Nice thread here, what a long history of bike commuter stories. I am in Orange County, CA and have been a regular bike commuter for the past 7+ years around here. I've lived in other places where bike commuting was a less frequent thing, but here we've got near perfect weather year round plus marked bike lanes or decent shoulders on all the roads I use for getting around. At work I have a bike locker near the entrance to the office, showers, towel service, clothes lockers, what more do I need?

My usual ride is 13 to 15 miles each way, usually about an hour each way. This week I pedaled about 150 miles from Monday through Friday, felt pretty good for a 52 year old guy. I use a heavy duty, low maintenance road bike (Atlantis) and it has survived many years of daily use with no whining.

I'll post here if I have some unusual story to share, most days of bike commuting are just pleasant pedaling without too much excitement. Today just felt great to be pedaling home on a Friday afternoon at 5 pm, with a nice 75F/23C ocean breeze blowing in my face. Doesn't get much better than that. Have a great weekend.

Had a nice ride to work yesterday - sunny and pleasant.
For my ride home I usually miss the afternoon showers. They either end just before I leave work or start about the time I get home. Yesterday was completely different --- and fun.
The rain started about an hour before I left work and stopped about two hours after I got home. First ride in the rain in a while. The bike got a good bath, which it really needed.
I removed my fenders a few months ago because we have been in a drought. The water (warmed by the warm asphalt) spraying on my bare feet felt good (I was wearing my Lake cycling sandals). Not at all like water spraying on shoes and socks and making everything soggy and heavy.

I had my paycheck in my wallet and it was in my *water resistant* pannier. I thought my check would be safe with my wallet stuffed between my work shorts and t-shirt. When I got home I found that my wallet got pretty wet. My paycheck had a few damp spots but I had no problem cashing it later at the bank.

I'll give the bike a proper cleaning and lube this afternoon so I'll be ready for next week.

Nothing too exciting for me, but on the final stretch about five minutes from home, I almost got doored. ON THE RIGHT.

That's right, someone decided that since they're stopped at the red light anyway this would be a good time to drop off passengers

Lucky me I passed by just in time but the person getting out was sure surprised when she looked over her shoulder as she half opened the door (probably twisting to push back the seatbelt not to actually look for me).

That's when I first thought of getting the airhorn installed. Things happened so fast though I don't think I'd have a chance to use it before the (almost) collision.

been doing the commute to downtown (Lafayette) from midtown and tons of riding all over Manhattan with lots of loops in Central Park. Only have occasional internet while here so posting far more occasionally than usual.

The comparisons of bike commuting in NYC to Boston (my usual haunts) are oddly enough slightly in favor of New York. Both have their pluses and minuses and perhaps some of the New York polish will wear off over time- all those SUV's from Jersey I could do without. But overall NYC is becoming more accomodating over time to bikes than it has in the past- Boston could take some lessons from NYC.

I had to go to school to pull a report from the server (never can access the server from home ) ... Had a HECK of a headwind on the way in ..... But that means TAILWIND on the way home

Billy

I have to go through a freakin, rotting dog carcass on the bridge (only one with a bike lane). Almost made me threw up!
I notified the city ordinance, but on my way back its still there.
I think I wanna put of bike commuting for now, until the smell goes away. I really don't wanna use the alternate route (very shallow, two way road).

I apologize if this is too gross and if we are only allowed to post good commuting experiences.
This one tops as my worst commute ever!

A soggy ride in for me today.

After Friday's record rainfall (5 inches in 24 hours) large parts of my route were submerged. At one point I had to give up entirely and use an alternative route where the Thames had burst its banks.

Still better than the car though. Some people were stuck in a 40 mile traffic jam for over 24 hours at the weekend due to the flooding.

Worst. Summer. Ever.

Sorry to hear about all the flooding you've had in the UK. Weather patterns seem to be in chaos in many places. Here in North Carolina, we've been having unprecedented pleasant weather. I suspect mother nature will pay us an angry visit in the form of a hurricane in the near future though, and hopefully reward you Brits with a nice spell of weather.

I had a cool, pleasant ride in. ~ 65F with low humidity (low by NC standards at any rate). Averaged 18 mph which may be the fastest commute to work for me so far this year. Hope to make it home with a similar average too. Won't be so hot, so I can push a bit harder than usual.

Low 60Fs. Sunny. No wind. Very nice. I saw several cyclists going the other way but nobody going my way.

My wife was riding into Burlington to meet me the other day, and stopped at a stop sign. She put her foot down, rolled onto her ankle, and fell over. Now her ankle is swollen and has a purple bruise. She's taking care of it. I don't get how a person can do that. Roll an ankle on a bike, I mean.

1st commute after moving into our new home. I'm 1mi closer to work, with a safer route. Very fortunate. 10.6mi in 42 minutes. A little rusty.

