How Was Your Commute Today?

[rubysoho]

I finally rode my commute yesterday, but it was the afternoon and the intent was just to familiarize myself with my route. It wasn't too bad. Rather bumpy for my road bike, or maybe I am too cautious with it? I did fall for the first time, it was hilarious. Just one of those instances where you don't clip out fast enough. Lightly scraped my elbow and the left end of my handlebar. But I was laughing too hard to really notice. I almost did it again when I got home because I clipped out with my right leg instead of the left like usual. Oh well. I am excited to have completed the 24 mile route and even more excited that it is totally doable even with some good hills. Now if my work schedule would only stay consistent I could plan my cycling commute days!

[malkin]

Wow, library, that bites!
Where were you? The cop will probably move too, so don't count on a different route keeping you ticketless.

I FINALLY rode my new commute this week. I haven't quite got the bugs worked out yet. It's twice as long now, and that combined with not riding for a couple months has rendered me tired. It will be a good sleep tonight.

[azfiddle]

Today's commute was "sub-optimal". This morning I left the house 5 minutes earlier than usual to get to work in time for a meeting, but the head wind was enough to erase my head start and I ended up 2 minutes late anyway.

Temps in the afternoon were higher than I expected. We've had record-breaking heat all week in Arizona, but I thought it was going to be a little cooler today. The high was 107, so I stayed late grading papers. It was still over 100 when I headed home- right into another head wind! It's downhill on the way home, but it didn't seem like it for most of the way.

[MojoGrrl]

My first commute (on the tandem, with my boyfriend who is also my coworker) was last Friday. We did it again this Weds and then today. We ride to the train, then take the train to another city and then ride from that city over a mountain (seriously, 1700 feet) to work...30 miles each way. Today we actually rode the WHOLE way home (about 54 miles, 3600 feet of climbing) and I am exhausted. All the riding, though it's hard, isn't that bad. It's the as*hole drivers who make me want to start carrying a pistol in my jersey pocket.

Seriously, what the F is wrong with people? All of the stories I read on here, and now experiencing it myself - why do people feel the need to go out of the way to harass cyclists? I've never encountered so many rude drivers in the last 6 months of cycling as I have on my six commute rides. My boyfriend suggested we get a "huge rubber **** and put it on a stick and hold it out" to keep people from driving too close. I don't think it will help with the drivers who make a point to flip us off, or drive up next to us and roll down the window to scream at us for making them need to pay attention and not drive 70 mph on country roads with a posted 45 mph speed limit. Mind you, we are not doing anything rude or unsafe ourselves, and are trying to keep as far to the right as we can on the narrow and shoulderless roads. I've also noticed that the entitled as*hole drivers who seem to feel the most inconvenienced by having to slow down for a minute and then pass us are driving either a) Mercedes Benz, b) SUV, or c) some monstrous, gas-guzzling American made truck. Seriously, the encounters I've had commuting just the past week have made me hate people.

[7rider]

Not completely related to my commute, but a rant.
So yesterday, I did my shopping at lunch. Picked up a box of Gas-X (DH and I go thru a lot of that ). $5 for a box of 18. Ouch. So I ride home - all my groceries tucked in my panniers (there's the link...see?), and I unload said groceries in my kitchen. Pick up the box of Gas-X. Flap is open. 18, huh? $5? Ouch.
Wait just a cotton-pickin' minute.
Instead of TWO sleeves of 9-pills each, there is only ONE sleeve.
Someone opened the box in the grocery store and helped him/herself to one of the sleeves and left the half-empty box on the shelf!!
Dirty no-good thief!
So I paid $5 for 9 stupid pills
Never occurred to me to check the box. Boy, will I next time.

[Sky King]

Yesterday's air quality was "yellow" which means no outside burning and that you should avoid strenuous exercise. They also suggest to limit your driving. Boise is not known for it's public transportation and I had an appointment about 8 miles away, so of course, I rode my bike. I did ride slower than normal so I wasn't doing any heavy breathing but couldn't help but wonder how cool it would be if on a yellow alert air day NO one was allowed to drive, of course that isn't going to happen in the near future but how great would it be if everyone had to walk, ride or take the bus.

[Melalvai]

That is such a good point. Instead of saying "air quality is poor, don't bike" making everyone drive and worsening the air quality, say "air quality is poor, you can't drive today".

Ah, we can dream...

A ton of people have been telling me "Oh, I saw you the other day". Guess I've been out and about a lot!