How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#1051
Senior Member
I spied a robin and a bunch of red-winged blackbirds on my way in today. Glad to be back in the saddle.
#1052
born again cyclist
53 degrees. sunny. windy as hell (mainly from the WSW, but city buildings where creating some CRAZY downdrafts and vortices).
my first commute of the year wearing only a long sleeve t-shirt. awesomeness!
my first commute of the year wearing only a long sleeve t-shirt. awesomeness!
#1053
Old. Slow. Happy.
Decent weather this morning -- 44f, and only a little breeze. First ride with new tires (Conti Contacts), and I had them a little too hard, as the dirt portion was on the rough side.
#1054
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Tahoe
Posts: 142
Bikes: Motobecane Single Speed, Trek Mountain Track Xtracycle
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Well after slushville yesterday, today was icebergs. Temp dropped to 20F and slush froze in big chunks. Was really glad I put on the fatboys. What a pain but worth it. I think next year I suck it up and get some wide Marathons that will last and on clear days just ride the single speed. Temp is supposed to stay in the 20's, but so used to it know I just wore a windbreaker and armwarmers.
#1055
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,264
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I had a great ride in this morning with mid 40s, those birds do make a difference!
Will be a nice ride home but the tourists are out big time. Impenetratble walls of tourists, oblivious to my little bell, four five six abreast on the wide pathways. Once I am back on the streets it's fine but on the National Mall things are crazy right now.
Will be a nice ride home but the tourists are out big time. Impenetratble walls of tourists, oblivious to my little bell, four five six abreast on the wide pathways. Once I am back on the streets it's fine but on the National Mall things are crazy right now.
#1056
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
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Spring is arriving a little early in NC, with high temps in the 70s today and 80s on Friday and Saturday. Should be a pleasant ride home this afternoon, and there isn't even much of wind, which is unusual for lately. Rode one of my steel racing bikes today for a change of pace, with a much lighter load than my touring bike.
#1057
On a Mission from God
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 2,010
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
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Temps have been awesome! This week, the weather has been 100% perfect, just a little windy. Gonna get 5 days in this week for the first time since I started commuting! Looks like I'll get around 100 miles this week... I'm excited!
#1058
Senior Member
Rode the route with t-shirt under my military wolly pulley and felt great. Temps in the morning 37, ride home 70. Definately only the t-shirt on.
80's tomorrow !!! Only a jerk with the fast/furious mentality to spoil the nice ride home.
3SS
80's tomorrow !!! Only a jerk with the fast/furious mentality to spoil the nice ride home.
3SS
#1059
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: seattle, too many links
Posts: 3,986
Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike
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so tired and exhausted on the way home.. no idea why...
#1060
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 403
Bikes: '06 Litespeed Siena
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Winds were better on the way home, but I wrecked (no bike damage thank goodness) and came out with just a few scratches. Before that, my Timbuk2 Shift Messenger/Pannier broke on one side and I had to get creative. The bag was hanging by one hook only. I reviewed this bag this morning in another thread, but I will definitely be sending it back. No question. If it's not strong enough to hold a thin laptop and a few clothes on an urban ride, then it wouldn't be strong enough to hold say, a text book.
#1061
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 60
Bikes: '89 Cannondale SR300; '64-'66 Allegro Special; '83 Centurion LeMans RS; '74 Raleigh Grand Prix
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Cincinnati was absolutely perfect for a good ride today! However, in OTR some bus driver thought it was necessary to ride my ass & honk the horn, by which I promptly turn to deliver a middle finger while shouting, "Share the f***ing road!" Perhaps not the best way to handle the situation, but I simple can't help returning the favor sometimes =) Think I'm finally back in good shape for climbing all of the monstrous hills leading up into Clifton from the lower downtown area, which I am very thankful for: feeling like you're going to die halfway up a steep climb is probably the worst ever. More to come!
#1062
Senior Member
Got some kids in car passing me and yelling F U.
