How Was Your Commute Today?

[Melalvai]

Catrin, my daughter, who rides her bike regularly everywhere, has never ridden in a group until a few nights ago with the Traffic Skills 101 class that I'm teaching. Something fell off her bike and she stopped suddenly and in the middle of the road-- and another rider bumped into her. I suggested she break that habit right away, because it's one thing for a bicyclist to bump into her and quite another if it was a car! Of course I doubt she'd have stopped like that if there had been any traffic on the street. Still, it's not a good habit.

We used the opportunity to tell everyone, when riding in a group, never stop suddenly but pull over to the side of the road and announce that you are stopping. These are just things we don't have to think about when we are alone.

This weekend I got honked at 4 times. That's more than I've been honked at in the last six months. It's really amazing how much I DON'T get honked at around here.

What was really funny was that they weren't all dumb kids doing the honking. One was a little old lady in a big pickup. Another was a dad with his family in a car! My daughter said it might be the same little old lady who honks at her regularly on her way home from school. When she said that, I didn't think it was funny anymore. It made me really mad that some stupid old woman would honk at a little girl on a bike over and over.

[Rina]

Today I got caught in my first rain storm in Texas. It felt kind of good considering it was 94 degrees. Everything is a better on bike.

I look foward to riding into work everyday. My job is not as stressful since I started riding. I have converted one friend to a commuter. And another to weekend errands on bike.

Happy Biking Days.

[Catrin]

Beautiful ride in this morning! Fastest I've ever been on the bike (it helps to, basically, only have 1 hill on a 10.5 mile route), so my average actually got up to 14 With my riding position I don't really expect my average to get much higher but time will tell. I think getting more efficient at shifting will help in this department as well. Trying to remember to get in the big ring on the flats which does help.

Only managed to get stopped by 2 red lights - and the second was within my last mile or so when I was already cooling down. Did have one close brush with an inattentive driver but all is well that ends well. I did, however, forget my sunglasses for the return ride home tonight that is what I get for leaving home when it is still dark. Oh well, I won't be headed homewards until after 6:30 (probably) so will just have to grin and bear it.

Rides like this morning make me wish I was riding to work more than once a week! I will consider this after my vacation in July.

[Sky King]

What was really funny was that they weren't all dumb kids doing the honking. One was a little old lady in a big pickup. Another was a dad with his family in a car! My daughter said it might be the same little old lady who honks at her regularly on her way home from school. When she said that, I didn't think it was funny anymore. It made me really mad that some stupid old woman would honk at a little girl on a bike over and over.

I don't mind being honked at --- as long as it is a honk from more than 100 feet behind me. Honking right behind or while next to me will cause me to purposely ride erratically as it just makes me angry. If I am driving and out places with bike riders up ahead and I can't move entirely over into the other lane I will tap my horn usually when I am about 200 feet back just to let them know I am back there. When a car or truck honks appropriately when I am riding I will wave a thank you. I would much rather have that then the car to appear suddenly on my left when I haven't heard the approach due to the wind in my ears

[Catrin]

The commute home was great, but it came after two workouts at the gym - one was me doing my own thing and then I did a 30 minute Bosu class. Even with all that I did fine with the 13 windy mile ride home

One interesting note. I've been using a MUT downtown when I can, and then another trail to get from my gym to a point about halfway home. I am learning that I behave better when I am in the street with traffic when I am in areas where the trails intersect with busy streets. I am more confident when I am on the street - I know how I am supposed to act - like a tiny car and I think that it makes it easier for drivers to anticipate what I am going to do. It seems easier to do less wise things when I am on what amounts to be a wide sidewalk.

[Melalvai]

I agree. On the trails the rules just aren't well established and no one really knows what they are supposed to do. That's how most bicyclists are on the street, but at least everyone else is predictable.

There is a tiny little 3/4 mile MUP in town and it has signs that direct bicyclists to ride on the RIGHT and peds to walk on the LEFT! How confusing is that! There is a bike lane/ ped lane on another street, which is kind of an odd duck, instead of a sidewalk there's a ped lane striped, then a bike lane, then the regular lane. That thing has an almost identical sign only this time bicyclists are directed to ride to the LEFT of the pedestrians (ie in the bike lane which is in the middle between the ped lane on the far right and then regular traffic lane)-- which makes a lot more sense. Slowest traffic to the right, fastest traffic to the left!

