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-   -   How was the commute today? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/7855-how-commute-today.html)

heywood 11-27-07 06:25 AM

very..very rainy on my way to the train last night for my night shift.

Cleaner at work who does 20+ kilometers to work suggested clear plastic cleaning bags over my rain gear for really heavy rain.. Good idea! I snagged a few bags from him, he had a flat just as he was around 2k from work but fixed it here. He's been riding in for over 15 years. We did a quick estimate and calculated he's saved approx. $15,000 riding in outside of the priceless health benefits... Sweet!

Cheers..

Probably snowy in Toronto today should be a fun ride in tonight :) got my cold weather gear ready.

mjw16 11-27-07 06:25 AM

Nice ride in, balmy and warm, with the wind really starting to pick up. I was nearly pushed into the fence as I crossed the 14th St. bridge. Other than that, the trail was wet and leafy so I had to keep the bike as upright as possible with my 700x28 slicks still on it.

spokenword 11-27-07 07:46 AM

Been on assignment downtown in the city for the last couple of weeks, so have been re-acquainted with Boston traffic in all of its manic glory. Got to have lunch with my girlfriend, though, who works about ten blocks away from the client's office. Wish we could ride in together but I have to be at work at 8 and she can dawdle in at 10:30.

Today was warm and I was thinking it was a good excuse to pedal easy and just keep the sweating down. that sentiment lasted about ... oh ... five minutes ;) then I saw my first cyclist and the daily commuting time trials were back on again.

vtjim 11-27-07 07:46 AM

Damp and low 30Fs. Last night I was worried because it was pouring rain and the local weather shaman said it was going to snow. The Weather Channel said rain only, and they were right.

So I had a light tailwind and interesting skies (broken white stratus under a battleship gray ceiling) with a yellow sunrise. The light was hitting various Adirondack mountain slopes. Quite pretty.

Amber_ 11-27-07 08:17 AM

It's so warm here, ugh! Temps in the 60Fs. I wish it would just get cold already so spring can hurry up. Hah! Lots of wind this morning, not fun.

jyossarian 11-27-07 09:07 AM

First commute after having last week off. Felt like I was slogging up a mountain in mud on the first couple of inclines I faced. Pulled a fairly stupid maneuver that had me swerving in front of a moving taxi w/ only 5-6' between it and the car in front of it to get around right turning traffic. Had to swerve again so as not to hit the police car in the next lane over and so I could lane split past slower moving traffic. After doing that, I mentally berated myself for it and reminded myself that I wasn't an invincible teenager anymore.

Crash716 11-27-07 09:15 AM

It was nice...i conserved my energy on climbs and actually got a PB...

14.2 miles in 38 minutes... good day.

Flimflam 11-27-07 10:59 AM

Riding last night was a touch wet to say the least. Never the less, wasn't too bad - the wind proved the worst element out there.

Another nice ride in, warmish but windy today - promises of all kinds of crap to come down today/tonight, should be interesting.

pinkrobe 11-27-07 11:21 AM

Last night I rode home on completely dry streets, cursing the heavy studded tires on my bike. Before I went to bed, I checked the streets and the forecast. Dry, clear skies, relatively calm. At midnight, I put on my slicks. At 12:45, I look outside again - no change. At 6:45, I awoke to 1.5" of fresh snow on the ground. I quickly changed the tires back to studs. I didn't even get halfway up the stairs before hearing the tell-tale FWUP of the bead popping off the front rim at a whopping 50 psi. ****. It holds at 45 psi, so I run upstairs, shower, throw on the gear and head out the door. 1 km into the ride - FWUP! ****!!! It's the rear tire this time, and I don't want to mess with taking the wheel off in the snow. I let out all the air, then work the tire back onto the rim and throw 30 psi in. I made it into work without bailing, but I foresee the walk of shame on the way home tonight. Time for a second wheelset so I don't have to deal with this crap again...

HardyWeinberg 11-27-07 11:24 AM

brisk (<40F), sunny. Coming home last night was a total downpour. Gloves soaked through, but they dried out for this am after I left them on the water heater. My shoes did not dry out, but the insoles did (I took them out).

caloso 11-27-07 12:35 PM

On the way home last night I was nearly right hooked by a white Chevy Tahoe. It pulled up alongside of me, pulled ahead, hesitated, and then pulled right. I saw it coming, braked to avoid the collision, and let it go past.

