2013!! How Was your Commute Today?
#1626
Junior Member
First commute in months due to brake, cabling, handlebar, shipping & procrastination issues. Not as bad on the legs as I expected. New appreciation for slipping through traffic.
#1627
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 498
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's Bike to Work Week here in BC. It's a pretty big deal here in Vancouver--workplaces track kms and compete, lots of commuter stations with snacks/draws/free mechanic services, etc.
As usual, the weather is not cooperating for the noobs. Yesterday was the 2nd "bait-and-switch". ie. not raining in the AM, and then pouring in the PM. lol.
As usual, the weather is not cooperating for the noobs. Yesterday was the 2nd "bait-and-switch". ie. not raining in the AM, and then pouring in the PM. lol.
#1628
Senior Member
Heavy rain and thunderstorms. Though not quite as severe as they'd expected. Still, it was serious.
20 mph headwind, to boot.
Still, I really didn't mind very much. I recently added a powerful headlight for just this reason. I carry seven pounds of battery to power the thing. (I don't carry the battery on days when I'm sure I won't need it.) I felt very secure.
I got wet. My so-called rain gear is in the dryer right now.
Yet it was still a fine ride, mostly.
20 mph headwind, to boot.
Still, I really didn't mind very much. I recently added a powerful headlight for just this reason. I carry seven pounds of battery to power the thing. (I don't carry the battery on days when I'm sure I won't need it.) I felt very secure.
I got wet. My so-called rain gear is in the dryer right now.
Yet it was still a fine ride, mostly.
#1629
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ride in: Sweaty, humid...repeat for next three months
#1630
Senior Member
The ride in this morning was very nice. I did not notice the temp as I went through town but it was warm enough for shorts and a shirt and very comfortable.
#1631
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
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Great ride this morning with temps in upper 60s and no wind, plus I had fresh legs because I had to drive yesterday. Our weather has been very summerlike this week, with highs in the upper 80s and high humidity. I would rather it be cooler, but I'm not complaining because we had not storms to contend with. Still a little freaked out by a thief stealing one of my coworker's bike in broad daylight the other day, and considering buying a heavier-duty U lock. The one I have is pretty strong but I might as well use a big, strong, heavy lock because I don't carry it with me but leave it locked to the rack at night.
#1632
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
Great ride this morning with temps in upper 60s and no wind, plus I had fresh legs because I had to drive yesterday. Our weather has been very summerlike this week, with highs in the upper 80s and high humidity. I would rather it be cooler, but I'm not complaining because we had not storms to contend with. Still a little freaked out by a thief stealing one of my coworker's bike in broad daylight the other day, and considering buying a heavier-duty U lock. The one I have is pretty strong but I might as well use a big, strong, heavy lock because I don't carry it with me but leave it locked to the rack at night.
#1633
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,144
Bikes: Schwinn Tourist (2010), Trek 6000 (1999)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The ride in was comfortable today. 70F, a little humid. Kind of not looking forward to the ride home: 85F, and 95% humidity expected. But, I'm jumping in the pool right after the ride.
#1634
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 260
Bikes: 2010 Trek FX 7.2, 2006 Felt F80
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The ride in was wonderful. 45 degrees F, mild breeze, light traffic, and fairly steady legs from me.
i think i'll climb the local Category 1 ski hill road tomorrow to prep for the century i'm doing next weekend
i think i'll climb the local Category 1 ski hill road tomorrow to prep for the century i'm doing next weekend
#1635
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,678
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
Liked 2,637 Times
in
1,532 Posts
I left my three-speed at the train station last week when I went to Manhattan, and my wife drove me home. I went down there today with the dog. I rode most of the way home, very slowly, in a very low gear, on the sidewalk, holding her leash. It's a very steep hill, and it's very hot, and I didn't want to exhaust the dog. We stopped several times to catch our breath.
__________________
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.
#1636
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,110 Times
in
1,418 Posts
Was heading out early for a long mellow detour but flatted about 2 miles from my house. Patched the flat and then noticed the huge cross-wise slice through the tire. I didn't have a boot in my kit but I was able use an XL size patch to hold it long enough to get home and switch bikes. At this point I just had to come in directly to the office.
