How Was Your Commute Today?

[Becky]

Today's commute home was faaaaaaaaaaast! It's normally about a 40 minute rolling time, so including the slow MUT but not including red lights.

Today's trip was only 36 minutes- DH accused me of doping

[redrhodie]

Rolling along at about 15 mph my cheek had a head on collision with a bouncy white moth.
I didn't care for the experience, but it was probably worse for the moth.

Funny, I was buzzed by a butterfly today. It was like the crop-duster scene in "North by Northwest". Well, maybe not as suspenseful.

Commute was excellent today. A little sticky, but better than last week.

[soprano]

May I join the commute thread?

I got soaked on the way in. Had to wring water out of my shirt and shorts, and was very glad that I packed a full change of clothes today. However, it was not quite wet enough that I needed to wring water out of my braid (I have tailbone length hair).

It doesn't rain so much here. Riding in the rain feels like such a treat! A lovely respite from our usual hot weather.

On the downside, I need to do a little pannier maintenance. Some of my stuff was a bit damp

[MyRubyE]

Bike commute was ok today. Finally got enough nerve to move over to the left lane to make a left turn at the light and ride up my companies driveway. I usually stay on the right shoulder and loop around once the traffic/coast is clear. Butttt, i didn't wait until the light was green and once the coast was clear, I turned left on the red light... I know, I know, I'm sooo bad, but I didn't want to stop and hop off the bike.

[Melalvai]

How did you get a parking ticket on your bike? How did they know whose bike it was to write the ticket? It's not like your bike has a license plate. Where were you parked?

It was one of those stickers saying use the bike racks. We'll take away any bikes locked the the railing. It's an egress issue, which I understand. Still--there are no bike racks on that side. And the facilities manager just called me and regretfully explained that there is no place on that side of the building to put a bike rack because you can't obviously take away a FACULTY member's parking space. Eh. I'm super annoyed about this. Ordinarily I try to welcome opportunities to walk farther. But I go over there to check on my rats frequently, and to have to walk so much farther every single time is going to eat up a lot of my day. I'd be better of driving.

Where is Yehuda when I need him?

[malkin]

Another bug vs. cheek head-on. This time, a hard shelled one. Maybe one of those disgusting box elder bugs.

I better start keeping my mouth closed or I'll be choking on them.

[redrhodie]

I just discovered my long commute route is even longer than I thought. All this time, I thought it was 18 miles (OW) but according to ridewithgps.com, it's 19.5.

All those extra miles, if they were pennies, I'd be rich. Okay, maybe not pennies, but if they were hundred dollar bills...

[Trek420]

Not a commute but a ride to the farm market. As I was unlocking the bike a family was exiting their truck nearby. The little girl walked over with her Dad and brothers to ask what I was doing. I showed her I was unlocking the bike. She said I needed training wheels like she has

[e.e.cummings]

On those beautiful summer days, the path fills up with casual riders pretty fast. Some are the riders who are rarely out there and have little sense of bike path etiquette or rules, like not hogging two lanes, or weaving around on the path. Saw a guy riding his bike, no hands on the handlebars, reading a magazine (?) That beats out the guy I saw the other week using no hands, smoke in one hand, talking on a cell phone in the other. As bad as that was, at least his eyes were on the path.

Will be travelling on business next week, I will miss my commute! It is just not the same trying to replicate my commute in the hotel fitness room.

[Melalvai]

Will be travelling on business next week, I will miss my commute! It is just not the same trying to replicate my commute in the hotel fitness room.

When I'm traveling and sans bike, I like to go for walks. Hotels are invariably located in areas that are NOT designed for walking anywhere so mostly I walk around and snidely comment to myself on the poor road design. WTH, it entertains me.

[7rider]

Sometimes I hate bike commuting.
No. That's not true. Sometimes, I do incredibly stupid things that make bike commuting a p.i.a.
Like today.
Okay. So I sold my commuter bike last week. My trusty zippy Felt went to a friend and co-worker who's bike was stolen recently. DH stripped the parts I wanted from it (but he left the Terry Butterfly saddle! Grrrr). But, in the time between now and when my new bike comes in (~3 more weeks), I'm on my DH's bike - a Novara Big Buzz. So last night was swapped out pedals and saddle and raised the seat for me. He has a different rack on it, so I started adjusting my Arkel commuter bag to fit it. But it was difficult going, because of the way the rack is designed. I said "screw it - I'll just use the Detours Toocan bag, which doesn't require any adjustments to fit.
So fine, right?
This morning, I'm packing last minute things up, including a (full) Kleen Kanteen with water in it - stuffing that in the bag at the last minute. When bringing my Kanteen back to work, I usually bring it full, because the water will be room temp and easier for me to drink at the office (water here is COLD...and I don't like cold water).
So off I go. Uneventful ride in (but cool as it is, the Big Buzz rides like a tank compared to my Felt ). Work out on the machines in the gym for a bit (pull my left lat on the lat pull down machine. Ouchie!), and head to the locker room. Pull my clothes out.
The Kleen Kanteen water bottle had tipped over....and all my clothes - my towel - EVERYthing...was soaking wet!!!!
I spent 20 minutes with a hair dryer, trying to dry my pants and sweater. Still not completely dry. Blech. Why I didn't turn around and go right home, I have no idea. But I figure...the day can only get better, right???

[Tri Girl]

Oh my- 7rider!
Not a great way to start out the day.

Here's to hoping the ride home is VERY easy... and dry.

[Atlas]

We just moved to a wonderful little place on the quiet side of town, next to a park, blah, blah, I love it! BUT, it knocks a good chunk off my commute. I'm sure it'll be nice when I'm in a hurry, but that was always my favorite part of the day.

At least there are a lot of ways to vary my ride now whereas before there was only one path. Plus I start my morning with a good climb up a hill and then coast home at the end of the day.

[malkin]

Oh--7rider--bummer!

Brewer has given up nagging me about the Giant. We both admit that I love it far far beyond all reason, which iis reason enough to keep it in action as a commuter.

But he does still grouse about it to the boys at the LBS.

[HillSlugger]

So, I started my commute home shortly after some rain and with a few drops still falling. As I was coming up to a stop sign and a turn I applied my brakes and the bike slid right out from under me! I went down on my side and I hit my head. The helmet is obviously broken but my head is OK. Some light road rash on my shoulder and hip (didn't even really break the skin). The hip does hurt. My first real crash and I'm glad it wasn't any worse. Oh yeah, the bike seems fine, too. And I've already ordered a new helmet.