How Was Your Commute Today?

[tulip]

Let's keep this rolling, so to speak.

I work from home, and occasionally I ride to the post office some 3 miles away. Today, however, I had a meeting downtown, 5 miles away. So I commuted there by bike. I packed a change of clothes (skirt, nice shirt, heels :eek:) and stuffed it all carefully with my notebook some pens into my Arkel briefcase pannier. Then I set off.

I got there a bit early and had plenty of time to change in the restroom. I wasn't very sweaty, since it was just 5 miles. I had called ahead and found out that there are bike racks in the parking garage. Mine was the only bike, probably the only one for a long time.

I was pleased as punch that I made it work. The only thing I forgot were my earrings, but I'm probably the only one who noticed.

[Cataboo]

I just had a short 1 mile commute. For a lot of reasons, I didn't ride very much last week. But I had switched the stem on my commuter. So it was a bit exhilarating being on a bike again (oh yay, this is fun!) and so far the stem change seems to have helped. But I'm about to ride home and see if I still think that. The way home is slightly uphill, which is when I really noticed that I didn't like something about the handlebar position.

Luckily I can get away with being in jeans and a t shirt at work, so no need to change.

[mizzbananie]

my commute today was awesome, as it is most days. the leaves are just yellowing and beginning to fall on the pathway... it sounds and smells so nice. i ride along the river and enjoy the beauty of it; occasionally there is a train in the mornings and there's just something about that.

and then.. THE HILL. it beat me for most of the spring and summer, but now i beat it every day. that really starts my day off well, to be victorious.

i'm going to be so sad when it's too cold to ride... today was fabulous.

[Tri Girl]

didn't commute today (raining with lightning), but maybe tomorrow. I'm glad everyone had a great commute.
Tulip- nice job riding your bike to the meeting! :)

[aeiea]

Are we allowed to post our reality commute versus our imaginary commute?

Reality:
I'm in a car which requires me to go through 3 different highways, all the with the same inattentive, self-righteous, and rage-filled drivers. They switch lanes without signaling, they stop suddenly for no reason at all, they don't let signaling people into their lane. Traffic teases, seeming like it'll stay 65 mph ... and suddenly, it slams into a frustrating stop-and-go... emphasis on the stop.

It takes me an hour and a half to go 20 miles. I arrive at work upset and tired.

Imaginary:
I'm on a bike and hitting all the green lights at the right time. The bike lane is wide and free. The weather is sunny yet cool, and the ocean wind refreshes me from time to time. I belt out the synth parts of 80's tunes while zooming by amused people waiting for the bus.

It takes me an hour and a half to go 20 miles. I arrive at work excited and energetic.





With my new (further) job and new bike, I will be making the transition to bike commute hopefully next week... baby steps.

[LaFemmeFlora]

aeiea, I am going to follow your lead...
my commute is only about 7 miles though...in a car it takes me 25 minutes...factoring in red lights and jerky drivers blocking thru-lanes from their turn lane...

I have been scoping out the shoulders on possible routes to and from work and with a blessing of good weather I am going to go for the first time on my bike tomorrow.

Aside from a bumpy (post-earthquake...unrepaired) shoulder I think my biggest worry at 7 am might be stinky exhaust...wish me luck all...I will, of course, post tomorrow.

[7rider]

Today was, I believe, the slowest average speed I have yet posted for a commute since my friend, Terry's accident and my loss of him as a commuting partner. I occasionally try to push on some days. Some days, I take it easy. I call those "recovery days." Yeah....that's it. Recovery day.
So, I noodled along, not really looking to push, at about 12 mph.
Other than that, the ride was blissfully uneventful. Usual cars. Usual pedestrians. Usual potholes.

[pardes]

This morning's commute:

Crisp fall air! Wearing a new pair of Walmart knit pants. Hey, they were ONLY $9!

Then I discover that the pockets are only 2 inches deep. I discover this when I attempt to stuff my ...... okay before I denote WHAT I put in my pockets, let me pause for a public service announcement. I won't give anyone a hard time about their less than healthy habits if, in return, I get the same.

Ready?

Then I discover that the pockets are only 2 inches deep. I discover this when I attempt to stuff my ..... no wait .... if some newbie got 15 lectures about not riding on the sidewalk in another thread, I doubt I'll escape the lecture circuit myself.

But then I'm an eternal optimist and believe, somewhat insanely, that people really aren't as predictable as our worst fears try to convince us that they are. So, I'll try this again.

On my commute this morning I was wearing new $9 knit pants from Walmart that had only 2 inch deep pockets that I discovered was barely but not quite deep enough to hold my ..... wait for it ....... cigarette pack and lighter. So I stuffed one in one pocket and the other in the other pocket and then had the extreme pleasure of stopping twice, once for each, to pick them up off the road when they fell out of my pockets.

Blowing a smoke ring,
Pardes

[tulip]

Duck, Pardes, duck!

[LaFemmeFlora]

honestly I was expecting to hear...iPod...or someother distraction...but smokes...*shakes head*:eek:

[Tri Girl]

Shame on you, Pardes. :(

Hee hee. Just kidding. :D
I certainly won't be throwing any stones because I live in a big ol' glass house. I thought you were going to say you were going to stuff a candy bar in your pocket. My mind always goes to the sweets. I, myself, had a whole package of Whoppers this afternoon (and I didn't feel guilty, either- so bleh!). ;)
Gut and butt be damned- I'm not giving up the sweets...

[pfunk12]

The morning commute was wonderful. It was very, very dark when I started out. The air was crisp and it was very peaceful yet scary at times -especially during the brief period when I am in Rock Creek Park and there are no lights and I'm picturing the boogie man jumping out of the woods. :eek: I met a guy that I see at least 2-3 times a week so we rode together for a while. I always tease him about his lame bell. It's about ready to ring it's last ring and it sounds really sad. :) The evening commute was nice because the warm weather was back. Total mileage - 30 miles.

[Cataboo]

Pardes, maybe your pants, your wiser half, were trying to tell you something :)

Aeiea, driving around los angeles is usually enough to make me apoplectic - I don't envy you riding around there - you're braver than I am. Your speed is fine, just think how much faster you'll be if you raise your seat up all the way :)

[tjf9]

Lovely. I got my kids ready for school (their second day!) and then headed out on my favorite road bike since it was dry and nice today. I was exhausted from the weekend, so I stayed in the smallest gear I could and still feel like I was moving forward. I just relaxed and enjoyed the ride in.

On the way home, I was feeling a bit more energetic and ended up hitching a draft off a kitted up racer type guy. Pretty nice day.

[lph]

My commute today was just terrific. It was supposed to just be a standard transport run, but one thing led to another and I ended up winning the yellow jersey in this mornings Tour de Bureaucrat.* Four wheelsuckers, and not one could pass!

*The last half of my new commute goes along a wide and popular bike path along the ocean, and in the opposite direction leads from the wealthy suburbs out west and in to well-paid financial jobs in the city centre. The hordes of toned, tanned, ambitious men in their 40's "not competing at all" on very expensive bikes here every morning has been dubbed the "Tour de Finance". So I guess those of us riding from the not so wealthy suburbs in the east, to the not so well paid government jobs outside the city centre. might as well be the Tour de Bureaucrat.*

Then I got to the kayak club right opposite my workplace, figured I had just enough time to go paddle, hopped in a purty white and black glassfibre kayak and slid out into the sun. Half an hour on water like silk, flooded with morning sun, a few gulls bobbing about, and a view out the fjord with a light rising fog, and I can't stop grinning :p

[indigoiis]

My commute today was awesome. The weather is perfect!

[tulip]

Then I got to the kayak club right opposite my workplace, figured I had just enough time to go paddle, hopped in a purty white and black glassfibre kayak and slid out into the sun. Half an hour on water like silk, flooded with morning sun, a few gulls bobbing about, and a view out the fjord with a light rising fog, and I can't stop grinning :p

I wanna move to Norway!

[out_spokin']

Me too! A pre-work bike ride AND a kayak trip! And my niece is there in Oslo...wow I wish I had a few extra bucks in the travel account...

[Biciclista]

My commute was quite lovely... and dark. It was 60 degs F when I left the house with my beloved DH, and we made the first light which is VERY rare so I took off on my big chain ring and crossed the intersection and flew down the hill. As we approached my office, I pointed out the 1954 Supercontinental that they are reassembling in the yard outside my office, you can just see it because it's getting light out. Then the silliest part of the commute, I ride an extra 3/4 of a mile so I can ride ALONG the fence of the compound (much like being a prisoner, I guess) with DH on the other side, racing me. Then I saunter into our building and check out how many other people rode bikes today. ZERO. ha. I'm the only one.
Lovely commute, thanks for asking.

[Cataboo]

I wanna move to Norway!

Me too. Kayaking's so relaxing, it'd be a great start to the morning.

Last night after commuting home (I think the stem switch is good, fixed my issues).. I went out for a bike ride. About 5 miles from my house, there's a little table on a corner that always has vegetables and a donation can. I always see kids in the backyard playing/working in the garden. They had a couple butternut squash and some ears of corn, and I decided I want corn and I want to make butternut squash soup. So I put some money in, and stuff 2 squash & an ear of corn in my camelbak which probably already has 2-3 liters of water in it. They usually take the stand down before I'm finished with my bike ride, so I can't go on my way back home.

Then I rode another 15 miles. Could not get my back/shoulders comfortable with the pack, I was trying to get the weight to rest on the hipbelt, but wasn't too successful.

It was somewhat achy, but not terrible... After I got home, I had to take my kayak off the roof of my car & carry it behind the house from using it this weekend. 50-60 lbs on my already irked shoulders. Came in, took ibuprofen and sat the rest of the night with a really sore neck.

This morning, more ibuprofen, staying in the hot shower for a long time, and rubbing arnica & ibuprofen gel on my neck when I got to the point I could get my arms behind my head.

Decided I was gonna be miserable whether or not I drove or rode to work, so rode my bike.

All for some butternut squash.

[lph]

I wanna move to Norway!

Yup :p

[lph]

But it's not all woods and glossy water. Here from the final stretch home today, I'm documenting why a bike is a great way to travel. (A road sign had fallen down right in the middle of rush hour = backed up road for miles.)

[Biciclista]

hey, that looks just like a photo i took a couple months ago! :D
(the traffic, not the sublime water experience)

[LaFemmeFlora]

Overall, my morning commute was pretty uneventful...which is far different from what I imagined in my nightmares last night.
I left home, forgetting my glasses...thinking, "my, the wind is causing me to tear up"...duh...back home.
The second start was perfect. I wasn't feeling right until about the 4th light. I couldn't be more visible...but coming back from a bike/auto accident is sort of a mental fight with yourself.
I tackled the only big hill like a newbe, but tackled it all the same...
Only one dumb (expletive removed) pulled out in front of me...thought she could beat me making her right as I came down the hill...had I been a car I would have probably had to slam on the brakes not to rearend her...so screw her.
Got to work with plenty of time to freshen up!

The way home is all up hill...so this should be enough to do me in.

[ginny]

my morning commute was as always... lovely and fall like now :) However, I rode to a meeting this afternoon. Now, it's storming spectacularly and I have to get back for another meeting and if I make it un-electrocuted, I will be soaked to the bone... but, it's still better than a car! :D

[badgercat]

I got a flat on my regular commuter the other day (Raleigh Mixte, with a pretty long reach) and haven't bothered to fix it yet... I rode my Trek FX (first time I was on it in months) to school today with a messenger bag. Compared to how stretched out I am on the Raleigh, I felt like I was parasailing on my way to campus, I was so upright. :o I also was amazed at how easy it was to shift, and frequently forgot to do it... I'm still not entirely comfortable with the downtube friction shifters on my mixte--imagine, shifting gears with the flick of a finger!

Anyway, it was fun for a change but riding more than a couple blocks with anything substantial on my back is just torture for me. :( So I need to get my mixte (with its rack and baskets) rolling again ASAP.

[Deborajen]

OK, so - I was a little jealous seeing this thread and reading about commuting. We're having great fall weather and the building I work at is like Swiss cheese right now - with plastic wrappers. We had major exterior wall leakage and a big chunk of outer wall rotted and fell into the parking lot a few months ago. It's a four-story building - It was quite a sight. Now they're finding mold, wet insulation, more mess - and they're tearing off more bad stuff and rebuilding. It's a mess - I don't want to ride my bike around it and have no place to park a bike right now, so I'm parking my car across the street and walking. :(

Then I saw the picture of the kayak in Norway - ooooh! Beautiful!

(**More jealous now - and thinking about moving to another country! ;) )

[kfergos]

i'm going to be so sad when it's too cold to ride... today was fabulous.Too cold to ride? What're you talking about? :D I encourage you to keep riding as long as possible. With the right clothes -- and it's not actually as many as you'd think -- you can ride all year round in most parts of the country. I speak from personal experience living in Massachusetts, by the way. :rolleyes:

[Voodoo Sally]

Too cold to ride? What're you talking about? :D I encourage you to keep riding as long as possible.
Amen. I ride as much as I can manage into the winter, also in Mass.:)

[Biciclista]

another lovely commute today; however it was a bit dark :cool:

[Eden]

Not in snow country here, but a year round commuter (heck because it does snow relatively rarely, travel by car is almost impossible and its better to go by bike when it does actually fall :rolleyes: ). I'm on my bike regardless of the temps unless its icy.