[Catrin]

I agree. On the trails the rules just aren't well established and no one really knows what they are supposed to do. That's how most bicyclists are on the street, but at least everyone else is predictable...

Yes, and we are in the flow of traffic so we aren't trying to interrupt it. Last night on the way home I was stuck at a minor intersection because I was on the "trail" and there was always a line of cars waiting to turn both right and left into the subdivision - I finally had to take a risk to cross on a red light - and it was risky but no one would give me a chance to cross. If I had been in the the traffic flow it would not have been an issue. There is a portion of my route home out of downtown for which I may not have a choice when I leave close to evening rush hour but we will see.

[Melalvai]

Today's commute was all about alternative transportation for me. My bike was out of commission (see the stripped bolt thread in "maintenance"!) so I walked to work. My bike mechanic could take care of the stripped bolt in the evening, so I walked home, loaded the one-wheeled bike on the car, tossed the other wheel inside, and drove out to his house.

The drive was interesting, because I so rarely drive anymore. The walk was more interesting. I rarely walk to work in the summer, and I discovered a neighborhood that has the most beautiful hollyhocks on both sides of the street. Pretty!

[redrhodie]

Pouring rain for yesterday's commute. My sleeves filled up like water balloons, and even my socks were wet, but it was awesome since it wasn't cold or windy. The only part I don't like about riding in the rain is dealing with a dirty wet bike, but once it's wet, it's wet. Might as well enjoy it.

[ZenBiker]

... Everything is a better on bike. ...

This. I had a long, frustrating day at work - nothing especially bad just nothing that worked out, or got done, or felt good. But when I walked out the door and got on my bike, life got better. (It helps that the wind finally backed off to normal June level )

[Giulianna23]

Finnally decided to start commuting to work . I started Saturday and I feel good about it..was a little scared because of the traffic but for the past 2 weeks I studied the routes to pick the best one. More than 90% of the ride is safe but when I get to a Highway exit intersection that I have to be very careful. But other than that I feel good about doing this. I can feel the workout in my legs and my torso , they feel tight all through the day.

I have a question .....I do eat something before heading out in the morning. Like a bowl of oatmeal made with soy milk but as soon as I get to work I start getting real hungry..and I mean..reallly hungry!.. should I eat something heavier before starting my commute?. I ussually eat a snack at mid morning and feel fine ...but now I feel hungry right after my commute...like before starting my shift at 8:00 a.m. and I really don't want to eat more than I should specially when trying to lose some more weight.

BTW the weather was nice this morning decent wind at times...but refreshing...

[redrhodie]

Good job, Giulianna. I always eat something right when I get to work, so basically I have 2 breakfasts, like a bowl of oatmeal with fruit at home, then whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana at work. I'd be pretty depleted if I tried to wait until lunch. I really think this has made my metabolism faster.

Yesterday's commute was perfect. I've been taking the longer route to avoid the bike path. There's less road traffic since school is out. Lots of pretty scents, like honeysuckle and rose. I feel lucky to be able to ride in such nice conditions.

[chatnoire]

Mini-commute for me today! I rode the old bike 1 mile to a new yoga studio in the area, and did an hour 1/2 of yin yoga focused on hip openers, then rode back. It was awesome. The ride was good too. It's straight down a single street with only 1 turn, and everyone was mindful of my presence on the road. That was nice.

[lovelygamer]

Did a little light commuting today, as I work out seat adjustments and knee pain. It's a lovely mid 70's and breezy day. My only annoyance was a timid cyclist travelling the wrong way (towards me in my lane) in the road this a.m.

[Catrin]

Here is a beautiful little scene I get to see every morning when I ride my 11 miles to work. I don't generally mix up the morning route and this is part of the reason why. It was a great ride this morning, though it started out on the chilly side I did warm up. Mornings like this one make me want to ride to work more than once a week but that isn't feasible right now. In another month that should change.

I only work 4-5 hours on Friday (I work 4 nine hour days) and I've been experimenting with different routes home. I will not consider taking the same route home as I take at 5:30 am as I would like to survive the commute this was taken at 6:10 am and was almost to work.

Due to my short day on Fridays I have a lot more flexibility in the homeward-bound route. It wouldn't be possible to really experiment closer to rush hour so this works out well. My route home today was a bit over 16 miles, so I rode around 27-28 miles today.