2014!! How was your commute today?
#626
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Slower than usual going home yesterday. Somewhat of a headwind, or at least that is my excuse.
Damp, drizzly ride in this morning, but warm enough that I didn't mind. Strange that 38F is "warm enough"...
Damp, drizzly ride in this morning, but warm enough that I didn't mind. Strange that 38F is "warm enough"...
#627
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Ride home was awesome yet slightly depressing. Faster than usual thanks to a 20 MPH tail wind. Legs felt really strong, and I was sailing up hills in 4th or even 5th gear where I normally might use 2nd or even 1st (largest cog). Sometimes I even stayed in the big ring where I normally drop down.
But all that great strong feeling was mostly just the tail wind. I'm not actually that strong, which is why it was slightly depressing. Oh well. Another ride in tomorrow.
But all that great strong feeling was mostly just the tail wind. I'm not actually that strong, which is why it was slightly depressing. Oh well. Another ride in tomorrow.
#628
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 73
From: Vandalia OH
Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0
First commute was yesterday evening. Drove into work with bike and clothes, did a lunch time ride and then rode home. Big leap in daily activity. My legs are tired today but not sore. I bent my rim (somehow) towards the end of my ride and was able to finish.
Today I go pick up a new bike and will switch back and forth on which one to commute with. I may end up leaving one at work just to use for lunch time exercise rides.
Today I go pick up a new bike and will switch back and forth on which one to commute with. I may end up leaving one at work just to use for lunch time exercise rides.
#629
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
I went with the weather forecast and took my van this morning. Tonight should bring 2-4 cm of snow/ice/rain with a strong headwind of 40-50 kms.
#630
Milestone: today is 100 consecutive workdays commuting by bike. 200 out of the last 201 since I didn't want to feel beholden to a streak, but as it turns out I needn't have bothered.
I am seeing more cyclists or commuters now with the break in the weather, some of them striving to catch me so I guess the Commuter Racing season has started.
I am seeing more cyclists or commuters now with the break in the weather, some of them striving to catch me so I guess the Commuter Racing season has started.
#631
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
ugh, that south wind from yesterday evening remained this morning, so I had to slog it through 15+ MPH headwinds. What took me 1:05 yesterday took 1:23 this morning.
On another note I got my new Topeak rack and trunk bag all set up last night, so my road bike is now a proper commuter, until I build up a dedicated commuter bike sometime in the, hopefully, not too distant future.

My Hotshot tail light didn't come with the proper rack mount (sold separately, blah!) so I snagged the Bontrager Flare light off my MTB and stuck it on there. Then I rigged the Hotshot seatpost mount with about 4 rubber shims and fit it to the seat stay. Had the Flare on steady and the Hotshot on the "slow pulse" setting this morning. Not a single close pass in 15.5 miles.
On another note I got my new Topeak rack and trunk bag all set up last night, so my road bike is now a proper commuter, until I build up a dedicated commuter bike sometime in the, hopefully, not too distant future.

