holy schmoley!

just got home from what, for me, turned into an almost full out ride home! My usual 30-35 plod turned into 23-25 minutes! I came across another commuter who passed me once and then when I passed him after a goodnatured 'Mornin' I guess he took that as a hint to pass me again?! No complaining from me! Usually everyone is going the other way...

so we hit it and man! After I'd passed him, no way was I going to let him back again! Besides, its good for me and my semi-competitive nature!

and yeah, neither of us was very fast...20-25mph for 8 miles on a road fried MTB with a full messenger bag.

Never saw him again and I wanted to cough a lung when I got home but still!

Slow fun is still fun!

I had my scariest ride so far last night on my way to a night shift. Halfway to work I spotted a pack of kids on the road and with me trying to stay as far on the edge of the path I still nearly collided with a girl as they just did not yield to the side!
I continued, and there were endless kids and of course they don't yield to the right like traffic so I was weaving between them always on the brakes as they're pretty unpredictable. Finally I thought I'd be free but then I ran into a group of people walking their dogs! It was about 15 people with almost as many dogs. It was just ridiculous how busy the path was after 19!

Then after my shift when I woke up I knew if I wouldn't eat something I'd have a terrible ride home, and I probably sat for an hour in the kitchen thinking about how I had to bike back home, haha. I was pretty tired after my shift as well. Finally got going and decided just to take it easy and enjoy the fact the sun is out. Had a nice ride and made it all the way up the steep hill that's just before coming home, yay! First time I've not walked any part of it. :)

It's easier to commute when working during the day!

Very close call this morning. I'm riding in the middle of an 8 foot wide shoulder. Speed limit is 50 mph. Suddenly there is a black F150 blowing by me about 6 inches away then pulls back into the lane.

Amazingly, I caught up to the truck at the next red light 1/4 mile away, skidded to a stop, pounded on the hood and began to yell at the boneheaded lady driver who seemed more interested in sanding her nails.

She actually had the nerve to say "Well, there is a sidewalk."

The Adrenalin rush and let down destroyed the rest of my ride.

Doesn't that just chap your a##!

That's a bit to reminiscent of a cyclist who was killed around here by a girl downloading something to her cellphone. She went off the road, and hit him on her way back to the pavement ...

My ride was great this morning. Gorgeous day. Unfortunately, tomorrow's forecast is strong thunderstorms and hail. ::sigh:: I think I'm going to loose my perfect record for May - so far I've biked every day I've worked. Rain I don't mind - lightening and hail ... that's another ballgame.

No close calls, crowds, or suicidal squirrels for me. I feel blessed. :)

Mid 40Fs and sunny. Bit of a headwind. Up too late last night. Friends in town en route to the Montreal Beer Fest. We went brewpub hopping last night. Did not feel so good this morning. :o

Saw a 'bent. Guy went by me as I was stopped having some water and looking at the lake. I came out behind him and he stopped at another scenic spot so I went by him. :) Didn't see him again.

Beautiful ride in today - still only a handful of commuters out there.

Standard practice, per my wife (a former athletic trainer at a local high school) - ice 20 minutes per hour (a little less is okay, but more is NOT OKAY) for the first day to insure that any swelling goes away. NSAI (Advil, Aleve) per instructions on the package for pain and inflammation. Rest. If you are going to "use it" (as in ride, run, whatever) then ice for 20 minutes when you're done.

Having said all that, I noticed this morning that my rt. knee is swollen following a softball game last night. Have i followed her advice? Um, not exactly... Ride in this morning felt wrong for some reason - the knee was part of it, but I just generally felt sluggish and spent the whole way. Strange since I haven't been on the bike since Monday.

On the bright side, I cleaned and lubed the chain on Monday afternoon, and the bike was smoothe and darn near silent as I left the house this morning - very nice!

16 Celsius. Nice weather.
I got a rack yesterday so I was able to go without a backpack today. It was awesome! Except the bag kept rubbing the wheel. I got a strip of cardboard for the way home to give the rack a 'bottom'.
There's this steep hill with a fairly sharp turn at the bottom. I must have been going minimum 30MPH but I was slowing down enough to make the turn - just. Except there is this 'fold'/bump in the pavement! It threw me off, I hit the curb (nearly parallel to it, but not quite) and went tumbling. Ouch! I'm real glad I bought biking glove, too, yesterday! Otherwise my hand's be rubbed raw. As it was, the bike is OK, the U-Lock lost a bit more rubber coating and the pin on my watch is busted. I need to repair my watch... I feel so naked without it!

I commuted home in the rain yesterday. Really just a light rain and I really enjoyed it. Just took a little more caution as the roads were slick due to long time no rain here. Also I put a basket I purchased at Ingles Grocery Store for $6.00 on the rear rack and today I brought a fresh strawberry pie to my office staff in it. My DW picked strawberries yesterday and made pies and jam and sent it to my staff. I like showing non bicyclest that you can do most anything on a bike that you can do in a car. I'm raising interest at the office but still I'm the only one but not for long (gas hit a new high).
Later,
Keep on wheelin Wheelers,
Tony

My commute was 11km in hot and sweaty malta in europe. At least a large part of the commute was near the coast. Love the sea.

Commute Blog
http://www.bike4more.com

50 Degrees, very little traffic.

there's a Malta that's not in Europe?

Coolish today (40sF). 60sF yesterday pm felt cooler than usual to me. My body must be reaching summer faster than the freaking weather.

My commute is always great... here is quick vid of the waves splasing up on the path when I am going from north chicago to downtown.

VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUNcWE7cI1k

I love commuting.

Last year I was almost knocked off my bike (actually, I did get knocked off but managed to jump back on!)by a wave while going around that bend further south.

The day you made that video, going home around the bend I hugged the wall and a giant wave crashed over. I was far enough up that the wave missed me but flooded the entire path up to my pedals. Learned my lesson from last time.

Its an adventure sometimes. :thumb:

YUP... But you gotta love this city.

Crashed this morning, slid out on gravel while about to pass an oncoming cyclist. Wrist hurts. Bah.

Ah damn... sorry duder.

if it makes you feel any better I t-boned a car yesterday. Took a right when I was right next to the car. No blinker or brake light. I was in the bike lane too.

Try to shake it off buddy.

There seem to be many more commuters on the ARBT this week. Always good to see. But not always good to hear: I must have passed half a dozen riders with dry chains or rubbing deraillers.

70deg, clear skies, barely any wind, bike all tuned up, iPod charged up; oh man it's going to be a good day today.

So is that 3 riders down in the last two days? And LanceW, doesn't sound like you T-boned anything - sounds like you got right hooked instead...

Heal up fast, guys - and stay safe...

Thanks a lot for the tips on sore knees, or in this case one sore knee on the driveside.
Perhaps a new saddle will change my pedal stroke a bit?

Morning was cold. 47 F ! Whatever happened to Summer :( But otherwise a very pleasant commute. I was feeling strong, hammered at a good speed. Tried to consciously spin the legs instead of just hammering the down-strokes. Only gained like 5-6 minutes on my over all time, but what the heck ! I felt good about it ;) Had a nice 3 course lunch at my Boss's farewell party (yea, he is leaving today). It is 75 degrees now, and feeling good about riding back home ! Lets see.

You listen to music while biking? I'm under the impression that our hearing is very very useful/crucial for avoiding cars etc... unless you ride a car-free route.