How was the commute today?
On my TARDIScycle!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,925
Likes: 3
From: Eastside Seattlite Termite Mound
Bikes: Trek 520, Trek Navigator 300, Peugeot Versailles PE10DE
Originally Posted by chephy
I don't get it. They get off the bus and start crossing the road immediately? Please tell me you were not trying to pass a stopped bus on the right.
Classic right-hook situation. To avoid it, either take your place in line in the middle of the lane or... be very careful, I guess. You sure as heck can't rely on turn signals.
Classic right-hook situation. To avoid it, either take your place in line in the middle of the lane or... be very careful, I guess. You sure as heck can't rely on turn signals.
The group wasn't really that bad....I can't really blame them as a big group comes off, but the one guy that got out with a "leap" to the far side without looking was the one that pissed me off.
I've never smoked a day in my life, but I've felt like it the past few days. All of these massive fires in the West are muking up the air and I get to breathe it in. I've been taking the bus most of the way home in the evenings to avoid the worst part of the day.
Other than that, it's been great. My goal when I started riding in March was to get to work in 30 minutes. I think my first day was around 58 minutes. If it wasn't for a headwind the last 10 minutes of my ride, I would have done it. 31:08
Other than that, it's been great. My goal when I started riding in March was to get to work in 30 minutes. I think my first day was around 58 minutes. If it wasn't for a headwind the last 10 minutes of my ride, I would have done it. 31:08
Seņor Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Specialized Sirrus, KHS Solo SE
My trip home was terrible. It was pouring and I was trying a different route. I just bought a 24oz water bottle and today was the first time I used it. It's also the last time I'll ever lose it.. because it flew out of my bike along the way!! I think that works out to about $1.50 a sip.
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
I raced a guy on a mountain bike with a messenger-style calf tattoo and I won
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Likes: 3
I'm at odds with myself over posting this.
I was crossing a street from a MUP at a crosswalk to join a different street in the proper lane. While sitting at the light I noticed a mid sized bird hopping around like it was injured. When the light turned green I was going to go over and get it out of the lane it was hopping in to. What happens? A driver yacking on his cell phone runs over the bird's head.
Ugh...
What a depressing sight. I don't particularly like birds or dislike them but have a soft spot for animals in general. Crap....
I was crossing a street from a MUP at a crosswalk to join a different street in the proper lane. While sitting at the light I noticed a mid sized bird hopping around like it was injured. When the light turned green I was going to go over and get it out of the lane it was hopping in to. What happens? A driver yacking on his cell phone runs over the bird's head.

Ugh...
What a depressing sight. I don't particularly like birds or dislike them but have a soft spot for animals in general. Crap....
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Burley Runabout 7 and Specialized Allez Elite
I left an injured baby bunny by the side of the bike path today. I couldn't figure out how I could possibly safely get it home on my bike (then take it to the wildlife rehab center). I spent the next fifteen minutes of my ride trying to think of a way to somehow make it work, but there was just no way. I'm sure the ride would have killed it...
Raving looney
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
Wow that's brutal DataJunkie... 
My ride home was a bit windy in places, but overall good - rear wheel needs truing again on the roadie, few spokes loose, couple broken - was going over the next to last speedbump and this was the after-result (after having had to carry the bike + heavy pannier with no working rear wheel! damnit!):

The bottom metal curled hook I guess jumped off and consequently met up with the wheel in a most intimate way... It was hell to get that bungee crap from between top cog and the wheel spokes. Other damage from incident: bent the top side rail on the rack, I guess going ~22mph when this happens has a fair force on the rack when the bag is suddenly yanked down
I felt the skid, knew something happened in the back end figuring the untrued wheel had given up the ghost I quickly glanced for traffic while braking and unclipped and looked.. said "whoops" and played with it for 5 minutes before realising this needed more than I was prepared to do on the darkish pavement. Yay for drama!

My ride home was a bit windy in places, but overall good - rear wheel needs truing again on the roadie, few spokes loose, couple broken - was going over the next to last speedbump and this was the after-result (after having had to carry the bike + heavy pannier with no working rear wheel! damnit!):
The bottom metal curled hook I guess jumped off and consequently met up with the wheel in a most intimate way... It was hell to get that bungee crap from between top cog and the wheel spokes. Other damage from incident: bent the top side rail on the rack, I guess going ~22mph when this happens has a fair force on the rack when the bag is suddenly yanked down
I felt the skid, knew something happened in the back end figuring the untrued wheel had given up the ghost I quickly glanced for traffic while braking and unclipped and looked.. said "whoops" and played with it for 5 minutes before realising this needed more than I was prepared to do on the darkish pavement. Yay for drama!
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

I took all those bungee thingies off the bottom of my panniers. I'd rather risk them flapping than have them attempting to mate with my spokes...
