Hello everyone, I introduced myself in the intro thread, but hello again!

My commute is 10 miles each way, about 50/50 on the road and cycle track. Today was glorious, the weather was cool and sunny. I didn't get buzzed and generally drivers were well behaved. Saw some kids stealing zinc off a roof on the cycle track. Sometimes I think people will steal anything, even if it has no value, just because it is there!

Did the 10 miles in about half an hour and seeing as my route is quite hilly, I was pleased with that.

No arm warmers!!! More sweat!!! Daylight is creaping in quicker making the ride better - and safer. I did intervals yesterday, a morning commute the day before, and a 60 mile race/ride before that. I'm pooped. But I love commuting the in the mornings no matter how slow or painful. More people are out waiting for buses or walking or going to the cafe. It's nice to see that.

'Twas in the 30s today so I dressed in cool weather gear. Not much wind. I seem to be matching the commute times I used to get on my old Peugeot, so I guess my legs have adapted to the Trek. That, and the "slicks" get rid of some drag. I'm wondering what would happen if I converted the French bike to fixed gear.

Saw a regular bike commuter heading the other way, plus some ducks, and a few dogs taking their humans for walks. Another nice commute.

WTF. Will it ever warm up in Rochester!??! Woke up to 39 degrees. Wait, let me rephrase, woke up 30 minutes late to 39 degrees. I was expecting 50, not 39. Anyway, because I can't figure out an alarm clock I was running around trying to get everything together and get out the door but that just slowed me down even more. Ever notice that when you're rushing you don't actually get anywhere any faster? How's that saying go, "fast is slow, smooth is quick"? Something like that, either way I wasn't smooth this morning. Anyway, I thought I had everything ready to go but since I wasn't expecting the low temps half my gear wasn't ready.

When I finally got out the door the ride wasn't too bad. I was expecting more traffic because of the time but it wasn't that bad. Must be a lot of other people with alarm troubles today too. I passed one other commuter on the MUP, and then passed him again. WTF? Obviously he knows of a short cut that I don't. Must find it. Did my 22.3 miles in 1:27 (rolling time) which is pretty good for me.

10c (50f). Took the backway today. Very direct route!! 3.5km total! Still took me 20 minutes, I followed the train tracks. Rode in a T, Shorts and shades. Summer is here!

Woo-hoo! I switched to the lightweight jacket today! I felt faster! Exclamation!

50F, and 20mph headwind, dangit! pretty slow ride in. Hope the wind is till here as a tail-wind this afternoon...
Beautiful sunny day out there.

We already got our 1 nice weekend for the year, stop being greedy.

Came within 2 feet of getting right-hooked today.

The last half-mile of my route has a bike lane (and I use it). The road there is signed every 100 yards or so saying, "Right turns yield to cyclists". Yeah.

My building has two entrances off that road. I take the 2nd one. As I approached the first one, a black BMW passed me and then made the right run into the entrance; if I'd been going any faster I'd have T-boned him. I gave him the "WTF?!" gesture, and quickly realized that, parking being what it is in this building, he'd probably be cruisng the lot for another 5 minutes. So I went in my entrance, rode around to the lot, and sure enough, there he was. I rode up if front of him (he was trying to turn onto the lane I was in), then around to his window. He said, "What are you doing?"

"I'm letting you know there are signs all along that road that read, 'Right turns yield to cyclists'".

"Uh, the truck behind me was riding up my tail, so I had to make the turn, sorry."

"Yeah. Right." And I rode off.

As I think about it, he had his child-safety seat in the front seat of his car, even though the BMW had a back seat. Here's hoping he drives better when his kid's in the car...and if he doesn't that the kid doesn't pay for his father's stupidity. :(

Similar to last 2 days, 45F and near drizzly. Nice though. I could live with this if we're well and truly done w/ frost.

I forgot to post this, but the other day I was riding my bike through Midtown to an eye appointment. I was in full-Fred mode: office clothes, dork bands on the cuffs, regular dress shoes on clipless pedals. A white Honda passes me and a young guy in dreadlocks leans out the window and starts clapping, like way to go dorky guy on a bike!

The ride in yesterday morning was uneventful except for negotiating the aftermath of the cherry creek trail flooding. Sand, debris, puddles of water, etc. A portion of the trail was still under several inches of water and I completely soaked my shoes. At least it was 40 degrees.

The ride home drenched me in the first few miles with an unforcasted rain fall. I did manage to dry off after a half hr. Later that ride I was passing a meth addict, she turned and smiled at me, and then spit at me! Fortunately, I was cruising at 20 mph and it missed me. Called her a nasty name that rhymes with witch without stopping and rode on to pick up my son at day care.

This morning I skipped my recovery day due to the fact that I need to pick up my son at daycare again. It is much faster to use a bike than the bus. Anyhow, I accomplished one of the most difficult things possible for me.... a recovery ride. Kept the heart rate low and rode at about 15mph or less to the light rail. I remember riding the same distance last year and it kicked my arse. Now I use it for a recovery. It should be something like 30 miles today.

