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How was the commute today?

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Old 04-30-09 | 08:52 AM
  #31226  
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Originally Posted by JoeSoMD
Nice ride in today... but last night I saw something that I never thought I would ever see. ELEPHANTS!!!! 3 of them hanging out at the side of the road. Big too! Apparently the circus is in town. Talk about a double take!!! They didn't give a crap about my bicycle... they were more interested in throwing some straw around. I assume that they were staked, but I didn't notice. Nice looking critters.

Elephants! How can anyone top that! I would like to say that a lion chased me to work or I rode over a python but the best I may see is a dog or cat.
Good ride in, 4 degrees C, too cold for Elephants or Lions. Overcast with a rain on the forcast so I did not see any other commuters this morning.
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Old 04-30-09 | 09:06 AM
  #31227  
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50F, perfect temp, no wind. I was later than usual and frazzled this morning, took the conscious decision to slow down, enjoy the ride in, kept it at 15mph and looked at the foliage, the calmness of the river. Good commute.
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Old 04-30-09 | 09:23 AM
  #31228  
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Had to come in early today, didn't eat before I left. I shouldn't skip that part of the morning routine again...

I have seen a LHT outside my office for a while now and I finally met the guy who owns it. Normally he gets there before me and is gone by the time I leave for the day.
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Old 04-30-09 | 09:25 AM
  #31229  
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Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery

warmer than yesterday, legs still feel heavy.
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Old 04-30-09 | 10:26 AM
  #31230  
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Foggy, Foggy, Foggy. To make it even more interesting are the number of people that simply refuse to turn their car head lights on in these conditions. Always baffles me.

Otherwise the ride in was fine, temps in the 50's, damp but not raining. The afternoon ride home should be much better.

As this is the last day of April my totals for the month are/were 17 out of 20 commutes on the bike!!
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Old 04-30-09 | 12:39 PM
  #31231  
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From: Happy (Fairbanks), AK

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Originally Posted by vtjim
Mid 30sF, sunny, very light headwind. Not many people out this morning.
+1 on the weather, but saw no other riders. Springtime has hit but the MUP and nordic trails that I prefer in the summer are still in winter's grip with a variable mix of slushy snow, glare ice, and sticky mud; relegated to the road, where the 5 mile commute to work was a short 15 minutes! (as opposed to the winter trail ride which has taken as long as an hour!)
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Old 04-30-09 | 12:41 PM
  #31232  
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It's a gorgeous day today. The pollen isn't as bad as before, it's sunny, and it cooled down from record highs of like 88F to normal of about 60F. I rode in wearing cycling clothes for the first time and changed into my spare clothes. I knew they'd come in handy one day.

I rode in on my fixed gear bike for the first time, too. I'm feeling strong lately, and it was easier than I expected. The hills have gotten easier. I'm now wondering "where are the hard parts?" now. My fixed gear has a low gear (65 gear inches) so it's good for climbing. Descending is getting more comfortable, too, and I was able to spin like crazy without being uncomfortable. Also, I'm feeling more confident about controlling my speed. I have two caliper brakes in case I need them, and I rarely use them. But I'm no daredevil dummy.

To top it off, I brought my bike into the elevator and got into a conversation with a guy (whom I didn't know) about bike commuting and cycling. He and I will get together and ride at lunch some time. He comes from the opposite direction, so we can't commute together.
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Old 04-30-09 | 12:45 PM
  #31233  
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it's always nice to connect with a fellow bike commuter
there is only one other person that i know of that rides a bike to work in my building, but people ask about my rides all the time, especially during the colder months
 
Old 04-30-09 | 12:59 PM
  #31234  
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The makeshift rack, out back, has 5 or 6 rigs I see regularly.
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Old 04-30-09 | 09:46 PM
  #31235  
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it's been so nice out lately!

a little cooler today but very comfortable and sunny. a nice bike path ride. the ride home was really nice. I even had a thought as I rode home at 8 pm of how all winter it would have been that dark at 4 pm and the wind I was riding into would have been freezing and I would have needed my balaclava pulled up over my face.

Nice that it was only a fleeting thought and not a reality.
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Old 04-30-09 | 09:50 PM
  #31236  
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So after work today we had our company picnic. I rode the bike over to that, played a few games of volleyball (we were up 12-6 in the game that would have put us in the championship round but lost 15-13), then rode home at about 8 pm. It was a beautiful evening so I set out for the river trail.

GNATS!!!!!!!

Gawd I hate 'em

It still didn't ruin my ride home as the sun went down. Gorgeous
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Old 04-30-09 | 11:55 PM
  #31237  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

First mechanical problem Wednesday - broken spoke on rear wheel drive side. Just came out of the hub. Kind of a bummer since I've only been commuting about 4 weeks. That's what you get for buying a Target bike, I suppose, even if it was a $225+ Schwinn. Couple nice bikers asked if I needed help as they passed, though, which I kindly refused since I was only a couple miles from home. Their kindness gives me some faith in humanity, though, at least the cycling portion of it! :-)

About to go on vacation for a couple weeks, but I'll have to make the wheel fix priority numero uno on my return. Riding the train to work today made me realize how much nicer it is to bike to work!!! Might just go ahead and have LBS double check the front wheel/spokes, too, since I haven't had it properly inspected since I got the bike. Everything seems OK (i.e., no loose spokes and wheels spins true), but so did the back until it broke a poke, so... Oh well. I'll be back to riding ASAP!
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Old 05-01-09 | 05:43 AM
  #31238  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Cycled to work every day this week, my first "5 bagger" in a while. Usually the rain or other commitments will force me to drive 1-2 days a week. The weather has been perfect in NC all week, with morning lows around 60 and highs in 70s-80s. The one day when they said it might rain, the storms never materialized. Despite the nice weather, I'm still not seeing any regular bike commuters on my route. Occasionally I'll see someone for a day or two, but they don't stick it out (or ride at different times or routes).
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Old 05-01-09 | 05:57 AM
  #31239  
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tarwheel - congrats on your 5 bagger - still waiting for mine.

