How was the commute today?
brrrrr cold, well actually 43F, but in shorts, fingerless gloves, and I just got a haircut. First 5 miles I was thinking about what genius I was to dress so appropriately and then I warmed up.
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Definitely that 'no appropriate clothing' time of the year. Today I have short sleeve t-shirt plus raincoat. That combo was too sweaty at the end of the ride in (no rain). We'll see what happens for lunchtime errands and then trip home, of course.
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
Dropped my bag at my bike locker and then met my buddy for a 20 mile out and back before work. It was great. We were just talking about random stuff. I was on the edge of breathing hard but could hold a conversation and then I looked down and we were doing 21mph. I think I'm fitter than I thought I was. Woohoo!
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)
Been using my mountain bike the past couple of days, so it's been a little tougher going, but fun nonetheless. Been cooler with the breeze, still somewhat warm though.
Nothing crazy to report that I recall, lots of construction and movie filming making and breaking up the routes here and there.
Nothing crazy to report that I recall, lots of construction and movie filming making and breaking up the routes here and there.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough, MA
Bikes: Felt F85 (2007), Fuji Regis (1980's)
Interesting last week of commuting to work here in NC before my move to MA next week. Yesterday on my way to work I got pulled over by a cop for running a red light. Luckily he was nice and just told me to wait if there are cars waiting. Fine by me. Then on the way home I had a crazy lady yell at me for taking up the whole lane approaching a stop sign. I caught up to her about 3/4 of a mile later at a stop sign and told her that she made it really far. She then tried to tell me to ride on the side of the road/sidewalk/etc. I then tell her that I should be treated like a car, which she proceeds to say "then why aren't you at the back of the line?". By this time I was almost laughing as I proceeded to the front of the line of cars which just made her even madder. Seems like she wants to treat me like a cyclist only when waiting in line but when actually approaching a stop sign just hug the side of the road. Crazy people out lately. Today is my last ride, gotta drive the next two days to clean out stuff from my office and do errands. Gonna take the long way home later on.
Just fine .3 miles of pleasant 75F
Cycling since 1978
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Troy, Michigan
Bikes: 1981 Custom Assenmacher, 27", full Campy Super Record. Canondale Tandem, 25.5"-21.5" , Giant Yukon MTN Bike 24", 2010 Trek 2.3 64cm
It was fun today. The weather guys was reporting rain moving into the area in the next couple hours. So I got ready and started out. I could feel the rain coming up behind me all the way into work. I got a few drops but that was it. The guards at the building like my new light. I have the Blackbutn X3 and I use the flashing setting. They said it looks like a cop pulling in the drive in the morning.
Larry G
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Morristown, NJ
Bikes: Trek Mountain Bike, Specialized Globe
I have a 4.5 mile commute in Morristown, NJ. 1/2 on suburban roads and 1/2/ through hiking/biking paths going through the woods which is paved (badly rippled) as well as gravel paths. The leaves are getting thicker which make the ride more dangerous.
It usually takes me 20 minutes with a very steep hill that leads to my office's parking lot at the end. I always walk the bike up the hill. Call me a "wus", but I'm still new to biking and the proliferation of sweat it takes to make it up the hill is not worth it just before I walk into work. Pushing the bike up the hill is tough enough.
Today was a beautiful morning, as have been the last 60 in my neck of the woods, and my commute was delightful as usual. I started commuting in July and haven't had a bad day yet. I'm very lucky in my commute in that I have no lights, I go through the woods and deal with very few cars. If I didn't have the hill it would be perfect.
Winter is coming and I'm looking forward to see how I deal with it.
It usually takes me 20 minutes with a very steep hill that leads to my office's parking lot at the end. I always walk the bike up the hill. Call me a "wus", but I'm still new to biking and the proliferation of sweat it takes to make it up the hill is not worth it just before I walk into work. Pushing the bike up the hill is tough enough.
Today was a beautiful morning, as have been the last 60 in my neck of the woods, and my commute was delightful as usual. I started commuting in July and haven't had a bad day yet. I'm very lucky in my commute in that I have no lights, I go through the woods and deal with very few cars. If I didn't have the hill it would be perfect.
