How was the commute today?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Dover, NH USA
Bikes: 1986 Bridgestone 500, 1981 Motobecane Super Mirage
About 30*F this morning. Clear and calm. Last dark morning ride of Daylight Savings. Thinking my "cold" setup will need tweaking -- three semi-thin layers on top and two on bottom with medium-weight gloves was merely adequate. Need to find something for the ears.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
4:30am 38f Nice ride in. Had 161 all to myself again. Afternoon, started out at 53f, did some running around. Weather felt great. Temp rose to 58f. Gasoline was at $3.09. WOW! Thank goodness I can still ride a bike. Temp's next week expected to drop . I am ready, willing, and able.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
Balaclava!
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- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
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- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 747
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From: NW
Bikes: To many to list. I like them all!
36*F and fogy. I'd rather ride in 10*F clear and cooled than fog!
I got my first flat today in 14 months. So I guess I was do. Considering I run over glass everywhere in my 20+ daily commute, so I'd say I've been very lucky. Why is it that the drunks have to break there bottles in the streets?
With gas here at $3.19 a gal. I'm going to stay on the bike as long as I can. Besides I love to ride even in the rain.
Ciao,
Timothy
I got my first flat today in 14 months. So I guess I was do. Considering I run over glass everywhere in my 20+ daily commute, so I'd say I've been very lucky. Why is it that the drunks have to break there bottles in the streets?
With gas here at $3.19 a gal. I'm going to stay on the bike as long as I can. Besides I love to ride even in the rain.
Ciao,
Timothy
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: northern California
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
76 degrees and sunny. Took a main highway most of the way and only 1/4 mile was bad. And that part can be avoided. A co-worker waved as he drove by. I've educated them about not blowing their horns as they pass.
Last edited by ken cummings; 11-03-07 at 01:58 AM. Reason: enhancement
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,536
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From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
Went out this morning a 8am. 32f. I wanted to try out my Snow Sneakers from LL Bean. They fit perfect in my toe clips, so I don't have to get PowerGrips. 32f isn't very cold for those but my feet were totally comfortable. can't wait to try them out in some serious cold. Got a few incredulous looks from people like "Is he crazy ridin' a bike in this weather". No crazier than paying $3.09 for gas. Riding was real nice. Had to shed my cycling jacket as the temps warmed up.
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Crash has returned!
<-- my new nickname at work. lol
I setup my new langster in SS mode while I worked on tweaking the fit. Had to stop a few times to adjust a variety of items. Yet, I was still as fast as my old geared touring bike. Wow! What a fun ride. This should be amusing when I switch it to a fixie.
I will now officially take back my statement I made 6 months ago that my commute was too long and too hilly for a SS\FG. It is perfect! However, I may need a higher gear than 42\16 (or however you state it). That and this was with toe straps. bleh!
The dinotte ultra 5 dalmore sent me worked wonderfully. That is if I had put it on my helmet angled the correct distance from my bike.
My new commuter rocks! No more heavy touring bikes for me.
Now I am waiting for my new baileyworks ultra pro bag, garmin stem mount, and my sks race blade fenders.
Oh and toe straps blow. I need to pick up a new set of clipless pedals.
<-- my new nickname at work. lolI setup my new langster in SS mode while I worked on tweaking the fit. Had to stop a few times to adjust a variety of items. Yet, I was still as fast as my old geared touring bike. Wow! What a fun ride. This should be amusing when I switch it to a fixie.
I will now officially take back my statement I made 6 months ago that my commute was too long and too hilly for a SS\FG. It is perfect! However, I may need a higher gear than 42\16 (or however you state it). That and this was with toe straps. bleh!
The dinotte ultra 5 dalmore sent me worked wonderfully. That is if I had put it on my helmet angled the correct distance from my bike.

My new commuter rocks! No more heavy touring bikes for me.
Now I am waiting for my new baileyworks ultra pro bag, garmin stem mount, and my sks race blade fenders.
Oh and toe straps blow. I need to pick up a new set of clipless pedals.
SERENITY NOW!!!

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
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From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
49F this morning so I wussed out and wore a light cycling jacket. Dunno why I bothered since I left it unzipped w/ the pit zips wide open. Stopped around 57th for a light when a roadie pulled up next to me. As the light turned green, we both start moving side by side. He looks over, sees me and sprints forward. At that point, my mind said, "Hell naw!" so I droped teh hamer and let my guads loose. Stayed seated and spun past him as he relaxed his standing sprint. Didn't see him again cuz either I lost him w/ my awesome traffic negotiation skillz or cuz he couldn't be bothered to race a commuting dork. Probably the latter.
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
Blasted Weeds
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,182
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Trek 1200C, Specialized Rockhopper, Giant Yukon FX, Giant Acapulco
Mid 30's this morning, not a bad ride at all actually. However tomorrow and Wed I may see the first wet snow showers ... I'm Ready!
