Friday's commute
 

The morning started off bad....with my 4 year old waking me up at 1 AM (I went to bed at midnight), got him taken care of but couldn't really sleep because it was very warm in our room, then our 2 year old came into our bed at 3 AM with an assist from mom. He was between us and he likes to sleep with some body contact so he chose dad. Nice....then at 4 AM he started to cough chronically until 5 AM.....then I "woke up" (yeah right) at 5:15 to get ready for my ride. I got maybe 2-3 hours of true rest...this on top of a poor night sleep the night before. I felt physically ill. I almost called in sick. But I promised to meet a coworker at a predetermined spot and thought "what the heck."

So I got on the bike and it felt great. The cool breeze and quiet streets were a nice change of pace. I was keeping a very good pace and met my friend at our meeting spot. We rode fast and smooth into the office and would have done so in record time if we hadn't hit so many lights. My work day was very difficult. I was physically exhausted. But then I said "what the heck" and got on the bike for the ride home in 100+ temps. It was much slower but it wasn't too bad. A couple drivers and their passengers made some comments or yelled something but I couldn't hear them which was just as well because I was in no mood for morons. My coworker and I then stopped off and had a couple drinks at an outside bar in Danville and tried to cool off. It was nice but getting back on the bike being utterly exhausted, a little stiff and full from the drinks and appetizers. I pushed hard up the remaining two hills and thought I was going to collapse. My ride partner is a very good rider though so I try not to slow him down too much. Cruised the rest of the way home and it was all good when I got off the bike.

Ride in was gory. Where I cross the highway at a traffic controlled intersection there was a tractor trailer than had driven completely over a pickup truck. Cab was flat even with the lower door edge. That's why I look both ways twice. Ride home was fun, trackstanding at each stopsign for fun. Lots of law enforcement in town due to out of control crime and gang problems. Glad to see them, they all get a wave from me. Ride on.

Sunday morning coffee commute, nothing better. The joys of utilitarian cycling without the destination of work.

last Friday's commute was from my parents house and was fairly slow and leisurely until I got to campus. temps were as hot as they have been all this past week until they cooled down slightly today. was going to volunteer at the food co-op after getting out but decided to beat the impending thunderstorm home instead. the ride back was fast and good.

Ride in was fast. Had to be, left late.;) Ride home was faster. Now that I am trying to trackstand at every stopsign, I'm bound to fall. Didn't fall today, so it was a good day. Ride on

WET! Steady rain all the way in. And a headwind. I ushered a fairly large garter snake off the MUP. Also saw a frog. :)

Got to work, unzipped my bag, pulled out what I thought was the polo shirt I had packed. Turned out to be a gag shirt (same color as polo shirt) someone bought me a while ago that says, "I'm here for the gang bang!" :eek: So I had two choices. Either wear my yellow jersey around, or wear the tee shirt that would get me thrown out of the building. Yellow jersey it is. With a fleece jacket on top. :o

Waiting for a nearby department store (Filenes) to open at 9 so I can buy a proper work shirt.

Fast! According to my cyclocomp, I rode 44.1 miles at an average of 39.6 mph in 16.09 min. w/ a max speed of 192.4 mph. I'm almost thinking my cyclocomp is on the fritz, but then again, computers don't lie. :)

Nice and easy this a.m. MUP was wet with some puddles, so took it easy, but despite the fact that there was no rain, the path was pretty quiet. Maybe people with longer commutes than me were leery of getting caught in a storm either heading in or out.

Wet. Got about half way to work and the dark, threatening clouds slowly began to break open. By the time I was about 3 miles from work it was a steady rain. At least my work clothes are dry. :) I'd feel a little strange sitting naked in my office for lack of dry clothes. :eek:

I manged to get up and out early to avoid the imminent showers. Sounds like Ron's side of the city got rain, but we haven't had any yet. And to prepare for my tour this weekend, I stuffed my panniers with water bottles and blankets. Strange carrying 50 lbs of "gear" to work.

Nice and clear, traffic was light.

Glad I didn't have coffee in my mouth or it would have been all over the screen!!! Guess you'll check closer next time you pack, huh? Thanks for the laugh!!

Pretty warm today. I had a sizable hangover on Sunday, so my legs were fresh for this morning's ride in [hangover = no ride]. :)

Er, um, where did you say you work?? Sounds like a fun place. :D

I guess you got lucky. I think I heard the radio weather guy say that this afternoon's rain is supposed to be another gully-washer like we had yesterday. Maybe I should have worn my sandals today.

Have fun. Are you touring on the SS?

A summer day only an Irishman would love, heavily overcast and spotty rain, almost chilly. Which is much better than the Amazonian weather we had last week. Today it's in the lower 80's compared to the upper 90's and low 100's of last week.

--A

Sticky ride today, I should have swam to work :rolleyes:

Awesome. I was in the zone this morning.

After an ultrasound of my nuts first thing this morning, the commute in was great. It was 2 hours later than I usually ride so traffic patterns were a little different. It's supposed to be hot and sunny all week, so I'm looking forward to that.

I ran earlier this morning and my legs were dead, so I expected that it would be the same story on the bike, but I surprised myself. I was trying to slot myself into a gap in traffic so I hit the big ring, and boom! I was flying.

I love that.

Was off last week doing a 420 mile bike commute from Cortez, CO to Canon City, CO via New Mexico. [RideTheRockies tour].
A cool 49f was welcomed this morning after baking on the road for a good part of last week. Nice to get back on the bike and spin the legs out after not looking at the two wheeled monster for 2 days.

The facilities manager here told me that he will be installing a bike hitching post by the front door this week. I've been working on that one for several months. My cube was made smaller so I no longer have indoor bike storage available.

BTW... 6 days of 4-6 hours riding and my butt doesnt even hurt.
Thanks Brooks !!

Our power went out and we were sent home early (3pm). It was raining hard on/off but in the high 70s so I suited up. My blinkies worked but I should have checked my Li-ion (discharged) so no high-watt front lights. It was wet wet wet, glasses fogged but no rain in the eyeballs. Well, I did not overheat and I didn't dissolve so it was a good ride.
A hot pot of tea, a snack, and the wrinkles are drying out.

Blah. It's icky out. Riding's fine, but once I get off the bike, all the sweat catches up to me. Oh well.

It is 102 degrees out. I don't get off work till 7.30 so hopefully it will cool off a bit. Gonna be a fun ride home.

it was pretty good. I lost the top to my water bottle on the way to work... retraced my route and found it lying in the middle of the sidewalk on the way back! cool. now I don't have to spend 5 bucks for another one. I'm cheap... but thrifty. the ride home was hot, not so much the temps but with the humidity added it was gross. I saw five-six bike riders on my way home.