How Was Your Commute Today?

[7rider]

I LOVE my new OverBoard waterproof backpack.

That's not the one that Cataboo recommended from Costco, is it??
I didn't commute today. I planned to be off the bike, anyway, and taking a Circuit Training class at my Fitness Center.
Unfortunately, I threw out my back this a.m., and I'm now dosed on 800 mg Ibuprofen anxiously awaiting a return call from my chiropractor telling me to come in for a fix! I don't think I'll be doing much of anything today except whimpering.

[pfunk12]

Ooh...sorry to hear that! Back pain is no fun.

It is the backpack that Cataboo recommended. I found it on Amazon for $30 so I jumped on it. I love it.

That's not the one that Cataboo recommended from Costco, is it??
Unfortunately, I threw out my back this a.m., and I'm now dosed on 800 mg Ibuprofen anxiously awaiting a return call from my chiropractor telling me to come in for a fix! I don't think I'll be doing much of anything today except whimpering.

[radacrider]

All in all a great ride today. Forecast for Portland was chance of showers early and maybe later in the afternoon. Debated for about 15 minutes this morning on whether to ride or not. Finally decided to ride.

Morning to work had some mist/drizzle for the first 5 miles to downtown Portland. Then, it was basically dry the remaining 10 to the suburbs where my work is. Actually, felt a bit overdressed on top, a bit warm.

Riding back home was nice, cloudy, no rain, dry roads. Definitely needed the headlight the last 40 minutes as it was getting dark.

Had a man and his older daughter ride up and ask about my rear light "cuz it was so bright". (It's a Dinotte 120). They both had two sets of blinkies. It was actually nice to ride along (it was a quieter neighborhood bike ways street) and have a chat, since I am normally riding along solo.

[Melalvai]

I rode yesterday. My brain still wanted to go "there". I hope it will get easier to not remember & think about her wreck, and that my commute will one day be a pleasant experience again! I'm doing a lot of advocacy (specifically to get the speed limit reduced, more generally to start up a local bike/walk advocacy organization) and sometimes I can think about that instead.

I loved putting on my lights. I ended up with a 12 hour day so I got to use my lights on both rides!

[redrhodie]

Really cold today, low 30s when I left this morning, wind chill in the 20s. I saw just 1 other rider. Makes me feel like a tough guy.

At the big hill right by work, I came upon a horrible accident where a car had crashed into a telephone pole. It hit so hard the pole broke in 2 and came down, and brought down another one across the street, and the power and telephone lines were lying in the middle of the road. The car looked like an accordion. It was a spectacular looking scene.

The police at first said I couldn't go through, then one said he'd walk me. I asked if anyone was killed, and miraculously, the kid who was driving walked home from it (I can't imagine why he didn't go to the hospital just in case of a head injury). The cop told me he had fallen asleep, and wasn't drunk. It happened at 3 am.

The road was still closed when I left work, but again, they let me through. This time, no hot lines to navigate, so I rode. Cars were still being detoured. I often notice special treatment for bikes through detours around here. I wonder if it's like that everywhere?

Rest of the commute was non-eventful. I like it like that.

[malkin]

You are a tough guy!

[HillSlugger]

First commute in 3 weeks, since before the time change. I enjoy biking into the sunrise of a new day, but I don't like biking home into the darkness

[e.e.cummings]

I enjoy biking into the sunrise of a new day, but I don't like biking home into the darkness

Let me second that - I was thinking the exact same thing today - beautiful morning, then dark in the evenings can be dodgy - particularly if there is black ice around.

Living in dread of stopping my commute by cycle for winter weather- I have been very good this year, I have only taken my car on a couple of occasions since April. I have not taken monthly parking for a long time. Nice to save that money. Looking back on it, I have ridden in everything - high winds that I thought would blow me off the path, driving rain, melting heat, freezing temperatures - but tomorrow's forecast for freezing rain might make me leave the bike on the hook (if the forecast is actually correct). I take a bike path to work - once it fills up after the first snow, it's car time.

