Show us your commuter! Inspired by Andrea's thread...

[TahoeDirtGirl]

The very first coffee I ever drank was in college. 1999. Starbucks. I never had coffee before, a latte with two sugars. Ahhhh...so that's my staple. That or a capp. I make my own at home, but I loved going to one of the 5 'bucks in S. Lake Tahoe, I think it's a morning tradition because the baristas are so chipper. No wonder, they probably slip a shot of the crackbucks every once in a while. DD is amazing. All over the place. There is a 'bucks in Plymouth.

Wheelworks! AH! I went there during the SUPER sale and I got scared out of there. I did 'order' a bike but I need to get my cash back, because I bought something else. I did note they had a great selection on everything else, but they were just way too busy. AND they had some really good deals 'round the corner on used bikes. I didn't get a really good bike guy either, he didn't know the bikes that well I like the one I have down here (pre cape) for tuneups and I ride with them, but they don't have much of a selection. I guess thems the breaks.

And messenger bags. I laughed when I saw that one. I tried one out that I had brought out on the plane from Calif and I went to do that 'sling it to the other side' and there I went. Into the ditch. I think I'll stick to the backpack. I'm just not that coordinated Pretty bike Hiperson! almost tempts me to take a ride up to wheelworks and see what they got. I'm around 5 ft 3 ...no I must resist. I have 5 bikes in this house right now and other scattered around the USA. Oh my. Do I have a problem?

[Blueberry]

So....what do you use to make you cappuccino or lattes at home (when you do)? Inquiring minds have exploded many machines in the kitchen and had many rather spectacular failures

CA

[hipersons]

MDHillSlug and GLC1968, this is exactly what worked, only I had turn it sideways. Hurray!

and there I went. Into the ditch.

omg that was my biggest fear!

Wheelworks is great, but you definitely have to hit it at not busy time. IE not the weekends, especially on a sunny day. I tend to go weeknights. The same goes for the sales people. During my quest I must have talked to about 10 people there, all with a varying range of knowledge.

Good luck on that bike addiction. I hear it's contagious.

[madscot13]

My Nishiki mixte at school. Detours panniers and a topeak trunk and rack. If I have more to carry I have a Trek Grocery bag for the other side, but the Detours keeps everything secure and dry.

great looking bike. Also I can't face any class without 16 oz of caffeine.

quick question: how short is your stem?

[madscot13]

are you crazy? i would kill for a DD in madison. our closest one is a good 45 mins away. having come from RI (most donut shops per capita in the world and a DD every 2 miles or so) it's really tough. everyone i talk to around here who has ever lived in new england totally feels the lack of DD pain.

haha I have some friends that I have to bring some DD to every time I go home.

[activediva]

Is your tri bike going to be your commuter bike?

Ya, I only have a 6 mile commute to work so it's perfect for pre-training for my tri's.

[kfergos]

That's funny, because when I went to Boston 2 years ago my DH and I were amazed at all the DD. We had to get a picture of us in front of one just for laughs. Man, those New Englanders eat a lot of donuts.

I'm from WA and now live in MA, and the DD phenomenon has puzzled me since I moved here: They call it Dunkin Donuts, but they sell like 100 cups of coffee for every donut they sell.

What is so great about DD coffee? Why do people think it's better than Starbucks? (I don't drink coffee at all, but this is a matter of curiosity, since Seattleites seem to think Starbucks is the epitome of the coffee experience.)

[Blueberry]

I don't drink coffee much (it doesn't agree with me). But...many people say that Starbucks effectively burns their beans, and that this makes their coffee bitter.

I see the DD coffee as good, relatively smooth, plain coffee.

CA

[TahoeDirtGirl]

In Tahoe I have a Saeco super automatic or something like that, it's all automated but it gets stuck once in a while. In Mass I just use a Keurig, which makes regular coffee. I had a Krups. I blew it up. The Saeco was kinda pricey. But I saved up for a year. And bought it I did! I'm too afraid to ship it out tho. I whip my milk with this frother thing I got from IKEA. It's just a little beater thing but it works well.

I think the burnt bean thing might be from some of the baristas that make the shots too strong. I had one that was horrible. I turned around and gave it back to them. I like Peets too, but there are none here.

I think I got used to it being strong tho. So going to DD is a weakness, bc who can't leave without a munchkin in their pocket?

Yes, the ditch and the messenger bag. I didn't see it coming at all.

Was going to go for the big commute to work but there is the threat of rain. I'm not into rain gear. I'm in the market for a rain jacket but not sure which. I have a flimsy windbreaker that is mostly good for color, but not sure what to do for rain.

[Crankin]

OK, haven't really been following this thread, but re, the DD thing in MA. Yea, people here think it's a coffee place. I'm a native who lived in the SW and FL for a good portion of her adult life. Been back 18 years on June 6th. I hate DD. The coffee is OK, but their ads make me angry. Like people who speak Italian are "snobby" (the ad making fun of ordering Starbucks type drinks). I just don't care for all the leering construction workers who tend to be in there at 6:30 AM.
There are Starbucks in MA. Where are you? There's one in Concord, one in Acton, and in quite a few of the towns in the NW suburbs. I don't usually go there, because I patronize small, independent coffee places where they know me. There are a lot of those around here.
In high school I used to cut class, hike through the woods to go to "Dunkies."

[HillSlugger]

On Long Island we had Dunkin Donuts. No Krispy Kreme. I left before Starbuck came along. DD was where we went for doughnuts! I was rather amazed when people started talking about how good their coffee is. I'm not sure I've ever tried it.

[la bicicleta]

I read that asking for your latte "extra hot" also contributes to the "burnt" taste for the next customer.

[Aggie_Ama]

Here is my new commuter- Hilda. The KHS stands for Keep Hilda Spinning. Right now she is a little Frankenbiked since she stole my Cannondale's front wheel. The stock front wheel is rubbing the fork and I didn't have time to fidget with it.

I am lucky enough to have a large back cubicle to keep my bike in. Our bike racks are in a dark corner of the parking garage, no place for the newest member of our bike family.

[Beane]

I see the DD coffee as good, relatively smooth, plain coffee.

CA

Agreed. But I think they put crack in it so that even though its not super flavorful, you must have more, more, MORE!

haha I have some friends that I have to bring some DD to every time I go home.

My mom is coming to visit from RI in a few days and we will definitely be requesting that she bring some coffee and donuts. It can't be that big a pain to shlep a dozen donuts across the country...

[hipersons]

My friend is studying in Florida. His dad buys the donuts, puts them in foodsaver bags, and ships them down there. I hear the honey dipped ones loose their texture completely, but the taste is still delicious!