going about 25 mph on a flat or even slightly downhill section of road when a white Avalon comes flying by me. The a-hole driving this thing came so close to me I thouht I could feel the car rubbing against my elbow. I think it was just the wind from his car but he was seriously less than 3 inches from contacting me. I bumped the gears into the highest combination I have and picked the pace up to about 30 mph ( spinning as frantically as I could) to keep this jackass in view. He got caught at the red light about 1/4 mile ahead. So I came flying up next to his car and grabbed a handful of both brakes...even did a rear wheelie. Then I lean over towards the passenger side window and hold my hands about 3 inches apart and gesture like WTF? He just shrugged his shoulders like he did not even care. I swear north metro ATL drivers can be the biggest A-holes on the planet.

I overslept by almost an hour. I briefly considered driving but then got on the bike.

It was a pleasant (sarcasim) 35 degrees this morning, with a nice lil wind chill. I layered up, rode on in, and had a rather pleasant ride. They are calling for rain and snow this afternoon :D I can't wait til I get the fenders on my new bike....went througha puddle and got my toes wet. Brrrr.


Last day commuting for almost a week, as I'm getting my wisdom teeth yanked out surgically tommorow. Sigh.

Misty rain and about 60F this morning, just warm enough for the just-get-wet approach to rain, but messy enough to warrant taking a shower at the office for the first time since August. The really nice thing was an office acquaintance who has just recently learned the degree of my bike commuting asked if I really biked this morning, and when I replied yes, she said "You're really something." (No, don't think that - she's my mom's age! :D)

Hadn't been on the bike for a week (house-sitting in AZ for a friend). Get the bike out yesterday morning, the rear tire is a little flat. I'm running late so I quickly pump it to normal.

Must have pumped it too quickly--when I left work yesterday the rear tire was flat, and I can hear each pump-full of air leaking out through the valve stem. Oh well. I change the tire there outside the exit of my building with people walking by. It's funny to me how little people know about bikes. I do appreciate their concern--but asking me if I can change a tire by myself? Uh, yeah, I can handle it.

This morning I had a lady buzz me. I'm taking the entire RTOL, preparing to change to the straight-thru lane because I'm continuing straight. I check shoulder, there's a lady behind me in the RTOL and no one in the stright lane. I signal (arm straight out to the left) and start my move. Suddenly she's in the lane next to me! She passes me, then cuts back over into the RTOL and makes the right turn.

I followed her into her parking lot and arrived just as she got out. She said, "I didn't mean to cut you off!" "So why did you?" I asked. She said, "I didn't know you were going to change lanes."

I held my arm out to the side and said, "What does this signal mean?" She gave me a blank look. "You don't know, do you? Lady, take Driver's Ed," I said, and rode off.

Been off the forum for a few days.. too much freakin work to do. 14 hours yesterday. The highlight of that day was a nice ride home at 9:00pm. It was a nice chill out, and felt good to spot some fresh air. Never did see the sun yesterday...sigh.

This morning was foggy and 36f. Foggy enough that I rode the sidewalk in a narrow high speed limit area. The last left turn to the office is across 4 lanes of a curved road. It was pretty scary since I coudn't see much of the cars coming. I thought I was good and gave it a go. I'm posting, so aparently all worked out ok. :)

Whole trip is 7 miles
 

Went driving early to find a place to park that I wouldnt have to worry about being towed-first likely spot was the Y since im a member. Unfortunately way too close. I didnt look at my odometer when I was looking for a place.

You are going to love this one!
 

I had to join the Bike Forums today just to do this post.

I feel SOOOOO vindicated this morning!

Just before my final right turn on the way to work this morning a woman in a huge SUV zooms by me and cuts me off making the turn. You know, the standard "right hook" routine. Of course, I screamed the standard profanities. Then to my surprise, this motorcycle cop that was right behind me pulls her over!

Justice!

:lol:

:beer:

Now that's the kind of story we like to read. :beer:

Just like old times this morning. I got up at 5:30, had a cup of coffee and a banana, and out the door by 10 to 6. Rode south past Freeport on the River Road as the Sierras reddened in the east. At 6:30 I turned around, got into time trial mode, and flew home. Walked into the house at 7:10 and, amazingly, everyone was still asleep. Hopped in the shower, dressed, changed a couple diapers, and woke my wife. Back out the door and back on the bike at 8:02.

The last 4 miles to work weren't any big deal.

Overslept yesterday (which usually means a cold is coming on) Woke up this morning...sure enough. Great ride in. I feel better after the ride.

