How was the commute today?
05-24-07, 01:32 PM
Raving looney
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Felt strangely burned out/tired in the leg department this morning, decided to rest due to a long ride scheduled this weekend (well, long for me - 55miles there, 55 back on Sunday). Now it's mid afternoon, I'm in two minds whether I should've ridden - it's hot as hell out there (therefore the air is thick with smog), but man I miss my bike already.
05-24-07, 06:40 PM
Lone Ranger
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Second day commuting this season, and a fairly decent commute. I'm still new at it, so I'm still experimenting with the route. I realized today that shorter isn't always better, and I added two miles onto my route to favor fast suburban streets. I avoided a nasty hill, and had nicer things to look at. Not a bad tradeoff. So, I have a question - I have a heavy hybrid and a lack of bike training, and so far my average speed is only 10 miles an hour. I am decently in shape and can run 4 miles day, but I feel really out of shape on the bike.
I was curious as to other people's average speed during their commute. I guess I'm trying to ascertain whether or not I should invest in a lighter bike, or stick it out with the Trek 7200 and just train harder...
I was curious as to other people's average speed during their commute. I guess I'm trying to ascertain whether or not I should invest in a lighter bike, or stick it out with the Trek 7200 and just train harder...
05-24-07, 06:52 PM
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Congratulations, Minerva! You discovered one of the great open secrets of bike commuting, that shorter isn't necessarily better.
You may want a lighter bike -- it'll certainly make accelerating easier -- but it won't necessarily make your commute much faster depending on your route. For example, on my most direct route to work, I've found it impossible to average any faster than 17mph, whether I'm on my boat-anchor mountain bike or my CF race bike. Or in the car for that matter.
Also, as you're finding out, running fitness helps but it's not the same as cycling fitness.
Congrats and keep it up!
You may want a lighter bike -- it'll certainly make accelerating easier -- but it won't necessarily make your commute much faster depending on your route. For example, on my most direct route to work, I've found it impossible to average any faster than 17mph, whether I'm on my boat-anchor mountain bike or my CF race bike. Or in the car for that matter.
Also, as you're finding out, running fitness helps but it's not the same as cycling fitness.
Congrats and keep it up!
05-24-07, 08:07 PM
Enjoy
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Originally Posted by redden
I dialed it up to 25 watts and dropped a jazzy today. 
05-24-07, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by vrkelley
What is a jazzy?
05-24-07, 09:53 PM
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Windy! Worked hard to go 12mph during a couple of stretches on the way in. Flew home at around 25mph and made near record time. Had an incident on the way in: https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/302009-almost-right-hooked-cop.html
05-24-07, 10:20 PM
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Nice and easy commutes today.
Went mtn biking on my SS yesterday and knew I'd be feeling it later today, so I rode to and from work in the middle ring on my Jake, despite the fact I almost never shift out of the big ring.
Threw the bike right in the trunk when I got home, off to the Shore after work tomorrow, where I get 3 solid days of dead flat roads to haul ass on.
Went mtn biking on my SS yesterday and knew I'd be feeling it later today, so I rode to and from work in the middle ring on my Jake, despite the fact I almost never shift out of the big ring.
Threw the bike right in the trunk when I got home, off to the Shore after work tomorrow, where I get 3 solid days of dead flat roads to haul ass on.
05-24-07, 10:33 PM
----
fantastic quick commute over to Cambridge for a night time meeting. I have no idea what the distance was over there- maybe 7 miles and I hauled butt to get there in 22 minutes. It's a drive that I'd be lucky to make in a half an hour in a car- and still have to find a place to park.
Coming home was a little creepy though. Passed some weird kid on a real quiet street who was on a bike- I couldn't quite make out what he said to me. Then came around the corner to see three guys standing on a corner looking down at the ground at what looked at my quick glance like the spent casing of a 9 mm bullet. As I rode down the street several people were anxiously looking down the street in the direction I had just come from and suddenly 3 squad cars came barrelling down the road and one car collided with a car as it turned onto the street I'd just come out of- needless to say I got out of there. I'll watch the news to see if anything gets reported.
Coming home was a little creepy though. Passed some weird kid on a real quiet street who was on a bike- I couldn't quite make out what he said to me. Then came around the corner to see three guys standing on a corner looking down at the ground at what looked at my quick glance like the spent casing of a 9 mm bullet. As I rode down the street several people were anxiously looking down the street in the direction I had just come from and suddenly 3 squad cars came barrelling down the road and one car collided with a car as it turned onto the street I'd just come out of- needless to say I got out of there. I'll watch the news to see if anything gets reported.
05-24-07, 10:36 PM
Enjoy
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Originally Posted by caloso
What choo talk'n about Willis? 
05-25-07, 05:10 AM
Neat - w/ ice on the side
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Wwwweeeeeeee!!!!!! 
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05-25-07, 06:08 AM
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Low 60Fs, but humid. Not bad by any means, but it might get up around 90F for the ride home.
What is it with children leaving bicycle tire skid marks on fresh MUP pavement? Is it some sort of territorial thing like a dog marking a tree? "Check this out I left a skid mark here!"
What is it with children leaving bicycle tire skid marks on fresh MUP pavement? Is it some sort of territorial thing like a dog marking a tree? "Check this out I left a skid mark here!"