I would like to report that I was all zen about it but the truth is that I was pissed off. I caught up to the Tahoe, banged on the driver's window with my gloved hand and asked her "WTF?!?!" She nearly dropped her cell phone and stammered "I-I-I didn't see you! I'm lost!" I was even madder now. "Then put down the ****ing phone and pay attention! If you're lost, pull over and call for directions!

On the one hand, I wish I'd kept my cool. On the other hand, I hope that I might have planted a seed in the mind of at least one driver that cluelessness has consequences, especially when you're driving a 3 ton vehicle on city streets.

Feh.

habernac 11-27-07 12:42 PM


Originally Posted by pinkrobe (Post 5700601)
Last night I rode home on completely dry streets, cursing the heavy studded tires on my bike. Before I went to bed, I checked the streets and the forecast. Dry, clear skies, relatively calm. At midnight, I put on my slicks. At 12:45, I look outside again - no change. At 6:45, I awoke to 1.5" of fresh snow on the ground. I quickly changed the tires back to studs. I didn't even get halfway up the stairs before hearing the tell-tale FWUP of the bead popping off the front rim at a whopping 50 psi. ****. It holds at 45 psi, so I run upstairs, shower, throw on the gear and head out the door. 1 km into the ride - FWUP! ****!!! It's the rear tire this time, and I don't want to mess with taking the wheel off in the snow. I let out all the air, then work the tire back onto the rim and throw 30 psi in. I made it into work without bailing, but I foresee the walk of shame on the way home tonight. Time for a second wheelset so I don't have to deal with this crap again...

you just hit the nail on the head on why I don't run two different sets of tires. It melts too frequently here to have studs, IMO. Knobbies do the trick, you just have to be more careful. The ideal would be to have a separate bike decked out with studded tires for snow days like this one.

Baying_Hound 11-27-07 03:04 PM

Yesterday was really wet. Rained on me on the way in and on the way home. It was that 40 degree bone-chilling rain too. I think I got home with about ten pounds of water weight in my clothing. On the plus side, the road bike did really well despite the nasty conditions. However, I think it is about time to build up the KM frame with some fenders for inclement weather. At the very least, I wouldn't have the stripe of road grit and funk up my back.

On reflection, I certainly prefer cold and wet to the 95 degree and 95% humidity days we had this summer. That riding was just downright unpleasant.

biskil1 11-27-07 03:25 PM

Finally back on the bike today after a 3 week layoff due to a crash. Got my Townie 3 back from the shop with the new fork, and a new Electra rear rack, which fits better than any of the one-size-fits-all jobs from Performance. 65F on the way in, 53F on the way home.
Rode a little more carefully today due to an article in the latest issue of Bicycling mag. The article had some pretty scary stories in it about cyclists who had been hit by cars, and how the legal system is skewed towards the driver of the car. Scary stuff.
Anyway, so glad to be back on the bike.

neilfein 11-27-07 04:45 PM

Best time home from the carpool yet - 19 minutes. MY heart was pounding pretty hard when I get home, but I felt great!

TonyCtattoo 11-27-07 04:53 PM

temp was nice this morning. kinda disappointed at the shortness of the ride . think ill leave early and go get breakfast sometime after i get a new bike lock . when i got to the shop the peircer girl kinda giggled at my helmet guess shes never seen it before.

k_tech 11-27-07 05:10 PM

really couldn't have asked for a better ride this evening. temps in the low 50s, the wind has died down. enjoyed a nice jaunt downtown (four mile round trip) to the library via a moderately traveled four lane city street. everyone was courteous. no buzzing, no yelling, no honking, no spitting, no throwing of random objects. seems like i had good communication with everyone around. found a documentary i'd been waiting for at the library and made it home before it got too dark. while cruising along a quiet street towards home, i saw a little boy and his mom in their front yard. he pointed and said "hey mom! look at the bicyclist! and all the pretty lights!" (dual head and tail lights) it was cute. kind of the same expression i get when driving by some kids in the ambulance with the lights and sirens going.

