How Was Your Commute Today? [Archive] - Page 8 - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

laura*

07-27-2012, 11:44 AM

The other day, I did this year's first major multi-modal commute:

First I drove to the park and ride lot. Then unloaded the bike and rode 6 or 7 miles so as to be first in line to board a long distance commute bus. 75 minutes after first parking, the bus went by the park and ride lot. After the bus ride, transferred to a trolley train, and then biked to my final destination. The return home was the reverse sequence, except with a detour for dinner, and disembarking at the park and ride lot.

Total riding distance: Right about 30 miles.

Major incidents: Flat rear tire 0.1 miles from my destination. It was some sort of construction grade staple. :(

Other issues: The grocery store near the start of the bus route runs out of breakfast early these days. I have to make alternate breakfast plans.

Additional incident: Discovered a flat front tire upon unloading the bike the next morning. :mad: This time there's nothing stuck in the tire. I haven't tried fixing it yet.

tzvia

07-27-2012, 02:48 PM

Laura-
That's a major sounding commute!

Flats suck for sure! Out here we get goat-head thorns. They are like spiky 'jacks' and can go right through the toughest tires. Been using Slime-light tubes and it really helps. I check the tires regularly, and from time to time find those wooden 'spears' straight through the tire. I carry a mini multi-tool with small pliers to help remove them. The slime seals the tube and makes life easier. There's also condo construction on one stretch on the ride home and between the nails, staples and broken glass from the soda bottles the workers drink I could not ride with normal tubes. Every three or four months, depending on what I have been pulling from the tires, I remove the tube and give it a going over and put a real patch over anything the slime had sealed. If it looks really bad I replace it. That's also a good time to inspect the inside of the tire for anything that was not visible from the outside. It's worth the trouble because sitting on the sidewalk in the hot summer fixing a flat is just no fun. Slime-light tubes are awesome.

If you eat at bus station mid point, maybe taking something with you would work better? Small juice bottle, breakfast bar, fruit, banana, bagel with cream-cheese?

redrhodie

07-28-2012, 04:12 PM

I rode to Wilco last night. They were awesome! I almost didn't go because it looked like rain (it was outdoors) but I am so glad I went. The rain just made it more fun. They are so good live. So much fun.

Biking to the concert was great. Bike Newport had a kiosk set up with a repair shop. Bike parking was plentiful and safe. There were a lot of bikes! After the show, they were passing out free lights, but I was already looking like a Christmas tree, so I didn't take one. A lot of people came without lights, and it was already almost 10 pm when the band stopped playing, and totally dark, so they were really lucky.

Leaving the venue was a little nerve racking because it was really crowded. I decided to go the long way home to avoid the traffic. It was pitch dark and there are no street lights for much of the way, but I know every crack in the pavement of this route. With the music still fresh in my blood, the dark ride was dreamlike. Not being able to see much more the the spot of light in front of me, the feeling of the ride was still so familiar. It was really cool.

I missed the lbs ride this morning because I wasn't waking up at 5 am, but I rode to work. Made it home before the rain, but it was so humid it didn't matter.

Gypsy

07-30-2012, 07:09 AM

Rode to work this morning in a dress.... yes, made it with out flashing anyone, but I now understand why the cruisers and other bikes have the bar so low. But it was less nerve wrecking that before and I think it's partially that I am getting used to the commute and the cars and also that I left slightly earlier, so I had less cars in my way...

Another bike was already parked when I arrived.:D

Tri Girl

07-30-2012, 07:18 AM

My commute just got bike lanes.
And I got a new yakkay helmet (http://www.yakkay.com/).
http://d2om8tvz4lgco4.cloudfront.net/@@ugc/x483361757/g11e384000000000000849af1dc26495eb5b10726ce5c16a3e7b480bcbe.jpg

Read about both here (http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/community/blogs/bicycling_and_walking_around_kirksville)

LOVE your new helmet (I want one!), and LOVE that your commute got bike lanes! Woot!!! :D

Rode to work this morning in a dress.... yes, made it with out flashing anyone, but I now understand why the cruisers and other bikes have the bar so low. But it was less nerve wrecking that before and I think it's partially that I am getting used to the commute and the cars and also that I left slightly earlier, so I had less cars in my way...

Another bike was already parked when I arrived.:D

Yay!!! Glad it's getting easier and you're getting more comfortable with it!! :) I swear, when I wear a dress to work, cars seem to give me much more room and are kinder than when I'm wearing cycling gear. Dottie from Let's Go Ride A Bike (http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/)calls it the Mary Poppins effect (http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2011/03/my-take-on-the-mary-poppins-effect/). I totally agree!

Gypsy

07-30-2012, 07:34 AM

Yay!!! Glad it's getting easier and you're getting more comfortable with it!! :) I swear, when I wear a dress to work, cars seem to give me much more room and are kinder than when I'm wearing cycling gear. Dottie from Let's Go Ride A Bike (http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/)calls it the Mary Poppins effect. I totally agree!

Never heard of it, but I agree! And I read the comments too and I agree... something about men and women in dresses... good or bad...

carlotta

07-31-2012, 05:16 PM

Made it through July with only 2 train commute days and 20 on the bike. It's easier in the summer, but I'm still pretty happy since there are usually four or five days that I have something going on and it's easier to take the train. On second thought, maybe this just means I had no life in July.

I may match the train days for August by the end of the week though, happy hour plans Thursday (and 11 miles after a couple drinks isn't so happy) then going-away for a friend late Friday night in the city. But that's why I'm so appreciative of a convenient train option

I also noticed that I broke 1000 miles for the commuter challenge this year with a month to go, so that's pretty cool :)

WindingRoad

07-31-2012, 06:41 PM

I've been gradually getting some fitness back after my low back debacle. Yoga on Sunday explained to my why I need to do it more often. Ugh still sore. Rode to the store, school and Starbucks for study time. The weather was awesome. Couldn't have had a much better commute day.

Gypsy

08-01-2012, 08:28 AM

Tri Girl

08-01-2012, 09:35 AM

Good commute today too. In a dress, again, black this time, rather than the bright green of Monday, and didn't have much of an issue. But it turns out my dresses are generally cut close to the body, so I need to get new dresses for the bike or use pants in general. I like the dress idea because of the whole Mary Poppins thing -- I do think it makes me stand out and cars are nicer and pay more attention.

Yay! :)
For some of my dresses that are cut short (too short to wear without something underneath) or those that are a little too fitted (like pencil skirts), I find that I can hike them up just a little and wear compression shorts underneath so I don't flash the world.
Of course, I commute on a mixte bike, so my downtube is seriously slanted. It probably wouldn't work the same on a traditional diamond frame.

Giulianna23

08-01-2012, 04:05 PM

Today my commute started in the morning soo nice....with great temperature.
Commuting back home with about 1 1/2 mile to go....I got a flat . :(

tzvia

08-01-2012, 06:28 PM

Yesterday's ride was waaay short. Went downstairs with the pump, to 'top off' the tires, as I do every Tuesday morning, and dang if that front tire isn't as flat as a pancake! I've had those 700x35c Vittoria Randonneur Hypers for about 4 months, and while the ride really nice, I have flatted on the front tire twice already. :mad: It's that dang construction; glass, twigs, black-top stones, potholes, nails. They are making more 'bee-hives' as I call them, condo complexes that are as architecturally exciting as a cornflakes box, right across from Pierce College. They finished the east side, and without a break, started up on the west side.

I could not find what caused the flat, and had to pump up the tube and use soapy water to find the tiny leak. Probably a thin glass shard that did not stay in the tire.

The back tire has a Slime-Light tube in it and hasn't flatted yet, so I see I am going to have to get a Slime-Light up front too. Without a winter rain to wash some of this stuff out to sea (sorry charlie) it feels like I am mountain biking on a land fill.

Melalvai

08-02-2012, 07:57 AM

After reading everyone's flat tires I wanted to post this:
I did not have a flat tire today. :)
In fact I haven't had a flat tire in a long time. Don't remember when the last one was, I'm guessing 1.5 years.

The only excitement on my commute lately, since the new bike lanes went in, is that the major north-south street near us is undergoing badly needed repavement. It's all torn up right now. I use it for 1/2 block to get to the bike-laned east-west street. I could cross over it and take the next street, but I can never seem to remember to do that. This morning just after I signaled my left turn I remembered it, but there was a truck behind me, and I didn't want to confuse the truck by not turning left after I said I was going to turn left, so I turned left! Maybe I'll remember tonight.

It's so hard to make little adjustments to a daily route. Not long ago I decided that I was tired of dealing with the traffic in front of the post office, and 4 stop lights in a row (which are perhaps 1/4 or 1/3 of the stop lights in the entire town). If I jumped a block north I could avoid both the post office traffic and have stop signs instead of stop lights. It took a couple weeks of to remember to do it even once!

tzvia

08-04-2012, 05:47 AM

{{Sigh}} Wish I had the option to take other streets. Yea, there are other streets, but they suck. To the west, the next main street is narrower, the lanes are narrower and there is no room for a cyclist between the parked cars and the lane. It's much more crowded feeling and I can see myself getting doored as there is just no room. Desoto (any other west San Fernando CA TErs here?) is nice and wide with wide lanes and a bike route/lane (rare item here for a N/S street). I feel lucky to be working at a business on that street, commuting wise. To the east is another narrower street, no room for cyclists, a hill and college traffic. The MUP that runs E/W, which I do cross about 2 miles from home, was extended and now turns and goes NW 1 block over, but it angles away from work AND does not cut out the part of my ride that passes the construction. All it would do is add maybe a mile to my commute and leave me with the choice of taking Desoto with the road debris or Canoga with no room and more traffic.

Yesterday's ride felt good until I got home. We got some clouds and moisture up from the south, it was somewhat overcast and cooler, maybe upper 80s tops. It had actually rained around noon! Rain in August. A cloudburst. So I rode home at a good clip enjoying the cooler weather, not noticing the high humidity but after getting home I had to peel the clothing off of me. I was soaked; it was so humid the sunblock that was supposed to be water proof had lifted off my face and arms and was pooling in white globs. Road debris was sticking to my gooey legs. Gross.

Giulianna23

08-06-2012, 05:40 AM

No commuting since last wednesday when I had a flat returning home. Fixed on Saturday but couldn't commute today due to the fact that I have to do some errands at my lunch break and right after work as well. So I will do that and If I finish on time I may hit the road or the trails in the eve for a few miles . I hope :D

ak2outside

08-06-2012, 11:58 AM

My commute today was unnecessarily crazy.
It started off well with my 16 year old son commuting with me. He broke off to head to city center while I continued just south of downtown. I was continuing at an intersection straight and a vehicle in the left turn lane from the opposite direction saw me (we made eye contact, I'm wearing bright lime yellow, bright pink helmet) and punched it across traffic, cutting off another car running parallel to me and came within 5 feet of taking me out. Slammed on his horn, flipped me off, screamed at me (from within his car with windows up) and just refused to be civil. He left rubber on the road both stopping FAR TOO CLOSE to me, and then when he accelerated after allowing me keep my life. Where are the police? I don't want a police state with cameras at every corner, but man! I got more of a work out from the adrenaline than i needed. I am finding it difficult to concentrate at work today.

Tri Girl

08-06-2012, 01:03 PM

I got more of a work out from the adrenaline than i needed. I am finding it difficult to concentrate at work today.

Scary stuff!!! I'm SO glad you're OK, but WOW- what a nut!!! :mad:

Melalvai

08-07-2012, 03:06 PM

Oo, that's scary. There are a few crazy drivers out there. I was a driver today, hopefully not a crazy one! The car isn't going into 3rd gear very well so I took it in--bad news-- needs a new transmission and clutch. Well, it's an old car, and I just keep repairing it as long as I can, because that's cheaper than a car payment. We keep it in good working order but it does need some expensive repairs from time to time. I picked it up, took it home, and came back as a cyclist.

It meant I walked to vote (from the mechanic) and then to work, instead of biked to vote.

tzvia

08-07-2012, 05:59 PM

No cycling today. 106f+ humidity too. No way. Call me a wimp, but trusty Tundra (10 years old, lots of 4xing and no break downs-just regular service) is gonna be getting some use this week. Supposed to be hotter tomorrow. Good grief.

I got some Slime-light tubes and plan to put one up front this weekend. That should help a bit with the flats. I wish the city would send a street sweeper down Desoto...

lovelygamer

08-07-2012, 06:56 PM

Good Commutes today, short and hot. I did two miles at night. I was well lit up. :D

VeganBikeChick

08-07-2012, 08:50 PM

Giulianna23

08-17-2012, 05:12 AM

Nice and smooth with my new roadie... She will be taking me to work on Fridays

AnnB

08-17-2012, 07:39 AM

This is the 3rd week that I've been doing my 15 mi round trip commute and it's finally getting easier. The clipless pedals and running on my days off are definitely helping. Just last week I thought it was going to be the end of me and yet I somehow managed :rolleyes:

<p>
wow, that's a nice commute, you are lucky. I have .72 mile into work in the morning, & it's not long enough. I wish I had a 15 mile RT like you do - although I suppose there is nothing stopping me from putting in extra miles in the morning.

Tri Girl

08-18-2012, 06:42 AM

day 3 back to work for the school year, and day 3 of the commute. I sooooo love getting on my bike in the morning and the afternoon. Yesterday I woke up late and had to sprint on the bike to get to work on time (not easy in a dress and heels). :eek: I really had to resist the urge to use the car, but we just had to buy a new(er) vehicle and I promised myself I would ride my bike to work every day humanly possible to off-set the cost of the car and the gas that it will consume (it's a bit of an Earth-destroyer, but it was a car my hubs has always wanted- and since he's driven hand-me-down old pickup trucks for the last 14 years, he deserves to have it).

colorisnt

08-20-2012, 10:33 AM

Day one of my official school commute DONE. I rode in and back for my TA class/meeting. It was easy as pie. With traffic (only the last 3-4 minutes of the ride), I still made it in 18 minutes from door to door. By car, I would have needed at least 25 with parking and would have driven a shorter distance. I was happy with it! So much less stressful and everything fits on my bike fine.

I was smiling as I heard everyone complaining about parking. The garage is a huge stressor for me. It makes me crazy. I thought getting there on time and changing would be time consuming, but it really IS very simple and I am doing it again about 7:15 on my way into my 8 AM. I will probably leave about 7:30 once I find out where my class is!

tulip

08-20-2012, 11:45 AM

I rode into town for a meeting, and then back home (where I work). 6 miles total. It was great and I didn't have to go around and around looking for a parking spot for my car.

colorisnt

08-21-2012, 05:59 AM

That's the BEST part for me, Tulip. Driving in parking garages makes everyone I know nuts.

I made it in to school for my 8 AM and then am now in my office hours. Great way to wake up. Got here in about 16 minutes. I think I will leave at 7:30 next time. I was way early.

Tri Girl

08-21-2012, 01:53 PM

It's really the BEST! It only takes me 15 in by bike, but would take me 10 by car. And it's much more pleasant. Can't wait for it to cool down so I can start wearing a coat to work! ;) (I'll regret that sentence in February, I presume).

malkin

08-21-2012, 05:42 PM

Wind burst and threatening thunderstorm when I was leaving made me want to avoid the big downhills (which scare me a little anyway). Scouted out a new potential route.

Next chance to try it out will be Friday.

lph

08-21-2012, 09:41 PM

Commute yesterday was long but fun. I was just getting ready to ride home when DS, now 15 and taller than his mom, calls and says he would like to go swimming with me at a certain lake and he would like to ride his bike there, taking the long way through the woods that takes almost an hour, even though there's a bus that would take him right there... It was a massive detour for me but I couldn't possibly refuse.

So an hour's ride to the lake, 20 minutes there until the sun disappeared behind the trees and 45 minutes home again with my big, longlegged, suddenly way too fit son :)

colorisnt

08-23-2012, 07:06 AM

Didn't commute yesterday. First day of teaching my own labs and I wanted to look really nice and serious. Today I commuted in to my 8 AM/office hours again - hauling a$$ if I must say. I rode in a dress with cycling shorts and it was cool and perfect. Riding back at 3 after my dr.'s appt. is going to be brutal, I think.

lovelygamer

08-23-2012, 08:42 AM

The weather has cooled to daytime temps of 85 in Maryland. It's allowing me to wear my work clothes on the bike while commuting and I love it. Today, I saw a seagull and a bi-plane on the way to work.

