Paul L.

I have made it three weeks without using the car more than one day. I am finding if I don't get my commute in I just don't ride and a big piece of my day is missing. I hit 1000 commuting miles for the year this morning. Beautiful ride in, I was in a hurry and traffic was light so I took the more direct route. I left my windbreaker at home and was glad I did. It was gorgeous weather, temp in the upper 40's , sun was warming things up quickly, just doesn't get any better.

Sailguy

Congrats Paul! Tomorrow I will hit 1000 miles for the year. I would guess about 80% of that is commuting.

With the extra miles I added last night, I took my ride in slow this morning. It was a nice ride. The weather has been incredible. I think that it will be a very warm summer.

Pete Clark

There is a way: take a break.

When you start feeling that persistant, day-to-day tiredness that
seems to disappear while riding, then returns later, it will only get worse unless you take a break. That's the smart thing -- take a day or two off during each week, or make some of your rides embarrassingly easy -- that way, you'll recover in time to ride again next week. But if you don't, there is a possibility you will get seriously exhausted and not be able to recover for an extended period, perhaps weeks.

mtessmer

I've had a good week of commuting (except Monday, heavy snow/zero visablity) but the temps have been below average. It was -5F (-20C). I think the warmest it's gotten was 22F (-6C). Our "normal" average is 19F and 34F (-7C and 1C). It's still been fun but I'm ready for spring.

Andy Dreisch

Great ride in today. I purposefully did nothing (running or biking) M, T, and Wednesday because I was "breaking down" and needed some downtime. I had a great time at basketball last night so today's ride in was therapeutic.

SBeach

3rd day this week to a new location, a little farther (14 miles).
Great weather, 45 degrees according to Southern Lumbers thermometer, clear, light tail wind. Lots of new potholes to dodge.
Looking forward to the ride home. FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY!!!!!
Steve

Andy Dreisch

Biked from work to Willow Glen for dinner - 12 miles. Got there about 20 minutes before my wife and one of my kids and a visiting niece ... and it got pretty chilly while I was waiting. When they arrived I did the quick change in the van, became human again, and enjoyed an excellent meal!!

Jean Beetham Smith 

Today was a lot warmer, well above freezing, so Dan gave me lift to work so I could ride VR home after Thersday's heavy snow made me leave her there. You know it is spring when everyone you see smiles and waves to you, cyclists mean spring!

Sailguy

Got my new commuter finally! I haven't ridden it since I got it setup for the commute. Tomorrow morning will be the test ride.

Sailguy

Another pic

Chris L

I'm jealous.

Andy Dreisch

Sailguy, is that a Trek 520? Sloping top tube is cool. I have the same light setup. I put the battery on the bottom water bottle holder. Yours is a lot cleaner than mine right now !!

mtessmer

Sailguy, nice set up, it looks like you're all set for anything, beautiful bike.

Sailguy

First commute report. I love this bike!! I can't believe I have been rattling around on my speed machine for this long on my comute. The 520 soaks up the road noise wonderfully.

The modifications I did straight up were to swap the default tires for Conti Gator Skins (28's). Add the fenders, and move everything else I didn't want on my road bike onto this one.

I am short one bottle cage right now (the shop didn't have 3 matching ones). I should be able to pick the 3rd up this week. As for my battery, it will be on the bottom cage, but I lost my original short connector wire. (When mounted on my other bike, the battery was strapped to the seat tube) So once I get that, I will move it back to the bottom cage.

I think I am going to get a Brooks B17 to replace the current saddle. I don't think I like it too much.

Andy yes, its a 520. I am sure it will get filthy soon enough. Rain friday is in the forecast.

mtessmer thanks, I hope it will get me places far and wide for many years to come!

caloso

Great commute setup, Sailguy. Looks like you're able to bike anytime, anywhere.

My ride in was very casual this morning. Spent Saturday and Sunday in the back yard preparing the garden for spring so I'm a bit tired today. Tomorrow I'll have a long "detour" on the way to work.

