2015!! How was your commute today?
07-23-15, 11:19 PM
#1926
Senior Member
80 degrees, 70 percent humidity, 6mph headwind (changed direction since it's been going the last month), and a terrible headache. Then after a light at the top of a little hill, some semi truck passed me, and before he was past me he started moving over on me really pushing me into the curb and the bushes sticking out of it. I almost crashed going something like 25mph (speed limit on the road is like 30mph). I was pretty freaked out and pissed off. I caught the truck like 2 miles down the road where I did some not so grown up things, but it at least let me blow off steam on someone who put my life in serious danger for the impatience.
07-24-15, 05:11 AM
#1927
Senior Member
Another nice commute with the temp at 60f degrees this morning. This morning as I passed a house, I was looking in the direction of the driveway and I saw someone had left the car-key in the door of the vehicle. I did not stop or do anything because I am not sure that anybody wants to be disturbed at 6:00am.
07-24-15, 06:04 AM
#1928
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Nicest commute this week. Coming back to cooler temperatures (barely 
) after not being able to ride yesterday was a nice start to a Friday.
) after not being able to ride yesterday was a nice start to a Friday.
07-24-15, 06:21 AM
#1929
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Warm and very humid this morning after thunderstorms and heavy rain on Thursday. I drove yesterday due to forecasts calling for severe thunderstorms but actually could have bike commuted unscathed because of the timing of the storms. Of course, I have no way of knowing that ahead of time and it's not worth the risk and stress to ride on days like that.
Swapped tires on my main commuter last weekend because the Conti GP 4 Seasons that were on that bike were about 5 years old with untold mileage and lots of cuts. They still had enough tread to last a while longer but I just didn't feel safe riding on them anymore. I replaced them with some Rivendell Roughy Tuffys, which are nice riding and supposedly very durable but also slow. My average speeds dropped immediately and they feel sluggish. Not sure how long I can put up with that as my commute distance is pretty far (31 miles round trip). I've ordered some Panaracer Gravel Grinders and might just swap them out as soon as they arrive unless I suddenly develop an affection for riding slower.
Swapped tires on my main commuter last weekend because the Conti GP 4 Seasons that were on that bike were about 5 years old with untold mileage and lots of cuts. They still had enough tread to last a while longer but I just didn't feel safe riding on them anymore. I replaced them with some Rivendell Roughy Tuffys, which are nice riding and supposedly very durable but also slow. My average speeds dropped immediately and they feel sluggish. Not sure how long I can put up with that as my commute distance is pretty far (31 miles round trip). I've ordered some Panaracer Gravel Grinders and might just swap them out as soon as they arrive unless I suddenly develop an affection for riding slower.
07-24-15, 06:55 AM
#1930
Senior Member
it's been almost a month since my last visit on the forum. Since I started my new job I don't have much spare time, which is a good thing because the days seems shorter. At my previous job I was sitting at my desk 40h/week with a lot of spare time but I'm now the shop dispatcher/foreman at another Ford dealer and I'm much busier. The days are also tougher on the legs since I stand most of the time and walk a lot, so the bike ride was thouger for the first 2 or 3 weeks, but now it's fine.
I also had to take a week off the bike because I fell on a saturday night 3 weeks ago: I was coming back from one of my friend's place at around 9 pm, when it was getting darker but not completely dark and there was a big log straight across the bike path, I'm sure it was pure sabotage, when I saw it I was too close to stop so I stumbled over it and badly scrapped my right shoulder, elbow and knee, the helmet was badly scratched as well so I replaced it. I may have seen it earlier if I would've been sober... (had a few cold one) and if had I tought about bringing my headlamp... But still there some dumba** who tought it would be funny to put a big log across the bike path at night, it cost me a front wheel...
I also had to take a week off the bike because I fell on a saturday night 3 weeks ago: I was coming back from one of my friend's place at around 9 pm, when it was getting darker but not completely dark and there was a big log straight across the bike path, I'm sure it was pure sabotage, when I saw it I was too close to stop so I stumbled over it and badly scrapped my right shoulder, elbow and knee, the helmet was badly scratched as well so I replaced it. I may have seen it earlier if I would've been sober... (had a few cold one) and if had I tought about bringing my headlamp... But still there some dumba** who tought it would be funny to put a big log across the bike path at night, it cost me a front wheel...
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07-24-15, 07:14 AM
#1931
Senior Member
I didn't ride yesterday, but back on today. I think I broke my front shifter on my way in. It hasn't been right for a while. It was very difficult to shift from the middle ring to the big ring. It didn't make the ratcheting clicks. Basically I would have to apply quite a bit of force to get the front derailleur to move. I knew it wasn't right, but it was working.
