Rain - :) how about this ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgR_qXFt4wg
Pretty straight forward day keeps life interesting.

datajunkie - glad to hear the good news, definitely welcome back ... it is the mark of a true cycle commuter who comes back after an accident to ride again bravo. Good news is great to hear.

Anyone try using a cutup milk carton for the fender?

Gloves are good.

The commute in was awesome. It was finally shorts weather! My bright white legs made me more visible to motorists. :) I had my first really scary dog encounter, though. Right when I was getting off the bike path, I saw a gorgeous, unleashed, scary fast husky. He had this look on his face (his whole body, actually) like "OMFG it's a TOY! And there's a FOOD on top of it! LET'S GO!" He sprinted down the off-ramp from the path to the street. I got off my bike and stood still. The dog's owners called him back. I walked my bike until I saw one of the owners, a teenage boy, put a leash on the dog.

The ride back, surprisingly, was also awesome. I've been having trouble with my commutes, especially the ride back, ever since I started. A three-mile bike ride should not leave me exhausted! I asked the internet and my brother for advice. They told me to raise my seat, go really slow, and take breaks. I raised my seat (I'm not sure it's enough, but I feel a difference) and took it really slow on the way home. It helped! I do not feel like my legs are going to fall off. Yay!

I logged 41 miles today, to make up for not riding on Friday, Monday or Tuesday; nor tomorrow or Friday:(
I did an extra 7 on the way in by riding to the train station one stop away, and did the full 30 miles home. This was my second week with and SPD shoe/pedal setup. I got it with the intention of traveling farther, so I put it to the test tonight.

I had never driven the route so I didn't know what to expect. I'd say 17+miles were some sort of uphill grade and I was fighting a constant headwind. It took me 2.33 hours which puts me somewhere around 12.5 mph average; not to bad considering all the stoplights, hills and 5 min pit stop for a powerbar and redbull (I've got to keep some more afternoon snacks at the office). And besides being incredibly hungry, my body feels otherwise fine.

~40F/4.5C, clear and calm. Shorts and gloves again. A little chilly for the first mile or so (downhill incline in steps), but zips open and sleeves pushed up the rest of the way (microweight Smartwool and hi vis vest).

Too bad my job is not really a good fit for me--day-in and day-out, I couldn't ask for a better ride situation (though many days it feels too short).

Exceedingly pleasant ride in today! ~50F with no winds on the way in. Will have to deal with a 10-15 mph headwind on the way home, but other than that, should be a picture perfect day at ~78F with low humidity.

The weather doesn't get any better than this in NC. Sunny, light wind and mild temperatures. The pollen is finally starting to let up. We better enjoy it while it lasts, as it doesn't take long for the afternoon temperatures to start hitting 90F and higher.

Low 30s(F) and sunny. No wind. Caught two cyclists. Passed one. Let the other one set my pace. Saw a couple of cyclists going the other way, too.

Also, BEAVER! Destructive little beasts. I might start commuting with my gun. I need a new fur hat. :D
http://home.comcast.net/~mcbrook/beaver.jpg

Hi, my name is Tom and I'm a bicycle commuter...

Today was my first ride from my apartment to my office (Downtown Jacksonville, NC to Camp Lejeune, NC).

I'm lucky in that the entire way is a fitness trail. The traffic 'round these parts is pretty darned scary.

It's just more than 7 miles and it took just at an hour (I enjoy a leisurely pace!)

I'm so glad that the City spent a little bit of money for the Rails-to-Trails project. It's definitely better (safer, less stressful) to ride the paths than on the streets with 43,000 Marines that have nothing better to do than curse, yell, honk, or throw stuff at cyclsts (been the recipient of all that before!).

The weather was a bit chilly for me. Even though I had a long sleeve shirt over a t-shirt, and shorts (I can't ride in pants. Makes me crazy) I was a bit more cool than I prefer. Of course, a hot shower at my office made that all better!

It's the bike from now on, baby! :)

40's, sunny, fog rising off the smokies...., somewhere a bird chirps.... get there and feel the endorphine rush.. ahh life is good! Man I missed this! Terri is finally out for the next few months so I can ride again... not so many stops to make... I never thought I would miss cycling this much.

