dramiscram

Very nice weather again this morning.

mikeybikes

Not good really.

Super muggy and construction on the route I like to ride into work. I got a flat about halfway through. Luckily, I was able to quickly replace the tube with my spare and get to work in time.

joeyduck

Great for you! Keep it up it makes everything seem better when you ride.

That is awful; my condolences to the families, friends and colleagues involved. Do not neglect yourself to take care of others; remember it may take along time for people to fully process and come to terms with something awful like this.

Red light curses are the worst, I have a string of lights on one route. I always get them as well. Though last night I got almost all greens; I ran one red where the bike lane is the top of the T intersection and another stale yellow. I had felt good on the ride and wanted to pump out a good time up the hill and I knocked about 15 seconds off my best. I was stoked, then I got to go on a nice date with my wife and the babysitter only cost us a Dairy Queen sundae.

I had a weird encounter on the way home yesterday, I completed a pass on a guy right before a 90° corner. Then he followed and as we approached a round about he started to pull even and try a pass forcing me to take an uncomfortable line through the round about. I was not to keen on his behavior. I do not know if he was upset I passed him, or if he thought it was an unsafe pass or what.

I had rang my bell and announced my presence. No response, said hi as I passed, no response. Finally I got his attention as we crossed a pedestrian bridge, after yelling hello a few times he finally took his ear buds out and said what. We chatted but went separate ways, still he was a bit too oblivious.

My wife complained about oblivious pedestrians just standing in the road on the way home with our son last night.

I also had a driver put her signal on last night and keep creeping over to me; unsure if she was turning or looking for parking. I looked to see if I could merge left then back ahead and I locked up the rear since she decided to suddenly stop and creeping head on into a spot. She was completely unaware of me being there in the first place. So I got a satisfying full hand slap on the side pillar of her shiny white SUV, too bad I had no grease on my hand.

This mornings commute was wonderful. I rode along side a Fisker Karma for a while this morning, nice looking car. https://thenewfisker.com/ I had not seen one before, lots of Teslas but never a Fisker.

MikeRides

Another perfect day. The sun was starting to come up on my morning commute which means only one thing, fall is near! So glad I don't have to worry about a late evening ride any more.

Delivered two pizzas and bottles of soda to the school at lunch time for some summer school completion party or whatever. I was followed into the parking lot by a local police officer, who remained right on my back wheel all the way up the school driveway. When I dismounted and was untying the straps holding my delivery, he pulled up and waved over to me to compliment me for actually signaling and stopping for all the stop signals in town. I responded, "Thanks, I know how to ride safe and courteous to those around me, when are you going to learn?" He then proceeded to point to his badge, shook his head, and drove off.

This afternoon's commute home was muggy but I made good time so I'm not complaining.

iteachpe

It was beautiful weather this morning but there was a crazy headwind (form the tropical storm off the coast) that added about 8 minutes to my commute time :-(. Oh well, the ride home was good too!

dcb23

More of the same 68F / 20 C darkness...and lots of red lights this monring along with what seemed like more traffic than usual.

parkersdad

Monday I took a longer way home and my chain fell off twice. That is so aggravating especially when you're coming down a huge hill. This morning though it was 55° and the legs felt great. Hopefully this afternoon will not be too hot.

mgw4jc

You insulted the police officer who just complimented you? Or were you joking with him?

Nice cool ride in this morning. My front derailleur is locked up for some reason though - in high gear. I meant to look at it last night but forgot about it. Therefore my ride in was faster side than average, but the hills were not easy.

ill.clyde

Beautiful morning, a little chilly at the very outset, but I warmed up quick. 66 degrees, ever so slight headwind.

Last night's ride home was fine, save for a couple of moments on the MUP. Was nearing downtown, and I come up on this group of runners heading the same direction as I, and they were running three, four and five abreast at times, and there was a guy dawdling along with them on a bike. I assume he was their coach and I believe they were from Marquette University. Anyway, this is basically during "rush hour" on the MUP, lots of bike traffic, lots of walkers, some families with kids, etc. So passing isn't easy as it is, but these guys made it all but impossible. After slowing down and finding a safe place to pass, as I pulled up along side I said to the coach, "Come on, you guys can't run in a line?" So I passed them and found another group doing the same thing just a minute or so up the path.

Incredibly irritating. You want to train on the MUP, great, but runinng four and five abreast isn't good for anyone.

arsprod 

I guess I got my wish for some summer weather, though still cool in the mornings. Mornings - coolnmuggy, evenings - hotnmuggy

jrickards

It's been a cool summer so it shouldn't come as a surprise to me that this morning's commute also was cool, 10C/59F. Afternoon ride home looks good.

