2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#1576
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
Likes: 183
From: south Puget Sound
48F and sunny, very nice.
No signs of the trenches gouged across the road in front of my office getting filled, so I take a 6 mile extra detour that only crosses one such trench rather than the 2 I have to hop through on the direct route.
No signs of the trenches gouged across the road in front of my office getting filled, so I take a 6 mile extra detour that only crosses one such trench rather than the 2 I have to hop through on the direct route.
#1577
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA
Bikes: Cycle Genius LTX
Pouring rain when I left the house this morning. No other cyclists noted. Temperature was in the low 60's, so it wasn't a bad ride. I do need to invest in a good rain suit. My cheap one barely keeps me dry.
#1578
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
#1579
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
Glad to be able to post in this thread again. Just started a new gig and it's very bike-commuting friendly. We have showers and secure bike parking. Unfortunately, the lockers in the gym are day-use only. I got very spoiled at my last office, where I was able to keep toiletries in a locker and bring in clothes for the week. Now it'll be day by day so I think I may need to invest in a rack and panniers for the days I want to take the long way in, and need to shower and dress when I arrive.
Or, just continue as I did today, which is to dress in office clothes and go low and slow. Either way, it's so much fun to be a bike commuter again.
Or, just continue as I did today, which is to dress in office clothes and go low and slow. Either way, it's so much fun to be a bike commuter again.
#1580
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Wet. I got drizzled on for the first 20 minutes. Then I picked up a flat crossing some railroad tracks.
Oh well.
By the time I patched the tire the rain had stopped and I had a clear, cloudy, cool commute. I took it easy.
Oh well.
By the time I patched the tire the rain had stopped and I had a clear, cloudy, cool commute. I took it easy.
#1581
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 had a dentist appointment today so I took the day off. My commute is so time consuming that I don't like to work part days. So I got to ride to Monmouth 15 miles to the dentist. After my teeth were clean I parked in the city park a few minutes to drink some water and eat a couple of Cliff bars, then I went a different route, 18 miles home. I saw a couple of other riders on Elkins Road (hi, if you guys are on this forum!) going the other way but there was very little traffic. A beautiful spring day. So much green everywhere!
#1582
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
Hot, humid, and sweaty for first part of commute. I noticed a certain pothole got fixed. On the way back I got soaking wet from rain riding for about 3mi or so. I saw a jogger on the way. Most likely she got soaked as well. I may have missed the rain or endured little of it if I took a shorter route. Lesson learned I guess. At least, I wasn't as hot on the way back. I didn't bother to put my booties on. Got home, put a towel inside my shoes, looked outside, and it stopped raining. Go figure.
#1584
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
I usually drive to the train station, then bike from the station to work. Today was the first time this year I rode from home to the station. I hope to be doing it every day in June.
#1585
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Monson, MA
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Last commutes of the Spring semester today and they awesome.
63-68F and overcast with mainly crosswinds from the S @ 7-13mph for the ride in this morning. Hit a new commuting top speed of 42.1mph on the 0.6 mile hill on Rt 20. Normally I'm at 35-38mph on that hill, but I think the new chainring helped with the higher speed.
63F with rain (heavy at times) and mainly light to no headwinds from the E @ 0-4mph for the ride home this evening. Even though I had slight headwinds at time, I had a very fast ride home. I'll have to check, but I do believe this was the fastest ride home this semester. Also got completely soaked, but I had a blast.
Now that I'm down with commuting for about a month till Summer classes start, I can start doing long rec/fitness rides.
63-68F and overcast with mainly crosswinds from the S @ 7-13mph for the ride in this morning. Hit a new commuting top speed of 42.1mph on the 0.6 mile hill on Rt 20. Normally I'm at 35-38mph on that hill, but I think the new chainring helped with the higher speed.
63F with rain (heavy at times) and mainly light to no headwinds from the E @ 0-4mph for the ride home this evening. Even though I had slight headwinds at time, I had a very fast ride home. I'll have to check, but I do believe this was the fastest ride home this semester. Also got completely soaked, but I had a blast.
Now that I'm down with commuting for about a month till Summer classes start, I can start doing long rec/fitness rides.
#1586
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
The best morning of the week with no rain, drizzle or darkness. A very pretty day at 64F (18C).
#1587
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 6
From: Western Florida
Bikes: 2017 Kona TI, 2011 Mezzo D9, Gazelle Ultimate C380
No bike today
. Tried to work out a schedule with bike and bus to get to work and then a doctors appointment afterwards, but that appointment is in an area of the county where there is very limited service (actulally no service for the last mile). It would have been two hours that way vs. 30 minutes in the van.
Oh well, I tried. The other bummer is that I was trying to make my tank of gas last one month (Earth Day to May 22) and it doesn't look like I'll make it. Had to use the van for a number of business related trips (unavoidable) and a few others that I rarely take. We'll see though - still have a few gallons (but my "check fuel" light is on
).
. Tried to work out a schedule with bike and bus to get to work and then a doctors appointment afterwards, but that appointment is in an area of the county where there is very limited service (actulally no service for the last mile). It would have been two hours that way vs. 30 minutes in the van.Oh well, I tried. The other bummer is that I was trying to make my tank of gas last one month (Earth Day to May 22) and it doesn't look like I'll make it. Had to use the van for a number of business related trips (unavoidable) and a few others that I rarely take. We'll see though - still have a few gallons (but my "check fuel" light is on
).