05-25-07, 06:19 AM
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Beautiful weather, perfect temperature, awsome conditions. Cars were idiots, but had a nice ride anyway.
05-25-07, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by vtjim
What is it with children leaving bicycle tire skid marks on fresh MUP pavement? Is it some sort of territorial thing like a dog marking a tree? "Check this out I left a skid mark here!"
05-25-07, 06:41 AM
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with just over a mile to go from the house to work, youd think i'd be pretty safe..... I almost got ran over by the same JackA$$ twice yesterday... He ran a stop sign to get out of the Meijer parking lot, and then made an illegal left turn against a red arrow at the intersection... Going over the speed limit the whole time!
Ya know, having been on the bike for about a month now, I'm looking at drivers in a much different way... Heck I even drive differently now.... Damn cagers....
Billy
Ya know, having been on the bike for about a month now, I'm looking at drivers in a much different way... Heck I even drive differently now.... Damn cagers....
Billy
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
05-25-07, 07:34 AM
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Great ride in this morning, bit wet but otherwise a good ride. Woke up to heavy rain pounding on the roof, so decided not to ride. Got out of the shower and the rain had stopped, so I quick geared up and hit the road. It was intermittent drizzle most of the way in (10 mile ride) but otherwise wind and temp were nearly perfect. Gotta love fenders.
05-25-07, 07:53 AM
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beautiful and too short as always.
05-25-07, 08:08 AM
The post should be labeled as the idiots who do not pay attention in Denver.
Yesterday on the ride home I have this T intersection that I exit the bike lane at the light to hit the walk button. The other side is a park. I am basically riding the lower part of the T. The light turns green and I start to cross. Low and behold some numbnut is not paying attention while piloting one of the largest SUVs I have ever seen (talking to his girlfriend I guess). He flat out runs the light. At least one of us was paying attention. I had noticed him and was stopped in the other directions traffic lane. Gave him the finger and went on with my merry way.
This morning I was distracted by a near rear end collision between 2 SUVs. Then I forgot the stop sign and blew the intersection with a car in the opposing direction getting ready to take a left. Fortunately someone was paying attention (not me). Anyhow, I need someone to flip me off in order to have everything balance out.
Yesterday on the ride home I have this T intersection that I exit the bike lane at the light to hit the walk button. The other side is a park. I am basically riding the lower part of the T. The light turns green and I start to cross. Low and behold some numbnut is not paying attention while piloting one of the largest SUVs I have ever seen (talking to his girlfriend I guess). He flat out runs the light. At least one of us was paying attention. I had noticed him and was stopped in the other directions traffic lane. Gave him the finger and went on with my merry way.
This morning I was distracted by a near rear end collision between 2 SUVs. Then I forgot the stop sign and blew the intersection with a car in the opposing direction getting ready to take a left. Fortunately someone was paying attention (not me). Anyhow, I need someone to flip me off in order to have everything balance out.
05-25-07, 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
Anyhow, I need someone to flip me off in order to have everything balance out.
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Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
05-25-07, 08:17 AM
That may be a long flight for you. LOL
05-25-07, 08:17 AM
uhmmmm?
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Good ride last night home. Did about 15 miles around the greenway. All was fine until I started cramping at home. That's OK, I loosened up the legs with this morning's commute. Sunny and 70° here gotta enjoy it while I can!
05-25-07, 08:23 AM
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Nice ride this morning. I averaged 28.7 km/h (including stoppages at lights).I'm getting faster every day ever since the doc cleared me to right my bike "moderately". 
And despite the 30' C weather, I'm not even breaking a sweat in hot and humid Toronto. Thank you eBike!
And despite the 30' C weather, I'm not even breaking a sweat in hot and humid Toronto. Thank you eBike!
05-25-07, 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by baskinrobbin
....All was fine until I started cramping at home. That's OK, I loosened up the legs with this morning's commute...
If you hate bananas, drink OJ. I think there's about as much potassium in a glass of OJ as there is in a banana, and (of course) it'll help you hydrate a little.
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05-25-07, 09:24 AM
Raving looney
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Rode to do this supposed BikePool this morning, only one other person showed up and we weren't even on the RSVP list! Heh.
Anyway, we rode together down Queen St and I headed south down Spadina toward work - was great to have a chat and ride with someone, though.
Anyway, we rode together down Queen St and I headed south down Spadina toward work - was great to have a chat and ride with someone, though.
05-25-07, 09:49 AM
Shut Up and Ride
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Awesome morning... I slept in an extra hour just cuz i felt like it. Great ride in except the part where a MTB dusted me off at the stoplight. I was in cruise mode or I may have taken up the challenge. I put my challenge on the hill climb to the office instead. Trying to keep near 10mph on the climb is tough.
Figured out that my daily commute climbs 960 feet in a round trip. Hills are good....but they suck when you're feeling lazy
Figured out that my daily commute climbs 960 feet in a round trip. Hills are good....but they suck when you're feeling lazy
05-25-07, 09:53 AM
New! With Self Loathing!
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The lockring on my fixed gear cog spun loose, and the tinkling sound alerted me to it. Scared the heck out of me when I loooked down. I spun it back on handtight and flipped the wheel to singlespeed and rode in. Time for my 90 day service. I need to check my bike over more carefully, that could have really hurt.
