2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#1251
Nice, fast and sweet ride on the first leg of my commute this morning. Not only that, I use the train on my commute too. But, today, I get off 5 stops ahead of my normal stop. That way, I could put in and extra 20 miles before I got to work.. 
Tell me life isn't sweet...
BTW, I am running blinking flashlights up front, and on my helmet during the day. The respect I get from cars is UNREAL!! It has to be seen to believe!!

Tell me life isn't sweet...

BTW, I am running blinking flashlights up front, and on my helmet during the day. The respect I get from cars is UNREAL!! It has to be seen to believe!!
#1252
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
Another very chilly morning in NC today with temps in the mid-30s during my commute. The high is supposed to reach 70 this afternoon, so dressing was a challenge and I opted for lighter clothes so I wouldn't get too sweaty this afternoon. Took an insulated mug with some hot coffee to help take the edge off the cold and that was nice. Someone on this forum recommended Bubba bottles as an insulated mug that fits well in bicycle bottle cages, and I picked up one on Amazon for a good price. It works well and doesn't leak.
#1253
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 909
Likes: 2
From: The Path to Fredvana
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker 2010 , Felt Z90 2008, Rans Rocket 2001, Specialized Hardrock 1989
Legs were a little tired, and I hope to do a longish ride this weekend, so I decided to play a game with myself, and ride with as little effort in the lowest gear possible, always keeping a high cadence with minimal effort. Told myself I was shooting for my record slowest commute time. Over a half hour commute, I was only about 3 minutes slower than my normal 'moderate pace' approach, and maybe 5-6 minutes slower than when I'm feeling gung-ho.
#1254
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NoVA
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport
Tired from battling the high wind all week long. It's gonna be a slow ride home today.
#1255
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
~40F and sunny, very nice. Suspect based on last night's headwind I may have been benefiting from a tailwind yesterday morning and possibly this morning too...
#1256
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Morning was chilly (low 30's), but dead calm! This afternoon was just about perfect in my book, although the wind could of been lighter, oh well I'm not complaining. Took a half day off from work today and the wife and I rode around on Kent trails and Millennium Park.
#1258
32F and calm on the way to work. 58F coming home. took the long way back (gravel access roads) and had 20mph headwind about half the way, until i got onto the tree lined trail.
tread on the CX are a little more work on the road, but so worth it on the trail.
tread on the CX are a little more work on the road, but so worth it on the trail.
#1259
Morning commute I was tired. Worked a 15 hour shift on Thursday. But I had a tailwind and the temp was nice with no Sun in my eyes.
Coming home I had to fight the wind. But the weather was nice despite some threat of rain-which didn't happen.
Passing one intersection I could hear some idiot really screaming. As spikebike put it, he was 'barking like a dog'.
I couldn't hear just what he was saying, but his mood was easy to guess. I'm not really even sure he was yelling at me. He might have been in an argument with the car next to him for all I know. But if I was to bet on it, then I'd put my money on me having been his target. Just another jerk who becomes hysterical when he sees someone on a bike on 'his' road.
It doesn't happen all that often, when it comes down to it. But it happens enough that it's a bit depressing. I haven't hung a mouse under anyone's eye in 25 years or so. And it's not something I approve of. But if one of these creeps ever gets up the guts to corner me, then he's really gonna get it.
Coming home I had to fight the wind. But the weather was nice despite some threat of rain-which didn't happen.
Passing one intersection I could hear some idiot really screaming. As spikebike put it, he was 'barking like a dog'.
I couldn't hear just what he was saying, but his mood was easy to guess. I'm not really even sure he was yelling at me. He might have been in an argument with the car next to him for all I know. But if I was to bet on it, then I'd put my money on me having been his target. Just another jerk who becomes hysterical when he sees someone on a bike on 'his' road.
It doesn't happen all that often, when it comes down to it. But it happens enough that it's a bit depressing. I haven't hung a mouse under anyone's eye in 25 years or so. And it's not something I approve of. But if one of these creeps ever gets up the guts to corner me, then he's really gonna get it.
#1260
recumbent bike advocate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Okeechobee. Florida
Bikes: Bacchetta Belladare, long wheelbase
Been lots of wind here in Okeechobee this week. Seems like it's always in my face, but I'm getting used to it I guess. This is the first time since I started commuting to work on my bike that I have managed to 'sweep' the week. Rode all five days, got in 82 miles at an average speed for the week of 17.5. Weight continues to come off, I feel good at work and enjoy the ride each day. It's good commuting on a bike in South Florida...
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
#1261
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO
Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007
ride was great, tailwind coming back to town from the pub was superb, lost my bontrager tail light somewhere on the the trail. New toy time.
#1262
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 nice ride in at 66f (18C). I love the warm mornings. Something was going on along the roads I take to work, as police cars were blowing by me at a speed, which made me want to stop. Fast moving lights in the dark are unsettling.
#1263
Warm indeed in DC, I was down to shortsleeves and shorts. Rolled in a bit earlier than usual, man I love the empty city streets.
#1264
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
It was not quite warm up here in MA but it promises to get warmer during the day. Still a very nice ride in in shortsleeves and leggings and regular socks. No warm clothing. No school in MA this week so no school buses and not so many people on the road this morning but that also has to do with the holiday.
#1265
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Eugene, Oregon
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
Mid 30's and heavy rain out here on the Oregon Coast this evening on the way into work - but the wind has died down, no more 70mph gusts! For awhile I was thinking I should put a jib on my bike and sail to work.
The only crappy part was almost getting run off the road by an old lady in a big ol' boat of a Lincoln. She was swerving in and out of the bike lane until she finally managed to find the driveway she wanted. Fortunately she was doing it at 15 mph, so it was more amusing than hair-raising.
The only crappy part was almost getting run off the road by an old lady in a big ol' boat of a Lincoln. She was swerving in and out of the bike lane until she finally managed to find the driveway she wanted. Fortunately she was doing it at 15 mph, so it was more amusing than hair-raising.
#1266
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
Jeesh, it's been windy around here lately. Rode 60 miles Sunday with friends on perhaps the windiest ride so far this year. A paceline really helps in situations like that. Wind was still blowing from the SW this morning, so my commute was headwinds the whole way. My legs were tired from the long ride yesterday so I just took it easy. No point fighting the wind with tired legs. Hopefully the wind direction won't change and I'll get a tailwind for a change on the way home.
#1267
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
Ridiculously warm for April. 65F/18C and slightly humid. First short-sleeve morning ride of the season. Weather guessers are saying mid 80s this afternoon! 
A hipster on an old roadbike pulled out in front of me (not unsafely) on a road so I had a commuting buddy for about a mile before he turned. Hipsters don't shift. Did you know that? They do obey signs and lights though.

