My first commute in to work. It was a wonderful morning for riding. The rabbits were out in force and tried to kamikaze into my front tire. I am terribly out of shape and walked most of the hills. Sweat poured off my face. It was bliss.

One good thing about being out of shape and riding to work, 3 people are now thinking about biking in to the office. They see me do it and know they can do it if they just put out the effort.

Welcome, JumboRider! That's awesome.

My ride in today was just fine. I was a little hotter than I'd like, I either need to leave earlier or wear the jersey and bibs.

Well that's an unusual sort of race, huh? Very cool.

Happy Anniversary, vjtim!

I stayed up too late last night and woke up later than I wanted this morning. My other handful of commutes (I'm new), I've left before 6 am. Today it was so late, I was just going to drive--I thought I would end up too hot, riding in at 8:30. I changed my mind at the last minute and rode. So glad I did! Quiet nice ride, not too hot at all. The hardest part of the whole commute was that coming in so late, I had to put my bike up one of the higher racks in the bike closet (it's a wall-mounted rack at eye level, and when there are bikes on either side, it's hard, with my non-lightweight cruiser!).

I am very glad my work has showers, too. :)

(edited to add: I wasn't worried that it would actually be too hot to ride--obviously, it'll be hotter when I ride home! I was thinking it would be so hot I'd be hot and sweaty for an hour, even after a shower... and not be able to to sit at my desk and deal with co-workers until I'd cooled down.)

Yesterday was 97 degrees on the way. Yeah... I was pouring sweat.

I also went over a speed bump a bit to fast and the hook and snap for my pannier both broke. I managed to rig it to get it home but hopefully can get some replacement pieces for it. Ride in was very nice... saw lots of other cyclists. Next week is bike to work week so I'll be seeing even more.

This morning I was a little late so had to take the direct main road route, which means tackling the construction zone. Had to get up and crank it for a short spell. With the weather as it is, I was glad for having a shower at work. Yesterday I took some time off and used a CarShare vehicle to do some stuff, got stuck in rush hour, am surprised more people don't bike in summer, it was horrible driving, got a bad stiff neck from tension.

This mornings commute was great. I had just gotten my bike back from the shop (New Bottom bracket, cranks, chain rings and pedals) and it's working wonderfully. Hurray! I'm going to take the long way home since it's working so nice.

Way to go!

Keep it up it gets easier..even the hills!

Going up hills is building potential energy that you use on the way down so you do get that effort of climbing (walking or riding) a hill back when you go down it..(from "Apollo 13" you can then 'put Sir Issac Newton in the drivers seat')

Rode to school and work 8 miles one way. My car is in the shop, and my high-vis vest, gloves and helmet were in the car. So, I turned on the rear blinky, dug out an old skater style black helmet, and hoped my yellow reflective backpack would be enough to keep me out of the grill of a vehicle.

You know what, today, I had more 'close calls' than any other day riding. It's gotta be the vest. People were pulling out in front of me left and right, this truck with trailer tried to squeeze me up against a curb. I was getting left hooked like crazy. It was nuts.

I wore the brightest color I had, which was white. The vest definitley makes a difference.

I've been wearing a vest and while I admit it looks entirely uncool, I just can't seem to make myself care. :p I half-suspect that it makes drivers think I'm new at this, so they stay farther away and watch me closely (kind of like a Student Driver flag on a car, y'know!) but I'll take it.

Glad to hear some confirmation that the vest helps!

Now that's an awesome commuting story!

First post,

Commuted 23 miles in to work today. I wienied out and had my girlfriend pick me up. (It was a high of 112 in az today)

- D

The ride to work only had 1 idiot run a stop after I was already crossing in front of him. On the ride home someone yelled "***" after they passed by. Very manly there buddy.:rolleyes: Didn't even respond. It was great riding weather both ways. Legs felt heavy today, must be because I drove yesterday.

I actually had the wind at my back :) yesterday for the ride home. This is a first as far as I can remember. For some reason I go TO work against the wind (usually not much in the morning) and FROM work against the wind... well it's usually sideways for most of the trip.

Met a guy on a 1953 3 speed. There was a long stretch through a kind of forest (what's left after building houses on either side and a road down the middle) - this entire stretch is a very slight uphill, with the last 100m being a bigger uphill.

