2014!! How was your commute today?
06-11-14 | 03:08 PM
#1551
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
Nice ride in. When I got to the top of the ridge in the middle of my ride, from some points I could see Mts. Jefferson and Hood, and a little later I could see Jefferson and the 3 Sisters. With the sunrise behind them, pretty.
Last night around the same area I rode past a flock of turkeys wandering around with a bunch of their babies, about the size of pigeons.
Only two cars passed me in 9 miles. I think things are a little busier this time of year because daylight happens earlier.
Last night around the same area I rode past a flock of turkeys wandering around with a bunch of their babies, about the size of pigeons.
Only two cars passed me in 9 miles. I think things are a little busier this time of year because daylight happens earlier.
06-11-14 | 03:18 PM
#1552
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Thanks guys. Most of the time when I come down now I stay at the RV park on Cariboo or the Best Western on North Road. Daughter up at SFU is the main focal point - the riding has got worse over the years.
That stretch of Kensington along in front of the sports complex, we used to use that as the connector from Canada Way over into North Burnaby and then hook up over to the North Shore.
Boy have things changed. Getting a LOT busier here too, especially over the next couple of months.
It's fun looking at those maps. I'll look at them a little closer tonight and see what it all adds up to.
That stretch of Kensington along in front of the sports complex, we used to use that as the connector from Canada Way over into North Burnaby and then hook up over to the North Shore.
Boy have things changed. Getting a LOT busier here too, especially over the next couple of months.
It's fun looking at those maps. I'll look at them a little closer tonight and see what it all adds up to.
06-11-14 | 05:34 PM
#1553
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
Crazy ride home this afternoon. I left work 30 minutes early because radar showed showers popping up all over the place, and I thought I might get lucky and beat them home. No such luck. It starting raining while I was unlocking my bike from the rack. I held up for a few minutes until it looked like rain had passed and then headed home. The showers were tracking to the NE, which unfortunately is the direction I go for the first 4 miles, so I caught up with them. It started raining harder, so I ducked for cover at a school, and checked the radar again on my iPhone.
Radar showed more showers training toward me, so I figured I better get going again. At that point my route turns north and then west, so I rode my way out of the storm. Heading west the sky was mostly clear, so figured I had dodged the bullet. However, when my route turned north again, I quickly saw that the thunderstorm was building and I would be heading back into it. About 1 mile from my house the bottom dropped out, and it started pouring in sheets with strong gusts blowing the rain sideways. Needless to so, I got totally drenched. Fortunately there was no lightning or hail, but that was the worst rain I've ridden through in a very long time.
Radar showed more showers training toward me, so I figured I better get going again. At that point my route turns north and then west, so I rode my way out of the storm. Heading west the sky was mostly clear, so figured I had dodged the bullet. However, when my route turned north again, I quickly saw that the thunderstorm was building and I would be heading back into it. About 1 mile from my house the bottom dropped out, and it started pouring in sheets with strong gusts blowing the rain sideways. Needless to so, I got totally drenched. Fortunately there was no lightning or hail, but that was the worst rain I've ridden through in a very long time.
06-11-14 | 08:31 PM
#1554
Super-spreader
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 887
Likes: 101
From: where black is the color, where none is the number
Bikes: shiny red tricycle
My main commuter is out of commission for a few days so I took the road bike. It's a treat to suddenly lose 5 pounds that way 
Also, I discovered that doing the Grouse Grind on the weekend really helps with hill climbing on a bike... Gonna start doing that more often.
Also, I discovered that doing the Grouse Grind on the weekend really helps with hill climbing on a bike... Gonna start doing that more often.
06-11-14 | 08:36 PM
#1555
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
My main commuter is out of commission for a few days so I took the road bike. It's a treat to suddenly lose 5 pounds that way
Also, I discovered that doing the Grouse Grind on the weekend really helps with hill climbing on a bike... Gonna start doing that more often.
Also, I discovered that doing the Grouse Grind on the weekend really helps with hill climbing on a bike... Gonna start doing that more often.
