Left work 30 minutes late yesterday, and as a result I saw 5 other bike commuters on the way home. Its fairly rare for me to see another commuter due to my early departure times, (5:45- 6:40AM and ~3:30-4:20PM) so that was a treat. Traffic was still pretty tame too.

Lost my blinky this AM. I heard a clatter below/behind me, but kept riding because I thought it was something that got stuck in my rear tire for a few rotations. When I looked down about a mile later it was gone. Turned around and looked for it, but didn't see it (was still dark out) . The impact either damaged it or caused it to shut off...maybe I'll spot in on my way home, on on the way in tomorrow. Luckily I have a spare blinky for tomorrow. Thankfully the predicted patchy dense fog never matrerialized today, or I might have been in trouble.

The ride to work was slow and mellow. I decided not to do battle with the headwinds, and just went slow. Path of least resistance.

The ride home was awesome! For the first time since I started commuting, it was actually above freezing! I decided to "celebrate" by taking the hill at 52nd & Garrison. It's two blocks of pain followed by three blocks of WHEEE!!

Quick ride today. Tailwind. Saw quite a few riders out. Also saw some deer. I tried to be stealthy as I approached but the buzz of my knobby tires gave me away I think.

I was up too late last night. :rolleyes: :beer:

Noticed some guy behind me using the stop signs to reel me in (I slow way down, he doesn't), so eventually I denied him by going up onto some single track in the woods. Didn't feel like doing any work at all on the bike to drop him. :o

Beautiful morning, nice and sunny, and my first ride on my new Brooks B17. Even without breaking it in yet it felt pretty good for my 7.5 mile ride in. Now I just want to ride even more to break it in and see what it's all about...

I was struck this morning by how my 6 miles, which used to seem a real chore, now seem routine and painless.

It's a good thing.

Very nice ride in this morning - the cagers I saw behaved themselves for the most part. Got passed a bit too close by the "small bus" - driver had the entire oncoming lane clear, but decided to move over just enough to spare the back of my head from her (his?) right-side mirror. Probably not as close as I felt like it was, but still...

I took it easy this morning because my legs are feeling the miles this week - by far the most riding of done in a week in more than a year. The ride home tonight will put me at 90 miles this week. Had an interesting revelation - taking it easy this morning took me an extra 90 seconds to get to work when compared to the trip yesterday when I felt like I was pushing pretty hard and wasn't carrying anything on my back. 90 seconds over 15 miles hardly seems worth the extra effort...

EDIT: and a very good thing - my backside seems to be getting used to the abuse again - had been struggling with some chafing since I started riding again, and that's mostly gone (yeah!)

Yes, yes it is!

As Gene used to sing, I'm Back in the saddle again - 1st commute in a long long time. Rode my fixie with the boys to school. I had to negotiate the road while holding on to my eldest's alto sax (it was in it's case). I'm so thankful he doesn't play the Tuba. Once I parted ways with the boys I rode on to work and it rained on me for several minutes, but I had a wind breaker on and everything went fine.

More ****ing snow. My wife was complaining about her bike on the way in today. Too slow, the brakes rub, it doesn't shift. Does she tell me this stuff when we're at home so I can fix it? Noooooo. Instead she starts swearing at the bike and hitting it. Yeah, that'll help a bunch. Oy!

No problems this morning. A little colder than the last few days (about 45F), but sunny, so that's not bad.

Got absolutely drenched last night, though. I think it's going to take another two days for my shoes to dry. But that's why I have an extra pair.

Bit cooler, no water residue though - left 10 minutes late, meaning my 10-15 min. grace period for the train diminished. With the pressure on, I rode fairly hard, using my brake a lot to slow down quick (I ride fixed), powering upto a faster cruise speed fast rather than my usual gradual acceleration - all in all it worked out, I still made it there with 9 minutes to spare. 17.3mph average 32mins ride time, 35 minutes total over 9.5 miles. Pretty happy about that, it's rare I really push harder - it's rare those few minutes make a difference, but today they could've - it really felt good though, I need to do it more often :D

Unseasonably cool (41F) again this morning. I would have thought I'd be able to ditch the winter clothing by April 24th, but I'm still wearing my Smartwool and kneewarmers.

B-e-a-u-tiful day today--high of 74, sunny, little wind.

One of those cyclists Big Ron reported seeing yesterday was me! :D

This is my "strange" ride home last night.

Leave at 9:15 pm to go home. Have idiot on a fg/ss bike holler like a banshee as he goes by me. Caught him, to his surprise and say something dumb (see "strangest things yelled at you" thread).

A couple more blocks, and there is a detox van parked in front of the gay 90's bar with the police trying to lift someones motorized cart in the back.

