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

[J-Tim]

Lovin' the weather this morning, no wind, no UTEs. I need more of those!

[Kenzo]

BNE: Yesterday at 810am on my extended commute past Nudgee College on Sandgate Rd, a parent appeared to be dropping off his son at the old front entrance. There's a clear yellow line (meaning no stopping) all along here, and the school has specific entrances for drop offs. It's also supposed to be a bicycle lane.

I yelled "oyyy.....no stopping" as I passed....the guy caught up to me at lights a km up the road and asked what my problem was. Told him a yellow line meant "no stopping plus it was a bike lane", and got the predictable 'F-off' back, which I retorted in kind. So he gets out of the car with aggressive intent, and rushes around into my face, and gives me a mouthful at close range, then threatened to smash my head in. I said "I've got your rego number, and you better be sure Nudgee College are going to here about this." He backed off then after giving a few more foffs. As he was walking away, a mate of Womble II's came along (wearing his metre matters jersey) and asked if all was ok....said he'd seen this guy get out of the car and come at me threateningly, and stand right in my face. All this time, I honestly didn't feel any fear, and straddled my bike as he came at me. I suppose that was my anger overriding a more rational response. (several cyclists I know have been pushed over and set on by irate motorists in the last 6 mths, damaging body and bike)

That afternoon, I reported to police and Nudgee College. The school was understanding about it, and said they'd put out a reminder in the next newsletter and make announcements at assemblies re not stopping there. Told QPS I was happy if they just phoned the guy and - warned him, tell him to learn the road rules, and don't come to the attention of police again. They thought that was very reasonable.

Next time someone is stopped there, I'll stop behind the car and get some video and take to police.

Nice work - your write up conveyed the situation very well - I felt the anger welling up within me when you described him 'in your face'.

Ride today had quite a few sections with leaf litter, gravel, sand and mud along the ride in today.
Had a fastish guy on a singlespeed 'catch' me (at Klumpp Rd / Griffith Uni drive) and I just followed him in until Stones Corner (did not draft - mostly sat about five or six metres off his wheel). Impressive stuff... SingleSpeed, 26" slicks, mudguards, lights.

No PBs on Strava... I was feeling a bit sluggish - maybe it was too humid to hammer.

[Comedian]

Well my commute was slow today. Legs were slammed after the Fondo yesterday. Plus, it was like a cyclo-cross event. Mud and obstacles everywhere after the storm. I nearly had to do a bike carry a couple of times.

[Hamster]

My ride this morning was lovely, warm and calm. Moreton Bay was like glass. It is morning like this that makes riding a bike such a wonderful experience.

Friday evening however was something different: 35 km ride into a 44 kph gusting to 52 kph headwind is character building. To stop pedalling was like applying the brakes.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Perth (Yesterday and today):

After a magic week last week it's gone all muggy and a little less comfortable. Oh well...

[higdawg]

I thought the weather this morning in Perth was really nice.
Though I start at 6am so no chance to get muggy.
My ride this morning was excellent until I got to the front gate of the base. Normal practice is for cars to slow and drive through while you hold up your ID. Motorcyclists pull over on the right in front of the guard and remove their helmet and show their ID. Cyclists ride along like cars whilst just holding up their ID.
Given that I am very new at commuting I have decided that until my balance and control is better I will just pull up where the motorbikes do so I don't crash in front of a very long line of cars.
Pull up this morning in front of the guard and she blows up "YOU are supposed to ride along that side there and show your ID that way, not stop here"
wow. I simply replied with "I don't have good enough balance yet to hold up my ID and ride at the same time, I don't want to crash" she just waved me through and ignored me.

Common sense has no place there apparently.

[gretaboy]

seems like it is April/May weather at the moment instead of being the start of summer

very overcast all the way and cool, winds were up and into the face as well...was going great guns until the last 16 k's, then the rain hit. Wasnt as bad as what I thought it might be but combined with the heavy winds made the ride different. Now for everything to dry out in the office so that it can get wet on the way home

[TailWind]

Lovely afternoon in Melbourne yesterday for the ride home, and no MMs to spoil it, hooray.
Ok ride in this morning, noticing a little bit of strain in my knees on the new frame. Must check saddle height/position, I think.

[Reman]

Why does one of the guys waving his baton on Pyrmont Bridge always stand right where you want to ride so you can safely avoid pedestrians? Asked him to not stand in the way as I went past, he yelled back about "speeding" cyclists, etc

Next time I think I'll stop and try to calmly and constructively explain how standing in the path of cyclists narrows the gap we can ride through making it inherently more unsafe. I also like how considering it is a shared zone they only berate cyclists never pedestrians who wander all over the place.

Starting to seriously consider bypassing it....

[rangersac]

A rather unique commuting experience today, and one that can only be replicated in Tasmania (at least in Australia that is). Hope on the bike, head out of work, hit the roundabout 200m up the road, clear the traffic and start to build up a head of steam. Then straight in the phizog, heading in the opposite direction at roughly the same velocity, a bumble bee (yes they were introduced to Tassie)! Cue much coughing and spluttering (I like to think I didn't break my cadence but that is probably wishful thinking) and after a few hairy and spiky moments, finally spat the bugger out. Unfortunately it had managed to sting me on the roof off the mouth so I spent the remainder of ride with a swelling painful lump, and a fun 10 minutes when I got home trying to remove the sting with a pair of tweezers and not simultaneously gag. Needless to say I don't recommend it!

