How was the commute today?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 239
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From: Calgary
Settling in to the new job, I think its gonna work out well. The ride in is enough of a workout that its having an effect but not killing me.
The earlier time is noticeable, Plus, more bike commuters, Minus, this morning , as Pinkrobe said, 2C.
Didn't really clue in to what that meant till I crossed a wooden decked bridge on the MUP.
Hang on, thats white and sparkly, WTF! Its still August!
Calgary!
The earlier time is noticeable, Plus, more bike commuters, Minus, this morning , as Pinkrobe said, 2C.
Didn't really clue in to what that meant till I crossed a wooden decked bridge on the MUP.
Hang on, thats white and sparkly, WTF! Its still August!
Calgary!
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
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From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Nice again this morning. Mid 60sF. Blue sky but a little hazy and humid. Mild headwind. Saw several riders going the other way. Passed a couple going my way.
School must have started. Several students (High School, from the looks of 'em) were milling about the usual bus stop location, along with two(!) Soccer Mom Vans. Why do parents coddle their children like that? It's bizarre. Drive the kids what amounts to less than 1/4 mile (I know where one van "lives"), and sit there until the bus comes? What babies those kids must be.
Oops. Rant off.
School must have started. Several students (High School, from the looks of 'em) were milling about the usual bus stop location, along with two(!) Soccer Mom Vans. Why do parents coddle their children like that? It's bizarre. Drive the kids what amounts to less than 1/4 mile (I know where one van "lives"), and sit there until the bus comes? What babies those kids must be.
Oops. Rant off.
Today's commute was uneventful.
Very very humid this morning though. Almost felt like it was about to rain, but it never did.
Very very humid this morning though. Almost felt like it was about to rain, but it never did.
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Rim crusher
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
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From: Raleigh, NC
Warm and humid again. Uneventful commute. I tried a different route this AM which is ~ 1 mile longer but avoids 6 or 8 stoplights and 2 interstate exits. A lot less traffic too, so I think I'm going to use this route more frequently in the future. Despite the added distance, 26 mile RT now vs 27 mile RT using the new route, it seems like a better, safer alternative.
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
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From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
It has warmed up a bit since yesterday. It's also dry, and should remain so for the next few days. Only 1.85 days of work until a few days of vacation in the mountains. I can hardly wait...
It's true, man.
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: North Texas
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
Coolish, with lots of very small bugs, and kind of interesting.
First, there's a long downhill into the urban area, with a stoplight at the bottom and an immediate uphill. The light favors cross traffic, so I rarely get to breeze through and hold my momentum for the uphill. Today, seeing the flashing "Don't Walk" signs for the cross traffic, it looked like the timing would be right for me to jam through at speed, but I was concerned that apartment construction to the the left me to lose sight of traffic until I was into the the intersection. I slowed and peeked around the plywood wall,and "zooosh!' - a Toyota blew thru the red light at 30+mph a full 5 seconds after it had changed.
I was glad to make the climb from a dead stop, after that.
Then waiting for the train, my occasional riding buddy's girlfriend showed up - dressed identically to me. Same Dirt Dawgs Racing jersey (designed by me for the local drinking... err... mtb racing team), with baggy shorts, same style ride - old gray road bike with downtube shifters and one pannier. Pretty funny, actually. We debated sitting on different cars, but decided that was excessive
.
First, there's a long downhill into the urban area, with a stoplight at the bottom and an immediate uphill. The light favors cross traffic, so I rarely get to breeze through and hold my momentum for the uphill. Today, seeing the flashing "Don't Walk" signs for the cross traffic, it looked like the timing would be right for me to jam through at speed, but I was concerned that apartment construction to the the left me to lose sight of traffic until I was into the the intersection. I slowed and peeked around the plywood wall,and "zooosh!' - a Toyota blew thru the red light at 30+mph a full 5 seconds after it had changed.
I was glad to make the climb from a dead stop, after that.
Then waiting for the train, my occasional riding buddy's girlfriend showed up - dressed identically to me. Same Dirt Dawgs Racing jersey (designed by me for the local drinking... err... mtb racing team), with baggy shorts, same style ride - old gray road bike with downtube shifters and one pannier. Pretty funny, actually. We debated sitting on different cars, but decided that was excessive
.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 22
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From: Idaho
Bikes: trailbike: 2001 LT Titus Switchblade, commuter: 1996? KHS Alite 3000, singlespeed: 1997 Specialized Stumpjumper
Nice cool, early dawn commute this morning. First ride with the headlight this season
Woke up too early, but I was anxious to commute on my new CrossCheck that I picked up yesterday.
