2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
08-17-12 | 09:53 AM
#2526
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Storms last night, so wet roads this morning.
I extended my bike ride by 4 miles today in my typical bike/bus/bike routine.
It was the first time on a new route. Due to road construction and a downed power-line I had two detours from the previously planned route.
I scouted the route using the local "groove (metro published map of bike friendly roads/routes)" and pre-viewing using Google street view.
It worked out rather well, except for the detours. I was pleased.
I extended my bike ride by 4 miles today in my typical bike/bus/bike routine.
It was the first time on a new route. Due to road construction and a downed power-line I had two detours from the previously planned route.
I scouted the route using the local "groove (metro published map of bike friendly roads/routes)" and pre-viewing using Google street view.
It worked out rather well, except for the detours. I was pleased.
Last edited by FenderTL5; 08-17-12 at 09:54 AM. Reason: typos
08-17-12 | 10:10 AM
#2527
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Yelled at a guy in a Carrera Cabriolet who was texting or reading his email: "Hey, Porsche! Put your phone away and drive!"
Busted.
I kept catching up to him at the lights. I could see him looking back in the rear view. I wonder if he thought I was stalking him. Then, he turned into my parking structure. I gave him a friendly wave and rode through the gate as normal.
He's probably on www.porscheforums.net right now complaining about the weird cyclist who was stalking him all through midtown and downtown.
Busted.
I kept catching up to him at the lights. I could see him looking back in the rear view. I wonder if he thought I was stalking him. Then, he turned into my parking structure. I gave him a friendly wave and rode through the gate as normal.
He's probably on www.porscheforums.net right now complaining about the weird cyclist who was stalking him all through midtown and downtown.
08-17-12 | 10:41 AM
#2528
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
took the car today, ran cyclemeter for the lulz
my avg speed is only 7mph faster on car. this is with the stops removed.
my avg speed is only 7mph faster on car. this is with the stops removed.
08-17-12 | 10:49 AM
#2529
65F and sunny, awesome!
Last night going home it was 95F and sunny, awesome! Should be the same this afternoon. Just loving it.
Last night going home it was 95F and sunny, awesome! Should be the same this afternoon. Just loving it.
08-17-12 | 12:15 PM
#2530
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 703
From: Layton, UT
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
Perfect temp for me, about 62F. Just enough to work up a bit of a sweat, but not get really hot on the way in (it's only 4.3 miles, but it's almost all up hill). Going to be in the mid 90s this afternoon for the ride home, which is rare around here, but I love it! Biking to the gym after work, then biking home from there to start what should be a great weekend. 
08-17-12 | 05:05 PM
#2531
Only 90F coming home I was really hoping for 95. Back to the 70s for the weekend and next week.
08-17-12 | 09:16 PM
#2532
Super-spreader
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 887
Likes: 101
From: where black is the color, where none is the number
Bikes: shiny red tricycle
Two mornings in a row I've had to wait for a train. Ever notice that trains are always exactly one car length too long to make it completely through the intersection before they stop?
Quite a warm afternoon by northwest standards, but I enjoyed cruising by the traffic jams.
Quite a warm afternoon by northwest standards, but I enjoyed cruising by the traffic jams.
08-18-12 | 07:23 AM
#2533
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Guess it just goes to show the grass is always greener on the other side. I've been pining for cooler weather and envying your weather all summer, and here you go enjoying the very type of weather I've been sick of since late May. Oh well... Glad you're enjoying it. :-)
08-18-12 | 12:06 PM
#2534
Mrs. Hop-along
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Seville, FL
Bikes: Ladies Schwinn Super Sport and Gateway
Yesterday was great! Ride Home With Me in pictures on my blog post yesterday.
I ended up escorting my husband to work too, and then taking dinner to him later. You can see what Jamie's Commute looks like if he gets off before the sun goes down.
I love my new camera!
I ended up escorting my husband to work too, and then taking dinner to him later. You can see what Jamie's Commute looks like if he gets off before the sun goes down.
I love my new camera!
