They finally relocated the new bike rack at my building on campus.

Originally installed at an 'exit-only' wing, it was never used, and bikes continued to be parked on handrails near the main entrance.

Yesterday it was moved to a location where folks might actually use it, and I locked up there this a.m.

I'll still park on the handrails (under a covered walkway) when its raining. Covered bike parking is still a pipe dream at Duke, apparently...


Haha... I was bundled up nicely this morning - 40 degrees and I was freezing!!!

Look out. Someone will want to start a "geek bike accessories" thread.


This morning was about what I expected - cooler than I like.
The temp was about 49F so I wore my new (came in the mail on Wednesday) CC bibs. Very comfortable and you can't beat the price. They're usually $89.99 but were on sale for $39.99. Also wore my "mafia" base layer t-shirt, jersey, knee warmers, and vest.
I tried my new LG f/f gloves. Not warm at all! I guess they're made to protect your hands when mtn biking. I don't mtn bike so they're free to a good home.

Rode with another commuter for a few blocks before I turned off. Nice to have someone to talk to.

nukemm - that IS awesome weather for this time of year up there. Looks like you are riding in the area where I grew up. Are you at Bangor? I'm both jealous and not - jealous that you get to ride daily among REAL trees, with water and breathtaking views everywhere you turn. Not jealous at all of the REAL HILLS that go with that territory. Congrats on your first few attempts at commuting - definitely one of the best lifestyle changes I have made!

Ride today was marvelous. First sub-50 degree day of the year. First ride on my newly respoked front wheel - no popping, less flex than the 20 year old spokes I was running before. Felt great! Figured out why my Cygolite isn't working last night - the fuse in the battery holder is blown. Will buy a replacement today. Question now is why did it blow? Hope it's a fluke - would like to buy a new "real" light, but don't have the coin at the moment, and not quite ready for the "total geekiness" endeavor, so I'd really love it if this old thing, purchase on ebay for next to nothing last year, can hang on for a while.

Happy Friday everyone!

Kind of chilly this morning. TV station said 51, but that was at Hartsfield airport. I'm at least 30 miles north of there and a lot less of a heat island, so easily in the mid to upper 40's. I need to find my full finger gloves and leg warmers. I was fine on the uphills and flats, but man it got cold going down the hills at 25-30 mph. Brrrrrr. I don't like cold weather.

You are absolutely certifiable! My knee warmers go on when the temp dips below 70, and today at 43 deg I was in two layers on top plus my hi-viz vest and full-fingered gloves. My bald head was bare other than helmet, though...

Frozen commute today I threw my chain on the single speed I wonder if it isn't tight enough

Perfect weather: just about 50F, sunny, and calm. I sat in behind a big panel truck for 6 or 7 blocks (thanks, Bonney Plumbing "Old Houses Not A Problem!"(tm)) so I made super time. Passed a young woman on another old Specialized Hard Rock, waved good morning and said "nice bike!"

Four bikes in the cage when I arrived: the red recumbent with aero wheels and CF fenders, our receptionist's vintage Schwinn Collegiate, a newer Schwinn mtb, and an old Raleigh 3-spd.

Brisk and foggy the whole way in (close to 10am!). Back on the mtn bike, I am trying to become one w/ all the squeaks and cheeps coming from various parts of the bike. Amazing (by comparison) how silent the flatbar roadbike is.

Also, was focusing on trying not to put weight on my arms, keep elbows bent, torso leaning over. Every 2000 miles or so I need to take on a new aspect of something or other and it's like learning how to ride a bike all over again.

After ~2wks off due to medical reasons, it was great to ride in again.
But my lungs burned, need to get them used to moving I guess.
90F expected for the ride home unless the thunderstrom breaks first.
Al

It's definitely beautiful up here. I'm actually at PSNS in Bremerton, my ship (USS Abraham Lincoln) is in the drydock for refit. You're definitely right about the scenery. I've lived in WA for most of 23 years, grew up on Whidbey Island, so hills & trees (& horrendous headwind and rain and sub-40F temps) are something I've come to enjoy. Maybe I'm not really that slow averaging only 12.8MPH on my ride home, considering over 5 miles of it is a noticable incline!

----

Today was the completion of week 1 of my challenge to commute to work only on my bicycle, with me end of the week mileage coming in at 52.8. Not bad for only 3 days worth of riding. I honestly thought it was going to take a lot longer for me to get to where I could ride all the way to work & back, but it appears I am in a little bit better shape than I thought.

