BassNotBass

Sometimes lady luck just really bites you in the glutes. Last week I got to a point in the road where traffic was backed up for a block because a long and slow moving train was crossing the tracks. After waiting almost 10 minutes, traffic started moving. I got the the point where I usually follow an alley that runs along side the track for a few blocks until getting to the road where I cross over. I got there and the gates closed because another train coming from the other direction was approaching. I thought best to not buy a lottery ticket or play Russian Roulette that day.

jdswitters

Wet, and the front end slid out from under me when coming to a stop in the parking lot, nothing tragic, just surprising. But I just got the brake levers bent back into the position I liked them three months ago and now I have to start again on the right side.

Mark Stone

Glad you're not hurt! It's September, getting colder up there in Fort Collins yet?

curbtender

Don't submit to the insanity.. enjoy the ride!

missjean

Today's commute was interesting.
On the way in, a large acorn hit the road in front of me, bounced up in a big arch and hit me on the cheek, under my left eye. I watched it as it was arching up towards me - it was just like in that Ice Age movie, where the saber-toothed squirrel gets whacked by the acorn.

On the way home, I stopped at a red light - there are 2 lanes for straight ahead and a right turn lane - and, because I'm going straight, I'm in the right hand straight ahead lane, to the right . A car comes to a stop behind me and slowly inches up so I'm next to the open window. The lady inside says "Excuse me, but what are the rules of the road for bicycles?"
I say "What do you mean?"
She: "What rules of the road are bicycles suppose to follow?"
Me: "They are suppose to follow the same rules as the cars."
She: "Well, isn't that dangerous?"
Me: "If the cars are careful it's not dangerous."
She: "Well, if you are riding down the middle of the road (and she waves her hand towards the road behind us) it can be."
I'm thinking, I wasn't riding down the middle of the road, I was keeping to the right, and when the right turn lane started, I stayed in the straight ahead lane because I was going straight ahead.
She continues: "When I ride my bike, I stay all the way to the right....."
The light turns green, the car behind her beeps, and we both take off, straight ahead. Well, at least she was polite.

Later, as I'm cutting through a parking lot of the local high school, there is a guy on a penny farthing pedaling around the parking lot. You don't see those everyday.

Sixty Fiver

Great commute, 50 f on the way in to school and 80 f coming back. When I head north on the am most of the traffic on what is mostly one ways is heading in the opposite direction and I have had the road to myself and coming home it is the same. Drivers are heading south and the only traffic congestion I have encountered is other cyclists. 8000 bikes cross the Hawthorne bridge every day and the esplanade along the river is busy in the afternoon.

cdonges

Great ride to work today. Biked with kids to school for about 1km. I think we got overtaken by some pedestrians at one stage. Then another 8km to work.

Perfect weather, felt really good.

Mr. Hairy Legs

Another great commute today. The weather has been perfect all week - actually it's been perfect since early July. Sadly, I know the end is coming and I will be battling wind and rain before too long.

fletchh

Commute today was very good at 55f (13c). The afternoons are getting warmer, but not hot, so they are pleasant also. It seems that time of year when street lamps are turned off in various places, so lots of pitch black places of riding.

essiemyra

The ride in this morning was nice. The temp was a cool 55f but no gloves were needed this morning. I had my second bag bungee corded to the rack and it fell off but got dragged with me for a few feet till I stopped. At least I did not lose the bag. I think I have found a better way to bungee cord the bag to the rack. I am not ready to give up yet and go buy a new second bag.

making

Upper 60's and dry, beautiful ride in. About 8 miles in I was riding up a deserted 2 lane with bike lanes on each side. There were some areas with light but mainly just dark. I heard something on the other side of hte road. Into a patch of light came a pit bull, dragging a chain. He seemed very timid and got even further from me off the other side of the road as I passed, but then he curved anound behind me and started following me. Never got very close or really chased me. Hope he found his way home.

making

I got a pannier in my back spokes once. makes for a quick stop, be careful.

jrickards

About 12C, overcast and little breeze: all good. However, both times this week, on the same stretch of road, a driver, going the other direction, leaned out of his window and yelled, in obvious rage, "Get off the road and onto the sidewalk!". Don't worry, I called up a fairy and put in a wish that all 4 of his tires go flat while he is at work today.

tarwheel 

Foiled by a saddle sore today, so my plans for a 5-bagger this week were foiled. With the perfect weather we are having, it was hard making the decision to drive, but the sore is likely to get worse unless I stay off the bike a day. I always get sore in the exact same place. Not a hygiene issue, but probably related to fit -- I think one of my legs is shorter than the other, creating an imbalance when pedaling.