Rim crusher
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Got rained on on the ride home Tuesday. That was a definite improvement over 95F and humid though. At least the temps were fairly pleasant. Had to give the bike and my lower body a quick shot from the garden hose to get all the road muck off though. A bit cooler and somewhat lower humidity today. Nice unremarkable ride in. Hoping to have a nice tailwind on the way home which may help me to break the 90 minute commuting barrier.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough, MA
Bikes: Felt F85 (2007), Fuji Regis (1980's)
Originally Posted by Big Ron
Got rained on on the ride home Tuesday. That was a definite improvement over 95F and humid though. At least the temps were fairly pleasant.
I actually left work and the radar was clear enough for me to make it home. Less than a mile from work my rear tire blows out, not just the tube but the tire also goes. Since I was actually on my way to the bike shop to get a new tire, I just walked the mile there and had them change it for me. Of course after getting that done the rain had moved in and I got absolutely poured on. I don't really mind the rain, but it was extremely windy and I almost got blown over a few times. Luckily there wasn't much lightning to deal with.
Pretty typical ride this morning, warmer than I expected though. Saw about 4 other commuters out and about.
Blasted Weeds
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Trek 1200C, Specialized Rockhopper, Giant Yukon FX, Giant Acapulco
Ride home was windy with a cold front that blasted thru here in the afternoon that reduced the temp by 21 degrees - and caused some thunder/lightening - enough so two people were hit on separate locations. Nasty.
But --- what a difference today!!
What a <best "Tony the Tiger" imitation> GREEAATTT day out there - hence, a great commute (well if you don't consider in the busy city traffic that is...)
55F, clean and clear <breathe --- ahhhhhh>
Sure beats the 5 hr "wander" I did Monday - where I sucked in and sweated out 6 bottles of water in the humid, oppressive 96F.
And I hit my "urban" mtb road (under serious construction) with gusto this morning. Still can't believe some of those fools are still taking their cars over that horrible stretch of gutted out hilly/rocky road, I mean I even take a beating as I ride thru there - hitting as many hills as possible, of course, and then drop back down to the 2 foot dug out wasteland of road!
But --- what a difference today!!
What a <best "Tony the Tiger" imitation> GREEAATTT day out there - hence, a great commute (well if you don't consider in the busy city traffic that is...)
55F, clean and clear <breathe --- ahhhhhh>
Sure beats the 5 hr "wander" I did Monday - where I sucked in and sweated out 6 bottles of water in the humid, oppressive 96F.
And I hit my "urban" mtb road (under serious construction) with gusto this morning. Still can't believe some of those fools are still taking their cars over that horrible stretch of gutted out hilly/rocky road, I mean I even take a beating as I ride thru there - hitting as many hills as possible, of course, and then drop back down to the 2 foot dug out wasteland of road!
Raving looney
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
Brought my mountain bike this morning, with rear wheel off the roadie on the rack. Boy she's heavy with that rack + pannier on! Nice smooth/easy ride in though, took Queen St. to the LBS before dropping down to work, saw a bunch of other cyclists on Queen and of course milling around the store.
LBS mechanic had a brief chat with me about his concern for the integrity of my wheel now that it's been damaged twice in a shortish time frame (it was trued not long ago, by another LBS) so he said perhaps to replace it - which means, due to my "antiquated" drivetrain stuff, I'd have to replace the cassette and chain as well - but frankly that's not so much a big deal and would only benefit me really. He's going to chat once we have more time about possible options (I mentioned the Mavic Open Pros that I've read so much about here this week
)
Broke 1500 miles on the mountain bike this morning, too... significant number wise, but this has been over a year of having the miles tracked, so not so impressive in that sense.
LBS mechanic had a brief chat with me about his concern for the integrity of my wheel now that it's been damaged twice in a shortish time frame (it was trued not long ago, by another LBS) so he said perhaps to replace it - which means, due to my "antiquated" drivetrain stuff, I'd have to replace the cassette and chain as well - but frankly that's not so much a big deal and would only benefit me really. He's going to chat once we have more time about possible options (I mentioned the Mavic Open Pros that I've read so much about here this week
)Broke 1500 miles on the mountain bike this morning, too... significant number wise, but this has been over a year of having the miles tracked, so not so impressive in that sense.
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Beautiful this morning. Low humidity. Low 60Fs. Blue sky. Light tailwind. Saw some other cyclists. Didn't catch anyone (or get caught), but I did come up behind a cute (from behind) female at a light just as it turned green. She turned left. I went straight. Oh well.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Calling Mr. Murphy.
Tuesday the forecast said no rain so I rode the new Touring (no fenders). Sure enough, it rained my whole way home.
Rode the MTB commuter yesterday in anticipation of the forecasted afternoon storms. The rain arrived 2 hours after I got home.
Got held up in traffic this morning, and couldn't filter right safely. A two-car accident on my route closed both normal lanes, diverting a heavy traffic flow onto the shoulder to get around them. I realize that car collisions often turn the vehicles involved, but from the way things looked, these cars collided as they were both trying to turn the wrong way onto an exit ramp off the highway. Brilliant.