#1589
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 125
What looked like small pockets of heavy rainstorms surrounded by light rain on the radar turned out to be small pockets of heavy dense fog surrounded by lighter fog. So I had that going for me.
#1590
Just about perfect. Pleasant temperature, perfect amount of sunlight, everyone seemed cheerful and on their best behavior including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and dogs and the bike and legs giving everything I asked without complaint. The forest animals all going about their business, it seemed peaceful. This is what it's all about.
#1591
Old, but not really wise
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 814
Likes: 0
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)
The best thing about bike to work week is that I do a lot more passing than being passed. It's good for my (very fragile) ego. The worst thing about bike to work week is how many people there out there that I need to pass, in order to keep my pace where it needs to be.
A little warm this morning, and definitely humid. I still feel sticky. But there is an upside - the scenery is much nicer on warmer days.
A little warm this morning, and definitely humid. I still feel sticky. But there is an upside - the scenery is much nicer on warmer days.
#1592
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
25 mph headwind right out of the NE screaming at me off the lake. my route in to work is only 15 miles, but a headwind like that makes it feel more like 50 miles. what a workout.
#1593
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Bikes: Specialized Globe City 7
First time back to commuting for a long while. Got sick and couldn't manage it, but in the meantime, a huge MUP extension was finished in my town, which makes my commute so much simpler. Instead of having to go on a crazy hilly road with no shoulders or sidewalks and poor visibility, I can go on a nicely paved straightaway nearly the whole trip. Today's commute was simply gorgeous, a perfect low 60's and sunny.
#1594
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
Rode the race bike in today in the hopes of being able to do intervals at lunch or on the way home. Carried a backpack for my shirt/tie/shoes, lunch, lock, and other stuff. I'd forgotten how sweaty that makes me. I'm going to have to work out the logistics better.
#1595
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
It's still pretty dark when I head out in the morning, but I got to see the sunrise when I topped the ridge. I love that. I slow down and just enjoy the sights and smells of spring.
A possum that tried to attack me had a bad day. He darted out from my left and I didn't have time to stop to avoid him. He passed under me behind my front tire but my rear tire went right over him. I don't think he was hurt much though. Possums are below the size limit where I might risk wrecking to avoid a collision. I'm glad it wasn't a skunk. I was probably only doing about 15 mph at the time.
I'm kidding, of course, about him trying to attack me.
A possum that tried to attack me had a bad day. He darted out from my left and I didn't have time to stop to avoid him. He passed under me behind my front tire but my rear tire went right over him. I don't think he was hurt much though. Possums are below the size limit where I might risk wrecking to avoid a collision. I'm glad it wasn't a skunk. I was probably only doing about 15 mph at the time.
I'm kidding, of course, about him trying to attack me.
#1596
Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, TX
Bikes: '72 Cinelli, '80 Raleigh Grand Prix, GMC Denali (Beater)
This week is the first time I have ever commuted partway to work on a bike, and the first time I have ridden a bike in over 10 years.
The 2 mile commute to the train station is making my legs burn like crazy, but I'm not out of breath when I get there. Today was the third day and it feels like it's getting easier. This bike (a 1980 Raleigh Grand Prix) feels like greased lightning even on the slightest slopes, and I'm averaging about 12mph according to Strava. I hope to improve that.
Every day when I get off the train after work, I feel giddy about unlocking my bike and hopping on, even though I know my muscles are about to be in pain. I hope that giddy feeling never goes away.
The 2 mile commute to the train station is making my legs burn like crazy, but I'm not out of breath when I get there. Today was the third day and it feels like it's getting easier. This bike (a 1980 Raleigh Grand Prix) feels like greased lightning even on the slightest slopes, and I'm averaging about 12mph according to Strava. I hope to improve that.
Every day when I get off the train after work, I feel giddy about unlocking my bike and hopping on, even though I know my muscles are about to be in pain. I hope that giddy feeling never goes away.
#1597
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City, OK
I saw my first other commuter ever today. I left work at an odd time and crossed paths with them. We both looked fairly surprised.
#1598
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
Today was a beautiful day. 2 motorist about 10 miles apart, sitting at a light commented, "It is a great day for a bike ride!" All I could say was yes, indeed it is. Just a nice ride home.
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Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#1599
two trips today (had to come home and let the dog out as i was working late)
54 in the morning, 72 at lunch and 62 on the way home.
also my first day commuting with clipless pedals. so in love.
my usual route is 5mi of 60/40 paved and gravel with some grass and broken concrete (why i use a CX), but considering buying my buddy's unused roadie and extending that to 10mi on an all paved route.... n+1.
54 in the morning, 72 at lunch and 62 on the way home.
also my first day commuting with clipless pedals. so in love.
my usual route is 5mi of 60/40 paved and gravel with some grass and broken concrete (why i use a CX), but considering buying my buddy's unused roadie and extending that to 10mi on an all paved route.... n+1.
#1600
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
Another very nice day and warm at 65f (18C). It is somewhat light when I get in, and that is nice. Tomorrow is bike to work day for this region, so there will be many more out there. I will go to the gathering and pick up a few going the same way, and check out the toys that others have.





