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

[jasonc]

Not sure if the damp surface was the sole contributor, or if there was other stuff on the surface. I have also noticed that the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres don't feel all that grippy in sharp turns with high lateral forces, even in the dry. I've had both tyres slide through the left turn at the aforementioned traffic circle once in dry conditions, but recovered from that...they make a disturbing hissing noise as they scrub across the road surface when they reach their limit.

sliding is much less prone to injury that just falling.
re the marathon plus tyres. I've noticed they do make a hell of a roar when really cornering. once the roar gets to a certain point i don't lean any further

good ride this morning (on the fuji). i put a new tyre on the front as the schwalbe ultremo aqua though seriously grippy was grabbing and holding onto absolutely every piece of gravel/road crap it could find. just made the ride annoying with all the crap rolling around on the tyre. now have a gp4000s on the front.

[Big_Red]

Back on the bike today for the first time in a fortnight (due to getting a mole removed from my chest & obeying the doc's orders not to ride till the stitches came out, which is a real pita) and it felt real good to turn the pedals over to ride to work. Developed a pathological hatred of public transport over the last 2 weeks having to sit amongst the great unwashed in the meantime and really appreciate the freedom of being able to use the bike. I really enjoyed the ride in - there was little traffic and it is such a gorgeous day.

[TraceyG]

Commute home last night was an absolute battle of wills - me vs the wind. It ranged from wild and gusty in my face, filling my eyes with dirt and grit, to serious cross winds that made me feel as though I was leaning almost 45% to one side just so that I actually remained vertical. Mostly they were headwinds and my legs certainly felt the effects of them! At least I made it home before the actual storm started, only copped a few stinging rain drops...

[Lizzy]

Strange one yesterday afternoon, had to pull over and leap off to usher shingleback skinks off the PSP near Bateman, for fear of them being mistaken for leaves/bark and getting sliced up (had to lift up some cyclone wire to let one under).

Never come across them like that before, then twice in the space of 100m. Maybe there was some kind of basking convention on or something, or perhaps more likely all the construction around there is getting them all discombobulated

[warthog1]

Great commute yesterday riding in a steady warm rain, arrived at work completely soaked but comfortable. The rain was the perfect temperature to give a nice cooling effect under exertion, not much traffic on the road either It was the best ride I've had for a while

Bloody bag was soaked though and my iphone got pretty wet . It was playing up but has come good now touch wood, after some time under a hot air hand dryer and then stuck in a plastic bag with some tea bags for the trip home

[jasonc]

Bloody bag was soaked though and my iphone got pretty wet .

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/packs-and-b ... ellow.html

alternatively, buy a deuter air comfort bag with an inbuilt rain cover

[warthog1]

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/packs-and-b ... ellow.html

alternatively, buy a deuter air comfort bag with an inbuilt rain cover

Thanks Jason. That looks good and I reckon might be the go. The phone will be in a snap lock sandwich bag from now on but the rest of the bag was still quite wet. No mudguards on my Azzurri so a lot of spray, but it is a good quality back pack I have, so I was surprised how wet it got.

[jasonc]

it is a good quality back pack I have, so I was surprised how wet it got.

there is good quality, then there's deuter....
but yes, the overbag cover will help.

[Rhubarb]

Pre velomobile, I commuted for 3 years via road bike in all weather. I did use a Deuter back pack but never bothered with its in-built rain cover. I went with one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/respro-waterpro ... ack-cover/

Better water resistance, high vis in the day, reflective at night. It also kept my bag clean from wheel spray etc so I could remover the cover and not be left with a muddy bag to bring into the office.

[rdwaltonut]

Great ride this morning. Bit chilly and overcast, but the 7.5ks to work were traffic free. Nice to have the roads all to yourself.

[TailWind]

Friday was pretty damp and humid, and the afternoon commute was made in steady drizzle.
This morning's ride into the Melbourne CBD was surprisingly busy with traffic at 4:30am, considering it's a Monday morning and we are about a week away from the holidays.

[warthog1]

Pre velomobile, I commuted for 3 years via road bike in all weather. I did use a Deuter back pack but never bothered with its in-built rain cover. I went with one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/respro-waterpro ... ack-cover/

Better water resistance, high vis in the day, reflective at night. It also kept my bag clean from wheel spray etc so I could remover the cover and not be left with a muddy bag to bring into the office.