[redrhodie]

Commuted the last 2 days, varying routes between 9 and 18 miles each way. I'm really ready for the wind to change direction! It's been steady northeast, which makes the evening commute challenging for the last 10 miles. I'm so hungry now!

[Biciclista]

today's afternoon commute was really fun, i put my panniers to the test. I went to my PT appointment with Knot, and then rode up to Beacon hill where I have to pick up my farm share. this is usually DH's job; but his bike's in the shop today so I did it. They were filled almost to overflowing, but I made it; all the way home with more than 10 pounds of extra weight. Beautiful weather, everything perfect.

[kfergos]

Commuted the last 2 days, varying routes between 9 and 18 miles each way. I'm really ready for the wind to change direction! It's been steady northeast, which makes the evening commute challenging for the last 10 miles. I'm so hungry now!Amen to the wind! We're close enough that I'm stick with the NE wind too, and boy am I getting sick of it. It's a headwind almost all the way home. Did you notice that the wind seems to come from the west-ish in the spring/summer and the east-ish in the winter here in New England? Or am I just crazy and imagining that?

[redrhodie]

It could be. Maybe since westerly winds are warmer and drier for us, we just don't notice them as much as the cold/damp east winds.

[LaFemmeFlora]

Great ride in today. I don't think I have ever felt fog before today. I got a distinct cloudy slam in the face by the fog as I went over the marsh today.

And I saw three cute little baby bunnies playing in a culvert pipe. They look like a mix between native wild rabbits and some sort of checkered domesticated bunny...cute as can be. They were way to quick for me to stop and take a picture though.

[getting there]

My commute was beautiful today, as it has been all last week. Temps in the 70's, light winds! Perfect!! It makes up for all the foggy mornings and windy days there have been this year! I saw deer and broke up a racoon party on the trail yesterday!

[Medianox]

Commutes have been great since I got lights! Half my route uses the bike path and the other half is on a back street...the first time I did it in near blackness I was sold on continuing. There is a powerful thrill in flying through the dark (on the path) with just the front light illuminating whats ahead...makes me feel more confident. The path is deserted then (as it is in the pre-pre-dawn when I ride too) and its lovely.
On the back I have a flashing red lights on both my bike and helmet, and my bike bag is reflective...plus I have those cheapie "rainbow" lights that fit on the tire valves-kinda tacky but bright and fun! It never hurts to have bright lights!!

[7rider]

Today is Car-Free Day (http://www.waba.org/events/) in the D.C. area. I was going to have DH drive me to Metro, but since there's only a 30% chance of rain today, decided to ride...to keep in the spirit of going car free. It was FOGGY out this morning. :eek: Had all my lights on, flashing away.

[tulip]

I loved those foggy morning commutes in DC. I hope to commute to the post office today. It's been so busy workwise that I have not been able to get out for a bike break, but I'll try to make that happen at least twice this week.

I enjoy reading about all your bike commutes, everybody! Thanks for posting.

-tulip (who loves working from home...except she misses her bike commute!)

[lph]

I'm sort of on a photography roll here, so forgive me for spamming you all with photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=123440&id=659276922&l=c287b36ffb

Here pics from my "commute" a few days ago, aka long detour via the woods and an obscure hiking path all the way down to the centre of town.

Yes, a perfectly ordinary city commute follows after all the nature stuff :) Didn't take photos of that.

[hoffsquared]

Very nice ride in this morning. Had hubby take picture for World Car Free day when he dropped me off at the trailhead. Hit all the lights just right and feel much better now that bike is outfitted with flashing headlight!

[pfunk12]

Must have had my head in a fog this morning because for some reason, I did not notice the fog during my commute. :D One of my co-workers asked me about the fog and I said, "Huh? What fog?" I was watching the weather forecast this morning, debating whether I should bike or not and I am so glad that I did. It was another beautiful morning.


Today is Car-Free Day (http://www.waba.org/events/) in the D.C. area. I was going to have DH drive me to Metro, but since there's only a 30% chance of rain today, decided to ride...to keep in the spirit of going car free. It was FOGGY out this morning. :eek: Had all my lights on, flashing away.

[mirliluck]

Well, today marks a turning point as it was the first day I wore my gloves on the ride to work for the year. My commute is less than 10 minutes, but yesterday my hands were nearly frozen by the time I arrived, so I knew it was time...bike computer said it was 42 degrees. Should be up in the 70's later today though.

[ginny]

it was 33F this morning and windy... I had a sweater, gore tex parka, thin wind proof hat under my helmet, wind resistant fleecy gloves, and by the time I got to work (aside from the tears streaming down my face from the wind), I was HOT! It always cracks me up... I can commute to the low 20s in not much more than I wore today. Once it gets into the teens and below, I have to wear gore tex pants, more substantial shoes and a balaclava. I am considering my mountaineering mittens over my fleecy gloves too this winter. Last year my hands got quite cold with the wind and the weather in the single digits. The only time I didn't make it by bike last year was a couple of powdery snow days where I just couldn't keep the bike up under me even with the studded tires. Ah, winter....:o

[Crankin]

Not a commute, but I rode my Jamis Coda at 5:15 AM, so I could get some semblance of a ride in before my day started. I had my lights charged, but had to spend time putting air in the tires (I don't get home until 10 PM on Mondays, so have to do this Monday AM next time).
So, I didn't actually get out until close to 5:30? Despite 2 very good front lights, I absolutely can't see well in the pitch dark... not a lot of streetlights in my neighborhood and it was foggy, although not at ground level. It's my vision, as I am super nearsighted and I never have had good night vision, even with it corrected. Once I got on to a main road, I was fine. I rode to the ATM, got my cash for the week, and did a little ride around Concord center. On the way back, the sky was lightening up, so it was good. I only rode 9.5 miles, but it reminded me how much I miss commuting. Took a shower, drove to my internship and bought myself a nice coffee and egg sandwich at the place next to where I work.

[redrhodie]

Today's commute was fantastic! It was in the 80s, so I got to wear shorts and a short sleeve jersey, maybe for the last time this year. The roads were a little wet in the morning, but the sun came out during the day. Not a lot of car traffic. Got more green lights than reds. I'm happy. :)

[tulip]

Crankin, that sounds like a really nice morning.

[DebW]

I rode to work this morning, 13 miles, arrived by 9 am. Left there at 1:00 and got to my bike shop job at 2:00. Worked til almost 7:30 and headed home with a bright headlight, a blinking headlight, 2 tail lights, and a headlamp on my helmet. Didn't need the helmet light until I had a flat, and then it was VERY much appreciated. Luckily there was a nice grassy area to change the flat. After I had the wheel back on the bike and was still pumping the tire, a man with a flashlight walked over and asked if I needed help. I thanked him and kept pumping. Warm and pleasant evening for a ride.

[kfergos]

This was me on my commute yesterday:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3951992122_ba55bf99e9_o.jpg

It was a nice evening and thankfully not too windy! :D In addition to the boxes I also had a gallon of milk and my normal workday bag with clothes and such tucked in one of those panniers.

[lph]

Really?? :D Amazing photo, kfergos! :D

[Biciclista]

Kfergos, that's a wonderful photo.
Today's the first day I drove all week.
My best commute this week is when i biked all the way to Stewart Lumber after work to pick up a quart of primer. Stuck that can in my pannier and launched myself UP the hill to home, doubling my commute that day.

[tulip]

Kfergos, that is amazing! Maybe....just maybe I'll get an Xtracycle for my birthday...hmmmm....

[ginny]

kfergos! Holy cow! Are you moving? What's with the boxes? I actually need to take a box to the post office and need to figure out how to attach it to my rack - maybe I'll have a closer look at your picture :rolleyes:

My commute is getting cold! It's still better than a car. And a commute in this town is nothing like many I read here. I do ride all over town every day, so my 2.4 mile turns into maybe 6 or 7 by the end of the day... Still, you all are very impressive.

[jobob]

Wow, that's wonderful, kfergos!

[kfergos]

kfergos! Holy cow! Are you moving? What's with the boxes? I actually need to take a box to the post office and need to figure out how to attach it to my rack - maybe I'll have a closer look at your picture :rolleyes:.Yep, moving to Seattle on October 30. I have a room full of boxes at work that I need to slowly bring home.

For attaching the boxes, I used three bungee cords I carry all the time and an orange strap I found on the road a long time ago. The Xtracycle panniers have three adjustable straps on each corner and in the middle, which was a big help. I attached bungee cords and the orange strap to the Xtracycle pannier straps. It actually took a lot of planning to get it all on there stable and secure. Here are a couple other pictures that might be more helpful in terms of attaching stuff:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2571/3951211485_342627225c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3951215577_122ab1d88d.jpg

[jobob]

Yep, moving to Seattle on October 30. Oooh, nice!

( If you posted about your move already, I missed it, sorry. :o )

[Biciclista]

Yep, moving to Seattle on October 30. I have a room full of boxes at work that I need to slowly bring home.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3951215577_122ab1d88d.jpg

Moving to Seattle? Wow, how cool is that? do you have a place to move to already? Do you mean SEATTLE SEATTLE?

[kfergos]

Moving to Seattle? Wow, how cool is that? do you have a place to move to already? Do you mean SEATTLE SEATTLE?I am initially moving in with my parents in Kirkland, but I will be interning at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington in Seattle proper. I am so excited! No more winters of snow and ice! :D And I get to work at a bike advocacy group! More exclamation points for everybody!! :p

[tulip]

I am initially moving in with my parents in Kirkland, but I will be interning at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington in Seattle proper. I am so excited! No more winters of snow and ice! :D And I get to work at a bike advocacy group! More exclamation points for everybody!! :p

Um, you must have missed Seattle's last winter--right Mimi?!

Sounds like a dream job!

[kfergos]

Um, you must have missed Seattle's last winter--right Mimi?!

Sounds like a dream job!I was there at Christmas last year and it was crazy! I'm just hoping it's not a permanent thing, and maybe they'll put something other than sand down on the roads if it does snow. ...I'm not getting rid of my studded tires yet, though. :rolleyes:

[Cataboo]

I heard that the pacific northwest is gonna have a light snow season this year because of la nina or el nino or one of those wind patterns.

[Eden]

Last winter was *highly* unusual - like a once every 25 years occurrence. I've lived here for nearly 20 now. Last winter was only the second time I've seen considerable snow and the first its lasted for more than a day or so. Usually snow lasts a matter of hours at the most around here. This year is supposed to be warmer and I think perhaps dryer because of El Nino and some other factors (or is it La Nina... I can never remember which is which and what exactly they do....)

The year before last we had couple of weeks or so very cold mornings and intermittent ice - which IMHO was much, much worse than the snow. I could ride my cross bike in the snow, but the ice was treacherous.

[Deborajen]

Kfergos - Holy cow! What a load of cargo! Now I feel like a wimp for driving to the store because I didn't want to haul a 10-pound bag of kitty litter on my bike!

But your bike - it's looooong. My bike's rear tire is under and a little behind my seat. With all of your cargo I can't see the frame and maybe I'm just slow to wake up this morning, but how'd you do that?

[redrhodie]

Yesterday's commute was unusual in that it was the first time I ever felt really lousy on my bike. I woke up with a sinus headache, but figured I feel better once I got going. I was running late, so I didn't even have time for my morning cup a Joseph. Anyway. Every. Bump. Was. Like. A Hammer.

The evening ride was much better. :)

[Geonz]

Breezy ride in. Decided not to go the long way 'cause 10 miles into 20 mph winds would take too long. Went back home and tossed 200 aluminum cans into the rig and dropped 'em off at The Goat for 77 cents. (I could get twice that at teh "real" recycle place, but I'll let the store have a chunk.)
My Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com) (that's how we do that, Deborajen ;)) runs lots better with the new cassette it got last week. Last Monday night the chain wouldn't find a gear... right in front of the bike shop. Took me a good quarter mile and getting off the bike and talking to it... didn't change gears again for the ride home. Took it in for its tune up (I'd planned on waiting 'til October and the shop being less busy)... and the cassette fell off in Jeff's hand. Reckon I'm glad I didn't wait any longer...

[Biciclista]

Eden, in 30 years of residency in Seattle, we have never had a winter that even came CLOSE to what last year was. Kfergos! I am excited for you.

As i was riding to work this morning (it was 49 degrees) I was thinking about why riding is more fun than driving.
I can smell all kinds of smells - lawns, flowers, someone's bacon cooking, the sea (when the wind blows from the west), the occasional dead animal, the smell of spring, the smell of autumn; the pleasures of riding behind a garbage truck, and the sounds; dogs barking in the distance, various birds, the sound of someone's car idling in a driveway, the sounds of running over leaves, and ick, glass... in a car, you don't smell anything except yourself and your car, you don't hear anything except the loudest of noises.
i can see people's cats watching me from their front stoops, I can count eagles and crows (and can follow them from their sounds).