Giulianna23

08-23-2012, 09:16 AM

Running a bit late for work this morning and pushing it through the neighborhood. Then I looked to my left and oh oh!...2 beautiful black labs running towards me. I was surprised I didn't freak out. Maybe because I had 2 labs in the past and know their personalities I think they wanted to play, they didn't bark nor had and agressive attitude but they can be intimidating. The owner popped out and called them I didn't stopped nor reduced my speed I just kept going hoping they were just curious. BTW I got to work on time :)

malkin

08-24-2012, 01:21 PM

Tested out a new route that goes the 'other way round' and avoids downtown and the University. It took 45 minutes; the hills are all rollers, not the crazy verticals going the old way.

Atlas

08-25-2012, 07:38 PM

I bought (well committed to buy) a new winter commuter! Long story short my old winter bike came back to me with a bent fork and no rear wheel so I've been looking for a new one. A really nice used Cannondale Bad Boy came into the shop and my partner (who works there) told me I really needed to test ride it. Like I can test ride something and say no? We need to tweak some things, get some fenders, and some better tires and it's ready for some snow! Which we better get a lot of this year. Now I have to decide if I just want new tires or if I should spring for studded.

Devold

08-30-2012, 04:28 AM

I was WET :D

The rain came pouring down from the sky on my commute this morning. But did I take the train or the bus, nooo :) It was a good commute, there were no people in the streets. I love silence in the morning on my way to work :cool:

Melalvai

08-30-2012, 08:40 AM

Tomorrow I turn the rental in. I've enjoyed trying out a single speed. Single speed did not make my wish list of bicycles to own one day.

I've been using it the 3 or so blocks to get to the lab. It seems silly to bike such a short distance, but it really helps, in terms of conserving my energy in this heat so that I can focus on the lab work, since I'm only here for 2 weeks and I want to get as much done as possible. It was lovely to have the bike to make a couple trips to the grocery store. I also used it for a 20 mile round trip to visit a friend in the suburbs, and that was nice, at least the return trip when it was dark and not quite as hot was.

Yesterday I went to Tempe to meet a couple friends. The first 8 miles was ok then I got overheated. I stopped in a patch of shade--Phoenix just has NO shade-- and drank water, took off my helmet. When I put my helmet back on I thought I was going to throw up. I hated to do it but I biked the last 2 miles with no helmet. I took the train to go back! The station is a few blocks from my hotel so it was nice to have the bike for that. Phoenix makes me super nervous with crime and I'm really uncomfortable walking around here in the dark, but I don't mind biking. (That's a bit silly, but it's about risk perception not actual risk.)

My own bike back home is being used by my daughter while we wait for a new shifter. She called me and said "The back wheel makes a funny thump thump thump." When our mechanic (who makes house calls!) had come by to see what was up with her shifting, he had put my new rear wheel on. I figured the brakes needed adjusted. I texted him and he stopped by to check it out. It had a flat tire. She had never had a flat tire before and didn't know what it feels like!

I will remind her about the ABC Quick Check, which would have caught it. But I'm glad she now knows what it feels like when your tire goes flat.

Coincidentally, at the time her shifter went out, the car was (and still is) at the auto mechanic getting a new transmission & clutch. Her shifter is a heck of a lot cheaper than the car's.

ShadyLady

08-30-2012, 11:18 AM

The president was in town yesterday and on my commute home in the evening I was stopped by the police to allow his motorcade to go through. Got to see Mr. President in his limo and he waved in my general direction!

Not my typical commute home for sure!

malkin

08-30-2012, 03:47 PM

Fun stories everyone.

Love my new route. This afternoon the whole university area is a gigantic parking lot because of football. I ended up walking about half a block because of people doing stupid things with their cars amid throngs of pedestrians.

Melalvai

09-06-2012, 01:36 PM

Not long ago we learned the car needed a new transmission. Cheaper than a new car if not as exciting, so into the shop it went. Our car is discontinued so they had to order a used transmission, which turned out to be junk. So we were car free while they ordered another. I was in Phoenix during this for 2 weeks on business. My husband & daughter got by ok. The grocery store is a half-mile walk and she bikes to school. Then the shifter on her bike broke. Our mechanic makes house calls...he ordered another shifter for her, and adjusted my bike for her. He also put the new wheel on my bike (I got it shortly before my trip and hadn't had time to put it on. The rim on the old wheel was worn through, after 10K miles!)

The next day she rode my bike, and complained about the "thump thump" sound the rear wheel made. I figured he needed adjust the brakes so we called him back. She had a flat tire! I guess I keep our bikes in such good repair she's never had a flat tire...clearly she didn't do her ABC Quick Check that day though. They found a patched tube I'd left in the shed, and put that on. That worked for a day. It was flat by the end of the day. (That is my experience with 100% of the tubes I have ever patched. This one was patched with supervision and I thought it might be different.)

Fortunately that was the same day the car was done. So we were back to 1 operational vehicle. I got home and put the other spare tube on my bike. She was driven to school; I biked to work Tuesday evening. Her shifter arrived yesterday and he put it on last night.

So now we are back to 3 operational vehicles, 2 bikes and a car.

Actually we have one other bike, my husband's that he doesn't use, which we can use in a pinch. I should probably get it out, air up the tires, take it for a spin, and do that once a month, so that it'll be ready when we need it, no surprises.

The bike repairs cost 2% of the car repair. The car repair cost 2% of a new car. The car repair also means I'm not getting a tandem which I had been hoping for. But overall I'm happy with the outcome because a car means we can visit our family and it really is more important than a tandem. Probably. :)

Catrin

09-07-2012, 02:53 AM

You ladies are making me feel guilty - I stopped commuting when it got so gawd-awful hot this summer. Now the projected afternoon thunderstorms are keeping me in the car on the one day I like to ride on...hoping to get back to this on Fridays I don't go mountain biking after work.

Melalvai - how cool is it that your bike mechanic makes house calls :) Is there a chance you can still get the tandem for spring?

Giulianna23

09-07-2012, 04:35 AM

Not commuting since Wednesday of last week :( . First because of the weather and then the days not raining I had things to do and had to take the car. Looking forward to start commuting next Monday if the weather makes it possible. Been tryig to compensate with some Mountain biking here and there after work.

redrhodie

09-07-2012, 07:38 AM

Yesterday's commute was good. I took the long way in the morning, and rode hard at night. Had a guy pass me who said he was really trying hard to catch me, and that I inspired him to go faster. That was cool. I also passed and dropped a couple of other people. Not that big a deal, but kind of seems like the old me.

carlotta

09-11-2012, 12:29 PM

I love fall commutes, and today felt like fall! :)

Cool, almost cold when I left home (jacket, short sleeves and shorts, but could've used a little knee covering and gloves) and crisp all the way to work....

I only had to yell at one driver (texting/playing with her phone and suddenly deciding that the right turn lane wasn't where she wanted to be, I was even with her driver's door and yelled something to the effect of 'put down the d*mn phone' which startled her. Not close, and I was in the lane, so nobody to my left, but still got me riled up). I wonder sometimes if my coworkers (several of whom think I'm a bit nuts for a) riding to work and b) riding in traffic) would even recognize me/my persona on the bike. I'm pretty calm at work but I definitely ride much more aggressively.

redrhodie

09-22-2012, 02:43 PM

I really had to force myself to ride today. It was drizzling this morning, and I had readied the wrong bike for rain. I also had a few errands I needed to run before work. But I knew the wind was going to be from the south this afternoon, and that means tailwind, baby! I won't miss a tailwind for nothin'. I got the errands done in no time, didn't get too wet, and got my easy ride home after work. Glad I didn't give in to that moment of doubt.

Serendipity

09-25-2012, 07:36 AM

Fall is just the BEST time of year for those commutes. Cool/refreshing in the morning and warming up quite nicely in the afternoon. Ummm-hmmm!

The ride in this morning reminds me that (for me) the commuting season is just about over. Temperature was right around 0 (Celsius) this morning. A couple of degrees colder is okay but not much more than that. Hope to stretch it out until mid to late October. Maybe someday I will be one of those who rides well into the winter but not yet! I am in awe of those of you who do that - through snow, sleet, ice and so on.

Been a fabulous year for commuting. Most weeks I was able to ride 2 or 3 times a week, round trip about 35k. Can hardly wait until spring. :D

tzvia

10-03-2012, 07:19 PM

Finally starting to feel like fall. Last week, between having to drive downtown to get my GSA ID (required as I will have access to GSA IT in my job), and hot weather, 105f hot, and early morning 7am meetings, I drove all week.:( Yesterday, again another 7am meeting and over 100f too so took the truck again. Finally today, took my commuter to work yahoo! It was cool with a slight breeze, really nice this morning. I'm so used to riding in the dark now that I actually like it. It's fun to turn on all the lights; yea I went nuts with the lights and reflectors, I get a kick out of watching people on the bus pointing at me LOL. Makes me smile.

The ride home was quite a surprise. It was supposed to be 95f, but it was maybe 87f. Like the heat just petered out. We had an onshore flow and slight breeze, and even though I was riding into the wind, it was cool from the ocean, not hot from the interior so I did not mind. This was the first ride home in months where it was not over 95f. It was great until some bozo about a mile from home decided to not look up while using a leaf blower and blew the dirt all over me. That's twice now in front of that house. Anyway, it was the best commute I've had in months, and the best part is that the weather all this week and well into next week is going to be just like this. WOW. Can't wait to ride in the local mountains for a change this weekend!

Melalvai

10-04-2012, 12:26 PM

Cold and windy and rainy right now, and it will freeze tomorrow night! It's fine with a jacket and light gloves. During the day I make several short trips between buildings. On one of these trips today it was raining lightly and as I was unlocking my bike, a woman said, "It's a bad day to ride a bike."

Until that moment I had been internally grumbling about the cold rain. But I go by contraries.

I replied, "Every day is a good day to bike."
She looked at me like I was crazy. "It's wet."
"I'm not made of sugar, I won't melt."
"You'll catch a cold."
I shook my head and rode away.

carlotta

10-15-2012, 03:57 PM

A very nice commute this morning (damp and foggy coming home, but still nice)

15489

Geonz

10-16-2012, 01:00 PM

My commute is obnoxious - they're repairing railroad crossings on my route, so I have to take busier roads home. Phooey.

tzvia

10-16-2012, 07:51 PM

This is the start of the good time of year. Finally, warm but not blistering, breezy but not windy, dark but not cold. That colorful pre-dawn glow as black gives way to purple which gives way to orange promising that another day is just moments away. Clouds dance like feathers in the wind, headlights twinkle like stars and storefronts glow like neon rainbows. I have a few minutes to just look at the color, feel the cool air, listen to the trees rustle. I want to keep going but I pull into the parking lot, and stare out at dull tan buildings. 8 hours in a dull tan room loom. At least I got a few minutes of color on the way there.

In the limbo between summer and winter there is now. My favorite time to ride.

Melalvai

10-17-2012, 01:13 PM

tzvia, nice poetry. The trees are turning and one of them, yellow and red and green, looked like a rainbow. I added some color to my office a couple weeks ago. I have a tiny little window that looks out into a white hallway. No one ever comes down here so there's nothing to look at. I made curtains.
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redrhodie

10-18-2012, 10:10 AM

Melalvai

10-19-2012, 01:57 PM

I finally got back on the bike after 2 weeks off. That's the most time I've taken off since 2009. I felt like I needed to replenish my energy, so I didn't go into the guilt zone that not riding always puts me in. Yay me. But it was enough time off! I lost a bit of fitness already, but the ride was great anyway.
Getting back on the bike after a break feels SO good. It's worth taking the break just to have that feeling.

I had a little adventure today. I went out to help set up the aid stations for the Trail Half Marathon. Some of them are only accessible by boat. (Or by running many miles, of course, but that's hard to do with chairs, tables, water jugs, cones.) The boat stalled and we were stranded in the middle of the lake for 20 minutes. It was cold and windy. Eventually we got it restarted and we took care not to let it stall again by driving it very slowly. So it took about 4 hours. Toward the end it was misting, a cold wet windy mist. I was underdressed for the conditions and I got SO cold. Hours later, I was huddled in my office with a hat, sweater, and a lab coat, and still shivering! What finally warmed me up was my commute home.

Serendipity

10-30-2012, 06:13 PM

Managed to sneak in one more commute today.
It was an absolutely beautiful ride in the morning - full moon, clear sky, stars shining - temperature not bad at around -2C.
Ride home was tougher. Seemed colder & with a nasty headwind, too. Soooo glad to finally get home!

WindingRoad

10-31-2012, 08:17 PM

A very nice commute this morning (damp and foggy coming home, but still nice)

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Is that Forbidden Drive? Looks so pretty.

ZenBiker

11-01-2012, 03:51 PM

had a gorgeous commute today. The morning ride was just before sunrise, and the sky was streaked with red and gold clouds. 34 degrees which really isn't bad at all with wind pants and a jacket. Coming home it was warm and sunny with no wind.

Only down side was a little section of road work I had to get through. There were a few orange cones set out in the shoulder area, but nothing that looked like a barrier. I thought it was just to mark off the section of shoulder where they'd parked some heavy equipment. Then I hit the wet cement that had been poured to fill a 4' x 4' hole. I couldn't have dodged tp the left even if I'd seen it in time because there was quite a bit of traffic just then. I felt bad about the deep rut I left, but also glad I had enough momentum to carry me through it. I still wonder if I should have gone back and tried to fix it - but with what? Bare hands? I guess they'll sort it out tomorrow, after cussing all cyclists.

Melalvai

11-03-2012, 02:30 AM

I almost came up with a haiku on yesterday's ride home but I couldn't get the syllables right. It was going to be something like this:
Puckered smoky pumpkin faces
Empty candy wrappers

(also I couldn't come up with a 3rd line... "Halloween is over" seemed too obvious. Also not the right syllables.)

GLC1968

11-07-2012, 08:04 AM

Haha! Today was my first commute to work in at least a couple of years. It was AWESOME! I was planning on starting today anyway, but then mother nature blessed me with a brilliantly beautiful morning and I couldn't be more pleased. :) I did not time it, and I'll need to in the future, but effort-wise, it was just perfect. I chose a route that was slightly longer than 'as the crow flies' so that I could get all right turns. On the way home tonight, I'll be going a different route for the same reason so there will definitely be variety in my day. I can't wait!

Keep your fingers crossed for me that my bike is still there when I leave. I forgot a lock! We are on private property and the rack is right near the busiest door of the building (and on camera), so I am hopeful it'll stay there. My bike is also pretty ugly from an aesthetic perspective (smaller front wheel, stickers on it, loaded up with fenders/pumps, etc), so it should be ok.

Catrin

11-07-2012, 08:31 AM

Yayyyy GLC - that is just great! I suppose there isn't any way you can store your bike in your office? I stopped commuting when it got so blasted hot this summer, and my schedule since then has prevented my returning to it. Next spring I will try it again! I did enjoy it when the weather and schedule allowed.

GLC1968

11-07-2012, 10:17 AM

Catrin - no, unfortunately. My office/cube is filled with boxes of t-shirts and other giveaways because we have no where else to store them!

My boss did agree to let me store my bike in her office for today. Yay!

carlotta

11-09-2012, 04:25 AM

Is that Forbidden Drive? Looks so pretty.

It's the Wissahickon just below Forbidden Drive, probably my favorite part of the commute. Just got back from vacation and now it's in full winter mode, no leaves, etc. Happy to see not much trail debris from Sandy, it took forever for some of the mud/downed trees to be cleared after Irene and the storm the week after.

Definitely the first cold-weather commute this morning, had to dig out the tights, heavier socks and buff. I'm always amazed how the commuting ranks are decimated once it gets chilly-- I saw a total of four cyclists this morning in a stretch where I usually see 15-20, more once I got into the city but very light traffic on the trail.

malkin

11-21-2012, 11:14 AM

First commute in months. Last spring I started piano lessons and morning is the best time for me to practice. Of course, every day I get carried away at piano and sort of forget to pay attention to the time and that I really need to get going. Today was a catch up day at work, so I rode in like a person of leisure after my long piano time, and felt completely lucky. I'm thankful for days like this.

It was windy, strong enough for little surprises (Whoa! That garbage can just tipped over!) but I never felt blown around; it was like a playmate, like nice waves in the ocean.

ZenBiker

11-21-2012, 11:33 AM

We're having beautiful riding weather this week, so after missing quite a few days in early November I'm back in the swing of bike commuting. Temps in the high 20s in the morning, low 50s coming home. I only worked a half day, took my panniers along and did my Thanksgiving grocery shopping on the way home. I only need to make a couple things to take to dinner at a friend's house tomorrow, so it's not like I pedaled home with a turkey and all the fixings. But I was still pleased that I didn't really even consider driving because of the shopping I needed to do. In past years, I probably would have opted for the car.