Thanks, I like the high vis aspect as I am a bit paranoid about incompetent drivers overtaking me. Neighbour years ago was run over and killed by a DUI driver.
Comes from wiggle too, so I can just bung it on with the tyres and cassettes.

[goneriding]

After a, what I'm told, spectacular crash yesterday, I decided to take it easy on the way in this morning. Unfortunately, the cage dwellers were having a bad day Incident #1 saw a taxi decide to cut me off in the bike lane, so I banged on his window and suggested, none too politely, that he get off the phone and pay attention to what was going on around him!

Incident #2 a car decided that Give Way is interpreted as an amber light (I.e. go faster) and just about took out a cyclist in front me.

Might be time to head for the hills and wait it (whatever it is) out!

[jasonc]

Might be time to head for the hills and wait it (whatever it is) out!

it's called Christmas

[J-Tim]

Might be time to head for the hills and wait it (whatever it is) out!

it's called Christmas

Can't wait for that either!!

[Comedian]

Nice commute in bne today. Warm, with sparse traffic yet a few bikes to pedal with which was nice.

Could be warm on the way home tonight. Tomorrow might be one to watch. Could be a chance of a storm in the afternoon

[find_bruce]

Commuting stops for me for the year on Wednesday. I am reminded of how much I am lucky to have SWMBO - has organised our holidays, starting at Beechworth VIC, with plenty of opportunities for me to go for a ride. I love that woman

[Hamster]

My preferred commuter had a flat tyre this morning. Options were either to repair the tyre or use the Repco. Laziness won out so I just swapped the lights over and headed out on the Repco.

No having ridden it on a commute for some time I found the Repco rather pleasant . The morning was lovely, warm but not hot and nice and calm.

[sturmey archer]

Nice ride home tonight - took the long way. Came across a rather large snake on the path in Karkarook park . I wish they'd keep to the left rather than taking up the whole Path!

[ColinOldnCranky]

Perth:

The last few days have been great - mostly because the winds morning and arvo have been mild. Far better than last week.

The detours thru South Perth are now in the past with the river wall repaired and everyone able to take the old direct route.

Overall it looks like the week is gonna pan out very well indeed. I hope to see y'all out there.

[FuzzyDropbear]

Bad commute home for me tonight. Something, not sure what, went terribly wrong, either the chain slipped or it attempted to jump gears (has happened sporadically and haven't been able to solve it, but only rare occurrence). Either way, I ended up upside down on the road, managed to roll out of it with a few scraps and cuts (all bandaged up now), the bike ended up worse for wear with the brake levers and shifters bent and scratched pretty bad, the seat's all scratched up and scrapes all along the handlebars and frame.... Not sure where all the damage came from... Please see below and have a chuckle... lol!

http://youtu.be/lMG7PZ4LNvw

[find_bruce]

Bad commute home for me tonight. Something, not sure what, went terribly wrong, either the chain slipped or it attempted to jump gears (has happened sporadically and haven't been able to solve it, but only rare occurrence). Either way, I ended up upside down on the road, managed to roll out of it with a few scraps and cuts (all bandaged up now), the bike ended up worse for wear with the brake levers and shifters bent and scratched pretty bad, the seat's all scratched up and scrapes all along the handlebars and frame.... Not sure where all the damage came from... Please see below and have a chuckle... lol!

I didn't laugh - happened a couple of times to me, including once recently - in my case the most recent cause was that the internal gear hub was out of adjustment - a minor issue to fix but a pain if you don't

[TraceyG]

The whirr of my wheels, birds calling and then I realised I could also hear the sound of grass tearing as the cows enjoyed their breakfast. I love the rural part of my commute - although I must remember to keep an eye out in case that goat (animal variety) is still out on the road tonight. posting.php?mode=reply&f=41&t=16139#

[jasonc]

I didn't laugh

+1 - mechanicals are unpleasant.

my last commute day for the year (yay for holidays). have commuted 186 days (was aiming for 140 days). it was HUMID. It felt like I was swimming to work. legs feel good hopefully i get the all clear from the physio tonight

[DaveOZ]

Cold here again this morning, 11C. Supposed to warm up during the day. I had a slow ride in and a nice hot shower.