2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#1226
Legs are toast last couple of days, knees starting to fade ... I think I stretched it too long without a break with a couple of hard weekends. I'm going to try to hold out through Friday though and skip my Saturday ride to recover.
#1227
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Bikes: 2011 Giant Rapid 3, 2001 Schwinn Mesa GSX
From my gf's house to my house this morning, super windy. From my house to work this morning, even more windy (direct headwind). Deadlifting at home between those two rides didn't make fighting the wind any easier either. 
It was sunny though!

It was sunny though!
#1228
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
Likes: 183
From: south Puget Sound
50F and drizzly; stuck w/ the roadbike anyway; 'nice weather' is kind of an oxymoron around here, if I try to keep this bike clean I won't ride it much.
#1229
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
Dark, 47 degrees. No rain until the last 3 miles or so though the roads were wet. I don't have a road bike. :-)
#1230
My second time bicycle-commuting to work today! 15 miles. It was around 45 degrees this morning when I left, so I figured it was warm enough for shorts (not the best idea). The hilly part of my commute didn't make me want to complain, so I guess I'm getting stronger. 
Also I learned that headwinds do affect how much effort you have to put in.
Positives:
+ Saw some nice wildflowers.
+ Had a brief chat with another cyclist who has a similar commute. Friendly people rock.
+ My work has showers. Though I didn't sweat as much today (since it was so cold).
+ Random kid waiting at the bus stop who was really excited to see a bike go by.
+ Left later, got turned around a couple times (no map), and still made it to work on time.

Also I learned that headwinds do affect how much effort you have to put in.
Positives:
+ Saw some nice wildflowers.
+ Had a brief chat with another cyclist who has a similar commute. Friendly people rock.
+ My work has showers. Though I didn't sweat as much today (since it was so cold).
+ Random kid waiting at the bus stop who was really excited to see a bike go by.
+ Left later, got turned around a couple times (no map), and still made it to work on time.
#1231
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
Rained today so I took the bus. Not only was I bikeless, I had to endure a totally flooded pedestrian underpass at the train station. Wet feel all day
#1232
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
45 is the limit of what I will do in shorts. You might want to try cycle shorts, and pullover bike sweats. I wear my work clothes right over the bike suit, eliminating the need to find a changing room.
#1233
I'll chalk today up to not bad. Sunny, still a good headwind, kind of one of those in-between temperature days where its hard to know how to dress.
#1234
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
a very nice commute in this am. The temp was 35f' degrees and under a mostly cloudless sky!
#1235
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
Coldest commute here since February, and I think the temperature this morning (mid-30s) was lower than any days in March this year. Great commute regardless and I don't mind the cold. Dressing was a bit of a challenge because it's supposed to warm up to the mid-60s by afternoon. Hopefully the wind will finally ease up. I had a tough commute home yesterday with a stiff headwind almost the entire way, and it was my one of my slowest commutes of the year. My legs have been toast lately due to riding lots of miles, windy weather and pushing a wheelbarrow around the yard on weekends.
#1236
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NoVA
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport
Finally! No more wind. Uhh!! where is my warm clothes?
#1237
Thanks - it may have been lower than 45, but having pullover pants is a great idea. I was just wearing normal bike shorts.
#1238
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
Likes: 183
From: south Puget Sound
45F and foggy w/ some sun burning through in patches.
#1239
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
for the first time in what feels like forever, there was no wind at all on my commute this morning, just beautiful dead calm. the stillness was surreal. what did i do to be so blessed?
well, it will probably be windy as f--- tomorrow. that's life i guess when your daily ride is directly along the edge of a massive land/water border.
well, it will probably be windy as f--- tomorrow. that's life i guess when your daily ride is directly along the edge of a massive land/water border.
#1240
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
I was just strolling along taking it easy and all of a sudden this black woman taking a right turn just keeps coming and coming forcing me to have to get on the left side of the road otherwise she would've hit me. There's another motorist from the opposite direction. As I get to the right side of the road, I slow down to take a look at her. She goes “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't see you.” She had to have been texting or something. Well, I was pretty angry and told her to watch where the **** she was going. She went berserk. Then, I told her I have her on video. She sped off, then stopped, and then said she was a cop. I'm pretty sure that was a lie. It was about sunset at the time, and my lights were on.
