2019! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#1276
Senior Member
Hot and hot! Been a long time since I posted on here. Overseas for a month and had a lot of things come up the last two months. Rode all last week and four days this week. Feel great! Looking forward to riding the rest of the year, not even 750 miles yet this year and should be up to 1.5k by now... ouch!
#1277
Senior Member
@noglider - very cool sunset picture. And that river looks big enough to land a plane on!
We had a couple of short downpours yesterday afternoon. One was right as I was leaving, so I waited a few. The rain stopped but streets were wet and drainage was overflowing making for some wet early miles.
This morning was back to the typical warmth and humidity.
I see the news talking about the heat wave hitting the north east. NYC Triathlon was canceled to protect athletes and spectators. Be careful up there!
We had a couple of short downpours yesterday afternoon. One was right as I was leaving, so I waited a few. The rain stopped but streets were wet and drainage was overflowing making for some wet early miles.
This morning was back to the typical warmth and humidity.
I see the news talking about the heat wave hitting the north east. NYC Triathlon was canceled to protect athletes and spectators. Be careful up there!
#1278
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
So far all the thunderstorms have missed me this week, which I pretty much expected from the forecast. Less than .5" in a day usually leaves me gaps enough. The irony is that after a rain has been the most dangerous for me, when you let your guard down, so I've been more nervous this week.
#1279
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,946
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2623 Post(s)
Liked 1,965 Times
in
1,230 Posts
Good weather for ducks!
Pardon this weather rant. It's hard to separate "How was your commute?" from "What was the weather like?" since I'm outside experiencing the weather while riding.
While I've missed most of the hurricane, it's been fairly miserable for riding this week. Consider:
At least one of my commutes every day this week has been affected by rain, or the threat of rain.
I've left early, and late, to miss the rain, and still got wet.
I wondered why my eyes were so blurry last night, until I realized the reason was water spots on my glasses.
The weather gauge nearest my house has registered an average July's precipitation (over 5") in the last seven days.
Not directly rain, but humidity: sweat was dripping off my shorts when I got out of the shower this morning.
I'm not planning to take the car, because traffic is so bad when it rains that I can bike home faster than driving. But this is getting ridiculous!
Afla-a-ack!
Pardon this weather rant. It's hard to separate "How was your commute?" from "What was the weather like?" since I'm outside experiencing the weather while riding.
While I've missed most of the hurricane, it's been fairly miserable for riding this week. Consider:
At least one of my commutes every day this week has been affected by rain, or the threat of rain.
I've left early, and late, to miss the rain, and still got wet.
I wondered why my eyes were so blurry last night, until I realized the reason was water spots on my glasses.
The weather gauge nearest my house has registered an average July's precipitation (over 5") in the last seven days.
Not directly rain, but humidity: sweat was dripping off my shorts when I got out of the shower this morning.
I'm not planning to take the car, because traffic is so bad when it rains that I can bike home faster than driving. But this is getting ridiculous!
Afla-a-ack!
Likes For pdlamb:
#1280
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,548
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
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7370 Post(s)
Liked 2,514 Times
in
1,461 Posts
@noglider - very cool sunset picture. And that river looks big enough to land a plane on!
We had a couple of short downpours yesterday afternoon. One was right as I was leaving, so I waited a few. The rain stopped but streets were wet and drainage was overflowing making for some wet early miles.
This morning was back to the typical warmth and humidity.
I see the news talking about the heat wave hitting the north east. NYC Triathlon was canceled to protect athletes and spectators. Be careful up there!
We had a couple of short downpours yesterday afternoon. One was right as I was leaving, so I waited a few. The rain stopped but streets were wet and drainage was overflowing making for some wet early miles.
This morning was back to the typical warmth and humidity.
I see the news talking about the heat wave hitting the north east. NYC Triathlon was canceled to protect athletes and spectators. Be careful up there!
I hadn't heard about the triathlon! Good call, I guess, but it's a big shame. I participated in it in 2010, in a relay team, and my part was just the cycling part.
__________________
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.
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.
