How Was Your Commute Today?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Fall;)

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

Attachment 17416

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

Congratulations! Beautiful!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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