wphamilton

True, my first/last name is about the fifth most common in the USA, if those name ranking sites are to be believed. It sounds like you've got that covered. However, as @mgw4jc said (and I work further upstream in that industry), after any adverse decision they are required to provide you the report if it's a credit check, and should provide it or tell you how to get it in the case of more general background checks. Just be sure to obtain it either way.

The thing is, a lot of those background checks just give the employer a rating number and no other information. They don't actually know specifically why they're rejecting the applicant and the employer doesn't have to give you anything in that case, but they do have to show you the path to get it. The other thing, maybe more important, is that those background checks are compiled from different sources with varying levels of accuracy, especially the cheaper ones. So don't take anything for granted. There can always be errors. But enough unasked for advice, I'm just trying to provide moral support here.

jimmuller 

Glad it worked out for you. It was great having you visit, and thanks for letting me show off my modest collection.

Well, that day (yesterday) ended up a bit warmer and the ride home would have been quite pleasant. But after the late previous night the rest was good, plus it let me arrive at work quite a bit earlier and leave later and get more done!

FWIW I did ride in today though the temperature was about a degree colder. When it gets down into the mid-20's my thumbs get cold from being hooked over the brake hoods. But it was a nice ride. This might be my last bike commute for a while because 4 to 6 inches of snow is predicted. Traffic was much lighter than usual today. Instead of going to work everybody must have gone to a local store to buy milk and eggs. That's what people tend to do when snow is predicted.

ptempel

Sounds smart to get the background check report for yourself. I never saw mine. I only recall my old job using Adecco for my background check in the early 2000's. So I guess they are one of the companies that do it. This reminds me that a PM at that job was let go because of falsifying information on his resume. Moral of the story is never lie about anything on the resume...

Back on topic: I had a nice ride into work this morning. Friday is almost always great since the traffic in NYC is lighter. I ran into a co-worker whilest going downtown in Harlem and had a chat. Its nice to talk with my fellow cyclecommuters once in a while. I heard that we are supposed to get 2 to 4 in of snow tomorrow. I usually don;t ride on the weekends. But I hope that the roads aren't too hosed on Monday. Will see...

Darth Lefty 

Haha, you're right in the middle of the same learning curve I had. Man, even their generic is a ripoff :-D The name brand is so much less if you buy online
https://www.amazon.com/Tegaderm-Tran...dp/B076QR6FBG/

pdlamb

Huh, I thought that was only down south where it snows once a year (in a good year!). Except that we all buy milk and bread instead of eggs.



Last night and this morning were my first commutes since the cold front came through. Dark, gray, windy, and did I mention cold? Tires needed pumping and I had a hard time convincing myself to "sharpen the saw," that the additional speed on the ride would make up the time it took to pump them while shivering. I warmed up on the ride, some, but I don't know if I made up the pumping time. :/

wphamilton

Still snowing, hard! The temp is rising slightly, to 35° (but wind-chill below freezing) and with only 1 inch forecast by quitting time I don't think any will stick on the road anyway. Not likely to have frozen spots on the ground - there was quite a bit of standing water this morning. What do you snow experts think?

timvan_78

pea soup fog in the dark again, but at least it's well above freezing so no worries about black ice.

I've been loving the shape that my bike light cuts through the fog.

ptempel

Wow, $16 for a pack of 20? Thanks for the link! Even though I only need 4x4, there's 10 of them so that should do me for now.

HardyWeinberg

Had a convoluted plan to be able to ride home today; car A needed service, so was going to drop it at shop, then my wife would pick me up w/ car B with bike rack and my commuter, so she could drop me at the office and I could ride home. Then, after yesterday, became clear our mornings are too icy for kids to ride, so would add my daughter's bike to the rack, drive her to school, drop the bike with her so she could ride home. Son is concussed so not going to school today.

Then it all kind of fell apart where the car hatchback was too iced over to open, so could not mount the bike rack. Figured this in town for my daughter to catch a ride so she got to school. Car A dropped, wife picked me up in Car B. And the two of us plus our son are off to the urgent care in Car B. Hopefully A will be done by the end of the day.

noglider 

I rode to a doctor's appointment today. I took my fixie for the first time in a long time. I wonder why I had the saddle set so low. Was I riding a low saddle a year ago?

It inspired me to get my track racing bike rolling again, to see if it's fun at all. The fixie (a 1975 Viscount I converted to fixed gear) was a whole lot of fun to ride.

It's cold and humid in that raw kind of way, but I was dressed really well for it, and it felt good.

pdlamb

Here's hoping your need for Tegaderm is so low half of them dry up before you need them!

wphamilton

I was wrong again, the snow did stick and there was freezing slush everywhere. Our offices closed early so I was able to make the first tracks in the snow. I love doing that, but I don't often get the chance.

