Owie! I had a couple of bugs bounce off me yesterday, but luckily none of them did so pointy end first. The idea of a wasp inside my clothing is giving me the heebie jeebies.

See if you can get your hands on a bit of raw onion, or some baking soda (make a paste with water), and slap that on the sting. Either will help to neutralize the venom a bit and reduce the irritation. And taking an antihistamine would probably also help. (You aren't acutely allergic, but your body is still going to be going into defensive mode)

Went for a commute-type ride with my gf (she lives near where I work, it's almost the same route) on Sunday that got cut short due to the absolutely horrible metal grinding noise that started coming from my bottom bracket! Luckily we stopped to eat near a friend's place whom I knew for sure had a bottle of Phil Woods Tenacious Oil... Squeezed a bit into the BB and started to sound normal. (ie. silent)

Further inspection on Monday showed that the shaft is bent. A bit more Phil Woods and everything was fine for the ride today. I suspect it's been bent since before I got the bike and the rain I rode through on Friday worked in some grit and diluted the oil already present. That being said, I'm gonna start carrying a small bottle of oil with me from now on...

littlewaywelt, I saw your other thread about this. I understand being gun shy today. This is one of those times you have to just get back on the bike. Personally, I'd rather die doing something I love--biking, playing Ultimate--than just sitting at home watching TV.

Remember....the coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one.

I know it's statistically unlikely, but it was still hard to ride off to work watching the kids behind me knowing that there are some bozos out there literally gunning for us. My choice to ride seemed selfish. I'll be using my slower but safer neighborhood commuting route from now on.

111 degrees today and 16% humidity. Hit almost all the green lights... I went helmetless this afternoon. this beer I'm drinking tastes great.

good choice. that's what I'd do.

32C / 90F and 75% humidity. And that's in the shade. Decided to wear a t-shirt on the ride in and change when I got into work. A wise decision...

Also, traffic was a bit crazier than usual this morning.

Crazy stuff today. People turning in front of me, turning (almost) into me... jeez! I actually had to yell to get a driver's attention today, which I have to do very very infrequently.

But a pleasant ride otherwise. :D

Great ride in today. Haulin But! The ride home from work was cool. The In-laws pased me on the way home. They had the kids. My 6yo thought it was cool that Dad was riding his bike :p I decided to "show off" and hit 22mph on the cyclocomputer! Then I hit the bridge.... I was dyin!

Billy

Just a one way commute...but I made it!

I am seriously out of shape. the 6 miles to work is all uphill (just one short dip downhill for about 100 yards then things flatten out once I hit the shopping center) and although I did feel it, my morning was great once I got there.

Today was my first day commuting by road bike since high school. I've done tons of mountain biking, XC racing, downhill, BMX...but riding to work and not starting up the car was such a good feeling...I'll be doing it again tomorrow.

The bike does need work. The 1/4 mile on gravel roads to the highway was sketchy as hell on 20c tires. Swapped those out for 28c at the shop for more cush...then had to redish the rear wheel to make them barely fit! I may have to compromise on 25c. The drop bars suck and I'm thinking about going with cowhorns and barend shifters since the brifters have just about had it. Can't complain too much with a free bike. Any other upgrade suggestions for "time trialing" to work would be appreciated.

The roads were still wet from last night's rain, and the humidity must have been 99%, but still a pretty pleasant ride.

Is there something wrong with the forums? I click "next page" and it refreshes the same page. Mods? :) Edit: Wait, this post turned up as the first post on the next page. Curious.

2.5-mile hike to the bus for me today. Bike is at the LBS being tuned up. Actually, it's done, so I have to go get it today. New pads, adjustments here and there. It's in fairly good shape for 2000 miles. The chain is starting to stretch though.

I saw a sign on a tree, and it got me to thinking. The sign said, "NO DUMPING". Do people need a sign to tell them not to put trash in the woods? What's wrong with these people?

Duse, you have no idea.... If you go on "Clean up" expidetions with the Boy Scouts, you will be amazed at what you find...

My son and I always bring a trashbag with us when we go to the local fishin hole. Its always full when we leave, and we leave the hole a little better than we found it. I need to get some waders to go get the stuff in the water (Tire & other junk)

Billy

Ride home last night was excellent. Hit a little rain about 1 mile from my house. I did see a nice 8 point buck in a field. I'm seriously considering starting to carry my camera.

