How was the commute today?
12-11-06, 11:28 AM
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Cool 43F and high overcast. It rained all weekend so wet leaves were a real issue this morning. But took it easy and remained upright.
I had another episode with a well-meaning driver who now probably thinks I am (and of course that means all of us are) an ungrateful jerk. I was entering the parking garage. There are two ticket gates. The driver in the car on the right side had just taken her ticket and the gate went up. I slid through on the left and was preparing to pull in right behind her as she went up the slope. But I guess she saw me in the corner of my eye and slowed and then stopped. I was waiting for her to go and I slowed and then I was almost trackstanding but my feet were approaching 12 and 6. I was losing momentum and balance and I was yelling "Go! Go! Go!" Finally she went and I tried to be nice and yell "Thank you!" but I'm sure she thinks I'm a jerk.
I was hoping to catch her after she parked her car and thank her for her good intentions, but I never saw her. Oh well.
I had another episode with a well-meaning driver who now probably thinks I am (and of course that means all of us are) an ungrateful jerk. I was entering the parking garage. There are two ticket gates. The driver in the car on the right side had just taken her ticket and the gate went up. I slid through on the left and was preparing to pull in right behind her as she went up the slope. But I guess she saw me in the corner of my eye and slowed and then stopped. I was waiting for her to go and I slowed and then I was almost trackstanding but my feet were approaching 12 and 6. I was losing momentum and balance and I was yelling "Go! Go! Go!" Finally she went and I tried to be nice and yell "Thank you!" but I'm sure she thinks I'm a jerk.
I was hoping to catch her after she parked her car and thank her for her good intentions, but I never saw her. Oh well.
12-11-06, 11:58 AM
GATC
Nice ride, a little damp, nothing really notable. I have left my front fender zip-tied to the crown of the fork (where I had to raise it to fit the 2" knobbies), I am waiting on big apples so I'm not going to lower it back to the brake arch. Big apples are back-ordered through 3rd wk of Jan, so I continue to wait.
12-11-06, 12:03 PM
Mmmmm potatoes
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Warm today, about 30F. I overdressed and pulled up my polartec tights to the knee about half way to work. Bike was a bit noodly in the turns due to ice, but I made it without a wreck.
12-11-06, 12:35 PM
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It was warm. Bank sign said 44F. It was so warm that at the long stop light, I took off my balaclava. Stuffed it in my jacket front. When I got to work it was gone. Argh. That was a good balaclava. I will retrace me route to the stop light on the way home but it will be dark. So long balaclava. You served me well.
hehe, excuse to buy or KNIT a new one!
hehe, excuse to buy or KNIT a new one!
12-11-06, 01:33 PM
It was 38F when I left this morning. Still, I dressed lighter and at the end of my initial 2 mile downhill was sweating like mad. I removed my jacket and a few miles later had to remove my tights. It looked like I thought it was summer by the time I was at work.
12-11-06, 01:47 PM
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Nice day for a commute in Rochester NY, low 40's, no rain, slight headwind (10-15mph) not many cars on the road yet.
12-11-06, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by billh
hehe, excuse to buy or KNIT a new one!
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"Everyone is entitled to an opinion" is only half-right.
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Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion.
12-11-06, 04:20 PM
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I was able to commute the entire week last week without any major mishaps, but today I had some issues. I killed two tubes (got one going again) on my way in and got pulled over for running a red light. I was booking it for a protected left turn and the arrow turned yellow before I could make it. I continued through as it was wet out and I'd rather make the intersection than brake and skid into it, and was followed though the (red for him) light by a motorcycle cop and ticketed. He wrote that it was dry on the ticket (it had been drizzling and foggy all morning) despite being in full (and damp) rain gear, and when he asked for my ID and it took me a second to fish for it made a couple comments that insinuated I didn't drive due to a DWI, so I snapped at him and told him "maybe if I was a fat ****ing pig I'd be riding around on a motorcycle or something but until then I'll stick with my bike, thanks." as I handed over my license. That got me a nasty glare and no response to my "Thanks, have a great day." as he handed me my ticket.
12-11-06, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Identity Crisis
Yesterday morning (I didn't work today) I encountered a group of about 12 men running down my regular commute route. While it's common for me to see the occasional early morning jogger or walker in the more temperate months I usually am the only one outside of a cage or domicile this time of year at 5:30-5:45 am.