Winter is coming and I'm looking forward to see how I deal with it.
just over the next hill
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe 2006 Fuji Tahoe
53 F and 85% humidity this morning. It was a little nippy for just a long sleeve shirt. I needed a wind breaker. Another great ride in.
__________________
Enjoy the ride.
Bianchi Volpe 2006; Fuji Tahoe 1990
Enjoy the ride.
Bianchi Volpe 2006; Fuji Tahoe 1990
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Podunc, Minnesota
Bikes: '14 Bacchetta Corsa, '93 Ryan Vanguard, Action Bent SWB USS
Awesome! The weather was perfect! It was mid 40’s F this morning and I was dressed just right. I had a slight head wind on the way in but nothing to write about… Followed by a 20mph tail wind on the way home… Yippie!!!! I averaged 20mph without even trying!!!
hammered in. hammered home. now I'm hammered.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 7
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Bikes: '84 Centurion Accordo RS, '06 Gary Fisher Marlin, '06 Schwinn Fastback 27, '06 Litespeed Teramo
I found a new route today. It added approx. 4-5 miles and less lights to deal with. This allowed me really concentrate on my pedaling and cadence on my way home tonight. I would like to make this my route to work too but it would mean leaving 1/2 hour earlier than before. I'm excited.
Ride, baby...RIDE!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kodiak, Alaska
Bikes: Specialized, Bringheli, Bianchi, Trek, Rocky Mountain, Kona, Burley, Schwinn Paramount
It was fookin' awesome this morning!!! On the way back home I stopped at the bike shop and picked up some new panniers. I'm stylin', now.
39F on the way in...probably 49 on the way home tonight. Supposed to be 28-30 tomorrow am. A little chilly.
39F on the way in...probably 49 on the way home tonight. Supposed to be 28-30 tomorrow am. A little chilly.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
From: an island in WA
Bikes: Xtracycle cruiser bike
Commuted home on the Xtrahopper (Rock Hopper/Xtracycle). Decided I need a longer seat post. Can't get proper leg extension, Even with the seat post 1-1/2" beyond the "minimum insertion" line. Rock Hopper's 17" frame is too small for me, and I've grown too fond of the thing to give it up. $30 thrift store bike is one of my babies.
So it will look silly, but it must be done.
Cloudy as hell, but no rain. Cool and perfect riding weather.
So it will look silly, but it must be done.
Cloudy as hell, but no rain. Cool and perfect riding weather.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
From: an island in WA
Bikes: Xtracycle cruiser bike
Man, I feel ya.
I was tired when I suited up for the ride home today. Told myself, "I'm going to take it easy. I'm in no big rush to get home. NOT GOING TO PUSH IT EVEN ONCE."
Bull****. First climb I tried to spin like a madman, see how far up I could get without downshifting or standing to hammer.
Steep hill on last stretch, didn't walk the bike. Spun, pumped, shifted like crazy. Got home panting and sweaty as hell.
Don't regret it. Maybe I'll take it easy next ride.
On one hand I get home and I feel so healthy and fit, and I am inspired to eat tofu and do yoga.
On the other hand I feel worked and a little disgruntled and I deserve a beer or six!
I was tired when I suited up for the ride home today. Told myself, "I'm going to take it easy. I'm in no big rush to get home. NOT GOING TO PUSH IT EVEN ONCE."
Bull****. First climb I tried to spin like a madman, see how far up I could get without downshifting or standing to hammer.
Steep hill on last stretch, didn't walk the bike. Spun, pumped, shifted like crazy. Got home panting and sweaty as hell.
Don't regret it. Maybe I'll take it easy next ride.
On one hand I get home and I feel so healthy and fit, and I am inspired to eat tofu and do yoga.
On the other hand I feel worked and a little disgruntled and I deserve a beer or six!
commuter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 17
From: Netherlands
Yesterday I got home dry against expectations. Yay!
This morning was wonderful. 12 degrees C, no wind and quite foggy, and no traffic to speak of. Up until now I had been riding my autumn/winter bike with an MTB crankset, which is not really suited for paved roads due to the low front gears, I always seemed to be in between the middle and large chainring . Yesterday I swapped it out for a brand new XT trekking crankset. Mucho better gearing!