06-11-14 | 08:47 PM
#1556
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
I have a nice ride home. Just a saddle bag, no panniers. I had a decent head wind and my westerly portion I managed to average 28.1 km/h for 4.1 km, that made me happy. Then I puttered over the river and cranked up the hill. Chased a group and blew past them, I timed the pass right so I took the right lane in front of a slow semi and they took the bike lane. I made sure to ring my bell as to not scare the crap out of them. Then one of the riders shoaled me at a stop light. Seriously I just burned you up a hill, how do you think passing me at a stop light at the top is a good idea?
Then almost home I was stopped in a round about as a guy come down the hill looking peeved at me for stopping to let a mom and her son cross. Then he proceeds to pass me and another car with oncoming traffic. I understand why some people have bad views of cyclists.
Otherwise 11.5 km averaging a bit over 25 km/h hour. Faster than with panniers and my son, but not a lot faster.
Then almost home I was stopped in a round about as a guy come down the hill looking peeved at me for stopping to let a mom and her son cross. Then he proceeds to pass me and another car with oncoming traffic. I understand why some people have bad views of cyclists.
Otherwise 11.5 km averaging a bit over 25 km/h hour. Faster than with panniers and my son, but not a lot faster.
06-11-14 | 11:30 PM
#1557
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Thanks guys. Most of the time when I come down now I stay at the RV park on Cariboo or the Best Western on North Road. Daughter up at SFU is the main focal point - the riding has got worse over the years.
That stretch of Kensington along in front of the sports complex, we used to use that as the connector from Canada Way over into North Burnaby and then hook up over to the North Shore.
Boy have things changed. Getting a LOT busier here too, especially over the next couple of months.
It's fun looking at those maps. I'll look at them a little closer tonight and see what it all adds up to.
That stretch of Kensington along in front of the sports complex, we used to use that as the connector from Canada Way over into North Burnaby and then hook up over to the North Shore.
Boy have things changed. Getting a LOT busier here too, especially over the next couple of months.
It's fun looking at those maps. I'll look at them a little closer tonight and see what it all adds up to.
For crossing north-south, I think there are some better routes further west on the Burnaby side, but certainly are a few on the Vancouver side.
06-11-14 | 11:41 PM
#1558
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
I have a nice ride home. Just a saddle bag, no panniers. I had a decent head wind and my westerly portion I managed to average 28.1 km/h for 4.1 km, that made me happy. Then I puttered over the river and cranked up the hill. Chased a group and blew past them, I timed the pass right so I took the right lane in front of a slow semi and they took the bike lane. I made sure to ring my bell as to not scare the crap out of them. Then one of the riders shoaled me at a stop light. Seriously I just burned you up a hill, how do you think passing me at a stop light at the top is a good idea?
Then almost home I was stopped in a round about as a guy come down the hill looking peeved at me for stopping to let a mom and her son cross. Then he proceeds to pass me and another car with oncoming traffic. I understand why some people have bad views of cyclists.
Otherwise 11.5 km averaging a bit over 25 km/h hour. Faster than with panniers and my son, but not a lot faster.
Then almost home I was stopped in a round about as a guy come down the hill looking peeved at me for stopping to let a mom and her son cross. Then he proceeds to pass me and another car with oncoming traffic. I understand why some people have bad views of cyclists.
Otherwise 11.5 km averaging a bit over 25 km/h hour. Faster than with panniers and my son, but not a lot faster.
I did about 31km riding home; took the Cypress route up & over from Kits, then North Arm Trail to Cambie, then down to 63rd Ave (unsure of name of this route if it has one) over to Ontario, down to Kent. I ducked south on Kerr to the river and checked out the trail there I saw on Google Maps and inquired about here earlier. It was decent; moderate packed gravel with a few loose gravel sections only a few metres long each. A few photos attached.
The scenery was nice, but because of the loose gravel sections I didn't want to get distracted by it and end up losing control of my bike. Also, there were LOADS of bugs that I had to try not to eat. All in all, I'll probably stay on Kent where it's quiet but paved, and I can ride faster.
Before I knew it I was in Burnaby, where the gravel got a bit looser but not horrible. Was still maintaining ~28-33km/h on the moderately packed gravel from Kerr into Burnaby, and about 25-28 km/h once it got looser in Burnaby.
I did get lost following a trail along the river past Byrne Road trying to link up with a route into New Westminster. Ended up with a sketchy ride for ~500m along very loose gravel that dead ended without warning at a small creek. Had to ride back and consult Google Maps to get me out of that pickle; fortunately it wasn't far to pavement, and I was able to get there without having to backtrack all the way to byrne. I'm tellin' ya though, once I hit that pavement again I felt weightless! Pushing 40km/h on the flat paved road steady for a few kms, which is pretty good for me.
