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How was the commute today?

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Old 04-14-08 | 11:50 AM
  #23751  
Contrapuntal
 
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From: San Diego, CA
Sweaty ride today - Left the house at 7:45 and it was already 80 degrees.
Promises to be in the 90s for the ride home unless the marine layer kicks in pretty quick.
They say there's a fog bank sitting off the coast waiting to roll in - hope it does soon because it's been wicked HOT here - and it's uphill all the way home!
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Old 04-14-08 | 04:07 PM
  #23752  
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From: Toronto, ON

Bikes: '08 Kona JTS & Riviera (?) Sport converted Fixed Gear

My first ever commute (to school and back-- ~30km RT) was last friday (heavy rain, wind 30-50km/h, and cold). I survived and did it again today. I've noticed that I'm in a really good mood when I get to school (able to actually work during first period, and not sleep) and plan on commuting every day until the end of the year.
Although I got lost both days (I'm not the greatest with directions) I had fun, and got a good workout.

I bought some Shimano cycling shoes on the weekend and just spend an hour in the park practicing clipping in and out. I'm going to take a risk and try commuting with the clipless pedals/shoes tomorrow.
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Old 04-14-08 | 07:43 PM
  #23753  
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From: Edmonton, AB

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

Weeee tailwind on the way home. Averaged 31kph over 20.5km. Hit a max speed of 61.3kph... weeee.
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Old 04-14-08 | 08:15 PM
  #23754  
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: west side chicago

Bikes: specialized tricross '07

i got hit by a car today! wooohooooo. i was taking a left hand turn behind a car taking a left hand turn. the car behind me was going straight and must have forgot that i was there. somehow even though i was sprawled out in a major chicago intersection and the lady hit me twice not a single person stopped. the person who hit me drove off without seeing if i was ok and as soon as i got to the side of the road business continued as usual. that makes me feel really great about the motorists of chicago.

thankfully i seem to be ok. my hand kinda hurts and my gloves ripped but besides that everything is a ok. this is really disturbing because people have seemed to forgotten all road rules now that the weather is warming. i didn't have a single incident this winter and in the last week i've had numerous close calls as a biker and as a pedestrian. people running stop signs and lights, sides wipping the bike lane etc. usually the person who almost kills me is talking on a cell phone and driving an urban assault vehicle (see suv in dictionary).
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Old 04-14-08 | 10:18 PM
  #23755  
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From: Looney Tunes, IL

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Originally Posted by yukon cornelius
i got hit by a car today! wooohooooo. i was taking a left hand turn behind a car taking a left hand turn. the car behind me was going straight and must have forgot that i was there. somehow even though i was sprawled out in a major chicago intersection and the lady hit me twice not a single person stopped. the person who hit me drove off without seeing if i was ok and as soon as i got to the side of the road business continued as usual. that makes me feel really great about the motorists of chicago.

thankfully i seem to be ok. my hand kinda hurts and my gloves ripped but besides that everything is a ok. this is really disturbing because people have seemed to forgotten all road rules now that the weather is warming. i didn't have a single incident this winter and in the last week i've had numerous close calls as a biker and as a pedestrian. people running stop signs and lights, sides wipping the bike lane etc. usually the person who almost kills me is talking on a cell phone and driving an urban assault vehicle (see suv in dictionary).
That is horrible! I'm glad to hear you weren't hurt worse. Did you call the cops? That's hit and run, and it's inexcusable.
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:10 AM
  #23756  
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From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: Kobe Chapparal

38F again this morning - although this time I remembered to don my winter gloves!

Finally encountered another commuter in my almost 3 years of doing so - he was riding one of those folder bikes. Not sure what brand but it was pretty cool. I was always considering one of those, but now that I saw the effort and speed he was going up the hill with, I think I'll pass! We chatted a bit and went on our merry ways.

Last edited by jterribili; 04-15-08 at 06:11 AM. Reason: my excellent spelling abilities
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:33 AM
  #23757  
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From: Wichita, KS
16 mph headwind all the way here. That last hill was a bit of a chore. Gusts are supposed to hit 50 mph this afternoon! Hope the direction doesn't change. I'll get home in 4.3 seconds!
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:42 AM
  #23758  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

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Originally Posted by yukon cornelius
i got hit by a car today!
Glad you're okay. More importantly, how's the bike?