My ride in this morning was a brisk 39F, but that didn't phase me one bit. Rode to work in a set of warmups over a long sleeved T & gym shorts. I, too, have yet to invest in some "real" riding gear for the winter. Maybe the cold was my motivation, but I made it to work (7ish miles) in only 25 minutes, and no flat tire today! Drivers were courteous and I got brave and rode the road on the bridge on 303, keeping up with traffic at nearly 40MPH. Not bad for a MTB with suspension!

My ride home was quick, too, maybe that's because I'm so sore from my run yesterday (combined with my double-length ride home!) that I was really motivated to move. I made it home in under 35 minutes, which beats the other day by 15 minutes. I didn't stop today, and I'm learning the gearing on my bike a bit, and have adjusted my pedaling with some advice from my LBS. The only downside to my commute this afternoon was getting buzzed twice, once by a Kitsap County Sherrif, and once by a black Chevy 4x4 with "Redneck" in red vinyl on the back window. Oh well, I made it home in one piece!

Ah, the memories - grew up on the east side of Bremerton. Was actually up that way visiting my folks and satisfying my jones for water/mountains/trees last month. Can't believe I married a Texan - I love her with all my heart, but am somewhat less fond of Texas. Unfortunately, there is no middle ground on this one - when I said "forever" to her, I said it to Texas, too. Not complaining about the weather this time of year, though - 40's/50's in the morning, 70's in the evening is hard to beat for a commute.

Short commute today (about 4.75 miles). I worked remotely the first half of the day and attended a team mtg close to my home during the afternoon. Breezy 48F, but plenty of sunshine. Buffalo got dumped with over 2' of snow but we didn't get anything here other than a few flakes. I know it's coming (winter) but while it does it was nice to enjoy another nice day.

GreenAnvil

Ride today was nice both ways. Dark both ways as well. Rode the MTB and parked the roadbike. I miss the sun. At least no one tried to run me over in a white truck.

tonight coming home was the first ride where i felt actual cold. no idea what the temperature was but it wasn't murderous or anything. just - well, cold. better start getting used to it.

Nice commute on the way home yesterday but I can tell cooler weather is here to stay. It was cool enough that I needed my vest and thought about pulling on the arm warmers.

31F this morning, but very still with great clear skies. First time I've used a full-face balaclava with ski googles; that worked great, no fogging of the googles and no crying eyes. Only had liner gloves and my hands and arms felt a little cold. Great to start making the transition to cold weather; I hope to ride through the winter so today was good training in terms of learning what type of clothing works and what doesn't.

GreenAnvil

Not happening this morning. Not yet ready for real rain riding (we're in the middle of the "worst drought on record" or whatever...) Basically 24 hours straight of rain, with expectations that it will continue until tonight, means I'll be in the pickup for the drive in to work...

My commute will be warm and dry all week. I'm on vacation.
Everyone have fun. I'll be thinking about you.
I'll be back at it next Monday.

This morning's commute was a treasure. Ended with a 2 minute ride into one of the most beautiful dawn skies I've ever seen. I stopped and stared out in front of my building. I finally decided to head in and turned to see a rainbow in the west. How cool is that??

Worth every bit of the rain that falls on me on the way home today!!

Dalmore, I'm glad someone else saw that sunrise this morning. I'm especially glad that I had to be in the office earlier than usual and got to stop to enjoy it. I made a special side trip to get to the highest point along my route but quite get over the tree tops. The sky was just an unbelievable color.

I caged it this morning, but yeah the sky was incredible . Pink, red, and purple all swirled in together. I almost put the car in park while in my driveway just to sit and look at that sky. The traffic on my road stopped me long enough to look at it without having to shift into park

First snow fall of the season. Front lawns and parked cars had an icing suger layer covering them. The wet fluffy stuff is coming down at a pretty good rate keeping the roads real wet. Left the slicks on because it was more like riding in rain than snow, and I'm guessing the afternoon is going to be quite nice with no evidence a snowfall occured. It was 0 C.

First commute to work after an unexpected 3 weeks away from the office. Managed to keep a 25+ mph pace to keep up w/ traffic for a few blocks until we hit the part of the road where the top layer's been stripped off making it slow, rough and dusty for about a 1/2 mile. Feels good to be commuting again.

The leaves are peaking as was the sun this morning, through low clouds. Very inspiring. Love to see the trout fisherman on the river again--my MUP passes along the Rocky River in Cleveland area. I got to join them sometime.