UNFORTUNATELY, my Garmin was acting up, and while it tracked my distance, only showed me a straight line from my starting point to my house. I posted about that issue here.
06-12-14 | 04:55 AM
#1559
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Wet! Was debating on driving or riding.. frankly without the ride in the morning the day just seems to suck. Need to bring a fan to dry everything off.
06-12-14 | 05:05 AM
#1560
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
More humidity and fog and wet streets...but I like it!
06-12-14 | 05:10 AM
#1561
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1,475
From: Merrimac , MA
A very nice commute to work today, with mostly cloudy skies but hey no rain. The temp was a nice 56f degrees. Hopefully it will hold off raining on my way home. The forecast calls for pop-up showers in the afternoon and rain in the evening.
06-12-14 | 06:35 AM
#1562
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
A couple of threatening thunderstorms caused me to bail on the ride home yesterday. I do appreciate a wife that can do a rain rescue when needed.
I left a few minutes early and decided to take a slightly longer route that puts me on a nice MUP for a bit. It has a wooden section which has a couple of bends in it going over a marshy area. The wooden section was wet from last night's rain.
Before hitting the wet wooden section, I realized that wet wood is slippery, so I slowed down. But the first little bend to the left proved that I did not slow down enough. BAM! The bike and I went down and slid a couple of feet. My left hip took the brunt of the fall. My left leg just got really dirty. My left foot was already unclipped, but my right was not. So I got out of that and just sat there a minute making sure all was intact. Then I got up, brushed off, and picked my bike up. The wood was like ice. My left brake hood was out of whack, so I pushed that back over and carefully continued on to work.
I did some clean up once I got to the office. I have a bit of a rash on my left hip and a minor scrape on my knee. It's a bit sore just sitting here, but I think I'll survive. Next time I'll be more careful on that wet wood.
I left a few minutes early and decided to take a slightly longer route that puts me on a nice MUP for a bit. It has a wooden section which has a couple of bends in it going over a marshy area. The wooden section was wet from last night's rain.
Before hitting the wet wooden section, I realized that wet wood is slippery, so I slowed down. But the first little bend to the left proved that I did not slow down enough. BAM! The bike and I went down and slid a couple of feet. My left hip took the brunt of the fall. My left leg just got really dirty. My left foot was already unclipped, but my right was not. So I got out of that and just sat there a minute making sure all was intact. Then I got up, brushed off, and picked my bike up. The wood was like ice. My left brake hood was out of whack, so I pushed that back over and carefully continued on to work.
I did some clean up once I got to the office. I have a bit of a rash on my left hip and a minor scrape on my knee. It's a bit sore just sitting here, but I think I'll survive. Next time I'll be more careful on that wet wood.
06-12-14 | 06:51 AM
#1563
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
The is the warning the National Weather Service sent out AFTER I had started riding home on my bike yesterday. Apparently the storm generated right over the city because there was only a few pop-up showers showing up on radar when I left my office and headed to my bike. Needless to say, it was an "invigorating" ride home. A bunch of trees blew down, some in my neighborhood.
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
454 PM EDT WED JUN 11 2014
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WESTERN NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
SOUTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
* UNTIL 600 PM EDT
* AT 454 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH. THIS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR SMITHFIELD...AND MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RALEIGH...CARY...LOUISBURG...WAKE FOREST...GARNER...CLAYTON...
ZEBULON...FRANKLINTON...BAILEY...BUNN...RDU INTERNATIONAL...
MORRISVILLE...KNIGHTDALE...WENDELL...ROLESVILLE...KENLY...SPRING
HOPE...YOUNGSVILLE...MIDDLESEX AND SIMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AS FLYING DEBRIS
GENERATED BY DAMAGING WINDS CAN BE DEADLY.
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
454 PM EDT WED JUN 11 2014
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WESTERN NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
SOUTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
* UNTIL 600 PM EDT
* AT 454 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH. THIS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR SMITHFIELD...AND MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RALEIGH...CARY...LOUISBURG...WAKE FOREST...GARNER...CLAYTON...
