How Was Your Commute Today?

[Crankin]

It's supposed to rain today and I have an appointment about a half hour after I finish work.
Taking a rest day, no commute today. Looks like I won't be able to commute again until maybe next Friday, given the combination of Passover, work schedule, weather.

[GLC1968]

I've been commuting about once a week lately and this week (with lovely weather), I managed two commutes.

Today was commute #2 and it was amazing...such a gorgeous day on tap here! The ride home should be delightful.

There was a funny incident though. I was about 0.5 miles from my office and I'd scaled back my effort to try and cool down a bit before arriving. I came up on another cyclist on a mountain/hybrid bike. We were on a MUP that no one uses in the morning except cyclists. I didn't feel like exerting the effort to pass him when my office was so close, so I just hung back about 5 bike lengths or so. He clearly did not know I was there. First, he blew a snot-rocket but I was far enough back to miss it. Then he lifts himself off his saddle slightly and makes a motion with his body that could be nothing other than farting. I was totally snickering to myself!

I SOOO hoped that he was headed to the same office as me so that I could tease him about checking behind before blowing a snot-rocket. I'd reassure him that he missed me but leave him wondering if I knew about the fart or not! Unfortunately, my fun was thwarted as he turned off down another road. ;-)

[azfiddle]

I'm also on the once weekly commute- the ride in this morning was beautiful- perfect temps, not much wind and I left a few minutes early and avoided 3 miles of bumpy pavement and traffic by riding the longer route via the Julian Wash bike path. I only saw 2 walkers- no other cyclists. Still a few lingering wildflowers- Desert Globe Mallows, some tall pink Parry's Penstemon, a few Desert Marigolds. I passed a very vocal Cactus Wren on top of a cholla, a few Black-Throated Sparrows and House Finches. I like it that part of my commute goes through desert habitat. I don't have the typical commuter problems of car doors opening at me and not too many stoplights, but part of the route goes along a pretty busy traffic corridor past the air force base, and parts of the route don't have the greatest shoulders. But by the time I get in to work- 10-12 miles depending on the route, I feel pretty good.

The ride home will be a bit warm- in the 90's....

[Crankin]

GLC, that is hysterical and gross at the same time.

[colorisnt]

GLC, that's awesome haha. But yuck. At least you didn't get hit!

I braved the AWFUL weather riding to/from class today and it was WORTH IT. I got hit in the face with icy rain (ouch!), would have been nailed by cars by the fire station had I not been more alert but avoided catastrophe, and made it work in 35* weather with my rain gear. The new bike worked GREAT and I much prefer these brakes to my others. I sat at Starbuck's with a book pre-lecture and enjoyed my morning an ran into my dept. chair and dir. of grad studies who were both getting coffee there. The Chair told me I met rule nine of cyclocross code by riding today and I'm a bada&& for riding in this weather. I told him about the new ride and he congratulated me on finally pulling the trigger. I have a feeling he will be seeing more of me at the cyclocross series in town this year like he's been encouraging me to do for a couple of years.

[azfiddle]

Wow Colorisnt - that is some serious commuting commitment. Yes, rule #9.

[colorisnt]

I loved it. It feels great to be flying around on a bike when everyone else has battened down the hatches. There's something empowering about it. I hate the rain usually but on a bike it doesn't bother me. That said, I never would have done that on my road bike. The minute the brakes get all squeaky is the minute I get nervous about riding in the rain. And I worry about falling. On this bike, I really don't have to worry much, though.

Since the only riding I did yesterday was as a demo on the bike I was selling and sold I am still at 11/14 days because I rode today!