False start; rear flat, don't know why, and I used my last 26" tube yesterday. Maybe time to fix the punctured ones hanging in the garage...

Took blue bike instead. Nice ride once I got going, very foggy the whole way though. No extra miles after getting to work, need to leave early today, just no time.

I put a Brooks conquest on my red (mtn) bike a couple wks ago. ~200 miles along, still figuring out what I think of it. Back on the blue (felt) bike, whatever else I think about the rest of it, I do definitely love the seat it came with. Similarly, whatever my final conclusion on the Brooks, it beats the hell out of the Bontrager rusty pyramid thing the red bike came with. But really, the Felt seat felt amazing this morning, like it wasn't even there.

Awesome! Glad that you're OK, and didn't actually get hooked. I had something similar happen a few weeks ago (without the right-hook action.) Someone pulled a right turn on red from the straight-only lane because I was taking the entire right-turn-or-straight lane. They got pulled over just as they rounded the corner. hehehe

Woo hoo!

Re: Sirlight
 

AWE-SOME ; )

Such instant karma is always delightful to witness.

(this is relative to a commute, so I think it fits, happend about 8 months ago)

I had a delightful chap in a white Ford F250 try and run me over for about 5 minutes on Alpharetta hwy. It was a company vehicle, and apparently, the gentleman was under the assumption that.

A.) Bicycles are not allowed on the road
B.) It is his personally appointed duty to make sure all cyclist, especially me, realize that
C.) That police officers will be understanding when you first admit to trying to run said cyclist over (namely me).

He is mistaken on all points above.
It started because I took a right turn out of a strip mall to head west down Alpharetta (this is a pretty high traffic road, so I am used to close calls, don't really phase me anymore. Except dump trucks... they are really, REALLY big...), and when I took the right, I saw his truck, but he was doing about 10 mph in traffic, and I made sure, like a good cyclist, to hug the inside curb, and in no way was blocking his progress. He honked his horn, I wave, at which point, he gets right beside me, flips me off, and then proceeds to try and smash me between his truck, and the curb.

Now, that's not going to work. I have brakes on my bike, please. So I hit the brakes, and go left to get around him on the other side. He goes left, to block that route. We do this little fandango for about 2 minutes, and then, he decides to go all out redneck on me, and try and BACKUP OVER ME, AND MY BIKE.

Well, that's not going to work either, I hop up on the sidewalk (at this point, I was really going over the fight scenario in my head, but I thought he might have a gun), and pull out my cellphone. Mouth the words "I'm calling the police". Awesome, he pulls his out, rolls his window down, and says "fine, I'm calling them too!". Which I guess is like anti-matter, automatically cancels my call? Whatever.

Anyway, they tell me to pull into the parking lot right behind me, and apparently told him to do the same thing ;) We had a brief exchange of words in the parking lot, one of those exchanges included him saying that he was going to put his foot up my ass, me getting off my bike and throwing my backpack down, and him getting back in the truck (not much without the cage, a?). Anyway, I chilled out by the time the cops got there. They got his take on the story, which was actually 100% accurate. He did leave out the part where he tried to run me over, however. So when they ask me, I mention that part, that yes, this guy was actively trying to run me over. Here's the almost exact transcript of what the police (there were two of them) asked the white truckguy, and his responses:

Officer 1: Is it true what he says, that you were trying to run him over with your vehicle?
White Truckguy: Damn straight I did! He shouldn't be in the f***ing road with that thing! F*** him!
Both Officer 1 & 2: *drop heads and shaking them...
Officer 1: Sir, you just can't do that.
White Truckguy: Incredulous look at me, when he realized he is going to jail.

Hopefully he learned a valuble lesson about cyclist, and their rights on the road. I know he got a ticket for reckless driving, which in this state, is about as bad as a DUI. One year suspended license, have to take a driving course class which you have to pay for, serve 48 hours in jail, insurance goes through the roof, the works.

Quiet ride in during mid-day traffic. There were still enough puddles on the ground from last night's rain that I'm glad I have fenders and a front mudflap. Unfortunately the more I ride this stretch of road, the more I find I have to take the lane the entire 2 miles without a bike lane to ride at least 3 feet away from the cars that are parked all along the road. That doesn't really work all that well in the middle of rush hour traffic so I've been avoiding rush hour as best I can.

Wow. I've often wondered exactly how stupid can someone get without forgetting to breathe; and now we have the answer. White Truckguy wins the top honours.

I have to ask, Forsyth County tags?