I stopped on side as they were slowing down and pulled out my phone... as I calmly take picture of license plate, they make quick u-turn around where they shouldn't and was about to do another round of insult until they saw me taking photo of them. I actually even got their face shots. Now I am thinking about maybe helmet cam for just in case scenarios.
Funny thing is, if I was driving in a car and someone did that, I would have chased the person and confronted... Riding bike seems to calm me down quite a bit apparently that I didn't yell back, flicked finger, etc. Just covering my bases in case these kids gets stupid is all I cared about.
Overall, it was good and could have been better without this high school kids.
I stopped on side as they were slowing down and pulled out my phone... as I calmly take picture of license plate, they make quick u-turn around where they shouldn't and was about to do another round of insult until they saw me taking photo of them. I actually even got their face shots. Now I am thinking about maybe helmet cam for just in case scenarios.
Funny thing is, if I was driving in a car and someone did that, I would have chased the person and confronted... Riding bike seems to calm me down quite a bit apparently that I didn't yell back, flicked finger, etc. Just covering my bases in case these kids gets stupid is all I cared about.
Overall, it was good and could have been better without this high school kids.
#1066
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Posts: 1,875
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
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41f Windy, I really am getting sick of head wind, nearly everyday doesn't matter which direction I'm riding I fight headwind how the hell does that work?
#1067
Senior Member
-8C and a frozen derailleur leaving the house this morning so I had to turn back to get it moving. Even after getting it to shift, it still gave me problems upshifting for much of the ride. I had to walk the bike at one underpass as it was extremely icy and bumpy.
I phoned the city yesterday to see if they can clear the MUP down to the pavement. Its a toss up as to whether they'll actually do it. At least the forecast has changed so we aren't expecting any snow this week. But the temperatures will be low enough that the MUP won't melt on its own.
I phoned the city yesterday to see if they can clear the MUP down to the pavement. Its a toss up as to whether they'll actually do it. At least the forecast has changed so we aren't expecting any snow this week. But the temperatures will be low enough that the MUP won't melt on its own.
#1068
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 176
Bikes: All-City Space Horse, Trek 5000 WSD
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Nice day - around 55F this morning, 70s this afternoon. My second bike commute of the year and I love it! I'm trying out the new bike locker in my building. It has one nice rack and two flimsy racks. There are tons of locks left on the racks, most in the choice end spots. Does leaving a lock on the rack serve the same purpose as a reserved parking spot? I think not so I took an end spot. There aren't too many bikes now, but in the summer, I have seen the racks full. I plan to contact building management to ask for another rack, hopefully a sturdy one.
#1069
name's Jimmy :D
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SD to TN
Posts: 68
Bikes: One so far-- SS 88' Aerowind frame with an Amelia wheelset + other mods.
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Yesterday and today will be the first two days that are actually nice. 80 high - 50 low degrees! AHhhh. Finally! Had such a nice day riding yesterday, today should be the same. Too bad it's going to rain again soon... Stupid Tennessee weather. It feels like it changes every other day... It'll probably snow 3 days from now... Anyone feel the same way about where you live? Haha.
#1071
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Posts: 1,875
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
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#1072
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
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High temps are supposed to hit the 80s this afternoon, but my morning commute was chilly because temps were in the mid-40s I had to dress for the afternoon as well. My pace was a little off because my legs are tired from riding the past 6 days and I had a headwind. Afternoon ride should be a breeze with tailwind much of the way and warm temps.
#1073
GATC
38F, spitting rain but not really WET. Replaced the grease that washed out over the previous week (5" of rain!) and put a new (clean) freewheel on the SS, really smooth ride in today. Fixed is lower-maintenance.
#1074
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 83
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Good ride in this morning, temps in low 50's, moderate headwind. Looking forward to the ride home when it should be in the mid-70's. Shorts and short-sleeves for sure! Can't wait.
#1075
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
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Another front coming in to NorCal, so I had a nice dry tailwind on the way to work this morning. I doubt the ride home will be as pleasant.