Still not getting the weather I so richly deserve, but it is getting better - chilly and dark this morning -2 C and a healthy headwind (again!). Dry roads (first time in 2 weeks!) and sunny (first time in a week and a half!) and +1C on the way home. Saw a rabbit, the rest of the wildlife still hiding under the snow.
Tried the bike path shortcut, ended up walking the bike, bike path still covered by 4" of snow, (I thought the sun would have melted it today) slicks not ok for traction to go forward in the snow.

Around 22C when I left home this morning, probably increased a little. No clouds, gentle northerly which will be at my back later on. I'm really beginning to miss the rain.

You tell me.

42 year old bloke. 40 year old bike. 120psi tyres. dry, blue sky NO wind (checked the manometer on the bridge)

Bike rides like a dream, so lively . Sun glinting off the chrome forks. hands cold because it was near freezing, but a beautiful crisp Scottish spring morning.

Took a while to get used to the slightly different (higher) gearing of the Scot, but boy was it a GREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT ride in.

So much so that I took a few minutes to gaze at the bike when I parked it.

I wanted a Flying Scot since I first saw one in about 1976. I can't tell you how good it makes my commute riding one.

Roll on 5 o clock.

Snow this morning on the way to work! Needed gloves, jacket and booties to stay warm. After the last few weeks of warm weather, this was something of a shock.

Chewa - The flying Scot sounds like a dream. Where could I find one?


Cheers,

Ed

Ed, it is a beautiful bike.

You will see them occassionally advertised in the back pages of Cycling +, but beware, because the name has been bought over first by Dales cycles in Glasgow, then by M Steel (I think). Real (Rattray)Scots were only produced up till the late 70's

Check Bob Reid's excellent website

Bob Reid's site

It will give tips on identification, but as they were largely individually specced it's not a complete guide.

Check out the gallery too. Mine is this one.

Johns Flying Scot , frame number 345L from 1963/4

I'm always on the look out for another, particularly a "Queen of Scots" for my wife.


Ed, only problem is that you might have to prove some Scottish lineage before you swing your leg over one (kilt optional)

Last night was a long hard haul home. Temperature was in the 90s and I had a stiff headwind which made me work a lot harder and in the warmest day so far this year to boot. My legs felt totally blasted all the way home and the last 4 miles felt a lot like the end of my first century and I did all I could to finish the ride.
This morning was a different story. Temperature was in the 60's and I took it easy for recovery and had no problems. Found a doll in the road that I picked up for my daughter.

Clear and perfect temps, requiring only a light jacket and shorts. I had a lot of energy and was blazing away for a while but I backed off a bit because I've been really increasing miles (biking and running) recently. I did the get-a-ride-with-wife-and-kids-to-school-then-leave-from-there trek today for 13 miles. I'll zoom home tonight all the way (20 miles), hopefully with a nice tailwind.

There is supposed to be rain and lower temps starting tomorrow and through the weekend.

Okay commute. Stuffy nose didn't help. The weather can't be beat! I wish it was like this forever.

Andy, when you start extending your miles out this way (highway 9, pierce, etc) let me know and maybe we can setup a crossing. One flashing green 520 to another.

Temp 0C, but bright sunshine and no wind. We had about 4" of snow last Sat and it has been cold since, so there was quite a lot of ice at the edge of the bike path and it had been melting in the day and freezing at night which reulted in several smooth ice patches over the path.

Sun O Sun, we finally have bright sunshine. Spring has been a long time coming, but given the extended forecast, may be here to stay. Temps were brisk this morning, but shaping up to be almost 60 F by the time I head home. Yahoooo!

So I thought I had a good speed home yesterday.. It was nothing. I made it home 6 minutes faster and 1.8 mph avg faster than my fastest time.

I guess I am getting more in shape.

The spirit was willing this morning, but the flesh was weak. So far I've found two possible causes:

1. the absolutely ridiculous humidity level this morning.

2. the recent lack of sleep - firstly caused by seven months of summer, more recently caused by having to find an extra 10 hours/week for professional studies.