For a few moments I thought I was hallucinating, the joggers were running two abreast in the right lane of a 4 lane road (sidewalks were icy/snowy), wearing appropriate cold weather running garb and were going at a respectable pace. I heard chuffs and remarks as I rode by that sounded like they were just surprised to see me as I was to see them, that an my Nokians definately had to sound a little unnerving to them.
A coworker passed me another mile or two down the road and when I caught up to him inside the building I asked him if he saw the joggers. He (and everybody else) looked at me like I was nuts and said no, but he did see me from about a mile away (thank you Planet Bike Superflash!)
Should he get his eyes checked or should I talk to somebody about my hallucinations?
For a few moments I thought I was hallucinating, the joggers were running two abreast in the right lane of a 4 lane road (sidewalks were icy/snowy), wearing appropriate cold weather running garb and were going at a respectable pace. I heard chuffs and remarks as I rode by that sounded like they were just surprised to see me as I was to see them, that an my Nokians definately had to sound a little unnerving to them.
A coworker passed me another mile or two down the road and when I caught up to him inside the building I asked him if he saw the joggers. He (and everybody else) looked at me like I was nuts and said no, but he did see me from about a mile away (thank you Planet Bike Superflash!)
Should he get his eyes checked or should I talk to somebody about my hallucinations?
12-11-06, 07:34 PM
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the extended commute actually is getting easier. thanks for the feedback from other bf commuters!
today, on the way in, a school bus was waiting at a stop sign. to the left, there was a van, waiting for me to pass. i was about 2/3 though passing the bus, when it started to move out = close (no time to air-zound). yelling got his attention, he waited on the other side of the road, i turned around and caught/confronted him. he stated "i did not see you" and "i got a job to do". i exclaimed he needed to get his eyes checked and look where he's going. i called the bus service and reported incident, will call back tomorrow for follow-through.
rest of the commutes were up-lifting today
today, on the way in, a school bus was waiting at a stop sign. to the left, there was a van, waiting for me to pass. i was about 2/3 though passing the bus, when it started to move out = close (no time to air-zound). yelling got his attention, he waited on the other side of the road, i turned around and caught/confronted him. he stated "i did not see you" and "i got a job to do". i exclaimed he needed to get his eyes checked and look where he's going. i called the bus service and reported incident, will call back tomorrow for follow-through.
rest of the commutes were up-lifting today
12-11-06, 08:11 PM
----
a little damp but relatively warm on the way in today.
on the way home I upped the effort a couple of notches just to get home a little quicker but these studded snows (worth their weight in gold on an icy snowy night) definitely make the commute a little more of a workout psychologically as well as physically on a night when I could have easily ridden with regular tires.
the sound of the studded snows is like frying bacon, Kellogg's Rice Crispies, a crackling fire, a radio not tuned to any particular station...
on the way home I upped the effort a couple of notches just to get home a little quicker but these studded snows (worth their weight in gold on an icy snowy night) definitely make the commute a little more of a workout psychologically as well as physically on a night when I could have easily ridden with regular tires.
the sound of the studded snows is like frying bacon, Kellogg's Rice Crispies, a crackling fire, a radio not tuned to any particular station...
12-11-06, 08:28 PM
SERENITY NOW!!!
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Commute home included a stop off to pick up some Christmas presents that got sent to my old work address. I had a co-worker who still worked there pick it up for me and bring it home so I met him at his house. We caught up for a bit, then I rode the rest of the way home. Traffic was light so I got some extra miles in and made good time.
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12-11-06, 08:34 PM
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Low 40's, cloudy and dark...but warmer than it has been. Great ride for a Monday. I saw several deer in the woods. After work I realized I had gotten a flat....it had also started to drizzle so I decided to have the wife pick me up....oh well...there is always tomorrow.
12-11-06, 10:41 PM
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Ride in was ok on the MTB, road bike was at the LBS today. Had a sore neck and back by the end of the day so I got a lift home.
12-11-06, 11:41 PM
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The ride home was even messier than the ride in. I was kind of pissed off after today. Work sucked, the commute sucked (relatively speaking) and stuff outside of work sucked too. So ya.
Rode home tonight like I was qualifying for a TT. It either helped me blow off some steam, or made me too tired to give a ****. I don't care which one it was, I felt better afterwards.
Rode home tonight like I was qualifying for a TT. It either helped me blow off some steam, or made me too tired to give a ****. I don't care which one it was, I felt better afterwards.
12-12-06, 12:14 AM
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a tailwind is a lovesome thing, god wot.