I had a nice commute this morning, and Kfergos, I will continue riding all winter, maybe less than i do in the summer, but there's no need to stop except for occasional bad weather.

[redrhodie]

I can smell all kinds of smells - lawns, flowers, someone's bacon cooking, the sea (when the wind blows from the west), the occasional dead animal, the smell of spring, the smell of autumn; the pleasures of riding behind a garbage truck,

:) I notice those things, too. And the smell of maple syrup on weekend mornings out in the middle of nowhere. I never can figure out where it's coming from.

[Biciclista]

yeah, people should have signs on their front door; "bacon here" "pancakes here" "Teriyaki beef barbeque here" " marijuana here"

:cool::p

[Eden]

Eden, in 30 years of residency in Seattle, we have never had a winter that even came CLOSE to what last year was.

The very first year I lived here (95) my husband and I went back to his parents for Christmas and were actually snowed out of Seattle.... we had to stay an extra day or two until flights were getting back in. That's the only other time I recall any significant amounts of snow falling in the city. By the time we got back it was mostly melted, so it was still nothing like last year where we had multiple snows that lasted for more than a week. I prefer the normal grey drizzle...

[divingbiker]

Kfergos, that is amazing! Maybe....just maybe I'll get an Xtracycle for my birthday...hmmmm....

How tall are you? I've got one that's too small for me that I'm trying to sell. :D:D

[Biciclista]

oh yeah, 1995, the year some of the kids from my sons' high school didn't get HOME that night because the city couldn't deal with 6" of snow on the ground. They stayed overnight in a nearby school!

My sons were lucky to be heading south instead of north and got home only an hour or so late.

[redrhodie]

I was so excited for my evening commute to the farm where I get my CSA share. I left my car at the farm this morning, and rode into 20-30mph headwinds the whole way to work, which was okay because I knew tonight's ride would be tailwinds-o-fun-o-rama. Unfortunately, a flat screwed up that plan. I ended up driving to the farm with my share partner. :o I could have changed my tube and still made it to the farm before closing, but decided to change out the tires instead tonight, and that will be enough tire changing for me for one day. Time for the schwalbe blizzards. :mad:

[7rider]

What the....????
Fall has come early to Maryland.
It was a chilly 48 degrees (8.9 C) this morning - cold enough to pull out the knickers and the jacket. It was supposed to warm up to 70 (21) and be breezy for the ride home, but when I left the parking garage, the wind was howling between Buildings 1 and 2 (I'm in #3), an area that is always a wind tunnel, and it certainly felt to be no where NEAR 70! :eek::mad:
I almost pulled my jacket out and put it back on, but figured that by the time I got to the road - away from the downtown stop-and-go puttering - I'd warm up and be fine.
But....here's the rub.
In the morning, my route is primarily, but ever so slightly, downhill. There was no wind. This evening, heading up that ever so slight uphill to go home, and heading north into the arriving cold front, I had a brutal headwind. Why is it that the ride home - which is uphill - always gives me a brutal headwind??
It's just so unfair.

[Jenerator]

Ride home was a bit smelly. Took a long route home and went by road-kill fox, raccoon and skunk. I'll take a different route home tomorrow.

[tulip]

How tall are you? I've got one that's too small for me that I'm trying to sell. :D:D

hmmmm....we'll measure up when you come to visit!

[Cataboo]

I was exhausted fighting the wind yesterday after going for a ride after work, so today decided I'd just take my surly downtown to the library, drop off some books, take some pics and explore.

Much windier & colder tody and I was riding a more upright bike.

This crazy lady drove by and honked at me and told me to get on the sidewalk.

Crazy lady turned out to be Zen on closer inspection.

had a nice ride through the park on the way back where some kid on a bike with training wheels was racing me.

[kmehrzad]

I was exhausted fighting the wind yesterday after going for a ride after work, so today decided I'd just take my surly downtown to the library, drop off some books, take some pics and explore.

Much windier & colder tody and I was riding a more upright bike.

This crazy lady drove by and honked at me and told me to get on the sidewalk.

Crazy lady turned out to be Zen on closer inspection.

had a nice ride through the park on the way back where some kid on a bike with training wheels was racing me.

I've gotta meet this Zen character, she sounds like a hoot. I love her avatar.

[Cataboo]

Careful, Zen's a terrible influence and likes to stir up trouble. But she's also usually pretty willing to go for a ride.

[uforgot]

I heard that the pacific northwest is gonna have a light snow season this year because of la nina or el nino or one of those wind patterns.

I heard that we were going to have a mild winter also, because of the same reasons. (Notice that I'm not sure of the spelling either). Then I heard on the radio that the farmers almanac said it was going to be a BAD winter. Who do I believe?

[lph]

Commute today was cold! Just above freezing. Had to pull a a wool blanket over me to eat breakfast, we haven't put up any curtains or heaters yet. I debated going up to the icy attic and crawling around thunking my head on the beams to find my winter shoes, didn't sound too appealing so I went for shoe covers instead. Warm enough, but only just. Time to break out all the winter stuff now. The weather is glorious, which means warm (-ish, 10-12 deg C) rides home again, but also clear nights and cold, cold mornings. Will have to pay careful attention to the road some mornings in case the ice sneaks up on us.

Smell: I ride past a huge coffee storehouse down by the ocean every morning :) :)

[kfergos]

I smelled what I'd swear were freshly-baking waffle cones this morning. That warm, sugary bready smell... oh man. My other favorite smells I've encountered on-bike are bacon and chocolate chip cookies. The only disappointment is not getting to enjoy them.

Today was cool, in the mid 40s, but dry and we had my favorite kind of sunrise: Where there's a low layer of clouds so that when the sun rises, it lights up the bottom of the clouds like they're flames. Like this, but way nicer:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/3939186556_49f16f2ee0.jpg

Also thanks for all the comments on my Xtracycle haul. It was definitely the exception rather than the rule, even with an cargo bike like that (:rolleyes:), but it's neat to be able to use a bike like that. Re: the 10-lb bag of kitty litter -- you'd never even notice it on the Xtracycle. Seriously. It's already a heavy, slow beast, so tossing a bag like that back there would hardly make a difference.

[Biciclista]

Kfergos, you DID enjoy them. Eating isn't the only pleasure.
This morning was the coldest commute of the season. 44 degrees on my bike thermometer or 7 deg C. BRRRRR

[Tri Girl]

today's commute was good- in the morning. In the afternoon I was waved on by a co-worker in the parking lot as I was heading out, and I went to wave thanks, my hand slipped on the handlebars, and I went over the bars (not really sure how that happened). My wrist is killing me now and I'm a bit bruised. I hate when I do stupid things like that. Then I almost got hit by a car who thought I was going slow and decided to speed up past me and turn right in front of me. Had I not hit the brakes I would've been creamed. Grrr...
I'm glad I made it home in one relatively held together piece. :rolleyes:

[Cataboo]

Ouch Tri Girl. Take care of the wrist.

I did something similarly stupid today. Commute was fine in the morning, rode home to get lunch... As I was going out the door to go back to work, it occured to me that I should go grab something, turned around to run into the house and rammed my knee into the door frame...

i did my owwies dance, hopped down the stairs to get whatever the heck it was i needed, came back upstairs and half thought I should take the car to work... But decided that would be lame, limped to the backyard, got on the bike and the first few pedal strokes was going... I bet this wasn't a good idea.

Got to work and watched my knee swell and the bruise develop for a few hours before it was time to make my slow bike ride home .

Yay for stupid self inflicted injuries!

[7rider]

Today was a half-commute.
A friend and co-worker of mine had borrowed my old Seven for the summer so she could do the Civil War metric century the other week. She successfully did the ride and wanted to get the bike back to me. So, she brought it in to work this morning in her truck, and I took Metro in, bringing bike clothes in a backpack. We put the bike in my locker so I could ride it home in the afternoon.
Now...I have been riding clipless pedals on all my bikes for years. But my friend does not. So I got some pedals with toe cages & straps for the bike, which she used. I rode home today with those pedals.
Oh. My. Gawsh.
Once you go clipless, I have discovered, there is no going back. I felt like a total newb.
- Trying to flip them around when starting from a light was maddening (all my pedals are double sided entry - just stomp and go.).
- I had to loosen the strap waayyy up so I could fit my sneaker in, and then my sneaker would slide out when I was pedalling (being a complete newb, and in city traffic, I was actually afraid to tighten them up too much!).
First task on the list now is putting Speedplays back on the bike!

[Tri Girl]

I did something similarly stupid today.

Ouch! I'm glad I'm not the only one. :rolleyes:

kfergos- I'm sure the sunrise was beautiful if it was anything like the picture. Awesome!

[Cataboo]

I want a friend that lets me borrow a seven for the entire summer.

[kmehrzad]

I smelled what I'd swear were freshly-baking waffle cones this morning. That warm, sugary bready smell... oh man. My other favorite smells I've encountered on-bike are bacon and chocolate chip cookies. The only disappointment is not getting to enjoy them.

Today was cool, in the mid 40s, but dry and we had my favorite kind of sunrise: Where there's a low layer of clouds so that when the sun rises, it lights up the bottom of the clouds like they're flames. Like this, but way nicer:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/3939186556_49f16f2ee0.jpg

Also thanks for all the comments on my Xtracycle haul. It was definitely the exception rather than the rule, even with an cargo bike like that (:rolleyes:), but it's neat to be able to use a bike like that. Re: the 10-lb bag of kitty litter -- you'd never even notice it on the Xtracycle. Seriously. It's already a heavy, slow beast, so tossing a bag like that back there would hardly make a difference.

Very beautiful photo, kfergos.

[kmehrzad]

Ouch Tri Girl. Take care of the wrist.

I did something similarly stupid today. Commute was fine in the morning, rode home to get lunch... As I was going out the door to go back to work, it occured to me that I should go grab something, turned around to run into the house and rammed my knee into the door frame...

i did my owwies dance, hopped down the stairs to get whatever the heck it was i needed, came back upstairs and half thought I should take the car to work... But decided that would be lame, limped to the backyard, got on the bike and the first few pedal strokes was going... I bet this wasn't a good idea.

Got to work and watched my knee swell and the bruise develop for a few hours before it was time to make my slow bike ride home .

Yay for stupid self inflicted injuries!

I hope it doesn't affect Saturday's ride (Tour du Port).

[Becky]

Today was the coldest commute yet- high 40s in the morning! Overall, I think I was well-dressed for it, but it's hard to gauge. I'm halfway to work before I'm warmed up, so I need to remember to dress a little warmer than I would for a long road ride. My hands were a little cold- my "cool weather" insulated gloves are terrible, but it's not anywhere cold enough for heavy Amfib gloves yet. I also need to remember about glasses fogging up when I stop at traffic lights- had a couple sketchy moments where I couldn't see anything!

It was a beautiful ride in, cool and quiet, with the sun just beginning to rise behind the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I need to keep up the motivation to get out the door when it's cold and dark because I really enjoy the ride once I get going.

[7rider]

It was a beautiful ride in, cool and quiet, with the sun just beginning to rise behind the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Wow. Very impressive. You actually made southern New Jersey look ... almost photogenic!

[Becky]

Wow. Very impressive. You actually made southern New Jersey look ... almost photogenic!

Actually, DH made New Jersey look photogenic :) That pic is from about 2 weeks ago, I think. It's a lot darker now!

[Biciclista]

Nice photo Becky.
this morning as we were getting ready to leave for work, DH misunderstood me and got huffy. "See you tonight" he said. Well, i left right behind him and sure enough, he had calmed down and was waiting for me on his bike behind the house. We rode together quietly and parted friends once more.

[7rider]

I think DH would be tickled pink if he could find a job where he and I could bike commute into town together.
I just don't think I'd be able to convince him to get up and out the door at the early hour I do....and I leave late compared to others I know!

[Becky]

DH and I enjoy being able to commute together. It makes some of the sketchier parts just a little safer. Safety in numbers and more eyes are both good things.

(Though I nearly got nailed this morning. A guy in a truck decided to roll a stop to make a right turn behind DH, and never looked to his left to see me there. I dunno how he missed me- my headlight looks like something from a motorcycle.)

[Tri Girl]

Gorgeous picture, Becky!!! :)

[bluegirl]

Hey ladies! I just saw this thread and thought I'd pop in and say hi! I've been commuting 3 days a week ever since I got my trusty Surly Cross Check. (Best commuting bike ever!!)

It's 13 miles one way, 6 miles on the bike path, 6 miles on a quietish 35mph street with bike lane, and 1.5 miles through bikelaneless BMW-jerkwad hell.

I do consider myself lucky that it's only 1.5 miles. I don't think I'd be able to handle the commute otherwise.