08-18-12 | 12:18 PM
#2535
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
80 degrees this morning. Slight headwind...very slight. Dawn was just breaking as I left the house. It kind of sucks to work on the weekends, but weekend commutes are da bomb (very little traffic to contend with)
I made it in 1 Hr, 23 Min - a New Personal Best!
Man, I love that Fuji. Now I have to find an appropriate adapter for the stem. My only complaint is that the handlebars are too low for my taste.
Here's the best part - I did the last personal best (1 Hr, 24 Min) with a strong tailwind the entire way. My new PB was done riding into the wind.
I made it in 1 Hr, 23 Min - a New Personal Best!
Man, I love that Fuji. Now I have to find an appropriate adapter for the stem. My only complaint is that the handlebars are too low for my taste.
Here's the best part - I did the last personal best (1 Hr, 24 Min) with a strong tailwind the entire way. My new PB was done riding into the wind.
08-18-12 | 12:35 PM
#2536
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: California
Bikes: 2012 Civia Prospect, 2012 Specialized Sirrus Sport, 199x Canondale M800
The bike ride into worked seemed slow: 2 minute to cross the street in front of my place (due to the golf tournament down the street mentioned below), lots of clueless pedestrians on the MUP (on weekday mornings there are clue-ful pedestrians), felt like I was riding slow in places there were no pedestrians (and on the road), and I pretty much conked out on the first hill. Somehow I still beat my best time into work by 20 seconds. I think I caught one light better then normal but that should have been offset by the waiting earlier. Oh well, I feel good about the time. I also walked about 5 miles this morning around the golf course (there was a PGA Champion's tour tournament today and I had a free ticket). That might have been part of the reason why I felt so sluggish. Weird how I thought I'd be a few minutes slower than normal but yet I was faster.
08-18-12 | 02:51 PM
#2537
just ride
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: North Idaho
Bikes: '15 Scott Speedster 20
Very tiring! Stiff headwind and no legs on the way home.
08-20-12 | 04:33 AM
#2538
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
A very nice cool morning at 68f (20c). The morning sky was dark, and the daylight sky doesn't look too much better either. This is my last
week of driving through the college grounds, before all the traffic comes back, and I will have to yell, shout and wake everyone one up in a car not paying attention.
week of driving through the college grounds, before all the traffic comes back, and I will have to yell, shout and wake everyone one up in a car not paying attention.
08-20-12 | 04:37 AM
#2540
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 2
From: Highlands County Florida
rode to train a lttle late this morning. 2 hours later than usual. needed the rest. i mat have had a record time rhis morn but was stopped at long light at route 1. felt strong once i got going. doing my first century on the ninth. friday i forgot my helmet today i forgot my mirror.
08-20-12 | 05:38 AM
#2541
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Weather wise it was a great morning, coolest yet. Darker so I wore my bright green shirt for the fiorst time in a couple of months.
Not so good: I seriously pulled my right calf last night at a scooccer match (watching not playing...ridiculous I know). This is a huge bummer...riding seems to be ok and is preferable to hobbling down the street from the metro to my office.
Truly frustrating.
Not so good: I seriously pulled my right calf last night at a scooccer match (watching not playing...ridiculous I know). This is a huge bummer...riding seems to be ok and is preferable to hobbling down the street from the metro to my office.
Truly frustrating.
08-20-12 | 05:48 AM
#2542
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
A good ride in today after two weeks not riding due to vacation. It is darker when I leave now at 5:40am and I am going to have to start using a light. This morning was a cool 56f degrees. Anyway, it is good to be back to commuting by bike. I have missed the riding.
08-20-12 | 05:49 AM
#2543
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
54F/12C and sunny. I noticed something on a bicycle a few hundred feet behind me so I pushed a little and put some distance between us. 
Then I get held up at a stop sign. When it was my turn, I started to ride and the bicyclist sprinted around me (having not stopped for the sign), then tried to pass two stopped cars on their right side. The lead car was trying to parallel park, and had backup lights on. 
Bicyclist braked, swerved, narrowly avoiding clipping a car, and continued on her merry way through the next stop sign and red light.
The slow ones always ride like morons.
