How Was Your Commute Today?

[redrhodie]

Yesterday's commute was good. I took the long way in the morning, and rode hard at night. Had a guy pass me who said he was really trying hard to catch me, and that I inspired him to go faster. That was cool. I also passed and dropped a couple of other people. Not that big a deal, but kind of seems like the old me.

[carlotta]

I love fall commutes, and today felt like fall! :)

Cool, almost cold when I left home (jacket, short sleeves and shorts, but could've used a little knee covering and gloves) and crisp all the way to work....

I only had to yell at one driver (texting/playing with her phone and suddenly deciding that the right turn lane wasn't where she wanted to be, I was even with her driver's door and yelled something to the effect of 'put down the d*mn phone' which startled her. Not close, and I was in the lane, so nobody to my left, but still got me riled up). I wonder sometimes if my coworkers (several of whom think I'm a bit nuts for a) riding to work and b) riding in traffic) would even recognize me/my persona on the bike. I'm pretty calm at work but I definitely ride much more aggressively.

[redrhodie]

I really had to force myself to ride today. It was drizzling this morning, and I had readied the wrong bike for rain. I also had a few errands I needed to run before work. But I knew the wind was going to be from the south this afternoon, and that means tailwind, baby! I won't miss a tailwind for nothin'. I got the errands done in no time, didn't get too wet, and got my easy ride home after work. Glad I didn't give in to that moment of doubt.

[Serendipity]

Fall is just the BEST time of year for those commutes. Cool/refreshing in the morning and warming up quite nicely in the afternoon. Ummm-hmmm!

The ride in this morning reminds me that (for me) the commuting season is just about over. Temperature was right around 0 (Celsius) this morning. A couple of degrees colder is okay but not much more than that. Hope to stretch it out until mid to late October. Maybe someday I will be one of those who rides well into the winter but not yet! I am in awe of those of you who do that - through snow, sleet, ice and so on.

Been a fabulous year for commuting. Most weeks I was able to ride 2 or 3 times a week, round trip about 35k. Can hardly wait until spring.

[tzvia]

Finally starting to feel like fall. Last week, between having to drive downtown to get my GSA ID (required as I will have access to GSA IT in my job), and hot weather, 105f hot, and early morning 7am meetings, I drove all week. Yesterday, again another 7am meeting and over 100f too so took the truck again. Finally today, took my commuter to work yahoo! It was cool with a slight breeze, really nice this morning. I'm so used to riding in the dark now that I actually like it. It's fun to turn on all the lights; yea I went nuts with the lights and reflectors, I get a kick out of watching people on the bus pointing at me LOL. Makes me smile.

The ride home was quite a surprise. It was supposed to be 95f, but it was maybe 87f. Like the heat just petered out. We had an onshore flow and slight breeze, and even though I was riding into the wind, it was cool from the ocean, not hot from the interior so I did not mind. This was the first ride home in months where it was not over 95f. It was great until some bozo about a mile from home decided to not look up while using a leaf blower and blew the dirt all over me. That's twice now in front of that house. Anyway, it was the best commute I've had in months, and the best part is that the weather all this week and well into next week is going to be just like this. WOW. Can't wait to ride in the local mountains for a change this weekend!

[Melalvai]

Cold and windy and rainy right now, and it will freeze tomorrow night! It's fine with a jacket and light gloves. During the day I make several short trips between buildings. On one of these trips today it was raining lightly and as I was unlocking my bike, a woman said, "It's a bad day to ride a bike."

Until that moment I had been internally grumbling about the cold rain. But I go by contraries.

I replied, "Every day is a good day to bike."
She looked at me like I was crazy. "It's wet."
"I'm not made of sugar, I won't melt."
"You'll catch a cold."
I shook my head and rode away.

[carlotta]

A very nice commute this morning (damp and foggy coming home, but still nice)