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2012 - How Was the Commute Today?

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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

2012 - How Was the Commute Today?

Old 02-03-12 | 06:03 PM
  #426  
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From: Potashville

Bikes: Reynolds 531P road bike, Rocky Mountain Metropolis, Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10, Look 566

Pretty. -12ºC, windchill -18, a glittering layer of frost all over the path. My headlight reflected off what looked like millions of diamonds, scattered in front of me.
Coming home, the snowy parts were soft and a bit hard to manage. The low sunlight washed the landscape with golden light. Very mellow and relaxing.

Last edited by Rhodabike; 02-03-12 at 06:14 PM.
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Old 02-03-12 | 07:46 PM
  #427  
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From: Crowley, Tx

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I rode to work all five days this week. I ended up with 542 miles in January, not a bad winter month total for me. This morning, I rode to work in shorts, a bit hard to believe for a February morning ride before daylight. I ran into a bit of drizzle for a short stretch of that ride in, but stayed dry on the ride home, glad to have gotten home before the storms.

2012 days ridden to work: 18
2012 commuting mileage: 446.3
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Old 02-04-12 | 11:42 PM
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Had to work on Saturday for a few hours. Had a great ride in along the river. I can't recall a February when I've so many days in a row when I didn't need to pull the ice bike out. I don't know. I'm guessing I'll end up paying for all this nice weather at some point with a good winer storm but in the meantime, I'll take it.
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Old 02-05-12 | 08:03 AM
  #429  
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From: El Paso, TX

Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle

Last week the weather was great for commuting every day. Then this weekend the weather fell apart with lower temps and high winds. The forecast for tomorrow, Monday, is great! I love this city - it reserves the poor weather for days I'm not bicycling to work!
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Old 02-05-12 | 06:19 PM
  #430  
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A bit rainy, a little bit chilly and quite windy. But still a nice morning and evening for a ride.

I also had a small laugh; in the morning I was out with a couple of co-workers standing next to my bike. (They recognize it and know exactly who it belongs to) Making small talk I mentioned that I had not driven my car for one week. I was kinda proud of that, since the weather had not been perfect at all. Looking over my shoulder , I asked out loud, "Is that my car parked over there?" I was actually surprised. I hadn't expected this. Walked a bit closer for a better look and came back saying, "It sure is."

I already knew the explanation, but I carried on for the sake of having fun with my friends, "I swear I can't get away from that thing! It even follows me to work!!"

They looked at me like I had come from Mars.

I let them in on the explanation, which I'd already figured out. It was my wife. She works at the same place, but a different building and starts two hours later than I. She'd parked it there thinking that I'd want to drive home. She should know me better than that after all this time.

So I also had the pleasure of calling her up and saying, "Thanks, but no thanks. You'll find it right where you left it when you get off".
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Old 02-06-12 | 06:14 AM
  #431  
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Just under freezing today, no wind but definitely cooler than the past week or so.

My attempt to fix my squeaky front brakes is classified under Fail. They're louder than before. I've been to the shop, moved 'em all around. I give up for now.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:04 AM
  #432  
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From: El Paso, TX

Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle

Ouch, recovery from Superbowl Sunday is officially underway. No riding today. Do you all have to type so loud? Please.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:41 AM
  #433  
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From: NoVA

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Colder than expected (23F) when I left the house late this morning. Light traffic on the trail and I need more sleep.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:47 AM
  #434  
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Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

First ride in a couple of weeks. I've been walking to work a lot more. Better exercise as it's only 1.8 miles one-way, and I don't have to worry about bicycle cleaning or ratbike maintenance with salt and winter road goop.

Anyway: 30F with a light tailwind. Had to avoid a couple of small ice patches (riding the Soho, not studded) but otherwise things were dry.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:55 AM
  #435  
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20 deg f and frosty. No fog for the first time in about a week. The shoulders are finally clear enought to ride the road bike with slicks, makes for a much faster commute (than the studded mt. bike).
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Old 02-06-12 | 08:00 AM
  #436  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Chilly commute this morning for this winter, but that isn't saying much. Temps were in the low 30s with heavy frost on lawns and car windows. Rode at an easy pace after eating and drinking too much on Sunday, ostensibly because of the Super Bowl, but I only watched the game for few minutes. Hard for me to get excited about a game between NY and New England. My regular commuter Salsa Casseroll is at the shop getting new wheels and a shallow drop handlebar, so I'm riding the Waterford this week, which is sweet.

I'm collecting parts to rebuild my Bob Jackson World Tour as a full-on touring bike with fatter tires, triple crank and a rear rack. I swapped all of the parts from it last summer to build up the Waterford, with the initial intention of selling the frame and fork, but couldn't make myself part with it. I still have a dream of riding across the USA one day, and the Jackson would be perfect for that.
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Old 02-06-12 | 08:14 AM
  #437  
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Originally Posted by dygituljunky
I'm grateful for the grin-and-wave advice I picked up on here; it was waaay more fun than letting myself get angry and react with aggressive finger-waving and yelling obscenities. It was awesome practice for the next time I tow the daughter around (now that she's beginning to learn to speak).
That approach helps me to maintain my sanity and calm more than venting. I sometimes even thank the drivers - as in "Thank you Mr. swerver - you take that important cell phone call". It isn't like I am encouraging them, they can't hear that any more than if I was cussing out a long string of invective.

