early, quick, dark

a little chilly this morning (-5C) but felt pretty good. Getting psyched for mountain biking season, put a downpayment on a new ride yesterday.

I think it's just that, in the Raleigh-Durham area, we're all geeks. (Or maybe it's just me.)

Speaking of which...

I worked from home yesterday (broadband helps), so when my day was done, I rode to the office and back anyway. What does that say? It sure is more fun when you don't have to worry about getting there on time :D

Not too bad for my second time around. I took a different way in then on Friday; turns out they take the same amount of time (without taking the short-cut on today's route).

Me too. :rolleyes:

I've often thought of doing the ride anyway on a work-from-home day but have never actually done it. I have been out-commutered!

Any ice that was left over from the weekend's snowfall was gone by the time I rode home yesterday, so it was smooth riding all the way in. I can't wait until it's t-shirt weather again...

Definitely warming up. It was 50F when I left the house. Getting to the point where it'll just be arm and leg-warmers (I know that some of our Canadian and Great Lakes members are probably thinking that 50F is already there...) Still in recovery from the weekend so my buddy and I agreed to keep it mellow and spin along.

damn you're dedicated! I worked from home yesterday too, but I could never do that - life is too complicated with a 6 yr old and 6 mo old - or maybe that doesn't matter and I am not geekified enough yet!

Although I always deny using the wife's car (we only have one) even when it's available - just rather be on the bike.

great commute! I made the 5.5 miles in to work in 25 minutes. two years ago, it took me 45 minutes!:D

The perfect commute: Lock the door. Coast down the hill and pedal another 30 seconds to the train station on the beach. Punch my ticket and enjoy crashing waves, palm trees and a brisk 40 degree morning while I look south to the pier to see if I can spot the train moving between the water and the cliffs. Hop on the train, strap in my bike and read for 25 minutes.

The ride: Left out of the train station onto nice wide streets. Bike lanes so fat you could fit three across all the way to the office. Maybe a 1-3% grade change on the 4 mile route. No potholes and only the occasional road debris. The same route home has two big left turns (but with dual left turn lanes) and some challenging on-ramp traffic trying to move right to left across my front, but the motorists are very responsive if you're assertive with your hand signals and making your intentions clear. The best part--no need for lights until daylight savings again...and probably no substantial rain until fall either.

Cheers!
Steve

epic wind on the way south. pouring rain on the way north.

In other words.... AWESOME!

Beatiful day and wonderful weather besides the wind ... got out there and rode because the weather was good and even if it is not I ride. Dedication is a wonderful thing although I have no actual office to go to per se. Glad to hear so many commute. Just watched a video comuting keeps life interesting.

Very sweet. 48F/~9C. I must have an anti-rain force-field around me.

For the first 1.5 miles of my ride I run through a series of residential neighborhood streets. On the first slight downhill stretch, the local cops had a radar speed display set up (tells you your current speed in big bright numbers). I got it up to 23mph before leaning into a hard left just past it (not too bad for an upright-ish hybrid with 50mm tires :D )

beautiful morning - 58F, slight breeze. Lot's of birds chirping, people out for runs. I am loving my new route - a lot less buses/trucks/etc.

Ride home might be interesting - thunderstorms and high wind gusts predicted

My commute this morning: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=399075

I'm planning to leave early to beat the forecasted t-storms and winds--no I don't melt, but if I can avoid the rain, why wouldn't I?

Great ride in! We got honked at while walking our bikes across the street, and it turned out to be a friend of ours driving her car to work, and saying "hello". I think my wife gave her the finger before we realized who it was. :lol:

Tough Today
 

They are predicting stiff winds this afternoon, but they should be a tail wind so I road in today. Eighteen miles with a 10-12 mph wind in my face was more difficult than I thought it would be. I dropped 3mph to an all time low average speed this morning.

Mark

Someone should steal that guy's webcam. Sorry about the bike, but there's no need to document all of your rationalizations in the greiving process for the world to see.

/I'm feeling a bit snarky this morning, sorry

Usually I bike w/ 6 yr old to his school in minimal clothing and add more as I think I need when it's time to leave there. Today when it was time to leave there it was clear that it was time to fix my rear inner tube, so I went home, did that, decided to continue to skip jacket/tights. No real big deal at ride in time but it was in the 30s apparently which explains why it felt brisker than usual. But it was sunny baby! Or, at least bright reflecting off the cloudcover.