#1281
Senior Member
First day back after a couple week break to rest the knees. Mid 60's with a dew point high enough my hands were wet the entire ride. Fingers pruned up by the time I got to work. Was a nice ride over all. Chances of storms later this afternoon with temps in the upper 80's. Think it'll be ok for the ride home.
#1282
Senior Member
Definitely a reference. The plane has been on display here at (or near) the Charlotte airport, it's original destination. Recent local news said the display will end and it will go to storage. Good movie too if you haven't seen it with Tom Hanks as "Sully".
#1283
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,461
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3131 Post(s)
Liked 2,113 Times
in
1,376 Posts
Who owns it? I'm not sure if airplanes work like cars but if the insurance company owns it they'd likely want to scrap it. It seems like it should be in the Air and Space Museum (or Udvar-Hazy) if no museum in NYC wants it. I'd hate to think of it sitting out at Mojave waiting for someone to decide they don't want it after all. It's the best aviation story in recent memory
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#1284
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,548
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
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7370 Post(s)
Liked 2,514 Times
in
1,461 Posts
@mgw4jc, thanks. I will definitely watch it. I just watched the trailer. If you haven't seen the New York Harbor, I recommend it. It is vast, and I can feel the history when I stand there.
Then again, the San Francisco Bay is even bigger and awesomer. I shouted when I first saw it.
Then again, the San Francisco Bay is even bigger and awesomer. I shouted when I first saw it.
__________________
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.
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.
#1285
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,162
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2367 Post(s)
Liked 1,756 Times
in
1,196 Posts
Wide enough to land a plane, I've heard.....
No commute this week. Out of town Mon thru Wed. Thu it poured rain. Today, the plan was to telecommute for two hours, then ride in, work the rest of the day from my office downtown, and run some shopping errands on the way home. Any given Friday. Until.... about 45 minutes into my telecommute, the router kept resetting. Finally stayed stable for about five minutes, then all the power went out. It was this:
This on a day with mid-90s F, heat indexes around 110F. Power plant is about six blocks from here. "Mechanical failure" caused an explosion and huge fire in the substation. About a half-hour later, another explosion and fire in a substation near the UW campus. This was shot from an apartment building at the end of my block; you can see both fires:
Power was out through most of downtown, including my building. So no point in riding in. Traffic was a complete cluster; bicyclists were the only ones with any mobility. Battened down a few things house-related, then I grabbed the jump-box out of my truck, connected an inverter, plugged in my DSL router and my work tablet and was back on the clock.
The Isthmus MUP, the main artery for non-motor commuting on this side of town (busiest non-motor thoroughfare in the state), runs right past this facility. I imagine the morning's bike commuters got an eyeful. Fortunately not on my commute route for Monday. Knock wood, Monday's commute will be routine....
No commute this week. Out of town Mon thru Wed. Thu it poured rain. Today, the plan was to telecommute for two hours, then ride in, work the rest of the day from my office downtown, and run some shopping errands on the way home. Any given Friday. Until.... about 45 minutes into my telecommute, the router kept resetting. Finally stayed stable for about five minutes, then all the power went out. It was this:
This on a day with mid-90s F, heat indexes around 110F. Power plant is about six blocks from here. "Mechanical failure" caused an explosion and huge fire in the substation. About a half-hour later, another explosion and fire in a substation near the UW campus. This was shot from an apartment building at the end of my block; you can see both fires:
Power was out through most of downtown, including my building. So no point in riding in. Traffic was a complete cluster; bicyclists were the only ones with any mobility. Battened down a few things house-related, then I grabbed the jump-box out of my truck, connected an inverter, plugged in my DSL router and my work tablet and was back on the clock.
The Isthmus MUP, the main artery for non-motor commuting on this side of town (busiest non-motor thoroughfare in the state), runs right past this facility. I imagine the morning's bike commuters got an eyeful. Fortunately not on my commute route for Monday. Knock wood, Monday's commute will be routine....
