How Was Your Commute Today?

[ZenBiker]

<sigh> the chip-seal project has now put gravel on every road within a mile of my house. It's a dusty, bumpy ride to and from work - but still better than driving!

[Melalvai]

So, I was leaving this afternoon - heading to the elevator to go to the gym to dress for my ride home tonight.
My boss is by the elevators. "By the way," he said. "That was me yesterday."
Huh??
"In the van. On Fairview. In the van. I beeped at you. I saw you on your bike."
"Oh. I don't remember any van beeping at me."

I suppose if they're not screamin', yellin', honkin' threateningly, or being illogical moronic jerks, I just tune them out.

The woman who cuts my hair said she sees me on my bike all the time. I asked where because I don't remember seeing her ever. I guess I'm not looking inside the SUVs.

Today's ride was brutal. I had a couple errands, and I didn't want to wait all the way until next week after this heat advisory theoretically will be over, to get them done. So I just went in the heat. 16 miles by the end of the day. The longest single trip was 5 miles, and every time I stopped I refilled my water bottle and sat in the air conditioning for a while.

It occurred to me, much much later, that I guess I could have taken the car. No one else was using it today.

[redrhodie]

I'm already stressing about the commute on Thurs. It's supposed to be 90s and humid. I can do one or the other; I suffer with both together. I will not be trying for any speed records, that's for sure.

[Crankin]

Be careful, Red. It's going to be brutal here on Thurs. and Fri. We are not used to this stuff.

[Catrin]

I'm already stressing about the commute on Thurs. It's supposed to be 90s and humid. I can do one or the other; I suffer with both together. I will not be trying for any speed records, that's for sure.

You can do it! Personally I am tempted to avoid my planned ride Wed evening, I can't ride Thursday. I am meeting someone for mountain biking Saturday so I had better get out in the heat at least once this week to make certain I stay acclimated to the heat - regardless how tempted I am to stay in my air conditioning! I suspect there will be something in my Camelbak other than pure water though.

[redrhodie]

I will. I have a cell, and I'm not afraid to use it.

[Bethany1]

On foot. My back tire blew a mile and a half out of town. I walked in my road shoes until I hit the sidewalk and walked home in my socks.

Yes. I had a cell phone and no one was answering.

No. I didn't think of using my CO2 cartridge until my son asked why I didn't. I so hate being a newbie.

What really made me mad was that 3 cop cars drove by w/o asking if I needed help and neither did anyone else. Maybe I should have played the helpless female but I was too mad to think of that until later.

When I got home, I couldn't get the inner tube to fit right so I took it up to my LBS and the mechanic wouldn't be in for another hour. I go back an hour later and within 3 minutes he had everything done. Stupid shop is 20 miles away and turns out to be an 80 mile trip today.

Did I tell you I hate being a newbie?

My son told me to carry a pack behind me with regular shoes in it since I like the clipless shoes/pedals. I'd take the clipless pedals off, but I do love them.

[Melalvai]

Bethany1, learning to do the simple stuff to your own bike is SO empowering. It makes me feel like Super Woman. You are going to love it. Get your son to show you how to change a tire!

One strategy I use for dealing with this heat, is I don't pedal unless my speed has dropped below about 8 mph. Lots of long coasting. It's hard not to be impatient. But when I went home for lunch I used that method, and although I was impatient at first, I suddenly noticed that I was halfway up the next slope and finally needed to pedal and I'd been off in my own little world for ages, and forgotten about being impatient.

[Bethany1]

I do know how to change a tire, but I don't know how to change the back one out on the road and put it back on. That one I should practice at home on the deck. LOL.

I keep a spare tube on my bike as well but ended up going to the LBS because my son and I couldn't get the tube to fit right into the tire.

If it had been the front tire I could have had it fixed within a few minutes and be on my way.

Wondering if I should get a decent pump to put on my bike as well as having the CO2 cartridge.

I was up at 9am riding so I wouldn't have to deal with the heat. I'm just grateful I didn't lose control of the bike.

[chincitop]

My commute is getting easier and easier as the days go on, and also more enjoyable. Especially the ride home, which is a lot of me gently rolling down hills being excited about unwinding from my day at work with some exercise.

I've been doing better going up the hills, and even conquered the steeper hills, on yesterdays commute.

[redrhodie]

Not so bad! I rode really slow this morning, and managed to arrive with a dry bra--success!!! Amazing tailwind back tonight. Can't beat that! Voeckler's still in yellow, I'd call this day perfect!

[ZenBiker]

Coming home tonight: 90 degrees, breezy, 14% humidity. Probably sounds like heaven to those in the midwest, and I admit it's pretty nice as long as my water bottle is full!

[azfiddle]

I'm still trying to ride about once a week. Today it was overcast and 78 with just a little headwind in the morning (actually, there is a headwind almost every time I ride) and my average was only 13.3 riding in.

Coming home, the clouds dissipated and although I mis-remembered that it was going to be 91 when I left, after I got home I checked the hourly weather chart and apparently, it was closer to 101. My commute is 10 miles each way. I feel okay for the first 5 miles or so, and it helps if I stop at the convenience store and fill up my water bottle with ice. By the last 1 1/2 miles, I have usually hit my heat limit, and start to wonder if I should stop and cool off. Even though it is downhill (ever so slightly), I usually need to lie down and drink something cold as soon as I get home.

[tangentgirl]

My commute sucked! My car blew a radiator hose and I got to hang out with the AAA guy and spend like $100 on car repairs and be late for work. Shoulda rode the bike.

[chincitop]

started my moon today, and rode anyway. Had a good ride in, doing hills better