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
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From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Our weather right now is chilly mornings (30s) but warming up to 60s and 70s in the afternoons. Very nice, except I have to wear a much different set of clothes in the mornings than the afternoons. Fortunately my seat bag is large enough to carry my tights, vest and other unneeded clothes in the afternoons.
This morning was very different with the end of daylight savings time. Lately it has been totally dark all the way to work on my morning commute, but today it was already light when I left. I still ran my head and tail lights the whole way for extra visibility in traffic. It might be darker riding home this afternoon than it was this morning.
Last week was my second "5 bagger" of the year -- that is, I bike commuted every day. The weather has been so nice lately that it is a shame not to ride.
This morning was very different with the end of daylight savings time. Lately it has been totally dark all the way to work on my morning commute, but today it was already light when I left. I still ran my head and tail lights the whole way for extra visibility in traffic. It might be darker riding home this afternoon than it was this morning.
Last week was my second "5 bagger" of the year -- that is, I bike commuted every day. The weather has been so nice lately that it is a shame not to ride.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 141
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From: Nolensville, TN
Bikes: Nishiki Sport 10 spd, Trek 730 MultiTrack hybrid, 1987 Marin Muirwoods, Fuji MT-350, Fuji Sandblaster, Raleigh Sprite and several others
8 miles in on mostly-vacant country roads yesterday, 55 degrees w/ 15 mph winds. Beautiful. Averaged over thirty mph on the final 1 mile straight stretch. I was movin'. I just added a seventh gear to my '86 Trek 400 Elance and went from a 14-28 to a 13-26 cogset. I'm working harder on the hills but I love the extra speed on the flats. No negative interactions w/ the lead-sled set.
A little warmer than I would like at 55, but all in all a good ride in. I took a different route today for a change in scenery and found a hill (those are rare here in cornland). The temps are supposed to drop off later today, so the ride home in the dark should be a little nicer.
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1990 Trek 330
2006 Trek 7.2FX
2006 Trek 7.3FX (Wifey's Steed)
1990 Trek 330
2006 Trek 7.2FX
2006 Trek 7.3FX (Wifey's Steed)
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
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From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
Around 30-35 F this morning, and windy. Time to switch to the even-warmer gloves.
Cycled in work clothes to the carpool, didn't sweat at all. I love cold weather cycling! My Wiley X goggles work great in the cold, although they press on the bridge of my nose a little too much. Anyone know if its possible to bend plastic without weakening it?
Cycled in work clothes to the carpool, didn't sweat at all. I love cold weather cycling! My Wiley X goggles work great in the cold, although they press on the bridge of my nose a little too much. Anyone know if its possible to bend plastic without weakening it?
__________________
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
DNPAIMFB
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
Likes: 0
From: Cowtown, AB
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
First truly chilly ride of the year! It was a brisk -8C when we left the house, the roads had dried out after Sunday's snowfall, and traffic was heavy. I got caught out when I tried to emulate my wife's moves in traffic [I still don't know where those three cars came from], but recovered and made it to work unscathed.
I stopped the theft of my bike on saturday.
My bike was locked downtown at an office building (petrocanada). As I approach the bike racks I notice a crackhead bent over a bike workin' on the lock, it's my bike. I yell, and my friend gives chase, I call him off, after it was clear the crackhead was no longer a threat to my property.
I have a crappy cable lock which I've been meaning to replace but never have because I lock my bike in low risk areas. This was the first time in a year I've left my bike locked downtown in a high risk area. He was about 60-75% of the way thru the strands when I stopped him.
He put his jacket on the ground while he worked on my bike, my friend found a crackpipe in a pocket. He also dropped his leatherman multi-tool which he was using to saw thru my cable.
Thoughts: At first I regretted not chasing him down, but now I'm glad I didn't. He could have shanked us with another tool. Also, I probably would have just assaulted him when we ran him down. At the end of the day, I've still got my bike and he's still a homeless crackhead. The reason I was downtown was because I just took on a parttime weekend job in addition to my full time job to provide better for my family. The thanks I nearly received was getting my ride jacked. I'm thankful I still have my bike.
Oh yeah, It was friggin' cold this morn.
My bike was locked downtown at an office building (petrocanada). As I approach the bike racks I notice a crackhead bent over a bike workin' on the lock, it's my bike. I yell, and my friend gives chase, I call him off, after it was clear the crackhead was no longer a threat to my property.
I have a crappy cable lock which I've been meaning to replace but never have because I lock my bike in low risk areas. This was the first time in a year I've left my bike locked downtown in a high risk area. He was about 60-75% of the way thru the strands when I stopped him.
He put his jacket on the ground while he worked on my bike, my friend found a crackpipe in a pocket. He also dropped his leatherman multi-tool which he was using to saw thru my cable.