They've been saying mostly sunny and low 70s for today, but this morning it's cool with a low, gray sky. Started light rain about 1.5mi from work. I really should pick up some fenders..

Yes, a beautiful morning it was today. I had a nice ride in, but I have to admit it was one of my slowest rides this year. I actually haven't ridden since last Tuesday plus I had to carry my laptop on my back so that didn't help. I am looking forward to the nice weather this week since I was away all weekend and missed it.

Great ride in this morning. Upper 60's F, overcast, and moderately light traffic.
My first commute in 3 weeks, it felt good.

Had my first ever spill due to streetcar tracks today, only a matter of time I guess. Was going to the left side and left lane of a right-turning truck and had to negotiate three-directions of tracks (heading East on King at Bathurst) and did a slip-slop-slip-bam onto the floor, luckily traffic was *just* starting, so I got up, waved a "oops, sorry!" to the cars behind me and got the hell across the lights (with a "well that shortcut didn't work out" muttered under my breath toward the other cyclists present - nobody asked me once if I was OK, incidentally). Little blood drawn, just some surface scratches really - I was only bummed not to have many people in the office so I could tell them my war story
Good ride though, felt cool but humid out there.

Great morning commute. I was kind of worried this morning as I rode 50 miles Saturday. At the very least I stayed off my bike yesterday except to take my daughter for a spin around the block. Anyways, no problems to speak of. Bike is riding great, I'm riding great, what more can a guy ask for. Its been really chilly here in the mornings. This morning it was low 50s.

I did see two deer way off in a field this morning. No other wildlife sightings.

My wife officially thinks I'm nuts now... I have the opportunity to take My FIL's truck today (They have our Van for Vacation....Long story) But I'll be ridding my Bike... She just doesn't get it.. Oh well..

Billy

A nice morning today. Felt nice to get back on the bike after a week and a half. I had a cold from hell that never seemed like it was going to go away...but just yesterday it FINALLY broke. I went halfway and carpooled...should be a nice ride home.

Ugh, drove today. I usually drive the car on Mondays as I get paid so I can go to the bank asap.
That really does not bother me. But I will have to drive on thursday as well, shooting a video so I will have to haul a bunch of stuff around. I don't where I was going with this I just hate driving and wish I were on my bike today. That is all.

I feel your pain. My wife though she supports me still thinks I am crazy. I finally got her on a bike this weekend but I don't know if it had the same effect that it had on me when I first started ridding.
Any how keep it up

Gorgeous weather here in DC today, nice quick ride in.

Nice ride in today - it's warm enough that I was comfy in a tank top. I'm counting down the commutes until I finish at this job next Tuesday... I'm going to miss this ride. The college I'll be going to is closer and the route isn't as pretty. It also has more hills. Oops. But I'll still bike in - I don't think I could give it up at this point.

My allergies were acting up on the weekend and I think the ride cleared a bunch of crud out of my lungs and sinuses. I feel a lot better. Chalk another benefit up to biking...

It was hard getting out of bed this morning. It's been hot out for the last couple of weeks [although nowhere near record temps], and I've been having trouble sleeping. Beyond that, my wife and I celebrated her birthday at the River Cafe last night [no corkage feee on Sundays], going through a bottle of d'Arenberg "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz Viognier and two bottles of Pirrammima Petit Verdot. Good times, rough morning. The ride in was pretty quiet. I imagine that there are lots of folks on vacation, or there was a big pileup on Deerfoot.

Good ride today (others have commented on the un-seasonably good weather we're having) but slow. Not only did I have my laptop on the bike, but I was also carrying my Harry Potter book in case I have free time during the day. D@mn that thing is heavy!

Took the long way in and just for fun decided to count the motorists who passed too close for comfort. And that was Zero. Good job guys.

If only I had to deal with cars, though. I also encountered 3 wrongway riders. One guy was going the same direction as I was. It was on a quiet stretch of country road so no real hazard to me or himself. I pulled alongside and said "Good morning! Hey, you know you're on the wrong side of the road, right?" He laughed and said "Oh yeah! Thanks!" I smiled and waved and pulled ahead. After I got about 100 m ahead of him, I looked back and he was still on the wrong side. I guess you can lead a horse to water....

About 5 miles later, I came up on another guy but he was coming directly at me. The road was wide and without cars so I just pulled into the lane and as I passed I said "Right side!" No response.

A mile after that I was on the Tower Bridge and traffic is heavy and space is tight. Yet another guy coming right at me. He appears to be a Mexican guy and generally I have a little more sympathy for immigrants who may not know what the deal is. But this is the 3d guy this morning and he's putting me in a bad spot and I'm losing patience so I yell "!Oye, Pendejo! !Por la derecha!" I admit that wasn't nice, but it at least got his attencion.

wet

Perfect weather this morning! Got a new rear wheel Friday, and I can feel how much smoother the ride is.