2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
11-30-12 | 07:39 AM
#3751
Motorcycle RoadRacer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,826
Likes: 4
First leg at 5:30 am.. Cold and fast!! 
11-30-12 | 08:47 AM
#3752
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Felt really slow today, legs felt like tree trunks tho time in was only about 3 minutes more than usual (for 11 miles). It was 42F this morning - +20 over Wednesday and supposed to be in the low 50's this afternoon. Not bad for the first day of December!
Update: I figured out why my legs felt heavy in the morning, rear wheel was off center and rubbing the brake. Duh.... sometimes I'm a bonehead
Update: I figured out why my legs felt heavy in the morning, rear wheel was off center and rubbing the brake. Duh.... sometimes I'm a bonehead
Last edited by arsprod; 12-01-12 at 08:49 AM.
11-30-12 | 08:59 AM
#3753
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
I felt really bad for running over a bunny rabbit last night. My light had gone into flashing mode for the low battery level and I only had about a quarter second - not enough. I think the flashing disoriented him and those guys are daredevil crazy to begin with. I went back to check and he was already gone so at least I didn't kill it outright.
11-30-12 | 09:41 AM
#3754
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Portland Oregon
Bikes: Stigmata. Bronson. Macho Man. Big Block. King Cobra
Fall in NYC has been great. Not as many commuters on the road which makes for a smooth ride into the city. Caught green lights from Houston to 25th. Such a good feeling.
11-30-12 | 09:59 AM
#3755
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,126
Likes: 0
From: ChapelBorro NC
About 25F and a bit breezy, but overall a nice ride in today. Did not wear the face mask, and surprise surprise my glasses did not fog up! My toes got a bit cold though, not sure what I'm going to do about that.
11-30-12 | 10:11 AM
#3756
I'm whats for dinner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Outskirts of Houston
Bikes: 06 Specialized Rockhopper Comp
Warm this moring. Ride was decent, the atermath not so much. I think I exerted myself too much on the way in. Ended up in oe of the planters in the atrium after passing out. Must be dehydrated today.
11-30-12 | 10:18 AM
#3757
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
-10C with a 41kph headwind made for another slow ride, 75 minutes but I dialled the effort back a bit from yesterday. I was going to give myself a break and take my mountain bike, but the brake and shifter cables were frozen so I took the Pugsley. The trucks were out plowing the MUP early this morning, so I didn't have to deal with drifts the entire way.
There is a fatbike group ride here tomorrow. Should be fun.
There is a fatbike group ride here tomorrow. Should be fun.
11-30-12 | 11:02 AM
#3758
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 703
From: Layton, UT
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
Funny, that was about the conditions here this morning, and I almost hit ...something. I think it was a squirrel, but it might have been a large rat or one of those water voles (name begins with an 'n', I think). It felt good riding in again. I hadn't been on the bike since I went down monday on ice and hurt my hip.
11-30-12 | 01:14 PM
#3759
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus
Raining here today, so the roads were clear and no person on the MUP. Very peaceful!
11-30-12 | 01:35 PM
#3760
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
That's too serious to take lightly, and I'd be skeptical of simple dehydration/heat exhaustion causing you to pass out. It can happen, but in cooler weather after a commute would be extremely rare. I hope you've scheduled a visit with a doctor.
11-30-12 | 01:35 PM
#3761
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
-2C/29F on the way home
can really feel the difference from 4C/39F
can really feel the difference from 4C/39F
11-30-12 | 08:29 PM
#3762
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
I felt really bad for running over a bunny rabbit last night. My light had gone into flashing mode for the low battery level and I only had about a quarter second - not enough. I think the flashing disoriented him and those guys are daredevil crazy to begin with. I went back to check and he was already gone so at least I didn't kill it outright.
11-30-12 | 08:31 PM
#3763
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
Rain today. I had a meeting in Salem so I didn't have to ride in the dark for a change, so that was nice. But pretty much 27 miles of rain.
12-01-12 | 12:31 PM
#3764
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
Yesterday it hit below freezing point. The other day a guy in a jeep making a right turn almost hit me. I think this may have been the closest encounter I've had to date. If I didn't move further left, he would have hit me for sure. He said sorry twice and sped off. I was in a rather bad mood and a bit aggressive. He then stopped to wait for me and then called me an ******* for my attitude and sped back off.
12-01-12 | 01:02 PM
#3765
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
This morning at McDs 2 guys were standing around by one of the bicycle racks. Since they effectively blocked that one I parked at the other and went in. I get a cup of coffee and take it to work on weekdays. Took 3-4 min.
When I came out one of the guys was standing near my bike looking at it. As I unlocked and got ready to leave the other walked a bike up to me and said, "Hey. Since you have 2 lights and I have none how about giving me one of yours?"
I turned him down but felt for him. But as I'm riding off I notice my headlight which I left on the handlebars is pointing straight up. Somebody had loosened the mount and tried to take it off. Now I'm miffed but it's not worth going back and giving them a piece of my mind. From now on I guess I take the headlight and computer in with me. And make sure the front quick release wheel is locked too.