Tuesday the forecast said no rain so I rode the new Touring (no fenders). Sure enough, it rained my whole way home.
Rode the MTB commuter yesterday in anticipation of the forecasted afternoon storms. The rain arrived 2 hours after I got home.
Got held up in traffic this morning, and couldn't filter right safely. A two-car accident on my route closed both normal lanes, diverting a heavy traffic flow onto the shoulder to get around them. I realize that car collisions often turn the vehicles involved, but from the way things looked, these cars collided as they were both trying to turn the wrong way onto an exit ramp off the highway. Brilliant.
__________________
"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: Jul 2006
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern, MI
Bikes: Trek 930, Trek 1500
I'm doing the Michigan MS bike tour this weekend (double Century) so I planned to just take it easy today on the commute. 16 miles against a real stiff headwind killed those plans.
Good ride though. Every ride is a good ride.
Good ride though. Every ride is a good ride.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, MD
Bikes: All-City Space Horse, Trek 5000 WSD
What a great day
Yesterday's storms really cleared out the heat and humidity. Terrific ride in this morning. Saw lots of cyclists and commuters on my way in. Wish I could have kept riding but work awaits...
runnin' down a dream
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere out there
Bikes: Turner Flux, Orbea Onix Dama.
It is hot here, but not as bad as after work.... The heat must be making drivers grumpy, I got cut off turning a corner. Oh well - no damage done.
Even better, I ran into my boyfriend riding the other way to his work. Kind of a nice surprise.
Even better, I ran into my boyfriend riding the other way to his work. Kind of a nice surprise.
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
Slow this morning - I have a case of lead legs and was forced to sort of meander along. Oh well, meant I had a very short cool down period on arrival. I don't know why I'm so tired, but my appetite's been off so maybe it's a simple case of fuel shortage.
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.
The air felt... soft this morning on the way in. Higher than average humidity I think. It's going to be a scorcher, but I'll be at my company's beer - I mean golf - tournament. Whee!
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
Overslept this morning so rather than having a nice long 30 mile "detour" as I'd planned, I had to settle for 10. Still better than nothing.
Drivers were well behaved but I nearly collided with a wrong-way numbskull on a road that has "BIKE ROUTE" painted on it. Didn't he think it was odd that it was painted upside down to him?
Drivers were well behaved but I nearly collided with a wrong-way numbskull on a road that has "BIKE ROUTE" painted on it. Didn't he think it was odd that it was painted upside down to him?
It's full of stars...
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Bikes: Trek OCLV mt Bike, Diamond Back Sorrento (stolen), Cannondale 4000, KHS fixie, Giant Butte commuter work horse
Ahhhhh.... so cool this morning. Humidity is up but we had thunderstorms with rain last night. The air was so cool rushing by as I rode in to work. I actually rode slower just to increase my time outside.
Unfortunately the air conditioning is still dead at work so the office is really a sweat shop.
Unfortunately the air conditioning is still dead at work so the office is really a sweat shop.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Quick, easy and painless today, because it was only about 13k instead of my usual 23...stayed at a friend's place last night after going to the beach. Which was good, because I had to be up just after five to do a live morning show radio interview for work.
It was nice to have an easy morning, after getting a flat on the way to the beach from work yesterday.
It was nice to have an easy morning, after getting a flat on the way to the beach from work yesterday.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,834
Likes: 175
From: south Puget Sound
Nice ride today. Cool! Double digits, anyway, that feels pretty cool right now.
car dodger extraordinaire
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Burbank
Bikes: 2005 trek 3500, 1989 trek 1500
commute
Just bought an 85 univega maxima sport 10 speed. oh so nice. This lady had it in her garage this whole time. Mint condition. sorry wrong forum. I used to ride an aluminum 91 trek road bike. I would hit a bump on that thing and ouch! I would take all the impact. I decided to ride the univega which has a frame of a combination of high tinsile and chromoly. And boy the difference is amazing. The steel absorbed so much of the ride. I do a 17 mile commute one way so comfort is priority. It did take more out of my legs because its weight, but i didn't have to concentrate on the road and look for little lifts and tiny trenches on the pavement.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta GA
Bikes: Raleigh Supercourse, Peugeot Iseran, Raleigh Twenty
My commute was so pleasant today that I rode home at lunch just so I could commute twice
Actually I'm trying to log as many miles as I can squeeze in this week, so I did ride home and back during lunch. Traffic wasn't bad on any of the three trip legs I've made so far. The lunch ride was a little hot, but managable.
Actually I'm trying to log as many miles as I can squeeze in this week, so I did ride home and back during lunch. Traffic wasn't bad on any of the three trip legs I've made so far. The lunch ride was a little hot, but managable.