[Xplora]

Next time I think I'll stop and try to

dismount and stand in his personal space. If you've ever seen an episode of Jackass, you will know what to do.

My commutes have been getting TOUGH. Been trying to get back into the big ring a bit more on the climbs, get the cardio going, rather than conserving energy. I really need some bigger muscles to push the bike, and it won't come from the granny ring.

[TailWind]

Windy and warm in Melbourne yesterday afternoon. Spent a good portion of the MYT/Darebin Creek Trail combo dealing with a 30+km/h northerly headwind. Still not entirely comfortable with my riding position, but am making small adjustments, one at a time and hopefully will have it optimised soon.
Windy again this morning, but at least blowing mainly in my direction of travel.

[familyguy]

Fun commute. Despite the loose spoke I had to tighten 5 minutes in (wondered what the clicking noise was coming from the rear wheel). So much traffic, but the cut-down flat bars do a wonderful of weaving

Jim

[bychosis]

Yesterday was great, PB on Strava segment, 2nd overall, great time to work, but if I hadn't concentrated on the Strava segment and backed off after it ended might have had an overall PB.

This morning before I left decided to cruise, but then the old CCR kicked in when I saw riders ahead. Can't help myself. As usual they werent CCR wins in the true sense, I was on roadie, they on MTB but I Must assert my authority on the PSP
Mostly im up against cruisy cyclists, but this morning a couple took a little extra catching -nice-

[find_bruce]

Funny how things work out - yesterday I was a bit flat - 2km/h down on usual & everything was hard work. Today 2 km/h up on usual and all was easy.

Why does one of the guys waving his baton on Pyrmont Bridge always stand right where you want to ride so you can safely avoid pedestrians? Asked him to not stand in the way as I went past, he yelled back about "speeding" cyclists, etc

I suspect that would be the one I call Harry Potter. If he upsets you again, just call out "morning Harry" as you ride past - he goes apoplectic while you ride off with a smile on your face. They actually took him off thebridge for a while because he seems to mistunderstand his role.

Starting to seriously consider bypassing it....

You and me both Reman. Doing a bit of extra distance doesn't worry me, but I still haven't figured out a decent way to bypass pyrmont bridge & the very narrow bridge along the freeway at the city end and still end up at the top of King St. Happy to hear any suggestions.

[gretaboy]

Well this strava thing is a little addictive. Monday arvo ride I set a PB on a segment and I wasnt really trying. Yesterday I thought I would give it a proper crack. My position on the totem pole was 107 before the ride home yesterday. I am now 7th, took a minute off my time overall for the 2.9 k segment.b To get to 2nd position I need to find another extra 2 k's for my average time. Cruised rest of the way home as I was going to have a neighbour on his TT bike riding with me the next day, today, and I wanted to have something in reserve as he usually pushes it.

Ride in this morning was brilliant, having another rider with me the entire way made me work a little harder than I normally would. Weather was perfect too.

The strava segments and having someone ride with me, certainly breaks up the boredom of my rides. I am really restricted to a single path to and from work, unless I want to add another 30+ k's to my rides so am finding these "distractions" really good.

[jasonc]

I am really restricted to a single path to and from work, unless I want to add another 30+ k's to my rides so am finding these "distractions" really good.

don't do that - you're smashing me already

[gretaboy]

I am really restricted to a single path to and from work, unless I want to add another 30+ k's to my rides so am finding these "distractions" really good.

don't do that - you're smashing me already

am hoping to do 430-450 k's this week....5 day commute week

[TailWind]

Rode back via Eaglemont, then decided to hop onto the Banyule Trail towards Greensborough, then underneath the Greensborough Highway and across to Bundoora. Made for a nice change, although a little hilly in places.
This morning's commute featured a roo sitting on the bikepath alongside the Western Ring Road. There's a narrow section that is fenced in on both sides, so as I approached, it decided to bound along in front of me, then next to me as I overtook it, probably for a distance of 50m or so....funny
My quest for a route with less lights didn't work out this morning and I took significantly longer to get to work with more reds encountered than before...will keep on trying alternatives.

[Aushiker]

My quest for a route with less lights didn't work out this morning and I took significantly longer to get to work with more reds encountered than before...will keep on trying alternatives.

Red lights = sprint training

Andrew

[Comedian]

Legs = shagged.
Bike = electric

[Aushiker]

Legs = shagged.
Bike = electric

Correction: Bike = Velomobile

Andrew

[jasonc]

Legs = shagged.
Bike = electric

back at physio tonight, he said "no"

bah

edit: 9000kms commuting for the year
11000kms total for the year

[Marto]

Legs = shagged.
Bike = electric

back at physio tonight, he said "no"

bah

edit: 9000kms commuting for the year
11000kms total for the year

"No" for how long? That really sucks. Gees, I hope you can get back riding soon!

[jasonc]

back at physio tonight, he said "no"

bah

edit: 9000kms commuting for the year
11000kms total for the year

"No" for how long? That really sucks. Gees, I hope you can get back riding soon!

I go back in 2 weeks. I can ride 1 way a day.