#1241
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 821
Likes: 0
From: You have really nice furniture
Started off good until I took my bike outside then it went to hell from there. LOL
Hop on the bike and realize my lower back hurt on the left side all of a sudden. It only hurt when I was stopped or when I would take off from a stop but once I have a back pain I think it is always gonna be there every step/pedal. Fortunately it wasn't.
No real wind even though I was supposed to have a tail wind.
The entrance to my bike path trail was closed so I had to go to the other side then I spent the whole time on the trail hoping that my exit was gonna be open, thank God it was. The main entrance was closed but there was a small pedestrian entry way I had to squeeze through. Right leg tapped the chainring while moving through the exit. Now I have oil on my pant leg.
Made it to work safe though so I'll count it as a good ride overall. lol
Hop on the bike and realize my lower back hurt on the left side all of a sudden. It only hurt when I was stopped or when I would take off from a stop but once I have a back pain I think it is always gonna be there every step/pedal. Fortunately it wasn't.
No real wind even though I was supposed to have a tail wind.
The entrance to my bike path trail was closed so I had to go to the other side then I spent the whole time on the trail hoping that my exit was gonna be open, thank God it was. The main entrance was closed but there was a small pedestrian entry way I had to squeeze through. Right leg tapped the chainring while moving through the exit. Now I have oil on my pant leg.
Made it to work safe though so I'll count it as a good ride overall. lol
#1242
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Bikes: 2011 Giant Rapid 3, 2001 Schwinn Mesa GSX
Beautiful!
#1243
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
This morning was pretty chilly, just above freezing. Got a good early start though, at 0430 there is little traffic on my way in, so usually I can hear it coming from litereally a mile off. Often int he morning I cannot see headlights in any direction. Anyway, I was in my bike lane about 2 miles into my ride, in an area that wasnt directly lit but not too dark either. I have a night rider headlight that is very bright. about 50 yards ahead of me a car pulls up to the street I am on and stops before entering the street. I figure he is waiting for me to pass him then he will pull out. It was literally me and him and I seen no other movement. As I get up to him, like a few feet away he takes off, I mean he floors it. Fourtuanly it is a POS, I had to make a hard left into the street from the bike lane, and still came within a foot of getting hit, he did exactly what he woudl do if he was trying to hit me. If I had not made that hard left out into the street when I did I would have hit about center his hood. I cussed at him pretty good and creatively, I am still not sure if he heard me or not, but it was artistic. There is only 2 explanations I can think of. 1) he stopped to light a cigarette, looked for cars, did not see me because I was close and he was looking for headlights on autos. OR 2) he was trying to run over me.
The rest of the ride was fast, kinda pumped up. By the time I got to work it was a pretty nice ride.
The rest of the ride was fast, kinda pumped up. By the time I got to work it was a pretty nice ride.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#1245
Not bad today. First day in a few weeks without a killer headwind, low 50's, sunny. Made the nearly 6 mile ride in less than 30 minutes.
#1246
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
#1247
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ypsilanti, MI
Bikes: 2012 Trek 7300
This morning was cold 29F. Hands froze, but other than that it was good, afternoon was great. Not too bad for a 1st commute!!
#1249
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
Out yesterday with a sinus headache, but back today feeling good and the temp is much better today at 40f (4C). Rest days really make everything work so much better.
#1250
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
yesterday 20minutes before I am ready to leave work the thunder and rain started. It was very heavy at first then by the time I was leaving the rain had become light. By the time I was four miles into my commute the rain stopped and no more rain. Riding in the rain is new for me, something I have only done once before and it wasn't bad at all.
Todays commute the temp was a chilly 29f degrees, but no clouds so when the sun started coming up all available sunshine and my hands were no longer cold. What a nice ride in.
Todays commute the temp was a chilly 29f degrees, but no clouds so when the sun started coming up all available sunshine and my hands were no longer cold. What a nice ride in.







