How was your commute ... today, yesterday, last week ...

[goneriding]

I find that sometimes the day after a big effort I've got a skinful of go. On the weekend I did a TTT (more like an assisted crit as we weren't much of a team) and then the Goulburn - Camden ride. I thought I'd be knackered on Monday but was on fire narrowly missing 2 Strava PB's and pulling my second best CBD commute!

Today was a very different story so I logged it as a recovery ride

[TailWind]

TW...well done on the commute mark

Outstanding work Tailwind.

Thanks guys.

Multi-hop commute back via Eaglemont and Watsonia North yesterday afternoon after a lunchtime birthday drinks session for a colleague.
Uneventful ride in this morning. Thought I was going to get rained on for the third time this week, but I only had a couple of drops. Looks like it could still get wet in Melbourne this morning.

[VRE]

Aah... cycling: the cure for all ills . Yesterday afternoon, I had hayfever, with the usual annoying runny nose, and slight headache just behind the eyes. I woke up halfway through my sleep-cycle sneezing, and needed a shower and much nose-blowing before I could return to sleep. Got up bleary-eyed at the usual time of ridiculous-o'clock, rode to work taking it relatively easy, and by the time I'd arrived at work, I felt heaps better.

[jasonc]

Aah... cycling: the cure for all ills . Yesterday afternoon, I had hayfever, with the usual annoying runny nose, and slight headache just behind the eyes. I woke up halfway through my sleep-cycle sneezing, and needed a shower and much nose-blowing before I could return to sleep. Got up bleary-eyed at the usual time of ridiculous-o'clock, rode to work taking it relatively easy, and by the time I'd arrived at work, I felt heaps better.

my cure for hey fever: move 1600km north. I barely get it at all up here. humidity = less crap in the air.

EDIT: group riverloop turned into a coot-tha and half-riverloop. magnificent morning. the ride between channel 10 and the cafe was awesome fog and sunshine fighting through the trees.

[gretaboy]

found out yesterday I now have a third magpie on my commute. I have one at both end/starts now. The one near my work is at the top of a little hill so you are half knackered when this mungrel wants to attack and right where I have to also merge onto the road with cars/trucks...the joys

But despite that, had a great ride, weather was magic.

[Hamster]

My commutes of late have been totally routine, even the evening headwind is now just part of the routine. The mighty Repco is just doing its normal thing, rolling along and making no fuss.

The improved lights I put on a couple of months ago (Niterider 600 & Moon 300) are working a treat. My only complaints are that the Niterider on a steady beam interferes with my computer and that the battery on high beam doesn’t last terribly long. However on a lower setting the burn-time greatly increases and still gives plenty of light.

[Lizzy]

Got a light hose-down this morning necessitating a costume change on the hop. Yesterday on the way home I scored a point against a blonde, curly-haired nemesis of mine - there is a schlabradiddlydoodly thing that lives at a house backing onto a laneway I duck through. He (/she/it) likes to wait until I've forgotten about him, and then launch himself at his gate barking furiously enough to startle me halfway out of my socks.

Well, I caught him napping on the job - and gave him a taste of his own medicine as I coasted by

[Kenzo]

found out yesterday I now have a third magpie on my commute. I have one at both end/starts now. The one near my work is at the top of a little hill so you are half knackered when this mungrel wants to attack and right where I have to also merge onto the road with cars/trucks...the joys

But despite that, had a great ride, weather was magic.

Red blinky fitted yet?
There are two Magpies on my commute - neither had a go at me this morning - saw them perched in their usual spot - waiting for victims..

[find_bruce]

Got a light hose-down this morning necessitating a costume change on the hop. Yesterday on the way home I scored a point against a blonde, curly-haired nemesis of mine - there is a schlabradiddlydoodly thing that lives at a house backing onto a laneway I duck through. He (/she/it) likes to wait until I've forgotten about him, and then launch himself at his gate barking furiously enough to startle me halfway out of my socks.

Well, I caught him napping on the job - and gave him a taste of his own medicine as I coasted by

Ah yes, but is your bark worse than your bite ?

[jasonc]

Got a light hose-down this morning necessitating a costume change on the hop. Yesterday on the way home I scored a point against a blonde, curly-haired nemesis of mine - there is a schlabradiddlydoodly thing that lives at a house backing onto a laneway I duck through. He (/she/it) likes to wait until I've forgotten about him, and then launch himself at his gate barking furiously enough to startle me halfway out of my socks.

Well, I caught him napping on the job - and gave him a taste of his own medicine as I coasted by

Ah yes, but is your bark worse than your bite ?

It's Lizzy. Don't know about you, but I'm not game to find out...

[find_bruce]

Got a light hose-down this morning necessitating a costume change on the hop. Yesterday on the way home I scored a point against a blonde, curly-haired nemesis of mine - there is a schlabradiddlydoodly thing that lives at a house backing onto a laneway I duck through. He (/she/it) likes to wait until I've forgotten about him, and then launch himself at his gate barking furiously enough to startle me halfway out of my socks.

Well, I caught him napping on the job - and gave him a taste of his own medicine as I coasted by

Ah yes, but is your bark worse than your bite ?

It's Lizzy. Don't know about you, but I'm not game to find out...

I am very brave ... from a suitable distance. Last time I checked Perth was about 3,300 km away, and that is enough, isn't it ??