Pretty good clip home tonight. Went down my new route for 20 miles (for locals: Zanker to 10th to Senter to Hellyer). Had a couple unusually close calls tonight.

Close call #1: A car pulled a quick right-hook in an area where I fully expect such behavior given the driving habits of the locals and given the fact that the car in question was full of boxes and such, allowing for ZERO backwards visibility. Let's just say I was waiting for it, but still rather close.

Close call #2 was closer. One idiot pickup truck driver zoomed right and almost cut me off, hurriedly taking an on-ramp to 101 North (which, obviously, I wasn't going to take). Then, right behind, idiot #2 did cut me off getting on to the same on ramp. She even looked up at me, because she was under my front wheel !! She was following the idiot pickup driver, convoy-like. This was a close one though I had an escape route mapped out (but luckily didn't need it).

Forgot to mention that a man in my neighborhood called out "How far do you go each day?" as I was whizzing by, nearly home. I yelled back "20 miles each way". I had a car following me so I didn't have time to turn around and say that I don't ride every day (2-3 times a week more like it) and that it's not always 20 each way, though in the summertime it normally is, etc., etc., etc.

Still, he seemed intrigued. Maybe soon I'll see him on the road, too.

Rats! Finally get some weather (sunny, +8C, 45 F) and had to drive home last night! Got busy at work due to leaky roof over office (melting ice/snow water unable to find its way to roof drains due to unmelted snow/ice on roof) ended up staying later than I wanted, had to get home for anniversary # 27. 27 years of bliss and other stuff!
On call for the next week, no bike commuting, I'll be bringing the road bike in for some nooner rides at work.

Another blue sky, cold clear morning. slight tail wind and now that my narrower tyres are on my computer is reading accurately.

Average speed in just under 15 mph. Not bad because my cycle path route involves stopping at junctions and red lights (for a long time this morning) and I don't have auto on-off.

What a lucky day. I got to work this morning and noticed that my pannier was gone! Wallet, keys, everything. I backtracked my route and luckily found it in an empty lot. Whew.

Boy, have we been fortunate the last few days and it's suppose to go into the weekend. We hit 72F (22C) yesterday (4/10), of course it was 32F (0C) in the morning. So that means you have to carry more bike clothing. I've been able to take the long way to work, venture out at lunch time and take the long way home. Same story today! I hope to get my wife out on our tandem this weekend.

First day back to the office after spending 3 days in Charleston, SC. And first commute on my new commuter. Nice, nice, nice. One minor mishap though....Within 1 km to the office, I came across a very rough and bumpy turn on the road and bounced around so much that my frame pump fell off onto the road. I pulled to the side and the semi behind me carried on and rode over my pump.

The ride home was better and warmer...

So, next week, my goal is to bike to work all five days...55 km round trip.

First day this year without studded tires, what a difference, felt like I was being pushed all the way to work. I thing spring is finally here, I dress lighter annd stayed warm.

No commute, just a 3 hour, 45 mile ride, IN SUNSHINE at times. First long ride with just shorts this season. This went a long way to restoring my sanity. Last week put me into total sunshine deficit. I sure hope this is the start of a great commuting week.

Nice day, a little on the cool side, no wind. Passed a motorcyclist that went down on some ice, I let him use my cell phone to call the police, He didn't get hurt but there was plastic everywhere. You might know, I took the studs off saturday and we have ice on the roads again. I thought we were done with that for the year.

Heyup folks,
A helpful breeze this morning had me sailing in. 19.2mph average. Probably won't be so easy on the way home, but that's just the way it is.

Cheers,

Ed

First commute in a week after the weather from hell last week. Great ride - 50 F, bike is in amazing shape after the overhaul City Bikes did on it

The same thing happened to me about 2 months ago. I lost my pump and pulled over to retrieve it when a semi ran it over. Luckily, the tires crossed over the valve end which apparently is indestructible. Not a scratch received and it works fine. Wierd.