When I came out one of the guys was standing near my bike looking at it. As I unlocked and got ready to leave the other walked a bike up to me and said, "Hey. Since you have 2 lights and I have none how about giving me one of yours?"
I turned him down but felt for him. But as I'm riding off I notice my headlight which I left on the handlebars is pointing straight up. Somebody had loosened the mount and tried to take it off. Now I'm miffed but it's not worth going back and giving them a piece of my mind. From now on I guess I take the headlight and computer in with me. And make sure the front quick release wheel is locked too.
12-03-12 | 02:36 AM
#3766
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
I can just imagine what kind of character that guy was. I can't believe you leave your computer unattended like that. I assume it's quick release. I always take my computer and headlight with me which are both QR. I sometimes leave my taillight on the bike which requires a screwdriver to dismount and leave my front wheel with QR skewer unlocked especially if it's within sight. I've been doing this when going grocery shopping. I wonder if this is going to stab me in the back someday. If I lock it up at a university or something I definitely take off the taillight and lock the front wheel. At work, I lock it next to the security officer, so I don't bother with the taillight.
12-03-12 | 02:38 AM
#3767
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
+1C/33F ... with these temperatures most bike commuters only go to the inner city, which makes my commute to the suburbs quite easy
12-03-12 | 06:38 AM
#3768
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
50F/11C coming in, a damp foggy warm morning. My stupid squeaky front brake pads always act up when conditions are damp.
12-03-12 | 06:54 AM
#3769
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
42F/6C with a headwind, and gloomy. I felt tired & slow. The weekend's ice & snow is long gone.
12-03-12 | 06:55 AM
#3770
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
it's snowing ... and I can't wait for the first ride home in the snow
you can see the flakes beginning to blow around here:
https://extern5.1000eyes.de/cam/dr/00408CC4E342/
https://extern5.1000eyes.de/cam/dr/00408CC7F72F/
you can see the flakes beginning to blow around here:
https://extern5.1000eyes.de/cam/dr/00408CC4E342/
https://extern5.1000eyes.de/cam/dr/00408CC7F72F/
12-03-12 | 07:12 AM
#3771
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Very warm and humid this morning, with temps in the mid-50s -- about 30 degrees higher than this time last week. Made decent time considering I had a headwind all the way can caught nearly every red light.
12-03-12 | 07:38 AM
#3772
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 4,091
From: Phx, AZ
Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike
I can just imagine what kind of character that guy was. I can't believe you leave your computer unattended like that. I assume it's quick release. I always take my computer and headlight with me which are both QR. I sometimes leave my taillight on the bike which requires a screwdriver to dismount and leave my front wheel with QR skewer unlocked especially if it's within sight. I've been doing this when going grocery shopping. I wonder if this is going to stab me in the back someday. If I lock it up at a university or something I definitely take off the taillight and lock the front wheel. At work, I lock it next to the security officer, so I don't bother with the taillight.
How much I do to secure my bike is situational. If I'm just going to be in for a minute or two, such as to pick up a cup of Joe, I just use the cable lock, not the U-lock. If I'm going to be in for a long time both locks are deployed, computer and light are removed. There is always a risk no matter what precautions you take.
Despite being in a "bad" neighborhood it is usually quiet. The McDs is within a block of the main police station here in Phx and nobody wants to start a fight right there. For now tho I am taking the light in with me. Probably more important I am watching the people outside as I lock the bike.
12-03-12 | 09:07 AM
#3773
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, CA
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Rockhopper Disc; Trek 7.5 FX
First commute of December. A little chilly @ 44ºF, but not uncomfortable. No wind. No rain. Light traffic. Only ticked off one driver.
I'd call that a pretty good day so far.
I'd call that a pretty good day so far.
12-03-12 | 09:42 AM
#3774
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
First commute for the last 6 days ( been sick) and first commute ever in december for me. Surprisingly a warm 6 celcius this morning.
the legs we're really fine which surprised me after 6 days, I managed to cover my 27.15 kms in 1h02. Not bad for an old man
the legs we're really fine which surprised me after 6 days, I managed to cover my 27.15 kms in 1h02. Not bad for an old man
12-03-12 | 10:24 AM
#3775
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
-13C with a 60 to 70 kph tail / side wind, but too icy to safely build up much speed. It rained a lot yesterday afternoon and the MUP was a pure sheet of ice for half the ride. When the win was at my side it would push me sideways across the ice. I wiped out once, but landed it well. I brought some de-iced for a bad spot under a bridge, but that was probably one of the better spots after the rain. The roads seemed much better so I might skip the MUP for the ride home.
Overall not too bad a ride, after doing 186km on my fatbike last week I needed a slow day. My left calf is a little tweaked so I should go easy a few days.
Overall not too bad a ride, after doing 186km on my fatbike last week I needed a slow day. My left calf is a little tweaked so I should go easy a few days.