ModoVincere

Oh yeah. Ron, it was really nice to meet you yesterday. Scott says thanks for the stickers and signs.

truman

beautiful morning. I stopped at a red light at the bottom of a hill, in the center lane. so any traffic could make left or right turns onto the cross street, or go around me to go straight. Naturally, a pickup truck had to pull up right behind me, instead of either other lane. When the light changed, I started climbing and he stayed right behind me. If I really try, I can make the next four traffic lights, because they're sequenced, so I hammered, with the truck pacing me about 40 yards back, and made all the lights. As I rolled into a left turn lane, the truck came up on my right with the window down, the driver caught my eye, grinned and said, "Thanks. Nice pull up that hill".

caloso

Earlier this week I swapped out the flat bars on my old Rockhopper for some drops, using an old set of RSX 8-spd brifters I had kept from my first road bike.This morning was my first ride to work on it. It took a little tweaking, but it all seems to shift and brake as well as you could expect. Not exactly Dura-Ace level performance, but good enough for government work. The drops are 40cm c-c; they're a bit narrow even compared to my other road bikes. I may have to hunt up some 44 or 46ers.

I racked up next to a recumbent that a fairing, 5-spoke aero wheels, and, I could not believe my eyes, carbon fiber fenders! Now that's OCP!

HardyWeinberg

wet wet wet. Also, I can't get my brakes to stop squealing (I keep toe-ing them in, and have toed them in so much that I have started spreading the V's so I can toe them in some more, and it's just not stopping). Anyway, between my brake lever getting floppier, the squealing when the brakes do engage, the rain, my wipeout (albeit on a rubber mat) the last time it was raining, and my glasses (fogged on inside, water drops on outside), I was riding pretty tentatively.

So, wet and slow. Usually I wear my bike clothes for a while while I cool down when I get in, this am they were wet enough that I was getting actively cold so changed earlier than I otherwise might have. Wish I had remembered to pack my rain hat for walking upstairs to the other building for coffee.

On the bright side, during my 'warm-up' ride to school w/ kindergartener, he asked for his own orange reflective vest so cars could see him too.

GreenAnvil

No commute today as I'm telecommuting and kidsitting. Too bad; it's been a gorgeous day!

ctoddrun

Rides this week have been mostly good. Had serious calf-cramping issues on Wednesday both directions. I don't think I've been dehydrated, but it was as bad as I've experienced. Followed that up with major middle-of-the-night leg cramps in about 5 spots in my legs simultaneously. Those places are still painful from the cramps, so I took it very easy this morning and felt pretty good... Weather is getting to be just about perfect for the ride in - ~70 degrees, light winds. Still warm in the evenings, but after weeks of 100+, 90 feels pretty darn good.

YOU CAN DO IT! This most certainly can be done safely in the dark in most areas. The key is to be visible, predictable, and ALERT.

RoseInOregon

Thanks for the encouragement! I've been reading the lighting & visibility threads and researching lighting setups, and I think I'll be pretty visible. Now I'm a little worried about peds darting out from between cars, and about other, unlit bikes that I can't see.

Didn't ride today, since I had too many errands to run after work. I really miss it when I don't.

redden

39 miles total to work and back. Easy route to work and difficult route back. 2800 feet of altitude gain. There's a section of Roscomare road that gains 100 feet in a block and a half and another about as steep on Wells drive. Nice ride both ways no driver hostility since I stayed away from Sepulveda and Ventura blvd. The downhill on Cal Neva street is the only hill I decend that makes me wish for disk brakes.

coolness03

Thanks RonH.

I'm quickly approaching my 100th mile of commuting and I have to say it has been an overall positive experience so far. Not overwhelmingly positive, the route into work has been quite a challenge lately and I don't know how I'd do if I was faced with a flat. I'm a total beginner in the maintenence department so we'll see how things go with time (knock on wood).

HardyWeinberg

Slightly exciting ride home. Similar rain as in the morning (*very* thick mist). I had adjusted my brakes some at work so was feeling better about stopping (fixed the play in the lever, still couldn't get rid of that SQUEAL). Coming up to an intersection, a guy came TEARING across from the left on his bike, behind me I guess, and I think he hit the curb, he certainly fishtailed, went up and over and landed on a freeway exit ramp. Lots of blood from his hands, and pretzeled his rear wheel. Yesterday was the day my cell phone died so I couldn't call for help, but I took him to a payphone anyway. His hands were shaking a lot, palsy style, I felt really bad. I don't think he was too messed up to leave alone while his ride came (it was going to be a bit of time). By the time we crossed the street, found a phone, made the call, etc... his hands weren't shaking so much any more. Anyway, he seemed in good enough shape to sit and catch his breath for a while waiting for his ride. Here's hoping he's just got some sore shoulders tomorrow, and is otherwise fine.