SweetLou 11-27-07 06:12 PM

One of the roughest rides I have ever had. This morning's ride was nice. Met another commuter and we chatted for about 2 miles as we rode. The home trip was something different. Very strong head winds. I was sitting at a light and looked up to see a flag flying straight out and pointing at me. It was like this the entire way home. My legs were tired and I was going so slow. I thought about turning into one of the train stops and getting on. Decided againt it and kept riding.
Most of my ride was done in the smallest chainring, felt like the entire 10 mile trip was uphill. I did get a few breaks where the wind stopped for about 5 seconds. It felt like I was slingshotted (?) ahead, but then the wind would pick up and stop me in my tracks.

MikeR 11-27-07 06:48 PM

I was run off the road by a State Cop tonight.

The commute home includes a mountain climb on a busy road with a small shoulder. I'm nervous going up this section, because the cars are fast and there is nowhere to go if a car decides to skirt the shoulder. If a car honks the horn on this section it makes me jump.

I was on the right of the fog line (off the road) with a steep grassy bank going up next to me. I heard a car coming behind me (as usual), but just before he got to me the cop hit his siren. I jumped out of my skin, tried to pull over more, hit the grass and fell over onto the bank. The cop went past - never noticing that I fell. The fall wasn't hard because the steep bank prevented me from going far. It was just a scare and an embarrassment.

SweetLou 11-27-07 07:22 PM

That sucks, why did the cop turn on his siren?

buzzman 11-27-07 08:16 PM


Originally Posted by pinkrobe (Post 5700601)
Last night I rode home on completely dry streets, cursing the heavy studded tires on my bike. Before I went to bed, I checked the streets and the forecast. Dry, clear skies, relatively calm. At midnight, I put on my slicks. At 12:45, I look outside again - no change. At 6:45, I awoke to 1.5" of fresh snow on the ground. I quickly changed the tires back to studs. I didn't even get halfway up the stairs before hearing the tell-tale FWUP of the bead popping off the front rim at a whopping 50 psi. ****. It holds at 45 psi, so I run upstairs, shower, throw on the gear and head out the door. 1 km into the ride - FWUP! ****!!! It's the rear tire this time, and I don't want to mess with taking the wheel off in the snow. I let out all the air, then work the tire back onto the rim and throw 30 psi in. I made it into work without bailing, but I foresee the walk of shame on the way home tonight. Time for a second wheelset so I don't have to deal with this crap again...


oh, man! what a drag!:(

Once I put on the studs I keep 'em on until the snow is gone. Actually I sometimes think that by putting on my studs the weather stays warm and nice.

Today my commute was grand with a strong tailwind that whipped me down Commonwealth Avenue- still got the slicks on the bike.

Rode home and met up with my wife for the ride home along the bike path. We went slow but nice conversation.

scoatw 11-27-07 08:47 PM

This morning 39f. I worked a slight sweat fighting that 15mpg headwind out of the west. Came upon another biker at the beginning of my commute. Didn't notice him until he was about 30 ft from me. Startled me. He was in dark clothing with no lights. This afternoon was nice ridin' weather with the sun out and all. This evening about 8pm rode home with a tailwind. Thats' always nice cause I get home quicker. Temp down to 36f. Passed another un-lighted biker. Pretty dangerous ridin' in the dark with no lights

aMull 11-27-07 09:20 PM


Originally Posted by SweetLou (Post 5703408)
I did get a few breaks where the wind stopped for about 5 seconds. It felt like I was slingshotted (?) ahead, but then the wind would pick up and stop me in my tracks.

Oh i know the feeling, like the stuff i've been dragging is cut off for a nice moment, and then bam! :o

ken cummings 11-27-07 09:46 PM

Normally I ride home in daylight. I had to work 1/2 hour late and thot OK only a 20 minute wait for the bus. Wrong the Transit system has added a new transit mall to improve service and most busses are running 20-40 minutes late. The sun had set at the bus stop and I was putting my morning commute cloths back on before the bus got there. Glad I had my new 100 watt headlight with me.

craigdurkee 11-28-07 02:09 AM

another 50 or so k's today, 30 degrees and the only thing wrong with the ride is the 8 hours of work in between.

all in all im loving the riding to work


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