How was the commute today?
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
My three-year old kids.
mr. bananagrabber
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: nyc
Bikes: surly LHT, raleigh 3-spd singlespeed conversion, panasonic touring singlespeed conversion
It's rainy here in New York. I got cut off by a van on Central Park West and had to jam on the brakes and swerve, leading to me going over the handlebars. The van was turning, but then seemed to decide not to turn and pulled back into the lane. Got a bloody elbow, a bruise on the hip, and a sore neck, but I feel lucky for nothing worse.
I think I might bike in the park from now on, but I'm not sure if that's any better. Central Park West going south is often really bad.
I also feel stupid for not getting the driver's information. But oh well. I'll be really sore tomorrow morning.
I think I might bike in the park from now on, but I'm not sure if that's any better. Central Park West going south is often really bad.
I also feel stupid for not getting the driver's information. But oh well. I'll be really sore tomorrow morning.
attention disordered
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Bikes: A fast one, a durable one and a fun one.
Damn, dude. Sorry to hear that. I guess it could've been worse.
Mine was primarily uneventful. It's definitely summer here, high 80's with equal parts humidity. Sweating it out. Gotta love it.
I said "primarily uneventful" largely due to the lady in a brand spankin' new Acura RL (or whatever) who tried to jump in front of me a few feet before a busy four-way stop. Needless to say, she ends up stopped in the middle of the road, clogging the intersection. Her windows were down and I found the situation rather amusing, so I asked her if she knew what she was doing was completely illegal. She ignored me and I gave her the "Aww, c'mon, I know you can hear me," with a goofy smile.
Without looking, she rolled up the windows and took a long drag off her ciggarette. She then zig-zagged through a rather annoyed assortment of cages at the four-way stop. I really wanted to ask her how she was going to drive with her car all fogged up. Never caught her, though. Shame, cus we certainly had some chemistry together.
Mine was primarily uneventful. It's definitely summer here, high 80's with equal parts humidity. Sweating it out. Gotta love it.
I said "primarily uneventful" largely due to the lady in a brand spankin' new Acura RL (or whatever) who tried to jump in front of me a few feet before a busy four-way stop. Needless to say, she ends up stopped in the middle of the road, clogging the intersection. Her windows were down and I found the situation rather amusing, so I asked her if she knew what she was doing was completely illegal. She ignored me and I gave her the "Aww, c'mon, I know you can hear me," with a goofy smile.
Without looking, she rolled up the windows and took a long drag off her ciggarette. She then zig-zagged through a rather annoyed assortment of cages at the four-way stop. I really wanted to ask her how she was going to drive with her car all fogged up. Never caught her, though. Shame, cus we certainly had some chemistry together.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough, MA
Bikes: Felt F85 (2007), Fuji Regis (1980's)
Ah Mondays...had a guy in a small suv try to pass me in a 25mph zone while I was going 27-28. I almost went in the other lane but there were cars coming. When the road changed to 2 lanes he took off. I caught up to him at the next red light and told him not to pass me while I was doing the speed limit. He promptly flipped the bird, I returned it and took off, what a JAM. Other than that it was a nice commute, sunny and very warm.
Code Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: South suburbs of Chicago, Illinois
Bikes: Schwinn MTB/Raleigh Marathon
Yay! First rainy day commute home...it was only 8.75 miles, and only from my carpool meeting place...but I got wet. I can't believe how much of a big deal I made about riding in the rain. It was actually alot of fun and took only a couple minutes longer than it usually does.
Here are links to some bike grime if you need proof LOL:
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/RaleighDRGrime.JPG
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/RaleighBag.JPG
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/R...tTubeGrime.JPG
I think I'm going to go all the way tomorrow. It totally annoyed me today that IN THE CAR we had to wait 35 minutes for 2 trains. I kept saying to myself, "If I rode all the way...I could have been home by now!"
Also...I realized another phenomina...either that or the cycling gods were looking down upon me...every person I encountered in a car while on the bike in the rain gave me preference, whether at a stop sign, crossing a busy street or what have you. Are they all really saying to themselves, "Look at that crazy smuck on a bike, I think I'll give him break/cut him some slack" ?