tokolosh

what i like about this thread: whatever kind of day i've had, someone else will have had it too. and actually, today was pretty nice. set myself a different kind of goal: get to work and get home without getting sweaty or putting out any effort. couldn't find my stopwatch for the ride home, but the ride in was just like any other ride when i do sweat it up. musta been tailwinds going on.

the bridge has a long, long (almost 1k) flat approach that's . . . well, it's basically a whole bunch of overpasses and other bridges or something before you get to the real one. or something like that; i've never completely figured it out. anyway there's a bus-stop somewhere along the way, and lately i've been having interaction with people at it. on tuesday it was a scary-looking guy who maintained deadpan eye-contact through the entire approach and then when i was about 5 feet away, suddenly stuck out a thumb like a hitchhiker. still completely deadpan; unfortunately i was already past him by the time my face got a laugh assembled. then today it was someone sitting on the kerb; as i came along i got to witness an impressively long steady sneezing fit. i yelled 'bless you' as i went by, but i don't think he even knew i was there, never mind caught the words. hope he didn't think i was saying something more rude.

the industrial island under north edge of the bridge hosts a mysteriously cyclical variety of industrial activities; today it seemed like they were baking dog biscuits down there. better than the sawmill days when you get slivers of cedar and pine in your eyes, or the ones where they're hosting a city's garbage on its way to wherever it goes.

songs: the red dwarf theme.

buzzman

up early to a film shoot that I thought would take forever to find and get to. I ended up getting there first! Traffic was awful to this location and on my bike it took much less time than if I had driven. Then off to a lunch with a friend, then to REI to check out the weekend sale (replaced my Leatherman now owned by the airlines). Then to my rehearsal, then home. All on my folder and all of it adding up to a total 29 miles RT. Not a bad commute.

GreenAnvil

Another nice ride this morning. Right on 47F but it felt warmer; only at the bottom of little valleys did it feel a little chilly. Clear skies. Today being a (US) holiday, almost no traffic; I think I counted no more than 7-10 cages go by past me on the whole 9.5 mi commute into work.

Keeping my heart rate right around 135-140 for the majority of the ride, so I'm just strolling into work, having a good time and getting rid of body fat, while saving money, gas, etc, etc, etc. Can't beat that!

GreenAnvil

craigdurkee

broken spoke 42 km in what a croc hopefully better 2morow

Cowboy Joe

Overslept this morning and considered driving (sorry!) instead. Bit the bullet & decided to ride knowing that I would have to kick it up a few notches if I was going to make it…glad I did! What a perfect morning…full moon, mid 50s, & not a soul in sight. The bike was as smooth as silk…barely knew I was peddling at times. I ended up getting to my 2 minutes after my normal start time. The sun’s up & it looks as if it will be a beautiful day. I heard low / mid 70s today…looking forward to a great ride home...might even have to take the long way!

RonH

No commuting today. I worked Saturday (teaching an Effective Cycling [Bike Ed] class) so I'm off today. I'll be working on my "semi-geek" headlights. I hope I get finished so I'll be ready for the Melton's App & Tap ride tomorrow night.

dalmore

I got the triple crown today - Holcomb Bridge, Mansell Road and Old Milton Parkway - all three on the green!!! YippeeeEEEE!!!

GTcommuter

Fine ride in today, good temps with my vest on. No confrontations and pretty good time.

luckysnafu

Wet ride in this morning. Not raining much but the roads were wet. Starting raining pretty good when I was just pulling into work so I missed out on getting soaked. Looking forward to the sun this afternoon since it hasn't been out since Thursday.

genel

Very nice morning, cool, no wind, and NO SCHOOL BUSES!

First ride with my new DIY headlight, see "total geekiness" thread for pics.

Mr_H

Woke up late, but still got on the bike. It was chilly this morning...but a nice ride over all. I did a bit of experimenting with where to ride on the road...normally I stick way to the right just to be nice for the drivers. Well, after one or two close calls, I started riding further to the left of the white line. People gave me more room...well, except one person, but hey, it worked.

Nice ride even if I was late

ModoVincere

I love commuting when everyone else is on a holiday. The roads are so much nicer with fewer cars on them


Nice easy commute this morning. Wore my neon yellow hi viz jacket, so ended up a little sweaty, but very happy with this mornings ride in.

DataJunkie

Sub 40F rainy commute. I loved it.
I think it was roughly 39F or less.

Anyhow, my headlight bit the big one again. I think it was due to using a timer with the ac adapter. Oh well, time to hit performance and pick up something different. The cygolite battery also has a short in it as well.
Now if I can manage to get out of the store without picking up 4 extra items. Perhaps I should have my wife go.

hairlessbill

Wet and a little cool. Where was everyone this morning? I almost thought it was a holiday until I got to work. Rode the yellow cushie duck bike today so I could grocery shop.

DataJunkie

Apparently, it is a holiday for some of us.
That and apparently most cyclocommuters are made of sugar. The light drizzle seems to have driven them away.