Hadn't been riding for about 6 weeks. I suffer from mild depression and had been off my drugs since Feb, trying to go drug-free and although I was generally feeling fine while things were good, when I hit a personal setback in early July, I didn't have the "defences" I needed to deal with it and cycling was the first activity to disappear. I'm back on track again, back on the meds and commuting by bike again. Glad to be back.

ill.clyde

Been there, done that ... welcome back

jrickards

Thanks

dramiscram

It's nice to ear from you. I hope that everything will be fine from now on and take good care.

Nice ride this morning, very humid with a good crosswind.

mgw4jc

I saw your name on the mileage list the other day and wondered why you hadn't posted in a while. If you try backing off the meds again, see if continuing to ride helps. I know nothing about your situation, but getting outside and riding, running, walking, whatevering, has always been my upper and stress reliever.

Welcome back!

jrickards

From Feb to end of March, I was riding a couple of days a week and going to the gym 3x/wk, from April to early July, I was riding almost every day (9x/2 weeks), going to the gym 3x/wk and I felt good but life was good then. Into the first week of July, I had a setback and exercise wasn't enough, meds was what I needed (I realize that now) and I felt that I could push through without them but no, that wasn't so. So, Jules (me), don't go off your meds, no matter how good you feel!

Thanks guys (and the couple of gals on this forum)

RidingMatthew

really strong headwind on the last two roads on the way home. I really did not feel like i had much in the legs to overpower the wind so i just geared down and spun my way home. I felt so slow but at least I made it home.

the last two roads on the way home have headwind EVERY stinking day and more traffic. they are some of the worst parts about bike commuting.

ride in this morning was gorgeous. high 50's and I found myself disappointed beccause i am not ready for fall just yet.

on a personal note work drama continues found out coworker has a tumor on spine and is going to have it removed. another co worker murdered, and today my work director was fired.

joeyduck

It is also nice to see you back.

My wife is a psychologist and sometimes meds are just needed. I wish you all the best and we are glad to have you back.

I left work a bit early yesterday to babysit for some friends. The 10 to 20 minutes early really makes a difference traffic wise. A lot more cyclists. More idiot drivers. I had to stop and talk to a guy fully parked in the bike lane. He seemed to not mind and played the "No English" card. I told him I have a photo of his plate and would phone the police; complete bluff. Then a few illegal right turns and passing extra people on the hill.

Otherwise a nice ride. I got to my friends place and I was glad my place is ground level/basement. They place was 84 when I got there at 5:30 and when I left at 12 it only dropped to 78; with the AC going! But I had a good time, reading and relaxing. My wife and son got to go to the fair though and had tons of fun.

This morning was nice. I made decent time catching quite a few lights.
@RidingMatthew This has been a rough week at work for you and your coworkers. I hope that everyone is handling everything okay. All the best.

ill.clyde

Not to get too far off track, but I've tried the no meds thing too, and for me it just doesn't work.

And there's nothing wrong with it

groovestew

My city is being overrun with triathletes this week for some reason and my commute route overlaps the triathlon course a bit. This morning I encountered a bunch of triathletes on their bikes, presumably scoping out the route. Unfortunately, they were all going the opposite direction, so I couldn't challenge any of them to a race!

Weather-wise, quite pleasant with low winds, cloudy, and about 15C/59F.

spivonious

It's been a fantastic week for riding so far. Temperatures in the low 60s in the morning, low to mid 80s coming home, and no wind. Kids are back in school this week, but I time my ride to miss the school buses in the morning. It still boggles my mind when I see kids waiting inside their parent's car for the bus. Can't leave the A/C for too long, I guess. And don't forget the man in the white van who will kidnap any kids he sees standing on a corner.

joeyduck

I know it is not my business, but have you two tried visiting a therapist and I mean a Registered Psychologist. I think that it is a shame they are not covered my medical plans. Medication is not always the complete answer but it is a crutch when coupled with proper therapy.

I know there is a stigma about seeing a psychologist but it is something that is sometimes necessary and never anything to be ashamed of. They are trained in ways doctors (psychiatrists) are not and vice versa. Their training program is incredibly intense and drawn out and their profession is poor at advocating for themselves.

Sorry to get on my soap box but mental health it something important to me and I try to advocate for more than medications. Which is ironic since I am chemist who works for a pharmaceutical company.

Look at therapy and medication as cross training for better mental health. Just like biking and lifting can produce a better athlete.

ill.clyde

Absolutely.

caloso

Last night I yelled at driver to put away his phone. This morning I yelled at a driver to use her turn signals. And I yelled at a bike lane salmon. Tired of yelling.

Hyperbole

Almost collided with a salmon this morning. First time I've yelled on my commute so far. Stuff doesn't normally faze me but we almost hit head-on.

Add that to the fact that I've been riding a lot more casually after work and on weekends, my legs were dead tired today. Legs were burning on the hills.