The quirky nature of the situation makes me smile and relax. I call it channelling my inner Ned Flanders. My inner Moe Szyslak would just get me killed.
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Old 02-06-12 | 08:35 AM
  #438  
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From: McLean, VA/Burlington, VT

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27 F (-3 C), clear, dry, and calm -- perfect winter commuting weather.
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Old 02-06-12 | 08:57 AM
  #439  
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Originally Posted by tractorlegs
Ouch, recovery from Superbowl Sunday is officially underway. No riding today. Do you all have to type so loud? Please.
Was that yesterday? LOL

Went for a hike instead. When I came back all I saw were talking heads.
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Old 02-06-12 | 12:05 PM
  #440  
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From: south Puget Sound
31F, sunny, generally awesome
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Old 02-06-12 | 01:02 PM
  #441  
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From: Fairfax, VA commuting to Washington DC

Bikes: 2010 Kona Dew Drop (the daily driver),'07 Specialized Roubaix (the sports car), '99 ish Kona NuNu MTB (the SUV), Schwinn High Plains (circa 1992?) (the beater)

Little bit of a late start this morning, and this was the first 'cold' (low 30s, F) day in quite some time, so I was wearing another layer and my beanie. Definitely not a fast ride, but I covered the distance in the time I usually allot for the ride. Which meant I was 10 minutes later for work than I like (but still 'on time').

Should be warmer for the ride home.
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Old 02-06-12 | 01:30 PM
  #442  
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From: Hattiesburg, MS

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4.5*C, ~40*F ... Chilly at first, but was getting warmed up just about the time I reached work. Overcast and very little traffic. The birds were quiet this morning .
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Old 02-06-12 | 02:14 PM
  #443  
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From: Fort Collins CO

Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007

The brooks flyer has been off of the commuter and on the long range bike for several months, never could get a good fit on the long range bike. So last Friday the brooks went back on the graduate. I didn't get it in the same position it was months ago when I took it off, stupid of me not to take some measurements. So I have been carrying the tool with me and making slight adjustments. At lunch today I made another adjustment, got on the bike in the parking lot, and Ahhhhhhh, daddy's home.

If only I can get the new Terry saddle to feel this good on the touring bike.
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Old 02-06-12 | 02:15 PM
  #444  
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Bikes: 2011 Trek 1.2, 2010 Trek 7.2FX

First commute of the year for me. 40*-ish and overall a beautiful morning. Looking forward to tomorrow morning!
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:16 PM
  #445  
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Nice ride home, upper 40s I'd say.

I stayed at work to try yet another brake squeak fix: reversing the direction of the pads. Seems to be working except the random squeak just comes outta nowhere.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:33 PM
  #446  
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Gorgeous spring day today!- oops, it's still February. Terrific ride in and out.
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Old 02-06-12 | 07:37 PM
  #447  
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Started the ride in at 1:00 p.m., nd it was just shy of 45f--sunny and beautiful. Same on the way home. With the sun setting later, I now arrive home before it's completely dark.
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Old 02-06-12 | 08:04 PM
  #448  
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Bikes: Black Mountain Cycles Road and canti MX, Cannondale CAAD12, Bob Jackson Vigorelli

Today and Friday (02-03) have been the first days long enough for me to ride both ways.

Last night, the NY Giants won the Superbowl. The decorations near 177th and Fort Washington Avenue in Harlem made me laugh.


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Old 02-06-12 | 09:03 PM
  #449  
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Great commutes. The weather has been nice recently but I swear I have a headwind over 10mph on the way to school every single day. Luckly my homemade velo helps out there. I still have some tweaking that I'll do tomorrow to hopefully gain a little more speed from it.

52F and sunny with mainly headwinds from the WSW @ 14-17mph on the commute in this afternoon. Left late and was almost afraid that I wasn't going to make it on time. I did make it on time, but bearly. Had a screw that I forgot to install on the pvc piping frame for the top of the fairing. It kept coming apart on the ride, which was pretty annoying.

41F and dark with winds from the S @ 5-9mph on the commute home this evening. Before I left campus, I found a screw that I was able to use for the pvc. I had no issues at all on that ride.
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Old 02-06-12 | 10:17 PM
  #450  
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Originally Posted by susanw
Well, It's much warmer than thought before. The weather here is totally eclusive. I thought it must be upon the end of the last day, just like the saying in the film of 2012. And now it has already the 2012. So how do you think?

Hahaha, now I am working with my computer in the office and drinking coffie with my little cute ceramic cup which I bought from taobao in high price. we should work hard for big money and then enjoy our life sufficent with it before we getting old and the death coming.

Whoa! You got my attention with that post! Here's to existential commuting!
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