I'm getting better at figuring out layers and such, and barring snowstorms, I plan to keep riding til Christmas. After that, it'll depend on what kind of winter we have. January can be really cold, like -10 F in the morning, Last year that never happened and a couple of my co-workers rode all winter, inspiring me to try to do the same this year.

redrhodie

11-22-2012, 11:46 AM

Geonz

11-27-2012, 11:23 AM

I made the decision that I wasn't commuting in the dark this year, so I'm missing it. It's been a month already. I still have plenty of time to ride, but I miss the gas savings, and the way I feel after riding to work. Luckily, it's only one more month until the days start getting longer, so it won't be that long until I come back to this thread.

21 degrees this morning but the layers worked fine. Yesterday at 32 I realized dropping off the car at Enterprise that I'd forgotten gloves... but yes, my tolerance has gotten to where after three miles fo alternating tucking hands under clothes, I didn't need to. I really liked the dry briskness this a.m. (and not havign to drive a car thing, much less watch a bike crash into a car as happened yesterday...)

tulip

11-27-2012, 12:10 PM

Wet! I had an appointment downtown. It was raining but I injured myself running and can't walk without pain for the moment. My choices were to drive, park in the parking deck, and walk 10 minutes to my appointment, or ride my bike and park in front. I opted for riding. Rain won't melt me.

Geonz

11-27-2012, 01:13 PM

tulip

11-27-2012, 02:01 PM

So biking was the least obnoxious... here's hoping walking and running get less painful for you soon!!

The bike ride was not bad, even with the rain. The walking will get better. I suspect the running will not matter, as my desire to run has diminished considerably after this incident. I just don't see the point; it's too easy to get injured running, it's a slow way to travel, and runners rarely smile. I'm sticking with my bike!

ZenBiker

11-29-2012, 03:57 PM

Got a late start this morning so I didn't need my headlight. Unfortunately I didn't think ahead to the ride home when I decided to leave the light behind. My afternoon meeting ran long so I ended up sprinting (well, my version of sprinting, which isn't all that fast) home in the last 20 minutes or so of light. Not quite the relaxing ride I had in mind but fun in its own way. Still having mild, dry weather - I keep thinking it can't last much longer, and then it does.

tzvia

12-04-2012, 07:11 PM

Finally back commuting after having to stay off the bike, nursing bruised ribs for about 4 weeks. Still a bit sore on the left side, can't sleep on the left side, but due to nerve issues from old car accident sleeping on that side was never anything I could do for long anyway. Now that it's really dark in the morning, and my ride home is dusk, I am glad I went nuts 'over lighting-up' myself. Bought yet another tail light, something new from Serfas, the 'Thunderbolt'. USB rechargable, high/low, and high/low blink, with a rubberized outer surface and rubber straps so it's on and off in seconds. Quite bright, and the rubber straps are replaceable, unlike their more basic one where it's toast once the straps break. Gonna get another this weekend, it's perfect for the road bike and weighs next to nothing.

Perfect weather today. Not too cold in the morning, my thick shell jacket and short sleeve shirt, regular full finger gloves and jeans were just fine. Must have been close to 60f.

As my workplace shuts down the whole X-Mas week through New Years Day I don't worry about commuting when I envision the number of drunks on the road is highest, but I still feel concern about the week before, as X-Mas eve is on a Monday. I guess office parties will be the previous week so I may not commute that week. Anybody else feeling concern with 'Christmas cheer'?.

Melalvai

12-05-2012, 08:03 AM

Congrats at getting to be back on the bike.

Crazy weather! I'm a little relieved that it's cooler again. Having a 70F day in December around here just doesn't seem right.

I believe that statistically the holiday drunks are as much a threat to you in the your car as on your bike, unless I'm remembering that wrong, I don't have a study or statistics handy though. My attitude is, if it's safe enough to drive, it's safe enough to bike. That has been the case with snow & ice, rain & wind. I think we tend to be stupid about the conditions we are willing to drive in, when a better risk-benefit assessment would keep us at home entirely in those conditions instead of choosing to drive over biking as the "safer" option.

tzvia

12-07-2012, 06:05 PM

Man, I think the holiday cheer has started already. Not 2 miles into the commute home today, I almost get doored by an idiot who opened the driver door without bothering to even look. Luckily I have a rear view mirror that I had just glanced in, and I knew the right lane was empty so I was able to zig out of the way, yelling "DOOR ME!". Yea, I know, not too inventive, but it just popped out of my mouth without thinking. My next word was "idiot" muttered under my breath. I had a Stella 150 blinking away on my helmet and a Mininewt 600 on the bar- she should have seen me IF she looked before opening the door...

One mile further, I am riding in the farthest right lane of a busy 2 lane each way, with a third, far right lane that is usually filled with parked cars but sometimes is open to traffic in spots, no cars parked and I am in the middle of the lane. Approaching the light, a car zips past me on the left, cuts across in front of me and makes a right and I jammed the brakes, she was close- I could see into the passenger side and she was looking at me- What the hey! Why is shaving 30 seconds from your drive so much more important than my life? I am not riding in the gutter, filled with glass and crap as drivers would only be encouraged to drive too close and share a lane that really does not have enough room for both. I was in front, she should have queued up behind me and made the right from the right lane and not from the middle lane which is illegal.

Normally my rides are quite quiet, but not today.

Swan

12-12-2012, 04:17 PM

Mine was wet! Luckily, pavement wasn't more than a mile out of the way. It was tough pedaling down that road and keeping the balance but I made it. The weather was wet and foggy, but no rain... and pretty nippy! Had no problems with drivers or pedestrians, but I arrived in town and at home soaking wet. I took this picture on the way out as I was walking out of the driveway.

http://i49.tinypic.com/28l6yhk.jpg

(If you're wondering about what's duct-taped to my handlebars, it's a water-proofed zippered pencil case that I use to carry my phone, chapstick and keys.)

carlotta

12-17-2012, 04:25 AM

Today was lonely...... I saw exactly one other bike (pulling a trailer with a dog standing in it :)).

I know that's probably the status quo for some of you, but I think it's the first time it's ever happened to me here-- eleven miles of commute, 7 or so on a heavily-commuted MUP, and the last mile around a university. And it wasn't even raining (wet from overnight rain, and foggy, but no active precip and 47 degrees-- I'll take that in mid-Dec).

Atlas

12-27-2012, 03:20 PM

I am so happy it snowed. My commute is infinitely better now. I have nice new tires on my commuter, retrofitted fenders to fit said tires, and all my cold weather gear. Yesterday morning it was 0F and today was 7F. I might not be as chipper if my commute was more than a couple miles but for the time being it's great. My s.o. is out of town with our only car so I have to ride my bike to get to work on time and I'm actually kind of glad I can't just decide I don't feel like riding today.

Melalvai

12-27-2012, 05:01 PM

It was lovely to have a warmer ride today but-- I can't seem to get the clothing right. Two days ago I forgot my long johns & wool socks and I about froze. Today I remembered everything and I sweated!

The nice thing about the sun & warmer temp today was that the frozen slush melted a little. It was actually a little harder to go through than after it had frozen solid, but there was more dry pavement. I'm a little sad to see the nasty roads turn nice because it means I'll be cranking around with these pointless (ha ha) studded tires, but the re-frozen slush was so difficult to bike over, even with the studded tires, that I'm not very sad.

I had to come back this evening to finish an experiment and I drove. I was not interested in tackling the re-re-frozen slush albeit somewhat less of it in the dark, with or without studded tires.

Melalvai

01-15-2013, 11:54 AM

Yesterday was one of the few days that I said "I wish I'd driven".

A couple weeks ago I shoveled snow and although I tried to be careful not to lift much at one time, nevertheless the next few days I had some soreness. (Maybe also because my daughter has been teaching me butterfly and I was doing worm drills for 30 min right after that.) It wasn't too bad and it was getting better until last week I had a couple long days in the lab of standing for hours with no breaks. The lower back injury blossomed and it hurt to move. Stairs and standing in the pedals were challenging. So was getting my leg over the top tube of my bike. It was worse on the right so I switched legs.

Have you ever tried to mount your bike from the opposite side you are used to? Or to start and stop with the other foot than you usually do? It was awkward but I didn't wreck.

But.

The shifter on my bike had been acting up and it broke completely. My bike was effectively a single speed locked into a high gear. My mechanic who makes house calls tried to lock it into a lower gear but could only get it down a couple notches.

For a few days my back got worse every day instead of better. I used my daughter's bike (she sure isn't riding it in the winter) which has a slightly lower top tube and--more importantly--gears. Over the weekend it wasn't necessary to bike which was good because my back was still getting worse.

To make it all just a little worse, I bit my tongue badly. So hard that it bled. OW. That was the second time that day pain had brought tears to my eyes--the first time, I was walking downstairs (going DOWN was fine) and slipped. I didn't fall but I screamed because it hurt my back so much.

Yesterday's morning bike ride was excruciating and that was when I said "I wish I had driven". I was feeling better, but I still couldn't get my leg over the top tube without using my arms, and it was tricky to balance the bike. I didn't look at the temp before I left and realized halfway here that it was very cold. Turns out it was about 5F!

However yesterday was the first day it was better than the day before. By afternoon I was able to roll over. I could bend down and pick something up off the floor. (I never noticed how often I drop stuff until I couldn't pick it up. Especially while cooking!) My mechanic had gone to St. Louis this weekend and bought new brake pads and a new shifter. He picked up my bike last night, fixed it, and dropped it off this morning.

My bike is better. My back is better. Life is looking good! SO glad all these trials were only for a few days-- nothing like what people with chronic pain have to put up with. I told my dad "If this is what it feels like to be old, I feel so sorry for you." :P

Because it was the weekend I didn't try to get in to see anyone, but first thing Monday I got on the OMM (the osteopathic manipulation clinic) call list. To my surprise there was a cancellation and I can get in tomorrow. Since my back is so much better I have mixed feelings about going. But maybe it'll do some good, either for this or for unknown issues going on in my back, and it won't do any harm, I guess.

Melalvai

01-20-2013, 07:38 AM

I'm off my bike completely for a few days. I feel very grateful for the car.

Part I: I strained my lower back shoveling snow (how cliche) + butterfly drills 3 weeks ago. It wasn't very bad and it got better over the week. Biking was not a problem so I kept riding.

Park II: I had a couple long days in the lab standing for hours without any breaks. My back was awful after that and continued to get worse for a few days. I let one of the med students work on me (this is an osteopathic medical school) but it continued to worsen. Biking was a little uncomfortable but the only really painful difficult part was getting on & off the bike.

Part III: It started getting better again. I had gotten an appointment in the OMM clinic (another osteopathic treatment only this time an experienced board-certified DO instead of a first year med student!) and I kept the appointment although I was so much better. I thought walking laps in the pool would be good for it...no weight bearing, right? Well, I strained it again. Or maybe it was the OMM treatment?? And again it continued to get worse for a few days. When I woke up yesterday morning I could not stand up straight or walk! I had to crawl to the bathroom. :( Eventually during the day I was able to walk-- my husband thinks I walk like a zombie :D. So I made myself take frequent, short, slow walks throughout the day. By the end of the day I was walking almost normally.

Today it is much better, zombie-walking perhaps a little faster and longer before I have to rest. However if someone were taking bets on whether I'd manage to re-strain it yet again, I wouldn't risk my money based on my record so far! No biking, no swimming or pool walking, on running. Walking and standing ok for short duration only. I put that plan together with the help of Dr. Google. :D

I swear when this is over I'm going to go to town on core strength and have the strongest core in the world so that this never happens again! (Someone else told me he's made that same oath, does the exercises, then leans over to pick up a toothbrush and there goes his back.)

Crankin

01-20-2013, 09:32 AM

Maybe you should have the DO do an evaluation of your back?
I wouldn't base my medical care on Dr. Google. It seems like while rest might help abate the symptoms, there may be something going on that's chronic that could be addressed by something else? Obviously, I'm no doctor, but, I would get it checked.

carlotta

02-20-2013, 06:04 AM

Nothing like taking the studs off to make you feel fast (even with a 20-30mph wind)!

This year has really made me consider a second wheelset for the studs next winter, it seems like there was just enough freezing precip every 5-7 days that I kept looking at the forecast and deciding to leave them on for another week and ended up riding them on dry pavement more than I'd like-- they're not that horrible to ride, and the extra workout was a bonus, but the noise is annoying after awhile (clears joggers nicely though :)). There were several days with just enough leftover snow/ice/freezing rain that I was glad to have them

Melalvai

02-20-2013, 10:21 AM

shootingstar

02-21-2013, 04:52 AM

Me too! I'm actually thinking about a winter bike, not just winter wheels. Even though there's a big storm coming our way, I went ahead and took off the studs this weekend. There were quite a few days where I was happy to have them, but there were far more days when I was wishing for a separate wheelset or a winter bike. Plus having separate wheels puts less wear & tear on the special tires-- only use them when they are needed instead of all winter.

Even if we get a lot of snow, I don't think it'll last very many days, and I'll just walk until the streets are clear.

Boy howdy I was fast and quiet with my regular tires.

I haven't graduated to studded tires. While it MIGHT get me cycling more often during the winter with ice and snow on ground, the faster wear down of the studs and going slower (when already I'm slow enough in the winter), I kind of wonder.

My partner has been riding on his studded tires for last 2 winters and they are wearing down fast. The winters in our region can be quite cold (this morning was -15 degrees C) down to -20 degrees C or even -25 degrees C is not unusual at all. We get enough snow which then melts, dries off (because prairie air is drier) and then snow again, and on and on the cycle of weather happens at least 10 times during 1 winter. So I fit in cycling whenever the paths and roads allow me to cycle safely and allow me to BRAKE safely soon enough without sliding.

Or be able to cycle and if I should fall, it is not in an area in the path of a car or hitting a bunch of joggers/other cyclists. Sometimes it's best not to brake when cycling over thin ice/snow ...so that's why bike paths are more desirable.

carlotta

02-22-2013, 03:02 PM

I think we're about to get the storm you had earlier this week....I got snowed on a little toward the end of the commute tonight (the fluffy, floaty, snow that's fun to ride in), but anything we get here this late in the year should melt fast like you said and there's always other ways to work (train here) for a day or two.

Today was actually a great commute day-- the last two were windy/crappy/cold, and today was just cold with the bit of snow :)

I still have very, very little wear on the studded tires (schwalbe marathon plus), the rubber is hardly showing any wear, and the studs aren't as shiny as they were when they were new but they're carbide steel so they're tough and still plenty studdy to grip ice. I've lost maybe 4 studs between the two tires over three winters now so I've been pretty happy with them. A snow-bike would be handy, but there are already 4 bikes living in our 1-bedroom apartment (fiancee's bike, plus my fixie, commuter, road bike) and I'm not sure a 5th would be welcome (plus a newer-than-20-year-old road bike is probably next in line). I think the wheels on my commuter might be getting close to replacement, so I may just get new wheels a little earlier than necessary and keep the old ones with the studs....they wouldn't get more than 3-400 miles/winter unless we get dumped on so they should be fine.

Triskeliongirl

02-28-2013, 09:10 AM

I had a great commute today. I actually had taken quite a long break from commuting after too many accidents, but was pleasantly surprised when I tried a dry run on the weekend to see how much improved our roads are, and that the previously loose dogs were restrained. I tried once during the construction, and that was awful, but now the surfaces are much improved so it was worth it. There is still one mile that is a bit risky with the cars, but I just really focus during that mile and I am OK. It is so effecient. I get in earlier than when I had to first drive to the gym. I am so glad I came back to it.

Melalvai

02-28-2013, 09:58 AM

I'm sorry you've had some accidents. Hope you are healing well and glad you are back on the bike. It is hard and scary to start back up again. Company helps, if that is an option.

I've been commuting through the snow. It's fun!
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Disclaimer: that photo was staged. After I got the picture I walked down that street, and the next. Then I reached a minor arterial that had been plowed. When I got to my destination--I walked the last half block and the parking lot, that hadn't been plowed yet. When I came home, everything had been plowed.

Then it snowed again.

The studded tires didn't help much in this stuff. It's been warm enough that once the streets are plowed, they are clear down to the pavement, no packed ice to deal with. That's where the tires really help.

inestrozar

03-19-2013, 10:07 AM

Had a great commute this morning! Weather was nice and my music was catchy. The way home is all uphill but with the lack of wind and rain today I know it will be nice. On my last hill there were some barky little dogs that were driving me nuts because they kept chasing me. Now the road is under construction and the dogs owner does not let them out (yay)! The only downside is that they were replaced with bunches of men working on the road. After a few days of riding through the lewd stares and nasty comments I long for my barky dogs :)
Total miles for my commute is fourteen, seven downhill and seven uphill. Takes me thirty minutes to get to work and fifty minutes to get home.