A hipster on an old roadbike pulled out in front of me (not unsafely) on a road so I had a commuting buddy for about a mile before he turned. Hipsters don't shift. Did you know that? They do obey signs and lights though.
#1268
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
I hate to say this but I did not ride today cause it was raining a lot and it was blowing sideways. I dont care on the way home, but it was just too early.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#1269
Fantastic ride this morning. 40 degrees and calm. Rode along the river the entire way and tested out my bike packing kit.
#1270
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 6
From: Western Florida
Bikes: 2017 Kona TI, 2011 Mezzo D9, Gazelle Ultimate C380
It was not quite warm up here in MA but it promises to get warmer during the day. Still a very nice ride in in shortsleeves and leggings and regular socks. No warm clothing. No school in MA this week so no school buses and not so many people on the road this morning but that also has to do with the holiday.
I won't tell you that because it is SWEET, especially when you get to ride in to work. Thanks for pointing that out!
Today was about 68 degees F on the way in at 6:30 and should be close to 82 on the way home. Beautiful 4.3 miles, 9.6 total today.
#1271
Hrumph!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
Bikes: 2007 Dahon Cadenza w/ Alfine IGH11, modified MEC Desire w/Alfine IGH8,+ 2 ebikes: Bionx PL350 & 36V eZee FHB/Tidalforce frames.
The ride into work last night was great as was the first five minutes of the ride home this morning. Then it all went into the crapper.
#1272
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
Here in Ma it is Patriots Day which is a state holiday.
#1273
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
Brought the road bike for the AM commute today. Better time than the Trek FX. Best morning weather so far this year. 55F, crystal clear sky.
Slightly off topic, discovered the reason for the tax day delay was local holiday in D.C. (Emancipation Day)
Slightly off topic, discovered the reason for the tax day delay was local holiday in D.C. (Emancipation Day)
#1274
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
50F; started misting but ended in full-on rain, very wet wet wet
#1275
Niiiice! It was like 70F this morning and sunny, it's 82F now and it's supposed to get close to 90F later today
And back to 60s tomorrow
And back to 60s tomorrow






