Another nice morning ride. Looked like it might rain, but it didn't.

I shadowed a woman on an MTB all the way in. Saw several other cyclists heading the other way. Eventually a group of 6 or 7 MTBers popped out onto the MUP and formed a group ahead of us and started to ride. One of them looked behind, saw the woman and me, yelled something, and they all took off like Lance wannabes. I had to fight with myself not to give chase. I was so relaxed that it seemed foolish. I figured they'd blow up soon enough, and then I'd be stuck behind them anyway, so I remained behind the woman.

A quarter mile later we rounded a bend and there they all were, going slowly again. :rolleyes: Eventually they took off onto dirt trails anyway, so I'm glad I saved my energy for beer drinking later.

:beer:

The usual craziness. TGIF.

Commute was awesome!

Picked up my spanking new Kona Jake last night. I'd had an Ibex X-ray Sport in my sights due to the fact that it was $200 cheaper, but I got motivated and sold some stuff around the house I don't use anymore- CD's, climbing gear, my old Trek 720, and stretched a bit for the Kona.
It's a 56cm, everything stock for a while- save the seatbag, and the LBS forgot to give me a bottlecage so I need to head back in and get that.

First commute this morning ~6.5 miles was an absolute blast, coming from the old flat bars and suspension seatpost of my hybrid. Can't wait to ride home tonight, and glad it's Friday so I can take it somewhere other than my commute on the weekend.

It was nice a cool this morning. I rode the Bridgestone XO-4 that I bought at a yardsale for $10. After about $150 it's now safe and reliable.

Awesome ride in. Hit every light green once I made it downtown. Looks like I might get wet on the ride home...Oh well, I won't melt. I actually rode in today so my car wouldn't get rained on. Just washed it last night. Now that's a bit ironic...(or pathetic depending on who you ask)

I was smooth on the ride in. Like buttah...

I did overtake a guy on a mtn bike. He was spinning at what I'd guess was 100 rpm. I hesitated - should I pass him before the corner? Well, it was either going to be then or in another 50m, so I went by. I had to stop at an intersection, and he actually skidded his back tire as he came up to me. I made the turn and that was the last I saw of him. We were on a one-way street with no traffic, so I didn't cut him off. Maybe I should have just sat on his tail for the rest of the block?

Commute was awesome this morning. Great temperature, it was sunny and bright, traffic was light then I got to work and realized there is still 12 more hours till I get to ride home. *sigh*

It must be Friday. I felt tired all the way to work. Or maybe it's the heat.

Otherwise a good ride except for one minor incident. Summer camp for kids has started again at the college campus I ride through. Wednesday there were 8 cars parked in the bike lane. Today there were 5 cars with a line of cars waiting to pull into the bike lane to park. I almost got hit as I was turning out of the bike lane to pass these @$$holes. The driver of the car that nearly hit saw me pulling out and hit the gas to take my place in line -- in the bike lane.
Wednesday I reported the problem to the parking cops. Did the same today. Today they recognized me as soon as I walked in the door, and before I could speak, asked if the bike lane was again blocked with cars.
I fully expect the problem to continue through the summer so they'll be seeing a lot of me.
Hmm. I wonder if the parking cops serve breakfast?

Today's ride was a joy. I rode down past Freeport before turning back towards downtown with the breeze at my back. I was in full roadie mode (CF race bike, bibs, jersey, and freshly shaved legs), but I made a point to wave at all other riders, just in case they're fellow BFers and they can't complain about the stuck-up non-waving roadie jerk in his Lancy-pants.

Cripes, I hope it rains this afternoon.

This 90° heat 70% humidity is sapping all my energy.

Grrrreat! :D
Moderate temps, clear blue sky puffy white clouds, a flock of Ibis, butterflies, no trouble with cagers, bike was a gem. Caught myself singing and giggling, excited it's Friday http://www.omba.org/forum/images/smiles/blob10.gif
Looking forward to a relaxed w/e of ridin' may be up to the beach http://evsboca.netfirms.com/default.htm and local nature center, may be an ez rollerblade around the hood, pizza & beer, some chores if I feel like it; no real schedule... aaaahhhh...

Great commutes, taking the super-long way in to enjoy the weather. Now I need a rainy day so I'll spend a little time working on my bike.

Thursday--Did a stupid thing came into the park as a pedestrian didn't see any cars in the entry way so I made a wide right turn and flew right in front of car :eek: I think he crapped his pants :D I am definantly not going to do that again after exiting the park I rode the sidewalk it was horrible so I hit the street and surprisingly the cagers treated me well. Even though one came over 2 lanes to cut me off while I was trying to turn in the turn lane :mad: got out of work at 4:30 AM best commute so far at night no one was arround after I got out of the street lights it was darker then I thought I can see some new lights coming on :o

Looks like you might just get that rain this afternoon! Had a hot ride in this morning. Less traffic out since it is Friday and people take off work. Left a little late but took it easy and had a nice ride in. Cloudy out now and it looks like it might rain on the way home. Rain will feel good with this weather though as jack has already pointed out.

