Tough ride today. 43F with light wispy fog. 1/2 mile form the house, for turned very thick with less than 100 foot visibility. Since one of my goals in life is to not become a hood ornament, i changed the route to stay on side streets longer. The fog stayed thick for about half of the 17 mile commute. Got to work pretty worn out from the extra diligence.

I had a great commute this morning. While riding with my 6yo kid to school down an MUP. My coffee cup fell and when he heard the noise he slowed down and turned back to look. Then he wrecked at probably 10mph. He got up dusted himself off without so much as a tear (though I could tell he was holding it back initially). After I checked on him he got back on his bike and we rode off. A few minutes later he asked if someday he could be on TV in the Tour de France.

Gorgeous morning, brilliant sunrise, cool and clear. I still needed a light jacket but only just.

Woke up a bit late, but it turned out for the better because the temps hit 48 and I knew I'd be kicking myself if I didn't ride in today. Ride was nice, but got a flat about a quarter-mile from work. Found a tiny piece of glass in my tire. Fixed it and hope the commute home goes more smoothly.

For the first time since I started commuting about a month ago, I drove. I had to, it was snowing. It was lame, but at least I got to stop for coffee.

At least I got a personal best in yesterday- door to door in an hour flat. Considering I have to wade through some stoplights that kills about 10-12 minutes that put me in the 16mph average.. not blazingly quick, but definitely closer to where I want to be.

Not bad at all. Snowing a bit, had to put into action my untested snow-plan. Managed to fit a full change of clothes in the Tailrider, yet stayed dry enough that I only needed about half of it. Put the new fenders to the test, worked admirably. Looks like it should be calming down throughout the day, the ride home may be a bit dryer.

Much better than yesterday. Less wind and drier. Pretty cold (45F), light jacket and leg-warmers, full finger gloves. Managed to make most of the lights, which cuts a bunch of time off the trip (13 miles in 45 minutes).

You people are making me envious. Three days without a working bike and I'm going into withdrawl.

Slow as all get out. I usually try to get out the door by 5:30 to start my 16 mile commute, but this morning I didn't manage to get out until 6:00. When I got downtown I see tons of flashing blue lights. I pull up to the light which was blocked by a motorcycle cop and sit for 5 minutes watching a rolling blockade with about 20 forerunners, then about 25 cyclists, then another 15 or so rear guard. It turns out that Chesterfield County cops were doing their "Bike the Blue" fundraiser ride doo-dah between Richmond and DC. After all that mess passed, I follow up. Then pull along side one chubby cat in his cruiser who asks me: "Are you with the group?" I says: "No, I have a real job." Alright, I'm lying. I said I'm headed to work. I ride along side this cavalcade for about 20 minutes and pass most of the rear guard because they're only doing about 10 mph or less. Then I realize that they're taking the same stinking route I am. Trying to be sneaky, I broke off and took a side road hoping to get around and away from them with no luck. After waiting at another light for the whole progression again, I finally pulled up next to the same guy in a cruiser and asked where they were heading and what route. Luckily they were taking Va Rt 1 to DC, not Bike Rt 1 which I use to get to work. I was afraid I'd have to join their group just to make reasonable time although it'd be nice to have a huge escort for lil' ole me. After all that, I made pretty good time just to get threatened by a pack of geese.

I'm not really sure I understand why it takes 50+ vehicles to escort 25 or so riders. The two or three vans pulling trailers, I understand. Maybe five or six motorcycle cops to run the rolling roadblock I might could understand, but not the other vehicles. (shrug)

On the bright side, my girlfriend started riding a bike to her new job, so add one more conscious soul to the list.

Breezy, not as bad as yesterday, but still significant.

With Bike to Work Day coming this week, I'm seeing more bikes on the road. The more the merrier!

Oh man, I wish that jerk in Sydney had tried his swoop-and-squat maneuver on THIS peloton!

I had a 17-hour work day yesterday, followed by 5 hours sleep - I was bagged on the way in. The 53x18 gear on the SS is taking some time to get used to, although I should give it more than 3 rides to adjust.

misty to full-on WET. Delayed final departure close enough to lunch time that I ran my errands on the way (or actually past the office) rather than get to work, dry off, and then head out again. My daughter kicked one of the snaps out on her trailer last night, see how wet she gets going home tonight. She has a coat and blanket, anyway.

started in the fog all along the river to have it burn up and clear up in only 10min or so, road out to school for class and back home, 14mile RT and took me about 45min each way, decent pace but not the fastest it could be.