I purchased a new saddle: Specialized Avatar Gel saddle in a 143 width

I love it. It was raining this morning but nothing would keep me from road testing it on my 13 mile ride in. I LOVE IT. My hip feels better already and it was comfortable! I felt much more efficient. It also seemed slippery enough. I even rode in with just bike shorts because it was warm enough.

Wrapped my rack trunk with my courier bag with a plastic bag - not elegant. Of course I know a proper waterproof rack trunk is in my future ... :-) Hoping the rain takes a break for my ride home. I have some f;exibility with my schedule so maybe I can time my ride with the radar forecast.
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Old 05-01-09 | 06:08 AM
  #31240  
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The Devil's wind turbine was cranked up to 11 this morning. 30+ MPH howling off Lake Champlain. Mostly a quartering headwind but I got it square in the face for the last mile or so. At one point I was just spinning along at 8 or 9 MPH. Temps in the 50s though. Overcast. Very light drizzle.

Originally Posted by Doohickie
GNATS!!!!!!!
Yeah, here too. They hover in great swarms over the MUP. Breathe through your nose and wear glasses.
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Old 05-01-09 | 08:18 AM
  #31241  
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Almost became a prius hood ornament this morning. The Driver was coming out of a cross street an I was on the Ave. He edge out passed the stop sign and I slammed on the brakes. I did a massive endo and hung there in the balance for what seemed like an eternity. It was like the matrix. The worst part was that he wasn't sure if he/she was going to stop or go. Kept pumping the brakes of indecision.

Moral of the story, ALWAYS watch out for Prius drivers.
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Old 05-01-09 | 08:21 AM
  #31242  
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Bikes: Turner Flux, Orbea Onix Dama.

I had an awesome ride today. They have been putting in a new LRT track right in the middle of my route to work - no way to get around it. Today I tried out the new asphalt bike path that has finally been put in after the construction aftermath. Besides it being beautifully smooth to ride on, I hit almost no red lights on the way to work!!

Plus, the weather is almost becoming spring/summery. Yeah for capris!! (not quite short weather yet - but better than tights).
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Old 05-01-09 | 08:33 AM
  #31243  
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ibcrewin - I am always watching out for Prius drivers but I think this situation has nothing to do with her being a Prius driver. Beemer maybe ... :-)

BTW: I have a front strobe which has, on more than one occasion, helped me avoid this situation. They can see it through shrubs and they are more inclined to stop sooner, rather than roll forward into my path.

You OK? "ENDO" means you fell right?
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Old 05-01-09 | 09:04 AM
  #31244  
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From: Pittsburgh, PA

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60Fs, slow ride in, light but steady rain. Had the opportunity to test out the Stearns rain gear the wife picked up at Big Lots. Promising. Forecast for thunderstorms today. I keep thinking that people on public transport are going to vector illness.
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Old 05-01-09 | 09:11 AM
  #31245  
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the wind was fierce on the ride home yesterday
i was grateful this morning for no wind and warmth and a little dampness...i was fast and i left earlier so the traffic was different

it's been a great week to be a bike commuter
 
Old 05-01-09 | 10:23 AM
  #31246  
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How was the commute today? AWESOME!!! Usually by Friday I am really feeling the fatigue, but today I felt strong. And to top it off, when I got to work and dressed for the day, my shirt felt looser around my gut. Now if I can just avoid the pig flu, my Friday will be complete.
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Old 05-01-09 | 10:44 AM
  #31247  
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50F and cloudy, some headwind. Tail light batteries died en route, but it was light out by then. Looks like the weather will be the same this afternoon, so I get the wind behind me!
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Old 05-01-09 | 01:59 PM
  #31248  
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Bikes: 2009 Trek Allant, 2000 Trek Navigator, 1982 Schwinn LeTour

20-35mph winds on my last 5 commutes. Needless to say, record times one way and punishment the other. I've been riding my old LeTour simply because it has drops. On part of my ride I go down a big hill off a bride and onto a trail along the river. Guess who got a bunch of river muck in his cassette? Did I mention the river has been high down there lately? On top of that, the pedals have been clicking for the last few days. I've checked and everything is tight so I can't figure out what the problem could be. When they click, I can feel it in the left pedal. I suppose I'll have to take it to the shop, since I don't have a crank wrench to get to the ball bearings. Or I could buy a crank wrench, but I doubt the wife is going to approve of another bike purchase
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Old 05-01-09 | 05:06 PM
  #31249  
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what a tailwind on the way into Boston this morning! It meant I made great time. The ride home was super sweet, along the bike path but a bit slow into the wind, which was still blowing.

PS.

Is this thread really slow lately for everyone else? Takes a while to get into it and to post for me lately.
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Old 05-01-09 | 06:32 PM
  #31250  
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windy yes, at least the rain was minimal huh? temps were good too
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