Ride to visit my daughter went well last night, pretty good speeds held at most points, barely any wind so I had just a nice breeze.

I had to take my daughter in for an ear test and stuff this morning, so we used the bus and after I dropped her back off at home I rode in. Much cooler today, and it rained while we were indoors. Wind was pretty strong, but blowing west which helped me no end. I took Danforth/Bloor all the way over from Main to Spadina with an incredible tailwind at times - that portion of the trip I averaged 18+mph (actual speeds of 23-25mph between stop lights). South on Spadina was windy with one HELL of a gusty crosswind blowing me about here and there. Other than the usual silliness from drivers, was a fantastic ride in despite the weather (I donned my lifavest too, though had only shorts - which was fine). 29 mins for 7.6 miles, 15.6 average according to my computer. Felt awesome. :)

Took the Manhattan Bridge for the first time today. Road up to the entrance on Tillary Street and asked a few cops where the bike entrance was. "Just go straight ahead. You can't miss it." I go straight ahead and get pinched between the main entrance and a merging lane. No Bike entrance. I'm craning my neck looking for it but can't see one. I haul my bike and a heavy pannier over a concrete fence onto some grass. Look around and see what looks like a ped-walk. Haul the bike over another concrete collision wall and find a ped walk. Ride up the hill and voila, I'm met with a chain link fence blocking the way. I look the other way and see a hardcore biker commuter on the lower street and I turnaround and find the right side bike lane across the bridge. 50% of the bike going over are fixed gear guys. Ugly and rough path in the shade the whole way. The steel joints by the landinds are not road-wheel friendly to say the least. Glad I took the MTB. Chilly day. Lots and lots of cops today.

Chilly but nice this monring. The clock/thermometer at the car dealership said 68f degrees. I believe that it was closer to 28f degrees.

I must have a good tolerance to the cold. T-shirt, light windbreaker, tights, full finger gloves and a fleece beaine was good enough.

My new[new to me] sexy bike should be at the house when I get home. But, I won't get to play with it until I get back from the Thursday night MTB ride at Ute Valley park.

So in other words, I have to ride home to go on a bike ride then come home and assemble a bike so I can ride it to work in the morning. It's a freakin sickness I tell ya!

Don

No commute today. Dr's visit, get sinus infection dx'd, get prescription for Z-pack filled, take medication, and haul butt to the office to work on non existent issues.
Oh well, maybe I can bike in tomorrow.

Today was my first bike commute in a while. I rode in on a vintage-y Raleigh road bike that I bought yesterday. My typical commuter is a converted Gary Fisher. Today's ride was a lot different than I'm used to... riding the GF, I'm a very fast and aggressive rider. I work up a sweat and am always going at full tilt. But on the Raleigh, I was a different rider altogether. Maybe I'm just not used to the friction shifting, but the desire to push myself just wasn't there. And I *think* I enjoyed the commute more because of it.

Awesome ride...gas prices inching up...we'll see what tonight's price is.

Rode 5mi each way to school (PUC in Hammond IN) gas is $2.97..... I'm likeing this more and more...

Billy

I've committed to commuting 3 - 4 days a week from now through the end of the school year. It's just under 20 miles round trip with the AM ride slightly down hill and the ride home a bit up! No real wind issues on the commute but 10 - 12 hours on my feet, before any riding time and the trip home has been a challenge. I'm averaging 16.8 mph on the way to school and 11.1 on the way home. AM commute runs about 33 minutes but the ride home is close to 51-52. Traffic has been easy (I travel opposite the heavy flow) and weather has not been much of a factor.

Had a couple of incidents of wrong way cyclists in bike lanes. Annoying but they got out of my way... one ran a stop sign like it wasn't there with traffic present. Also on a lunchtime ride saw some guy on a bike cross with out even looking a major 4lane road nearly killing himself. He seemed unphased. Part of me wonders if he was doped on something. Somedays I understand why cagers have such a negative view... then again... everyday I understand why cyclists have a negative view of cagers. Anyway I like to think these clowns make motorists appreciate the fact that I actually stop for signals and signs.

The fun part of the commute was getting caught in a good downpour on the way home. Made me feel about 10 years old. Good stuff...

The MUP was like a ghost town. Nobody out this morning. I noticed a few drops of rain, but it was otherwise dry. Temps around 50F. Light headwind blowing off the lake. TGIF

Uneventful ride in. Temps in upper 50's maybe low 60's. Humid after yesterdays rains, but my lawn was happy for the water. I feel so much better today after a good 24 hrs or so of antibiotic treatment. Still can't breath properly, but my strength is coming back and I don't have that splitting sinus headache today.

Heavy thunderstorm, legs and feet dry courtesy of MEC pants and booties. I need to pick up one of their jackets. My Sugoi doesn't hold up in the pouring rain. Not a bad ride though. Manhattan Bridge - Yeah that path will be closed for most of the year. The right side isn't that bad when compared to the tourist minefield that the bklyn bridge is.

Gorgeous 55f, no wind, light traffic, easy commute in.
Bike felt great, I felt great (recovering from cold), ride was awesome.
One of those mornings that reminds me Why I Ride
Cheers