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I'm sort of on a photography roll here, so forgive me for spamming you all with photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&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.
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!
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7rider
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.
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
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.
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. :)
Crankin, that sounds like a really nice morning.
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.
This was me on my commute yesterday:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/...55bf99e9_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.
Really?? :D Amazing photo, kfergos! :D
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.
Kfergos, that is amazing! Maybe....just maybe I'll get an Xtracycle for my birthday...hmmmm....
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.
Wow, that's wonderful, kfergos!
Yep, moving to Seattle on October 30. I have a room full of boxes at work that I need to slowly bring home.Quote:
Originally Posted by ginny
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/...342627225c.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/...122ab1d88d.jpg
Oooh, nice!Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergos
( If you posted about your move already, I missed it, sorry. :o )
Moving to Seattle? Wow, how cool is that? do you have a place to move to already? Do you mean SEATTLE SEATTLE?Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergos
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!! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
Um, you must have missed Seattle's last winter--right Mimi?!Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergos
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:Quote:
Originally Posted by tulip
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.
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.
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?
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. :)
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 (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...
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.
:) 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
yeah, people should have signs on their front door; "bacon here" "pancakes here" "Teriyaki beef barbeque here" " marijuana here"
:cool::p
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
How tall are you? I've got one that's too small for me that I'm trying to sell. :D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by tulip
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.
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:
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.
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.
hmmmm....we'll measure up when you come to visit!Quote:
Originally Posted by divingbiker
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catriona
Careful, Zen's a terrible influence and likes to stir up trouble. But she's also usually pretty willing to go for a ride.
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by Catriona