One thing I do realize now...I need a helmet cover, fenders (man...the road grime on the legs is intense!) and something to keep the feet a little drier.
Here are links to some bike grime if you need proof LOL:
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/RaleighDRGrime.JPG
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/RaleighBag.JPG
https://home.comcast.net/~mnkwrobes/R...tTubeGrime.JPG
I think I'm going to go all the way tomorrow. It totally annoyed me today that IN THE CAR we had to wait 35 minutes for 2 trains. I kept saying to myself, "If I rode all the way...I could have been home by now!"
Also...I realized another phenomina...either that or the cycling gods were looking down upon me...every person I encountered in a car while on the bike in the rain gave me preference, whether at a stop sign, crossing a busy street or what have you. Are they all really saying to themselves, "Look at that crazy smuck on a bike, I think I'll give him break/cut him some slack" ?
One thing I do realize now...I need a helmet cover, fenders (man...the road grime on the legs is intense!) and something to keep the feet a little drier.
__________________
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Busy ride from work back to daycare downtown, reattach trailer, retrieve Thing 2, than toward home to retrieve Thing 1 from K. Made it, time to spare, whole thing, leaving work to getting home, took ~80 min, 9 miles of biking. 15-20 min tapping toes in hall of K, not sure I'd want to cut it much closer than that though.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,603
Likes: 0
From: northern California
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
Drive wife to work, and left her with the car. Rode back to home town and biked around taking care of errands. In Pm took bike on bus part way back to her job area and biked the rest of the way. Then drove her home.
Rim crusher
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Pleasant ride in. The "big heat" is forecasted to arrive by Thurs or Friday, so I will really relish these last few days of comfortable morning temps....It was ~65F this AM with humidity of perhaps 75-80%. Humid yes, but nothing like its going to be for the next ~3 months.
I did have a comical/interesting/scary sighting, though I'm sure the driver of the truck didn't find it too amusing; A PET milk truck passed me on Miami Blvd and I lost sight of him. About 2-3 minutes later I caught up to him after he had made a left turn onto Cornwallis Rd. His cargo door had flown open and a stack of 5-6 milk crates had spilled out onto the road. There was 20 or 30 plastic gallon bottles of milk scattered about-most of them broken open. He was out there hurriedly trying to pick up the milk crates and jugs before traffic stacked up behind the mess. I said "Sorry man" as I weaved my way through the carnage, but he did not reply or even look at me. I'm sure he was just a bit ticked off.
The scary reality of what had happened hit me after I had passed him.....if his door had flown open as he was passing me, I could have been killed or seriously injured....Something very similar happened to a husband and wife here, 6-8-10- years ago as they were walking down the side of the road. I think one of them died and the other was seriously injured. Thankfully that didn't happen, instead it was just a good chuckle for me and a bad start to the day for him.
I did have a comical/interesting/scary sighting, though I'm sure the driver of the truck didn't find it too amusing; A PET milk truck passed me on Miami Blvd and I lost sight of him. About 2-3 minutes later I caught up to him after he had made a left turn onto Cornwallis Rd. His cargo door had flown open and a stack of 5-6 milk crates had spilled out onto the road. There was 20 or 30 plastic gallon bottles of milk scattered about-most of them broken open. He was out there hurriedly trying to pick up the milk crates and jugs before traffic stacked up behind the mess. I said "Sorry man" as I weaved my way through the carnage, but he did not reply or even look at me. I'm sure he was just a bit ticked off.
The scary reality of what had happened hit me after I had passed him.....if his door had flown open as he was passing me, I could have been killed or seriously injured....Something very similar happened to a husband and wife here, 6-8-10- years ago as they were walking down the side of the road. I think one of them died and the other was seriously injured. Thankfully that didn't happen, instead it was just a good chuckle for me and a bad start to the day for him.
Neat - w/ ice on the side
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Big Ring. Little Cog.