This morning was the first time I felt really really cold, although my definition of really cold is totally wimpy and cheating since I'm in Arizona. I'll be heading to REI this week to stock up on some warmer layers, for sure.

Even though it takes me an hour to get to work, I like it so much better than the 25 minutes I spend in the car. Totally worth it!

Enjoy your commutes, people! :)

[LilBolt]

Only got 1/2 a commute in today. Great ride in...I actually feel safer in the dark. After spending 10.5 hours in PowerPoint Purgatory, I decided to ask DH for a lift home & dinner out. My bike will spend Wednesday with me at the office until I can ride her home for the other 1/2 commute Thursday afternoon (I have meetings & appointments tomorrow that make riding not an option). I know...she'll be sitting there, next to the file cabinet & visitor chairs begging me to get her out tomorrow! My day seems incomplete. :(

[twin]

Beautiful photograph and sounds like a nice commute.

[7rider]

Note to self: Put a small container of dry lube in the tool locker (or even, my own locker).
Was not planning to ride today. But DH had a 7:30 a.m. "date" with some riding buds to do a loop out into Howard County (yes, MDHS, he went right by Harvey - the bunny statue). So, my Metro chauffer was off on the bike early, and that left me with riding in or (gasp!) taking the truck. Of course, the bike won out. :cool:
It had rained this a.m., but stopped before I left, so the roads were wet, a few puddles, but no active rain. I admit...I am a fair weather commuter, and I was more concerned about flatting then anything (well, dirty wet spray on my new Arkel pannier was worrisome too! :o).
But by the time I hit town, my chain was starting to chirp like the morning birds. It will be singing a mighty song on the ride back tonight - in 25 mph winds, with gusts to 45, oh joy. Looks like I will have some maintenance duties to take care of tonight.

[Cataboo]

I'm a wimp... I heard 50 mile an hour gusts, walked out of the house & felt the wind... and took the car.

[DebW]

I did the wet commute this morning. It was drizzle when I left home but a moderate rain when I got here. I wouldn't have done my previous 13 mile commute in these conditions, but from my new home it's only 1.5 miles to work, so why not? Actually I've been taking the bike path for a somewhat longer 3.3 mile commute, and it's quite nice to spend some time in the morning cycling through the woods. For the first time ever, I parked by bike outside the office - it was just too wet and dirty to bring inside. [My bike was parked outside the office in Zurich for 3 months, but never outside THIS office.] I too, will have some maintenance duties tonight.

[divingbiker]

bikelaneless BMW-jerkwad hell.

Ain't this the truth??!!? Every time when someone is roaring out of an alley, or making a right turn in front of me, or generally behaving like a jackass, 9 times out of 10 they're driving a BMW.


It will be singing a mighty song on the ride back tonight - in 25 mph winds, with gusts to 45, oh joy.

I'm with Catriona--went running this morning instead of having to face the prospect of riding home in the wind.

[pfunk12]

It will be singing a mighty song on the ride back tonight - in 25 mph winds, with gusts to 45, oh joy.

I also decided to bike in today even though I saw the blustery forecast. It will be extremely tough the first 5 miles since I will be riding next to the Potomac River where the winds will be gusting. Should make for some nice strength training. :D

I struggled on the commute this morning. Even with a decent light, it was very, very, very dark. More so than usual. I felt like I was constantly trying to get my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

[ginny]

It has been cold and windy here. 20F yesterday morning... brrr! I'm not sure I'm ready for winter yet :rolleyes:

[Tri Girl]

It has been cold and windy here. 20F yesterday morning... brrr! I'm not sure I'm ready for winter yet :rolleyes:

HOLY DUDE!:eek: And it was only 49F this morning and I was quite cold. I'm a wimp! ;)

[Becky]

It will be singing a mighty song on the ride back tonight - in 25 mph winds, with gusts to 45, oh joy.

You rode in that?!? Dang, you are way tougher than me! (You too, pfunk!) I was in Dagsboro for work yesterday, and just driving in that nonsense was no fun! Needless to say, I left the bike at home... :o

[7rider]

You rode in that?!? Dang, you are way tougher than me! (You too, pfunk!) I was in Dagsboro for work yesterday, and just driving in that nonsense was no fun! Needless to say, I left the bike at home... :o

Yeah, loved the headwind. NOT.
Going home last night, a guy on a Scattante came up to a light with me, and passed me going up the MUT, through the parking lot, and out into the neighborhood below ours. He stayed just ahead of me, and something looked vaguely familiar about him. He took the first left, I took the second -- a more meandering route than the road he took, through some houses that ultimately gets back out onto the main road. I realized he was a neighbor whom I had seen go by but never spoke to when I saw him zip by on that main street, ahead of me. He had a good 50 yards on me by then, and I pushed to try to bridge up to him. But...'twas not to be. He dropped me going up that last hill.
He gave me an incentive to push, but I'll blame my lack of success on the headwind. Yeah. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

I did a measly commute to the commuter rail today, as I had an appointment to see my advisor in Cambridge. Rain was forecast, but I decided to go on my bike anyway, since it definitely would be raining by this afternoon and I would not be getting a road ride in.
I wore an Ibex t-shirt with a wicking type hoodie, my Prana/terry knickers, and stuck my rain jacket/helmet cover in my pannier. It was not raining on the way in this morning, but when I left, I realized I would be cold, since it was 49 and breezy. My core was good, along with my feet, but my hands and neck were freezing going down the hill. I stashed my cycling shoes in pannier and changed into walking shoes after I locked up my bike (I absolutely cannot ride without being clipped in anymore!) at the bike shop and got on the train, which had the AC on :mad:. I had about a 1.5 mile walk to the new department office, which is pretty close to Harvard Square, so I allowed enough time to get a cafe mocha at LA Burdick's. My pannier has a handle to carry it, but it was really uncomfortable, slung over my shoulder, with my helmet clanging around. Oh well.
The train was warmer on the way back, and of course, as soon as I unlocked my bike, it started raining. Just a drizzle, but first, I had to stop to adjust the pannier, which was hitting my foot, and then I had to stop to put my jacket and helmet cover on. I worked up a sweat climbing the hill to my house, with the jacket on, but at least I wasn't wet.
8.75 miles and 3 miles of walking.

[redrhodie]

I also had rain today, but still commuted my 30 mile r/t route. It was fun, but it seems every time the road is wet, I flat, and tonight it was wet. :rolleyes:

This morning, a friend called me and asked if she had just seen me riding by with a camera on my helmet. I had to explain it was not a camera, but a light. I guess it won't hurt that drivers think it's a camera....as if I'm filming them for future court proceedings. :) I did notice that the ones who cut me off tonight seemed to speed away a little faster than normal, rather than slowing down and veering into the bike lane like they usually do.

Oh, and the other weird thing was all the construction on the roads. I had a long mile stretch of riding on the brutal scraped pavement they do before resurfacing. It was easy to imagine what the pave' in Paris-Roubaix feels like. Boy, did flat top feel nice after that! I can't wait for new pavement!

[martinkap]

It was 9:15am in front of Presbyterian-Millstein Building. A yellow cab stopped behind a bus which could not get around a Fedex truck because there was another truck parked in the opposite lane. I decided to ride in the official BIKE PATH between the stopped yellow cab and a line of parked cars. The behavior of the yellow cab did not imply that there might be someone getting out.

Of course, as I was riding by, the guy in the cab suddenly opened a door. I managed to tilt my handlebars to avoid most of the door and unclip one of my feet as I flew off the course. The front wheel of my bike got stucked in the gap between the parked car's wheel and its bumper. I flew on the car's parked hood and then somehow bounced back towards the yellow cab. Because I was still partially clipped in and because I was (luckilly) not riding that fast, the bouncing back was more of a slow-mo weird clumsy fall.

The guy quietly stood there and stared at my performance. No sound, no movement on his part.

"Man, you have to be careful - it is dangerous to open door like that" I told him angrily when I picked myself of the pavement. He continued to quietly stand there. He kept eerily staring at me as if I was Sarah Palin wearing a pink bunnie outfit.

I took one more look at him and I could tell that he is one of the doctors working in the hospital, so I added: "And you are a doctor? Do you know you can kill people like that?" He did not even blink. He continued staring at me while I was putting the chain back on the chainring. He was still not moving while I was riding away. He just stud there and stared !

Seriously, what is wrong with the people? Not even a 'sorry' ?!

Anyway, I am fine, the bike is fine and I learned my lesson.

But maybe I should write a missed connection ad to Craigslist:
"You doored me this morning while I was riding my bike. You got out of the cab and did not say a word. You were cute but speechless - you owe me an appology. I'll take that with a cup of coffee!"

[ginny]

oh yes! Do the Craig's list thing... tee hee... Very odd that he didn't say a word...

My commute was cold this morning, but still better than a car :o

[martinkap]

oh yes! Do the Craig's list thing... tee hee... Very odd that he didn't say a word...

My commute was cold this morning, but still better than a car :o
hehe - I should post it - he was seriously cute even though kind of stunned (or stoned ? :) ) looking ...

Sorry about your cold - it is coming here too ...

[lph]

I ran into a pedestrian yesterday morning. I was turning left into the bike path just as she stepped off the sidewalk and into it, without looking up either at me approaching from the front or the cyclist approaching from behind... So we politely and very slowly ran into her from both sides :D

She cursed so loudly I could hear it right through my earbuds, I smiled at her and called "when you cross the bike path you really need to look up, you know" at her angry back. Then I biked on and went kayaking before work in the sunrise. :)

[redrhodie]

I ran into a pedestrian yesterday morning.

Oh, that could have been very much worse. Glad you're both okay!

[lph]

Oh, but it was terrible. She bent my folding mirror right into the handlebars! ;)

[Mad Kate]

Today was my first commute to the new office; it is about 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) one-way or 40 kilometres (25 miles) round trip. Most of the route is on a rural road with a speed limit of 80 km/h, with some rolling hills of about 3 to 6% gradients. Overall, it took me 1 hour, 6 minutes each way. Got caught in the rain without any rain clothes, which wasn’t very pleasant.

[tulip]

Mad Kate, that is the perfect commute distance in my opinion. When I commuted by bike, my commute was 14 miles each way and I could never get it under 1 hour 20 minutes, which was sometimes juuuuuust a little too long and I'd have to hurry hurry once i got to work.

So sorry you got caught in the rain, though.

[Cataboo]

I noticed this morning that the speed thing that they just installed in my neighborhood clocked my speed - I rolled past it at 13 mph.

I'm now going to have to ride past that thing over and over and see how fast I can get it to clock me at.

Madkate - I try to keep rain clothes at the office and then some in my panniers just in case.

[lph]

oo-er - cold. It was just around freezing, which isn't bad because it's dry as a bone everywhere and no ice, so no studded tires, but I managed to entice a couple of friends with me on a detour ride to work which got a bit cold. We rode down to the bottom of the valley and tried to follow the river all the way down to the fjord, partly path, partly gravel road, part detour onto the road. Fun, but riding fairly slowly and evenly downhill in a slight breeze for an hour gets your feet chilly!

[redrhodie]

Ugh, I overslept this morning! I never do that. Too late to ride. I think I let myself sleep because the forecast was rain, and I usually drive if it's raining. Of course, no rain fell while I woulda-coulda-shoulda been riding.

Pumping my tires and laying out my clothes tonight so this won't happen again tomorrow, the last day of work for me this week. :p

[7rider]

Windy this p.m.
But...my new Hincapie jacket arrived from Bonktown. I am a total Imelda Marcos when it comes to jackets....I can't get enough of them! It's supposed to be cold(er) tomorrow. Yay! I think I'm going to wear my new jacket in....

[Biciclista]

lol I stayed home today. Then i needed to go downtown and walked a mile to the light rail and rode IT down town and then walked the mile back up the hill.

[blackhillsbiker]

First full commute today in a long time. It started out misty and wet, but it was glorious this evening. The sun came out, no wind, and the trail was dry. I stretched my 4 miles out to 10 miles, then I began to run out of daylight. I still don't have very good lights, so no dark rides yet. I've been scoping out studded snow tires, but I hope this nice weather will hold for a couple more paychecks.

Happy Deb:D

The only problem is that I keep my bike in the same room as I work in. I could swear she whimpers all day to go outside and play. Makes it hard to get much done!

[redrhodie]

On last night's commute, I came within inches of hitting a car. The car had just passed me and was stopping at a stop sign. Even though I had plenty of time and wasn't going that fast, I couldn't brake hard enough to stop. I had to put a foot down while still moving so I didn't hit its bumper.

I turned around and went to the lbs, which was a couple of blocks away. Jim adjusted my brakes, but they still don't seem quite right. I'm cleaning the rims in a few minutes to see if that helps. I think they might be dirty from my last ride on this bike, which was wet. Or, they could be greasy from lubing the chain. Hopefully, that's all it is. It's scary not to be able to stop in time!

Edit, It's a few hours later...I cleaned my rims, went for a ride, and still couldn't stop. Came home, took off the wheels, and filed down the brake pads. Ah hah! Micro chips of glass were imbedded in the pads. Took her out again, and could stop on a dime. Yay!