Had encounters with two jerk drivers on my ride home yesterday. The first one tried to force me over when I was trying to stay in the middle lane as I approached an intersection where the right lane is turn only. Sorry, lady but I can't ride in the right lane and continue straight. Then she hollered something about sidewalks. Couldn't understand her but caught the drift. The second encounter was in a parking lot that I cut through every day to avoid an unsafe left turn. A car pulled out and turned right in front of me, and there is no way the driver didn't see me with my headlight on and bright green jersey. My brakes were a little out of adjustment so that made slowing down kind of sketchy, which was a reminder to readjust the brakes as soon as I got home.

jrickards

Done that before, my pannier has an extra pouch off the back that tends to flop if empty and a couple of times into the spokes. I'm thinking of ripping the threads and pulling off the pouch as I don't really need it for commuting which is all I use it for.

EKW in DC

Nice ride home complete with a stop at the store for milk, eggs, anda free other items. Was planning only on the milk until my wife texted me an extended list. That made for a tight for in the panniers.

Beautiful ride in this AM. Temp around 60, no wind, beautiful sunrise. Perks of early morning commuting that I'm getting used to. :-)

spivonious

Nice ride in this morning. My dad's hybrid bike is definitely faster than my old road bike, but the small chain ring is way too small. Not sure on the size, but it's about the size of a doughnut. Completely worthless, as there are no ultra steep hills on my route.

My backpack slipped off the rack as my bungees are a little too long to strap it on tightly. Luckily it didn't get jammed in my wheel.

genel

First post in months. FWIW thanks to the drought I've commuted almost every day this summer. Even took clothes to the laundry rather than drive in with a weeks worth. Getting ready for fall, so I just installed a new set of SKS fenders from Rivendell. They're quite long and the front flap almost reaches the ground. Rain is forecast for later so I'll see if they keep the spray off the feet as advertised.

wilfried

I'm getting faster. Made it to work in 15 mins. flat. When I started a couple of weeks ago, it took me 20 mins. and a bit.

spivonious

I've noticed that too. It used to take me 40 minutes and I'm now under 35 minutes. I also don't have to shift to first gear going up some hills anymore.

gecho

Nice temperatures and the wind finally dropped to a reasonable level. I rode for a bit before going to the LBS for a fit adjustment. I had them bring up the handlebars quite a bit but still below the saddle. We also figured out that my handlebars are a little too wide for me, but that fix will have to wait for another day. The bike now feels a lot more like my road bike which fits perfectly. The raised handlebars also seem to changed the muscles I use, closer to that of my road bike, which should make riding easier. Between my pre and post LBS visit rides I managed to log 50km before arriving at school. Well probably 51km since I rode quite a while before I noticed my wireless sensors didn't wake up after I left the LBS.

Yesterday's ride home was a challenge. I decided to head out the highway route despite very strong winds. In the drops I could manage 16kph. When I turned to a cross wind, every passing vehicle made me wobble about. Then when I decided I still hadn't had enough, I turned back into the wind and crept along at 13.5kph for 3.5km before catching a tailwind back into the city.

I might be doing a 200km brevet next Saturday, so I'll have to dial back the intensity and distance of my commute next week.

fletchh

Foggy this morning, but still nice 56f (13c). I had to race to stay ahead of a school bus, and he had enough stops to accomodate me on the uphill. Once on the downhill, I just coasted.

tarwheel 

Fantastic ride this morning. I took the day off yesterday due to a saddle sore, which miraculously cleared up overnight. Rode my Bob Jackson touring bike to work today for the first time with larger 32 mm Vittoria Randonneur Hyper tires on it. The largest tires I had used previously on the road were 28s, although I have run 32 mm cross tires on it before. Anyway, the Hypers were great -- low rolling resistance and really comfy. I expected to have a slow commute with the larger tires but finished the morning leg with a respectable 15.5 mph average speed. I am going to like commuting on these tires, which I had actually installed for doing some loaded tours, plus they have reflective sidewalls.

I am very impressed with Vittoria tires based on my impressions with the Hypers and Rubino Pros, which I am using on a couple of other bikes. They all roll very nice and seem to wear well so far.

gevad 

What a great commuting week! It's been clear every day, with comfortable humidity, morning temperatures in the 50s F, and afternoon temperatures in the 70s (may get to the low 80s today). Perfect weather.

dalegribble

It was real. And it was spectacular! After riding in 104-110 all summer, I got a 66 and overcast. I don't think I've ever got to work quicker or cooler.