Thoughts: At first I regretted not chasing him down, but now I'm glad I didn't. He could have shanked us with another tool. Also, I probably would have just assaulted him when we ran him down. At the end of the day, I've still got my bike and he's still a homeless crackhead. The reason I was downtown was because I just took on a parttime weekend job in addition to my full time job to provide better for my family. The thanks I nearly received was getting my ride jacked. I'm thankful I still have my bike.
Oh yeah, It was friggin' cold this morn.
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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
43F, clear and still. Need to find my toe warmers, but otherwise the temperature was just perfect for riding hard. Cool but not cold, no wind, no fog. The perfect way to start the day.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 991
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From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 5c, Scattante XRL
Missed riding Thursday & Friday (conference Thursday, sick kid Friday). Rode today and had a chance to use my new trunk bag, a Topeak MTX DXP. I LOVE this bag! It does everything I need it to do and does it well.
The ride was very uneventful.
The ride was very uneventful.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 4
From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
4:30am 41f. The weather felt nice. Had thin balaclava and cotton gloves on w/rainjacket & Shell. Afternoon was 58f strong S wind. I was headed North, so I had a nice tailwind. I could actually feel it pushing me. Rainstorm fell to the south of the city so I lucked out on that. Getting ready for the expected 30f temps in the morning the rest of the week.
SERENITY NOW!!!

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Going home I came upon two other commuters, a woman on a mtb w/ ankle weights and a blinkie (yay!) partially obscured by her rear wheel (boo!) and a guy w/ no lights wearing a black jacket (boo!). Meanwhile, tonight was my first commute w/ the HID this season (meh!). When I got home, I found I didn't have to move my car due to it being election day tomorrow (yay!).
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR

We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
Bikes: lemond poprad 2006, old tomassa road bike
I was back on my bike after a week long hiatus...I was feeling like I was going to get sick so I didn't want to push it... my significant other has had a really bad cold for two weeks. Was I just being a wimp? What do you do if you are sick or feel like you are on the verge?
Anyhow today's rides were great, except my fingertips froze this morning on the way to school.
Anyhow today's rides were great, except my fingertips froze this morning on the way to school.
beater bike addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: qcy,il
Bikes: 3schwinn2ross,puchAD,Raleighreliant,PugUE8,panasonicspecHR,sig djerba others
Rode to work 1st time in a couple of weeks.(use my truck on the job )Got a chance to ride my Executive(a classic WestGerman 3 speed)to work. Its a fun ride even if you look like Mrs. Gulch from the Wizard of Oz to-to-too-do-to-do-to-to.47deg, 20mi headwind,uphill,cool.
member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn
Bikes: '05 Fuji Silhouette, '06 Specialized Tarmac Comp, '06 Bianchi Pista
55 degrees with a 20 mph tailwind for a change. Got to work in record time, though the ride home will be rainy and into a headwind.
Passing through Prospect Park yesterday, saw a large hawk on the side of the road, munching on a squirrel. When a little crowd gathered to watch, the bird grabbed the squirrel in its claw and walked a few feet away from the road, furry tail dragging on the ground, and continued to nonchalantly eat the thing while everyone pulled out their phone cams. Badass defined.
Why does this only happen when I leave the camera at home? :-/
Passing through Prospect Park yesterday, saw a large hawk on the side of the road, munching on a squirrel. When a little crowd gathered to watch, the bird grabbed the squirrel in its claw and walked a few feet away from the road, furry tail dragging on the ground, and continued to nonchalantly eat the thing while everyone pulled out their phone cams. Badass defined.
Why does this only happen when I leave the camera at home? :-/
Last edited by Mazaev; 11-06-07 at 06:43 AM.
It was nice to ride in with some daylight and despite the cooler temps (-4 C) and a little ice it was a great ride...
I didn't see nearly as many folks riding or walking this morning and after spending my Monday night at the Bike co-op only passed one rider on the way home.
Strangely enough... we were building up an Ss road bike and a fixed gear road bike in the shop tonigt as well as going over some newly donated bikes.
I didn't see nearly as many folks riding or walking this morning and after spending my Monday night at the Bike co-op only passed one rider on the way home.
Strangely enough... we were building up an Ss road bike and a fixed gear road bike in the shop tonigt as well as going over some newly donated bikes.
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
Warmest morning in the past week, but I drove because I had to run some errands and restock supplies for commuting. I noticed over the weekend that my truck battery is getting weak (maybe from not driving it enough?), so I thought I better get it checked out before the really cold weather arrives. Took the opportunity to bring in a clean towel and some clothes as well as snacks. Will also return with a load of dirty laundry. After cycling every day last week, things were starting to pile up in my office. I'll probably run by the Performance store for their discount lunch Tuesday to see what sort of winter clothes they have in stock. I might get a warmer cycling jersey or jacket since I plan to keep commuting through the winter. I've got plenty of clothes to keep me warm down into the 30s, but not sure if it drops below freezing.
NICE!!! In the 50s. The sun was up. I just really enjoyed the ride in.




