How Was Your Commute Today?

[e.e.cummings]

Good ride back home, but was tired after doing yoga class (I took a special with an nearby yoga centre - $20, and I can try a week's worth of classes). I tried a 6pm class. I didn't know it was one and half hours, and I didn't realize that it was going to be so intensive! Good though. Made my commute home pretty low key though.

Is it just me or are roller bladers increasing in number? And their kick out sometimes goes out into the other lane that it become a hazard for the oncoming cyclist in the opposite side of the path. Anyone ever have a run-in with a roller blader because of that? Sometimes I am thinking it is only a matter of time. A lot of roller bladers on the path tonight.

Supposed to rain tomorrow - 90% POP. I don't mind. It mean that I will virtually have the path to myself. Have rain gear, will travel.

Almost forgot to add: encountered guy riding bike, hands off handlebars, talking on his cell, smoking a cigarette.

[blackhillsbiker]

Had my farewell commute tonight until I'm cleared to ride again after surgery. This morning was cool. I saw lots of birds along the creek. This evening was really nice. The path wasn't too crowded since I worked late and it was after 8 before I started home.

I agree about the roller bladers. I really hate it when they're wearing ipods. We have lots of them here, too. And skateboarders. My least favorite, though, is unleashed dogs who have just been swimming in the creek. They come bounding up, and when I stop because I don't want to hit them, or get jumped on, they shake and share their creek water. The owner usually laughs and tells me how friendly they are.

Deb

[7rider]

This morning, in the locker room of our fitness center, there were just 4 women getting showered and ready for a day in the office.
ALL four had arrived by bicycle (and were using the Fitness Center basically for showering only - well, except me who lifted for a bit before hitting the locker room).
And who says women don't bike commute??

[redrhodie]

Had my farewell commute tonight until I'm cleared to ride again after surgery. This morning was cool. I saw lots of birds along the creek. This evening was really nice. The path wasn't too crowded since I worked late and it was after 8 before I started home.

Deb

Good luck, Deb!

[e.e.cummings]

Nice commute on a wet, but not raining when I rode, morning. Got caught for a few minutes behind a roller blader who was smoking marijuana while he was blading along. I'm starting to see it all on this path.

Ride back was calm, I had just done a yoga class just before and was in a pretty 'blissed-out' state. Passed a volleyball game, the dragon boats in the canal, and spots on the path where tiny bugs make opening your mouth a challenge. Tomorrow will be my second FULL week of commuting. Yah! I have been commuting on and off since February, but not steady like now.

[e.e.cummings]

The Grand Prix Formula 1 race is in town this weekend, and when I got close to my work I could hear in the distance the engines revving around the track. It's a real buzz. It's that time of year when the hotels and restaurants are full, the champagne is flowing and the Ferraris are out (mine is in the shop LOL!)

Pretty empty path today, it is a bit of a dull morning. No wind, lovely ride. Some people take Friday off, I think.

[7rider]

Bugs taste bitter.

[Melalvai]

I've been at my new job in the much smaller town (pop 17,000) of Kirksville, MO for two weeks now. I've commuted every day, it's only 2 miles each way. Most days I go home for lunch, so I get at least 8 miles in. The first week was just plain lonely and exhausting, because my husband and daughter were living in a hotel back in Columbia until her last day of school. Since then it's been a lot nicer. I worry about them because I'm at work meeting people, and they are stuck at home without internet. (That's a long story, we are just on the other side of the city limit sign but the problem seems to be that the house is too far back from the road, and we are having a heck of a time figuring out what we're going to do for internet. Living without is not an option since my husband just graduated with a degree in computer science!)

The commute itself is nice and easy. It's a lot more flat in town than Columbia is. There are some hills in this area, but I think the loess hills are further west.

There is a bike path, the Wabash railroad used to go through town. Missouri has mostly lost the rights to the railroad line but Kirksville has converted 3/4 mile of it into a bike path. I can see where the railroad bed extends. In fact it goes behind our house just a few feet. Forty years ago that would NOT have been a good place to build a house! (The house is only 7 years old.)

I don't really need the bike path, because it's a small town and traffic is light. There is only one street I would be reluctant to bike on--the highway as it passes through town. To get to work I don't even have to cross the highway, but to go anywhere else, it's difficult without using the highway. But it is such a small town I'm sure I'll learn the tricks soon enough.

Pictures of my commute are here, and I'll attempt to link them into the message...