How Was Your Commute Today?

[e.e.cummings]

Why do runners who have a perfectly good footpath - no loose gravel, etc., much easier on the joints (I am a runner too) - choose to run on the paved bike path instead? The foot path is a stone's throw away! If I rode on the foot path, I would be shouted off!

And why do cyclists who have a perfectly good bike path that costs the city a fortune to maintain STILL ride on the road right beside it? Risking being 'doored' by cars, etc. and all of the other risks of riding in traffic? It's their business, I guess, but it's a mystery to me.

I don't know, thought I'd would think out a loud a little. You have these thoughts when you commute back and forth.

[7rider]

Yesterday - after DH and I washed all the sweat off our bikes after a particularly sweaty, sticky, drippy, club ride - I started getting nostalgic for winter.
And I went back and re-read NYBiker's "Enough with the snow already!" thread in the Mid-Atlantic section.
And I was looking at all the pictures of mountains of snow and folks bundled up in their winter layers.
And I recalled, back in January, looking at the thermometer one morning before a commute, - a thermometer which was pegged somewhere south of 20 degrees F (-7C) - I was amazed that there would EVER be a time in the year where it was hot and sticky and gross, and I'd be wearing a sleeveless jersey when I left the house at 6:45 in the morning, and not wondering how I would ever move for all the layers I had on my body.
But, this morning was such a morning. I got into the gym, glistening with sweat.
It's amazing what a little time can do for you.

[blackhillsbiker]

Missing my commute. Second surgery is tomorrow. Hopefully then I'll be back on the bike in 2 weeks ("gentle, moderate riding") and back up to speed in about 6 weeks. I had forgotten how stressful it is to drive in the mornings. A police car pulled in behind me this morning with lights flashing & sirens blaring. Why do my thoughts immediately jump to "what did I do??!" Anyhow, he was on his way to an accident further down. Between traffic and gapers' block, I was late to work. I ignore the far-off sirens when I'm on the bike path… Sigh.

[JennK13]

Cant believe it's the same day it was this morning! Was cloudy and raining until after 3 today. But i heard it was supposed to clear up. So i brought my Fuji to work with me (dropped the commuter off at the LBS at lunch for a tune up), along with a change of clothes for tomorrow, and rode home leaving my car at work. Absolutely gorgeous evening ride home!

[tulip]

Errands by bike today: post office, grocery store for a few things. Only about 7 miles, but I was glad to spin my legs.

[Tri Girl]

no commuting for me until August. While I don't miss work, I miss the commute. Once the vacations settle down (next week), I'll just start riding daily to make up for the commute I'm missing.

[Crankin]

Yesterday I rode 8.8 miles to the Farmer's Market in the next town. Like Tulip, this is my weekly "errand" commute. For 2 hours I gave out discount coupons to people who arrived by bike and watched their bikes while they shopped. I ended up buying some olive bread and 2 whole wheat scones, which made for a heavy pannier on the way back. Man, that bread is dense. I decided that since I was on the hybrid, I would do something different, so I headed into the Old North Bridge area, so I could actually ride over the bridge, past the Minuteman statue and cut through to the street I needed to be on. When I got inside the park, a ranger told me that the path is being redone, almost to the other end (it's hard packed sand, but it looked like they had paved most of it), but I could walk my bike along the side, in the grass. It was pretty quiet there, so the walk was nice. When I got past the fenced off area, and started riding up a small rise, a family who was visiting the park started clapping for me .
By this time, it was pretty hot and humid out, so I was dreading riding the heavy bike up my hill, but, it wasn't too bad. 17.9 miles total.

[e.e.cummings]

Beautiful commute this morning, the air was fresh, breezed by the kayakers on the canal, not too many people on the path. I will be going on vacation next week, and I will miss my commute. Going to Newfoundland to visit my parents. I even investigated renting a bike there but I am not that interested in riding with no paved shoulder in places, I have this image of me being blown off the road by a transport truck. I think my fitness will be made up of hiking yoga, and running.

Yesterday, riding home, I was passed by a guy riding a Cervelo (dh's dream ride) and wearing a really nice pair of cycle shorts - the reason I noticed is because dh's birthday is coming up and after losing weight he would like a new pair of shorts. Kept pace behind this guy for quite a distance before I could determine that he was wearing Sugoi RS shorts - boosted my confidence that I could keep pace with this guy for a while!