I've really been slacking on my commuting this year, but I decided to take it back with a vengence today.

I left a little later than I am used to (left my house around 7 am; when riding i usually am at WORK by that time) which changed the traffic patterns, of course. No issues with drivers. However, due to being a little later, I encountered a lot of Wicker Park riders coming down Milwaukee. And frankly, they annoyed the hell out of me. Blowing red lights in front of traffic, doing the "five corners cross" (which doesn't help, but some people seem to think it saves them time. It doesn't), and at Chicago/Milwaukee, actually congregating in the middle of the intersection, against the light, as they waited for the light to change.

People like that really irritate me. As I've said before - just because you're on a bike doesn't mean you're any less of a ******.

But I still had a good ride in this morning

Felt like I was dragging an anchor behind me. The only change to my bike were the fenders I put on last night. I checked for tire rub and didn't notice any, so maybe it's my heavier than usual backpack.

Back after a week off the bike, and feeling good! My new commuter is coming together nicely, and I should have it done by the end of the week. It's pretty dark in the morning, so I really need to get my new light built up soon. For the moment a blinkie and quick reflexes will have to do...

Took a bunch of time off over the weekend, rode only about 20k with the trailer, which felt like a massive drag yesterday. Today felt like a breeze, even on my heavy MTB. Rain posed a nice change, and thanks once again to my fenders, kept me a LOT drier than I would've been (not to mention, it was just pure fun flying through puddles )

Oh yeah, this mornings ride was from the East (I took my daughter into preschool) and at 25 minutes, stands to be my PB from that area into work. Woo.

I got the battery pack for my homebrew lights, so I'm hoping to get that finished just in time (I need to figure a way of mounting the fixtures to the space-arm I have.. then I'm set!).

Picked up a radio flyer trike (with the 'helper' handle) yesterday off CL for my daughter, I'm psyched - She wasn't 'getting' pedalling with her current bike w/coaster brake, so I think the "fixed" nature of the trike will work way better.

Hurrah for riding.

Nice fall morning. Almost dry enough for leaves to crunch (but they didn't). Will probably be raining again soon...

"I will do today what others will not so that I can do tomorrow what others cannot"

-Author unknown

Is that a great quote or what?


Love it! Copied it and I'll live my life by that quote. Okay, so I'm a bit tongue-in-cheek here but I really do appreciate the thought. It will be a great motivator for me on those days I don't feel like getting on the bike.

I'll put in the hours to continue building a level of fitness so high that I will ride my brother-in-law into the ground when he comes out to punish me. The very asphalt will quiver in fear of the blistering it will receive. Birds will take flight, animals will run and hide. The very sight of my cut torso, heavily-muscled thighs and rip-corded calves will make women swoon and strong men quake.

Utter and complete domination. I will crush all who dare to ride in my presence. Begone, puny mortal!

YOU have created a monster.

Thanks for sharing.

On my morning commute, there is one long hill where my speed gets as high as 35 mph. Yesterday as I neared the bottom, I heard a snort. There was a deer standing on the shoulder. I'm not sure if it just crossed the road or was getting ready to cross. I took that hill slower today. I don't know what would happen if I hit a deer going 30+ mph, but it wouldn't be pretty.

Nice and cool.

Morning commute was nice and chilly at start, but eventually warmed up.
The after work commute was windy, 20 mph winds in my face the whole way, gaaah. I also had an encounter with a reckless driver yay.

Weather was great for riding. It was supposed to rain, but it was clear and beautiful. I just bought some new panniers from REI, and I could really tell they were heavier than the old ones. I think if I pack smarter I can get away with only one pannier. I only had to yell "*******!" to a driver once today, which is good. I still see too many cyclists on the wrong side of the road. I feel bad for them. I paid a high price for doing that, and I wish they would just use the correct side of the road and avoid some potential pain. Still need to get some decent rain gear. Bought a Schwinn Super Sport DBX off ebay last week, and I am impatiently awaiting its arrival.

Nice and cool this morning--perfect t-shirt and shorts weather--but for the ride home the temperature must have dropped 10 degrees from the morning and the wind was blowing pretty hard. As I left the work parking lot, several coworkers shook their heads in disbelief, and one lady even yelled that I need to wear long pants and a sweater tomorrow. Luckily, I get warm really fast (must be this walrus suit I grew over the last 4 years. . .)

It's been said that whales and other sea mammals once left the ocean to live once again on land. Sounds like you and I are both living proof of that!

Gah! Had a slow speed tip over when my foot overlapped w/ the front fender, jamming it into the front wheel and bringing me to an abrupt halt. Next thing I know, I'm on the ground and feeling stupid. Some peds came over to help, but I told them I was fine and the only thing I hurt was my pride. Then I yanked the fender back into place and rode home wondering if keeping my pants clean was worth the overlap.

Transcendant.

I caught the mother of all tailwinds on the way home which made me forget about the morning from hell and at many times I could have sworn I was flying.

surprisingly nice weather today- I was expecting clouds and rain and instead it was a clear morning- a little cool but I still wore shorts.

sweet ride home with a moderate tailwind. rode into Harvard Square to meet up with my wife on her bike and we rode home together- nice ride.

Nice warm (mid 60s) weather and a great 18 mi commute for me this morning. Worked up a good sweat and saw a lot of deer moving about near the two MUT sections that I use. I also broke in my new Tri-Newt headlight, and it pumps out a huge amount of light.

The good news is my new commuter bike is due to arrive any day. A couple of months ago I ordered a Specialized Sirrus Pro and hopefully I'll retire my Giant Cypress to permanent duty on the trainer by weeks end.

Bicycle commuting ROCKS!

The last warm ride in to work of 2007, +15 C plus a very bright Venus looking over my right shoulder as I rode along the lakefront trail. As Sixty Fiver says, "transcendent!"

Cool and cloudy morning, and a speedy commute. Felt great.

It rained this morning. Cold, wet, rain. It was beautiful. I received some astonished looks at work. One lady even asked "Aren't you cold? How can you do this?"

I replied "The ride keeps me warm and, besides, its only rain." with a big smile on my face. She just shook her head and I though to my self, yeah, I know, I'm crazy. Wonderful day.

I had a mixed mode commute today. My wife had an early appointment so it fell to me to get the kids to daycare. I thought about trailering them in but the streets were wet from last night's rain and I haven't gotten around to reinstallilng my fenders. So I put them and the bike in the minivan, dropped them off, and then drove down to Front Street where the cheap skates (I mean economically enlightened) park for free and rode in from there.

I had to ride in a whole hour earlier than usual. It's fargin' dark at 6:30 a.m. I also didn't notice that I forgot to change the lenses in my glasses to a lighter tint. D'oh!

I think I need a new middle ring cause my chain is sliding over it when I crank hard from red lights.
I'm off the bike for a week anyways 'cause I'm goin' to vegas.

warm and foggy, drizzle started w/ a mile to go, full on rain as I walked in the door. Everything was soaked the whole ride drip drip drip everywhere, except me that is, love those cascadia fenders.

Today's commute was wet. Soaking wet as only a SE Alaska commute can be. Absolute downpour the entire way.

Kinda chilly too...about 40F... not exactly "great" commuting conditions, but that's the joy of living here!!!

Do you play the bagpipes by any chance?