The first part of my commute is on a VERY wide, quiet 2 lane street. I usually travel 5 feet or so from the curb, and if there is a car approaching me, I might move over a foot. This morning a dude is out for his morning jog directly in my line, coming at me in my direction. I thought it was the oddest place to be jogging, but then again, that's probably was some cagers think of me. So I moved to the left a few more feet and we passed each other and exchanged waves. There wasn't a car in site for a km each way.

Oh yeah, and I nearly bailed when I made a little concrete to grass transition for the first time with my slicks.

Not quite as hot today, 96º and 50% humidity. Cool enough to hitch up the trailer and make a grocery run. Traffic was not to bad either.
And on an unusual note (not that many on 2 wheels down here) I ran across 3 others commuting, and had one person run me through 20 questions about my rig at the grocery store.

Wulfheir, I do a bit of running (less now that I'm riding more), and I wouldn't think that was an odd place to run at all. Asphalt is a lot more forgiving than concrete and there aren't tree roots and driveways and cutouts to trip over. So, 5 feet out from the curb against traffic is exactly where I run.

Personally, I always yield to cyclists though, knowing it's a lot easier for me to do than the cyclist.

Bike saved me again today. I was on the cusp of coming unhinged this afternoon and a good hilly ride settled me right down. I'm going to have to put in a few extra miles this evening if it's cooler. The...walls...are...closing...in...

Ride home was fine except for the 2 ghetto punks who threw a handful of trash at me from a Metrobus that took turns passing me in traffic getting away from Tysons. The first thing was a full 20oz Mtn Dew. After 4 times I pulled up next to the bus, and had the drive open the door. Told him the next time something was thrown at me from his bus, I was calling the cops. That I wrote down the bus # and the descriptions of these 2 jerkoffs. As they drove by the next time, the kids were sitting straight up in their seats, looking ahead like choirboys.

a whole week of update in one post.

somewhere back there i put on my big ball-park voice and yelled at a trucker. that felt good :D somewhere else i discovered how my pump works - more accurately, how those valves on these tires work. we don't have to tell anyone that up until now i was pumping air into a closed valve and just figuring the pump and my hands both suck. the rest of it has been nice rides.

today i drove, because i was planning a really long day and my knees hurt. we all got thrown out of the building at 3pm due to bomb threat, so i could have biked anyway. sigh.

Took the extra long way around that takes me on the FDR MUP to the Hudson Greenway and around Central Park. It's really just a joy ride jammed in the middle of going home. On the MUP near South St. Seaport, I buzzed an oblivious older man on, what else, his cellphone. I rang my bell twice and he didn't look my way, too absorbed in his conversation, so I aimed right at his back and *whoosh*, I saw him jump a little as I passed.

Then near Battery Park, as I was squeezing through an 18" gap between the front of a car and the back of a bus, the car lays on the horn. Seeing as we were stuck in traffic and not moving, I figured the driver was just being an icehole. I looked over at the driver to see it was her big, fat, passenger that was reaching over and honking the horn. I just laughed at how completely futile her displaced anger was and kept on riding.

In Central Park, since it wasn't car-free yet, I was relegated to the bike lane which we share with runners who refuse to run on the dirt running trail lest their running shoes get dirty. Since there's two lanes of traffic to my right, the bike lane tends to get crowded w/ runners and cyclists. So of course, as two faster cyclists pass me on the right, some other woman tries to pass me on the left except she's going too slow. She pulls slightly ahead of me, but doesn't clear me, looks behind AND steers right at the same time, sees that she hasn't cleared me, veers left again, and hits the brake to avoid hitting a runner. She later tried passing me again, but didn't and probably gave up or got to her exit before she could try again.

On the way home from the park, I took the lane at a stoplight where another cyclist was and kept the lane so we could both ride w/o having to stay right. After I made my right turn, I watched a bunch of cars get in each others way and lots of screeching brakes were heard. It put a smile on my face.

I caught and passed a rather chunky young guy on a bike today going home. On the mup, which is as straight and flat as a laser beam, I saw him about a mile ahead. To his credit, he was moving along and keeping a straight line. There was a good tailwind pushing both of us. He probably is still trying to get that image of me out of his head, a guy 30 years his senior, smoking him like a cheap cigar! :)

I was tired this morning from a club ride yesterday, so I planned to just spin and cruise in to work easy. WRONG. Pitbull decides I look edible. the pitbull pushed me up over 25 mph to drop it. I never heard it coming 'til it snapped at my calf. Fortunately it missed. It stayed in the chase for 4 blocks. I called the cops, hopefully they picked it up. I've owned dogs all my life, and done temperment testing, so I know dogs, and that one was vicious. That was only a few blocks from a school and a city park. Ride home was easy, pulled a tendon so I just cruised home. I'm just glad I've been practicing my sprints.:D

another 100% commute to/from work week. friday's "incident" was from NJ Transit Bus coming from behind to only partially pass me, then cut in to drop off and pick up passengers. i had to pass on his right with caution but stopped as the door opened. the bus driver would not catch eye contact and i mentioned "watch where you're driving". there was still no eye contact. as i proceeded ahead, looked back, no eye contact. the reset of the ride was smooth!

The driver may have been listening to an IPOD.