Wow, omesh, 1h15m for a first-time commute of 18 miles is very good. I do 20 miles typically in the same time. Granted I have 50+ stop lights to contend with but it sounds like you had your share, too.

Today I took the same route in I did Monday. I didn't ride home Monday night so I felt pretty fresh today. Funny that the route I took today I once considered the "long" route, then I settled into that as the "normal" route for a few years. Nowadays it's the shortest route I take.

I forgot my pants(trousers, to some of you) today! Gah! I'm walking around in bike shorts, good thing they're baggies.

After battling into the South wind this morning, It looks like it is going to change direction 180 degrees so that I'll be really fighting on the way home. This is the weather report as of 12:00...

Way to go omesh!

Had a bit of trouble on the commute home last evening. I jumped up to launch from a stop light and after 3 cranks, my right foot flew from the pedal. I nearly wrecked, but instead caught myself by sliding my foot on the ground while I rolled to a stop. Evidently, the front of my Look cleat was worn away from too much walking (something I need to check more often) and could no longer hold securely.

Fortunately, I was 2 blocks from a shop I knew about and was able to quickly obtain a new set. I also bought covers, which have the nice side-effect of immensely improving the ability to walk in my road shoes. Nice! I should have gotten those cleat covers years ago.

This morning I decided I was becoming too complacent in my commute. The trip was easy to spin and make fairly good time. I upped my cogs from usual this morning, but kept the cadence high. My breathing was a bit heavier, but I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked the clock. I shaved nearly 10 minutes from my 12 mile commute! But now, of course, I can never allow any trip times to exceed my new, lower threshhold ever again. Sigh, the good ol' days are lost. . .

Interestingly, I passed a guy on a MTB this morning and said, "Hello." I continued for another mile or so, then slowed a bit through an intersection, when suddenly the MTB passed me. I then ended up following him, but had to continually coast and brake until he parted from my route. I'll not delve into speculation, but this is some strange psychology at work I tell ya.

I hate when I forget to bring the underwear. I opt to continue wearing the shorts underneath, rather than going free. . .

Hi Folks,

We're having really great weather here at the moment. Shame that I have no time in the week to get longer rides in, but the commute journeys are a treat at the moment. Plus the schools have their easter holiday, so morning traffic is quiet. 18.8 mph average this morning!

Cheers,

Ed

Close call today two blocks from the office: I made eye contact with the driver but an Aerospeed van (local equiv. of FedEx) pulled right out in front of me and forced me into the middle of the road. I banged on the side of the van and at the light I pulled up to the window. The driver wouldn't roll it down so I made the 2 fingers to the eyes gesture and said "I know you looked right at me! And you pulled out in front of me anyway!"

I couldn't hear what the driver said but it didn't sound apologetic. Decided (in spite of my tagline) not to get angry but just to let the company know that their driver is operating their van unsafely. So, I got the license number and called the 800 number on the side of the van. Left a vm for the driver manager. I'll call back this afternoon if I don't get a return call.

Otherwise, a nice ride in. I refuse to let this ruin my day.

cranky, I forget towels every so often. But I've never forgotten my pants !!! That is funny !!!

Zaphod, you need to move to a less windy area !! You battled a "south wind this a.m., but the prognosis is for winds from the west. Shouldn't this mean that at least you'll get a crosswind? (Not that a crosswind is great shakes, either.)

ChezJfrey, I use Looks on my roadie but I use SPDs for commuting for two reasons. First, with the recessed cleat, you get a much better, surefooted grip at stoplights. Second, I can walk normally (no "duck walk"), which is sometimes important when commuting (you never know where you'll need to go sometimes). Just my two cents.

Hey ya'll from Nashville, TN, USA!!!!

I commuted yesterday and today, and I hope to ride into work on Friday as well. We have thunderstorms "scheduled" for tomorrow, so...

Today's commute was very nice. The weather has been great. It was warm enough for regular shorts.

One thing I've noticed is the amount of coordination I have had to do to ride in this week. I have to plan what clothes to have where, what toiletry items to have where, when to shave, when to shower, and when to drive so that I can take home laundry, replace supplies, etc. I plan on doing this more during the summer when my son is out of school, so I should get a little more adept at the planning phase.

I've saved lots already in gas $$$ and a little on the monthly water bill, since I shower at work.

This is a really great way to pay for that fancy racing bike I bought last summer!!!

Have a safe and fun ride home!

Hey I like the way you're thinking, I'll have to run that whole concept by the wife later


Nice basic commute in this morning. After taking the winter off (I know!) I'm feeling stronger almost every time I ride now. Looking forward to the ride back, I found a great new route last week that gets me off of high traffic streets and adds 6 miles and some good climbs to the trip.