Well, when trying to shift it this morning, there was a pop and the shifter went loose. It no longer has any resistance. I didn't mess with it while riding and it was fine for me to get to work. But I suppose I'll have to switch back to my other bike. It was having chain issues, so perhaps I'll replace that.
Well, when trying to shift it this morning, there was a pop and the shifter went loose. It no longer has any resistance. I didn't mess with it while riding and it was fine for me to get to work. But I suppose I'll have to switch back to my other bike. It was having chain issues, so perhaps I'll replace that.
07-24-15, 07:27 AM
#1932
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Rode home yesterday almost 11 miles in a gentle rain. At mile 7 is when my feet started to feel squishy, which is not too bad for that ride. I really like having fenders. I think they helped.
They only bad thing is that my headlight died on the way home. The one day I wish the battery hung on a little longer due to the steady rain.
I drove today since we are heading out of town for my 20th high school reunion this weekend.
They only bad thing is that my headlight died on the way home. The one day I wish the battery hung on a little longer due to the steady rain.
I drove today since we are heading out of town for my 20th high school reunion this weekend.
07-24-15, 08:47 AM
#1933
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No commute in this morning. Yesterday afternoon totally wiped me. It wasn't supposed to get as high as 98, but it did and sure as hell felt more like 100-something. The weather reports in the morning said a high of 93. Those added 5 degrees just made the ride fairly miserable. Also had a punk of a headwind. I am glad I brought a 2nd bottle with me, as I went through two full bottles in 10.7 miles.
07-24-15, 10:39 AM
#1934
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I helped a guy rescue a kitten out of the storm drain on the N/B Hazel bridge bike path. I pulled over for him since he had his bike upside-down-parked and I thought he might need patches or something. He had found the kitten while riding earlier, and come back with a wrench to take a panel off of the gutter. I chased the kitten to the opening. However we could not get the bolts back in since when we pulled them out, the sand around them fell in the bolt holes. Not sure who to call. He took the kitten, thank goodness!
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07-24-15, 11:47 AM
#1935
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Hot n humid as always this week. Had a few sprinkles going home both Tuesday and Thursday. It really looked like rain yesterday when I left, had fenders on and everything, but barely got sprinkles the whole way. I was like "come on quit this pansy sprinkling and just rain already!" 
Then I was on a 3-lane road with center turn lane, moving into the turn lane to turn left onto a side street (no intersection markings). As I'm signalling I'm trying to maintain momentum to swing around behind the car approaching me from the other way. But then that car decides to just stop in the street. I grumble and put my foot down, holding my hand out like "what are you doing??", then she rolled the window down and was like "you wanted to turn!" I said "but you have the right of way!" So she went on and then I turned, grumbling some more as I struggled to regain some speed.
I also checked last year's commute mileage thread and I'm almost 450 commuting miles up from the same point last year, so that's cool!
Then I was on a 3-lane road with center turn lane, moving into the turn lane to turn left onto a side street (no intersection markings). As I'm signalling I'm trying to maintain momentum to swing around behind the car approaching me from the other way. But then that car decides to just stop in the street. I grumble and put my foot down, holding my hand out like "what are you doing??", then she rolled the window down and was like "you wanted to turn!" I said "but you have the right of way!" So she went on and then I turned, grumbling some more as I struggled to regain some speed.
I also checked last year's commute mileage thread and I'm almost 450 commuting miles up from the same point last year, so that's cool!
07-24-15, 05:56 PM
#1936
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Comparatively nice day today! I went down a street this afternoon that was so gridlocked that all the cars decided to take the bike lane over that was fun... not. I almost got hit by a car that ran a steady red light. My light had just turned green and for some stupid reason I didn't look left to make sure all the cars stopped like I normally do. My only warning I was about to get hit was her slamming on her brakes. Well, as long as I don't get hit.
07-24-15, 09:36 PM
#1937
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You see how heavily used the path is. It's a constant stream of cyclists and joggers. The joggers are officially not allowed on this portion of the bikeway, but I'm fine with them being there. Most cyclists and joggers behave as if we're on an autobahn, keeping right and passing left. It's one of the most orderly places in the city in my observation.
I started the video at just below 14 St and ended it at about 25 St, so that's a hair over a half mile. That's a small fraction of my 14-mile commute, of course.
https://youtu.be/m82ugBavDxc
I started the video at just below 14 St and ended it at about 25 St, so that's a hair over a half mile. That's a small fraction of my 14-mile commute, of course.
https://youtu.be/m82ugBavDxc
Helmet camera I presume? Some parts of the video towards the end, it looks like you were taking long looks to the left while continuing to ride.