Melalvai

03-22-2013, 01:26 PM

I haven't used the new bike lanes in a couple months, at first because they weren't plowed and then when the snow melted they were full of gravel and trash. I was going to take a picture of it and then when it was dry I was going to call the city and let them know the bike lanes needed swept. But before I got around to it, the city got them swept! I was completely surprised and impressed!

redrhodie

03-31-2013, 03:54 AM

Yay, I can finally post here again! First commute of the year yesterday. It was a perfect day, sunny with a light breeze. Traffic was heavier than I was expecting, but the drivers were nice. I had food in the freezer at work so I didn't even have to carry anything.

It's good to be back!

NadiaMac

03-31-2013, 07:41 AM

Wow, I'm feeling very impressed with the hardcore commuters on this list who are riding in despite cold winter conditions. Feeling a bit guilty on my end for letting a little California "chill" and "rain" deter me these last few months-- I'm getting so soft (used to commute year round in Boston)! In any event, I am trying to get back to 3-4 times a week, and had an amaing ride in on Friday that reminded me of why I really really love riding in. I had a smile on my face much of the day! I put up some pics on my blog, check it out: http://nadiamac.blogspot.com/2013/03/glorious.html

Melalvai

04-01-2013, 07:25 AM

Everyone is griping about the late snows but I don't care-- in Missouri anything between 28F and 90F is mild, no matter what time of year. Maybe we have to make up for last year's very mild winter. I was surprised that my daughter got her bike out this morning. She biked to school last week. She's been raring to get on her bike-- she calls herself a fair weather cyclist but she will bike in some pretty rough stuff. But her limit is around 35F, today was a little cooler than that but she was so happy to bike last week she didn't mind. She says she sleeps better on days when she bikes. It's not even 20 minutes of light exercise over 4 trips (she comes home during her release hour) but it makes a difference!

GLC1968

04-01-2013, 08:11 AM

I'm so happy to be posting to this thread again! I just did my first bike commute since last November (and second one since moving back into town) and it was awesome. I knew the weather was going to be spectacular, so despite a sore rear from weekend riding, I knew I had to commute today. It was glorious!

I was carrying a LOT of weight (3 glass containers of food, a u-lock, a thermos of coffee, my purse, clothing and shoes and a water bottle!) and on a heavy bike, but my effort felt easier than the last time I did it and my time was faster. Maybe I'm finally getting back into shape? Or maybe I just got lucky and hit mostly green lights! ;)

Looking forward to the ride home - I may have to add a few miles to it to enjoy the rare warm sunny spring weather we are having.

carlotta

04-01-2013, 12:03 PM

This morning was beautiful!! Warm (45), sunny, not windy. I like these spring mornings, and it's been long enough coming this year.... last week I decided I was sick of wearing full tights so I had a couple days of chilly mornings with just knee warmers and shorts but today I didn't even wear a jacket :)

(now I'm trying not to look out the window to the clouds/wind that the cold front is bringing us this afternoon, or think about the high tomorrow being 45....)

Melalvai

04-03-2013, 09:03 AM

I was carrying a LOT of weight (3 glass containers of food, a u-lock, a thermos of coffee, my purse, clothing and shoes and a water bottle!) and on a heavy bike, but my effort felt easier than the last time I did it and my time was faster. Maybe I'm finally getting back into shape? Or maybe I just got lucky and hit mostly green lights! ;)
You might have had a tailwind. How was the ride home?

GLC1968

04-03-2013, 11:59 AM

You might have had a tailwind. How was the ride home?

The ride home was awesome, too! I actually timed it this time and biking takes me only 10 minutes longer than driving.

I had plans to commute today as well but my back was too sore when I woke up. I think I might have over done it in Pilates last night. Oops.

redrhodie

04-05-2013, 07:22 AM

Man, it was cold yesterday. I had on the wrong gloves and my fingers were freezing. It was pretty windy, too. I really had to force myself to ride, but as always, I'm glad I did it.

On the way home I outran a chasing dog. Nothing makes me faster than the sound of nails on pavement. It was a loose dog, but a man on the path was able to grab him until I got past, but then the dog broke free. If that guy hadn't been there to slow him down, it would have been an issue, so I was really lucky.

The rest of the ride was with a sweet tail wind, so everything ended well.

shootingstar

04-05-2013, 10:40 AM

Yesterday, I think I lost 40 calories alone, just from minor stress of cycling in the dark to work with a headwind and wondering if I would hit an black ice patch somewhere.
Then later I heard there was freezing drizzle in morning...which melted off by the time I finished work. :)

Today was nicer but still at freezing. At least dry.

azfiddle

04-05-2013, 01:36 PM

Yay- first two-way commute since the fall (I had 2 days when my husband needed our car and he dropped me off in the morning - I rode home. I really dislike getting up early in the dark and cold, and have to leave my house at 6:30 am to be at work and cleaned up by 7:30. So I basically skip commuting from November until late Feb or March, and then we have a 2 week break. It's still just once a week, usually Fridays, but I enjoy it, especially right now when the weather is perfect here.

carlotta

04-08-2013, 06:47 AM

Today is the one of those days where everything comes together.... beautiful morning (55, sunny, calm), headed for 70-ish on the way home, and just dropped the bike for tune-up so it should ride like new on the way home (well maybe not that nice, but between a new chain/cassette/hub service, it will be a world of difference-- the winter chain was getting pretty rough and it needed the cassette last fall but I didn't feel like subjecting a new cassette to winter grime...)

Now if the pedestrians/dogs/roller bladers/small children would just stay inside on this beautiful afternoon and off the MUP, it'd be awesome :)

redrhodie

04-14-2013, 05:03 AM

Yesterday was wet in the morning, just puddles, no rain, but cold and raw. Then it was supposed to be warm with a south wind (tail wind) for my ride back. Well that didn't happen. It stayed from the headwind direction, making it a real slog back. Not the best commute, but I earned brownie points for doing it.

I saw the fast group from my lbs's ride, and there were just 3 of them, so really not a great day for riding.

Giulianna23

05-13-2013, 11:30 AM

My first commute to work for 2013 today...and I feel Greatt!!!.. My Old school 10 speed steel Schwinn was desperate to hit the roads. It used to take me almost 50-60 minutes to get to work when I first started commuting last year an each time I got to work or returned home , I was almost dead and soo freaking exhausted. I better my time and endurance a few months later so before the cold weather arrived I went down to 35-40 minutes one way ...thats for roughly 8 miles each way if I take the same route, but sometimes going back home I take the long way to score a few more miles so ussually the round trip is about 18-19 miles. Well ...today I made it to work in 28 minutes and not even pushing it ,just at my comfort pace...yay!!...Its unbelievable!. I feel so happy!! :). I just wish it stops raining here in Indy... I just can't afford to ride in the rain...I am just coming out from a bad cold. At least it is going to be sunny and dry for the next 3 days..hopefully!

Melalvai

05-14-2013, 03:47 AM

I could see my shadow in front of me. I stared at it, puzzled. Something was different. Then I noticed the breeze in my hair and the lightness of my head. For the first time in probably 7 years, I had forgotten my helmet and it had taken me half the trip to work to notice! (That's about 3 minutes.) I finished my commute and asked my husband to drop off my helmet when he was downtown running errands.

I haven't done that since around 2006.

Owlie

05-15-2013, 05:44 AM

So I actually rode to school this morning. It was probably a little warm for the windbreaker, but I like it because it's traffic cone orange. I forgot water. (Oops.) I also forgot that while school and my apartment are at roughly the same elevation, there's a dip in the middle, and I could either take the long, shallow climb out or the steep one. The steep one is more dangerous, road-wise, so I took the shallow one. My legs are killing me, and I had to walk part of it. On my roadie with nothing on it, I probably would have been fine. I'm definitely not used to riding hills or carrying extra weight. Riding yesterday and not eating much didn't help, I don't think. Ah well. There was free breakfast afterward.

And today was the best "reason" to get a tablet ever--my laptop weighs a ton, and I'd rather ride with less backpack. I should probably get a rack and bungee cords.

ak2outside

06-27-2013, 10:06 AM

My commute today was non-existant. There is a rather large forest fire and the smoke was incredibly thick. Too thick to ride and breathe. Darn it! I have logged 220 miles so far this month and was really trying to break 300. Group ride cancelled as well.:mad:

Sky King

06-28-2013, 05:40 AM

Happy to reinstate my "commute" Rolled the bikes out the front door, rode 13 miles and rolled them in the back door :) It could also be called an office meeting as the DH and I discussed business most of the ride. Very grateful to have the opportunity to ride to work and plan to do so a few times a week. Going to be over 100 degrees for the next five days so the morning commute is looking like the perfect option

ak2outside

07-22-2013, 10:46 AM

I caught almost all the light green today. Took me less than a half hour for a nine mile commute. Awesome!

ZenBiker

07-23-2013, 03:44 PM

The digital temp on the high school sign read 104 as I rode home tonight. Admittedly it runs a little high, catching heat off the building I think. But I'm catching heat off the road so we're even.

The morning ride is great, though. Temps are in the mid 60s lately and I can almost imagine a hint of fall

shootingstar

07-25-2013, 05:58 AM

It was a nice break. I'm currently working from home because the electrical system is badly damaged at our work site building due to the major flood.

Cycled over to a meeting. Simple, peaceful. Met a bunch of employees stationed temporarily at a undamaged work site. They wondered how I got there by bike. It's only a 25 min. ride.

ZenBiker

07-26-2013, 02:36 PM

Cycled over to a meeting. Simple, peaceful. Met a bunch of employees stationed temporarily at a undamaged work site. They wondered how I got there by bike. It's only a 25 min. ride.

Funny how many people think biking somewhere is a major endeavor. They don't realize how much fun we're having (most of the time).

We just got a small grant to buy 2 bikes to use as "pool vehicles" at the office. Employees can check them out to ride across town to a meeting, or just to get some exercise on their lunch break. Hope they get used!

Melalvai

07-30-2013, 05:46 PM

We just got a small grant to buy 2 bikes to use as "pool vehicles" at the office. Employees can check them out to ride across town to a meeting, or just to get some exercise on their lunch break. Hope they get used!

That's so cool! I recently heard of a similar employee bike share program that has done really well.

The university is adding a dental school and the new building has such nice bike racks...I was jealous until I saw the new bike racks by the med school library. Then I noticed the old wheelbender racks are overcrowded and I wondered "Does no one know about the new ones by the library?" I checked it out and--they are crowded too! I guess the new bike racks encouraged more people to bicycle! I usually leave my bike at my office and walk when I need to go to that building, but even more so now since the bike racks are so crowded! I passed the vice prez and complimented the new bike racks and he said "There will be more."

7rider

08-05-2013, 07:35 AM

I hit a bird this morning! :eek:
Or rather, it hit me.
A young robin, still sporting it's baby feathers flew up from the grass beside me and straight into my left ankle/crank/pedal.
It flopped back off to the side of the trail and stayed there, still. I worried that it broke something, but after I watched it for a bit, I made a move to get closer to it, and it flew up and into a nearby tree.
So glad it appeared to be unscathed for it's encounter.
Never hit a bird before with my bike!

ZenBiker

08-05-2013, 07:28 PM

Glad that both you and the robin are fine! I haven't hit/been hit by a bird yet, but had to brake for a family of quail on today's morning commute.

carlotta

08-08-2013, 06:55 AM

Must be the season for wildlife- I almost had a little bird (sparrow?) fly in my face this morning, it was sitting on the ground next to the trail and decided to take off right as I rode by, I saw it come between my hands on the hoods and but closed my eyes after that.... I also clipped a little grass snake yesterday (thought it was a small stick until it moved right before I hit its tail) and saw a deer on the way home last Thursday. And of course the ****** geese.

Decent ride today, legs are tired but holding myself to my no-train-tickets until September 15th challenge for the new bike, so took it easy with the hope they'll be semi-happy tomorrow. Thought about taking the train, but I have an after work dinner next week which will require use of 1 of my 2.5 train trips, and it doesn't seem like wise planning to leave myself with 0.5 trips for the 8/15-9/15 timespan.... so slow commute it is

carlotta

08-27-2013, 05:43 AM

Somehow I went on vacation for a week and the days got WAY shorter.... the trail at 6:15am is questionably dark (wildlife/people) and it'll probably be a week or so before I'm back to the winter road option for the first bit of the commute (not a big deal, light traffic that early, plus a fairly wide street and a big downhill so easy to stay with traffic). Worked later than anticipated last night and probably should've had my big headlight for the last bit of the commute as well.

Classes are starting again as well which means a whole new cohort of trail users to train (and crew teams/ROTC/etc), you'd think "keep right" is a fairly easy concept, but apparently not (as we all know). Plus K-12 starts in a week or two which means school busses and (more) harried parents....

Also, not directly commute-related, but bike parking at work has gone from awesome to serviceable to crappy. I used to bring my bike into the building and tuck it into an unused corner of the lab, not in the hallway, stairway, or anywhere else the fire marshal would have an issue with it..... unfortunately plenty of other people left bikes in hallways and now security has decided no-bikes-in-the-building is the way to go. Ok, fine, I used to park outside in front of one of the other buildings with a covered bike rack so I've been doing that for a few months. Now the school has decided to concentrate bike parking in large corrals of ~100 racks and remove all other freestanding racks. This MIGHT work, except they didn't bother to ask commuters for input and none of the new parking is covered (they installed cameras, and the security guy I spoke with said the budget allowed for one or the other..... if they'd polled commuters I'm pretty sure we'd rather have a roof than cameras. Both would be great, but pick one and it's a roof every time for me). There is one garage with a rack, but it's the useless old style where you have to either get one of the end spots or put your front wheel over the rack, and that doesn't work with fenders. They're also threatening to start charging for access to that sub-par rack. Ugh. /RANT :)

Melalvai

08-31-2013, 03:11 AM

carlotta, that's ridiculous! Write a letter to the editor or something. Be the squeaky wheel. (But don't expect anything to change!)
I was the squeaky wheel and got my wheel repaired because of it. :D
I'm bringing my bike into the building now. That's not allowed for the same reason your building doesn't allow it. So far I've managed to sneak it in. But I have short-timer's syndrome so I don't care if I get caught. If I cared, I think I'd just walk at this point.

carlotta

08-31-2013, 06:11 PM

There's definite unrest among the commuters.... I've talked to a couple other people around the racks and they're not happy either, but there's a general consensus that the powers that be on campus don't really care what we think. I've emailed the contact who was listed in the initial email spelling out all the changes, but not heard anything back and as non-faculty (important people with power) and non-student (not $$$ generating), I never expect much when I complain.....

Good news is we're probably moving to a different institution in a few months which means I get access to their underground garage with bike parking, so maybe things will be better by winter/bad weather.... until then, there's one good parking spot which was empty at 7am all week last week, so I have incentive to get to work early...

carlotta

09-12-2013, 02:44 AM

This morning was an example of why you run a headlight, even on a fairly well lit MUP.....

I came around a blind corner (always an adventure, had a woman on a bike coming at me on my side of the trail this morning, but that's sort of expected) and ALL of the lights were out (street lights, trail lights, parking lot lights). This is a section of trail that's probably 1/3 mile from civilization and it's busy, even at 6am. I had my light on low, but had to crank it up to avoid joggers (lots of black, little reflectivity) for 1/4 mile or so. I almost felt like warning the assorted roadies I saw headed for the dark section after I came through it, but figured it'd be a good lesson for them, and it'd be light enough to see in 15 minutes or so anyway...

skhill

09-12-2013, 06:57 AM

It rained for less than 10 minutes here yesterday. I felt the first few drops as I was hopping onto my bike for the ride home. By the time I'd gone 2 blocks, it was raining pretty hard. As I turned on to my street, it was letting up. And by the time I'd stripped out of my wet clothes, it had stopped entirely. Sigh.

And if I'd gotten away on time, I'd have been home before a single drop fell, but I got held up about 15 minutes. One of those days...

BethG

09-12-2013, 01:03 PM

Students are back in town, and people are all coming back from vacation, so the traffic has been bad - BIKE traffic that is. Still faster than driving, but there's been some pretty impressive congestion. And they haven't all figured out how to be good fellow travelers, either. Someone rear-ended me the other day because wacky gal that I am I stopped at a red light. Fortunately I wasn't injured, and the guy at least had the decency to be embarrassed, and apoligize.

carlotta

09-18-2013, 03:58 AM

I feel your pain, Beth.... bike/pedestrian/crew team practice (I ride past our boathouses) traffic has increased so much in the last couple weeks and it's been pretty crazy. I've seen cops out either warning or writing tickets for running lights and I always try to thank them if I end up stopped at the red (which always seems to surprise them).