My Hotshot tail light didn't come with the proper rack mount (sold separately, blah!) so I snagged the Bontrager Flare light off my MTB and stuck it on there. Then I rigged the Hotshot seatpost mount with about 4 rubber shims and fit it to the seat stay. Had the Flare on steady and the Hotshot on the "slow pulse" setting this morning. Not a single close pass in 15.5 miles.
Last edited by PatrickGSR94; 03-19-14 at 09:54 AM.
#632
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
heck yea! I witnessed a real barn burner yesterday evening (or was it Monday?). I hung with them for a while but one guy turned off and the other guy slowed down. Numbers are up: yesterday in the afternoon I was stopped briefly at a light with 6 other cyclists.
7degC/44degF and raining this AM. The AM ride are always so uneventful, but a better wakeup than coffee.
7degC/44degF and raining this AM. The AM ride are always so uneventful, but a better wakeup than coffee.
#633
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
#634
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
haha if only! That's actually the central corridor in the office, going from front door to back door (right to left in pic). The bike normally stays near my cubicle. This is a small architecture office.
#635
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Just took the bike down the street less than a mile to grab lunch, and had to yell at 2 cars on the way back. One of them in the Kroger parking lot, not watching what he was doing. I yelled "HEY!" several times loudly and that got him to stop.
Then just down the street, which is a VERY narrow residential street, I'm talking barely 20 feet wide pavement, I see this d-bag trying to pass me right as we're approaching a stop sign. I hold my left hand out, palm backwards, but he still doesn't pull back. As he's right next to me (his windows are down) I yell out "Stay back!!" which got him to back off. There were a couple more stop signs before I got back to my office, and right before I got there I see the same guy coming from a side cross street. I passed him first, so despite him trying to take a detour he still ended up behind me.
He was going straight across so wasn't actually behind me as I pulled back into the office parking lot.
Then just down the street, which is a VERY narrow residential street, I'm talking barely 20 feet wide pavement, I see this d-bag trying to pass me right as we're approaching a stop sign. I hold my left hand out, palm backwards, but he still doesn't pull back. As he's right next to me (his windows are down) I yell out "Stay back!!" which got him to back off. There were a couple more stop signs before I got back to my office, and right before I got there I see the same guy coming from a side cross street. I passed him first, so despite him trying to take a detour he still ended up behind me.
He was going straight across so wasn't actually behind me as I pulled back into the office parking lot.
#636
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Ended up driving today because I had a doctor's appointment in the opposite direction from work and wouldn't have made it in time for a morning meeting.
Tomorrow should be a great ride, partly sunny with temps in the low 50s.
Tomorrow should be a great ride, partly sunny with temps in the low 50s.
#637
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
It was raining a fair bit this morning, but nice and cool at 4°C/39F. Nice thing about the rain is that there are less pedestrians and commuters on the roads, so it was pretty serene. I actually forgot it was raining a few times...
#638
Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 180
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.2 FX & 2015 Bianchi Volpe
Good. Missed rain showers both ways. Decent headwind on the way home, though. No complaints, though.
#639
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
Going to bail out of here at a reasonable time, do a 2x20' set on the way home, and then an easy 30'-45' with my favorite riding partner.
#640
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 219
Likes: 86
From: Pajottenland, Brussels, Belgium
Bikes: L'Avenir Urban, Cannondale Bad Boy
Ok,i'm into competition aswel:
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...l#post16594408
I got 20 miles already
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...l#post16594408
I got 20 miles already
#641
42F / 6C Fun ride in on the backup bike, my old Jamis Aragon purchased in 1998. Sitting so upright felt downright comical.
Last night's ride home was a mess...a 100% soaking in cold rain.
Last night's ride home was a mess...a 100% soaking in cold rain.
#642
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
First commute of the week due to several days of cold rain and ice with temperatures hovering at or below freezing. Halfway to work, the rear shifter cable on my bike broke, forcing me to ride the last 6-7 miles in a high gear. Fortunately, this bike has a triple so I was able to shift it down to the small ring in front, but it was stuck in the smallest cog on the cassette. I know you aren't supposed to ride in your "small-small" gears, but I had no choice. Hopefully one of the nearby bike shops will be able to fix it during the day so I can ride home this afternoon. My regular shop is pretty backed up -- and already working on one of my other bikes -- so I may have to use another shop that I haven't frequented in a while.
#643
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Any day I can do the commute in 40 minutes or less I must have a tail wind. Going home last night was 39:15. That's just under 19mph. The forecast had been for 63F, but it was only about 47F.
Coming in this morning was off and on foggy. Kinda pretty actually across some fields and such. And a blurry almost full moon was visible most of the way.
Some of the other guys at work will ride their bikes to work, but only if it is warm enough and the forecast is for no rain. I guess I don't blame them though because they can't stay as warm when just sitting on their motorcycles. If one guy rides he'll give the other guys a hard time about not riding. I tend to say nothing.
Coming in this morning was off and on foggy. Kinda pretty actually across some fields and such. And a blurry almost full moon was visible most of the way.
Some of the other guys at work will ride their bikes to work, but only if it is warm enough and the forecast is for no rain. I guess I don't blame them though because they can't stay as warm when just sitting on their motorcycles. If one guy rides he'll give the other guys a hard time about not riding. I tend to say nothing.
#644
Newbie

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 32
Likes: 14
From: Greer, SC
Bikes: BD CX commuter, 80's Stumpjumper
43F and clear ride in today. Still feeling a little weak on the climbs from a sedentary winter. It should get better in a couple weeks.
#645
A ninja came up from behind me as I was slowing down to enter the sidewalk in front of McD's. He yelled, "Be Careful!" as he zoomed by. Guess he was right 'cause I wasn't watching for bikes behind me.
#646
First commute of the week due to several days of cold rain and ice with temperatures hovering at or below freezing. Halfway to work, the rear shifter cable on my bike broke, forcing me to ride the last 6-7 miles in a high gear. Fortunately, this bike has a triple so I was able to shift it down to the small ring in front, but it was stuck in the smallest cog on the cassette. I know you aren't supposed to ride in your "small-small" gears, but I had no choice. Hopefully one of the nearby bike shops will be able to fix it during the day so I can ride home this afternoon. My regular shop is pretty backed up -- and already working on one of my other bikes -- so I may have to use another shop that I haven't frequented in a while.
#647
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Milestone: today is 100 consecutive workdays commuting by bike. 200 out of the last 201 since I didn't want to feel beholden to a streak, but as it turns out I needn't have bothered.
I am seeing more cyclists or commuters now with the break in the weather, some of them striving to catch me so I guess the Commuter Racing season has started.
I am seeing more cyclists or commuters now with the break in the weather, some of them striving to catch me so I guess the Commuter Racing season has started.
#648
I finally started commuting to work again! I was rewarded with a cold headwin and after I arrived at work I was rewarded with snow, not sure if I will ride home or not... might need the wife to pick me up.
#649
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Yesterday the weather channel got it all wrong, instead of the 4-5 cm of snow/ice/rain/slush and strong Wind forecasted we got NOTHING until 10 pm last night. So I took my van in vain. This morning I rode my bike...
#650
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
Annoyed. Came down to the bike room last night to find that the racks had been moved 4 feet with all the bikes still attached. Genius. Called the building services office this morning to complain. They thought they were doing us all a favor by moving the racks away from the wall so that there would be room on both sides to park. Yes, well great, thanks. But who thought it would be a good idea to move people's personal property without their permission? You wouldn't move someone's car without their permission, would you?
Seriously?
Seriously?




