2019! The “How was your commute?” thread!
#1326
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Nothing of note besides a small new grass fire burn scar between MUP and Folsom Blvd near 50.
My "no special effort" pace on the plus bike is about the same speed as my "try hard" pace was on the trike.
My "no special effort" pace on the plus bike is about the same speed as my "try hard" pace was on the trike.
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Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#1327
Senior Member
I'm back after a week's vacation. Cool and humid this morning. I didn't know it was possible to sweat that much in 12C/54F temps.
#1328
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I don't want to start an argument here or diss recumbents...I find this comment interesting. A number of years ago, I went on a casual, friendly group ride, and one rider had a trike (tadpole) equipped with a motor, but he said he wouldn't need it because he would be so much faster than the rest of us anyway. Made all these claims about how the recumbent posture gave him so much more power, and it was so much more aerodynamic. He fell behind pretty quick, turned around, and went home. Maybe it wasn't such a friendly ride. Anyway, it's interesting that you make the exact opposite claim.
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Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-29-19 at 11:33 AM.
#1329
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I took an extended bike ride after work. I need to start putting my bike shorts in my bike bag. My morning ride is not really a far enough to need them, but if I am going to do 10 or 15 miles after work, I really should have them.
#1330
Senior Member
Nice ride in this morning but I'm realizing quickly that my little light I have isn't going to work as it get's darker in the morning. It does enough for people to see me but not powerful enough for me to see well enough so looks like I have a new purchase to make later today if I want to keep riding. This wasn't an issue last year as my riding season was cut short due to road construction but that's not an issue now.
#1331
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Forgot my socks and my bike lock.
#1332
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Nice early morning ride, felt like another recovery ride (I needed one of those). Cool but overcast. How come the light in all those fancy pictures of famous places looks golden, but overcast light here looks gray?
@HQQKEM, I can see forgetting the bike lock (although I leave mine locked to the rack at work), but how'd you get out without noticing no socks?
@HQQKEM, I can see forgetting the bike lock (although I leave mine locked to the rack at work), but how'd you get out without noticing no socks?
#1333
The Fat Guy In The Back
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@HQQKEM, I can see forgetting the bike lock (although I leave mine locked to the rack at work), but how'd you get out without noticing no socks?
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#1334
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#1335
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Dress Code at work
mandates dress socks. I wore the water sandals sans socks for the ride in. Could have sworn that I stuffed a sock roll into the other dress shoe last night. The belt was in the other shoe. Wife works from home and came to the rescue. Bike is secure and feet are now comfy.
#1337
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My wife is having Lasic this morning, so I am watching the kids in the park while they shoot her eyeballs. I’ll be going in to work later.
Here in the park is a Go Go Thomas the tank engine 12” kids bike. It’s sort of horrifying. The top tube is the boiler and the head badge is his dead gray face
Here in the park is a Go Go Thomas the tank engine 12” kids bike. It’s sort of horrifying. The top tube is the boiler and the head badge is his dead gray face
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-30-19 at 03:34 PM.
#1338
Senior Member
I don't want to start an argument here or diss recumbents...I find this comment interesting. A number of years ago, I went on a casual, friendly group ride, and one rider had a trike (tadpole) equipped with a motor, but he said he wouldn't need it because he would be so much faster than the rest of us anyway. Made all these claims about how the recumbent posture gave him so much more power, and it was so much more aerodynamic. He fell behind pretty quick, turned around, and went home. Maybe it wasn't such a friendly ride. Anyway, it's interesting that you make the exact opposite claim.
I used to ride with a guy who sometimes rode his 2 wheel recumbent. He had no problem keeping up with regular roadies, even coasting down hills faster.
No bike commute for me again today. Same kid taxi issue. Hope to ride tomorrow though.
#1339
Senior Member
I rode my bike to work for the first time this week. Yay! Comfortable temps.
I was going to leave at 6 and get to work early, but realized it isn't really light outside then and my bike lights were not charged. So I walked the dog for about 20 minutes instead and took my time getting ready. And found my lights so that I could charge them up.
I was going to leave at 6 and get to work early, but realized it isn't really light outside then and my bike lights were not charged. So I walked the dog for about 20 minutes instead and took my time getting ready. And found my lights so that I could charge them up.
#1340
Zip tie Karen
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I finally had the maiden ride on the carbon superbike that I've been building over the past several months. I chose a mid-week commute day, since I can get two short 9-mile rides and sort out any mechanical issues between rides. All parts were sourced directly from China, with an open mold frame. Shimano R8000 mechanical throughout, rim brakes and DT Swiss 240 hubs laced to high profile carbon rims.
And the verdict? Well, the bike was swift and climbed well. I felt some lateral flex in the front wheel on a few descending hard turns, but the bike tracked my chosen line well. I'd say that this has been a success.
Oh, and the engine sucks...
And the verdict? Well, the bike was swift and climbed well. I felt some lateral flex in the front wheel on a few descending hard turns, but the bike tracked my chosen line well. I'd say that this has been a success.
Oh, and the engine sucks...
#1341
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You need to talk to Darth Lefty about Thomas.
Nice ride in again today. Rain that was threatening yesterday hit about 10:00 last night and was gone long before dawn, so another lightly overcast, cool morning. Another startling occurrence this morning: nearing the top of the hill near work, over on the shoulder, the pickup driver waited for me to crest the hill and take the lane so I could make the left, while he went straight. These outbreaks of politeness are delightful; I'll be so disappointed if I get used to them.