ZEBULON...FRANKLINTON...BAILEY...BUNN...RDU INTERNATIONAL...
MORRISVILLE...KNIGHTDALE...WENDELL...ROLESVILLE...KENLY...SPRING
HOPE...YOUNGSVILLE...MIDDLESEX AND SIMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AS FLYING DEBRIS
GENERATED BY DAMAGING WINDS CAN BE DEADLY.
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
454 PM EDT WED JUN 11 2014
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WESTERN NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
SOUTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
* UNTIL 600 PM EDT
* AT 454 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH. THIS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR SMITHFIELD...AND MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RALEIGH...CARY...LOUISBURG...WAKE FOREST...GARNER...CLAYTON...
ZEBULON...FRANKLINTON...BAILEY...BUNN...RDU INTERNATIONAL...
MORRISVILLE...KNIGHTDALE...WENDELL...ROLESVILLE...KENLY...SPRING
HOPE...YOUNGSVILLE...MIDDLESEX AND SIMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AS FLYING DEBRIS
GENERATED BY DAMAGING WINDS CAN BE DEADLY.
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
454 PM EDT WED JUN 11 2014
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WESTERN NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
SOUTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
* UNTIL 600 PM EDT
* AT 454 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH. THIS STORM
WAS LOCATED NEAR SMITHFIELD...AND MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RALEIGH...CARY...LOUISBURG...WAKE FOREST...GARNER...CLAYTON...
ZEBULON...FRANKLINTON...BAILEY...BUNN...RDU INTERNATIONAL...
MORRISVILLE...KNIGHTDALE...WENDELL...ROLESVILLE...KENLY...SPRING
HOPE...YOUNGSVILLE...MIDDLESEX AND SIMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS CAN BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AS FLYING DEBRIS
GENERATED BY DAMAGING WINDS CAN BE DEADLY.
06-12-14 | 06:53 AM
#1564
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Bikes: Trek Verve Ebike and Surly Wednesday
Crazy ride home this afternoon. I left work 30 minutes early because radar showed showers popping up all over the place, and I thought I might get lucky and beat them home. No such luck. It starting raining while I was unlocking my bike from the rack. I held up for a few minutes until it looked like rain had passed and then headed home. The showers were tracking to the NE, which unfortunately is the direction I go for the first 4 miles, so I caught up with them. It started raining harder, so I ducked for cover at a school, and checked the radar again on my iPhone.
Radar showed more showers training toward me, so I figured I better get going again. At that point my route turns north and then west, so I rode my way out of the storm. Heading west the sky was mostly clear, so figured I had dodged the bullet. However, when my route turned north again, I quickly saw that the thunderstorm was building and I would be heading back into it. About 1 mile from my house the bottom dropped out, and it started pouring in sheets with strong gusts blowing the rain sideways. Needless to so, I got totally drenched. Fortunately there was no lightning or hail, but that was the worst rain I've ridden through in a very long time.
Radar showed more showers training toward me, so I figured I better get going again. At that point my route turns north and then west, so I rode my way out of the storm. Heading west the sky was mostly clear, so figured I had dodged the bullet. However, when my route turned north again, I quickly saw that the thunderstorm was building and I would be heading back into it. About 1 mile from my house the bottom dropped out, and it started pouring in sheets with strong gusts blowing the rain sideways. Needless to so, I got totally drenched. Fortunately there was no lightning or hail, but that was the worst rain I've ridden through in a very long time.
06-12-14 | 07:13 AM
#1565
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
Wet, that's how my commute was today! Don't think I've been dry since yesterday at 4:30; rode home in the rain, had a shower, had supper, went to dragonboat practice on the lake and although it wasn't raining, I got spashed a lot and then it was hot and muggy last night and woke up in a sweat only to ride in to work this morning in the rain. At least it was a mild temperature, 18C/64F, so I felt comfortable. Rain is forecast for the rest of the day but ending this evening for a few days.
06-12-14 | 07:21 AM
#1566
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 3
From: Brodhead, WI - south of Madison
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.2
Second day off commuting in a row ... step son's eighth grade graduation tonight.
This sucks, but at least yesterday the weather was awful.
Cannot wait to ride tomorrow.
This sucks, but at least yesterday the weather was awful.
Cannot wait to ride tomorrow.