This morning was wonderful. 12 degrees C, no wind and quite foggy, and no traffic to speak of. Up until now I had been riding my autumn/winter bike with an MTB crankset, which is not really suited for paved roads due to the low front gears, I always seemed to be in between the middle and large chainring . Yesterday I swapped it out for a brand new XT trekking crankset. Mucho better gearing!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I drove my truck today after bike commuting for 8 straight days, my new record. I was tempted to cycle, but really needed to stock up on supplies (food, clean clothes) and have a doctor's appointment this afternoon that would be hard to make on my bike. The forecasters also had been calling for rain today, but lately they seem to be backing off that prediction. With the drought we are having in NC, I rather doubt it will rain other than a few sprinkles. We've only had 2 days of rain in the past 2 months.
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Yet Another Nice Commute. Sunrise. 60F, and no wind. I moved along pretty well. Passed some cyclists. Saw some heading the other way. Squirrels out in droves but none flung themselves at my bike, fortunately.
I suck... i drove today. But only because i'm heading over to an lbs that ain't so local. On the ride in i passed the flags i use to gauge wind direction. They were pointing directly south west. In the mornings i ride in two directions, south and west. Would've had a tailwind the whole way, what a waste....
sniffin' glue
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Bikes: Surly crosscheck ssfg, Custom vintage french racing bike, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road
Wow, what a difference a half hour makes. Lately i have been riding in a half hour early (7.20 instead of 7.50), and it is so much more pleasant. There are less cars on the road, people seem to be in a better mood, and i feel great! It is incentive to get to work early.
Wonderful 1.8 miles today.....i love commuting by bike!
Wonderful 1.8 miles today.....i love commuting by bike!
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Nice ride in. Wore burley rain/windbreaker coasting down the hill trailering Thing 2 to daycare, took it off to ride back up the hill out of town to work, shorts and long-sleeve T seemed to do the job. Wet wet wet but mostly coming up from the ground or off the trees and/or cars, not much coming out of the sky.
Going home last night was a *lot* of work; after got to daycare, put daughter in trailer, my new route goes up a hill between some tall buildings, turns out to be a total windtunnel. So dragging the trailer up the wind tunnel into the headwind definitely had me gasping at the top of the hill. I think I maintained 8mph all the way up though.
Also, this morning, took an alternate route w/ big hill climb, I can't even remember if I had a goal for speed to maintain climbing that hill when I started commuting here, maybe 8, maybe not, but maintaining 11mph going up that one w/o really thinking about it was a good feeling after the fact. After I remembered that I didn't used to be able to do that...
Going home last night was a *lot* of work; after got to daycare, put daughter in trailer, my new route goes up a hill between some tall buildings, turns out to be a total windtunnel. So dragging the trailer up the wind tunnel into the headwind definitely had me gasping at the top of the hill. I think I maintained 8mph all the way up though.
Also, this morning, took an alternate route w/ big hill climb, I can't even remember if I had a goal for speed to maintain climbing that hill when I started commuting here, maybe 8, maybe not, but maintaining 11mph going up that one w/o really thinking about it was a good feeling after the fact. After I remembered that I didn't used to be able to do that...
Last edited by HardyWeinberg; 10-04-07 at 12:10 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, IL
Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 0, Rivendell- Sam Hillborne, Montague folding bike.
Very fine day indeed! 55f, clear sky, no winds. Got on the bike as the sun reached the horizon. Traffic about normal. One car well over the limit passed with about 6 inches to spare. Looking forward to return trip with a tailwind, and 80f.
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
Rode the race bike in again (3d time this week). I know my fixed gear must be getting lonely, but the weather is just so right for hammering.
Enjoy

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,165
Likes: 0
From: Seattle metro
Bikes: Trek 5200
Knee cap is recovering nicely and I biked in 1/2 my route. Traffice was backed up about the first 7mi so today even with 'conservative riding' in steady rain, I arrived about 15mins ahead of the cars. Heh Heh Heh...I'm baaaaack
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
70 and rainy this morning. Sure love those disc brakes. I just need better fenders. Just as I was putting the bike in the back of the SUV, I heard a thunder-clap. Odd. Very odd. Also, the ants found my warm, dry car again. There were a hundred of them waiting for me when I opened the driver side door. Eeek!!