#1286
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,461
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3131 Post(s)
Liked 2,113 Times
in
1,376 Posts
Today on the ride home I really pushed because I felt good and I wanted to beat my prior time home. And... I did, but that's not the important thing. What's important is, I haven't allowed myself to think this for ten years, because I would be hitting either my medicated limited heart rate, or my chest pain, more recently mostly the latter.
I still feel limited by my heart but it's so, so much better than before the myectomy.
Next week I'm getting out my BIL's old steel road bike to see what I can do with that. I'm betting it's about 30% faster than the trike. And I feel safe riding it in the bike lane... which cuts about half a mile off. I might be at work in fifteen minutes. I'll have to add a lap of the neighborhood. Imagine!
I still feel limited by my heart but it's so, so much better than before the myectomy.
Next week I'm getting out my BIL's old steel road bike to see what I can do with that. I'm betting it's about 30% faster than the trike. And I feel safe riding it in the bike lane... which cuts about half a mile off. I might be at work in fifteen minutes. I'll have to add a lap of the neighborhood. Imagine!
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#1287
born again cyclist
gorgeous ride this morning. 67° with a 57° dew point.
topping out today around 73° with humidity staying low.
that's about as nice of a july day as one can reasonably expect in chicago.
topping out today around 73° with humidity staying low.
that's about as nice of a july day as one can reasonably expect in chicago.
#1288
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,946
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2623 Post(s)
Liked 1,965 Times
in
1,230 Posts
This morning's ride started off pleasantly: cool, calm, and clear. Sunshine! and 73F, which is really nice after 90+F, and no sign of the impending 90% chance of rain later today.
Getting into the ride, I started feeling a little sticky - got to work and found out the dewpoint was 72. And by that time we were under a dark overcast - here comes the rain!
On a more pleasant note, there was a bob-white (quail) calling half a mile from the office. I don't think I've heard one this year, even while riding out in the country. I used to hear them all the time, and my family and my wife's family independently used to call the family together with a whistled "bob-white" in stores and malls.
Getting into the ride, I started feeling a little sticky - got to work and found out the dewpoint was 72. And by that time we were under a dark overcast - here comes the rain!
On a more pleasant note, there was a bob-white (quail) calling half a mile from the office. I don't think I've heard one this year, even while riding out in the country. I used to hear them all the time, and my family and my wife's family independently used to call the family together with a whistled "bob-white" in stores and malls.
#1289
Senior Member
Ride in this morning was fine. I left early and went to the gym for a bit on the way in. Our weather is still hot and humid, but that's forecast to change tomorrow with rain and a high of only 75F.
#1290
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,532
Bikes: Working on replacing my stolen Soma Buena Vista Mixte
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 417 Post(s)
Liked 95 Times
in
44 Posts
First commute on my new bike! I have to say, my 650b x 42 tires are so great! Such a commute game changer. The roads I have to deal with suck. And they did not feel too bad with the wide cushy tires. So glad I went bigger. Also, gearing seems pretty good on the new bike, and some segments were easier than I remember. Which is nice. My commute is a false flat climb almost the whole way.
I am so excited to join the daily commute party!
I am so excited to join the daily commute party!
#1291
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Mid Atlantic / USA
Posts: 2,115
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1002 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
155 Posts
Was really nice on the ride in this morning.
Looks like torrential downpour for the ride home.
Looks like torrential downpour for the ride home.
#1292
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Queens, NY for now...
Posts: 1,515
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times
in
113 Posts
Likes For robertorolfo:
#1293
Senior Member
Quite humid and sticky out and rain is forecast for most of the afternoon. I'm hopeful it will mostly break up by 5pm.
A couple of bikers passed me this morning. They seemed to be on some sort of workout mission so I didn't even try to keep up. But I did see them 2 more times as they were taking some meandering route that crossed my way to work.
A couple of bikers passed me this morning. They seemed to be on some sort of workout mission so I didn't even try to keep up. But I did see them 2 more times as they were taking some meandering route that crossed my way to work.