[TailWind]

Warm in Melbourne for the ride back yesterday. Mutt Index was correspondingly high at 20.
I think I will refine the index somewhat to reflect the ratio of leashed/unleashed mutts, expressed as a number between 0-10, where higher numbers reflect more unleashed critters, therefore a more hairy ride. That should keep me uselessly occupied on the 40km trip along the MYT/Darebin Creek trail commute.
Headwind and lots of reds in this morning. It did spit a bit, but no rain.
Happy Friday!

[marinmomma]

Managed to avoid the storm this afternoon, roads were a bit damp and had a few drops of rain.
The radar wasn't looking very encouraging 30 mins before I left!

[jasonc]

Managed to avoid the storm this afternoon, roads were a bit damp and had a few drops of rain.
The radar wasn't looking very encouraging 30 mins before I left!

welcome to brisbane storm season. there's 3 choices
1. leave before
2. leave after
3. HTFU

left at normal time, storm didn't even hit brissy/southside

[marinmomma]

welcome to brisbane storm season. there's 3 choices
1. leave before
2. leave after
3. HTFU

You left one other suggestion off that list....

4. Leave the bike at work and get the bus home

I've been in Brisabne for 30 years and there have been many storms that I won't even drive in let alone ride a bike in

[jasonc]

You left one other suggestion off that list....

4. Leave the bike at work and get the bus home

I've been in Brisabne for 30 years and there have been many storms that I won't even drive in let alone ride a bike in

am doing my best to avoid that one

EDIT: ride home was via the bikeshop to check on a braking problem I've been having (kudos to james (AT) cycleskills). he weaved his magic, couldn't find anything, but it's all fixed
EDIT 2: have now done more kms than the car for the year too

[marinmomma]

Haha Jason, my ride home was via the bike shop too, I had a problem with my shoes, the sole had cracked around the bolt holes for the cleat!!!
Got myself an upgraded shoe with carbon soles for my troubles!
Win!!

[jasonc]

Haha Jason, my ride home was via the bike shop too, I had a problem with my shoes, the sole had cracked around the bolt holes for the cleat!!!
Got myself an upgraded shoe with carbon soles for my troubles!
Win!!

for me that'd mean more cost! (am less than $100 behind vs public transport for the year)

[TailWind]

A few drops on the way back on Friday. Stopped off at my brother's place for some Pizza and Beer and completed the rest of the trip feeling rather sluggish.
Headwind and pretty cool again this morning for the ride into the Melbourne CBD.

[jasonc]

VERY think fog this morning. it's still hanging around.

[gretaboy]

Great weather this morning. Nearly didnt wear the "long johns" under the riding gear, but thought the chill may still be there. Wont be long now and it will be nice and warm in the mornings.

With summer coming I went and got a rear basket for the bike on the weekend. Was looking at getting pannier bags but this seemed a much cheaper option. This mornings ride was my first and I was really surprised at how the dynamics of the bike changed as a result. In the seat it was all good, pretty much like normal but when I got up out of the saddle the bike became very unstable due to the wobble through the frame. I am thinking and hoping this was a result of how I put my bag in the basket. Will need to play around with how I "fill" the basket to try and stabilise the ride.

My shoulders and back certainly noticed the difference. Didnt sweat as much and thats my purpose behind going this way. Jan this year I really heated up when I had a backpack on.

[find_bruce]

Great weather this morning. Nearly didnt wear the "long johns" under the riding gear, but thought the chill may still be there. Wont be long now and it will be nice and warm in the mornings.

With summer coming I went and got a rear basket for the bike on the weekend. Was looking at getting pannier bags but this seemed a much cheaper option. This mornings ride was my first and I was really surprised at how the dynamics of the bike changed as a result. In the seat it was all good, pretty much like normal but when I got up out of the saddle the bike became very unstable due to the wobble through the frame. I am thinking and hoping this was a result of how I put my bag in the basket. Will need to play around with how I "fill" the basket to try and stabilise the ride.

My shoulders and back certainly noticed the difference. Didnt sweat as much and thats my purpose behind going this way. Jan this year I really heated up when I had a backpack on.

Yep, overheating with a sweaty back was the main reason I ditched the backpack for a rack. At least in my experience, the instability is probably caused by too much weight behind the rear axle.

[TailWind]

With summer coming I went and got a rear basket for the bike on the weekend.

For the Lynskey? Titanium, I hope - pix please!
In terms of stability, if I have a lot of stuff in the panniers, with heavy items at the top, the center of gravity moves higher, and I get a pendulum effect when pedaling out of the saddle.

To my commutes...
Cool afternoon yesterday with mixed conditions, had dressed for the possibility of rain, but not much apart from a few drops. Otherwise alternating cloud and sunny patches. The maggies seem to be getting into spring mode along my route. I've been relatively unmolested with only one half-hearted swoop a couple of weeks back, but yesterday I had a wing-slap and a couple of swoops from one bird along the Darebin Creek Trail, and a swoop by another one a few hundred meters up the path.
Cold in Melbourne this morning, 4.5C when I left. Good ride in, traffic lights were a little more cooperative than they have been in the last few days.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Perth:

Weather looks like crud and I am heading out into it. I wonder how many other fools I will encounter.

[jasonc]

storms in brisbane fizzled out fairly early last night. so got home relatively dry. felt warm this morning