Nice ride in. I got to ride the new/used bike in today. Its alot faster then my MTB!!!

I need to get a rack for it though, I cant stand backpacks. I might even splurge for some of the $25 panniers on Nashbar instead of a milk crate on this one.......

I usually stop in those situations. Kids are a bit unpredictable and you never know when one will dart out in front of you. That's the reason those buses have all those safety features and the law to back them up.

I have accidently hit a kid that darted out in between two cars into the street. There was no room to stop and I was alongside a minivan and just couldn't see the 3ft something kid while he was in between the cars. I was not in the wrong but I felt real bad for having hurt him. So any chance I have to not hurt a kid, I will take.

I was arrested and took a beating over the weekend so I hadn't commuted until today, but I had to go downtown to see a lawyer and since my wife works down there I just strapped the bike to the back, dropped the keys off with her, and biked it home (well, to the coffee shop next to home). I've decided that I'm ready to ride again, just not carry any appreciable amount of weight on my back yet. After about 6 miles my back was already killing me under the weight of my laptop, some books, my tool bag and a few other odds-and-ends (computer hard drive, geeky gamer stuff).

The ride itself was nice and I'm glad to be back on my bike. No more maglite blows to the back, please. :)

Where is AZ was this?!

No commute due to no bike yet, but a question:

I inserted where I live and my destination on google maps. It shows my trip as 4.2 miles and about 10 minutes while driving. From looking at it, it looks way more then 4.2 miles hah. My question is, how long of a bike ride is it?

Should we even ask?

TranDZ: 4.2 miles is around 15-20 mins. depending on how fast you can ride and the roads you ride on.

My commute home was uneventful. Yay!

WTF? sounds bad. geez, hope you're okay...

my commute was much less painful. the weather in Boston is still weird with huge gusts of wind from the NNE and chilly rain.

My ride home tonight was a mix of hard intervals and pushing along at a strong steady pace- I was pretty wiped out by the time I got home.

Well the roads are paved, and sidewalks are empty that early so I can use them to not have a school bus behind me. And average speed I guess. Don't have energy at 6:30 AM to do much :(.

Driving rain in the inbound route. Rain pants sprung a major leak. Spare socks in the locker...were missing 1 sock. Gads. Brrr cold wet socks for first few hours.

Discovered that you can dry the sock while on the foot with a paper towel. Then wrap the foot with another and put the sock back on.Another paper towel around outside of sock...instant warm feet. Socks were dry in 1 hr!

:p warm feet! But I'll bring a fresh spare pare tomorrow and plug that leak :p

I don't think the map measures its own directions inaccurately... If it says 4.2 miles, it's 4.2 miles.

Depends on too many factors. But if there are no extreme hills etc, I'd say 15-20 minutes, depending on the rider. But don't rely on Google maps to give you the best biking route. Instead, look at the map and plot the route yourself, e.g. at www.gmap-pedometer.com. This way you get to choose the streets you like and possibly incorporate shortcuts, bike paths etc. that Google doesn't know about.

I pass a golf course on my short 2 mile-commute. I noticed a golf club sock lying on the sidewalk in the cart path. I stopped and said to the nearby golfers "Hey, you dropped a sock!" One of them jogged over and got it, thanking me. Good deed for the day, +1

Well, as we learn later in this thread, you dropped it on the golf course. :D

If those sidewalks have driveways, be careful about a combo of even average biking speed and sidewalks. Check this out for tips on urban riding.

Due to several factors, this morning was my first commute this year. Cool air had me reaching for the balaclava, but I found it too restrictive for breathing (it's made for motorcycles). About 3 miles in, my mirror fell off my helmet. I stopped, waited on traffic to clear, and retrieved it. Event free after that. It's good to be back on the bike. But I have GOT to streamline my routine. It took me 1.5 hrs to get from my driveway to my office. Distance is 11 miles. I know my speed isn't great, but I seem to be wasting a lot of time getting ready, getting into work and getting a shower.

Last nights rain was wet.
This mornings ride was cool and nice. And it's getting warmer. Soon it's shorts and tshirts! Wooo!

I didn't ride yesterday because of forecasted rain, so of course it didn't rain. The ride in this morning was good. I met a co-worker at his apartment and we rode the last 1.5 miles in to the office together. Shorts and a t-shirt today.

Niiiiiiice today. First morning it has really felt like spring. :love: Sunny, bit of a tailwind, lots of birds out.

A guy on an MTB came out on the MUP behind me. I was running my knobbies and kinda tired so he was a bit faster than me. He went around and we exchanged comments about the weather. Later I caught him at a red light and we talked about tires (he had studs) and bike stuff as we climbed the hill toward my building.

Best commute in a long time. Need to put my slicks back on though.

And I want to know why livewirerc got arrested and beaten. :eek:

Today was the first day of the year I thought to myself "Geeze, its good to be bike commuting!" For the rest of April I was thinking "Staying healthy. Saving money. Helping the environment. So cold..."

Ottawa weather blows.

No commute today. Recovery day.

Anyhow, yesterday the winds were from the S or SE. I commute North and NW. What a tailwind! I averaged 19 mph and hit 34 mph on the flats without sprinting. The only problem encountered was descending a hill at over 30 mph when I must have hit something and pinch flatted my rear tire. A 700X23 tire going flat during a descent is something else. Anyhow, safely brought the bike to a stop and swapped the tube out after determining how it flatted. I think I need to check my PSI before every ride. It was down about 20 in the front.

A little late today, so I hit the peak traffic. 1/2 mile backups at intersections. I passed a nice looking `vette which was cool.

Second flat of the year so I was even later. Looks like I'm going to be looking for new tires. I think I've busted the fatter tires equal fewer flats myth. 2nd in 500 miles, new tires.

None of the snow we had in the last 24 hrs stuck to the road, so it was just sort of wet. I'll be a lot happier once I get onto my new bike with full fenders. I got cut off by an Acura MDX on the way in - I was 1 car length away from its right turn, but it just had to get there ahead of me. I slam on the brakes and look over my left shoulder for an escape route, then had to dodge as the SUV slammed on its brakes to allow a pedestrian to cross on the sidewalk. Oi! Some people's kids...

Commuted via cage today. Going to the mountains tomorrow, and want fresh legs for hiking up Brasstown Bald in the morning to watch the TdG.

Windy and a little chilly but it still made for a fast ride in. Rode the cross bike with no bag on my back. Gotta love the Carradice. Winds are supposed to gust up to 40mph today.

The arrest was probably warranted (alleged criminal trespass), but the officers' over-enthusiastic means of restraining me went a bit far, specifically the mace after I was cuffed and restrained. Ah well, hindsight's 20/20 and all that.

Todays ride was awesome! I left my bag at home and just packed my pump, multi-tool and patch kit. Much nicer on the back. The weather is shorts warm and I didn't have any issues on my way in. I'm looking forward to a nice, long, leisurely ride home.