How Was Your Commute Today?

[pfunk12]

Dumb college kid in an SUV yelled "Laaaaance!" as he passed. That worries me. What are they teaching kids these days?? Lance is fast. I am slow. Lance rides cool bikes. I ride a fred bike. I look nothing like Lance. Lance has one testicle more than I do. I have one ovary more than Lance does. That poor fellow will never graduate college, I believe.

Round the next corner is a pedestrian crossing to the Vet Hospital. I stop at that stop sign reflexively. It's automatic, I don't think about it. Rarely is there a pedestrian in the crosswalk, but this time there was. He proceeded, I proceeded. He turned around in the middle of the road, and announced:

"Congratulations, you are the first cyclist in ten years I have seen stop at that stop sign."

I smiled the rest of the way home.

Hey, Lance...good stories!

[ny biker]

I know two bike commuters in northern Virginia whose water bottles froze during their ride this morning.

Anyone else?

[7rider]

I know two bike commuters in northern Virginia whose water bottles froze during their ride this morning.

Anyone else?

Not mine in MD. But then, I whimped out and took Metro. I think I've lost my enthusiasm for 18 degree (-7C) and windy commutes.

[ny biker]

Not mine in MD. But then, I whimped out and took Metro. I think I've lost my enthusiasm for 18 degree (-7C) and windy commutes.

Well I've never had that enthusiasm so you're still better than me...

[pfunk12]

I know two bike commuters in northern Virginia whose water bottles froze during their ride this morning.

Anyone else?

I went out earlier when it was 23 degrees with a 13 degree wind chill but my water didn't freeze.

[Melalvai]

I am never sure quite how to dress when it is hovering around freezing. A little wind or sun or a couple degrees can make a HUGE difference. Today I brought the full winter kit, but didn't wear it all. I stopped twice in the first 4 miles to undress a little bit!

The little metal bit that makes my brakes spring open when I release the brake lever sometimes comes unhooked. It's very easy to put back, but it confuses me hugely. The first time a few days ago I thought my brake cable was freezing up (only it didn't seem that cold). Tonight I was a little smarter, but the left side front brake metal bit (that had come off last time) was fine. Oh. It was the right side!

The very nice guys at the bike shop looked at my trailer wheels and told me what I need to do. They didn't have the right bearings on hand but they measured & wrote down the dimensions so I can get them at the hardware store. They oiled the bearings I have, so it's lots less squeaky, it will do until I get new bearings.

We also talked at length about how to build the bike stand I'm going to build!

[Biciclista]

I had no intention of riding today; my stepfather is in the hospital, and i wanted to be available to go down there at a moment's notice. that was not to be. My husband packed the car keys in his pannier... so I had a lovely bike commute this morning.

[ginny]

It has been lovely around here lately. The side streets are treacherous at the moment... in fact, a couple of days ago, I walked the last two blocks home because the ice is so slick! I am not complaining though, it's so nice to be able to ride all year round ...

[pfunk12]

I decided to bike in today because it's supposed to snow later and tomorrow morning so I most likely won't be on the bike tomorrow. Because I knew that the trail is still covered with snow, I had to make a decision last night on which route I would take. I have many options to get to work but all of them are on major roads. I decided to take Wisconsin Avenue down to Georgetown and I think it was the best choice. For most of the way, there are 3 lanes heading to DC so I grabbed a lane for myself. Traffic is so light that early in the morning so there were stretches that I actually had the whole road to myself. And no one was beeping their horn at me or telling me to get out of the way. Now I just have to figure out which way I'm going to go home.

[kmehrzad]

I decided to bike in today because it's supposed to snow later and tomorrow morning so I most likely won't be on the bike tomorrow. Because I knew that the trail is still covered with snow, I had to make a decision last night on which route I would take. I have many options to get to work but all of them are on major roads. I decided to take Wisconsin Avenue down to Georgetown and I think it was the best choice. For most of the way, there are 3 lanes heading to DC so I grabbed a lane for myself. Traffic is so light that early in the morning so there were stretches that I actually had the whole road to myself. And no one was beeping their horn at me or telling me to get out of the way. Now I just have to figure out which way I'm going to go home.

P - Stay safe out there tonight going home.

[7rider]

I know two bike commuters in northern Virginia whose water bottles froze during their ride this morning.

Anyone else?

I read Yehuda Moon today, and thought of this post!