2013!! How Was your Commute Today?
#1177
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 703
From: Layton, UT
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
Cold this morning, but felt good to be back on the bike again after almost a month off. I'm still waiting for new idlers, but I decided to just run with the old ones for now. Going to be in the upper 60s (F) the next few days, but cold in the mornings. Lovin' it!
#1178
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
#1179
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 619
Likes: 9
From: The Big City
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
Note to self, Ave A and 1st Ave. are kind of a mess at noon; better to take the river route on my late day.
That said, pollyanna-ish though it may sound, I had a perfectly pleasant ride mixing it up with NYC drivers. I ended up in the bus lane (but encountered no buses, otherwise I would have gotten out of the bus lane). Remarkably, despite heavy traffic, no one drove in it, so it was almost clear. I did hit a few obstacles, but with a quick hand signal I merged into traffic, and merged out again. No one missed a beat, and we stayed out of each other's way. The real problem came when I finally made it over to the bike lane on the far left, where I found a garbage truck and an SUV parked in it, so back into traffic I went, though it was harder, since it's a separated bike lane.
I was just struck by how smoothly it went.
That said, pollyanna-ish though it may sound, I had a perfectly pleasant ride mixing it up with NYC drivers. I ended up in the bus lane (but encountered no buses, otherwise I would have gotten out of the bus lane). Remarkably, despite heavy traffic, no one drove in it, so it was almost clear. I did hit a few obstacles, but with a quick hand signal I merged into traffic, and merged out again. No one missed a beat, and we stayed out of each other's way. The real problem came when I finally made it over to the bike lane on the far left, where I found a garbage truck and an SUV parked in it, so back into traffic I went, though it was harder, since it's a separated bike lane.
I was just struck by how smoothly it went.
#1180
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,805
Likes: 868
From: Greenwood Indiana
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
As I left work it appeared it was about to rain, it started about 100 yards out of the parking lot. By mile one it was raining hard, another half mile it was that ice cold, huge raindrops and blowing rain. I had to pull over under a overhang over a bike rack at NIFS (next door to NCAA) to get out my jacket without flooding my bag and made sure my cell phone was double bagged. The next 10 miles consisted of some combination of wind and rain. Yep, it was a great ride.
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Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
#1181
Senior Member


Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
#1183
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
Beautiful morning, mild temperatures, not much wind, riding fastest commuter bike. What could go wrong? Red lights. I was a red-light magnet this morning, catching nearly every one -- which added at least 5 minutes to my commute time. At the longest light, the truck in front of me stalled out and I barely made it through after waiting 5 minutes for it to change. The plus side was that I got a heckuva workout with all of the starting and stopping.
#1184
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
Another cold wet morning, 1C (34F), rain turned to wet snow by the end of the ride. Milder but still rain in this afternoon's forecast but tomorrow and Friday look much better.
#1185
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 635
Likes: 2
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: CAAD10 5, Trek 1000 Alpha Series
Today is my last commute 
We're moving to Baltimore and I work just outside of DC so going by bike won't be an option, at least until/if I find a closer job. But on the bright side, we will be living in a fantastic area for road riding. Oh, also I own a house now.

We're moving to Baltimore and I work just outside of DC so going by bike won't be an option, at least until/if I find a closer job. But on the bright side, we will be living in a fantastic area for road riding. Oh, also I own a house now.
#1186
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Steady rain, 40F and a pretty good crosswind - a perfect yuck cocktail. But, on the bright side today I crossed the 1,000 mile commuting threshold - the earliest in the year ever. Riding all winter helps rack up the miles!
#1191
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
#1192
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
#1193
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
Apparently, the Leafs have the better team going in but the Habs have the experience, should be a good match up! Beer it is then!
#1195
Had an appointment midtown today then back up town to home then back down town and over to Brooklyn. Tail wind down the Hudson on the way in and barely a whisper of wind on the way home.
Almost got nailed by an electric motor scooter that was inches behind me in the bike lane going cross town and when I slowed to make a turn he almost rammed me. Then a delivery guy almost slammed into me from behind at another traffic light because I actually stop at the lights.
It's strange how in Manhattan it almost makes sense to pull to the side at red lights when in the bike lane because some riders literally charge right through them. Every day I watch people fly right into an intersection and then weave through oncoming traffic. Fortunately, they, for the most part, glide right through. But I'm hoping I don't watch one of them get nailed.
Almost got nailed by an electric motor scooter that was inches behind me in the bike lane going cross town and when I slowed to make a turn he almost rammed me. Then a delivery guy almost slammed into me from behind at another traffic light because I actually stop at the lights.
It's strange how in Manhattan it almost makes sense to pull to the side at red lights when in the bike lane because some riders literally charge right through them. Every day I watch people fly right into an intersection and then weave through oncoming traffic. Fortunately, they, for the most part, glide right through. But I'm hoping I don't watch one of them get nailed.
#1196
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Had a great commute this morning. Forecast was for slight headwind but there was very little wind at all. I normally pace myself around 25km/h to avoid getting too sweaty, but on the ascent of one of the bridges I thought **** that, hammered up the incline and found I had super legs today. Hauled all the way to the station from there.
I just noticed the wind is picking up, so tonight I'll have a tailwind. Looks like a good day to break the two-way average record.
I just noticed the wind is picking up, so tonight I'll have a tailwind. Looks like a good day to break the two-way average record.
#1198
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
Cool ride in, -1C (30F), but dry and the sky was clear so I could see the sun the whole ride in. Like xlDooM above, I decided to push harder on the hills all the way in. My legs are a bit shaky still but I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say that I hammered the hills and I didn't do what the Geek Hunter does and push all the way over the top, I back off just before I crest. Next time I feel up to it, I'll hammer up and over and see how that feels (for the next 3 days!!! LOL).
Looks like it's going to be a nice afternoon, 8C and sunny and then double digits tomorrow and the weekend. Woo hoo!!
Looks like it's going to be a nice afternoon, 8C and sunny and then double digits tomorrow and the weekend. Woo hoo!!
#1200
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,979
Likes: 2,158
From: Evanston, IL
Bikes: many
I ride regularly from Evanston to the Chicago Loop, about 12 miles one-way. During the winter and early part of the spring/summer riding season I generally ride the Lakefront bike trail. Today I was reminded that my days on the LFT are numbered for this season, as I had to brake to avoid a jogger making a no-look u-turn. In another couple weeks I think it will be warm enough that it will be too congested with joggers, rollerbladers, and dog walkers. I'll just return to Clark Street and deal with the cagers.
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