Nice commute here this morning, broke out the full gloves/knee warmers for the first time (should've worn them yesterday, but I'm stubborn and didn't go back up to the apartment once I got outside and realized how cold it was). Not too crazy traffic/trail traffic.

The ongoing parking situation at work is getting worse, the rack I've been using is one of those old 'put-your-wheel-over-the-rack' jobs, and I can't park like that with fenders... so there are two usable spots (the end vertical posts) I can use. Long story short, even when I get here at 7am, one is usually occupied by the parking lot attendant, who doesn't actually lock his bike to the rack, but got very indignant the day I tried to move his so I could lock to the rack (really??? what's the difference leaning against the rack or against my bike??). The second spot has had a bike that is cable locked to the rack the past couple days (and could be cable locked anywhere along the length of the rack). I'm done trying to deal with that rack, the only WRITTEN bike policy I've seen says bikes are "discouraged" from being brought into university facilities, so I'm printing that out and bringing my bike into the building from now on, security can deal with it. (we're moving in a couple months, and I will have access real racks in a parking garage at that point, and maybe sooner... the garage/new building is 200 yards from the current building but a different institution and I'm not sure I can use it yet)

girlsubobscura

09-23-2013, 06:23 AM

I had a superfun commute this morning on my new tricross. My daughter and her best friend just started middle school this year, and I convinced the other mom to let them bike commute to the school which is just under two miles away, so I have been biking with them every morning to school, and then they bike themselves home after school. So my morning commute is now 2 miles longer, but almost entirely on roads with new bike lanes, which is so much nicer than my ride home, which is shorter, but more congested. The weather is that perfect crisp fall morning, dry and not windy, and It won't get dark during our morning ride for a few more weeks it think.

shootingstar

09-24-2013, 03:23 AM

That's great obscura in cycling with the kids to school. Setting a good pace for life...for kids. :)

BethG

09-26-2013, 06:47 AM

That's great obscura in cycling with the kids to school. Setting a good pace for life...for kids. :)

x2! Good for you for getting the kids biking to school!

carlotta

09-27-2013, 01:42 PM

Crazy start to the ride home (and a reminder why I really shouldn't leave before 4 until the weather gets crappy and chases all the mid-day trail traffic away), but it was a really nice evening so took the long way home:

16722

:)

HillSlugger

09-27-2013, 02:09 PM

My commuting has dwindled in the last few years as I've let my triathlon training take over my cycling. However, I was excited to commute to my new office since we would have access to nice showers in the fitness center (with towel service!) and I had scored one of the bike lockers. Here we are at the end of September and I've only commuted 5 times. Beyond that, I'm just not enjoying this commute (not sure why). I've decided I'm not worthy to have the bike locker and gave the key back today. Hopefully, a more regular bike commuter will make better use of the locker.

Melalvai

10-01-2013, 05:02 PM

HillSlugger, glad you're having fun with the triathlon training. Someday commuting might become part of your life again, when it's the right time.
I'm working from home now, so not so much with the commuting. But I did bike to the library with my daughter last weekend when she was home visiting from college. (It's so weird to say that...it's just weird to have a college-age daughter!)

Unfortunately I've been driving a lot the past 2 weeks. We had just moved, and then I ran the car into a deer. :( Picking up the rental, test driving a bazillion cars, getting one car or another to the mechanic to be checked over, finally settling on one and getting it inspected, and returning the rental car. I have done so much driving just so we could keep driving! I have been interested in being a car-free family, but with our daughter just starting college and my husband starting a new job, this is not the right time for it.

Hopefully there will be more bicycle-errands in my near future and fewer car-errands, now that we have the car thing settled.

GLC1968

10-03-2013, 03:21 PM

I've been good about getting in 1 or 2 commutes a week. It's about all that my schedule will allow right now but I hope to increase that as winter sets in and some of my other commitments lessen.

Yesterday I biked in and had a very nice ride. It was chilly and dry and I felt totally refreshed and alert by the time I got to work. The ride home...not so much. We've been having some horrible storms lately - torrential downpours (unusual for us), high winds, power outages, lightening (also unusual for us). I saw that thunderstorms were predicted at 50% at 7, so I figured I was fine leaving at 5:30. Ha.

It was raining lightly as I set up my bike but I figured it wasn't that bad and I wanted to get home. So I headed out and within a couple of minutes, it started to rain harder. And harder. And harder. At one point, I was stopped at a light (I hit just about every single one in my 6 mile commute!) and it was coming down so hard I could barely see even though I was standing still. When the light changed, I had to ride with just one hand so that I could shield the left side of my face from the sideways rain as I rode! I was wet. It was cold (though I didnt' care much about the cold). I didn't bring my garmin that day, so I don't know how long it took me but I'm sure I was out there MUCH longer than normal. The worst was where the storm drains couldn't keep up with the water flow and I had to bike through little lakes!

I was SO wet when I pulled up to our garage. I stripped off all my clothes in the garage and went upstairs naked to go take a shower. What an adventure! It certainly made me appreciate how lovely my commute is when its dry or only lightly raining!

girlsubobscura

10-18-2013, 05:25 AM

@ GLC, It wasn't raining nearly that hard on my commute home yesterday, but I was also soaked enough to wish I could have done what you did when you got home. Alas, we have a detached garage ;)

fallstoclimb

10-22-2013, 04:35 AM

It's been in the 40s the past couple mornings when I headed out. I know many of you are already dealing with much colder temps, but I have always been a fair weather cyclist and am a huge wuss with cold weather. But, I dressed appropriately and was totally fine both mornings!! I imagine its easier to dress appropriately on a short commute like mine (6 miles, I don't really overheat/get sweaty), but now I'm hopeful about actually sticking with this through the winter. The brisk air was sort of nice, and that's a LOT coming from me!

I am a little concerned about what I'll do when its below freezing, mostly because I'm worried about potential ice. I have some friends who have had some bad wrecks on ice and I don't want to risk it, but I guess it's silly to refuse to ride everytime its under 32 because someone might have spilled water somewhere.

carlotta

10-29-2013, 03:44 AM

I just rode all the way to work in my small chainring. Clearly I did not drink enough coffee before I left home.

First morning with a hat, too, and my lungs/sinuses are almost clear from my cold last week so that feels better.

Also enjoying my last few commutes home in daylight for a few months.

Melalvai

10-31-2013, 08:29 AM

I'm working from home for a few months, starting 6 wks ago, so I don't ride every day. I walk to the grocery store most days! I can't seem to plan ahead, with the grocery store so close. :D I had a couple of bike trips that are worth telling about.

The fun one was yesterday. I biked out to my husband's work. His workplace has a fully equipped kitchen, and he gets 80 min for lunch, so he brought raw chicken & garlic and pasta and cooked us lunch. It's 6 miles with some good hills. With traffic, took me probably 35 minutes. It was very humid and I was pouring sweat! I was so hungry, I snarfed up that lunch. SO delicious. Then I headed home. It started raining. I was a lot more comfortable! My left leg was hurting a bit, so I kept using lower & lower gears. When I got home, I had to eat Second Lunch! I meant to walk to the grocery store in the afternoon but I fell asleep. (This work-from-home thing must be exhausting...that is not the first time I've taken an afternoon nap.) This morning when I got up, my legs were SO sore. I had no idea I'd given them such a workout in only 12 miles.

A couple weeks ago, I had a bunch of errands to run including some heavy things. I pulled out my trailer, aired up the tires, hitched it up. I loaded the box of books and the last old CRT monitor that finally died. Before the 1st stop sign, the trailer came unhitched. I stopped and hooked it back up.
A mile later, the trailer came unhitched again. I realized the problem--the load was too far back. It's been a while since I've used the trailer. I repositioned the load and hitched it up again.
I returned my library books.
I got to the bank and waited in line at the drive thru. When I got to the window, I was told they don't serve bicyclists in the drive thru! :P
Fuming, I went on. A few blocks later the monitor fell off the top of the box of books. I picked it up and strapped it all down again.
Just a couple blocks from the used bookstore, the monitor fell off again. I could see what the problem was-- repositioning the load toward the front meant that the straps were no longer centered on the load. But there wasn't anything I could do about it. So I strapped it down again and tried to avoid bumps.
I reached the used bookstore. The strap had come off again and the monitor was one bump away from falling. I unloaded everything and carried the heavy box of books to the door--
where I saw a sign that said they were moving and would not accept books for trade-in until Nov 6.

I gave up then. I was not going another inch with that box of books. My husband picked me up. We stopped at the grocery store for cash (since I couldn't get it at the bank!) so that we could pay the fee to recycle the monitor. We dropped off the monitor. We donated the box of books to Friends of the Library. And he took me out to eat for supper since I'd had such a rough time!

I learned that the no-bikes policy was only for that branch. I called corporate and filed a complaint. I had a long argument with the branch manager. I said "If you're going to have a policy that affects bike/ped, at least consult the experts. You're not the first bank to deal with this. Contact the League or MoBikeFed." He said "I'm not going to do that." What a jerk.

Sky King

11-01-2013, 06:34 AM

Melalvai what a crazy ride. good for you for talking to the bank. I think I would be changing banks...

carlotta

11-12-2013, 03:31 AM

First ride this season with snow. Not sticking yet (and not going to today), and I know plenty of people already have the stuff on the ground, but I'm not sure I'm ready for this yet...

tulip

11-12-2013, 03:49 AM

You get an A for effort, that's for sure!

I'd be changing banks, too. I doubt he would be so rude for other customer service complaints. Good for you for taking to corporate. No switch banks (on your bike)

Melalvai

11-16-2013, 10:51 AM

There is another branch that DOES allow bicyclists. Depending on where I'm going, it might be more or less convenient than the downtown branch, but it's on my husband's way home from work so it's usually more convenient for him (in his car). I don't know if I feel incensed enough to change banks-- I don't have enough money to matter to the bank-- but at least I won't patronize that branch.

So, my recent commutes, well, I can't really use the term "commute" anymore since I work from home, can I? oh well, unless the "commute police" tell me to post elsewhere I still identify with this community the most. :) Anyway despite my lack of commute, I want to get some daily exercise like I used to, back when I had an actual commute. Only since I don't commute I have to make an actual effort for it now.

I can run errands by bike (and no access to a car during the day so that makes it even easier). Usually if I'm just going to the grocery store I walk, or if I want to go to the bigger grocery store I bike with my trailer. The other day, I was picking up a 1/4 pork that I had ordered, and I strapped the coolers to my trailer! That was fun.

After the cold snap, I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather while it lasted. Columbia has built a lot of trails in the 3 years that we've been gone. I've been wanting to investigate those.

The nice thing about working from home is that my schedule is extremely flexible. I can go for a long ride in the nicest part of the day, the sunny afternoons. I might miss that when I get a "real" job! I went 11 miles one day and 16 miles the next. The majority of miles was on streets to get to the trails, but I did discover the closest access point from which theoretically I can access the majority of Columbia's trails (by which I mean the Katy Trail and all of its branches & connections). The new trails are nice-- 12 foot wide, concrete, winding along creeks, lots of trees. Even with the leaves mostly fallen it's lovely.

Sky King

11-17-2013, 06:54 AM

You shall always be a commuter :) I always say I take my bike out the front door and come in the back door with some miles in between and that counts as my commute for the day :)

carlotta

11-18-2013, 09:37 AM

You're still a commuter..... you make this commuter jealous with your mid-day rides though :) (plus you can take a day off when the weather's crappy and not have to deal with transit/car either!)

Unseasonably warm here this morning, shorts/knee warmers/long sleeve jersey and I was a little warm, probably could've ridden shorts/long sleeves which is weird for mid-November. Wind is kicking up now so I'll have a cross/tail wind on the way home, with gusts above 30.... good times!

carlotta

11-21-2013, 04:17 AM

carlotta

11-21-2013, 04:15 PM

Last full commute on the crosscheck today, new frame is here tomorrow (!!!!!!!) and I'll ride the crosscheck in tomorrow to drop it a the shop, but need to pull the rack/fenders/bottle cage/bell/etc tonight so there's less extra stuff on there when they swap the parts over.

Not a terribly notable commute.

Spoke too soon on that...... my rear brake cable broke (inside the lever, old-school brake only lever) on the way home tonight. Luckily a) only half or so of the strands broke so I had a little power still, b) I was rolling to a slow stop and could compensate w/ the front, and c) I was 3 miles or so from home (out of an 11 mile trip) and the remaining part was fairly flat... I walked down the last hill before home, but other than that was able to take it slow and just use the front brake w/ the remaining bit of the rear for possible emergency stops.

Now I have the dilemma of how to get the bike to the shop so they can swap parts onto my new frame. I could wait until Saturday and take it into the city on the train (and then the bus, not going to ride the mile or two from the train to the shop in city traffic with one brake...). Or I have a new set of cables for my single speed, thinking about pulling the old rear one from that bike and tossing it onto the crosscheck for tomorrow. It'll work (if it's long enough) and putting a new cable on for one ride seems kind of wasteful (although riding with questionable brakes doesn't seem like a good idea either). Guess I should figure that out...

lph

11-22-2013, 03:42 AM

Cold! First day that really felt wintry, -6 C. Layered on the lobster gloves, winter boots, yadda yadda, and trundled off on the mtb turned tractor with 300 studs and fit-inducing lights front and back. I'd forgotten what it was like to be warm all over except for a freezing butt, or how to brake downhill to keep from getting too cold, or shift gently because the derailleur is slower below freezing. And how much d*** work it is to ride with studs.

But the roads are snow-free and dry, the air is still and clear, the morning colours are lovely and I actually get to see daylight, both ways if I'm lucky. Compared to what's to come this is a doddle. Summer is a long long way away...

malkin

11-24-2013, 03:18 PM

I miss my old commute!

New job makes it impossible for the present. I have an itinerant position 4 schools, another location for where I don't have an office, but I can access supplies, and several "oh--do you have time to go see a kid at this other place?"

DebW

11-25-2013, 09:25 AM

16F (-9C) temperature at my house this morning, but sunny and no wind. I did my regular 6 mile bike commute, but forgot one important thing. I was bundled in layers and windpants and double windproof mittens and balaclava plus a 2nd cap. My first mile is down a long steep hill, and I got the worst case of whole-head brain freeze because I forgot the helmet cover. After the hill I stopped and put it on and was comfortable the rest of the way. Don't know why I didn't think to slow down on that hill, as LPH suggests. My studded tires aren't on the bike yet, but soon.

Melalvai

11-25-2013, 01:17 PM

I got several rides in during some nice afternoons and then I caught a cold that's knocked me out for a week. I am miserable!!

On the bright side, I'm volunteering for Bike Brigade at the Jr High. I'm assigned for Tues & Thurs mornings. I rode the route once but no kids showed up that day. It's either been canceled or the kids didn't show up. I think so far only one kid rode one day and that wasn't on one of my days. We've only got 3 kids signed up at all, but we're hoping to get more. We lowered our cut-off temp to 28F, and this cold spell is supposed to be over in a few days. Whether we get more kids, it's nice to have an excuse to ride 5 miles at 6:30 am. (Of course, that assumes I ever get over this stupid cold!)

lph

11-26-2013, 03:59 AM

My first mile is down a long steep hill, and I got the worst case of whole-head brain freeze because I forgot the helmet cover. After the hill I stopped and put it on and was comfortable the rest of the way. Don't know why I didn't think to slow down on that hill, as LPH suggests.

Because it sucks to have to brake unnecessarily...
I'm wondering if I'm getting more sensitive with age or just haven't hardened (tf) up yet. I know pretty much exactly what I usually wear at different temps, but still - my head and feet and back of my thighs are colder than I remember, while my hands and face and core are just fine. But I'm generally in worse shape, I can't commute every day without being tired and irritable in the evening.

shootingstar

11-26-2013, 04:47 AM

We had a snowstorm 1.5 wks. ago. So, it's been nice cycling with the dry air melt-off.

-4 degrees C and no wind which is warm in our area. So might as well cycling as much as I can this week, before we get sacked with next snowfall.

