Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

2013!! How Was your Commute Today?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

2013!! How Was your Commute Today?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-30-13 | 09:08 AM
  #3076  
tarwheel's Avatar
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

Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
WOW and I thought 409 was a high number for me!
That's total miles -- not just commuting! I did a lot of long rides on the weekends as well.
tarwheel is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-13 | 10:55 AM
  #3077  
groovestew's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
2C/36F, but colder in the valley as evidenced by the frost covering the grass. Need to wear warmer gloves. When I got back topside, my legs felt hot in the warmers. Feeling a bit under the weather, but good enough to go to work, therefore good enough to ride. Or is it the other way around?
groovestew is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-13 | 01:24 PM
  #3078  
enigmaT120's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93

"From the howling wind comes a stinging rain
See it driving nails into the souls on the tree of pain." U2

That's what I heard outside this morning (the phenomena, not the song) so I reset the alarm and went back to sleep. I ended up on the motorcycle, as there was a gap between storms. I fitted into the gap.
enigmaT120 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-13 | 07:51 PM
  #3079  
Shahmatt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Singapore

Bikes: Cruzbike Flamingo folding conversion, Oyama East Village

Had a close call and still a bit shaken. A driver overtook me with literally less than a foot between his vehicle and my front tyre. He stopped ahead and had the audacity to say I was in the middle of the road. Youtube video to follow. Fortunately I had my camera running at the time.
Shahmatt is offline  
Reply
Old 09-30-13 | 08:08 PM
  #3080  
daihard's Avatar
Just a person on bike
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 90
From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: 2015 Trek 1.1, 2021 Specialized Roubaix, 2022 Tern HSD S+

Originally Posted by Shahmatt
Had a close call and still a bit shaken. A driver overtook me with literally less than a foot between his vehicle and my front tyre. He stopped ahead and had the audacity to say I was in the middle of the road. Youtube video to follow. Fortunately I had my camera running at the time.
Glad the jerk didn't hit you (or threaten to hit you after the close call). I'd be curious to see your video. Honestly, why is it so hard to understand that bicycles are just as entitled to be on the road as cars?
__________________

The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
daihard is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 12:18 AM
  #3081  
Shahmatt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Singapore

Bikes: Cruzbike Flamingo folding conversion, Oyama East Village

Originally Posted by daihard
Glad the jerk didn't hit you (or threaten to hit you after the close call). I'd be curious to see your video. Honestly, why is it so hard to understand that bicycles are just as entitled to be on the road as cars?
It was clearly irresponsible of him. I have to get to my home computer to do up the video. Here are some print-screen images of the close call from my office computer. I live in Singapore so we ride and drive on the left side and overtake on the right.

The second image shows how close the vehicle was to me.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
1.5.jpg (90.6 KB, 19 views)
File Type: jpg
1.jpg (97.4 KB, 53 views)
File Type: jpg
2.5.jpg (100.1 KB, 19 views)
File Type: jpg
2.jpg (101.0 KB, 19 views)
File Type: jpg
3.jpg (98.5 KB, 22 views)
Shahmatt is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 05:56 AM
  #3082  
dcb23's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
So totally pitch black out there. But an early Fall warmup is in swing.
dcb23 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 06:53 AM
  #3083  
making's Avatar
Super Moderator
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana

Bikes: Surly Crosscheck

My chain fell off.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
making is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 07:06 AM
  #3084  
droy45's Avatar
tougher than a boiled owl
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 1
From: Rocky Coast of Maine

Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser

We sure are having a nice early fall season. Perfect commute this morning with the colored foliage and light breeze, 48 degF. Last nights ride home was simply spectacular, It just doesn't get any better than that weather wise.
droy45 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 07:09 AM
  #3085  
arsprod's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis

Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral

Originally Posted by daihard
why is it so hard to understand that bicycles are just as entitled to be on the road as cars?
Yeah, I don't get it either but the truth is they don't and they're always going to be bigger than us. As they teach motorcyclists, every accident is your fault - we have to be hyper vigilant. That doesn't mean we can't yell, throw things, and my favorite - bank on fenders when cars get too close!!

60F with a pretty stiff headwind. It was cool watching the sun come up to dense fog... kinda spooky
arsprod is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 07:31 AM
  #3086  
Null66's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 3
From: Garner, NC 27529

Bikes: Built up DT, 2007 Fuji tourer (donor bike, RIP), 1995 1220 Trek

Glad your close call did not actually hit you...

Me:
Totally demotivated.
Short on calories, time and sleep.
need better /warmer gear.
I sucked but sucked it up.

Some enjoyable parts, then about 9 miles it was just delightful!

but 1 bummer.

Car went into other lane to pass me (55 mph road, everyone does 70) but there's 3+ feet for a Tahoe so plenty of room in the lane... They hit the dead deer that was on the yellow line parts flew all over, some little ones hitting me... Nothing stuck though.

Anyway, learning to just ride the ride and not push for time/speed and funny was one of the moving average speeds.... 12.5...
Yeah, sounds lame. but I take comfort in (ok denial) in that I'm 47, 265, riding 40+ disc LHT w/ 16lb pack and 700+ feet of climb over 23-ish miles.
Even better, I'm getting faster and arrive more human every ride.
Null66 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 07:49 AM
  #3087  
dramiscram's Avatar
ouate de phoque
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada

Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus

Very sunny, 9° celcius, little tail Wind, perfect ride.
dramiscram is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 09:51 AM
  #3088  
jrickards's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

Had to go to the dentist this morning and since my teeth have always been good (not a single cavity after 53yrs), it isn't a big deal. However, it is not on my way to work so the ride took me 1hr50min, 45.4km (28.2mi). It started at a cool, blustery 10C (50F) and ended up at 15C (59F) with a 22C/72F (but apparently will feel like 27C/81F) afternoon forecast.

