How Was Your Commute Today?

[MyRubyE]

Ok, so for eight days or so I have become a sloth like zombie and didn't ride my bike for various reasons. So I got on my bike and commuted to work both on Thursday and Friday - finally!! *And, I'm feeling like me again!!. I'm alive!! I'm the king of the world!! I'm Tarzan ahAAaaAa!! *Ok, back to reality... When I don't ride, or do not do any form of excercise, depression sets in. *Thus the need to rotate those wheels to create a spark in my being and make me feel worthy,*empowered,*and*invigorated. *Here's hoping for another devine week weather wise and a natural anti-depressant-like bike commuting next week.

[redrhodie]

MyRubyE, I get the same way if I don't ride, and it ain't pretty. Glad you got out!

Yesterday I had 20-30 mph winds with 40 mph gusts, and you know, it wasn't bad. I've just resigned myself to the fact that's it's going to be slower, and in the morning, it only took me about 5 minutes longer for my 14 mile route than usual. At night, it was a wicked tailwind, so I flew home! I have to admit, my quads were on fire when I was done.

Easy spin today, not a commute. Happy Halloween!

[malkin]

When I don't ride, or do not do any form of excercise, depression sets in.

No kidding. I've been sick for over a week, and I started wondering if big Pharma could market a combination anti-histamine & anti-depressant. They put everything else in those OTC remedies, why not this?

[colorisnt]

An anti-depressant anti-histamine would be all I need! LOL. Speaking of which, I haven't been eating much because of an adjustment and tapering up of my SSRI which makes me feel like I will throw up when I exercise. Gah. Between that and the flu, it takes almost everything to finish a meal. So far, I haven't been too successful, but it is getting better.

Commuted for the first time in a week! Felt SO good to be back out. Took the trail that they have now finished for MUP with a crossing for bikes and pedestrians. OF COURSE the construction workers left all sorts of goodies behind - nails, boards, metal things everywhere!. I had to get off the bike and kick the following away so that I and others could get through. Sad. Other than that, the trail is great. And I enjoy not having to go through parking lots anymore!

Rode here and climbed the big hill with no issues, so I know I am getting stronger despite the time off of commuting. Had a good ride, but man that wind was awful! Getting up the small hills into the university was awful. Cold weather gear worked great, but boy that wind is hard to power through!

[7rider]

A wee-bit on the chilly side this a.m. - first ride in the 30s since last winter.
Was wishing I had something covering my cheeks - and thought it might be time to pull out the goggles. But, I was certainly warmed up by half-way in.

Also - rode DH's bike as my bike is in the shop getting a tune-up and some minor tweaking. I sent my bike in with its pedals, and we have no spare SPDs for his bike (he uses Crank Bros on his bike), so I had to wear his mtb shoes. BIG...good think it was cold so I could wear big, fat, fuzzy socks!

[colorisnt]

If I had to commute in someone else's shoes with strange pedals, I would kill myself lol. You are a brave (and talented) commuter!

[Tri Girl]

see- it's starting to get cold and I'm starting to become a wuss. Pump me up for those ccccccold mornings, ladies. I *know* I need to do it, but my warm bed and car are not making getting out on my bike easy to do.

OK- I'm just going to suck it up!!! Tomorrow I shall ride (I haven't ridden to work in...gasp...3 weeks). eek!

[pfunk12]

You can do it, Tri Girl!!

see- it's starting to get cold and I'm starting to become a wuss. Pump me up for those ccccccold mornings, ladies. I *know* I need to do it, but my warm bed and car are not making getting out on my bike easy to do.

OK- I'm just going to suck it up!!! Tomorrow I shall ride (I haven't ridden to work in...gasp...3 weeks). eek!

[colorisnt]

Maybe it was growing up outside of Chicago that makes me love this freaking cold weather, but I am in heaven right now!

I would be more in heaven if an ***hole hadn't pulled out in front of me when I was riding back from work - right at the crunch part of the hill. He inched forward and then TOOK OFF within about 3 ft of me reaching the drive he was coming out of. If I had been smart, I would have taken down his license number and reported him,but he threw gravel in my face and some hit my cheek.