Melalvai

11-26-2013, 06:42 AM

I'm wondering if I'm getting more sensitive with age or just haven't hardened (tf) up yet. I know pretty much exactly what I usually wear at different temps, but still - my head and feet and back of my thighs are colder than I remember, while my hands and face and core are just fine. But I'm generally in worse shape, I can't commute every day without being tired and irritable in the evening.
I bet a very small increase in temp will make all that go away. But if you hadn't had the colder stuff you wouldn't handle the relatively higher temp any better. Maybe time to re-evaluate your chart. I still have that chart you sent me (converted to awkward Fahrenheit).

shootingstar

11-26-2013, 07:55 PM

I'm noticing slightly opposite and I'm in my mid-50's: I'm tolerating a bit more colder temp. since moving to prairies from Vancouver 3 yrs. ago. (Even I can't believe I'm like this.) In fact, I get an odd heat flash for a few seconds, right around just before I leave home..it's almost as if my body is trying to adjust with me wearing warm layers just before stepping out into the winter cold outdoors.

kcmpls

12-04-2013, 07:07 AM

I did my first actually snowy commute this morning, second on the winter bike with studded tires. It took me a couple blocks to figure out where it was best to ride - either the plowed lane or in the fresh snow, not in tracks. I also had to take a brand new route since there is now construction on my old one. Found out construction started on this new one too! Who starts construction in Minnesota in December? Apparently the City of Saint Paul does. The traffic was backed up for blocks. I didn't know if I should sit in traffic or slowly pass everyone on the right, but since being 20 minutes late to work wasn't an option today, I hugged the curb and passed block after block of cars into downtown St. Paul. Felt pretty awesome.

tulip

12-11-2013, 10:19 AM

I rode 12.8 miles to and from a meeting today. It was chilly but refreshing. I don't get much commuting in since I work from home, so I'm glad to do it when I can. On the way back I found a very cool cafe that I had not been to before, so I had a cuppa and did some work there. It was nice to get out of the house.

Thorn

12-13-2013, 06:10 AM

We got that early snow and nasty cold -- the kind that can make the commute more of a chore than a joy. You know, the days where it seems it takes you longer to bundle up than to ride. That is, until you've been riding for 20 minutes and realize that the grease in your hubs is trying to solidify and your commute is going to be long. It is dark because these days it is dark both ways. Blah...no fun...the industrial park/stadium outflow parking/canal scrubland you ride through to avoid traffic feels particularly cold and menacing. And then....

A bird swoops down in front of me. White as white can be....owl shaped? I'm too far south and too urban for a snowy owl? Can't be. Cold must be getting to me. Next day, the bird is back. Yep, definitely white. Definitely owl shaped, but I only see glimpses.

Later that night, I read the news article...yep, snowy owls have moved into the area. Never would have seen it if I had driven a car. Gotta love even the "ugly" winter commutes.

Melalvai

12-14-2013, 06:21 PM

Snow tires on!

I was going to fix up the bike my husband doesn't ride to be my snow bike. But I never got around to getting 26" studded tires and I needed to go somewhere today that was a bit far for walking, so I put the 700cc studded tires on my bike. I could have walked down our street and after that it was plowed so I'd have been all right without the studded tires, but it was nice to have them on the plowed roads in case there was an icy patch or a bit of slush.

They even plowed the bike lane!

My destination was the 4th Ward Coffee Shop Conversations. I was the only one from 4th Ward-- a contingency from 6th Ward had come to talk about a proposed development that they oppose. It probably won't be approved, for many reasons. It was fun & I now have a TED talk and a book to look for. But I hope next week there is a higher turnout from 4th Ward. For one thing I'd like to meet my neighbors.

ridebikeme

12-16-2013, 02:09 PM

Well, I'd like to think that my commute was longer than a mile, but the reality is that is what I have. However, it was a great ride home tonight, 7 degrees with some wind, but absolutely beautiful out! Yeah for FATBIKES:)

tulip

12-18-2013, 11:36 AM

I started working at a co-working office space, so I have a bike commute again! Working from home gets very isolating. So now a few days a week I will ride my bike 6 miles each way to the "office." Very cool, with lots of innovative and creative folks to be around. Yesterday was my first day, and not only did I get more done in 5 hours there than I do at home, I got to ride my bike there and back, and when I got home I was free of work responsibilities. I think I'm going to like this.

(not to mention the free awesome coffee and nearby food trucks)

Catrin

12-21-2013, 04:08 AM

What is a co-working office space? Renting space in a shared office?

Crankin

12-21-2013, 04:48 AM

My son works in a place like this. Albeit, the other tenants are Google, Apple, etc. He has been reaping the rewards of a free breakfast for over a year...

tulip

12-21-2013, 06:37 AM

What is a co-working office space? Renting space in a shared office?

Basically yes. Freelancers, start ups, remote workers (telecommuters)...I work remotely and do my own consulting. Working from home all the time can get very isolating. There's no one to bounce ideas off of and no spontaneous conversation that often leads to a creative idea or a better way to do something or just learning something new. And then there's just the lack of motivation at home, and the distractions.

The people who work there are in all different fields, seemingly unrelated. But conversations and collaboration happen. I also find that I'm more focused with my work while I'm there. And when I got home, I wasn't tempted to keep working into the evening.

I don't have a dedicated office there. They have different spaces for working quietly or being more open to conversation. I rode my bike with my mobile office in my pannier (laptop, iPad, phone, headphones, etc). I was there for 5 hours, met some interesting people and got a lot of work done. I was home by 3:30 and had ridden my bike 13 miles. What's not to like? I plan to work there a few times a week (bike commuting again is so much fun).

carlotta

01-27-2014, 05:27 AM

I haven't been much for commuting lately (below 20F and any amount of wind and I'm usually on the train...) but it was a balmy 35F today so I got a day in while I can. Only saw a couple other bikes and a handful of runners, but it was a nice morning- the trail was fairly clean and the studs were probably overkill, but I'm more comfortable with them and when I'm only getting a couple commutes a week the added drag/weight is probably good to keep me in shape :)

16937

ElizabethWaland

02-04-2014, 01:16 AM

It was okay. I wish I could have used my bike but where I live isn't the most friendly place for bicycles so I just settled in for the bus.

carlotta

02-06-2014, 03:43 AM

First half was nice and icy this morning, couple downed trees from the ice storm yesterday that required some sidewalk detours and one section of closed road that was full of pebbly ice that fell from the trees and refroze in a 1.5-2" layer. Lots of glare ice from refreeze overnight. Still LOVING the disc brakes and studs combo, I think my sense of self-preservation kicks in before I'm anywhere close to losing traction.... hoping to get out of here while it's still light tonight since my road up the hill has even less shoulder than normal due to the snow and I'm not as fast going uphill as I am coming down :)

Eihposi

03-24-2014, 01:36 AM

New to the forum, just thought I'd pop around and say hi!
My commute was quite nice today, a bit cold and it had been raining last night, so a bit wet here and there, but not enough to make me slip on the tram rails (I had an accident involving tram rails and rain last year, I'm still not a 100% comfortable crossing them). But for the rest, nothing feels better than knowing that you're faster than the public transport :)

Melalvai

03-28-2014, 07:02 AM

azfiddle

03-28-2014, 07:52 AM

This morning was my first commute of the spring. I skip the winter months because I just don't feel as safe on my route when it's still dark out, and I have to leave by 6:30 am to get to work and cleaned up by 7:30. My route goes through neighborhoods for a couple miles but then onto a really busy 4 lane road that passes the air force base and then turns onto a busy 2 lane road through the open desert with bad pavement on the shoulder for a couple of miles. It's better for the last two miles when I get back into suburbia and smoother pavement.

I'm also much happier starting my day when it's not chilly...(and compared to some of you, I am a total and complete weather wimp!) So it was about 50 degrees and already light when I left. My 10 mile commute is slightly uphill and usually into a breeze. It was pretty calm but still I only managed about 12.5 mph. My best days I average about 14 mph. Coming home is usually much, much faster- sometimes I can average close to 17!

Crankin

03-28-2014, 09:31 AM

I commuted today for the first time in almost 6 years (June 2008). This was worth all the crap involved in getting a new job, getting settled, etc. I now truely feel I am back to my old self; filling up my car every 2 weeks and riding 2 days a week to work. Of course, the mileage is nothing like I was doing before, which was just under 14 miles one way and hilly right before I got to work. My new commute is 5.2 miles one way, and the best part is the way there is all downhill and flat. I actually wasn't going to commute today, because rain was predicted right at about noon, the time I leave, but it was clear the rain was not going to get here until later, so after I was already dressed in my street clothes, I changed, got all my stuff, the bike, packed the pannier, and left around 7:45-7:50? There is sometimes a big back up at an intersection about 2.5 miles in, but not usually on Fridays, or until 8 AM. Normally, I have a client at 9, but he had to work, so I wasn't rushed. I didn't even break a sweat, but still glad I was wearing my cycling clothes. Got changed in a snap and didn't even have to use any of my hygiene supplies, except my brush. Coming home, a different story. Not fun going up my street with that heavy pannier, but hey, that's why I have the mountain derailleur.
Looking forward to many more months of this. Next one is Tuesday.

colorisnt

03-31-2014, 07:44 AM

It's nice to be able to get out without having to layer up so ridiculously. It's still cold but fewer layers required.

Because of my trip, I have been biking a lot, but because I work from home and most things I need are in walking distance, I haven't been commuting by bicycle. I've been walking. Last year I sort of biked in a tornado. A funnel was sighted over the school which was about 5 blocks from where I was biking when the 80 mph straight-line wind came through and swept me off course and knocked down trees on the street I was trying to get down.

Yesterday I was in the gym when the tornado sirens went off. They put us all in the bathrooms which double as tornado shelters. Then we got the all-clear so I gathered up my stuff and headed home. It was raining a little. Then it hailed! I was near shelter so I ducked under the eaves until the hail quit. There was the most beautiful rainbow.

And then the tornado sirens went off again. I was about halfway home-- do I head for the nearest building and take shelter or just go home? I decided to just go home. The sun was shining, the clouds were far off, the wind had died down. There were plenty of houses, all neighbors, that I could take refuge in if something started to happen.

Soon my dad & I will be biking all over Missouri right through tornado season. The bathrooms in all the state parks double as tornado shelters.

We got those sirens, too. We'd just been out walking the neighborhood with our dog and the dog we were dogsitting. We brought them both into the common apartment shelter. Nothing much happened here but stuff was happening south of us. Glad you were safe. You are safer in a bathroom as you say than in a car driving on the interstate anyhow.

Glad to see you are trying to bike Missouri! If you get to come through here, give me a shout! My BF would love to Bike the Katy. Maybe when I graduate next May we can do that before we move.

I have been commuting quite a bit lately and it's almost halved my gas consumption! Yay. Dang weather makes it hard, though. Today I opted to drive because I had to be on campus all day and it was supposed to POUR. I almost hit a commuter today, though. Some balsy guy, a real PITA, who didn't want to wait for a left turn and just breezed through, full well knowing I had the right of way. I slammed on my brakes and thankfully neither killed him or got rear-ended. Another commuter, a lady who was coming up after his stupid feat looked at me like, "WTF?!" watching him almost kill himself, so it wasn't just me. It's guys like him that make the townies hate us. I can't stand people like that!

azfiddle

03-31-2014, 04:23 PM

Yay Crankin- sounds fantastic

colorisnt

04-01-2014, 07:10 AM

Rode in. Same 2.5 miles. Averaged about 15 mph coming in. It was cold and FAST.

DebW

04-01-2014, 10:48 AM

Seems that my winter bike commutes have finally turned into spring bike commutes -- didn't need the windproof goretex overpants for the first time in months!

Crankin

04-01-2014, 04:38 PM

My second commute was weird. It was cold this morning and it really rained badly yesterday, so I waited until it was 35 out, as I am healthily afraid of black ice of the same kind that took out my friend and broke his hip at this time of year. It was really nice out, despite being cold. A lot more people I work with saw me come in and I got all kinds of questions, like "You rode 5 miles? Oh my God!" But, some good questions, too. I usually work until 6:45 but my last client is coming on a different day, so I left somewhere around 6:15. I didn't have my headlight, and I was cursing myself. It wasn't dark, but when the cars have their lights on, I need to, too. And, there was a bit more traffic than I would have at 7:00. Anyway, my pannier was so packed, I was struggling. Finally, I just decided to slow down, but the big hills felt crazy hard. I took a little bit of a longer way home, up by the back of the North Bridge, to avoid a traffic back up that always happens at rush hour, so I got an extra half a mile in.

rebeccaC

04-01-2014, 07:26 PM

I signed the 30 days of riding pledge in hulagirl’s cycling related forum thread. I usually ride or run/walk to work when I’m in the office all day. I’m planning on riding before or after work on days I have to travel to a project or meeting. My morning commute is city streets with a stop at Intelligentsia for tea and usually a muffin or scone…today’s was a honey/fig bran muffin. It could be a four mile ride but I usually do quiet back streets, add a few hills and a ride on the beach to make it six to ten miles.

the ride home is sometimes with a stop at whole foods if not an earlier lunch walk to the farmers market for food/house needs

colorisnt

04-02-2014, 03:51 PM

rebeccaC, that sounds lovely.

I drove to work today but then forgot the stylus I needed, so I rode back to get it. Thought I was going to have to resort the gym (that was my compromise for the 30 days thing) but nope! I did the 5 miles RT in drizzle and made it to work, parked the bike, ran up to get my stylus, grabbed it, ran down and hit traffic coming back. Still only took about 28 minutes RT. I was a woman on a mission :)

Eihposi

04-02-2014, 11:25 PM

I have been commuting quite a bit lately and it's almost halved my gas consumption! Yay. Dang weather makes it hard, though. Today I opted to drive because I had to be on campus all day and it was supposed to POUR. I almost hit a commuter today, though. Some balsy guy, a real PITA, who didn't want to wait for a left turn and just breezed through, full well knowing I had the right of way. I slammed on my brakes and thankfully neither killed him or got rear-ended. Another commuter, a lady who was coming up after his stupid feat looked at me like, "WTF?!" watching him almost kill himself, so it wasn't just me. It's guys like him that make the townies hate us. I can't stand people like that!

We're saving a bunch on gas and public transportation costs too, it's one of the upsides of commuting that I sometimes forget about until I see how much I have left of my pay check at the end of the month :)

Yesterday I found myself hunting down a suicide cyclist to tell him to follow the rules of traffic before he endangers us all. He was speeding down a very steep hill and didn't bother to stop for the red light at the end - just rushed through one of the busiest intersections in town. Last year a cyclist was killed by a bus after similar reckless driving in that same intersection. I hate cyclists that ride against the red light, apart from the obvious danger, it makes us all look bad!

Crankin

04-04-2014, 09:39 AM

I had my first commuting "incidents" this morning. Nothing I am not prepared for, but, I never had any of this when I was leaving at 5:45 AM and coming home at 2:30. I wanted to be there by 8, so I left at 7:30, which gave me extra time. Usually, the earlier, the better. So first, I got in the lane, approaching a 4 way stop that is very busy at commuting time. It was just slightly backed up, so I was patiently waiting my turn to go, when a young girl, not a teen, maybe 20 or so, decided, I didn't have the right to be there. She proceeded to go around me, into the oncoming cars, to get ahead. I *wanted* to ride right up to the bumper of the car ahead of me, but since she was in the car, I didn't :). But, she didn't really have room to do that, so she was like going sideways across the road. And what for? She had to wait her turn for maybe 2 seconds less. She clearly didn't think I had the right to be there, and judging from her car and where she was headed, I'd say she was from the state north of here. Then, when I was waiting to cross the highway, right by my office, the light turned green and I was a few vehicles back. It turned yellow when I was in the middle of the intersection, so I started sprinting, but then there were 3 cars waiting to make lefts in front of me. Two went, I slowed a little, and then the third one clearly didn't see me, I grabbed the brakes, and when he saw me, I think he probably peed in his pants. I didn't have to stop, but by now I was in the middle of the intersection, and the light was red. Not only are cars turning everywhere here, but once I get through the intersection, there's a street on the right with no light, where cars are trying to turn left onto the road that crosses the highway, as well as cars turning left, like I do, into the hospital. I wasn't scared, because I am hyper vigilant and saw all of it coming, but I definitely will be leaving earlier on Fridays. I always have stuff to do... probably no commuting next week, as it's going to rain on Tuesday and on Friday I have a client until 12 and then a hair appointment about 6 miles away, up a 3 part hill. By the time I change and get lunch, it will be very close, so I probably will do a "dark" ride early in the AM.

colorisnt

04-07-2014, 09:27 AM

Eihposi,
That's crazy. I see guys (mainly fancy roadies) do that here and I just think, "I how could that POSSIBLY be worth it?" My boyfriend has no bad habits because he never really rode on the road, just trails as an adult and he obeys all traffic laws. He got really angry at another cyclist who blew through a light here yesterday. I was like, "Yep, see that daily here". It's scary. I'm glad for both of us I am the one "teaching" him manners and not one of those crazies.