07-24-15, 11:45 PM
#1938
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No, it was my cell phone held by my hand. Sorry it's so shaky. I turned the camera left and right so you could see what surrounds us. The highway and city are on the right, and the park and river are on our left, as we go north (uptown).
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07-26-15, 07:52 PM
#1939
Senior Member
Hot and humid again, but a nice cloth soaked in water really makes things better.
The ride was really smooth and nice today, but I saw a young man (I think a high school kid) laid out in a parking lot of a convenience store. He was under a road bike, handlebars bent, not really moving so much. It looked like he got hit by a car coming in or pulling out of the parking lot. He didn't have a helmet on... It looked really bad, and I really hope he's okay.
The ride was really smooth and nice today, but I saw a young man (I think a high school kid) laid out in a parking lot of a convenience store. He was under a road bike, handlebars bent, not really moving so much. It looked like he got hit by a car coming in or pulling out of the parking lot. He didn't have a helmet on... It looked really bad, and I really hope he's okay.
07-27-15, 05:43 AM
#1941
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71F 22cC here in DC....gonna be a hot week. Ride in was nice, wet streets after an early morning thunderstorm. Working on selling my condo up on Cap Hill so I will be looking at new, linger commute in the coming months.
07-27-15, 07:13 AM
#1942
Senior Member
I left a little early and added about 15 minutes and 3.5 miles to my ride in this morning. Total of a little over 16 miles.
Plenty of summer still here with highs in the low 90s all week.
Yesterday somebody in a white Lexus tried to turn the Starbucks close to my office into a drive-thru. Not sure how they did it. They would have had to powered over a sidewalk curb first. Only one person with minor injuries on the inside.
Plenty of summer still here with highs in the low 90s all week.
Yesterday somebody in a white Lexus tried to turn the Starbucks close to my office into a drive-thru. Not sure how they did it. They would have had to powered over a sidewalk curb first. Only one person with minor injuries on the inside.
Last edited by mgw4jc; 07-27-15 at 07:45 AM.
07-27-15, 07:53 AM
#1943
Senior Member
Already warm this morning. A bit groggy from a sleeping pill so push myself to work it out my system. Going to be a extremely hot one on the way home. My car AC doesn't work or I might just drive.. without the AC it's cooler riding the bike!!
07-27-15, 08:49 AM
#1944
Senior Member
Another Heat-Advisory for KC today (heat index of around 107), so I drove today. Actually, I got up early and did a ride since I was pretty sure I didn't want to ride this afternoon. The temp was nice (mid 70's), but I was still absolutely drenched with sweat by the time I got home. Way humid!
07-27-15, 08:58 AM
#1945
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Legs tired this morning after two 50-mile rides over the weekend, so I took it easy riding to work. I was still drenched in sweat by the end of the ride because the humidity levels have gone way up again after a brief respite the past few days.
07-27-15, 11:37 AM
#1946
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Yesterday after towing the baby trailer about 6 miles, I did the 6 back with my BIL's race bike. The seat was too low. That plus bike commuting 3x last week seems to have done in my knee. I sat out today. I might go in tomorrow taking it easy if I don't feel any problems this evening.
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07-27-15, 12:34 PM
#1947
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yep a great ride in.
I had the chance to ride my bike with my 5 year old son riding his bike this weekend. I think he has biking figured out!
We played follow the leader and celebrated with a Batman Cookie! It was a truly a wonderful moment this past weekend.
Last edited by RidingMatthew; 07-28-15 at 05:17 PM.
07-27-15, 06:57 PM
#1948
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It's hot today, so naturally I decided to ride way further than usual. Quick loop around the lake, and a run up to the trinity mills station, and then the next station up from where I usually get off. 26 miles for the day, vs the 9 for the day if I take the closest trains. Huge smoothie when I got home and I'm happy and tired and feel great.
Was as good to get my legs spinning for a while and kill one goal (riding from work to the transfer train station), next goal is to ride the entire loop, but that'll be a 37 mile route due to bike unfriendly infrastructure the shorter way.
Was as good to get my legs spinning for a while and kill one goal (riding from work to the transfer train station), next goal is to ride the entire loop, but that'll be a 37 mile route due to bike unfriendly infrastructure the shorter way.
07-28-15, 05:04 AM
#1949
Senior Member
Another nice uneventful commute, by way of the garden I like. Also I was able to add another mile on so now it can be a ten mile commute to work.
07-28-15, 05:27 AM
#1950
Senior Member
3 trains this morning! Arrived at work right on time though. Wasn't hot till I had to stop. Wasn't that terrible last night due to cloud cover. Today might be another story. Oh well pedal slow and steady.