Hello, Spring? It's May now. Some of us want to commute in shorts. You don't have to be 29*F in the morning anymore.

Best,
LB

I swear I read this as, "You don't have to be 29* in the F in morning anymore." :D

Beauty ride. Almost light enough that I don't need a light now. Getting ready for a headwind gusting to 35 mph going home...

Also, I rode the light bike today instead of the tourer - and totally forgot to bring any fixin's for flats, or a bottle.

I hope my karma account is in the black...

Thomas Brock, I was at LeJeune in the 80's. A fitness trail huh? Nice. Surprised they gave up that rail line for it, though.

I rode in from Hubert over the tank trails a few times. That was hard.

The commute that wasnt....
 

Of all the days.... I had to be to school by 9am to take a test (if your late, you get a 0 :eek:). I was running behind, because I decided to be nice to the wife, and let her sleep, so I took the kid to school, then backtracked to the house to get the bike. I got a mile down the road, and PSSSST! my first commuting flat! I pulled over, went down the embankment to get off of ridge Rd and started
"whipping it on". Then I BROKE one of my tire spoons.... With time running out, I called the pit crew (my wife and the other two kids :D) and had them drive me in. Luckly the oldest gets out of school at 11:30, so she can pick me up when I get out at noon :)

I did manage to get the tube changed out while waiting of the wife, but just didnt have enough time to make it in.... And decided that I NEED a better frame mounted pump.... The BELL I have now, will allow me to limp home, but wont get me up to the needed pressure for reduced rolling resistance. To add breakage to inadequacy, my floor pump died this AM.... WHAT A DAY :D. Any sudgestions on a new pump?

Keep at it killer.

Semper Fi....

How's ole' SWAMP LEJEUNE now'a'days?

Billy (Former SGT B)

Nice today. Shuttled both kids and made it to work in <1 hr. I overdressed but had a load tied on top of and connecting both panniers so couldn't easily open them up to stash more stuff into.

Truman, that portion of the rail line hadn't been used since the early 90s. Anything that comes aboard base by train comes from the Hubert line these days. And I've ran the tank trails...Those things are a beeeeyotch!

devildogmech, Camp Swampy is Camp Swampy. Not much ever changes here!

To both: Once I find a front rack I like (or come up with another way) I'm going to strap my video camera to the bike and record the trip. Don't worry, I'll share. :)

Sunny and around 50 in Seattle. First half of my commute is side streets, then traverse along Greenlake, then Ravenna Blvd., then a few blocks to work. 5 miles all together. Nice ride today...

10km/h is not leisurely, it's snails pace! :p I don't know about others but i can't do anything less than 20km/h, otherwise feels like i'm spinning in a vacuum ;) Anyways good to hear you're enjoying it :D

Same here. 20 is my minimum. I have to force myself to ride more slowly than that, like with my wife, or if the MUP is busy.

But new riders need to work up to our elite levels, :rolleyes: so give them time. :)

nice early afternoon commute today - about 78F and a killer head wind -hopefully that wind dies down before I leave at 11pm

Wow! What a nice day today. 76f. I rode thru Westerville down State St. Traffic was heavy in both directions. I just rode alongside it practicing "taking my lane" Life is good when you don't have to worry about $3.65/gal.
.......Anybody getting ready for TOSRV ?

Hi, Tom!

Welcome, and keep coming back!

As for my commute, I didn't have one. I've been off all week, at home doing house projects. But today I took the opportunity to escort my son on his first ever ride to preschool. I let him sleep in and we lingered over breakfast to give the morning rush time to clear out. Then we put on our helmets and rode 3.2 miles from our house to his preschool. He did great, listened to my directions, rode right alongside of me and kept looking for cars and other obstacles. And pointed out the flatbed truck, the forklift, the lightrail train, the garbage truck, the cherry picker... (If you have a young boy, you'll know how they're obsessed with trucks, trains, and heavy equipment.)

I could not be prouder of that kid!