2013!! How Was your Commute Today?
#2751
Senior Member
#2752
Senior Member
Is it considered a commute if you don't actually go to work, but the ride is peripherally related to work?
On Monday, because I don't have anything better to do on a holiday than go to my boss's house to help his kid with his computer, I hopped on my bike for the trip. What a beautiful day, and a great ride through the city's river valley. Edmonton is a real gem when it comes to its park areas. Not so much in the winter.
On Tuesday, I took a day off, but rode my commute route to downtown anyway to check out the Tour of Alberta festivities. Put a few extra kms to check out the prologue route and just poot around because I had time to kill. Another great day to be on a bike.
Today I'm working from home and didn't ride. I'm staring out the window a blue skies and no discernible wind. *sigh*
On Monday, because I don't have anything better to do on a holiday than go to my boss's house to help his kid with his computer, I hopped on my bike for the trip. What a beautiful day, and a great ride through the city's river valley. Edmonton is a real gem when it comes to its park areas. Not so much in the winter.
On Tuesday, I took a day off, but rode my commute route to downtown anyway to check out the Tour of Alberta festivities. Put a few extra kms to check out the prologue route and just poot around because I had time to kill. Another great day to be on a bike.
Today I'm working from home and didn't ride. I'm staring out the window a blue skies and no discernible wind. *sigh*
#2753
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 207
Bikes: 2013 Carve with Rigid Salsa Fargo & 2005 Allez
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#2754
Senior Member
#2757
******
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 949
Bikes: Specalized Tri-Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Almost got hurt on the ride home. Under 1 mile from work, crushing down a hill. About to pass a guy walking, and a pickup truck shoots past me, slams on the brakes and swerves over directly in front of me. I lock up the brakes, go all squirrelly on both wheels, manage to not eat it. End up directly along his passenger door, about 6 inches from a ditch. Start screaming at him, nothing polite. He won't roll down the window and just waves me on.
Passes me a bit later, turns out he was picking up the walker. I don't think he even realized how close he came to making me crash. Just saw a friend and decided to pick him up.
Passes me a bit later, turns out he was picking up the walker. I don't think he even realized how close he came to making me crash. Just saw a friend and decided to pick him up.
__________________
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
#2758
Just a person on bike
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,140
Bikes: 2015 Trek 1.1, 2021 Specialized Roubaix, 2022 Tern HSD S+
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 132 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times
in
56 Posts
Almost got hurt on the ride home. Under 1 mile from work, crushing down a hill. About to pass a guy walking, and a pickup truck shoots past me, slams on the brakes and swerves over directly in front of me. I lock up the brakes, go all squirrelly on both wheels, manage to not eat it. End up directly along his passenger door, about 6 inches from a ditch. Start screaming at him, nothing polite. He won't roll down the window and just waves me on.
For me, it was a pretty eventless commute home. There were a couple of close calls, but that's nothing new.
__________________
The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
The value of your life doesn't change based on the way you travel. - Dawn Schellenberg (SDOT)
#2759
******
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 949
Bikes: Specalized Tri-Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the concern! In 7 years of commuting, tonight was a top 5 for OMG WTF moments.
__________________
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
#2760
High Plains Luddite
Scary! I had to read that twice to get the picture straight. I think a lot of drivers just don't see bikers.
I would have gotten crushed myself today if I hadn't seen it coming well before I got near the girl on her cell phone who glanced ever-so-quickly in my direction before running a stop sign and turning left out of a parking lot. If I had kept going the speed I had when she glanced, I would have been right in front of her when she punched the throttle.
The weight continues to melt off me (I'm not obese at 6'2" and 210 lbs but could stand to lose 20 or so pounds more) and my endurance is getting so much better. Tonight on the way home, I passed my usual turn-off going uphill and continued for probably two more miles uphill just for the fun of it before turning around and taking a long and windy way home from there.
I would have gotten crushed myself today if I hadn't seen it coming well before I got near the girl on her cell phone who glanced ever-so-quickly in my direction before running a stop sign and turning left out of a parking lot. If I had kept going the speed I had when she glanced, I would have been right in front of her when she punched the throttle.