Bikes: 2005 Dahon Speed TR, 2006 Dahon Mu SL, 2000 GT XiZang, 1999ish Rock Lobster, 2007 Dean Animas CTI
itty01 - glad it's no worse.
I came here to vent.
Three cars in a row this morning. 1) An aborted left cross from a woman in a full size van. She apparently noticed the nose wheelie I was doing and decided she should not go. 2) About 300 yards further up the road, a big black pickup truck like an 4-door extended cab contraption. BUZZZZZ with inches to spare. I saw him in my mirror so I was able to avoid the jerky reaction that usually accompanies a buzzing. The most annoying thing was that he drifted closer to me as got along side despite the fact that we were the only two vehicles heading east in the TWO eastbound lanes. 3) Not to be outdone was the lady in the burgundy SUV who right hooked me about 400 yards further up. She started past me and before her taillights were visible, I saw the vehicle's nose dipping down and I knew what was coming. Another nose wheelie for me. I had to turn right inside her path to avoid her rear quarter panel before I scrubbed enough speed to cross behind her without further drama. Thankfully the car behind her was also turning right but was paying enough attention to leave me room.
I decided it was time for a break at that point.
I came here to vent.
Three cars in a row this morning. 1) An aborted left cross from a woman in a full size van. She apparently noticed the nose wheelie I was doing and decided she should not go. 2) About 300 yards further up the road, a big black pickup truck like an 4-door extended cab contraption. BUZZZZZ with inches to spare. I saw him in my mirror so I was able to avoid the jerky reaction that usually accompanies a buzzing. The most annoying thing was that he drifted closer to me as got along side despite the fact that we were the only two vehicles heading east in the TWO eastbound lanes. 3) Not to be outdone was the lady in the burgundy SUV who right hooked me about 400 yards further up. She started past me and before her taillights were visible, I saw the vehicle's nose dipping down and I knew what was coming. Another nose wheelie for me. I had to turn right inside her path to avoid her rear quarter panel before I scrubbed enough speed to cross behind her without further drama. Thankfully the car behind her was also turning right but was paying enough attention to leave me room.
I decided it was time for a break at that point.
__________________
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more. Bark less.
Change you can believe in - Bigfoot Nessie 08
Current favorite bumper sticker: Wag more. Bark less.
Change you can believe in - Bigfoot Nessie 08
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Headwind. Low 60Fs. Overcast, but dry.
I saw a raccoon! Never seen one on a commute, much less in daylight. Hopefully it wasn't rabid.
I saw it in some ferns next to the MUP, and a runner was coming the other way. I thought it was the runner's dog at first. It wasn't until I got next to it that it turned and I saw the tail. I scared the bejesus out of it. It tried to get away from me as fast as it could.
I saw a raccoon! Never seen one on a commute, much less in daylight. Hopefully it wasn't rabid.
I saw it in some ferns next to the MUP, and a runner was coming the other way. I thought it was the runner's dog at first. It wasn't until I got next to it that it turned and I saw the tail. I scared the bejesus out of it. It tried to get away from me as fast as it could.
Code Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: South suburbs of Chicago, Illinois
Bikes: Schwinn MTB/Raleigh Marathon
I left this morning about an hour after a pretty heavy downpour. Much cooler too, mid-50's and humid. At about the 5 mile mark there was a little bit of drizzle. I should get a slight tailwind on the way home.
__________________
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Bikes: 93 Schwinn Sidewinder, 05 Giant Cypress DX
Cooler than normal this morning. I was late, so I pushed it. New personal best time! (4.50miles in 15:21).
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Uneventful except for the guy who buzzed me and honked right as he was next to me. Fortunately my finger is on Auto-fire. 
Ron, I try not to think about that kind of scenario, or I'd never get back on the bike.
btw, the guy who buzzed me pulled into your campus after he passed me. I was tempted to track him down but decided he wasn't worth it.

Ron, I try not to think about that kind of scenario, or I'd never get back on the bike.
btw, the guy who buzzed me pulled into your campus after he passed me. I was tempted to track him down but decided he wasn't worth it.
__________________
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion" is only half-right.
Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion.
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion" is only half-right.
Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Likes: 3
I rode the elephant rock century on Sunday without a pump. No flats.
After taking Monday off I rode into work this morning. Guess what, I flat 5 miles from work. Only took five minutes to change the tube out, then pinch flatted it, then patched, then changed it out, then pinch flatted it, then took my time, patched it, and finished up. I should really learn a bit of patience.
Anyhow, it was positively gorgeous. My goodness the weekend rides are making my commute seem god awfully short.
After taking Monday off I rode into work this morning. Guess what, I flat 5 miles from work. Only took five minutes to change the tube out, then pinch flatted it, then patched, then changed it out, then pinch flatted it, then took my time, patched it, and finished up. I should really learn a bit of patience.
Anyhow, it was positively gorgeous. My goodness the weekend rides are making my commute seem god awfully short.
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
Likes: 0
From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
Warm and humid this morning, so I was a little sweatier than usual. Regardless, everything clicked today - I was taking the lane, hitting green lights where I really needed them, and I caught all the scofflaws...
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Great! Nice and cool and drizzly. Tested out what I hope will be my steady route (trailer downtown, back to bike trail and up to work) once our schedules stabilize for good (by July). Not a test, I've done this many times, I just want to get on the steady schedule now.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 22
From: Calgary
Bikes: 2018 Ghost Square Trekking B2.8 e-bike; 2015 MEC Cote gravel/touring bike; 1985 Boyes-Rosser tourer, now outfitted as Winter Trundle-bike
Nasty hot headwind on the way home yesterday, plus I was riding the Norco Tank. Ow. This morning I switched back to Sir Lancelot (Raleigh tourer) and was much happier. No wind, nice temperature, traffic was mostly sane.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Originally Posted by Buglady
This morning I switched back to Sir Lancelot (Raleigh tourer) and was much happier. No wind, nice temperature, traffic was mostly sane.
Rim crusher
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Ron, the guy who buzzed me pulled into your campus after he passed me. I was tempted to track him down but decided he wasn't worth it.[/QUOTE]
The Moore Drive Camppus? What kind of vehicle was it? Must not have been any of the kindly, good natured, scientists that work here. Maybe Sales or Marketing.
The Moore Drive Camppus? What kind of vehicle was it? Must not have been any of the kindly, good natured, scientists that work here. Maybe Sales or Marketing.
48/17 fixed; 42/15 fixed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Bianchi Fremont; Bianchi San Jose; GT Saddleback
Donned long sleeves today. A bit cool and some drizzle.
Hope your week is getting better, caloso.
Hope your week is getting better, caloso.
attention disordered
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Bikes: A fast one, a durable one and a fun one.
88*F/66% Hum. Feels like 98*F.
Commute was like butter. Melted butter, but still very tasty.
Commute was like butter. Melted butter, but still very tasty.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Originally Posted by Big Ron
The Moore Drive Camppus? What kind of vehicle was it? Must not have been any of the kindly, good natured, scientists that work here. Maybe Sales or Marketing.

A CR-V is too cheap for anyone in Sales; must have been Marketing.
__________________
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion" is only half-right.
Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion.
"Everyone is entitled to an opinion" is only half-right.
Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion.
pedal on my friend
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Hanover Park, IL
Bikes: Diamondback
My ride in this mourning was nice until I got a flat about 1 mile from work. Swap tubes than later realised that I forgot to inspect the tire (daa) for glass. So now I'm patching two inertubes on my lunch break.
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Thanks, aaa. I'm just pissy because 99% of my riding these days is to a job that I'm not wild about.
Anyway, other than the destination this morning's ride was pretty nice. I made all the lights and made very good time despite spinning slowly to keep cool. I should get out of the office at a civilized hour today so I hope I'll be able to tack on a few miles on the way home.
Anyway, other than the destination this morning's ride was pretty nice. I made all the lights and made very good time despite spinning slowly to keep cool. I should get out of the office at a civilized hour today so I hope I'll be able to tack on a few miles on the way home.