Ride in to work this morning was excellent as well. My hardest thing in the morning is dragging my arse out of bed and getting on the bike. The 1st mile is a killer, my legs take some time getting adjusted and after that, I feel like I go forever. Saw a baby raccoon this morning. Its suppose to thunderstorm today, as long as there isn't lightning I'll ride the 18 miles home otherwise, I'll end up calling my wife to pick me up.

I almost wish that the government would make you put so many miles on a bicycle before they allowed you to get you driver's license. My wife used to waitress and wished the same thing, that before you were allowed to go out and eat, you had to be a waiter or waitress. Maybe people would respect cyclist a little more on the road.

The sound of rain, hail, thunder, and the visuals of lightning filling the house with white light woke everyone up around 5am. I asked my wife to drive me in, but by the time I was in the shower the hail had stopped so I rode in. My rain gear worked surprisingly well.

Hot I can deal with. Rain I can deal with. Put the two together and it equals me being soaked whether I wear rain gear or not so I took the subway. :(

Had a nice slow easy going ride in, took the streets as I left later - legs still feel fairly tired but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Had a lady toot me as I was stopping for streetcar doors, I think me still pedaling made her think I wasn't stopping.

Can't wait to ride more, but I need to be careful with my legs!

Funny you mention that. I was riding home yesterday when a car passed me, and I felt this sharp piercing sensation in my chest. My intial thought was that the car's tire shot a pebble back at me. As I was rubbing my wound, I felt another sharp sting on the right side of my chest and realized there was a wasp/bee/steroid-enhanced mosquito or something and I instinctively crushed him under my tank and shook him out immediately without looking to see what it was. I, too, had the spreading red blotch, well three of them actually and I was surprised at how long my chest was stinging.

There was a lovely thunderstorm going on this morning so I took transit (plus I wanted to finish my book, a bit hard to do on the bike). My boyfriend was half awake and *****ing about all the noise - he thought I was slamming doors or something. Once I told him it was a thunderstorm he kind of subsided. At least it cooled things down a bit! Gah, I can't take too many more of these hot nights.

I had a rabbit run about 2 feet in front of my tire. 2 minutes later, another one came by. Missed that one by about 2 inches. Real scary.

Also noticed that one of my Look cleats is chipped. Foot is not secure in the pedal and I'm overcompensating. Might borrow a car and run out at lunch for a new set of cleats.

Don't you know that it's common to ride a bike around calgary while reading your favourite novel? :D

You and me both. I've never been a morning person. I think the only reason I cope with the first mile is my brain is still in a state of post-wakeup shock and my legs are just in complete denial and disbelief that I'm asking them to do this at bloody 7am... :p

Going to be a hot ride home today - actual sunshine spotted in Oxfordshire! It's been sodding miserable/overcast for most of July so far. Might have to stop for a nice cold pint at the pub a mile or so from home.

Hee. DO NOT tempt me!!

Warm, humid, and just a spitting of rain. Feels like we got Wisconsin's weather by mistake. But it makes my old Trek feel right at home.

Uneventful and generally quiet.

The love affair with the new bike continues. I must post photos (of the bike, not the affair).

It's raining in Boston...and me with no rain gear. If this don't let up, it may be the T Ride of Semi-Shame to get home tonight.

Raining again. Must have really rained hard yesterday, my gloves never dried out at work. Was dry for the trip home, and they were dry this am. Pouring rain while I distributed the kids this morning, and later when I went to the dentist, but stopped by the time I headed from dentist to work. I wore my raincoat, that I seldom break out >40F, just so I wouldn't have to sit in the dentist chair in a wet shirt. That worked. I knew I should have packed the coat to go to work rather than worn it, but I did, and now I have a sweaty rather than rainy back.

My timing today was impeccable. I had to go in to work early to set up for a big meeting, so I set my alarm 30 minutes early. It went off and I stayed in bed. I eventually got up, showered, went back to bed, only to be awakened by thunder 2 minutes later. It was raining cats and dogs outside! I squinted out the window, saw that I was pretty much guaranteed to get soaked, and got ready to ride. 3 minutes later, I stepped out the door and got on my bike. The rain ended right then, and other than road spray that escaped my fenders, I made it to work completely dry.

Spent the evening at my g/f's place so my commute was shorter than normal. It's been raining off and on all day but luckily I missed most of the heavy stuff. Quiet ride for the most part. I'm originally from West Texas where it's flat and dry with no trees...so getting to ride anywhere in Portland is a treat--but I love going over the Hawthorne Bridge. If only we could keep the pedestrians off of it...

Not as bad as it could have been. Misplaced my keys and left later than usual, rode smack into the resulting mayhem but missed the blast itself.

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