[kfergos]

Well, ladies, I've been haunting the commuting section of this forum pretty consistently for the last few years. That may change: Yesterday I was laid off. This is actually excellent news, because I was planning giving my 2 weeks' notice Tuesday (I have an internship in Seattle), but by waiting a day I get severance pay and unemployment benefits. It still feels really strange, though, and I already miss the routine of commuting, even if it IS below freezing and supposed to rain this afternoon. I guess I'll go out in an hour or so and just...ride. No destination. Odd.

My last commute was really quite nice, though. It was 31°F and sunny; I rode the Xtracycle so I could bring home my personal stuff from work. It seemed fitting, too, because that bike (pre-Xtracycle, of course) and I started this whole commuting thing together; it was right that we end this phase together. I walked across the wooden bridge because the wood, still wet from the previous day's rain, had frozen into a solid ice sheet with frost on top, and I have regular slicks. It took me an hour to ride the 13 miles. Even on the Xtracycle that's slow for me, but I think I was unconsciously trying to drag it out because I knew what was coming when I got to work. Then I got to ride back again less than 2 hours later, and it was even more beautiful: The sun was up but not high, so it lit up the trees and their colored leaves brilliantly. There wasn't much traffic at 9:00 compared to 7:15. It felt like I was saying goodbye to everything as I went. I'm glad I got to bike commute my last day at work. It seemed right somehow.

Today, though, and until January, I won't have any official commute. Now I have to get enough motivation to ride when I don't have to. This is really an odd feeling.

[Becky]

Windy this p.m.
But...my new Hincapie jacket arrived from Bonktown. I am a total Imelda Marcos when it comes to jackets....I can't get enough of them! It's supposed to be cold(er) tomorrow. Yay! I think I'm going to wear my new jacket in....

How do you like that jacket? I've been eyeing it on Bonktown whenever it comes up, but haven't been able to convince myself that I need another cycling softshell...

[7rider]

How do you like that jacket? I've been eyeing it on Bonktown whenever it comes up, but haven't been able to convince myself that I need another cycling softshell...

It was great. Nice long arms, which I love, and a snug fit, but not constricting. Great pockets. Cons are: no lined sleeves, so things were a little sticky sliding my arms in. However, a silk baselayer and the jacket were perfect for my 40 degree (4 C) commute in the a.m. With a warmer baselayer, it'd probably be fine for mid-30's or so. I think (or rather, I'll rationalize) it will fit in nicely b/t my Descente and Castelli heavier jackets, and my Descente wind shell. Yeah.

Unfortunately, it was raining by the afternoon, so I totally wimped out and took Metro home. :o DH plans to swing by at noon today with the truck so we can go out for lunch (maybe) and he can get the bike out of the locker and bring it home, as it's supposed to be 40's and raining for the rest of the week (and weekend). Blech.

[divingbiker]

it's supposed to be 40's and raining for the rest of the week (and weekend). Blech.

Yeah, I rode in today in that mess. Didn't see another bike on the road until I got to my building, and there were about 5 of us who had ridden in.

Cold, wet, but not quite as miserable as I thought it would be. I need to drag out my winter clothes, I guess.

I might have to hitch a ride home if it's like this later today.

[tulip]

Today, though, and until January, I won't have any official commute. Now I have to get enough motivation to ride when I don't have to. This is really an odd feeling.

If you have to get laid off, you couldn't wish for better than for it to happen one day before you were going to quit anyways!! That was a beautiful post.

It's very difficult for me to get motivated to "just ride my bike" without a commute. There's just something so useful about a commute that makes it so satisfying. I love just going for a bike ride, once I'm out on the road, but there's always something else more pressing. Maybe because I do work and I'm very busy. I just work from home so there's no commute.

Best of luck to you! 13 miles on an Xtracycle in one hour is very impressive.

[Biciclista]

After chickening out every other day this week, I rode in today.
Feeling tentative, as the road was wet. and of course, it might dump on me going home but at least it will be daylight.

[lph]

so sorry you were laid off, kfergos! i fully understand you missing your commute. Nothing quite like being forced to go out there and see what the weather has in store for you that day.

[Tri Girl]

today it was sunny- first time in a couple weeks. It was amazing! I took the long way home to get in some extra time in the sun. Ahhh... sunshine! :D (even if it was cool).

[lph]

.......eeerk. It's just above freezing, and POURING out. I am not looking forward to this commute.... (no emoticon available, it should look a little like this :( and a little like this :eek: and a little like this :mad: and a little just resigned)

[blackhillsbiker]

Very wet! And I rode from work to the LBS (across town) because my front wheel is rubbing & squeaking, no matter what I've tried. I was glad of disc brakes. A truck driver went around a car that was stopped for me and almost hit me. I stopped within inches of his front wheel. In a downpour. Still, I had fun and was glad I didn't drive. I must be out of my mind.

Deb

[lph]

Nonexistent. Instead of commuting I got to scramble around at home halfdressed in bike gear (shorts, tights, bra) pandering to my 12 yr. old son who may or may not have swine flu and is in bed looking sorta pleased with the whole thing, digging out our very seldom used thermometer, and subsequently removing all the bathroom furniture and chasing, sweeping and vacuuming up microscopic beads of mercury from the bathroom tiles. I fully understand that poetic term of "chasing quicksilver" now - dang, they're fast!

I better get some clothes on and go buy a new thermometer... :rolleyes:

[uk elephant]

God bedring to your little boy, LPH!

I actually cycled to work today. Been a week since last time. Felt great, even the monster hill wasn't too bad. Then I realized it was the strong tailwind giving me a boost. Hope the wind eases or changes direction by the time I head home... But a glorious day today: blue skies, crisp air and all the leaves are turning bright colours.

[lph]

thanks, uke! Yup, it's been a brilliant autumn, hasn't it. :) Nothing quite like biking through the glow of autumn leaves over you, around you, and on the ground.

[Biciclista]

I've had a migraine since sunday, which feels better after intense or moderate exercise, and which also kicks me in the asz and makes me not want to do anything. So this morning when D says " it's raining , you won't want to ride this morning" i was disappointed and relieved at the same time. So then he went outside and said, "hey, it's NOT raining!" so i changed into bike shoes and rode to work. Trouble is, 1 mile into the ride it started raining again, so my cotton pants started getting wet. Fortunately, my legs start to glow and 20 minutes after I got in the door, my legs are dry!
going home might not be so pleasant.

[Becky]

Today's commute was the first in a week. Between 4 days of rain, oversleeping Monday, and a crappy schedule yesterday, today was the first day on the bike since last Wednesday. Boy, did it feel good! Temps were in the upper 40s, so it was fairly comfortable.

This morning, DH sent me a story from the local paper: a dead man was found on our commute route! :eek: I'm a little freaked out...wondering how it happened or if he was one of the pedestrians that we sometimes see...

I'm not sure what to expect on our ride home tonight....

[blackhillsbiker]

No ride today. I took my bike in yesterday on my way home. The front wheel was squeaking and rubbing a bunch. She spent the night at Acme Bicycles. We picked her up today after work. She seems much happier. I'll get to see if it made a difference tomorrow morning.

Deb

[redrhodie]

ANOTHER flat! I was riding down a hill, over a bridge, and suddenly a loud bam bam bam then the hiss of escaping air from my rear tire. It's always the rear, isn't it? Confused about the noise, I examined the tire (which was brand new last week!) to discover an inch long wood screw all the way in. The noise was the screw hitting my rim. I'm so proud because I changed it without getting my hands dirty, a first for me. Usually I need shower after changing a tire. :rolleyes:

Then I rode to the lbs, where they taped my rim and the hole in my tire, and made it to work only a half hour late. Ride home was uneventful. Yay.

[Biciclista]

rode to work and back on a rainy day. the SUN WAS OUT for my trip home! YAY!!!!! it's pouring now hehehehe

[7rider]

It's always the rear, isn't it?

I think it's one of Murphy's Law.

On my way in this a.m., I hooked up with this guy whom I"ve seen several times before (and picked up his work ID one day when it fell out of his panniers). He was much later than normal - he usually goes in about 1/2 hour before me. So...it was good. I had a riding partner for about half my ride. It's actually pleasant to have someone to chat with on the ride in. Makes waiting at those blasted red lights more tolerable! ;)

[pfunk12]

After not commuting at all last week, I am 3 for 3 this week so I'm really excited to be back on the bike. The weather has been wonderful. Really crisp, cool mornings and warm and sunny late in the afternoon. It is extremely dark in the morning (even with a good light) so some sections of the bike path are very spooky. I feel as if the trees are moving in on me! I had a few close calls with cars today (I wish drivers would pay attention) and I ran over a squirrel yesterday (yuck - not a good feeling). Other than that, uneventful and wonderful rides.

[Shara]

This morning I rode with my daughter on her weeride to her playgroup only to discover it was closed for the day. On the way downtown I found the bolt under my seat was rubbing on my leg :confused: and when I got to the mall it had ripped a hole in my (loose) pants and my butt was hanging out while I wandered around to find a pair of cheap pants to wear home. lmao I find a pair of jeans :eek: for $5.60 lol So I had to buy them. I'm cheap. And on the way home it was POURING. But it was still fun. My daughter had a blast.

[SLash]

Not a big deal really, but I recently bought some panniers and for the first time ever I rode my bike to the grocery store today and picked up a few things we needed. It was only about 4 miles round trip but I felt good riding and not driving. I don't think the trip took much if any longer riding than it would have by car (I cut through a parking lot).

I'm not a true commuter but I plan to do small shopping trips, runs to the library and things like that by bike when I can. It's a start.;)

[Tri Girl]

Not a big deal really... It's a start.;)
:D:D:D:D:D
It IS a big deal and it's a great start!!!! Great job!!

[SLash]

Thanks Tri Girl, I need all the encouragement I can get! :D

I notice that you live in Oklahoma, me too, in Edmond. Noticed too your reference to the wind, we do have a lot of it to contend with don't we, although today it was surprisingly calm. I love those days when the flags are limp! :D:D

[Tri Girl]

I live in NW OKC (The Village to be exact). Very cool- we're neighbors!!! :D
Riding in Edmond is brave, indeed! You must live fairly close to the college/downtown area if you ride to the Library. Anytime I see someone on a bike using it for utilitarian purposes around here I get VERY excited! :p

Yes- the wind is definitely something to contend with on a daily basis. No hills- but I think I'd rather have hills than constantly blowing wind. At least with hills you get stronger and get to coast- I've yet to get stronger riding into the wind. :rolleyes:

[SLash]

I live in NW OKC (The Village to be exact). Very cool- we're neighbors!!! :D
Riding in Edmond is brave, indeed! You must live fairly close to the college/downtown area if you ride to the Library. Anytime I see someone on a bike using it for utilitarian purposes around here I get VERY excited! :p

Yes- the wind is definitely something to contend with on a daily basis. No hills- but I think I'd rather have hills than constantly blowing wind. At least with hills you get stronger and get to coast- I've yet to get stronger riding into the wind. :rolleyes:

LOL, I don't know how brave I am, but I am very careful! :D

I live just east of Bryant on the northern side of Edmond and to get to the library I cut through neighborhoods and go through campus so it isn't too bad. When I am riding the road bike I go north and either east or west to get out of town where there is less traffic and more open road. For the most part drivers around here are okay, e.g., when they pass they give us enough room. When they don't, I sometimes find myself flipping them off with 3 fingers (Give us the 3 feet of space BY LAW you are required to!) :D:D:D

I'm sure they wonder what that crazy woman is doing!!

We have the law (and in Edmond a city ordinance) but the public still doesn't know about it so I feel it is my civic duty to educate them when I can!;)

[Biciclista]

Not wanting to drown, i went to work in a metal can with an internal combustion engine powering it. :p

[7rider]

Note to self: Add "non-emergency" police number to my cell phone.
Today, I was riding home, I crossed a main road and hopped onto a MUT, which I ride for about 2/10ths of a mile, before getting off and back on side streets. As I got on the MUT, I saw 2 young boys (maybe 14 y.o.?) ahead of me, coming towards me: One on a bike, the other walking, carrying a skateboard. As I got closer, preparing to ring my bell, the cyclist jumps off his bike, throws it to the trail, and runs towards the woods on the edge of trail. His friend goes towards him. He's yelling something, I can't make out.."Hey - Hey." or some such. He picks up a LARGE branch - maybe 10' long by about 4" diameter. He's yanking it out, back towards the trail, getting agitated and excited. Suspecting that no good would come out of that, and having no desire to tangle with the business end of that stick, I shifted up and sprinted onward. I really didn't want to lose my bike. Or worse. Further up the trail, safely out of their reach, an older woman is standing in the trail with a small boy, maybe 4 years old. She's glaring back down the trail, towards the two young teens.
As I approached, she said, "There's no need for that cursing."
I stop. "Excuse me?"
"Those two. There's no need for that. They're cursing. They said, 'I'm gonna kill you.' There's no need for that cursing."
"No good rotten punks." I replied.
"Yes," she said, and she gathered up the small boy and they walked off the trail, through some trees towards an apartment building.
I shiver and continue on. I rarely run across "problems" on the trail, although I did one time see about 5 p.o.'s with a person 'cuffed and on the ground on that trail. I don't think my situation merited a call to 9-1-1, but I think the police should know if a couple of punks are tormenting folks on a MUT. I suspect that they look down on that sort of activity.