Was a great ride, specially with my new found goal of biking to class all this spring and summer.

Estimated savings in gas will be about $670.........that money might go nice to buy a fair commuting bike now hehehhe

Sunny and cool 60 degrees. Spotted the resident ducklings swimming around with their parents in the stream by the bus stop - took a cell phone picture but it came out too blurry in the early AM light. Looking forward to the ride home - it's supposed to heat up later this week but now is perfect riding weather!

When I first moved to Boston I didn't think of it as a very windy city. But lately it has been very windy, and today was no exception.

First commute today, it was a blast!

There was spray on the way to work, which was pretty refreshing this early in the morning. I got there in 30 minutes and felt great. Plenty of other bikers.
Was a little worried about the way back home because it had taken me 50 minutes on my trial ride last Sunday, however I was much fresher and it only took me under 40 minutes. No rain and just nice weather (on an Icelandic standard that means no sun, just clouds and a breeze ). I almost regretted it wasn't raining because I was starting to feel hot and sticky.

Work starts an hour earlier tomorrow and I'm already looking forward to going.

Yeah, actually I didn't think of that. I suppose it's possible. (For those of you who haven't seen this story, some jerk in a car brought down a large peleton out on a training ride - more here). Some of the comments on this incident have been very predictable, including a comment by the State Minister for Roads that cyclists should not ride at rush hour(!).

And welcome Moskau!

Cool thread. I've been commuting since early april at least 3 days a week. I find that the days I bike in the ride is so much more relaxing than in the car. Just seems to me like the Jerks out there don't bother me as much when i'm on the bike. Its a 3.5 mile commute each way so says Google Maps, all flat ground with bike lanes and large shoulders on all the roads. Takes me around 25 minutes give or take... i don't try for any land speed records lest i sweat through all my clothes before i get to work.

Today was beautiful, nice and cool air no humidity... I'm really looking forward to the ride home starting right about....NOW.

A+ !

took the usual route in, but at 65degF, light wind, took the longer way home. traffic was great except one 18 wheeler pass in a 40 mph zone at what appeared 65mph to get in front, and an increasing issue with MotorCyclists. a male/female on one motorcycle right hooked me as they entered a car dealership.

for the most part i have been sharing knods or waves with motorcyclists, but a new concern we as bicycle commuters need to be aware of are the cagers (people who drive automobiles) who switch to motocycles but still have the "i own the road" concept.

the change will be slow....but will be!

t

Morning commute pretty standard...low 70s with thunder but no rain.

Commuting home, I decided to try out a new route I had planned out that would increase my distance from 6 miles to 10. However, I missed a turn and ended up about two miles off track. Thank goodness for my iPhone to tell me where I was before I got completely disoriented.

So I backtracked and made it home without incident, but after 14 miles instead of 10! But I am so glad I am changing routes...a longer ride is not only more fun, but I am now off the highway for all but like 1/4 mile. It's awesome! I didn't realize how much I hated those 3 highway miles until I didn't have to worry about them. I am in love with quiet, country roads.

A kid said "hi" to me from his upstairs balcony...that was totally cool for some reason.

I don't normally post in the commute section but I needed to vent and share my commute with you all. I live in a suburb on the west side of Chicago and I work on the south side of Chicago. Today on my way home I took a new route that was suggested by a co-worker down Jackson instead of Roosevelt. Just west of Cicero Ave. there was five guys sitting on mailbox who saw me coming and yelled "Oh sh**, here comes Starbucks!". There gave me the nickname Starbucks...how thoughtful. They then all started blocking my way by coming into the street. I went around the outside of a car and avoided them for the moment. Then one of them threw a close to full (judging by the weight) can of soda right into my back and yelled "Stay the fu** out of my neighborhood!". I rode the rest of the way home with my back covered in orange soda and pain in my back. Needless to say, my commute today sucked.

Soda is one of less worse things to catch on your back through those hoods.

Good commute today. Talked a co-worker into riding in with me. Great ride, good conversation along the way. He's joining me again tomorrow. Got another co-worker/neighbor I'm still working on.

Twisted a couple of links in my chain on the way home (solo) when I was hammering up a busy overpass. Chain jumped the big ring and snarled in the pedal. Had to make an emergency trip to the LBS for a couple spare chains since I was out. I think I can replace the bad links in this one; only 250 on it.

Nothing like waving cars past while coasting from 23 mph trying to make a move for the edge of the bridge...