Crankin,
Man, I am GLAD you are OKAY. That's a crazy set of scary circumstances. I know what you mean by "not scared" but just blown away by all of that nonsense. My BF and I found a better way to get to my work this weekend while bumming around post-trail ride. He said "I think this could save you some traffic" and boy was he right! Much safer commute this morning altogether. I am now looking at minimizing my time spent dealing with high-traffic and am trying desperately to understand what time I need to leave. I think I have that down. If I leave before 8, I'm good. If I leave even 10 minutes later, I have issues. It's good to know that, as you say.

Today I commuted in with my new pannier and rain gear but I didn't need it. I'm wearing Zoic capris and no one knows they are bike pants. I liked them so much I bought another pair which is on its way. They will be good for my riding in Ottawa, I think.

Catrin

04-07-2014, 09:57 AM

Crankin, I just saw this! So glad you are ok, a crazy set of circumstances indeed. Hopefully you will be able to go earlier in the day on most of your commutes - that was always scary to me when I was able to ride to work. The earlier the better, for sure. Whewww, very glad you are ok!

Colorinst - glad you like the capris! I've considered them more than once but never did pill the trigger.

colorisnt

04-07-2014, 04:17 PM

They're on sale - two pairs for less than $60.00 on here! I also got a cycleskirt because I'd been wanting something for summer commutes when I could be casual or potential bike jaunts through Ottawa and/or other cities where I don't want to wear shorts while out shopping and sightseeing.

Crankin

04-07-2014, 04:21 PM

Earlier, or later. I decided to bag boot camp today and ride to work. I had nothing until 10:00, but I wanted to get there by 9:15 or so. I left at 8:50, a perfect ride. When I left tonight at about 6:10, I felt like I was flying. I felt pretty aggressive and had my left arm out and finger pointing, with my "teacher gesture," as my friend calls it, as I rode through Concord Center, and I have to turn left and merge in 3 places. It's very cloudy, getting ready to rain, so I had both front and my 2 rear lights going. no mistaking me. When I got to my neighborhood, my average was the highest of all my rides this year, which is amazing, given I have my pannier, though it wasn't stuffed with much, just my clothes.
DH says this stuff happens to him on almost every commute, and he rides 17 miles! I won't stop; this is the quickest and most direct route. I can leave earlier or later, depending on the day, but I am not stopping. Perhaps, if I was a new rider, I'd be afraid, but this is just the way it is. As it gets warmer, I may experiment in riding in clothes that look less like roadie clothes, which usually gets you treated better, in my experience.
Going to boot camp tomorrow, despite my dislike of the instructor on Tuesdays.

rebeccaC

04-08-2014, 07:34 PM

While having a cup of tea and a chocolate almond brioche on my way to work this morning photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield sat down next to me. What a great conversation for 30 minutes on her early photography in L.A. and how we both use photography to see culture. She was riding to a meeting close to my office so we rode together for 3 miles. I was a little late but that story explained it well enough so it didn’t matter. A 6 mile ride this morning.

After work I took the beach bike path north to it’s end at Will Rogers Beach and then back towards home. Watched the sunset while sitting on the beach. 24 miles total for the day......so far I've done everyday of my 30 day pledge:)

Eihposi

04-10-2014, 11:20 PM

Dreadful! I'm going to the opera tonight after work, so I decided to take the subway (then I don't need a bag full of extra clothes), but the train left 2 minutes early, so I missed it, and then the next train was late, so I stood outside in the cold for 20 minutes, which is about the same time it takes me to cycle to work. I felt so stupid for not taking the bike after all. Stupid me!

Crankin

04-11-2014, 03:09 AM

It's supposed to rain today and I have an appointment about a half hour after I finish work.
Taking a rest day, no commute today. Looks like I won't be able to commute again until maybe next Friday, given the combination of Passover, work schedule, weather.

GLC1968

04-11-2014, 08:39 AM

I've been commuting about once a week lately and this week (with lovely weather), I managed two commutes.

Today was commute #2 and it was amazing...such a gorgeous day on tap here! The ride home should be delightful.

There was a funny incident though. I was about 0.5 miles from my office and I'd scaled back my effort to try and cool down a bit before arriving. I came up on another cyclist on a mountain/hybrid bike. We were on a MUP that no one uses in the morning except cyclists. I didn't feel like exerting the effort to pass him when my office was so close, so I just hung back about 5 bike lengths or so. He clearly did not know I was there. First, he blew a snot-rocket but I was far enough back to miss it. Then he lifts himself off his saddle slightly and makes a motion with his body that could be nothing other than farting. I was totally snickering to myself!

I SOOO hoped that he was headed to the same office as me so that I could tease him about checking behind before blowing a snot-rocket. I'd reassure him that he missed me but leave him wondering if I knew about the fart or not! Unfortunately, my fun was thwarted as he turned off down another road. ;-)

azfiddle

04-11-2014, 10:19 AM

I'm also on the once weekly commute- the ride in this morning was beautiful- perfect temps, not much wind and I left a few minutes early and avoided 3 miles of bumpy pavement and traffic by riding the longer route via the Julian Wash bike path. I only saw 2 walkers- no other cyclists. Still a few lingering wildflowers- Desert Globe Mallows, some tall pink Parry's Penstemon, a few Desert Marigolds. I passed a very vocal Cactus Wren on top of a cholla, a few Black-Throated Sparrows and House Finches. I like it that part of my commute goes through desert habitat. I don't have the typical commuter problems of car doors opening at me and not too many stoplights, but part of the route goes along a pretty busy traffic corridor past the air force base, and parts of the route don't have the greatest shoulders. But by the time I get in to work- 10-12 miles depending on the route, I feel pretty good.

The ride home will be a bit warm- in the 90's....

Crankin

04-11-2014, 01:47 PM

GLC, that is hysterical and gross at the same time.

colorisnt

04-14-2014, 07:26 AM

GLC, that's awesome haha. But yuck. At least you didn't get hit!

I braved the AWFUL weather riding to/from class today and it was WORTH IT. I got hit in the face with icy rain (ouch!), would have been nailed by cars by the fire station had I not been more alert but avoided catastrophe, and made it work in 35* weather with my rain gear. The new bike worked GREAT and I much prefer these brakes to my others. I sat at Starbuck's with a book pre-lecture and enjoyed my morning an ran into my dept. chair and dir. of grad studies who were both getting coffee there. The Chair told me I met rule nine of cyclocross code by riding today and I'm a bada&& for riding in this weather. I told him about the new ride and he congratulated me on finally pulling the trigger. I have a feeling he will be seeing more of me at the cyclocross series in town this year like he's been encouraging me to do for a couple of years.

azfiddle

04-14-2014, 08:32 AM

Wow Colorisnt - that is some serious commuting commitment. Yes, rule #9.

colorisnt

04-14-2014, 02:12 PM

I loved it. It feels great to be flying around on a bike when everyone else has battened down the hatches. There's something empowering about it. I hate the rain usually but on a bike it doesn't bother me. That said, I never would have done that on my road bike. The minute the brakes get all squeaky is the minute I get nervous about riding in the rain. And I worry about falling. On this bike, I really don't have to worry much, though.

Since the only riding I did yesterday was as a demo on the bike I was selling and sold I am still at 11/14 days because I rode today!

Catrin

04-14-2014, 05:45 PM

I loved it. It feels great to be flying around on a bike when everyone else has battened down the hatches.

Where is the LOVE button?

colorisnt

04-15-2014, 07:21 AM

Haha. I was going to try to re-create it on a beautiful morning today. Rode about .75 mi from the BF's place on the new bike and then "pop". Popped the tube on a piece of glass bottle. Blargh. Walked it home because I found out I grabbed the wrong tube at the store (a Schrader not a Presta but the right "size"). FML. Back to the bike shop which I have been at every day minus yesterday since Thursday.

DebW

04-15-2014, 01:41 PM

I've been battling winds on my commutes yesterday and today. Yesterday I was on the Belmont bike path heading towards Alewife when a side-wind was so strong it moved me sideways 4 feet and made me lean 20 degrees just to stay upright. Glad it wasn't a road with cars. I've been staying away from Huron St. where the top of the hill by Fresh Pond can have nasty side-winds. Today I was biking to work at 1 pm (tax day crunch) and the winds were almost as bad, plus some light rain. We're supposed to get 30 degree temps for the next couple of morning, so waiting til later in the week to change out my studded tires (though I've felt a little silly riding around on them when it's been 60 and 70 degrees).

Funny story: I was biking through Waverly Square a few mornings ago, and who should stop next to me at a stop light but Peter Mooney, the frame-maker who built my custom road bike about 10 years ago. Of course I said "You built me a bike". He looked down at the Bridgestone MTB frame I was riding, and I had to assure him that my custom Mooney was safely at home and not being parked in Harvard Square every day.

colorisnt

04-15-2014, 04:35 PM

I want to try studded tires in the fall. This is going to sound like a dumb question but do you add the studs or do you buy a pair? And it's cool to see your frame maker!

I hate hate hate the hard wind. It was like that (gusts of like 25 mph) Saturday and I felt like I should have been swept away. Glad to be on the heavier bike on a ride like that.

Thorn

04-16-2014, 03:59 PM

I want to try studded tires in the fall. This is going to sound like a dumb question but do you add the studs or do you buy a pair? And it's cool to see your frame maker!

Either, but it is easier to just buy studded tires. Make sure the studs are carbide or they'll wear out before the end of the season.

Oh, and...uh....err...you want to leave them on until the ice storms subside...I made the mistake of riding in with*out* studs yesterday. The weather was below freezing and it had rained the day before. I figured out all I had to do was avoid the puddles....didn't really think about the glaze on the road, not to mention the bridges...dumb, dumb. Stayed upright, but I should have had the studs.

colorisnt

04-16-2014, 05:42 PM

Thanks for the tip. I will hopefully end up somewhere cooler (like back near Chicago weather-wise) or somewhere freezing (ie Canada), so those tires could be of use. Even here, they would be a big help in winter.

rebeccaC

04-16-2014, 11:05 PM

I want to try studded tires in the fall.
Peter White has an excellent write up about studded tire sizes/profiles for different winter conditions on his website (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp)

thankfully I don't need to think about them :)

Rode to my early pilates class and back as I had a work meeting I had to drive to today. When I got home I rode to get some salted caramel gelato for desert for a neighbor friends dinner invite. a mere 9 miles total but hey I'm 16/16 for my 30 day pledge:)

colorisnt

04-18-2014, 05:49 AM

rebeccaC, thanks, I will look into that! And congrats on that pledge! It all counts :)

I hopped on the bike and got here pretty fast today. I had to hop on the sidewalk for about 30 seconds and walk across a road to avoid traffic, but I did. Road construction has our only two ways out of our place completely frozen. The detours will have you sitting in traffic for 30+ minutes. I flew into work on the bike! Last night we flew down south of town by bike, even with a very steep hill and passed all of the cars sitting and not moving. So glad that we don't have to worry about that. Bikes are the way to go!

Crankin

04-22-2014, 03:43 PM

I commuted for the first time in 2 weeks today. It was really warm when I left at 8:45, like 52. Was a bit overdressed and I had to use my "freshen up" wipes a bit. I really could have used my flat iron on my bangs, but I discovered not a bathroom in my office has an outlet. I might invest in a battery powered one, as the weather gets warmer. It was about 70 when I left at 5, and kind of cloudy and I rode home in short sleeves.. You can smell the rain coming, a great spring smell. Traffic was a bit quieter, as it's spring break this week, so no buses, etc. I also wore my Terry knickers that are for spin; they have a very minimal chamois that is fleece, and I actually could wear them as capris all day long. When I come in at this later time, people are arriving and so are some clients, so I feel a bit weird. No one ever saw me in my bike clothes at my teaching job, because I got there so early, but I will wear shorts when it gets hot.

colorisnt

04-25-2014, 04:09 PM

People aren't always sure how to react to bike clothes (especially clompy shoes) but I don't think they care usually. Everyone in our dept. who rides is a road cyclist with clompy shoes. Most people commute in on cross bikes. I have just recently joined their "fraternity" or so they call it. I'm the only female on a bike but the male faculty members aren't afraid of spandex which does get them side eye from the grad students. I take the elevator up and it works great with my tiny bike. I sometimes surprise students waiting to see the academic advisor but usually they just gape and then turn to ignore me haha.

Crankin

04-26-2014, 03:41 AM

Yeah, the only comments I've gotten from the other therapists is, "Oh you must be serious." I am wearing my mtb shoes with Frogs when I commute, so I am not so clompy with the shoes, although it's quite clear I am wearing cycling shoes with cleats. I did have one older (of course now, that means at least 65) woman ask me about what kind of riding I do, what tours I've been on, etc. It turns out she did a lot of touring up until recently. Most of the "looks," I get are from the admin staff, who try to scare me with cycling crash/injury stories. Apparently, just 2 weeks ago, the DH of one of the admins crashed going over a RR track while on business in San Francisco. He is really messed up, hip broken 3 places, was told he'd never ride again. Of course I didn't say that I always slow, unclip, and scoot over unfamiliar tracks. I did mention our closest friend broke his hip in a crash 4 years ago and was back riding in 4 months, but they just gave me a dirty look! My supervisor, who is a serious runner and avid cyclist, too, broke her collarbone by crashing into her DH a couple of years ago, but she is back riding.

colorisnt

04-28-2014, 05:47 AM

Injuries can happen in ANY sport. People don't seem to get that runners are also quite prone to injuries because running is pretty hard on your body comparatively. When people tell me stuff like "oh, what if you fall?" or "what if a car hits you?" I tell them about my poor baby sister getting hit by a dump truck while out running or the season she found out she had been running on a hip fracture due to a stress fracture gone bad. They tend to not know what to say. My own mother worried a lot until she got back into riding with my Dad. They used to be road warriors so I think now she is starting to remember. The BF's family is all runners and triathletes so they don't bother us haha. They chipped in on his new Cross purchase this weekend as a birthday gift.

I rode in today in a dress (liner shorts under) clipped in and got some strange looks. I then put the bike in the car (boo driving) that was parked in my garage last night because we worried about hail damage and don't have a garage at home. Car is fine and the bike is now in it until I leave this afternoon.

Helene2013

04-28-2014, 06:04 AM

We are used here seeing "sports" people coming into work, even in a 37th floor building in downtown Montreal. So we pay little attention. We even have showers for our staff who'd like to use one. It's business as usual.

As for falls, I can attest it goes fast. :D

Today, unfortunately, a 33YO woman just died this morning as she hit by a heavyload truck - almost east-town. Still unclear what happened yet but there is a bike path/sidewalk. Was she using it? Did she fall before and the truck happened to be coming at same time, no way to tell yet. At this point, only the driver can report the event but police is "re-tracking" the map to get the whole picture. So sad. Dying while probably getting to work.

colorisnt

04-28-2014, 07:11 AM

That's really terrible :(

It's great that you have showers, though. I wish more workplaces here were committed. I think if we had a wealthy donor that wanted to build us a new building, my Dept. Chair would demand in-house bike parking and showers for commuters since there are probably 10 of us every day that would make use of these services. However, we don't have the money. This place is surprisingly progressive and, despite the fact that people DO bike commute, most people think we are crazy for doing it here.

Crankin

04-28-2014, 08:47 AM

I rode to work this morning, after going to boot camp at 5 AM. I drove to the gym, did my workout, and then came home, ate, showered, and got my pannier ready. Being able to leave at 9 helps a lot with traffic. I just walked over to get a salad from the hospital cafeteria and it feels colder out than when I rode in! It's supposed to be 60 today, but probably will be less when I leave at 6. The sun is gone, too.
Probably will commute tomorrow, too, since the weather looks crappy after that.
My allergies are horrible, with mold counts through the roof. I felt horrible while riding in, but a bit better as the hours go on.

colorisnt

04-28-2014, 10:19 AM

Absolutely awful allergies here for the BF. He has a terrible tree pollen allergy. I am starting to get them no that everything is on the move. My worst one is ragweed and the other is grass pollen. Way less on tree pollen.

Just fought 25 mph winds going to/from the grocery. Did about 7 miles and got stuff for dinner. Even strapped a lunch thing of chinese food on the back of my rack to go! Motivation.

Crankin

04-28-2014, 04:30 PM

My ride home was uneventful. But... I did again see the azzhole rider who made a left from the right lane, last week. He did this in front of me, right in front of cars approaching in both directions on the cross street. For what? As I was about to clip in, I saw the guy coming out of the medical building that my building is attached to, with his bike. He blew by me, and then I caught up to him at the light where the street crosses Rt. 2, a major highway. He was *in the right turn lane,* like he was going to turn onto the highway. Of course, he was going straight, but couldn't be bothered to get in the center lane. There weren't even any cars, as it was already about 6:20. I stayed behind him for awhile, but then he started going about 25 mph. I saw him do the same thing in another right turn lane and I was quite glad I wasn't near him.

colorisnt

04-29-2014, 09:05 AM

That is bizarre. He sounds like he has a death wish!