The weight continues to melt off me (I'm not obese at 6'2" and 210 lbs but could stand to lose 20 or so pounds more) and my endurance is getting so much better. Tonight on the way home, I passed my usual turn-off going uphill and continued for probably two more miles uphill just for the fun of it before turning around and taking a long and windy way home from there.
#2761
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
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: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,470 Times
in
1,435 Posts
I still don't have a job, but yesterday, I had an audition, and today, I had a lunch date. My small news is that the audition went great, and I got the part. The big news is that I just moved back to the city and am enjoying the heck out of riding here. It is invigorating, to say the least. It requires quick wits and tons of energy, and I have to muster them up somehow, but so far, so good.
__________________
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.
#2762
Senior Member
The ride to work was very nice this am, though it sprinkled the last three miles to work. My clothes are drying by the heater under my desk. Anyway, I am just glad to be riding instead of taking the car like I did yesterday.
#2763
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 794
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good ride, weather good - but where did all of these cars come from?
On one side street that I normally blow through all by my lonesome - I had to stop at two 4 way stops.. one had cars in every direction, with three in line on my left.
Weirdness.
On one side street that I normally blow through all by my lonesome - I had to stop at two 4 way stops.. one had cars in every direction, with three in line on my left.
Weirdness.
#2764
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,264
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Long story here. Please scroll on past if you have a short attention span and little tolerance for wordy windbags like me.
That was a fun and unexpected detour, and I managed not to get chased by either the golf course ranger or the cops and/or private security (just guessing) inside the gated community of large homes.
That was a fun and unexpected detour, and I managed not to get chased by either the golf course ranger or the cops and/or private security (just guessing) inside the gated community of large homes.
Another early Fall nice ride in...a record four guys in the office locker room this morning, all bike commuters, yes!
#2765
Senior Member
#2766
Senior Member
Decided that since my work clothes were at work, my lunch (uneaten from yesterday because we had a office BBQ lunch) was at work, that I could go to work backpack- and pannier-free so I took the road bike in. Not used to it so I am still a little jarred up but it was a lot of fun, decent speed too, 25.8kmh (16.0mph).
Cool though, 7C (45F) but I dressed for it. However, although it was nice to have a clear sky, that meant that there were lots of instances when I was riding right into the low-lying sun and my view was obscured. Fortunately, I was on quiet residential streets at the time so I wasn't too worried.
Cool though, 7C (45F) but I dressed for it. However, although it was nice to have a clear sky, that meant that there were lots of instances when I was riding right into the low-lying sun and my view was obscured. Fortunately, I was on quiet residential streets at the time so I wasn't too worried.
#2767
tougher than a boiled owl
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rocky Coast of Maine
Posts: 1,125
Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I still don't have a job, but yesterday, I had an audition, and today, I had a lunch date. My small news is that the audition went great, and I got the part. The big news is that I just moved back to the city and am enjoying the heck out of riding here. It is invigorating, to say the least. It requires quick wits and tons of energy, and I have to muster them up somehow, but so far, so good.
#2769
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
Cool morning, clear skies and no one on the path except a few runners, deer, and us cyclists. Easy riding, didn't break a sweat until I rolled in. It doesn't get much better than this.
#2770
Senior Member
Great story, see what civilians miss by driving cars!
My wife and I were riding Saturday and a guy in a Honda Civic starts squeezing me over to the right. I see he's talking on the phone so know my bell, yelling, etc won't help. So I start banging on his trunk - nothing. He turns right into a McD's and I followed (my wife's hanging way back). He pulls into the drive through and I come up behind and start yelling for him to pay attention. He STILL doesn't see or hear me, he's ordering like nothing's unusual. I gave up - some people are just too stupid.
No commute today, living vicariously through you all
Almost got hurt on the ride home. Under 1 mile from work, crushing down a hill. About to pass a guy walking, and a pickup truck shoots past me, slams on the brakes and swerves over directly in front of me. I lock up the brakes, go all squirrelly on both wheels, manage to not eat it. End up directly along his passenger door, about 6 inches from a ditch. Start screaming at him, nothing polite. He won't roll down the window and just waves me on.