[pfunk12]

Whoa, 7...glad to hear that you didn't have to dial 9-1-1. That was a weird incident. You were smart to pick up the pace and get away from there. Don't even want to think about what they were going to do with the branch!

[Shara]

That was quite the odd incident! I'd have gotten out of there too and probably called the non-emerg #.

My ride was wet. I took my mom's car in the a.m. because it was pouring and I was late. I had a meeting in the afternoon so I rode back to school for that because it wasn't raining but as soon as I got on the road it started to POUR and then hail :rolleyes: I got to a gas station and holed up for a couple minutes before heading out again. I don't have appropriate clothes or fenders or anything so I was a wet rat. Then I get there and it stops and a rainbow comes out. lol AND I find out my appointment has been cancelled. So I ride home and guess what - it's raining again.

[blackhillsbiker]

Frost on everything this morning. It was really pretty, but very cold. Tonight I couldn't ride home because of a meeting, then a choir concert at the high school. I had to leave my bike in my husband's office. We picked it up after everything was done. I wanted to ride home, but the path down that end of town is not very nice late at night. Oh well. I got in half-a-commute.

Deb

[Biciclista]

I can't believe I rode to work this morning! but i did!! everything wet from the rains yesterday and the day before, chilly (about 40)
might be my last commute for a while.

[indigoiis]

I rode 11 miles this morning to the bus and was distracted by the crunchy leaves and lovely sunrise...

[IvonaDestroi]

Yesterday I flew the 4 miles to work with no wind to slow me down! 25 min. which usually takes me 35 min. (due to a wind tunnel main street, a million red lights, and crazy downtown drivers)...

Today's forecast: 50mph gusts of ice cold wind... this should be fun... somehow I don't think I'll make as good of a time... :rolleyes:

[redrhodie]

I did a half commute today. I was glad to get the morning ride in. It was raw this evening!

[blackhillsbiker]

Much warmer than yesterday. I found hubby's old Diamondback lobster claw mitts to put over my cycling gloves. Almost didn't need them. I added a trip to my LBS to my homeward commute to replace my dead cyclometer. I think I'll like the Cateye Enduro I got, but the instructions were terrible. I finally got it programmed and installed. I'm kind of looking forward to timing tomorrow's ride. :)

[bikecanada]

Decided to bike today. We had flurries earlier in the day but it had stopped by the time I left. It was about 2 degrees celsius out and a bit wet, but not too bad. I had a taxi driver pass pretty close to me though which scared me for a bit. I find that taxi drivers are the worse, not considerate of cyclists. They seem to use the bike/taxi lane even if the other lanes are completely open (when it's not even rush hour), and they seem to always pass pretty close to me.

[blackhillsbiker]

I'm definitely not a fan of horizontal ice chips! They sting! I probably won't be able to ride tomorrow if it's as icy as I think it will be by morning. I have 2 1/2 commutes this week. Hopefully things will get better by the end of the week.

Deb

[shootingstar]

Rode yesterday and this morning --same ride, each ride is 42 kms. Temp. around 8-10 degrees C. Though my core and legs were warm, my hands were numb. Here we go again, my Reynauld's condition of fingers tending to freeze at near-freezing temperatures.

I stopped 2/3's of trip to have a coffee and read..a legal text that I've committed to review for a journal. After getting off the bike, my hands were so cold and stiff I had to warm them up for lst 5 min. before I could turn key in my bike lock. :(

It wasn't THAT cold to me...but my poor hands felt it. Might be hauling out more winter gloves later this wk. Geez..

[redrhodie]

Well, my commute was good, but I got really hot and sweaty on the bike, and when I got to work, I was queazy. All day, nausea came and went but was generally mild. I thought about leaving, but worked instead. Then I rode my evening commute, again feeling really hot. It's around 48º F outside.

Am I sick?

[blackhillsbiker]

None today. Nasty snowstorm with lots of wind. I wimped out!

Deb

[newfsmith]

My ride into Bikes-not-Bombs for the Girls-in-Action program was the first in about 2 months. I struggled through the construction zones as usual, but had a pleasant surprise when I got to Roslindale Square, A BIKE LANE has been added. It continues all the way to the Forest Hills T stop, where a new bike cage opened last month. Say what you will about the safety of bike lanes, I felt a tremendous sense of entitlement and validation seeing those bike symbols painted on the street. I believe that drivers may get a subliminal message of "bikes belong here". It was a heady feeling.

[Tri Girl]

I felt a tremendous sense of entitlement and validation seeing those bike symbols painted on the street. I believe that drivers may get a subliminal message of "bikes belong here". It was a heady feeling.

Awesome about the bike lane! I have never ridden in a dedicated bike lane (none around here) but I imagine I would feel the same way. Very cool! :D

[lph]

Oh, I agree, it's a great feeling! But please do be careful. Many many drivers, especially if there are few cyclists around, will happily use the bike lane to get into position for that right turn, or as a road shoulder, or to stop and let a passenger off. A bike lane is definitely not accorded the same respect a separate car lane is, in my experience.

[Maxxxie]

Not when they're segregated (http://www.bikeqld.org.au/mediawiki/images/b/bf/Tank_Street_bike_lane_September_2009.jpg) :D Brisbane City Council's installed a couple of these lanes in the CBD. A great move to improve cyclist safety :)

All things going well, I'll be commuting to work once or twice a week as of next week. I'm really looking forward to it! :D

Max

[HillSlugger]

Went to put my bags on my rack and felt the whole rack shift. Only then did I know that I had lost a bolt attaching the rack to the dropout. Luckily I had an extra in the basement and could fix this but got a late start because of it.

[Shara]

I had a great ride today. It was casual but hard because of the wind. I put my daughter on the weeride (which she loves) and we rode to the mall, did a bit of shopping, then rode to the library, dropped a book off, then we went to the fish store and I bought a couple catfish home on the bike! I wasn't going to but on my way there I realized that the commute was just as smooth as a car ride home and it wasn't that long (15-20 min). they are fine and seem content in my tank. The wind was blowing so hard on the way home. I could have stopped on a flat rode and been pushed backwards. I was soo pooped. Our driveway is a short, steep hill so I yelled for dh to come grab dd because I was too pooped to push her up it lol.Oh well, I'm proud of myself, and we had fun.

[lph]

loooong.... and sloooow. First ride of the season with studded tires. Ugh. And a wobbly rear wheel. Replacing the bearings and cones didn't work :mad:

[blackhillsbiker]

Nice ride today. The streets were wet this morning, but not too bad. Tonight was my first ride home in full dark. I'd rather have it dark in the mornings. I'm thankful for good lights!

Deb

[HillSlugger]

I did something dumb and am lucky to be OK!

I had a tangle-up with a transit bus!

I needed to turn right and there was a transit bus in the right turn lane at a bus stop; I waited patiently behind him for the light to turn green (positioned far enough left where he'd be able to see me in his left mirror); when the light changed, he started to go but then stopped; I waited to see what he was doing but when he didn't seem to be doing anything I started to go around him on the left; at that point he decided to pull out and my right grip scraped along the left side of the bus and then briefly caught on the back corner before he pulled past; my handlebar got jerked so that the left grip scraped my left knee. Final tally: scraped knee and a broken right grip.

I guess I was STUPID! I got lucky that nothing worse happened!

[pfunk12]

Glad you're okay, MDHillSlug!!

[redrhodie]

((MD)) Glad it wasn't worse! You're not stupid. He would have seen you if he looked. He's the stupid.

[7rider]

I had a tangle-up with a transit bus!


Today was a bad day for busses.
I yelled at one this a.m., for stopping over a crosswalk. The driver looked at me with utter contempt, but otherwise ignored my ranting.
This afternoon, I was nearly run down from behind by one coming through an intersection. I was hustling to get out of his way, but I guess not fast enough for him.
Glad nothing worse came of it, Nicole. I read your post and thought of the young woman who was hit passing a right turning truck in D.C. last year (http://www.thewashcycle.com/2008/07/cyclist-update.html), and that, of course, totally freaked me out. Be careful out there!

[Biciclista]

two days in a row! YAY

[Tri Girl]

yikes, MD! Not cool about the bus... dumb driver not looking. :(


rode to and from work yesterday. Rode to work today and ran home (only 3 miles away). Will have to drive tomorrow, but will run to work Thursday and ride home. Went by work tonight to get my bike so I could ride tomorrow, but couldn't go in because there was a meeting in my library that I was supposed to be attending. Whoooooops....
Had to drive away fast before anyone noticed me. I hate when my brain fails me.... :(

[blackhillsbiker]

Another gorgeous day. I'm determined to enjoy each one of them before winter strikes again. I had to wait a long time for a stopped train, other than that it was really nice.

Deb

[hoffsquared]

Chilly. All layers worked w/ exception of fingers. Must figure out a better glove setup.

[pfunk12]

I, like hoffsquared, had very cold fingers this morning. Any recommendations for good warm gloves for this kind of weather (chilly, low 40s)? I'm not ready to pull the Am-Fib gloves out yet. I came to the conclusion that when I started commuting to work last year, I was totally clueless about what to wear. I didn't have any cycling friends and I didn't learn about TE until earlier this year so buying the right clothes was totally hit and miss for me last year.

[7rider]

I, like hoffsquared, had very cold fingers this morning. Any recommendations for good warm gloves for this kind of weather (chilly, low 40s)? I'm not ready to pull the Am-Fib gloves out yet. I came to the conclusion that when I started commuting to work last year, I was totally clueless about what to wear. I didn't have any cycling friends and I didn't learn about TE until earlier this year so buying the right clothes was totally hit and miss for me last year.

I pulled out the Am-Fib gloves for this morning! :o
And the (lighter) shoe covers.
Brrr....

[hoffsquared]

I, like hoffsquared, had very cold fingers this morning. Any recommendations for good warm gloves for this kind of weather (chilly, low 40s)? I'm not ready to pull the Am-Fib gloves out yet. I came to the conclusion that when I started commuting to work last year, I was totally clueless about what to wear. I didn't have any cycling friends and I didn't learn about TE until earlier this year so buying the right clothes was totally hit and miss for me last year.

Yeah, it was 32 when I head down my little hill onto the bike path. This is my first winter. So I had on fingerless bike gloves under some fleece running gloves. No resistance to wind. Pretty frozen by time I got into work. So I'm looking for suggestions too!

[HillSlugger]

I, like hoffsquared, had very cold fingers this morning. Any recommendations for good warm gloves for this kind of weather (chilly, low 40s)? I'm not ready to pull the Am-Fib gloves out yet. I came to the conclusion that when I started commuting to work last year, I was totally clueless about what to wear. I didn't have any cycling friends and I didn't learn about TE until earlier this year so buying the right clothes was totally hit and miss for me last year.

Yesterday I wore full finger bike gloves with glove liners underneath and my fingers stayed pretty warm.

[Becky]

Louis Garneau Windtex Gloves: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product_10052_10551_1015275_-1___ Love these things!

Go for the men's though- the women's sizing is very screwed up, and even a size larger is too small for me.

[7rider]

Actually, last Spring, I picked up a pair of mid-weight Castelli gloves from Bonktown. I think they are like these (http://www.realcyclist.com/roadbike/CST0348/Castelli-Vincente-Donna-Glove-Womens.html)- but last year's version. They seem to be good for days when it's too warm for the Am-Fibs, but too cold for the light weight gloves (the "just fleece liners under bike gloves" option).

[pfunk12]

Thanks for the suggestions, 7 and Becky! Hmmm...I should probably be working but instead, I'm searching the internet for new gloves and toe covers :D But I decided that if I show up at work and I'm frozen, I can't work because I'm too cold so searching for appropriate biking gear is my priority today. :p

[pfunk12]

I'll have to check out glove liners but I have a feeling that the gloves that I am wearing are too snug to fit any liners underneath them.


Yesterday I wore full finger bike gloves with glove liners underneath and my fingers stayed pretty warm.

[ginny]

MDHill! Holy Cow!! I'm glad it wasn't any worse. I also don't think you were being stupid. He should have looked... good grief!

My commute was non eventful this morning, though it has warmed up and is quite pleasant out today. Every time we get nice weather at this time of year, I am ever so grateful!:)

Wait a second? What's going on? Where did the bus thread go? How far back was that? Am I in the twilight zone? Weird...

[HillSlugger]

MDHill! Holy Cow!! I'm glad it wasn't any worse. I also don't think you were being stupid. He should have looked... good grief!

My commute was non eventful this morning, though it has warmed up and is quite pleasant out today. Every time we get nice weather at this time of year, I am ever so grateful!:)

Wait a second? What's going on? Where did the bus thread go? How far back was that? Am I in the twilight zone? Weird...