All I can say is wow, what a great ride along my bumpy greenbelt compared to my other bike I was using for commuting, my old KHS Easton Aluminum frame. Steel rocks!
Not too much traffic to deal with or any freaks on the greenbelt telling me I'm going too fast for this city.
However I did just about run into two people walking their dogs in the middle of the street this morning, but they heard me coming
Woke up too early, but I was anxious to commute on my new CrossCheck that I picked up yesterday.
All I can say is wow, what a great ride along my bumpy greenbelt compared to my other bike I was using for commuting, my old KHS Easton Aluminum frame. Steel rocks!
Not too much traffic to deal with or any freaks on the greenbelt telling me I'm going too fast for this city.
However I did just about run into two people walking their dogs in the middle of the street this morning, but they heard me coming
sniffin' glue
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,177
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From: Seattle
Bikes: Surly crosscheck ssfg, Custom vintage french racing bike, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road
Yay! Summer is on its way!
Last night i rode home with only a t-shirt, and this morning i woke up to sunny blue skies and warm weather, wore only a t-shirt for the ride into work also.
Luckily i did not let the weather distract me too much because this morning a car ran a stop sign directly in front of me, but i was able to stop in time, thankfully. Other than that it was a normal commute.
Last night i rode home with only a t-shirt, and this morning i woke up to sunny blue skies and warm weather, wore only a t-shirt for the ride into work also.
Luckily i did not let the weather distract me too much because this morning a car ran a stop sign directly in front of me, but i was able to stop in time, thankfully. Other than that it was a normal commute.
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
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From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Living the n+1

Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Off the back
Bikes: 2019 RM Pipeline, 2019 RM Blizzard, 2013 SuperX, 2007 Litespeed Vortex, 1970 Falcon Olympic, 2008 RM Metropolis IGH, 2004 Specialized Enduro, 2006 Langster
I had to detour off my regular MUP route. There were yellow police lines securing off a large area and a cruiser guarding a "scene"
I think they may have found a "Stiff" I see if I can get through on the way home.
I think they may have found a "Stiff" I see if I can get through on the way home.
Last edited by Tequila Joe; 08-29-07 at 12:08 PM.
Pretty typical today. A nice smooth ride in. It will be a little hotter on my way out however...
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Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I cut short my planned long ride this morning to have a nice quiet breakfast with my 3 year old daughter. I can't say no to those big brown eyes.
Wow, it was HOT today! And unfortunately I was listening to fast music as I rode, so I rode fast... in the terrible humid heat and into the wind. Good workout, I suppose. But I actually was forced to take a break by the side of the road before climbing the biggest hill of my commute. I'm grateful for all that anyhow. I want summer to keep going!!!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
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From: Calgary
Living the n+1

Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Off the back
Bikes: 2019 RM Pipeline, 2019 RM Blizzard, 2013 SuperX, 2007 Litespeed Vortex, 1970 Falcon Olympic, 2008 RM Metropolis IGH, 2004 Specialized Enduro, 2006 Langster
Calgary but not by the Fort. It was by the MaxBell Arena. Apparently it was another stiff. The news called it "human remains" so it sounds like it may have been there for a while. Its kinda scary as I ride by there almost every day. There are often peculiar smells in & around that area, I wonder if any of those were coming from .... ewww... never mind.
The "scene" was still secured on my way home. One of the officers said that the area will be closed till Friday.
The "scene" was still secured on my way home. One of the officers said that the area will be closed till Friday.
Raving looney
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,482
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
Riding east to visit my wee one, I called out to a fellow cyclist "Have a good ride!" and instantly I heard, and felt the tone "Excuse me?!" and she was about to start yelling, I called back "I said, have a good ride - relax!" - I figure she thought I was saying "learn how to ride" or something.
She later caught me at a light and said "sorry about that man, you don't hear nice things too often". I chuckled with her, and we had a brief chat during the lights. I again wished her a good ride and went on my way. Funny story, but sad really.