06-12-14 | 07:31 AM
#1567
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Wet and rainy, tonight will be wet, rainy and windy, great...
No bike yesterday because I had to take my van to work to get the exhaust fixed.
No bike yesterday because I had to take my van to work to get the exhaust fixed.
06-12-14 | 08:33 AM
#1568
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
I was fast and I had a few people with me which was nice, though I never got a draft, always pulled. But there have been a lot of cyclists of the last two days.
I lied, I got a draft from a backhoe going 35 km/h. The only problem was their lights are way on top of the cab and make it difficult to watch for. I almost got right hooked by it. He either put on his left turn or his four ways (this may have happened I saw a left turn and possibly by the time i glanced right the right was off). He also seemed to go left a bit, so I went right, then his right signal was on and he was making a dive for a drive way. Not too close, but closer than I like. The guy had used proper signals up to that, I had been following a few cars behind that turned off. Why put four ways on to turn right?
Anywho it was a nice commute, a bit muggy for vancouver (85% humiditiy) but it is cool 15°C (60°F), but a nice ride.
I lied, I got a draft from a backhoe going 35 km/h. The only problem was their lights are way on top of the cab and make it difficult to watch for. I almost got right hooked by it. He either put on his left turn or his four ways (this may have happened I saw a left turn and possibly by the time i glanced right the right was off). He also seemed to go left a bit, so I went right, then his right signal was on and he was making a dive for a drive way. Not too close, but closer than I like. The guy had used proper signals up to that, I had been following a few cars behind that turned off. Why put four ways on to turn right?
Anywho it was a nice commute, a bit muggy for vancouver (85% humiditiy) but it is cool 15°C (60°F), but a nice ride.
06-12-14 | 08:53 AM
#1569
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 149
From: SD
Bikes: Handsome Fredward, Trek 1.1
Pretty awesome and fast. Cool out and had a tailwind. We'll see what the afternoon brings.
06-12-14 | 08:54 AM
#1570
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Got a little damp on the ride in. Heavy showers expected on the ride home; I might need to affix some pontoons to the bike.
06-12-14 | 09:59 AM
#1571
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Wet seems the operative word here - I don't think I've had a single ride yet this week when the streets weren't wet.
06-12-14 | 10:03 AM
#1572
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, AB
Nice pre-work ride this morning under sunny skies and low winds. It was slightly marred riding through a neighbourhood where the city was dumping copious amounts of water on the streets, probably in preparation for sweeping, but there's a lot of construction in the area and the water just made a lot of mud that got all over my shoes, backside, and bike. Thanks, Edmonton, I appreciate it.
I have a loop route that I've been taking recently on days when I work from home, and near the end there's a climb out of the river valley (about 150 feet vertical) that I've always found to be particularly difficult. Today was the first time I attempted that hill on my fixed-gear bike, and I managed to make it all the way up without stalling, but I was going pretty slow for the final 25% or so!
I have a loop route that I've been taking recently on days when I work from home, and near the end there's a climb out of the river valley (about 150 feet vertical) that I've always found to be particularly difficult. Today was the first time I attempted that hill on my fixed-gear bike, and I managed to make it all the way up without stalling, but I was going pretty slow for the final 25% or so!
06-13-14 | 04:50 AM
#1573
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Much earlier than usual, was out the door shortly after 05:00. I live on the far East side of Capitol Hill here in DC, my usual 4 miles can take anywhere from 30-40 minutes with morning traffic and stoplights. 20 minutes door-to-door this morning.
06-13-14 | 06:00 AM
#1574
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1,475
From: Merrimac , MA
No bike commute this am as the forecast calls for heavy rains today.
06-13-14 | 06:53 AM
#1575
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
Wasn't supposed to rain last night, someone messed up without telling me. The problem is that I left my helmet on the clothesline to dry and so I had to put on a soaking wet helmet this morning and on a bald head, that isn't fun.
Commute in this morning was nice, mild 15C/59F, and strongly overcast with low clouds at the beginning but the moderate breeze through the ride blew most of the clouds away enabling me to finish the ride in mostly sun conditions.
Commute in this morning was nice, mild 15C/59F, and strongly overcast with low clouds at the beginning but the moderate breeze through the ride blew most of the clouds away enabling me to finish the ride in mostly sun conditions.