Idiot college boys.

This is why I am glad to be over that.

[7rider]

Sure you can do it.
It's all a mindset.
It's not cold... It's "invigorating!"
It's not dark.... It's nearly dawn.
Just think of how toasty you'll feel after your first hill (assuming you hit some hills, of course!)
Remember the Shrek method of dressing (layers...like an onion!).
Enjoy a warm beverage of your choice at the end of it all, and let us know how it went!

see- it's starting to get cold and I'm starting to become a wuss. Pump me up for those ccccccold mornings, ladies. I *know* I need to do it, but my warm bed and car are not making getting out on my bike easy to do.

OK- I'm just going to suck it up!!! Tomorrow I shall ride (I haven't ridden to work in...gasp...3 weeks). eek!

[Melalvai]

Pump me up for those ccccccold mornings, ladies

Do your core exercises first. THAT gets the blood moving and warms you up, and then that blast of cold air isn't quite so painful. My core exercise routine is 20 bicycles, 10 crunches, 10 supermans, 10 legups (which I don't like and often skip), and 10 turkish standups on each side. You can skip everything but the turkish standups. Those things will heat you up!

(A turkish standup, it turns out, is you lie on your back, stick one arm in the air, and stand up. And lie down. And stand up. All with one arm sticking up in the air. Ten times. Then put that arm down and stick up the other.)

[colorisnt]

Remember that girl who fell into the deep ditch? I bet she could really hurt herself doing a Turkish standup. Not to mention... bear with me because I am immature... but that just sounds... inappropriate haha.

And I hate the heat. Give me this weather ANY time of the year over the summers here in MO. No merci!

[Melalvai]

Remember that girl who fell into the deep ditch? I bet she could really hurt herself doing a Turkish standup.

Ha ha, that piece of advice is only for Tri Girl, not for Falls-in-a-Ditch, I mean colorisnt!

Today's commute: BIKE THE VOTE! This the first time I've voted since we moved to Kirksville (I didn't get registered in time for the primaries). Turns out my polling place is 3 miles away! And NOT in a convenient direction; my usual 2 mile commute was 6 miles by the time I got to work.

But I didn't mind the extra miles. What I minded was biking down the shoulder of a split 4 lane highway during what passes for "rush hour" around here! Granted it doesn't cause much in the way of traffic jams, but that is a heck of a lot of traffic on that road at that time of day. When I left, it took me a long time to get across both sections of the divided highway to the far shoulder.

The polling place, the area office of the Mo Dept of Conservation, has a bike rack. Why?? The only way to get to it is that busy divided highway and I don't know many people (any? besides me?) in the area comfortable biking on it. Well, I won't ding them for having a bike rack! The bike rack itself is not a great one. Yes, it's the snake shape and not a wheel bender, but it isn't bolted down, and it's lightweight. Crush fell over in it.

Crush falls over a lot these days. It's that enormous heavy basket. And all the stuff I put in it. The kickstand can't quite handle it.

So, that's my story of going to vote. The actual voting was uneventful. I voted "no" on all the state constitutional amendments, not because I objected to them all, but because just because something is a good idea doesn't mean it should be a constitutional amendment. Save that for the important stuff.

I put my "I voted" sticker on Crush.

[lph]

I impressed two small boys riding home today. It was dark and raining, and I was in full flashy mode, complete with flashing green Spokelit front and rear. I've still haven't seen anyone else with these.

As I approached they huddled a bit together and slowed down. As I passed, they stopped and stared. Quite a way ahead of them I overheard one of them gasp (the Norwegian equivalent of): AWESOME!!

Guess who's going to go home and ask mom and dad for Spokelits for Christmas?

[colorisnt]

Couldn't commute today for several reasons. I think one of my meds is making me really, really ill and I just couldn't imagine being sick in the middle of my commute and then having to not only continue on but also then get back home. No thanks. I will have to try it tomorrow.

Did see a mother and kindergarten aged kid climbing a BIG hill together on the way home. It was probably the most adorable and happy thing ever. It really made my day (which was not good by any means lol). His little backpack was bigger than he was, but he was just chugging along!