About halfway home, the soft pretty snow flurries surrendered to mean stinging frozen rain. Cold water everywhere, with a carpet of brown leaves on top.

RidingMatthew

I have done that a couple times. ridden through fire and ambulance situations. I ask the guy stopping traffic if I could get through and they are like go ahead.


that is some neat pictures. Looks like you have some serious ice issues. be careful.


we have some nice snow coming down. they are calling for 3-5 inches which is a lot for North Cackalacky!


(I drove today because my wife 1. asked me to 2. because I need to take my daughter somewhere. (it was cancelled).


about to drive home slowly

noglider 

Nice pitchers, @wphamilton.

jimmuller 

Um, I'm from down south but it's been a while. I must've fergot what they do.

Abe_Froman

First commute in the snow this year, first commute on studded tires!

Wow, what a difference. Totally comfortable riding through snow/packed ice in the city with traffic. Honestly shocked at how good traction was. When it's cold...I'm never getting out of the saddle and hammering or anything...so I think I can say traction will never be a determining factor for my riding this winter. Very excited.

Now I need to sort out fenders for my 26" winter beater bike...I have a wet butt

mgw4jc

We had some snow and sleet on Friday, but not enough to make the roads bad. I met my wife part way home and only rode 5 miles in it. The sleet kinda hurt if it got me in the face and my fingers got cold, but I was fine for the most part. Got a hot chocolate after meeting her and got warmed up.

Just under 30F this morning but clear and roads are dry. On a MUP, the wooden bridges still had some icy spots, but none big enough to be scary. The white-tailed deer that I saw seemed okay with it too.

RidingMatthew

WOW I thought it was really pretty to see my headlight sparkle off the snow on the side of the roads this morning. I also saw 18F on the GPS this morning. It was only 5 degrees from my coldest ride record (13F). I rode through a stream along the greenway and froze my brakes. [probably not the smartest way to go] It was not too big a deal until I came around a curve later and a masked bandit (raccoon) was strolling toward me. I could not stop so I veered into the grass and snow on the side of the greenway. I kept it rubber side down the whole way ... even with ice on the roads/ trails. Good ride.


I forgot my work socks too. but sure beats driving. I have to hustle home tonight to make it to a Christmas Party. I hope it is a bit warmer.

Tundra_Man 

A warm front moved in yesterday causing this morning's temps to be 40F. This will be short lived as the temp is supposed to drop steadily throughout the day. The commute home should be below freezing as usual for this time of year.

Along with the front came 30 mph winds with gusts much higher. I had to ride straight into it for the trip to the office. However, given the choice I'd rather fight it on the way in and get a push home than the other way around.

The warm temps haven't yet melted off all of the ice from last Monday's storm, but I decided it was patchy enough to leave the winter bike in the garage and ride the hybrid. Wow, what a difference. Even fighting that brutal headwind I made it to work faster and with noticeably less effort than my winter bike on a calm day.

I know studded winter tires provide some resistance, but I'm starting to have a hard time believing that it's just the tires making that much difference. I've already double checked that I don't have any brake pads dragging. The wheels seem to spin free. I sure hope I figure this out because I'm starting to loathe riding my winter bike. Loathing any bicycle can't be healthy.

arsprod 

24F with a bit of a headwind. Forecast is for another round of cold temps and freezing rain tonight. I really don't want to put the studs on but afraid it'll be necessary tomorrow. @Tundra_Man I was having a really tough time with rides last week and discovered yesterday I did have a brake dragging (yay for disk brakes... not). What a difference today - though putting the studs on will negate that.

Darth Lefty 

I set up the commuter bike with the back seat and went inside to find the 3yo spraying 409 all over the kitchen. His normal reaction in such situations is much like that of a seagull or coyote... he’ll keep doing it til chased, then run away with it, then cast it away when capture is certain. Conscious of the danger to my eyeballs, I asked, told, ordered, yelled at him to stop, then lunged for the bottle... and did a giant pratfall when my bike shoes met the puddle, taking him down with me. He cried, I cried, wife and dogs ran in to see. My tailbone is bruised. That always takes forever to heal.

later in the ride, I found a plush reindeer antler from a car window. :/

joeyduck

@timvan_78 I see your pea soup fog and raise it nuclear reactor concrete fog.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oBIxbirQU0py0k0D2

The clear photos were Wednesday. The fog was Thursday. The screenshot of light blue route was my route to town without a compass.

Thick fog on the water is eerie and scary (if you have no reference point).

OmegaWolf

2 inches of new snow with very heavy snow coming down for the first 2 miles. Then it changed to wintery mix, then to freezing rain. A thick layer of ice on my helmet when I got in to work. I'd sure hate to have to drive through that stuff.

Darth Lefty 

But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,
"I'm signalling left but I'll prob'ly turn right"


Untitled by Darth Lefty, on Flickr

mgw4jc

Too funny!