28F and quite sunny this morning. Not a cloud in the sky. No wind. Followed a regular in work clothes riding an old touring bike.

I gave a big wave to an RJ (regional jet) on final approach to KBTV. I figured my neon jacket stuck out close to the Lake Champlain shore.
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:58 AM
  #23759  
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From: Melbourne, Australia

Bikes: Specialized Tricross Sport 2009

My commute was awesome, first with the new bike (Tricross Sport). No major incidents apart from nearly getting hit by a car door 1km from home. I always seem to yell out "S**T!" when that happens. Poor drivers.

Steve

Last edited by stevage; 04-15-08 at 06:59 AM. Reason: spelling out expletive
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Old 04-15-08 | 07:27 AM
  #23760  
jpdesjar
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40 or so this morning and sunny again
quite pleasant, i did have a close call with a guy turning left across my lane...YIKES

sort of a tense ride but i enjoyed it thoroughly

should be warm this afternoon...gloves in the morning but not in the afternoon

Last edited by jpdesjar; 04-15-08 at 07:33 AM.
 
Old 04-15-08 | 07:30 AM
  #23761  
Recreational Commuter
 
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Central Ohio

Bikes: One brand-less build-up, and a Connondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra Disc. A nicer bike than I need, but it was a good deal, so... ;-)

C.c.c.c.COLD! (30 degrees F this morning.) New gloves and leg warmers worked great. Now I just need a tip-of-the-nose warmer and a crotch warmer, and I'm all set.

Almost hit an opossum, had to holler to get the attention of a blue-haired old lady turning left into me. (The sun was up, I had 2 headlights flashing, and I wear a high-visibility yellow jacket and she "just didn't see me". What, do I have to be a Macy's parade float? Sigh...)

Even with that, a good ride...
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Old 04-15-08 | 07:33 AM
  #23762  
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From: Bethesda, MD

Bikes: All-City Space Horse, Trek 5000 WSD

45F and sunny! The sun felt great for the short time I was in it, but most of my 6.7 mile ride is in the shade. The shade is great in the summer but I could have used a warm-up today. I'm loving the commute to the new job -- probably 80% of my ride is now on the MUP or trail. I only have 1 major intersection to deal with (the light is on yellow flash so no one ever stops).
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Old 04-15-08 | 07:54 AM
  #23763  
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From: In the 212

Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce

I got the dead legs. They were dead yesterday, they're even deader today. I need a day off. The commute itself was fine except for some nut in a Juvenile Correction Svcs van driving wildly, speeding, swerving in and out of lanes. We were both in the bus only lane and he passed me on my right when I moved to the right edge of the lane in preparation of going around a right turning car. As soon as I moved over, he sped ahead, passed me on my right, then swerved left to get around the right turning car. Glad he's in charge of driving kids around. Maybe he scares them straight w/ his driving.
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Old 04-15-08 | 08:16 AM
  #23764  
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From: Cowtown, AB

Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.

It was 0C on the ride in, and I finally did it - no balaclava! My ears were cold from the main DH, but I didn't get slurpee brain. I may even be able to switch back to regular shoes, as the winter ones are just sweaty now. I managed to drop my chain in the middle of traffic. I coasted for about a block, then slinked over to the curb and popped it back on. Very embarassing! I'll do some link surgery when I get home and see if I can tighten it up.
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Old 04-15-08 | 08:16 AM
  #23765  
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From: Edmonton, AB

Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3

mmm mmmm today was FTB day or "Freshly Tweaked Bike" day. Spent about an hour teaking all the deraileurs and brakes last night. Everything was clean and precise. Nothing beats an FTB.
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Old 04-15-08 | 08:43 AM
  #23766  
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From: Calgary
Good ride in this morning - with just enough headwind to make it a solid workout. Starting to see more other commuters on the paths again - must be spring!
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Old 04-15-08 | 09:06 AM
  #23767  
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From: North Bergen, NJ