It seems it is more a matter of others being able to relate ... it is the wonder of video and what can be done with it. To share a thought for a person who is more visually aware ... regardless if a select few interpret it as pointless ... there are many who can relate. Should leave some feedback on the video there.

As posted in the mountain forum:
-----------------------------------
On my ride commute home I was riding in the bike lane on Franklin heading north approaching Wash Park next to the school. A motorist pulled up next to me and took a right with me occupying the bike lane.
Suffice to say I went flying.

The end result was an ambulance ride to Denver Health and I met a few nice paramedics, nurses, and doctors. I was impressed with Denver Health.

Anyhow, my damage is as follows:
1) Left knee was opened to the fluid sacs the entire width of said knee. I have quite a few stitches.
Strangely enough, that does not hurt. If it does not hurt I am going to be worried.
2) Small road road rash on my right knee
3) Both palms are bruised badly. Thank goodness for gloves.
4) The small bone in my right arm is broken at the elbow. That is the one that hurts like a crazy.

It could have been much worse. At least my melon was unhurt.

Obviously, my century ride is canceled. :p

As for my fixed gear:
The car was parked on top of my front wheel. It is toast. My fork and the rest of the bike will need to be expected. That and my leg warmers are done for.
Once again, thank goodness it was not worse.

This incident threw my family for a loop. I have to seriously consider if I will restart commuting after I heal.
Knowing how stubborn I am, I expect eventually I will start riding to work again.

Jebus, DataJunkie! Thank God you're alive! A blatant right-hook? Not to be vindictive--ok, I'll be vindictive!--but I hope they nail the driver's hide to a wall.

re: deciding to continue commuting. I've been hit twice--never injured as badly as you, thank God again--and now ride telling myself that statistically I'm already dead so why not keep riding? Besides, I'd rather be killed doing something I love than die doing something I hate.

Yes, thank goodness you're alive and relatively well.

DJ has more loves than just bike commuting. He also loves his family. Though he could have been hurt just as bad or worse in a car, it's still going to be hard on them seeing him leave for work on the bike for quite some time.

It's a situation I wouldn't like to be in even if you leave out the injurys. Obviously your family is more important than your bike in the "grand scheme" but part of you is your bike riding. From previous posts I can tell that your wife may not be happy with every bike related purchase, but she's not totally against you riding. That may or may not change. I'm sure right now she's just happy to still have you. Since it's going to be a while before you're able to anyway, don't bring it up for a little while.

And in the worst case, there's something magic about a father and a child riding around the park. I'm sure you'll still have that even if you do put off commuting for a good long time. Lay low for a while, take it easy, feel better and enjoy the love of your family. the rest will fall into place in time.

Wow, DJ. Glad to hear that you're alive. It could have been much, much worse.

My ride was uneventful and for that I am grateful.

Damn, Data! Here's hoping you heal well.

Get better first; the other stuff will sort itself out...

No right hooks here, thank goodness. Just a very nasty headwind on the way in, which I hope will become a ferocious tailwind on the way home.

Damn! Glad you're okay, DJ. Hope you heal up quickly; keep us posted!

Thank you everyone. :)
Y'all are a wonderful group of people. I swear I will be less argumentative. Especially with the pain meds. :p


I am more freaked out about how my family is taking it. Been trying to calm down my mother since it happened.
I keep telling them worse things happen to motorists in car collisions everyday.

Most right hooks I have been able to avoid due to the fact that the driver does it in front of me. Not parallel to me. Anyhow, I think I will forgo the bike lane and justify myself more further to the left on the streets from now on.

I will be back after I heal. It may just be the 10 mile all trail version until I get my confidence back.
I expect I will be investing in additional safety gear to make myself feel better. Though I doubt any would have helped in this situation.

My commuting week in review (this after returning from a great 1 week honeymoon in AZ.): Monday: still jetlagged, too tired to ride, drive in and pay $20, Tuesday: mediocre ride in, headwind and 4 flats on ride home, ran out of tubes/patches wouldn't hold, no one to pick me up, walk remaining 2 miles or so home, Wednesday: nearly hit by car in parking deck (my fault) otherwise uneventful ride home in pooring rain, and Thursday: wind gusts nearing 40 mph, long, arduous ride in but successful. We'll see what today's ride home and Friday's ride (s) bring, I'm not holding my breath.

I guess it's payback for the incredible day of mountain biking I had in Sedona.