No commute today. Trying to find a reason to go by bike this afternoon to get out despite the rain. May just take a spin just because. The winds and cold were awful this AM and the BF BEGGED me not to ride because of the construction projects all around our house. He doesn't want me to slip. I told him it'd be okay but he was worried about me doing it in rush hour. There's a lot of random holes and grates everywhere and I've been having to take precious care to avoid it. In the rain, things are just harder. He's probably right. There's no reason to do it during rush hour. I can get my mileage in leisurely later.

colorisnt

05-05-2014, 05:28 AM

No commute recently? Has the bad weather kept most in?

I had a beautiful commute this AM (finally!) apart from some old man screaming "put some clothes on, ya hussy!" at me. I was wearing running shorts under a skirt and OVER tights. Hahahaha. Some people are nuts.

Crankin

05-05-2014, 08:49 AM

Ha ha, that made me laugh.
I did commute last Friday, but it was uneventful. We are getting our house painted and when I rode up the driveway and got home, the painters looked at me like I was nuts.
Commuting tomorrow, but the weather Friday looks rainy. If it's light rain I might do it, but I am a little afraid of what it might do to my hair... I might have to drag out the helmet cover.

colorisnt

05-05-2014, 07:16 PM

See, my hair never gets THAT wet on my head but my ponytail gets soaked.

The BF told me when I told him what happened that I should ride a Huffy so I can be a Hussy on a Huffy.

Giulianna23

05-12-2014, 01:26 PM

I sold my lovely schwinn Traveler about 2 months ago to a college girl that was sooo excited about the bike. I felt so happy that she loved it. So I went ahead and converted one of my road bikes into a commuter. First commute of the year today finally. Last year I had to be covering all over the place at work and never knew until last minute where I was going to work so couldn't commute but 3 or 4 times. It finally looks like we have a full staff so no need for me to be moving around. Hoping to be able to commute everyday or at least 4 days a week for the whole season.

17097

Crankin

05-12-2014, 06:02 PM

My commute was fine, but at around 3:30. I had a voice mail from the receptionist that they were visited by the hospital security and were told that "whoever is locking that bike to the stairwell, has to move it, it's a fire hazard." So, the building I work in is a community agency building attached to the local hospital. We are not part of the hospital, but the hospital is in charge of the grounds/building. I leave my bike in an inside hallway where the Concord Carlisle Community Chest stores stuff in big closets and frankly, there's crap thrown everywhere. No one else has access to this area, it's beyond doors that say "for staff use only." The stairs go up directly to our offices. I've been putting my bike in the corner, in front of a closet and locking it to the end of the railing. Depending on how it's leaning, maybe a bit of the handlebar is inside the hand rail.
This is crap. This hospital is preaching healthy living and no one's way is being blocked. I unlocked the bike and just leaned it against a wall, wrapping the lock through all the parts. I am not really worried it will get taken, because no one goes in this area except my colleagues, but I am pissed. It's bike to work week for God's sake. Things like this are barriers.
I will bring it upstairs and leave it in our meeting room, if I have to, as I can wheel it out the front door when it's time to leave. Carrying it up the stairs is no issue, but I think going down would be. I have to talk to the clinic director, though.

Crankin

05-13-2014, 03:49 PM

Yesterday was 82 when I rode home. This morning and evening it was 50, cloudy, and kind of threatening looking. Crazy. A guy caught me near the alternate street i take behind the Old North Bridge, to avoid a traffic situation. Of course, he wanted to talk when we were going up a hill, and I was working hard with that damn pannier on the bike! He had a really nice Soma bike with a retro looking front bag. And, he was wearing a wool bike sweater. At the top of the hill, he took off, but I went the other way, anyway.
I just left my bike in the private hallway, unlocked. Haven't had a chance to talk to the director about bringing it into the office, but my clinical supervisor says others have done that, but they weren't riding on a regular basis.

Crankin

06-03-2014, 03:51 PM

I left work at 6:15, even though my last client, at 5 cancelled. The traffic is just so bad between 5 and 6 I don't want to deal with it. I did work for about half the time, called a friend, and then changed. I swear, there seems to be more traffic than when I started commuting in March. I am not sure what is going on. The private schools in the area are out, and traffic from 2 of them impact my commute. Maybe people are more aggressive because it's nice out and they want to get home. I was turning left in Concord center (stopped and waiting in the lane), when I saw another cyclist going straight. I looked at him because I heard him yell (scream) "Watch it!" He couldn't have been yelling at me, no cars were close to me and I wasn't doing anything wrong. Then I realized he was saying it to the car that sort of passed between us. He must have been very close to the other guy because he was trying to avoid me. Then, a dumb sh!t old guy tried to go at a 4 way stop, when it was my turn. I made him stop when I yelled, "Are you a dumb f***?" Of course, he would have done this if I was in a car, and I have given up on Massachusetts people ever understanding what to do at a 4 way stop.
It was really beautiful out on the way home, 75, with a breeze.

azfiddle

07-19-2014, 09:50 AM

Trying to get in more consistent commuting while the days are long and I'm not feeling so exhausted from teaching. I rode to work 3 times last week, (the week before our district's unusually early start date to the school year, in mid-July). The summer monsoon storms have left my usual route a complete mess, with mud and debris in a section about one mile long, near the air force base. The road is actually below the level of the surroundings, and it flooded last weekend.

To avoid the mess, this week, I tried the only other route available, which is a mile longer. The eleven mile route has some "normal" roads with an average surface/bike lanes, but also includes about 4 miles of multi-use path and about 4 miles of a newly completed road with very smooth pavement and a wide bike lane. Going in was great on both days I tried it, but I've had some pretty unexpected events coming home. Thursday, 2 motorcycles and a 3 wheel ORV came roaring up the bike path although motor vehicles are strictly prohibited. Shortly afterward, I came upon them as they were moving their vehicles down into the dry riverbed. I don't know if they could really hear what I was saying ("It's illegal to ride on the bike path" and "little kids are on this path", but they nodded under their helmets and one guy gave me a thumbs up. Friday, I had to contend with a van that stopped directly in front of me on the main road, but in an area where 2 lanes are starting to narrow to just one, so I had to stop and figure out what they were doing as the driver clearly paid no attention to my presence. Then a police car was parked partly in the bike lane further up on the same road. Finally when I got onto the bike path, 3 teen age boys were standing in the shade of an underpass on the bike path, smoking cigarettes and oblivious to the potential for cyclists to crash into them as they stood blocking the path. "Watch out!" seemed better than "On the left" - one of the kids still stepped backwards and almost directly into my way.

Maybe I should stick with the hazards of the mud, tree branches and rough road from before...

azfiddle

07-24-2014, 01:23 PM

I rode in this morning and it was over 84 degrees (before 7:15!). It's going to be between 103 and 107 when I'm done at work (depends on how long I stay and enter grades and watch the Tour de France with the projector and screen ;) ) Or, my husband (who borrowed the car for appointments today) could pick me up. Should I ride home? There are 3 or 4 convenience stores with ice/water along the 11 mile route (around miles, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 and 10). Decisions, decisions...

azfiddle

07-24-2014, 08:52 PM

So I rode halfway home..... and he picked me up, in spite of having been to the dentist and making the choice to just have a tooth pulled instead of trying to save it.... I would have been home with my head under a pillow feeling sorry for myself on several accounts. It was about 104 but I did have a nice tailwind.

Crankin

07-25-2014, 03:13 AM

I cannot believe you are starting school in mid July. What is the reason? Did you get out in April last year?
The school schedule in other parts of the country is almost nothing like the schedule in the Northeast. My town did not get out of school until June 27th! They finally are going to start before Labor Day this year, because of all the snow days and late ending this year. The district I go to once a week (the I used to teach in, actually) to provide counseling at the HS got out on June 18th.
I guess kids in AZ don't have the option of going to camp or other summer programs in other parts of the country.
I would have taken the ride home!

azfiddle

07-25-2014, 08:15 AM

Crankin, we start in mid-July but have a 3 week break in Sept/October and a 2 week break in March. We get out at Memorial Day. This allows families to vacation during off-peak seasons and gives us time for remediation classes between 1st and 2nd quarter and 3rd and 4th quarter.

Crankin

07-25-2014, 10:59 AM

I am taking my first October vacation this year, so that does make sense, but I would still hate starting in July if I was teaching. And do kids really take those remediation courses? Can you "make" them.
I worked in a district in south Phx that was phasing out all year round schools when I started. I would have definitely liked that, as you had a choice of when you want to take your breaks. My school was already back on the regular schedule, though. Always said summer vacation should be in Dec., Jan., Feb., in AZ!

azfiddle

07-26-2014, 01:50 PM

Crankin, if the student fails a core class (Language Arts, Math, Science or Social Studies, or fails a math or reading benchmark test, they "owe" 12 hours for each one. They can attend intersession, go after school or 12 hours or in some cases be enrolled in a "re-teach" class during the regular school year instead of an "enrichment" class (kind of like an elective). Parents are informed, and it is a district wide policy. Students who owe hours can be retained. So yeah, they definitely have to go.

Once you get in the classroom, you stop thinking about the fact that it is mid-July. I hate the short summer but love the fall and spring breaks. They are just a little long. I'd like to have a 2 week break in the fall instead of 3 weeks.

Crankin

09-05-2014, 09:37 AM

I commuted in my cycling dress today! I only had one client and I did not feel like riding even 5 miles with a loaded pannier. Wore my Terry liner shorts under the dress and while the see through mesh was visible as I rode, I am sure it just looked like cycling shorts to motorists. It's viciously hot out and it was cool to wear this riding home at noon. All I had to bring were my sandals and underwear, with my flat iron in my backpack.

craftykhandy

09-23-2014, 12:20 PM

I made my third ever commute today. I am loving the bike and didn't think I would use it in this way. oddly proud of the dead bug I picked out of my helmet today :)

Steelbeauty

09-25-2014, 04:13 PM

My commute today..well, usually is on my Brompton and Bart; however, since I have been putting in a lot of miles training, I thought it would be fun to ride to work and home, 34 miles. It was beautiful..sunrise at my house and sunset view of the San Francisco Bay! I work as an optician, and admittedly, am a bit of a fashionista, so I too was hauling some fun accessories! Nothing is more invigorating than passing some guy adorned in a Garmin Kit....(one that doesn't look as if he's collecting a check), on a steel bike, with a loaded backpack!

I began commuting on a cruiser and then I just got hooked into cycling all over again. A Dutchie, a Brompton, and an IF Steel Crown Jewel later- the ride is our intimate connection to the beauty that surrounds and inspires us.

Happy Fall;)

GLC1968

10-08-2014, 08:59 AM

Maiden voyage on my newly finished mixte, this morning. I've done a couple of recreational rides on her, but this was my first commute with panniers. It was lovely! She actually felt more stable with the loaded panniers than without.

17416

I'll post a non-loaded photo later, in case anyone want's to ooh and aah at her beauty! ;)

Catrin

10-08-2014, 09:00 AM

Congratulations! Beautiful!

rebeccaC

10-09-2014, 09:35 AM

yes!!!...a beautiful mixte!!!!!!!

enjoy the miles you'll ride on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crankin

10-28-2014, 02:07 AM

I commuted home at 7:20 last night, my latest ever. For some reason, there seemed to be more traffic than if I left at 6:15. But, aside from being a lot more cautious, it was a really nice ride, with my favorite temperatures... around 52 when I arrived home.

Sky King

10-29-2014, 06:43 AM

Yahooo, Muirenn! Sounds like you have a good set up.

Crankin

10-29-2014, 07:36 AM

I am starting to hate riding with my pannier. Even though I only have my clothes/shoes, a few papers, and my flat iron, it feels super heavy. And that's not counting the times I had to bring books home. For a couple of weeks, I brought my clothes in ahead, so I could ride my bike without the rack to work, with just my Camelback as a little backpack. That's how I rode when I was commuting to teaching. I like riding my Guru so much better, without the pannier. I have an Arkel trunk bag, but it's a pain to put on/off, compared to the pannier, and it does not hold as much. DH has a huge seat bag he used to use on his carbon bike, that attaches somewhat like whta you have, Murienn, but my bikes are always too little to support that.

Crankin

10-29-2014, 10:14 AM

My pannier was reasonably priced and I've had it for years (since I had the Coda), but the Arkel was pricey. I don't mind spending money on this stuff, but kind of not when it's for something I don't use all of the time. I probably should practice putting the Arkel bag on/off, so it becomes second nature, because I can't really feel it too much when I ride. Only thing is, I would not want to take it on/off when I get to work and leave, to carry my stuff up the stairs into the office.
And yes, I will never get a front bag again. I had one on my Trek 5200, almost the whole time I had it. I think that's when my bad cornering habits started... it changed the handling so much, I started being overly cautious. When I took it off, I was amazed.

GLC1968

11-05-2014, 03:42 PM

I had to break in my lovely mixte by riding in the rain on Monday to go pick up my car (long story...but I was stuck at home with no car and no one to drive me so I thew on my rain gear, pulled out the bike and rode to the tire place). I've been hesitating to ride it in sucky weather because it's so lovely, but that ship has now sailed.

So today, I commuted on it. I had a big smile on my face for almost the entire ride in! And I'm really looking forward to the ride home, too. :)

Owlie

12-11-2014, 08:09 PM

I went ahead and rode the Iguana in to work today, since there are fewer students around (dead day before finals). No expectations of anything. It's not a bad little bike and stable under load, although the seatpost isn't as fixed as I thought it was. I'm trying to figure out how to fix the slipping pannier, and I think I need to swap the grips out for ergonomic ones.

Home to work is about 13 miles. I got lost and that added another 7. And I made it up the giant hill without getting off! I don't know how often I'm going to be doing this--right now sunrise coincides with rush hour (which starts at 7 am, for some reason), and I'm starting to think that whatever I save in gas and parking will be spent on food!

shootingstar

12-19-2014, 04:59 AM

It's been short rides for past week --for shopping and work. Enjoying these quiet contemplative rides with Christmas lights along the way. It feels like lull to me, before other drastic stuff happens in life.

DebW

03-03-2015, 08:15 AM

Finally, bike commuting again! After 5 weeks of constant snowstorms, snowy narrow roads, and very cold temperatures here in the Boston area, I was able to bike to work again on dry roads with temperature almost 30F and sunshine. Another snowstorm, followed by sleet and rain, coming tonight, so this will be short-lived, but a harbinger of spring to come. It felt good to be back on the bike. :D

Crankin

03-03-2015, 05:04 PM

It was nice yesterday... but the snowy, narrow roads have stopped me from doing anything except snow related sports!

azfiddle

03-08-2015, 07:46 PM

I got dropped off in the morning and rode home after work- nice temps but breezy. I've done one other afternoon only commute and one full commute. Now the sun is up earlier, I hope to get back to riding to work at least once a week.

DebW

03-11-2015, 10:24 AM

I've bike commuted every day this week. I get to work quickly (only 30 min vs 45-60 on the bus), enjoying the weather and exercise. And no walking down icy sidewalk to the bus stop 1.2 miles away. Roads are still a bit narrow from remaining snow, but not bad at all.

VeganBikeChick

04-14-2015, 04:53 AM

Back into biking to work. Biked 3 of my 4 shifts this week. It's a pitiful 3 block commute, but it's finally not 20 degrees in the AM when I leave so I feel accomplished ��

Crankin

04-14-2015, 06:30 AM

I am back into commuting, too. Sometimes it feels like more work/prep than it's worth, for a 5 mile commute. When it was 13 miles one way, it was a ride. Before that, just under 7 miles, but I was a new rider and it was truly country road riding. Dealing with traffic situations (I am riding on the outside edges of both am and pm rush hour), seems like a level of hyper vigilance I don't need. But, I will keep doing it.

Crankin

03-31-2016, 05:12 AM

Wow, I was the last one to comment on this thread, a year ago...
So, I commuted from my new home today, a whopping 2.97 miles. I left at the height of rush hour, which I would not have done before. As I turned onto the main road outside of my street, I noticed the cars were backed up. There was tree work up about 3/4 a mile and police were stopping the cars. I got to ride past the cars, in the shoulder for the first time. Once I get off of this road, it's through a more residential area, but with lots of cut through traffic. Right before my office, there was a crowded intersection, no shoulder and I had to stop and get in the lane. A bit annoying.
Not sure commuting this far is worth all the prep. I felt really good when I got here, though. My office is moving in June, and it will be even closer, by half a mile.