Don't feel too bad. I just got my first cell phone about 2-3 months ago.

[rant]Two of my co-workers insist on coming to work when they're sick.[/rant]

No commute again today. I'm resting and doing a little work from home and fighting hard to avoid getting "their" cold.

My boss came to work with a really bad cold (flu??) about 2 weeks ago. I fought hard and didn't get it. Then last week the other person came to work with a really bad one. I've been fighting hard but I guess my defenses are down. I'm taking vitamin C, juice, echinacea, zinc, etc. to keep it minimized. I hope I'm back on the bike tomorrow.

Nice ride this morning.

Only thing of much interest is that I saw a cager space out and not notice a red light that had been red for at least 45 seconds. He slid dramactically but safely to a stop in the middle of the intersection.

2nd day in a row with out commuting. I am not happy about this.
Yesterday was my weekly lunch 20 miles down the road in Tucker this time. Had Thai food...I love drunken noodles....mm.mm..good eating
This morning had to run too many errands and couldn't afford to be late to work for a meeting.

Interesting event yesterday though. I was driving south bound on GA 400 (aka: the Alpharetta Autoband) and doing about 60 mph. This huge SUV on my right side, I think it was a Ford Excursion but not exactly sure, just locked up all 4 wheels and shot to to the left. Due to the fact that I had not slowed down, this thing ends up going right behind me and takes out the Acura that was riding my bumper. I have no clue what exactly happened, but it didn't look like any one was hurt. But scared the living hell out of me. I could feel the adrenaline rush for about the next 30 minutes.

Riding has been terrific recently, in fact, I've ridden every day for the 3rd consecutive week since returning from vacation. Knees, legs, and cardio all feel good and I'm pacing myself better and have been good about taking a recovery drink as soon as I get home (these last two factors are better allowing me to ride comfortably every day as opposed to running out of gas by Thurs/Fri). The weather's been nice for the most part and I'm seeing more cycle commuters out there whick always gets me pumped.

The only bad thing to report was that I ran over a small snake near the airport a week ago. After hitting it and discovering that I only paralyzed it, I decided to put it out of it's misery (the little guy could only move his tail and stare at me with unblinking eyes). With nothing to use but my visor, I cut it's head off along the side of the trail (passersby must have thought I was a looney). I then buried it and said a little prayer. Now I nod in respect every time I pass this location. This officially is the third animal I've hit on my commute (the other two were rats), with many near misses of; rats, mice, voles, squirrels, snakes, ducks, etc.

25F this morning, no wind, and light traffic! Real nice ride. The fleece tights are superb for this kind of weather. Wore a new helmet cover, with the light weight hood and ear flaps -- nice and warm. Did get horned by a passing, beat up, pick up. He passed way to the left so don't know what that was about. Maybe the Whelan TIR III that I just wired up to the 12vSLA blinded him.

Last night was first trip in the dark, dark, with my DIY light system. It's worked well, but I think I'll be upgrading the battery. Can't run all 40 watts for mor then 20 min of the 1 hr trip. I was surprised to find that for most of the trip the flood is more useful then the spot. Not what I expected.

Nothing big. Typical am mixed mode commute and full commute home in the afternoon.
I think I may need to actually eat something while riding during my morning 14 miler. Riding in cold sure makes me hungry. At least yesterday I remembered to pack a PB&J for the ride home. No bonking for me!
Now all I have to do is manage not to eat it until the ride.

Grrrr...got passed by a delivery truck on a small residential street with on coming car and bicycle traffic. The guy just got tired of going someone else's pace and decided that he was the biggest thing on the road so he could push his way through. I got his phone number off the back and side of his van and I'll give him a call when I cool down and become a bit more rational.

Just tired this morning. Not getting enough sleep, and by the end of the week I'm pretty dead. Got a flat about 1/4 mile from work today . Just pumped it up a few times before and after taking a shower. I'm fixing it now at my desk .

I get about 3 flats a week, which is extremely aggravating. I'm thinking of carrying spare wheels on my back.

Haven't read/posted here for a few weeks--busy at work and I took a week off to rest my legs before playing at the Ultimate Frisbee National Championships last week in Sarasota. Can't stand reading these posts when I'm not riding--I feel guilty for not being on the bike.

Started commuting again on Tuesday. 3 days of good weather and no one trying to kill me. Life is good, and it's great to be back on the bike.