Nice ride and start to the month with another 22km ride home this afternoon (yesterday, I was away on a business trip).
jrickards is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 09:52 AM
  #3089  
daihard's Avatar
Just a person on bike
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 90
From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: 2015 Trek 1.1, 2021 Specialized Roubaix, 2022 Tern HSD S+

Originally Posted by Shahmatt
It was clearly irresponsible of him. I have to get to my home computer to do up the video. Here are some print-screen images of the close call from my office computer. I live in Singapore so we ride and drive on the left side and overtake on the right.

The second image shows how close the vehicle was to me.

It looks pretty darn close to me. You at least got the video and the car's license plate.
__________________

The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
daihard is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 10:13 AM
  #3090  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,240
Likes: 6,497
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Shahmatt, here in NYC, we can't get worked up about drivers doing that. It happens several times on every trip. Traffic here is like a pack of dogs jostling with lots of body contact. The vehicles don't usually bump here, but we get awfully close to each other without thinking of it as extraordinary.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 11:09 AM
  #3091  
Shahmatt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Singapore

Bikes: Cruzbike Flamingo folding conversion, Oyama East Village

Video of the close call:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZvqEIvPttk
Shahmatt is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 11:22 AM
  #3092  
Shahmatt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Singapore

Bikes: Cruzbike Flamingo folding conversion, Oyama East Village

Originally Posted by daihard
It looks pretty darn close to me. You at least got the video and the car's license plate.
Yes. My camera has a fish-eye lens so it seems that the car is further away from me than it actually was in reality.

I'm pondering whether to buzz the police about it. I'm unlikely to meet the same chap again on the road. It would make more sense to somehow educate other drivers on the risks of driving too close.

Originally Posted by noglider
Shahmatt, here in NYC, we can't get worked up about drivers doing that. It happens several times on every trip. Traffic here is like a pack of dogs jostling with lots of body contact. The vehicles don't usually bump here, but we get awfully close to each other without thinking of it as extraordinary.
No your right and I guess it's different in other cities. But maybe it's good to overreact sometimes and make a fuss. More awareness you know!

I did some google searching afterwards and found this interesting tshirt. It's all the way in South Africa. I wonder if it's safe to pay by credit card. I wonder if they'll ship to Singapore:

https://www.pedalpower.org.za/blog/ne...ing-shirt-now/
Shahmatt is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 11:51 AM
  #3093  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,240
Likes: 6,497
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

If a driver comes much closer than most reasonable drivers come, then it's worth at least hollering something. I find it more constructive to holler a request rather than an insult, so something like, "Please be more careful" or "Not so close, please."

1.5 meters is nice. The US has laws like that in some states, usually calling for 3 feet, which is a hair under one meter. In PA, it's 4 feet (1.2 m), and motor drivers are also allowed to cross the median line to avoid the cyclist.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 12:01 PM
  #3094  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Long day today, so I came in at 6. Dark. Very dark. Glad I remembered to charge the battery of my light.
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 10-01-13 | 07:54 PM
  #3095  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY

Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others

Another beautiful day in NYC. 80 degrees and sunny. I got a flat on the way in, but fixed it pretty quick. Took an extra lap of Prospect Park on the way home.
zacster is offline  
Reply
Old 10-02-13 | 05:01 AM
  #3096  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 1,500
From: Merrimac , MA
A very nice commute to work today, with the temp at 48 f degrees it is a little cool, though temps will get up to 80 f this afternoon. Plenty of starlight on my way to work. My back light went dead on my way to work, though I did not find that out till I got to work and went to shut it off. Oh well, new batteries will be put in today.
essiemyra is offline  
Reply
Old 10-02-13 | 05:18 AM
  #3097  
dcb23's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
So warm out there.....pleasant ride down the blocked of streets along the Smithsonian Museum complex.
dcb23 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-02-13 | 05:35 AM
  #3098  
FenderTL5's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN

Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana

I raced a little rain shower all the way in.
I'd get ahead of it, only for it to catch me in a slow/uphill or northward part of my route.
After I crossed I-440, I ran off and left it. There was a moment or two where I almost pulled over and put on the rain jacket.
I made good time avg speed (curb to curb, including stops) was 15.6 MPH
FenderTL5 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-02-13 | 06:40 AM
  #3099  
jrickards's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA

Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike

A mild 14C (57F), clear sky and a bit of a tailwind for part of the route. Legs still tired from yesterday's double-long morning ride in (45km) and regular ride home (22km) into a strong and gusty headwind for a good part (~12km) of the route.
jrickards is offline  
Reply
Old 10-02-13 | 07:25 AM
  #3100  
Allycat24's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, MD

Bikes: All-City Space Horse, Trek 5000 WSD

The weather is just too great to pass up a ride, even though I'm still not over a cold. I really enjoyed the ride despite coughing and going through tissues like crazy. First time riding in one week, and I really miss it as this is my favorite time of the year. One thing of interest - due to the government shutdown, the Park Service placed 2 bollards with a chain across the Capital Crescent Trail at the Montgomery County and District line. It was easy enough to get around and based on the number of trail users, everyone ignored it. There was no barrier at the Georgetown entrance to the trail. I realize it is symbolic, but still annoying.
Allycat24 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.