Well I thought that I would just sit back and draft this guy... no dice, the light changed and he took off. It was hard just to keep up with him, and when I did catch up I didn't want to ride his back wheel (for best drafting) since I didn't know him yet (we chatted at the next light). This guy was hauling (remember the ancient bike) at 33k (about 20-21mph). I would usually be putting along at 24k through that stretch. Legs of steel I tell ya.

Apparently this guy used to be a racer of some kind... and judging from the speed up the hill he still is.

On the downhill stretch I offered to pull him along, and I think he must have run out of gears as I was well over 50k (about 35mph) (without pushing hard even remember the wind?).

That's all, for yesterday.

This morning, nothing special other than it was CCC Cold out there. Gotta buy some pants for the bike...

Great commute this morning..weather was perfect, drivers were mostly nice (one idiot in the parking lot at work..dumbass), and its Friday!

:rolleyes: Maybe he was asking. You should have said, "No, but thanks for offering!" ;)

60F for me. Mostly overcast but the sun was lighting up the Adirondacks in a brilliant early-summer green across Lake Champlain. Very pretty. I wished for my camera.

Didn't see a single rider today. Even the peds seemed scarce on the MUP.

Trying to get my wife to meet me on her Giant after work and do some trail riding. Fingers crossed. :p

Well done JumboRider, welcome to the madness :D

Left later today, much fewer bikes out after 8:30 I guess. Caught both good and bad ends of a crosswind as I meandered along the lake and into the city streets - managed to keep a nice 24mph pace for a bit while I had the tailwind - not good on cold legs, but I'll probably not get much riding in this weekend, so why not? :) Had a lady waiting to turn across me in an old 80s Volvo, she saw me, and as I got closer, she thought edging out was a good plan. I just looked at her and asked "What are you doing?" with an arm up and then just laughed at the silliness.

Edit: I forgot to note, but I crossed the 500 mile mark on my roadie last week, and crossed 600 on Wednesday. I think I'm at 630ish now - yay.

Welcome to the club, BFDD! 23 miles one way is a serious commute.

Nice ride in this morning -- no serious wind, except for a few wind tunnel sections. Legs weren't at their best, but I was spinning at a good rate down University Ave. Still trying to think how I can ship a bike back to China in mid-July.

Wow BFDD, skipped by your post there sorry - congrats on the 23mi commute, that's a good haul dude - as you do it more, you'll get stronger and able to do that return journey (nothing wrong with getting a ride :))

Did 20 miles this week.... Pretty happy with myself... My endurance is getting better.... Its warmer, and I'm sweating less.... Not a bad thing when I have to sit in a cubicle for 5 hrs after a 5mile ride in 90`+ and 90% hummidity.... I'm pretty sure my co-workers feel the same....

I cant wait for fall/winter.... The Local TREK store does free classes on how to tear down your bike... I'm going to be there! Going to get it Powder coated a Funky Yellow and then upgrade things like the seat and bars... My wife is going to be P.O.d when I drop $500 on tools and parts :D

Billy

I've been commuting for 3 yrs fair-weather style on a hybrid, and recently bought a roadie. Today marked two weeks of cycle commute only, fair and foul weather. I thought riding in the rain would chow, but now I'm looking forward to the next storm in a psychotic sort of way. :p

It's good to see so many new riders commuting. Way to go, folks!

We were running pretty late today, so I had to put the hammer down on the way in. It was pretty warm, so I got pretty sweaty. Three cheers for having all my work clothes at work...

Another beautiful commute in this morning. As usual, Friday traffic was light.

Two exciting things on the ride. First, I saw the mother duck and her ducklings again at the golf course. Second, I reeled in another commuter on a recumbent (a BikeE, I think) just before reaching my building.

I accidentally took the really hilly route home yesterday. Oops. I had an appointment after work that was closer to the 20th St bike route than Elbow River, and I thought I was further up the hill than I was. Ow.

Nice ride in this mornign :)

Oregon City, Or to Lake Oswego, Or---Commute this morning was great! I had my best time in a year ,after returning to cycling from about 6 years off. This Morning was very pleasent and my computor says I averaged 14.6 MPH. Although I was passed by another cyclist going uphill, still alls good.

I have a high-viz vest and a rain jacket that I swear by.
but I dont leave anything to chance I also wear (3) blinking lights and
a helmet light. My theory is like yours, Drivers should be thinking " look out for the Dork!"

I'll take that