How Was Your Commute Today?

[7rider]

Boy....the vacations are over.

Although I didn't bike commute b/t Christmas and New Year's, just being out on the road during that week - and to a lesser extent, bike commuting in the days leading up to Christmas - showed that the level of commuter traffic was down to tiny levels as folks took vacations and burned leave. It was a joy to be able to get out of our neighborhood easily without line after line of non-stop traffic.

But...all good things must come to an end. It's Monday and the workers are back - even at 6:45 a.m. Saw more traffic than I like this morning. May have to re-set that alarm clock 10 minutes earlier to try to get out ahead of it.

But...today is the first day - and likely the only day - where Pfunk12 and I have the same number of bike commutes! Yahoo!

[pfunk12]

You are beating me! Today is my work-at-home day so no commuting for me. I am going to do the 12:30 Thrasher ride. Hoping that the pace is civilized and I don't get dropped.

But...today is the first day - and likely the only day - where Pfunk12 and I have the same number of bike commutes! Yahoo!

[blackhillsbiker]

Yuck! The path was drifted over every few feet, rutted and icy. I was wondering whether or not it would be plowed due to holidays. My 15-minute ride took me just under an hour. It started to snow really hard. The snow tires and my trusty Dew kept me upright. DH picked me and my bike up to go home for lunch. I'll try again tomorrow.

Deb

[Tri Girl]

great day to commute! Had to be careful of the icy patches on the roads, but it was so peaceful and quiet... except for the howling headwind the whole way- which made the ride home sa-weet!!

[Rebecca19804]

First day back commuting by bike following knee surgery - yay! And so far, so good. Totally enjoyed my journey, including the first 45 minutes in the dark. Weather was a bit warmer than forecast and I got a bit too warm. But it was such a joy to be back in the saddle again!

[7rider]

Good for you, Rebecca! Welcome back!

The back story:

Occasionally, I go grocery shopping at lunch at the grocery store across the street from my office. Inevitably, I buy way more than I can carry in my Arkel pannier - which is usually already full with my clothes, towel, and lunch bag. So, I got a grocery pannier with the intention that it will live on my rear rack for those occasional lunch-time trips. Most of the times it's empty, but it's there for those "just in case" needs to carry some crap or other.

This morning, the pannier was empty, and I hit a bump in the road just right, and launched it off the rack and into the street (I really need to dial in the bungee, so it's tight enough to stay, but loose enough to conveniently remove). So, I stop, swing back to go get it, waiting for passing cars to clear. Every car - except for this one big black SUV (figures ) avoided it. The SUV hit it smack - dead on. Grrrrr....You did that on purpose, you turd!! I yelled after it. Fortunately, it was empty and there's not much to it, so it's fine. But geez....did that grate my cheese for the morning.

This afternoon, I'm heading up the hill to my neighborhood - the last 3/4 mile includes 1/2 mile on a sidewalk to avoid a busy 6-lane road. On the sidewalk, by the Baptist church, there was a bunch of broken glass. It's been there for at least the past two days that I've ridden.

Grrrr...Somebody's got to do something about that, I thought.

So I decided I would be that "somebody". I rode home, grabbed a broom out of the garage, and went back and swept up the glass. There. Done.

[kmehrzad]

7 Rider,

Sorry to hear about your pannier being hit - OUCH! Hope it wasn't damaged.

Good for you sweeping up the glass. That's what I'd do and have done. You ride by it day after day then finally make the move to get rid of the glass. Somebody's gotta do it, right?

[blackhillsbiker]

Plowed paths! Back to my 15-minute commute. It was very cold this morning. Also very pretty with frost on everything. Hopefully my new light will get here this week. That will make my evening commute so much better.

Deb