Then I get held up at a stop sign. When it was my turn, I started to ride and the bicyclist sprinted around me (having not stopped for the sign), then tried to pass two stopped cars on their right side. The lead car was trying to parallel park, and had backup lights on. Bicyclist braked, swerved, narrowly avoiding clipping a car, and continued on her merry way through the next stop sign and red light. The slow ones always ride like morons.
08-20-12 | 07:40 AM
#2544
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Today was my first commute and the weather couldn't have been better. It started in the high 50s(F) and upon arrival was just at 60 degrees. I did discover that my estimate of 24 miles was off by almost 6 full miles. I guess I have a 60 mi round trip. I was loaded down like a pack mule, with extra shoes to store in my office as well as a full change of cloths, etc to keep around just in case. The ride home should be much much lighter.
Thanks to all of you that have offered assistance and advice as I've prepped for the ride. I feel like a million bucks and aside from the rate at which I'm downing this builder bar (hahaha) all is normal. I do need coffee though. I wonder if I can mount an espresso machine to my bike....
Thanks to all of you that have offered assistance and advice as I've prepped for the ride. I feel like a million bucks and aside from the rate at which I'm downing this builder bar (hahaha) all is normal. I do need coffee though. I wonder if I can mount an espresso machine to my bike....
08-20-12 | 08:47 AM
#2546
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
Sunny, cool, calm. Seemed to have some jam back in my legs today. Rhubarb-Strawberry, I think.
08-20-12 | 09:45 AM
#2547
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
I left an hour earlier this morning, more a question of "why not" than any real reason. It was nice to see the sunrise, and different faces on the way. It seemed a bit cool at 68 degrees, until I recalled that it was shorts and short sleeves until the mid-50's and so I picked up the pace. I'm going to make a habit of this.
08-20-12 | 11:07 AM
#2548
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Legs were dead. If I'd gone any slower this morning, I'd have tipped over.
08-20-12 | 11:15 AM
#2549
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
cyclemeter app for iOS, not sure if there is an android variant. I've never used any other app/standalone device. $1.99 for an app > standalone device haha. cyclemeter was the app most recommended on this board.
08-20-12 | 01:16 PM
#2550
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
Left-hooked; I was bombing down a straightaway >20mph in the bike lane, I looked up and could see nothing but car. Not even time to touch my brakes. Next thing I know I'm on my back in the road w/ a bunch of people standing around blocking traffic (thankfully). I got put on a backboard w/ a cervical collar and ambulanced to the ER. In the end nothing but road rash (I hope) but my lower back is a mess, it got some kind of accordioned. x-rays all negative (I was mostly worried about my collar bone). And now I'm home.
A couple hrs into the vicodin I can put the weight of my head and chest onto the lower back but I don't know how long that will last.
Bike is damaged but I don't know how much; firemen took it back to the station, my wife is off to get it and bring it to my fave LBS. Worst case since I t-boned a car at essentially top speed is I guess bending the headtube and downtube back, which would be a bummer 'cause the frame is not being made any more so no replacing it if needed. Hope I don't have to.
The woman I hit got a failure-to-yield ticket w/ a supplement for causing an accident. I don't know if there were any witnesses (nobody gave me any info) so I hope I left a nice dent in an incriminating location. I heard her telling people she hit me in the middle of the street like I weaved out of nowhere so I assume it was apparent somehow or other that I didn't.
A couple hrs into the vicodin I can put the weight of my head and chest onto the lower back but I don't know how long that will last.
Bike is damaged but I don't know how much; firemen took it back to the station, my wife is off to get it and bring it to my fave LBS. Worst case since I t-boned a car at essentially top speed is I guess bending the headtube and downtube back, which would be a bummer 'cause the frame is not being made any more so no replacing it if needed. Hope I don't have to.
The woman I hit got a failure-to-yield ticket w/ a supplement for causing an accident. I don't know if there were any witnesses (nobody gave me any info) so I hope I left a nice dent in an incriminating location. I heard her telling people she hit me in the middle of the street like I weaved out of nowhere so I assume it was apparent somehow or other that I didn't.