Bikes: Orbea Orca, Ridley Compact

Great ride this morning here in NYC, there were light winds out of the north so it was smooth riding all the way to work. The weather's going to be great this week so I'm looking forward to the rides.
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Old 04-15-08 | 09:18 AM
  #23768  
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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

Today was my first bike commute since April 4 as I was out of town all of last week, partly for work and partly for a bike tour. Rode Cycle NC's spring event last weekend, cycling 196 miles in 3 days along the North Carolina coast. The ride was great with beautiful weather except for the wind, which made Saturday's century one of my toughest rides ever. Didn't ride yesterday to get some recovery time, and my legs were still pretty tired this morning. The good thing is that daylight has returned to my morning commute after losing it when daylight savings time went into effect a few weeks ago. It was a chilly morning, but I like that because it means no sweat if I dress right.
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Old 04-15-08 | 11:19 AM
  #23769  
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From: south Puget Sound
Yukon Cornelius, big bummer on the hit-and-run! Presume you were out of sorts to get their license number. Very sorry to hear that.

Today, just blustery for me, not sure if same temps (30sF) felt so much colder than last week from the extra bonus wind, or just 'cause it was so warm (pushing 80F) over the weekend.
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Old 04-15-08 | 11:19 AM
  #23770  
Contrapuntal
 
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From: San Diego, CA
Gorgeous ride - 65 degrees and partly cloudy.
Spent a couple miles gradually catching up with another rider.

First thought - "Hey, that guy has pretty nice legs!" (Always sensitive to scenery, that's me!)

(200 yards later)

Second thought - "Hey, that's not a guy!"

(100 yards after that)

Third thought - "Hey, I know her!"

It was one of the other moms from the kids' school out for a training ride - we rode together and chatted for a while before parting ways. I didn't mention that from a quarter mile away I'd thought she was a man

But I was chuffed that I - lunchbox, laptop and all - was catching up with an actual triathlete! Even if she was sandbagging....
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Old 04-15-08 | 11:30 AM
  #23771  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Got a thorough buttkicking from my training partner this morning. I plan to return the favor on Thursday.
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Old 04-15-08 | 12:08 PM
  #23772  
Raving looney
 
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada

Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)

Good commute today, first proper ride with my new Rob Roy build - it's not completed yet, and still lacks brakes (riding it fixed right now). I put it together last night and could barely stay off it, so I figured I'd ride it a bit today and see how she feels. The steerer tube still needs to be cut down, too - all will be done very soon though.

Riding brakeless was a little hairy - at least in the mental sense, in actuality it wasn't a big deal apart from a crosswalk hesitation from a couple of pedestrians, they ended up NOT walking after I hammered on a desperate skid stop - I've learned to mostly read ahead now anyway just from riding a lot (fixed or geared) so the timing/preparation is near second nature most of the time.

The bike rides like a dream, and I love it oh so very much, I'll post a pre-complete pic!
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:39 PM
  #23773  
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From: south jersey
good!
wind was with me both ways, sun came out, 60 deg F return trip.
1 truck honk in lane share "issue" (= airzounded and he safely passed)
1 +/-1976 rusted out ford passed from the other direction, no cut off (sholder) but question symble sent (arm out-reached, not "fingered").
a good day overall!!
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Old 04-15-08 | 06:50 PM
  #23774  
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From: Minneapolis, MN

Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Miyata 310 (conversion)

took it easy and road the side walk on the way into work, had a head wind which seems to always happen, but it was a nice leisurely ride, although i was dressed in a nice button up shirt and camel hair sport coat and it made me really ache of a old english 3-spd instead of my beloved miyata.

the ride home, was a little cool, and I was loosing day light, but was uneventful and nice, it was gratifying spinning up to speed and the cars behind me didn't try and pass once i got into the city proper.
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Old 04-15-08 | 08:13 PM
  #23775  
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keep moving forward...
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From: NRH

Bikes: 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX

good ride, and great first ride! avg. of 15 mph into the city, and 9mph out. Our city area is a little lower than the outlying areas. Went through our nicer "King William" part of San antonio, everybody is getting ready for Fiesta! Will have pics tomorrow.
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