EKW in DC

Nice commute home last night after I managed to make my way though the hoards of tourists on the Mall. Park Service Police vehicles parked smack in the middle of some of the paths didn't help matters either. Once over the river though the ride was nice. Aided by a brisk tailwind, I made good time. Everything is so lush and green right now... It's beautiful.

Cooler than I had expected for the ride in this morning. I certainly am not complaining, though. Didn't think my long sleeve shirts would be getting much use anymore, but I had to pull one out of the dresser when I saw the temp at 8 AM was still only 40. Took me about ten minutes to get my bike out of the basement this morning. Furniture company was delivering (or trying to deliver, since it wouldn't fit through doors and around corners) a couch to one of the residents down there, blocking my access to my bike. Worth the wait, though. Beautiful ride in... just glad I wasn't on a tight schedule this morning.

JeremyZ

Yesterday's evening commute was wonderful. Instead of just riding the 1.8 miles home from the train station, I detoured to the LBS and picked up a couple spare inner tubes, a set of gloves, and a bell for the Schwinn. That was 2.4 miles, then back home from there was probably another 3-4 miles. I took the MUP, to the LBS which was a big waste of time, having to yield at every street it crosses. I took side streets on the way home,and it was faster and better paved.

The gloves were for the TriCross, which I plan to commute the full 26 miles (one way) to work next week. Maybe one way at a time, then take the train home.

In two more weeks, Constanze will be 6 weeks old, and I'll be driving her to daycare and commuting by cage, and won't be able to bike commute much any more. I have to get the most out of it while I can.

This morning, it was pouring outside, so I drove to the train station. I miss biking, so I'll probably take the bike grocery shopping after work tonight. If it isn't raining. I'll probably turn into a hobbyist biker and bike shopper, and give up the commuting.

SuperGregNo1

First commute of the year, first trip on the first road bike I've ever owned, first trip from my new place I just moved to this month!

I thought about taking the easiest route I know of to work (easy as in - I know how to get there) but when I mapped it on Google I could take a much, much shorter route instead. However, I had to write down directions because it went through an area I'm not familiar with. I ended up taking a wrong turn and had to reroute using the map on my phone, but no biggie.

It's been cold and rainy here so I didn't have high hopes of getting to ride soon, but I decided if it wasn't downpouring in the morning I was gonna go for it. And when I woke up and took a peek outside it was pretty wet, but not raining! So, yeah! Hopefully I can find a good route home LOL.

AdamDZ

The screen is only useful for changing settings and previewing recorded videos. Indeed, there is no way to view the screen while recording unless you're holding it in your hands. I am also not 100% happy with the video quality. I think GoPro is much better. The edges are kind of shimmery, the image lacks contrast and clarity and it has issues with changing exposure, and dynamics, it blows off the sky most of the time. My Canon SD90 camera shoots better quality video, although only 720p.

AdamDZ

Yeah, I reported my first complaint ever with the city this week based on what the camera captured. A city bus stopped and without warning opened the door and discharged passengers into the bike lane. The cyclist ahead of me barely cleared the door and the passenger who left the bus. When we confronted the driver he started yelling at us. Thanks to the camera I had the bus number, plates and exact time plus street names, etc. MTA responded asking me for more details and promising to investigate and reprimand the driver.

If it wasn't for the camera I would not remember that info and I will likely not stop to write this down as it wasn't serious enough. The camera made it much easier.

hubcap

I had the Wild Kingdom commute home last night. Started off with seeing a fox not a half mile from my office while cutting through a forest preserve that I never take as part of my commute. I always stay on the roads, but for some reason I decided to get on this trail through the preserve last night. I had not done it in a few years. Probably because much of the trail runs along a river that floods regularly and the trail is basically either flooded or mud too often.

Next up was three big fat raccoons battling it out in the darkened parking lot of an elementary school that I was taking a shortcut through. Only two were actually fighting, but they were making such a racket and didn't seem to mind that I was lighting them up with my bike lights. I was enthralled at this. Eventually one ran off the lot into a grassy drainage swale, only to get chased by the other two and tackled from behind by one. The battle continued until the outnumbered raccoon made its way into a storm water catch basin.

Finally, I was only about a mile from home when a group of coyotes from somewhere in my vicinity (never saw them) decided to started yipping and howling.

Crazy wild life in the urban/suburban world.

JeremyZ

Wow, hubcap, that WAS a lot of wildlife for your trip home.

The trail you were talking about that's always flooded, is it the Des Plaines River Trail? I tried to take that to work one day last year. They run the trails under bridges that span streams. So when it rains, the always flood the trails. I made it a mile or two, but then there was at least 2' of quickly-running water on the trail under the bridge. I carried my bike and waded through that one. But the next one's current was so strong, it nearly swept me away. I had to turn around and go back, then drive to work, sopping wet.

Never been back to that damned trail yet. (I was going to ride from Gurnee to Northbrook via that trail)

AdamDZ

Do pigeons and dead rats count as wildlife? I actually hit a pigeon a few days ago. NY pigeons are getting really lazy and don't get out of your way on time.

JimCanuck

Same in Toronto, they must be interbreeding.

I love your camera set up by the way, might be worth looking at getting, each day I can get at least 2, generally 4-5 idiots parked in no parking bike lane zones. Would be worth the effort if the local police would mail them tickets over it after getting the pictures.

Jim

spunkyj

How fast were you going and how did your bike respond? I've always wanted to know what would happen if I actually hit one. In Toronto I'm always slowing down for the darned things.

