How was your commute?

Soulfull · #1 02-23-2010, 09:18 AM

I'll start off. I have been commuting part way since May more days than not. By part way I mean I drive the first part because the roads near my house are not safe enough for me, at least coming home. Today I had my first flat while commuting. Lesson one, yesterday when I was worried about my rear tube I just decided to put some air it in and ride this morning. It blew with a loud pop. Lesson two, check your equipment. My small pump had been used on the side of the road a couple of weekends ago one my road bike. In the process of switching to Presta valve mode for that bike I evidently lost the little part needed to open the Schrader valve I needed this morning. That's ok I think. I'll just use the CO2 cartridges to fill it up. But either my valve for the cartridges either only does Presta valves or I was not carrying the converter needed.

Usually I am much better prepared than this. Today I got to walk back to the car and drive to work. Plus I will miss riding home on the warmest day this week.

I am thinking of trying to pick up a Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump with Gauge on the way home today.

jvp · #2 02-23-2010, 09:41 AM

I carry a lezyne road pump, w/ a presta only option. It is amazingly light and compact, has a short air hose, and gets 100+psi pretty easily. I have also used the topeak road morph, which is nice because it operates like a small floor pump, but it is larger than the lezyne. If I were commuting w/ schrader valve tires, I would carry a small schrader-only pump if I could. I'm not a big fan of adaptor/switch-out solutions for pumps, though the mtn. morph works well when it is set up right.

bryanphoto · #3 02-23-2010, 01:19 PM

I carry a Lezyne Micro Floor Drive. Presta or Schrader, but no little inserts to lose, it's a flip chuck at the end of the hose. I leave it set up for Presta all the time, but if I had to help someone else I could. When pumping up a tire on the side of the road it's really nice to have this floor pump style. 8 or 10 pumps with one hand, then switch. Can get to 100 psi fairly quickly. Having the hose keeps you from manhandling the valve. Great little pump.

y2bike · #4 02-24-2010, 09:32 AM

With all this crazy weather, yesterday was my first bike commute of the new year. The last time I rode in was Dec 10th. I took it easy on the way in, I was still tired from a long ride I did Sat., just kept it in the middle ring until the big hill up to UNC campus, then dropped into the granny. I used a new light on the ride too, a Planet Bike 2 watt Blaze. I picked it up at REI using an Xmas gift card. So far I like the light, it has 3 settings, low, high and flash, I'm not sure how many hours I get out of it since uses just 2 batteries. The flash mode is really bright, I used on the way home in an area where cars tend to make left turns right in front of me. I like using a flash mode at dusk and dawn when I don't need a light to see the road, but still need to be visible to cars.

Mike O.

ubergoober · #5 02-24-2010, 12:21 PM

Once last week (Fri.) and once yesterday (Tues.) so far this week. Beat the "snow", and will probably ride again this Friday. Last weekend was a different matter entirely (2X on the road bike; but no work/no commute).

Looking forward to spring, but I'll miss colder weather when summer arrives!

See you out there!

f1xedgear · #6 02-24-2010, 01:03 PM

I've been lucky so far this year, and I'll bravely tempt fate by saying, No flats yet. I like the idea of carrying the Lezyne pump--my zefal frame pumps have done me good over the years, but they are oldish.

This morning's commute was relatively pleasant with temps in the low 40s. The ATT north of Scott King (and just south!) is still pretty squishy. And with our weather forecast, it looks like the natural path sections are gonna stay squishy for some time. BUT, I've got a new ride now (below), with wide tires, making the squishy bits a little more fun.

Not particularly looking forward to the ride home, but once I'm on the bike and headed home I'll have fun (I keep telling myself).

3ZKL · #7 02-24-2010, 08:02 PM

about a month ago, i realized that hanging an extra right off the main road into a sub-division just before my place allowed me to bomb down a giant hill, take a full speed left at the bottom and then sprint up another hill carrying a ridiculous amount of speed. all with very very little traffic. i have been gradually increasing my speed both down the first hill, around the corner and then up the other side since then.

however, one thing has remained the same. . .every time i get to the top of that second hill, usually going about 20+ mph, i laugh to myself (seriously) out loud. no joke. i find myself giddy at the top of the hill EVERY time. it reminds me of being a kid. or at least what i think that was like.

anyway, some lessons i have learned doing this --

1. invest in some decent brake pads. it was not until i upgraded to kool stops from my ****ty stock pads that i was actually able to carry some speed down the first hill and through the corner. see #2

2. it is WAY more fun when my panniers are extra packed with stuff. railing a corner at almost 30 mph loaded down with groceries adds to the giddiness at the top. the new brake pads were crucial to figuring this out.

3a. take the lane and triple check for cars in all directions. i have had a couple not-all-that-close calls with people creeping through the stop signs on either side. better safe than sorry though. plus, a lot of drivers seem to have a really really hard time judging a bikes speed.

3b. DONT CUT THE CORNER WITHOUT REALLY BEING SURE! as much as i would like to believe it, i cannot actually see AROUND corners. looking for headlights helps.

4. good technique! outside pedal down, inside pedal up. weight on your outside foot and inside arm. pick your line and stick to it!

5. brake late but not too late! see #1

6. MASH THROUGH THE CORNER! once i am past the apex i drop the hammer. being in the drops helps.

7. finding the shifting sweet spot. this has been the hardest part for me. i have to remember to upshift without being under extreme power and before getting too far up the other side of the hill. otherwise my leg speed suffers and i slow down too soon. as much as i love riding my fixed gear, it really is just not the same as knowing you have a couple extra gears to power yourself up that son-of-a. . .

8. YOU ARE ALMOST HOME! it is good to remind myself this. especially after a crappy ride due to weather or whatever else. 'self, you will be inside your house and into a warm shower in just a minute. lighten up and have some damn fun!'

good times! very much looking forward to my ride tomorrow after writing all of this.

Daniel · #8 02-25-2010, 08:26 AM

This morning was a good commute into RTP. I even caught a few flakes of the inbound snow "storm" on the last mile - then sat inside and watched the rest of it!

f1xedgear · #9 02-25-2010, 10:29 AM

The snow was nice on this morning's ride in to work. But I have to admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've had I had a tail wind instead of a head wind. Looking forward to the tail wind goin' home this afternoon.

Lesson learned (I hope) from yesterday evening's ride: If it's below 40F, and even it's a drizzle, wear the damn rain pants you packed! I wasn't cold, but after 90 minutes in the stuff, my lower half could have been happier . .

3ZKL · #10 02-25-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1xedgear

The snow was nice on this morning's ride in to work. But I have to admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've had I had a tail wind instead of a head wind. Looking forward to the tail wind goin' home this afternoon.

the snow was indeed enjoyable this morning, but that wind was BRUTAL. i had a head and then a nasty nasty cross the whole way into CH.