Passes me a bit later, turns out he was picking up the walker. I don't think he even realized how close he came to making me crash. Just saw a friend and decided to pick him up.
Passes me a bit later, turns out he was picking up the walker. I don't think he even realized how close he came to making me crash. Just saw a friend and decided to pick him up.
No commute today, living vicariously through you all
__________________
I'm slow, go around
I'm slow, go around
#2771
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
Riding home yesterday I pass a guy on the greenway. He is in lycra on a nice looking cyclocross with fairly smooth tires but no helmet. I am cruising along but I have panniers on both sides of my Motobecane I say to him passing on your left and move on by him. I see in my mirror that he is working to stay with me. I say lets have some fun, I drop one gear and start pulling up more on the backstroke and bye bye dude. You got passed and dropped by a guy carrying a coffee thermos, lunch bag and and a pair of pants w/ Panniers on his bike. I usually say hi to most people as I see them riding and did to him as I passed but it was kinda fun. I averaged 16.9 miles on the way home. So I guess I was really moving.
It was only about 85 degrees and less humidity too. It felt good to ride yesterday.
The rides in yesterday and this morning were nice as well. 64 degrees today, a little more humidity than yesterday, but still a nice ride in. Thought I broke my record this morning but then realized I forgot to restart my watch when I stopped to pull off my arm warmers. That was a bummer.
It was only about 85 degrees and less humidity too. It felt good to ride yesterday.
The rides in yesterday and this morning were nice as well. 64 degrees today, a little more humidity than yesterday, but still a nice ride in. Thought I broke my record this morning but then realized I forgot to restart my watch when I stopped to pull off my arm warmers. That was a bummer.
#2772
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Brodhead, WI - south of Madison
Posts: 2,928
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.2
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
No ride today. I've got a cold/allergy/sinus thing going on ... fighting it because the first CX race of the season is this Saturday and it's going to suck if I'm sick for it.
#2774
Senior Member
Cool at 13C/55F, light winds. Stopped to offer help to a fellow cyclist in distress (flat tire, broken pump), but he had already activated his Plan B (wife on the way) so he sent me along. Very nice ride in.
#2775
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: No. Va.
Posts: 490
Bikes: '96 C40, '04 C50, '04 Merlin Magia, '97 Stumpjumper, '04 Specilaized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Liked 562 Times
in
178 Posts
Beautiful morning, low 60s, no wind to speak of. Lots of traffic! Very slow on the roads to the MUP. Great ride on the MUP until I hit a bump and my Topeak MTX trunk bag/panniers fell off on the path. Put them back on and cruised up until my turn off for work.
Long line to turn into our lot as traffic on the other side was backed up. I patiently waited my turn in line and as I got to the front I slowed for a car coming the other way. Lady in an SUV (go figure) decides she HAS to go around me. Since she has to wait for the other car as well, I pulled myself right in front of her and took my turn. As she passed me on the way in I asked her (loudly) where she thought she was going. Completely ignored me of course and shot off into the parking lot. I thought about chasing her down, then thought better of it. She did have a sticker on her car for her side business, so she may be getting a call tonight to educate her on cycling/car laws and etiquette.
Long line to turn into our lot as traffic on the other side was backed up. I patiently waited my turn in line and as I got to the front I slowed for a car coming the other way. Lady in an SUV (go figure) decides she HAS to go around me. Since she has to wait for the other car as well, I pulled myself right in front of her and took my turn. As she passed me on the way in I asked her (loudly) where she thought she was going. Completely ignored me of course and shot off into the parking lot. I thought about chasing her down, then thought better of it. She did have a sticker on her car for her side business, so she may be getting a call tonight to educate her on cycling/car laws and etiquette.
__________________
There are no tailwinds. There are headwinds and days when I'm awesome!
There are no tailwinds. There are headwinds and days when I'm awesome!