#1294
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,162
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2367 Post(s)
Liked 1,756 Times
in
1,196 Posts
No as-sploding power stations on my commutes Sunday/yesterday. The peregrine falcons, whose family have made the power plant their home for several generations now, have returned. Street alongside the power station that had the fire is still closed, and with the construction on one of the main routes up Capitol Hill, this street has become a busy alternate bike commute route. Lot of my co-workers/customers are having to get creative with route alternatives. Fortunately, my current route is restriction- and construction-free (something of an exception this time of year).
#1295
Senior Member
From heat indexes temps in the low 100's to 58F this morning. I honestly don't prefer either but wish it was more consistent
__________________
I'm slow, go around
I'm slow, go around
#1296
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,946
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2623 Post(s)
Liked 1,965 Times
in
1,230 Posts
Lovely ride in this morning. Temperature was down in the 60s -- I didn't expect to see that for a couple more months -- and it sure makes a nice break from the steam bath or oven-like riding conditions. Hmm, I need to pull up weatherspark.com to see just how unusual it is for summer weather here...
One close pass on the new bike lane. I'm beginning to believe the research that says MV drivers pass cyclists closer when there's a white line to show them how close they can come.
@robertorolfo, was that Manhattangate picture this morning? I have to admit, I'd never heard of it until this year.
One close pass on the new bike lane. I'm beginning to believe the research that says MV drivers pass cyclists closer when there's a white line to show them how close they can come.
@robertorolfo, was that Manhattangate picture this morning? I have to admit, I'd never heard of it until this year.
#1297
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,461
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3131 Post(s)
Liked 2,113 Times
in
1,376 Posts
I sold the surgery-recovery trike this weekend. I'm not sure how it went so fast - I posted it on Friday night about midnight and on Sunday it was gone. Either I was asking an embarrassingly low price (I don't think so) or I just hit that customer exactly at the right time. I expected it to languish on the classifieds for months. BIL's road bike isn't ready yet so I rode the MTB, and... it's 10% faster than the trike, give or take. My fastest trike rides were just under 21 min, first ride back on the MTB was 18:36. That's with circling around at a light and some inching along at the guard gate, OTOH I was feeling really good and pushing really hard to make a meeting.
It feels good to feel normal.
A couple of days ago I saw an e-bike that was made to look like a really old dirt bike or other small single motorcycle - like a Harley Ranger, maybe. I liked it.
It feels good to feel normal.
A couple of days ago I saw an e-bike that was made to look like a really old dirt bike or other small single motorcycle - like a Harley Ranger, maybe. I liked it.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-23-19 at 10:56 AM.
#1298
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Novi, MI
Posts: 539
Bikes: Franken-mountain bike, mid-90s Performance TR1000, 1990 Cannondale ST400
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
First commute since I graduated college 3 years ago, moved to Michigan, and found out I couldn't bike commute because the roads are treacherous and there are no shoulders on any route. Finally had a rail to trail conversion reach close enough to my place to bike to work!
Much excite.
Much excite.
Likes For awfulwaffle:
#1299
Junior Member
Never a cool day in Guam. Luckily it is only three miles each way, but the weather overall is pretty bad with the storms and rain here right now. Best part of the days was coming out to a flat tire and portable pump that failed on me. Great way to start my time biking everywhere.
#1300
Senior Member
Rode this morning and loved the weather. I like the cooler temps and it was right around 58 this morning. As I'm loosing more light each morning I'm realizing I need to invest in a better headlight. My current one is really just a day time running light which was fine most mornings but its not going to work as I have to deal with more darkness.
I've been happy this being my second summer of bike commuting to have been able to ride a lot more. Last year my first year of doing it the season was cut short due to all the road construction along my route. This year I haven't had to deal with it so getting to experience a little more this year. Schools start around here in just over two weeks so that will put a lot more cars on the road in the morning as well so that will be a new twist plus with more darkness I might have to alter my route a bit since I go right by the high school.
I've been happy this being my second summer of bike commuting to have been able to ride a lot more. Last year my first year of doing it the season was cut short due to all the road construction along my route. This year I haven't had to deal with it so getting to experience a little more this year. Schools start around here in just over two weeks so that will put a lot more cars on the road in the morning as well so that will be a new twist plus with more darkness I might have to alter my route a bit since I go right by the high school.