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How was the commute today?

Old 03-11-03, 06:53 PM
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Nice ride in this AM. No rain! plus I got to try out some new cycling duds I ordered.

Which brings me to a question I have for those who speak the Queen's english. I just bought a pair of what we in the States call knickers. They are bib tights that end just below the knee. If the term 'knickers' refers to undergarments, what do you all call tights such as the one's I just got?

In any case they are the perfect weight for the mid 40's and damp weather we've been having.
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Old 03-11-03, 08:29 PM
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Yesterday I had to stay at work late, so it was after 9 when I got home. So I felt a little slow and plodding going in this morning. Late again today, but at least it wasn't as bad. Working late interfers with my commuting quality. This has got to stop! After all, I do have my priorities.
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Old 03-12-03, 06:01 AM
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Nice day, nice ride, light traffic, heavy load. My 18.5 mile ride took me 1 hour 12 minutes.
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Old 03-12-03, 07:07 AM
  #1829  
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I looked out the window when I got up this morning and it was beautiful. It wasn't until I opened the garage door that I noticed the frost. Too late to wimp out so off I rode. I'm definately glad I did. Not a cloud in the sky, polite motorists, no vicious dogs. Just great.

Now if I can just find a way to get around riding across/down Sandy Ridge Rd... 1/4 mile of my commute has 3 out of 6 stop lights on the ride and by far the longest wait for traffic. Time to study the map some more.

Dave
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Old 03-12-03, 07:43 AM
  #1830  
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Crazy traffic in town this morning, it was cold, wet and grey AND the wind changed overnight to be a headwind this morning. I still love riding!

Cheers,

Ed
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Old 03-12-03, 07:53 AM
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Looked a little rain-ish this morning (forecast called for snow), temp around 0 C, so I ventured out with the rain pants on. Took a shortcut through the drug store parking lot to get by a bus at an intersection. Found out the earlier rain was freezing rain on the sidewalk! A short quick dump as I was crossing the sidewalk, landed on my shoulder, no injury to me, but the jolt to the bike loosened the front brake cable (rear was already out of adjustment and only worked a little). I couldn't stop, only slow down the rest of the way to work, but it turned out I didn't have to, anyways.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, it was a nice change to not have to wait for the water bottle to thaw to have a drink at the end of the ride!!
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Old 03-12-03, 10:16 AM
  #1832  
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Superb. No wind (I've missed the last two days because of gales) and beautiful clear skies. Also, I'm using thicker tyres (Michelin World Tours 27x11/4,) but they run really well.
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Old 03-12-03, 02:36 PM
  #1833  
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Had a tailwind all the way in. At first I thought I was just really strong today but then I started getting up over 27 mph on the flat sections and had to face the fact that I didn't turn into Lance Armstrong overnight as I saw the bushes waving in the breeze as I passed . It was a beautiful day. The high is supposed to be in the upper 80's and the morning was just wonderful. Have to enjoy this weather while it lasts, we are just weeks from getting into the 90's and after that, pre-dawn riding to take advantage of cool temperatures!
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Old 03-12-03, 06:30 PM
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Except for the headwind, it was a lovely ride in, lots of chipmunks and squirrels were out, and even the deer were still out. I actually could see the edge of the pavement most of the way to work. Best of all, coming home I had my lights on to be seen!
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Old 03-12-03, 06:35 PM
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A bit muggy on the way in. Hard to complain, I know.
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Old 03-12-03, 07:19 PM
  #1836  
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Hailaceous! The Seattle area is getting rocked by the annual blowout windstorm that we get every spring. My commute to school is only a cupla miles, so I took the long way just to get blown around. It's invigorating to be out in a dry windstorm that's howling so hard you can practically lean on it.
Woohoo!!
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Old 03-12-03, 08:39 PM
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Third time commuting since winter...gorgeous morning ride in with a light rain. When will I get it through my thick skull that riding to work puts me in such a better mood.
Nice afternoon weather on the ride home. Headwind against me the entire way...averaged about 15 mph while tucked.
Got a shout of encouragement from a guy in an accord...not quite the attention I was looking for, but I guess any encouragement is good encouragement. :-)
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Old 03-12-03, 09:13 PM
  #1838  
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Nice ride home. I hooked up on my ride with someone from the LBS (Bicycle Outfitter for you locals). We had a good conversation. His ride is very similar to mine, and I am suprised I have not run into him sooner. It made for a much quicker, and less trying commute. I still made great time, but the grind part of the ride was completely removed.