John C. Ratliff

I had a very nice ride to work this morning, but something of a surprise when I went to go home. For the second time, my front tire had exploded! I keep my bicycle in a bike locker when I'm at work, and apparently it heated up a bit. I had pumped the tires up to their rated pressure in the morning (90 psi for the rear, and 100 psi for the front). Luckily, I had a spare tube in my panniers, and a short walk to the service station to fill it. But my planned ride didn't happen the way I wanted this evening.

I'm going to work out the math about how high the pressure can get and report back. In the meantime, I'm taking a pump to work tomorrow, and will release pressure from both tires, then pump them back up in the evening. This is the second time this winter that this has happened--same bike, different wheel and tire. This time the tire was undamaged (new tire--the first time, the tire itself was not usable, and I ended jogging home).

John

Ed Holland

John, that sounds like a very strange problem... have you checked that the rim-tape is in good shape? This has caused me grief in the past. Also check for any burrs on the rim or near the valve hole. Apologies if I'm preaching to the converted

We have strong south westerly winds at the moment, so I get a push to work in the morning and a tougher ride home. At least the weather is warmer, so I can abandon the jacket and booties.

Cheers,

Ed

pinerider

Back on the bike today, felt good, but a little chilly at -12 C (10 F) and a cross wind. The lift bridge opened a week early so I'm back to the short 12 km each way commute when in a hurry (today) and the long 22km when I feel like going for a ride. Supposed to warm up to seasonal temps, -2 C this afternoon, up to maybe +8 on the weekend. I'm looking forward to warmer temps!

mtessmer

They say that we might start seeing some spring like weather by the end of the week. When I rode yesterday it was -6F (-21C) and only got up to 12F (-11C). Today it started off at 20F (-6C). We have allot of snow cover but the roads are good... think spring! My winter bike is getting pretty saggy with all the salt and crap, it's going to need a complete going over before next winter.

SBeach

Nice ride in this morning. Partly cloudy and warm, around 55-60F at 6:00am. Supposed to rain in the next few days, but for now it's pretty nice. For us in the Bay Area, spring has sprung, but them winter as many of you know it, never really occurs.
Steve

tchazzard

Another day with strong head winds and a dragging brake. Nothing like these two things to give one a good workout. Made for slow going. Once again I did not figure out the brake was dragging until 7 miles into my commute. Up to that point I had thought it was all about the head wind.

caloso

Had to take the car into the shop today. And it's just another opportunity to lengthen my commute. Stuck the bike on the rack, dropped off the car, and rode into work. No big whoop.

Sailguy

Day two report.. Climbed over Mt Eden/Pierce Rd to see how well the hills were under load. I have reinforced my argument to myself to swap out the 36 granny for a 26 or so. I couldn't imagine climbing steeper hills than 8% under load with the gearing I have now.

The bike is a bit slower on the downhills than my old one, but that is to be expected. It handles wonderfully.

There is rain expected later this week so I will make sure to get in lots of extra miles this eve and tomorrow. I am assuming that my saturday club ride will be cancelled.

SBeach

Sailguy,
That is a very nice bike. But I'm suprised the granny is a 36. That seems big for a touring bike. I need small. I have 22 granny and still had to walk up part of Metcalf last year in Tierra Bella.
Will you be on your new Trek or your 'sports car' bike for TB this year?
Steve

Sailguy

SBeach, yeah its is high for a touring gear.. All the reviews I read about the bike said so. Bicycle Outfitter is letting me swap straight-up for the smaller ring.

As for TB, I am going to use the Trek. I want to be able to finish the ride after climbing metcalf. I am still not as strong at hills as I would like to be. But they don't scare me anymore, which is a good plus.

My thought right now is I will refuse to walk, but I won't be afraid to stop for a breather. (We'll see if I keep that thought in a couple weeks. )