Yeah, my bus thread is SO yesterday! :rolleyes:

I still think that after waiting patiently behind the bus while the light changed I should have been patient enough to wait just a bit more and not have started to go around. That's what I think was stupid on my part.

[Biciclista]

I wear wool liner gloves underneath the old fashioned knit wool gloves for my cold morning commute. These wouldn't work well in a serious rain or colder than 38 degrees for very long though.

[lph]

Our winter bike-to-work campaign is up and running, and I've "had" to up my mileage a little :rolleyes: There's this far too fit 60-something guy at work who's recently discovered winter biking. But I'm having a blast. Well, yesterday it was a blast, today my ipod was flat and my butt was sore, so I had to bike in with only the inside of my head for company, but the weather was unexpectedly dry and not cold, so I came in to work humming happily and thinking how lucky I was. And was greeted by my one co-worker who always drives her own car to work, she doesn't live far from me but doesn't even know where the bus stops. "What - are you STILL riding your bike - NOW??"

"Well yes, I ride all winter" I go, "but it's lovely out now, it's not even cold!" "Oh, I could never do that in the morning. Oh no, it's such hard workand I'd get so tired..."

I couldn't stop myself, I just stared at her and said "Come off it! Riding a bike on flat ground and downhill is not hard work!!"

She was very nice and did not get offended at my snotty tone of voice. :D

Commute home was awful. Freezing headwind. Blech.

[shootingstar]

Our winter bike-to-work campaign is up and running, and I've "had" to up my mileage a little :rolleyes: There's this far too fit 60-something guy at work who's recently discovered winter biking. But I'm having a blast. ........................................I couldn't stop myself, I just stared at her and said "Come off it! Riding a bike on flat ground and downhill is not hard work!!"

She was very nice and did not get offended at my snotty tone of voice. :D

Commute home was awful. Freezing headwind. Blech.

Does she commute to work by bike or ride at all? Maybe she might be inspired much later.. you never know.
We're celebrating our fall bike to work week right now. http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=35117
A winter bike to work week in Canada may not succeed much in many parts of Canada. :o It would turn off alot people about cycling. Gotta start gentle, warm-cuddly..for many car-centric areas of Canada. At your end of Norway right now, is it much snow?

[lph]

Does she commute to work by bike or ride at all? (...) At your end of Norway right now, is it much snow?

Lord, no, she thinks cyclists are insane risktakers :D She's my prime example of someone who can think up any number of reasons to drive her own car, no matter what the occasion. She'll happily regale me with stories of being stuck in rush hour traffic or not finding a parking space, though...

Snow flurries in the air, a little slush on the ground in higher areas. I rode studs today, but wish I hadn't. 90 % of my commute is plain asphalt.

[7rider]

I arrived home last night to find DH sweeping out the garage. A bracket to hold the canoe on the wall (http://www.suspenzkayakstorage.com/) arrived via UPS and he spent the day re-arranging the garage. We now have - in our tiny mid-60's vintage garage - 4 boats, 3 ladders, a wheelbarrow, various yard tools, a bicycle, various totes, boxes, and what-nots, PLUS his Subaru!! It's an amazing Swiss Army knife set up. And, of course, he said he did it for me, so I wouldn't have to get into a freezing car that had been parked out in the driveway overnight on days when he drives me to Metro. :rolleyes::p

This morning, I took him up on the offer. He drove me to Metro, as I opted to not ride. Boy, was that a mistake. The entire county is in chaos mode, as the computer that controls the traffic lights is on the fritz. The lights work, but are not synchronized to control traffic in-bound to the city. Result = crazy gridlock and insane traffic.

[Shara]

Yesterday I did all the hills on my commute to school for the first time :) I don't think it would be much of a ride for most of you but for me it was really good. I'm so proud of myself.

[pfunk12]

What were you thinking?!!! :eek:;) I knew something was wrong last evening on the commute home when I arrived at 2 intersections and traffic was chaotic. I kept thinking, "I am sooo glad that I am on my bike and not in a car." I saw the reports last night on the local news. What a mess! I bet you could have gotten out of your car this morning, walked to metro and you would have beat Tom there. :p



This morning, I took him up on the offer. He drove me to Metro, as I opted to not ride. Boy, was that a mistake. The entire county is in chaos mode, as the computer that controls the traffic lights is on the fritz. The lights work, but are not synchronized to control traffic in-bound to the city. Result = crazy gridlock and insane traffic.

[HillSlugger]

What were you thinking?!!! :eek:;) I knew something was wrong last evening on the commute home when I arrived at 2 intersections and traffic was chaotic. I kept thinking, "I am sooo glad that I am on my bike and not in a car." I saw the reports last night on the local news. What a mess! I bet you could have gotten out of your car this morning, walked to metro and you would have beat Tom there. :p

My car commute in yesterday was slow, but it wasn't obvious to me that there was a problem and I wasn't listening to the radio. When it came time to head home and I knew what was going on I wished I was on my bike, but that would only have help me if I was willing to pretty much do all of it on the sidewalks.

Since the system still isn't fixed, I'm working from home today.

[pfunk12]

Smart move to stay home. There were so many angry motorists out there last night so no need to be back out with them today.


Since the system still isn't fixed, I'm working from home today.

[7rider]

I bet you could have gotten out of your car this morning, walked to metro and you would have beat Tom there. :p

Don't think THAT thought didn't cross my mind (multiple times) as we sat in traffic! :cool:

[pfunk12]

Did you call Tom to see if he made it home yet? ;)


Don't think THAT thought didn't cross my mind (multiple times) as we sat in traffic! :cool:

[7rider]

Did you call Tom to see if he made it home yet? ;)

Home safe and sound. :D Traffic heading east was very light. It was all gummed up heading west.

[Tri Girl]

Great weather the last few days. Can't believe it's this beautiful in November (but it was freezing in October so our months are just backward). Here are a couple pictures. The first is of a quiet street on my commute taken yesterday, next is a rose I found especially beautiful on the way to work, and the last is me in my library leaving school today.

Hee hee- my fenders on my bike are homemade out of an old tire, a wire hanger, some electrical tape and black duct tape. I just couldn't justify spending $80 on fenders right now- so I made some for free.

[Shara]

^ Those are pretty :D

My commute was WET ha ha. I was chilled for much of the day but oh well. I even had a change of clothes but hadn't put htem in a bag, in my bad. So they still got wet.

[shootingstar]

Great photo of you Tri Girl! You must have Curious George and his bicycle book somewhere in that library. :D Maybe you have inspired a few readers to cycle to their library.

[hoffsquared]

Rainbow on the way home! In Northern Virginia no less. Not a common occurrence.

[pfunk12]

I was on my way home from work - riding on the Capital Crescent Trail. There was a couple coming towards me riding their bikes. The woman was in my lane coming straight at me. We were on a section of the trail that is narrow and because of the leaves on the sides of the trail, it was even more narrow than usual. I really don't think that I should have to hop off the trail to let anyone get by but even if I did, I would end up in the woods - either face down or on my butt. So she's coming at me and not making any kind of attempt to move over so I shouted, "Move over!" And just as they came up on me, she moved over slightly and spit on me! :eek::mad::mad::mad: I was angry for several minutes (after yelling a few expletives at her) but I decided that I needed to find my happy place again. I started greeting people as I passed them (something I often do). I was telling runners to enjoy their run and cyclists to enjoy their ride. I was getting in a better mood and starting to forget about the spitting incident. But then I got closer to home - where I was off the bike path and back on the roads. As 7rider mentioned earlier today, the traffic lights are still screwed up because of a malfunction with the computer that controls them. So traffic was still a mess. I was less than a 1/4 mile from home and because traffic was so backed up, people were actually crossing the double yellow line - coming directly at me - so that they could turn onto a side street. :mad::mad: My bike is so lit up so it's not like they didn't see me.

On a positive note, I commuted 4 out of 4 days this week. Tomorrow is my day off from work and although I will be biking, I won't be going anywhere near work.:)

It's almost time to have that glass of red wine so I can really, really de-stress. ;)

[Maxxxie]

Yesterday I did all the hills on my commute to school for the first time :) I don't think it would be much of a ride for most of you but for me it was really good. I'm so proud of myself.

Shara, that is just AWESOME!!!! :D

Max

[Shara]

Shara, that is just AWESOME!!!! :D

Max

aw thank :D

[Tri Girl]

Shara- GREAT JOB!!!! :D:D:D


Pfunk- are you kidding me? :eek: That's insane (and oh so classy...) What a crazy woman.

[mizzbananie]

Shara, that is just AWESOME!!!! :D

Max

Congrats! I know exactly how powerful you felt!

[Shara]

I rode downtown yesterday and stopped at the LBS (awesome!) and then road up a long hill, turned around and came back, then went up another really big hill and that one I just flew up like I was in a race. It was an awesome feeling. I was only slightly out of breath at the top. I guess my stamina is increasing :)

[Maxxxie]

Will it ever happen? I decided I would ride to work today, as BestMate and I are attending a Cadel Evans talk in town this evening. The plan was: Ride to work, work, ride to local train station, catch train into town with bike, attend CE talk, ride home. Sounds great, right?

I got myself all ready last night.. did everything I could think to do in order to be ready to: wake up, loo, eat, shower, get dressed, say goodbye to MaxBabe and MitchMutt, ride. However, there is one minor problem. It's pissing down rain. ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Maybe tomorrow. :(

Max

[Shara]

Will it ever happen? I decided I would ride to work today, as BestMate and I are attending a Cadel Evans talk in town this evening. The plan was: Ride to work, work, ride to local train station, catch train into town with bike, attend CE talk, ride home. Sounds great, right?

I got myself all ready last night.. did everything I could think to do in order to be ready to: wake up, loo, eat, shower, get dressed, say goodbye to MaxBabe and MitchMutt, ride. However, there is one minor problem. It's pissing down rain. ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Maybe tomorrow. :(

Max

Oh I feel your pain. It's been pissing rain here a lot lately. Not just drizzle but rain that will practically knock you off your bike lol. I've ridden in it a couple times but only when I had time to get there early and somewhat dry off. What a pain. Next semester I don't have any classes before 12:30 p.m. so I'll have lots of time to get ready and get there early. I might even shower at the gym if I don't feel too self-conscious.

Your commute sounds like a great plan when the day is right. I hope tomorrow is better! :D

[blackhillsbiker]

I almost feel guilty about the weather we've been having lately. I'm sure we'll pay for it later (the whole town closed down for several snow days last April). In the meantime, I'm loving every beautiful day and cherishing each ride!

Deb

[WindingRoad]

I was riding home on my commute last Thursday and was stopped at an intersection waiting on the crosswalk to turn, it did and I started to go. I hear someone honking, look up and a cop is broad side to me with his lights on. No sirens! The road curves before the intersection so I didn't SEE him coming. The most rediculous thing was the place this happened is a super busy greenway crossing. There are all kinds of runners (with iPods I might add), walkers and baby strollers on this path. One would think a cop would turn on his sirens knowing this to be the case.

After I swallowed my heart back down because I was pretty sure I just about died I shook all the way home and felt very glad to get in my front door. Not a fun commute. :(

[Shara]

Wow windingroad. That would be scary. I'd be pissed too. They are supposed to protect you! Not put you at risk :( If it really bothers you, you could call the station and make a 'suggestion' that they are more careful. That's probably what I would do.

My commute was cold and wet but at least I did it he he. THat's my motto I think.

[sfa]

I had my first two "real clothes" commutes the past couple of days. I haven't been commuting the whole distance to work at all in the past 8 weeks (doctor's orders--bad knee and ankle) but for the past two days I had to go to a conference in DC so could commute just to the train station, which is only four or five miles from home. That was fun! It was kind of cool, in a dorky way, to just hop on my bike wearing my work clothes and screaming yellow jacket on top then switch off the jacket for a sweater at the train station. The first day I wore my commuter sandals and carried work shoes, but I didn't like having to carry around the shoes all day so yesterday I biked wearing work shoes. Not ideal (a bit slippery on the pedals) but I got there o.k.

Bad train station though--no bike parking at all so I had to lock up to a fence in someone's yard near the station.

Sarah

[Melalvai]

I rode for the first time today since I hurt my back making pancakes 10 days ago. The first three miles wasn't bad. My back is tired but not hurting.

Three more miles to go, to get back home.

[newfsmith]

No commute today with Veteran's Day observence, but yesterday I had a very pleasant surprise: THEY TORE UP THE TRAIN TRACKS THAT CROSS THE STREET! They lead into an industrial area and haven't been used in a while. I think it may have been to bring that street up the the recommendations for marked bicycle routes. So far this year they have replaced a storm drain cover that had the grate parallel to the roadway, torn up the tracks, and repaved a section that was rather narrow, with very broken pavement. All I had to due was semi-retire and 2 of the 3 towns I commute through do major road improvements of the bike friendly type.