The rain starts sometime tomorrow. I can't wait!
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Old 03-13-03, 06:13 AM
  #1839  
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Beautiful. Clear skies, light frost, but the sun was burning it off. Had a beautiful view of the sunrise over the Forth Bridge. No wind and the river is like a mill pond.

Except for a pillock in a BMW who cut across me, my ride in unmarred by incident.

High pressure centred over Scotland so looks fine for the next few days.
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1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
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(YES I LIKE STEEL)
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Old 03-13-03, 06:41 AM
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Chewa - there's always one....

Not so sunny here this morning, but cool, calm and dry so the ride was really enjoyable. Hoping it stays that way this evening.

Cheers all,

Ed
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Old 03-13-03, 08:19 AM
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Gray, cloudy and windy with a threat of rain.

Aside from an alternate beginning to my route, it was pretty much a standard ride in until my front tire developed a leak about a quarter-mile from my office.

A small piece of glass.

Through the Kevlar belt.

I walked it in.

eh.
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Old 03-13-03, 10:49 AM
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Tailwind last night and this morning. Got a flat in a bad part of town. Used two more patches bring the tube total to four (tube punctured on both sides)! I will have to get another patch kit soon. I guess it is still cheaper than new tubes. Anyway, Two more beautiful commutes finished. These tailwinds going wherever I am going are really nice, it is nice not to have to race the lights sometimes.
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Old 03-13-03, 11:24 AM
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well, no riding for me today, last night on the way home on my fully loaded commuter, (about 70 pounds of bike and gear), I hit a huge pothole and broke 3 spokes and bent my back rim so it's repair time for me, I think I'll use this opportunity to shed the studs untill next year. I hope to be back in business by Saturday morning.
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Old 03-13-03, 11:54 AM
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Originally posted by greg360
Hailaceous! The Seattle area is getting rocked by the annual blowout windstorm that we get every spring. My commute to school is only a cupla miles, so I took the long way just to get blown around. It's invigorating to be out in a dry windstorm that's howling so hard you can practically lean on it.
Woohoo!!
Uh oh! I hear that storm's heading down here! Cloudy and breezy but no rain yet. You can tell that we're ahead of the front. Hope it holds until 5:30 tonight.
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Old 03-13-03, 11:59 AM
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my 9th day in a row commuting (a record I think) - but I won't be biking tomorrow due to some evening committments

a beautiful day but now thats its getting warmer it getting harder to judge how many layers I need - today I was definitely overdressed
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Old 03-13-03, 06:29 PM
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This mornings commute was nice. I was very sleep deprived and had a real hard time getting out of bed. 12 miles later a cold rain driven by a headwind woke me up and I realized that I was having fun. Can't beat the ride into the office for starting the day off feeling good. I've even stopped drinking coffee in the AM because I'm so energized from my ride.

Tuesday's ride home was scary, but I think I scared the driver more than he scared me. I was bombing downhill in a marked bicycle lane (in the dark and rain) when a car passed me and signaled a right turn. I sat up and started to brake when I saw him stop and wait for me. I kept going and he turned right in front of me. I stopped in time, sort of. My back tire slid out and I hit his car sideways, but with no force of impact.

Anyway from the time I started breaking I had an episode of 'traffic tourrets syndrom'. The dude driving was white-faced and very appologetic, so we said "no harm, no foul" and I rode off.

I'd sure like to be more zen in these situations, but sometimes my mouth does run on ahead of me.
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Old 03-13-03, 06:39 PM
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Originally posted by OsoGuevara
'traffic tourrets syndrom'.
This is brilliant! (I too suffer from TTS.)
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Old 03-13-03, 06:47 PM
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If the driver does something where they obviously don't see me, I play the passive agressive role. I smile and wave at the person, making sure they notice me and feel like a moron. If I can, I try to slap their car. Especially since it did just misbehave.
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Old 03-13-03, 07:11 PM
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3inches of slippery, slimey, slush. At least most of the snow this winter has been powder. This is the first of the spring slushes. It could be the last if it wanted to, I'm ready for rain.
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Old 03-13-03, 08:35 PM
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The ride home was windy and lightly rainy. Tomorrow is going to be even more fun with the storm that is blowing in!
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