Even though I feel a comeraderie / fellowship with cyclists, there's still a strain sometimes to even pick up a nice "Hello" at a stop light, it's too bad we're still stuck in our worlds too much sometimes (I'm guilty of this too at times).
Ride was good, got out east fairly quickly - warmer weather, but coping. Gotta saviour it while it lasts, really not looking forward to the cold at this point (even though I prefer it overall
)
She later caught me at a light and said "sorry about that man, you don't hear nice things too often". I chuckled with her, and we had a brief chat during the lights. I again wished her a good ride and went on my way. Funny story, but sad really.
Even though I feel a comeraderie / fellowship with cyclists, there's still a strain sometimes to even pick up a nice "Hello" at a stop light, it's too bad we're still stuck in our worlds too much sometimes (I'm guilty of this too at times).
Ride was good, got out east fairly quickly - warmer weather, but coping. Gotta saviour it while it lasts, really not looking forward to the cold at this point (even though I prefer it overall
)
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
80% humidity @ 70F. Sort of uncomfortable compared with the last few days. Nice ride though. I saw a whole pack of high school students riding the other way toward the school. It sort of improved my outlook for humanity. 
Oh and I saw a big dead frog on the road. Eiw.

Oh and I saw a big dead frog on the road. Eiw.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Dover, NH USA
Bikes: 1986 Bridgestone 500, 1981 Motobecane Super Mirage
Brilliant weather. Clear, sunny, and just a bit humid. Mid-60s. The perfect summer morning. Shame there won't be many more like this. Fall comes too early.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Southeastern, MI
Bikes: Trek 930, Trek 1500
Stupid driver day.
Riding down a main street got passed by a semi. He then slid into my lane and immeditely into a right turn lane giving me abot 1 foot of clearance behind his back bumper. Then he stopped at the red light. As I passed him on the left, I punched the door of his truck. The thin metal actually dented in. Had I punched harder, the dent would have stayed and he would have had to explain it to his dispatcher. too bad.
He yelled at me about riding on the (non-existent) sidewalk.
Riding down a main street got passed by a semi. He then slid into my lane and immeditely into a right turn lane giving me abot 1 foot of clearance behind his back bumper. Then he stopped at the red light. As I passed him on the left, I punched the door of his truck. The thin metal actually dented in. Had I punched harder, the dent would have stayed and he would have had to explain it to his dispatcher. too bad.
He yelled at me about riding on the (non-existent) sidewalk.
Beautiful morning. Actually it's quite dark at 5:30. All the cars that passed me (maybe 15-20) gave me the full lane. Guess it's easy to do with nobody else on the road 
I wanted to be at work by six so I broke a sweat in the first 10 minutes of the ride. Made almost record time - and as it turns out I could have taken another 10 minutes to get here.

I wanted to be at work by six so I broke a sweat in the first 10 minutes of the ride. Made almost record time - and as it turns out I could have taken another 10 minutes to get here.
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
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From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
We met up with many JAM ******bags on the way in today. The more expensive the car, the worse they were - especially the Mercedes drivers. Wow. I'm glad I won't be riding in for a few days [vacation].
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
No ride in today--Mrs. Caloso had to be in the office early so I dropped her first, then the kids at daycare, then to my office. But I threw my bike in the back of the van and I'm hoping I'll have the opportunity to make up for it on the way home.
Do I use too many commas?
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 621
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From: Central New York
Bikes: Giant Yukon SE
62 and heavy fog. A lot of cars didn't have their lights on. I could just imagine a head on happening to someone passing me because of reduced visibility and no lights.
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
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From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
A great ride in. It has been a week since I started riding again since my near 2mo. break. I slowly have been getting faster. It was fantastic conditions (90F/45%RH) allowing me to push myself for a 20.0mph average. My lungs still feel weak, a bit of gasping after bursts of speed. I'm looking forward to that going away, but at least its no longer painful to ride again.
Going home has been a different story. Yesterday it was 113F and was brutal, after 20min it really hits me and all I can think about it getting home to recover. Although it was beautiful with gigantic thunderheads all around, rain came about an hour after I got home and cooled it down to around 100F. Nice.
Al
Going home has been a different story. Yesterday it was 113F and was brutal, after 20min it really hits me and all I can think about it getting home to recover. Although it was beautiful with gigantic thunderheads all around, rain came about an hour after I got home and cooled it down to around 100F. Nice.
Al