Reading 2 weeks of posts makes me think...is it weird that I feel like I know some of you, yet I've never met you? There are some names in this thread I automatically recognize--RonH, tokolosh, scottmorrison99, jyossarian, to name just a few.

Guess I'm waxing philosophical today.

After a couple of unseasonally warm days, nice and cool(40F) this morning. There's been some strange things happening the last few days. Yesterday, an armored car refused to pass me and just rolled behind me revving his very loud engine; quite unnerving. And this morning I got blasted with windshield wiper fluid by a guy sitting at a red light. I guess that's what I get for cutting between cars.

I'm starting to get used to winter. It was -13 this morning, and felt substantially warmer. It was an easy ride in, and fast. I must be getting used to the studs as well.

-13°C = 8.6°F

Cold in any country

This is my first week commuting. I caught the bug and bought an Uptown 8 last week. I switched to layers after trying to wear work clothes the first two times. So, I'm gradually learning how to get comfortable. My best learning is to pace myself and not push the hills. It took the same 35 minutes today without standing and I arrived fresh as can be. It's 32 degrees in St. Louis and I think I can remove a layer and still be comfortable.

Tom

A little nipply but once warmed up it was fun. Especially going past all those cars stuck in construction traffic this morning and thinking, 'It may look crazy but I'm moving!'. Still trying to figure out how to keep my feet warm without resorting to shoe covers. The bike is so silent now that it has a new chain.

Gray and drizzly, a bit of moisture on the streets.

Wasn't bad, my first commute since my Aug 9th wrist injuring accident.

I had some OJ right before I left, turned out to be a bad move - I had the slight nausea from the cardio and not being quite as in shape as before, and eventually felt pretty bad - I stopped, barfed the OJ up, and felt 100% better, and carried on.

Was hard work for me today, -1C when I left, but heat wasn't a problem - I'm a sweater anyway, so I was snug.

Got honked at by a guy acknowledging my lane change (overtaking something parked), and another guy honked real madly at a cab (I initially thought me) - four lane street, two lanes each way, I was in the outside, right lane and a cab was making a left - I was holding the lane, not going too slow and the guy behind the cab got real pissed I guess waiting for the cab to turn, heh.

Got cut off too, same situation, except at a 4-way intersection, folks turning left, so the people in that lane going straight got impatient, I swear this one lady didn't even look (I usually look into the car to see if the driver checks their mirrors) - she just cut right over, luckily I was far enough over for it not to be a big deal - I did consider tapping the car on the rear fender as she moved closer, but thought better of it - just used my mouth - not loud enough for them to hear properly though

Feeling great about getting back on the wagon, though, woo!

Coldest day yet -- 18 degrees! No bikes seen -- I AM KING!

welcome back to the insanity flimflam

Thanks!

Must admit, despite the cold this morning, I saw quite a lot of commuters out - a lot of them looking very seasoned (full flourescents, etc.) - I even noticed an Asian guy who rides the same type of bike as I this morning, who I did used to see on my summer commutes, great to see he's still around

Wet, warm, back up to the 40s. If it stays like this through winter I'll be pretty happy.

Can a commute bike be any kind of bike?

You bet. Some bikes are better suited than others for the particular demands of commuting, but I'd say anything you ride to work is a commute bike.

Whatcha got?

wet.

Went in hard at the start of the ride home tonight.

Riding in traffic, making a right turn with a line of cars. Hadn't clipped in yet. Foot slipped off the right pedal. Speed was about 15mph. Right foot skeetered on the pavement. Bike got sideways. Flip/SLAM. Hands never left the bars. Left side of my head, right above my eye went into the pavement really hard. also made contact with my left hip, left forearm. and right hand, this last as the bike rolled over the top pinning my hand against the bar.

Only damage to the bike was a turned in left brifter and the rear wheel coming out of the dropouts.

Head's a little sore above the left eye where the helmet was jammed in. Brand new helmet. Toast. It didn't fracture, in fact; there's no visible damage as I was using a helmet cover. Still, it was such a vicious blow, safer to toss it. Definitely a hospital trip there without the helmet IMO, if not death or worse. Never have been a religious helmet wearer until now.

Worst damage is the right hand. Seems to be sprained. Might be broken.

Got the bike going, did an easy Ten Miles up to an LBS to get the bike checked out and put back right, then another Five Miles home. Took me Twice as long to get here as usual.

Picked up a couple of Negra Modelos and some beef jerky on the way.

Got off easy I reckon.