Tundra_Man 

I've actually been toying with the idea of getting a recumbent trike so I can keep riding during my recovery period (probably got the idea from you.) The doctor already told me that I could use a recumbent exercise bicycle during my rehab, and I don't see much difference between a recumbent that sits in the gym on legs and one that rolls down the MUP on three wheels.

I know crashing is a concern, but frankly we'd be in an equal world of hurt if we were in a car accident and smashed our sternum against the seat belt. So I don't see much difference there. There's always going to be some risk of something bad happening. During recovery I could trip and fall down the stairs and re-break my chest, but I don't think I'm going to avoid the basement because of that risk.

My biggest concern with the trike is visibility. They sit so much lower to the ground that I would feel pretty vulnerable in traffic. I could do most of my riding on the MUP, but I have to ride some busy streets on either end.

Plus, they don't give those things away so money is an obvious factor as well.

HardyWeinberg

36F hazy

noglider 

@robertorolfo, I hadn't thought of that (top 10%), so thanks. And ridewithgps are probably stronger than the average rider, so I'm even higher than that.

@Tundra_Man, I love your wife for going along with your funny ideas. I can barely believe you're having heart surgery and will be following your story.

Darth Lefty 

Phamilton

Sunny, winds light and variable, and upper 40s on the ride in. Spring is here. Jack up those saddles, slam those bars, and let's all get back to the business of blowing out our knees. Silly winter.

pdlamb

Heard the train coming shortly after I left the house, and it was a moving screen to let me roll right through the intersection (I do a right-left zigzag, right at a stop sign where the traffic was stopped for the train, left turn arrow stays green while the crossing gate's down). That pretty much set the tone for the day; light traffic, I hit most of the traffic lights as they were green (hardly ever happens!), and a nice ride overall.

Now as soon as I get all the tree pollen out of my sinuses...

Tundra_Man 

Our Craigslist market here is quite a bit smaller, so no used trikes available. I went to my favorite LBS over lunch yesterday. They had two trikes in stock, one of which was $1600 and the other was $2100, however I didn't care for either of them. I found the Performer JC-70 online at a shop that has some in stock and could ship me one in a week. I really like the looks and featuires of that trike, but at $1725 it's quite a bit more than I want to spend for something I'd probably only use for a couple of months. And with our used bicycle market here I'd probably be lucky if I could sell it for $500 when I was done with it.

So... as fun as it would be to have something to ride during my recovery I'm probably going to have to just suck it up and sit on the recumbent bike at the gym.

Darth Lefty 

Steely Dan

51 degrees, mostly sunny, with a fun 12 mph SSW tailwind this morning.

did my 8 mile commute in 30 minutes, which is about as fast as i can do it.

oh if only every commute could be this glorious!

but that would probably get boring, i suppose.

you need the "interesting" days to make you appreciate the magnificent ones.

RidingMatthew

I was hit ...


in the neck by a robin this morning.


The bird flew right into my neck. I reached up and grabbed it and chucked it off. It flew away. I was not sure what had hit me in the neck but it felt like I got punched and it sore/ tender now.

pdlamb

@RidingMatthew, what a birdbrain!

Hope your neck heals quickly.

OhLylo

Dang. Slow down, Speed Racer! I've never gone under 46 minutes for my 10.5 mile commute. That's moving time, too. You're faster (or maybe more motivated) than I am. Maybe once the construction clears and my commute is shorter by a mile, I can go sub 40 for 9.5 miles. We'll see, lol

Yesterday afternoon was rough. 65 degrees with 25 mph sustained winds to the east. In other words, a serious headwind. I got to practice my flat-bar-aero-tuck riding position quite a bit, and that kept my average speed pretty high at just over 13 mph. Today we're potlucking at work so I took the car, because I'm not confident enough to try and stick a crockpot on my rear rack.

Steely Dan

it helps that 6 of my 8 miles are on a very lightly-used MUP with long uninterrupted stretches where i can "open up the throttle", so to speak.

i have one 2 mile stretch that doesn't have a single cross street. other sections have timed lights, such that if i hustle a bit i can usually make all but one of them.

so a 16 mph overall average isn't that remarkable given the nature of my route. and the tailwind this morning certainly helped. my typical time is more like 35 minutes.

noglider 

@RidingMatthew, that's weird. I have never heard of that.

RidingMatthew

@noglider me either but I am glad I could be the first for our commuting family here on the interwebs.

rhm

I have got into the habit of recording my 5.5 mile ride to the station with a GPS unit. The main purpose of the GPS unit is to help me navigate brevets on the weekend, and there really isn't any point in recording my commute with it, but it turns out to be useful in various ways. For example, I can use the information on the GPS to determine whether I'm on schedule to catch my train, or not... and if I'm not, I have to decide whether I can catch the train by going faster, or not to bother, in which case I have fifteen minutes before the next train.

There is a traffic light about 2.9 miles from home. It is actually the fifth traffic light I pass. Some time ago I discovered that if (a) I ride fast, and (b) the wind is in my favor, and (c) I get lucky and get through all those traffic lights without slowing down, then I may possibly cover the first three miles in ten minutes. That's pretty much top speed. After that I get on the canal towpath, and I necessarily slow down a bit.

Anyway, my 5.5 mile ride is usually a bit more than 22 minutes. Thinking I'm about to miss my train is great inspiration to ride as fast as possible.

RidingMatthew

@rhm i have found that an impending thunderstorm is also a great motivator to ride as fast as possible.

Tundra_Man 

What also works is chugging a liter of water about 20 minutes before I leave. It motivates me to ride at top speed for the 2nd half of my commute.

Phamilton

rhm

I know it well! And then there's the dilemma... do I want to sit on the train soaked from the rain, or soaked with sweat?

phile

well car turned right while i had green light, due to years of having a bike with coaster brakes, i had a brain fart and started pedallign backwards instead of using brake levers. about to go get bike fixed and send driver the bill

Tundra_Man 

32F this morning with a light headwind. Been off the winter bike for a week now and still marveling at how much easier the hybrid is to ride compared to my heavy beast with studs.

Had a car full of high school girls pull out in front of me from the left, see me at the last second and slam on the brakes. Thankfully I saw them coming on the side street from about a hundred yards back and thought, "That car doesn't look like it's slowing down enough to stop," so I had plenty of time to slow down. First time I've used the AirZound in quite a while. I think the whole experience spooked them because for the next quarter mile until they turned they stayed way behind me.

River is down about six inches from yesterday. Still way over the banks, but at least it appears to be receding now. Been above flood stage for two weeks now.

oldgeezerjeff

About 15 MPH south wind this morning. Good thing I am riding mostly west to east. Commute about 14.5 miles each way. Generally finish in about 60 to 65 minutes. I did not take the MUP this morning as there are a number of dog walkers and such that have no lighting of any sort...let alone the rabbits, skunks, and possible coyotes that inhabit sections of the trail. I have a very good headlight that lets me see quite a ways ahead, but rabbits will run right along with you and then suddenly cut across the trail.
Anyway, I took to the streets (three lanes wide, no shoulders, 50 MPH traffic) this morning and was only honked at 4 or 5 times. At least no one ran over me.

Tundra_Man 

Welcome to the forum OGJ! Where are you located at?

pdlamb

High overcast this morning, little wind.

Wednesday: jacket and tights. Thursday: warmers and no jacket. Today: warm enough to skip the knee warmers.

I'd say this might be a trend, but it's supposed to be ~20 degrees colder Tuesday morning.