AdamDZ

I was going maybe 12mph at the time, 15 at most. I'm used to birds getting up really quickly, but maybe this one was sick or something So when I got really close I expected it to take off so I didn't even hit my brakes. It took off, but not fast enough, I managed to swerve and it got under my right pedal. I think I hit it with my foot on the downstroke, I didn't run over it, I felt its wings on my leg I think, and I heard kind of "woosh" sound. I slowed down and looked back and it took off and flew away, so it wasn't serious. But it was totally weird.

No, cops won't issue a ticket based on someone's photo or video. If you're lucky it might go on a record as aggressive driver complaint. But a decent company or public institution may reprimand a driver based on your complaint.

JimCanuck

That works too.

Jim

hiyer1

It was supposed to be in the high 50s/60s today in DC. Stepped outside in bike shorts and summer jersey and it was about 45...too late to go back upstairs and put on thermals, so I decided to ride as is.

After about 10 minutes my ears started hurting, applied rule 5, kept going.

At mile 3 of 17 I hit some road debris near a work zone, heard something go between my wheel and chainstay a few times, sound then stopped.

Mile 8/17 - start hearing the sound again, stop to check...nothing

Mile 11/17 - tire goes flat, find that a nail that went straight through my tire. The sound I was hearing was the nail occasionally scraping the brake pad. Fortunately I was right in downtown Bethesda, MD when this happened, so I hailed a cab to get to work...got the tire replaced at the REI near my office over lunch.

Ride home was perfect; low winds, warmed up to about 55...took some great photos (links below)

https://postimage.org/image/5xeo4p1gj/
https://postimage.org/image/3wpi5zk53/
https://postimage.org/image/6bobgkey5/

seely

Cold, wet. Survived though. Wanted to make it 15 consecutive days of riding. Drivers were unusually hostile. Probably trying to get out of town for the weekend. Usually when the weather is crappy, they leave me alone. I think its because they assume I'm crazy.

b_twill

Three of my least favorite weather features ganged up on me today. Cold, rain and wind (headwind). Still got to my car (drive part of the way bike the rest) and really enjoyed the bike ride. Is that a sign of some sort of mental issue???

Rimmer

There are rules? Please enlighten me. Anyway another cyclist on a road bike today approached me from behind at a red light. As I was waiting, I saw him approaching in my mirror lol, and I never turned around. I ditched him. He wasn't wearing spandex though.

It was 60 degrees today which was nice, still kinda windy like usual. My first half commute was agonizing--stomach was aching pretty bad or something. I ate breakfast too early, so I thought I needed something to eat, and oatmeal always makes me feel hungry too early after eating it. When I got to my destination, I ate some Chinese. Half of whatever it was had onions. That probably made my stomach worse. First thing I did after that is sit on the toilet. I had so much gas it was ridiculous. I just sat there and kept passing it all out and played Angry Birds on my phone. It felt good. Anyway the commute back was fine I felt very good actually except for one stretch where I noticed my speed was slow for my effort, and I was one cog lower than usual. I stopped and observed my bike. The rear brake pads were rubbing on my rim, so I fixed and went on my way. With the wind, you can't hear it. I went down a big descent that's a bit bumpy prior to that, so it had to have been that.

seely

You and me both -- hello from Grand Rapids -- what part of town do you ride through?

hubcap

Yes, the Des Plaines River trail. I can use the stretch between Higgins and Belmont as part of my commute, but almost never do.

Grim

Got 4 days in. Going into a vacation and between the projected rain and needing to haul home some stuff that's been collecting in my office I drove Friday.
Really nice weather this week. Wish it was like this year round.

JeremyZ

hiyer1: That is a great trail that you've got on the way to work. Thanks for sharing the pix.

Rimmer: Too much information. It seems like a shame to not even greet a fellow cyclist when you see him.

CommuteCommando

Ride to the train home was kind of eventful as I joined up with some guy on a Giant MTB at an intersection who happened to heading to the train too. Turned out it was his first commute. We talked, I introduced him to some of the other train/bikers (one he already knew was a coworker who talked him into it). My commute train got a +1.

I bought my month pass at the ticket machine. My goal for April is to not drive to work a single day.

AdamDZ

Keep track and let us know in a month how it played out.

b_twill

I drive from Grandville to Zeeland, then bike to Holland.

4st7lbs

Last week I managed to commute to work four out of four days. Unfortunately, on the fourth morning ride over I broke four spokes and limped into work cursing myself for not replacing my beaten and broken Trek sooner. Still, to weight 380lbs and bike 12-14 miles a day is a real accomplishment for me. Two years ago, when I weighted around 500lbs, I couldn't walk a 200 feet without my back hurting and a year ago I couldn't walk a mile.

Wake

Pretty bad today. 50's and some rain. This was my first bike commute to an every-Sunday walk/coffee group at a park about 10 miles away. I left a little late waiting for the storm front to clear the area. About mile 7 the it was evident that the weather report was way wrong - it started raining hard with some lightning, so I put on my raincoat and slogged through the downpour. I was late getting to the park and got a call from a couple of the guys, who had skipped the walk because of the rain and went straight to coffee. I waited for about an hour and a half at the park for the rain to quit (it didn't), and finally just got on the bike and rode back home.

It was kinda fun running full-speed through rivers of water running across the road. The fenders worked well, but my legs and feet were drenched anyway. About an hour after I got home the sun came out and it's lovely now.