#1637
Senior Member
Added a few K's onto my pre-work-from-home ride this morning because it was so lovely out: sunny, 12C/54F, almost no wind. Got in an extra ravine in a there-and-back ride, and managed about 338 meters/1100 feet of climbing in a 25 km/15.5 mile ride (according to my Garmin 500). Not bad for a flat city.
#1638
What, me worry?
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: Corratec / Jamis
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
...and game over! At least for my rear wheel and the latter part of my commute home!
Morning commute to work was uneventful, but on the way back I had a classic Mediterranean grandmother jump/wobble from between two parked vans onto the road, without checking for traffic of course, and ended up right in front of me. At that point I was going pretty much flat-out, on third on the Nexus3 and should have been going around 30 kph in order to catch the green traffic light ahead of me, and because of the panic breaking, I skid the rear wheel to the right and side swiped the curb pretty hard. Luckily I managed not to fall, and the grandmother, totally oblivious to what had happened, wobbled her way to the other side, head down and mumbling something unintelligible.
The actual curb strike had taken it's toll on the rear wheel which was now rubbing the brakes, and about a mile down the road I heard the tell-tale snap of a spoke and the rear wheel froze by touching the inside of the chain-stay.
Hope you all had a better commute today!
Morning commute to work was uneventful, but on the way back I had a classic Mediterranean grandmother jump/wobble from between two parked vans onto the road, without checking for traffic of course, and ended up right in front of me. At that point I was going pretty much flat-out, on third on the Nexus3 and should have been going around 30 kph in order to catch the green traffic light ahead of me, and because of the panic breaking, I skid the rear wheel to the right and side swiped the curb pretty hard. Luckily I managed not to fall, and the grandmother, totally oblivious to what had happened, wobbled her way to the other side, head down and mumbling something unintelligible.
The actual curb strike had taken it's toll on the rear wheel which was now rubbing the brakes, and about a mile down the road I heard the tell-tale snap of a spoke and the rear wheel froze by touching the inside of the chain-stay.
Hope you all had a better commute today!
#1639
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
Very nice commute home yesterday with a tail wind, managed to slip in between the rain showers that were moving through. This morning, it POURED on me for part of it. Shoes were like swimming pools. But it wasn't too bad. Kept me cool(er) despite the humidity.
#1641
Senior Member
Have fun. Ride a lot. Stay safe.
Hopefully those a little less faint of heart will take up the commute with you..........
Also, for you, almost more than any any other......
Know when to take the lane and when to be a gutter bunny............
#1643
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
I have a working understanding of the conditions in which PGSR is pedaling.......keep it up, my friend........
Have fun. Ride a lot. Stay safe.
Hopefully those a little less faint of heart will take up the commute with you..........
Also, for you, almost more than any any other......
Know when to take the lane and when to be a gutter bunny............
Have fun. Ride a lot. Stay safe.
Hopefully those a little less faint of heart will take up the commute with you..........
Also, for you, almost more than any any other......
Know when to take the lane and when to be a gutter bunny............
#1644
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 260
Bikes: 2010 Trek FX 7.2, 2006 Felt F80
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#1646
bill nyecycles
oh hey great news. i found a route to the school where i am teaching summer school, and it's only 2 miles longer than my original ride to my school - and half of it is on a greenway. win!
AND i can start right from home, instead of driving half way to a church parking lot and riding from there - which is what I did for my normal commute.
double win!
i'm back baby! starting tuesday!
AND i can start right from home, instead of driving half way to a church parking lot and riding from there - which is what I did for my normal commute.
double win!
i'm back baby! starting tuesday!
#1647
What, me worry?
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: Corratec / Jamis
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
oh hey great news. i found a route to the school where i am teaching summer school, and it's only 2 miles longer than my original ride to my school - and half of it is on a greenway. win!
AND i can start right from home, instead of driving half way to a church parking lot and riding from there - which is what I did for my normal commute.
double win!
i'm back baby! starting tuesday!
AND i can start right from home, instead of driving half way to a church parking lot and riding from there - which is what I did for my normal commute.
double win!
i'm back baby! starting tuesday!
#1650
Super Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenwood Indiana
Posts: 2,805
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck
Liked 868 Times
in
521 Posts
50F a little head wind. I left a half hour later than usual and it was light before I got to work. Great nice ride.
__________________
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are
Good Night Chesty, Wherever You Are