This morning's commute was amazing - it was cold, but not a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind. Black ice here or there, but nothing to be too concerned about. It is a bummer that it gets dark so early.

[7rider]

I did my first commute in the rain this a.m.
I figure, I've got a ti bike with fenders and disc brakes and rain gear and the only thing keeping me from riding in rain is my own wussiness. To deserve my bike, I figure I've really got to put it through it's paces.
So this morning, with mild temps (57) and nearly nonexistent traffic because of yesterday's holiday, was the perfect time to head out in a very light drizzle.
It was fine. Great, even. Saw one other woman on a bike and almost as many cars.
This afternoon was a different story, however (lots of bikes!!).

[tzvia]

Wussed out today. We just don't get this cold in the am in L.A.- it was 46F and dropping to 43- I got my thermals out, and warm winter cycling jacket and gloves. Wait... What about my face? I do have a nice wool cap that I can pull down around my ears, but my face will freeze! Crap- need a sky mask but don't have one, this is the San Fernando Valley, not Vail Co! But I'm not going to crack my face like I did my hands on Sunday in the freezing winds (they look like mummy hands right now). Took the truck, and stopped by the Big 5 on the way home and now own a balaclava. I look like a cycle-terrorist with it on LOL but if it keeps my face toasty so be it.

[Melalvai]

I had stuff at work on both ends of the day, so I was biking in the dark & cold. It had warmed up slightly and was snowing at lunch, and that was beautiful.

[tzvia]

Ahhhhh balaclava was nice. Wore it twice in the AM, and my face was not all red and cold by the time I got to work. Should have bought one sooner. The pre-dawn light has been lovely, with wispy clouds of pink and grey. My nose isn't freezing. This evening was going to be a very nice ride, temps in the mid 60s.

That was, till I saw my front tire was flat. ^%$#* crap. So I sat in front of my building in the quad area in front of Medical and changed my tire. Didn't bother to patch the bad one as I could not find the hole, but I did find a thorn poking through the tire and removed it. Patched it when I got home, it was a very small hole that I found with soapy water.

While I enjoy reading of you girls made of tougher stuff than I, trekking in the snow and rain, I am glad to say I have only seen snow where I live only twice in all my life. And both times, it had melted before the sun rose. As for rain, I take the truck when it rains, because I don't think I can fit fenders and I really have no desire to be all grimy at work (we don't have showers). Ok, I'm a wimp, but I am a dry, warm wimp.

[Tri Girl]

holy moly I wimped out today...
temps were in the low 20's, with wind chills in the single digits. Wind blowing at 10-20mph.
I got up, walked out the front door to see what it felt like, walked right back to bed and fell asleep for another half hour.
I want to be strong, but when it's that cold this desert rat just can't handle it. I long to be tough like my northern counterparts. I'll admit it- I'm a fair-weather cyclist in the winter.


The drive to work, however, was very pleasant!

[redrhodie]

holy moly I wimped out today...
temps were in the low 20's, with wind chills in the single digits. Wind blowing at 10-20mph.
I got up, walked out the front door to see what it felt like, walked right back to bed and fell asleep for another half hour.
I want to be strong, but when it's that cold this desert rat just can't handle it. I long to be tough like my northern counterparts. I'll admit it- I'm a fair-weather cyclist in the winter.


The drive to work, however, was very pleasant!

It's okay! That's really cold, and if you're not used to it, it's really cold! It's easier when you're acclimated to it. I hate heat. My lowest mileage month is always July. Didn't you hike the Grand Canyon last summer? See, that would be torture for me.

[Melalvai]

Tri Girl, if you don't have the right clothes for this weather it will be painful to try. Once you've spent money on these clothes, you are nearly happy for a cold or rainy excuse to wear them.

My hair froze this morning, underneath my balaclava.