Catch (ok.. blow by) a cute girl on a bike apparently going ninja. Her seatpost blinkie was so low that her rack hid it (how DO you word that so it does not sound bad ;)??). I couldn't see it until right next to her. Contemplated going back, then turned around. I think I startled her when I turned around to talk to her. Told her about the blinkie and she said she knew and needed to fix it. She said her headlight had gone out too. This was right at the corner where I had to turn. I turned, then kicked myself for not offering to ride with her as my light is bright enough for two :D. It is fairly light through there though and I needed to go home to see my wife, and go to bed.

A little further up come up on a guy walking a little dog. Am pretty sure a cat had just attacked his dog and was sitting there watching them walk away with a very pissed off look on it's face flicking it's tail.

Saw the most people out riding at night during last nights ride that I have ever seen! Where were they when it was below zero :p?? That means you especially, banshee guy!

Maybe this is a normal ride to all of you, but I am sheltered. LOL

Ride this morning was back to normal :D.

I got absolutely soaked this morning riding to work. It was my first time commuting in heavy rain, and I learned that rain riding is not bad provided it's reasonably warm outside (60 degrees).

Going home was very nice, though.

My U-lock saved my melon on the way home today (err... in this case, a cantaloupe.) I stopped by the grocery store on the way home to get some fresh fruit, and on the way home my pannier came loose AGAIN (as I posted earlier, I had one bounce off last night on the way home, but it was almost empty). Luckily, I had clipped my U-lock around the rack and bag because I couldn't fit it in the pannier anymore, and that kept the panniers on the rack for the last mile and a half to get home. I really need to get a better mounting system for the panniers.

First ever commute. Got to get a light if I am going to leave home before daylight on a state hwy. Temp nice, high 60's but humid. 9.8 mi each way. Had bad day at work ( busted water mains, Transformers,Venders can't delever, ect.) I run a warehouse and do purchasing for local city.
Would'nt you know it, started to go home and the bike was sitting on a flat. Pin hole, easy fix. Off to local grocery and homeward bound. Met a older fred out on the hwy. First town the way he came from is 20 miles. Checked tire at 8 pm and it was low so broke it down and no hole guess the stem was leaking. Remounted it and checked the stem again. Will be sure to check again in the morning. Tired, but in a good way.

rode in today at 1pm and a beautiful 80

Leaving in about 30 mins for home and I anticipate another beautiful ride tonight.

+1 on the way home. Wished for a hat with a visor under my helmet. Glasses did not work.

congrats on your first commute!

welcome to the club- hopefully you will get a more official welcome to the... well, you'll find out;)

me- I had a great commute today. lovin' this weather.

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful day here. I only had class today, no class tomorrow (Friday) to prepare for, so I had the luxury of a full day off after class.

This was my second trip to the downtown area from my apartment, about 5.5 miles one way, and a lot more enjoyable. I knew the route, so I knew the hills and the slopes, the intersections and so on. I also have a rack and folding rear basket now, so it took the weight of my backpack off my shoulders.

Rode to class, had a few issues with the gears, so a trip to B1 (LBS) followed. I had a few errands to run so I dropped it off. Mechanic was out to lunch for about an hour, so I walked to my office to drop a few things off to my boss and over to the bank. Then walked to North Market (about a mile or so up the street, great local market) and had a great lunch from Lac Vet (Vietnamese stand in market) while sitting outside listening to a street performer play. Headed back inside for some desert, Jenni's Salty Carmel ice cream, then headed to a local park to read the paper.

Walked back to B1, picked up the bike and rode home. So probably a good 12-14 miles today, all under my own power. It felt great and a wonderful way to see my city. Need to work on getting the bike set up for better commuting, namely new handlebars. 10 miles through the city with flat bars is horrible.

Fine ride. No problems, perfect temps- 3 days commuting in a row

Nice going with the first commute! Longer than mine, at 6.5 miles. :)

2 straight weeks of beautiful weather. A bit chilly, low 40s, but sunny and clear. Wound up being a faster-than-average ride because I was toying with a guy on a road bike. I saw him reeling me in so I went off the MUP onto a road, paralleled the MUP, came out behind him, and reeled him in. :p He was making me work hard on the Trek Liquid 25, dual suspension, with knobby tires, lights, bag, etc. I was pushing 20+ for a while. pant pant Would have been a fair fight if I had my slicks on. :D

TGIF!

Three words: Headwinds both ways. >_<

so nice riding home late last night - I will be sad when I have to go back to my normal schedule on Thursdays.

Ride in this morning was great - uneventful - i feel left out compared to some of you on here - always have some crazy-go-nuts story to tell ;)