Massive brain explosion on last night's commute. There's a particularly slow set of lights in Southport, where I decided to stand rather than lean on one foot for 10 minutes. Trouble was, when I got back on the bike as the light changed, my foot dislodged one of my panniers, which then got caught under a car behind me and got dragged off.

Luckily for me, it eventually became untangled of it's own choice. Even more lucky for me, the traffic on the Gold Coast Highway was so heavy that it wasn't moving at all, meaning I could stop, walk across to wear it landed, pick it up and go again. Neither pannier nor contents suffered any damage, incredibly. I think I need a new brain.

i'm feeling irritable today, since i have to drive to work on wednesdays. i take my dog to the doggie day care once a week to keep her happy and socialized. i guess it's for a good reason, though, but sure would have liked to ride today.

haha some redneck-ish guy yelled at me out of a blue beater pickup truck on the commute home *git off the road*.....first i was a little worried, then I just thought of Cletus from the simpsons, and started laughing because thats who he reminded me of. to mean motorists! on my first commute day too!

-omesh

First commute of the year! Woo hoo!

It didn't start off too well but on the bright side, I guess I got the problems out of the way before I left the house. As I was putting air in my tires just before leaving, I was less than careful and managed to pull the valve stem right off the tube! (Note to self: don't try to pull off the pump valve from funky angles......) Luckily I had my spare tube all ready, plus it was the front tire, so after putting the new tube in, I was ready to go. The trip itself was pleasantly uneventful and surprisingly quick. Of course this was the first commute with my road bike so it may have made more of a difference than I expected. I'm still scoping a home for my baby INSIDE the building but I've already got a couple lined up. All in all, a great morning and an excellent first ride to work for the season!

12.27 miles
41:26 trip
17.78 avs

The commute home was a bear! There was a stiff headwind all the way and I am in no condition to fight it. I pretty much crawled all the way home and the gusts were blowing me all over.

12.65 mi
55:20 trip
13.74 avs

The weather was dull & gray in St. Louis, MO, but my ride in was uneventful. I can tell my fitness is slowly improving.

My ride in to work finishes with a short section through Forest Park. Every once in awhile I decide to do a lap around the park before either heading in to work or going home. This gives me about 6 extra miles.

This morning I added a lap before going to the office. It had rained over night and I ended up submerging one foot in a deeper than anticipated puddle.

Lesson: Bring an extra pair of socks!

Ouch! I had a trip a couple weeks ago where heavy wind and rain were pounding me. I rode 12 miles in 58 minutes! I won't be competing in TdF or Paris-Roubaix any time soon. . .

Commuted the full way home last night. Got rained on a couple times but nothing major. I had to fight a bit of a headwind. The weather around here is still more like February than April.

First major commuting snafu of the year: No pants! Aaaauuugghh!

I put my pants in the dryer to fluff out the wrinkles and I guess I just left them there. D'oh! So I'm sitting here in my bike shorts waiting for my dear wife to arrive with my pants. So lucky that she works in the same building.

Was fortunate that I didn't run into anyone from my office in the elevator. As long as no one asks me to stand up in the 20 minutes or so I'll be able to escape embarrassment.

Oh, the ride was fine. Few sprinkles, no big whoop.

Oh no, this thread is becoming as evil as "No Puncture" one. First cranky, then caloso, soon we'll all be arriving at work with no pants. . .

Just read back to Cranky's post. So that's why I forgot. It's all Cranky's fault!

Hehehe... Careful everyone. If this becomes an outbreak we're in for some serious trouble! Heaven help us the day we start getting flat tires AND forgetting our pants.

Nice ride this morn. Forcast is rain, but I made it in dry. I don't mind when it rains on the way home, just not on the way in.

If everyone would just start wearing bike shorts instead of pants, maybe we could start a new fad... Imagine everyone in the office in shirt/tie/blazer and... bike shorts... HA!!!

Thanks, caloso, you made my day. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I've always had that fear (kind of like that "bad dream", you know what I mean) that I'd do that. I have forgotten socks and underwear more then once. As far as the forgetting the underwear thing, let's just say I'm glad knit pants aren't in anymore. It was a chilly commute this morning (33F/1C) but at least we didn't get the snow and ice that we were expecting. So, I didn't have to pull down my winter bike. Here it is early afternoon and it's only 37F/3C, so it looks like a cool one for the ride home too (at least the wind has died down a bit).

Why did I have to commute on Good Friday, rather than go for a decent ride?