Nice ride in again today. Rain that was threatening yesterday hit about 10:00 last night and was gone long before dawn, so another lightly overcast, cool morning. Another startling occurrence this morning: nearing the top of the hill near work, over on the shoulder, the pickup driver waited for me to crest the hill and take the lane so I could make the left, while he went straight. These outbreaks of politeness are delightful; I'll be so disappointed if I get used to them.
#1342
Senior Member
Foggy and chilly. As soon as I hit the road, I wished I had gloves and long sleeves. When I got to work, I noticed some water droplets clinging to arm hairs (from the damp air, not sweat).
It's still July, right?
It's still July, right?
Last edited by groovestew; 07-31-19 at 11:10 AM.
#1343
Senior Member
Good ride in this first day of August. Tomorrow morning I have an early airport run and won't be driving to work. Then next week I am off and won't be going to work. So my month will have a slow start but should then get back to normal.
July ended up being my highest mileage month this year with 529 total commuting miles.
July ended up being my highest mileage month this year with 529 total commuting miles.
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#1344
The Fat Guy In The Back
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Consecutive bicycle work commute number 780:
Beautiful morning. I took the road bike the 8 miles to the office and managed to arrive in a hair under 32 minutes. That's pretty fast for an old fat guy with a bionic heart.
Riding 9 miles to a client location over the lunch hour. Brought my dad's old transistor radio with me so while I ride I can catch part of the Twins@Marlins baseball game that starts at noon. Daytime baseball games are decidedly inconvenient for those of us in the work force.
Yesterday on a local cycling Facebook group that I'm active in, another rider called me the "Tony Hawk of Sioux Falls bicycle commuting." That made me laugh.
Beautiful morning. I took the road bike the 8 miles to the office and managed to arrive in a hair under 32 minutes. That's pretty fast for an old fat guy with a bionic heart.
Riding 9 miles to a client location over the lunch hour. Brought my dad's old transistor radio with me so while I ride I can catch part of the Twins@Marlins baseball game that starts at noon. Daytime baseball games are decidedly inconvenient for those of us in the work force.
Yesterday on a local cycling Facebook group that I'm active in, another rider called me the "Tony Hawk of Sioux Falls bicycle commuting." That made me laugh.
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#1345
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At least you’re not the Tony the tiger.
Last night my sticky link made itself a nuisance in every gear. I had forgotten about this, even though I posted about it last winter before my surgery. This morning, before anyone else got up, I pulled out a new chain that was intended for a different project, and installed it. Fixing the old chain would have entailed two more quick links, and that just seems like tempting fate. When I first shortened the chain out of the package, I made it one link longer than the chain that came off the bike, thinking that maybe someday I will put on a 46 tooth cassette. However, this made the derailer have almost no tension at all. It seems like Salsa put a chain as long as possible on it, not as short as possible like I assumed they would have. Thank you for thinking ahead and not being stingy, Salsa.
Last night my sticky link made itself a nuisance in every gear. I had forgotten about this, even though I posted about it last winter before my surgery. This morning, before anyone else got up, I pulled out a new chain that was intended for a different project, and installed it. Fixing the old chain would have entailed two more quick links, and that just seems like tempting fate. When I first shortened the chain out of the package, I made it one link longer than the chain that came off the bike, thinking that maybe someday I will put on a 46 tooth cassette. However, this made the derailer have almost no tension at all. It seems like Salsa put a chain as long as possible on it, not as short as possible like I assumed they would have. Thank you for thinking ahead and not being stingy, Salsa.
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 08-01-19 at 07:59 AM.
#1346
The Fat Guy In The Back
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#1347
Senior Member
Finally, some...heat? Can we call 15C/59F heat? Warmest ride in for a while, anyway. Edmonton is normally a reasonably dry city but we're pretty soggy this year. Supposed to be mighty humid for the ride home.
#1348
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Yesterday I left late to let the third shower of the afternoon blow through. (Still made it home dry!)
So I left the house a bit late this morning, and found as bad a traffic jam as "downtown" here gets, short of a road race or parade. I haven't seen so many people staring fixedly at the taillights in front of them since the last time I was on a California freeway. Finally figured out it was the annual "biggest business in the area annual symposium."
After leaving downtown, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Cool if humid (temperature and dewpoint were both 72F), but mostly clear with some interesting wispy cloud formations. I notice the old-timey crape myrtles were blooming, which left me wondering why all the fancy new varieties (white, purple, and bright red) bloomed early last month?
So I left the house a bit late this morning, and found as bad a traffic jam as "downtown" here gets, short of a road race or parade. I haven't seen so many people staring fixedly at the taillights in front of them since the last time I was on a California freeway. Finally figured out it was the annual "biggest business in the area annual symposium."
After leaving downtown, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Cool if humid (temperature and dewpoint were both 72F), but mostly clear with some interesting wispy cloud formations. I notice the old-timey crape myrtles were blooming, which left me wondering why all the fancy new varieties (white, purple, and bright red) bloomed early last month?
#1349
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I took BIL's road bike on the shortest route this morning. I felt like I was really flying...
...13.1 mph downhill in the morning and 12.9 mph uphill in the evening. Twenty, here I come!
...13.1 mph downhill in the morning and 12.9 mph uphill in the evening. Twenty, here I come!
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Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#1350
Senior Member
First ride this morning with my new light. What a difference it made. At its lowest setting it is 600 lumens which is what I had it on except for one small stretch of path where I used the middle setting of 1200, its max is 2400. I'm also noticing traffic is starting to pick up in the morning as our schools are starting to go back in session. My D's HS starts next Tuesday so some of the staff and teachers are starting to come in and get ready. I go right by the HS on my morning route so may need to alter my route some for a few weeks.