[WindingRoad]

I was caught up in Veteran's Day festivities today too on my way in. :) It was fun on the bike I could ride along side the parade. Much better commute today!:)

[HillSlugger]

I rode for the first time today since I hurt my back making pancakes 10 days ago. The first three miles wasn't bad. My back is tired but not hurting.

Three more miles to go, to get back home.

Glad that you are back out biking. May I ask how you hurt your back making pancakes?

[Tri Girl]

May I ask how you hurt your back making pancakes?

I'm glad you asked. I was wondering the same thing? You write something like that and my mind imagines all kinds of possible reasons:
Were you making a Guinness Book of World Records sized pancake and tried to flip it?
Maybe you were making lots of little pancakes and went to flip them all quickly in succession and threw your back out from all the twisting?
Perhaps it was because you were making pancakes for your kids and they kept bugging you asking "are they done yet?" and you turned around with spatula in hand to holler at them and you twisted your back in a bad way?

[sfa]

You write something like that and my mind imagines all kinds of possible reasons

I read something like that and think "yeah, sounds like something I'd do."

[blackhillsbiker]

Not so hot. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Deb

[redrhodie]

I'm glad you asked. I was wondering the same thing? You write something like that and my mind imagines all kinds of possible reasons:
Were you making a Guinness Book of World Records sized pancake and tried to flip it?
Maybe you were making lots of little pancakes and went to flip them all quickly in succession and threw your back out from all the twisting?
Perhaps it was because you were making pancakes for your kids and they kept bugging you asking "are they done yet?" and you turned around with spatula in hand to holler at them and you twisted your back in a bad way?

:D You're too funny!

Maybe she did a Three Stooges type flip, where the pancake stuck on the ceiling, and she threw her back out looking up when it didn't come back into the pan right away?

Seriously, Melalvai, hope your back gets better fast!

[Crankin]

It's been about 6 weeks since I did any errands by bike (which is now my substitute for commuting). I missed my Jamis! So, despite the threatening northeaster (not supposed to hit until later this PM), I went out about 9:45 to go to the ATM and to a drugstore that is about 6 miles away. I wanted to go there because I sent in my son's wedding announcement to the local paper of the town next door, where we used to live; hence this particular drugstore on the border of the next town carries it.
I had a nice ride, but I decided that instead of being perpetually overdressed, I would put up with freezing going down the hill, so I wore a base layer and my Shak, with tights. I was cold until I almost reached my destination, but the way back was better, mostly because the sun is peeking out and the temperature is now 48 instead of 44.I had 2 older gentlemen tell me "it's a little cold for riding" as I was locking my bike and then when I was leaving the ATM closer to my house and getting in the lane to turn left, another older man shook his head and waved his finger at me???? I supposed he was annoyed that I was "acting like a car." Oh well, since this was in a spot where there's always lots of cyclists, I laughed it off.
I have my weekend class starting at 5 PM tonight and then all day Sat. and Sunday. I might be able to get a short ride in when I get home Sunday, but not on Saturday. So, I am glad I got out there, even though it was only 12 miles.
The announcement was not in this week's paper, though.

[Shara]

No commute yesterday. I had finished an essay and had two big bags of books to return to the library so I planned on taking my mom's car. I get out there and it's dead. Doesn't even click. It's an old beater and the key comes out at any position so I guess I must have left it forward too much. I hadn't driven it in a week so there wasn't anything getting it going. It was too early to wake up any neighbours for a jump and all my bike clothes were wet so I decide to start walking there. That would have made me half an hour later for class so when I was halfway there i called a cab lol. What drama. I was pretty cranky about the whole thing. Today I don't have classes and it's sunny so I'm going to take my daughter for a bikeride later.

[lph]

Snowy! Fresh light falling snow. I was lucky, (or smart, I did follow the weather forecast very closely) and managed to leave work just as the snow started falling, and got all the way home before it really started thickening on the road. A friend of mine left 2 hours later to ride the same route and wiped out spectacularly, ending up sliding downhill behind a car that was braking...:eek: but got out of it with just a dented helmet.

[Voodoo Sally]

when I was leaving the ATM closer to my house and getting in the lane to turn left, another older man shook his head and waved his finger at me???? I supposed he was annoyed that I was "acting like a car."

I think you may be right, Crankin'. I ride a lot in your area, too. The only time I get yelled at by motorists is when I'm taking the whole lane, for what they deem to be too long. I'm doing it to keep myself safe, down the Milldam, approaching Monument Square, or through Concord Academy, but I think they consider it rude behavior. In fact, one last week uttered, "Youah noaht a cah, ya know," as she got around me. Grrr. I can be a bit of a hair-trigger at times like those, but I'm happy to report that I managed to keep my mouth shut for a change that time. Phew.

[pfunk12]

Glad your friend is okay, lph :eek: . I commuted 2 out of 3 days this week. I decided to bike in today since they were calling for rain showers off and on throughout the day which isn't a bad forecast. The commute in was great. It wasn't raining, the temp was perfect and it really wasn't that windy. I felt like I had the bikepath to myself. There weren't that many people out this morning (just the way I like it :) ). But at noon, it was pouring rain and my co-workers were laughing at me since they know I have to bike home. I'm leaving in 40 minutes and right now, it's not raining so my fingers are crossed. My poor bike is filthy.

[Crankin]

Voodoo Sally, I always take the lane riding around the Mildam/Monument Square. I've never had a problem there, but yea, by Concord Academy, with all of the parked cars, you have no choice but to take the lane. I've been yelled at there, too. But today, I was making a left from Keyes Rd. onto Lowell Rd.
It was very busy out there today. Like there was a holiday or something.

[HillSlugger]

Glad your friend is okay, lph :eek: . I commuted 2 out of 3 days this week. I decided to bike in today since they were calling for rain showers off and on throughout the day which isn't a bad forecast. The commute in was great. It wasn't raining, the temp was perfect and it really wasn't that windy. I felt like I had the bikepath to myself. There weren't that many people out this morning (just the way I like it :) ). But at noon, it was pouring rain and my co-workers were laughing at me since they know I have to bike home. I'm leaving in 40 minutes and right now, it's not raining so my fingers are crossed. My poor bike is filthy.

I wanted to bike commute today but the wind was bad up my way. Still need one more commute to hit my (modest) goal.

[7rider]

I wanted to bike commute today but the wind was bad up my way. Still need one more commute to hit my (modest) goal.

What's your goal?? I know you can do it!

I didn't ride. I whimped. I figured I rode Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week, I've spent being a slug. :p

P - did you get caught in the rain? Once again, b/c I did NOT ride....the rain fell in the middle of the day, and when I would have ridden in and home were both reasonably rain-free. I consider that my gift. That ALWAYS seems to happen.....:mad:

[HillSlugger]

What's your goal?? I know you can do it!

I didn't ride. I whimped. I figured I rode Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week, I've spent being a slug. :p

P - did you get caught in the rain? Once again, b/c I did NOT ride....the rain fell in the middle of the day, and when I would have ridden in and home were both reasonably rain-free. I consider that my gift. That ALWAYS seems to happen.....:mad:
My goal is 25 commutes and I'm at 24. Hopefully I can get the 25th on Wednesday. I'd love to get at least a 26th, too.

[blackhillsbiker]

4.25 out of 5. Today was uneventful. I missed my wind shell this morning (it got ripped in the crash), It was really cold out. I found out that you can't iron a patch onto nylon. I guess I knew that, but I wasn't thinking too clearly last night.:mad: The burn hole was worse than the abrasion hole. And it gunked up my iron and smelled up our room. At lunch DH took me to Eddie Bauer and we found a spectacular sale on some of their technical gear. I had a gift certificate so I ended up with a great shell. My ride home tonight felt really good. I've been sore all day but I didn't notice it when I got on my bike. Even made good time.

Hoping for an uneventful week next week,
Deb

[pfunk12]

No rain. Yay! It was definitely one of those days where I was taking a risk but it paid off. It was a pretty nice ride home except for a few wind gusts that almost blew me and the bike over. :eek: I spent quite a bit of time before and after dinner cleaning off the bike. There was a ton of wet pieces of leaves everywhere! Yuck.



P - did you get caught in the rain? Once again, b/c I did NOT ride....the rain fell in the middle of the day, and when I would have ridden in and home were both reasonably rain-free. I consider that my gift. That ALWAYS seems to happen.....:mad:

[Melalvai]

Actually, what really happened is, I started the next 2 pancakes and dashed into the laundry room to put the laundry in the dryer, and reached into the washing machine and...OW. In other words, I'm just getting old! That, and I was really motivated that morning to exercise and clean house, and probably overdid it.

Biking has been great the past few days. I think the endorphins are actually better than ibuprofen, at least for pain relief if not inflammation, but the inflammation is gone, it's just a dull ache and my back tires very easily.

[HillSlugger]

Actually, what really happened is, I started the next 2 pancakes and dashed into the laundry room to put the laundry in the dryer, and reached into the washing machine and...OW. In other words, I'm just getting old! That, and I was really motivated that morning to exercise and clean house, and probably overdid it.

Biking has been great the past few days. I think the endorphins are actually better than ibuprofen, at least for pain relief if not inflammation, but the inflammation is gone, it's just a dull ache and my back tires very easily.

So, it wasn't really the pancakes, it was the laundry. I tell ya, housework will get you every time!

[Tri Girl]

just another reason to hate housework... not that I needed another. :rolleyes:
Glad getting back on the bike feels good. Endorphins are the best painkiller ever!!!

[redrhodie]

On tonight's commute, someone threw an Oreo at me. If you gotta have something thrown at you, that's the best thing. :D I'm not sure if it was meant to hit me (it didn't), or if it was a just a little kid playing, or if someone just thought I looked like I needed a cookie (I did :rolleyes:). Anyway, I resisted the temptation to pick it up off the ground and eat it. :p

Fun rides both ways!

[Shara]

An oreo! That's funny. You're right, it's much better than the alternatives! ha ha.

I had a good commute. I was seriously not wanting to go today because it was POURING but I did. And got wet. And was damp for a good part of the day because I forgot to put my dry clothes in another bag. And I ran out of deodorants so used dh's and it didn't work well so I think I was a little smelly. But oh well. I went! lol

[blackhillsbiker]

I had a good one this morning. Very cold, but nice. The frost on everything is pretty. I wasn't feeling too well, though, and by noon had the chills and aches something fierce. I finished up the pile on my desk and had hubby take me and the bike home about 3:00 (about 3 hours later than I would have liked). Got into bed with a heating pad and shivered for another 45 minutes or so, then slept the rest of the afternoon. I don't know if I'm going in at all tomorrow.

Deb

[kfergos]

I finally had a commute! Hooray! I rode ~19 miles to the Bike Alliance in downtown Seattle through precipitation that varied between heavy drizzle to heavy rain. In addition, I rode south into sustained 20- to 30-mph headwinds, with up to 50-mph gusts (according to the newspaper weather report). I rode across Lake Washington on the I-90 bridge in these exciting conditions (I got a ton of spray off the road splashing into my face, ear, and entire left side of my body, but didn't want to take my hands off the handlebars to wipe my face because I was afraid of a sudden gust of wind), and came out alive and kicking on the other side. I only got turned around twice, but that was with my GPS telling me the route, so... :rolleyes: And then I rode home a different way, on back roads through downtown Seattle, by the University of Washington, and up around the northern end of the lake, another 18 or 19 miles. By the time I got to my destination each time I was soaked to the bone; my GoreTex "rain pants" utterly failed me on the way in, so I just wore normal Spandex on the way out and was perfectly warm, if soaked, by the end. My rain jacket has also failed, so I may try washing it with Tech Wash, which I hear re-waterproofs clothes pretty well.

My final analysis: I'd have to describe it as "hilly, windy, rainy," and not necessarily in that order. But also possibly pleasant and definitely doable, which is good, since I'm gonna be doing it nearly every day of the week starting January. :D I am happy to be commuting again -- it felt like getting back on the wagon after a month of pure recreational riding. :p

Tailwinds, commuters. Now for me it's back to NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node).

[indigoiis]

I rode what is now becoming my once-a-week and only commute: 30 miles in to work. It was great except I ran over a squirrel on the bike path part. But when I looked back, he was scurrying away.

It was still really freaky - kuh-thungmpkah-thungmph. *shudder.*

[pfunk12]

Not sure what to think of my morning commute. It was pleasant until I saw all of the police cars :eek:. I was riding on the Capital Crescent Trail when I saw 4-5 police cars near Fletcher's Boathouse - lights flashing and police officers milling about. My first thought was that someone had fallen in the Potomac River. I went about 1.5 miles down the trail and there were 2 police cars on the trail and the officers were looking in the nearby woods and in a tunnel. At the end of the trail, there was another police officer on the trail on his motorcycle. I haven't seen anything on the news (but I haven't searched that much). Just hoping that a runner/walker wasn't attacked.

[redrhodie]

(((indi))) That must have been horrible! I've come amazingly close to hitting them many times. I'm glad you didn't fall. Hope it learned a lesson!