12-12-06, 08:00 AM
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20Fs, no wind. I made pretty first tracks in frost on the bike bridge with my knobby tires.
I forgot to mention what I saw on Friday as I was leaving work on my bike. It had been the first real cold day of the season here and I saw a jump-start going on between two cars. Glad I don't have to worry about that!
Then almost immediately afterward I heard a crunching sound followed by what sounded like a piece of plastic bouncing on the ground. I turned to see a car trying to exit an ATM, and the driver had somehow hit his side mirror on the structure, knocking it clean off the vehicle. He got out and picked up the mirror and looked at it. I had to turn away. I made sure he left before I did. I didn't want him behind me with those mad driving skillz. 
I forgot to mention what I saw on Friday as I was leaving work on my bike. It had been the first real cold day of the season here and I saw a jump-start going on between two cars. Glad I don't have to worry about that!
Then almost immediately afterward I heard a crunching sound followed by what sounded like a piece of plastic bouncing on the ground. I turned to see a car trying to exit an ATM, and the driver had somehow hit his side mirror on the structure, knocking it clean off the vehicle. He got out and picked up the mirror and looked at it.
I had to turn away. I made sure he left before I did. I didn't want him behind me with those mad driving skillz.
12-12-06, 08:03 AM
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We're having some strangly warm weather for this time of year. This morning it was 40 with a moderate rainfall coming down. Love riding in the rain (though it'd be nicer if it was warmer). Figured out I need to get myself a new reflective vest...the old one I have just doesnt work too well when it's nice and dark out, like it was today.
12-12-06, 08:19 AM
SERENITY NOW!!!
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Cabbies were extra crazy this morning, zig zagging back and forth trying to get a little further ahead and cutting me off numerous times. Made no difference as I gracefully swooped around them and stopped in front of them at red lights. I beat 'em all to work.
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
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12-12-06, 08:22 AM
Life is good
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I haven't posted in a while so thought I'd let everyone know it was gorgeous this morning in Atlanta. Sunny and ~50F (10C) when I left the house. 
Saw lots of bike commuters. I joined up with another bike commuter about 2 miles from work. For some reason he kept getting on the sidewalk when there was traffic behind us.
The ride home should be awesome [for early December] --- 65F (18C) and sun or clouds, depending on which weather person you want to believe.
Saw lots of bike commuters. I joined up with another bike commuter about 2 miles from work. For some reason he kept getting on the sidewalk when there was traffic behind us.
The ride home should be awesome [for early December] --- 65F (18C)
and sun or clouds, depending on which weather person you want to believe.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
12-12-06, 08:26 AM
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Scofflaw and Dawn of the Dead
I got passed by a geared scofflaw on the way in today. He was cranking the big ring doing about 2 km/h faster than I was, but I just couldn't keep up. I was also caught unprepared for his attire - bright blue running shorts! You know, the short kind of shorts? I was thinking, "Who does that?" when he blew through two stop signs at full speed. He then did a high-speed right turn into traffic and was gone.
By the time I actually got downtown, my legs were dead. I made pretty good time yesterday, but today was painful and slow. I'm only on the second day of a three-week stretch where I come in an hour early for work. I'm not a morning person. At all. I feel like a decaffeinated student during finals.
By the time I actually got downtown, my legs were dead. I made pretty good time yesterday, but today was painful and slow. I'm only on the second day of a three-week stretch where I come in an hour early for work. I'm not a morning person. At all. I feel like a decaffeinated student during finals.
12-12-06, 08:35 AM
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In a word, nice. It was about 32-34F starting out, so a little cool, but no wind, and traffic was light. No close calls, no buzzes, no inattentive drivers. Didn't time a couple lights right, but the rest of the ride was great. Should be in the 50's on the way home. The new bike is riding nice, too.
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12-12-06, 08:39 AM
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Had a late night last night since our new dog came home for the first time. He has a cast on his broken leg so we have to carry him up and down the 3 flights of stairs to take him outside. I helped take care of him this morning so I left later than usual. Colder than yesterday by about 5 degrees (30) but felt much colder than that for some reason. My toes were cold when I got to work but my head was sweating. I passed another commuter near the end of my trip and we waved at each other. Here is a picture of our new dog with his cast on
12-12-06, 08:42 AM
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Cuteness level exceeded. Thread locked! What is that? Looks like a bit of a border collie / lab mutt.
What is that? Looks like a bit of a border collie / lab mutt.
