Commute log
Well, I've been wanting to do this for some time. I love the idea of riding my bike to work and now I have a job that makes doing so possible. I found a great 80's vintage Suteki road bike
'for 5.00 at the thrift store. It has a nice component group, wheels and rides well enough.
11-11-07 Saturday I found a Nashbar winter jacket at the thrift store for $5.00 Good karma. I serviced the bike, installed the panniers, lights, computer and so on. Made sure I have tools tubes a pump and a patch kit. I did a few laps to check things out.
The bike seems good to go.
I used the G maps pedometer site to plan the routes to and from work. Approximately 10 miles there and 16 miles home. This is due to the fact that I do not want to cross route 104.
I set up coffee and packed lunch before bed and took one more look at the bike.
11-12-07 Ok, this is it. I dressed, packed lunch and had a coffee and I'm out. 06:15am and I’m scared. Is this juvenile or irresponsible? Should I just drive like everyone else? I'll just get the car. Hoover road, Home road Gantz road, Dyer road this is easy.
There's a loud crunching noise so I stop. The rear reflector on the wheel fell off and got caught in the spokes and went flying. It's cool. I keep going. I stood up to crank up the hill to Dyer road but the load on the back wobbled and the pannier hit the wheel. No dancing on the pedals. I will make a brace to keep the panniers stable.
Ok I'm at the 104. So far so good, I'm making good time, it's not too cold and I know the route. High street, Dering, Parsons, Llewlen, Groveport, Watkins and I'm here. Traffic was not bad and I'm barely winded.
I changed in the men's room and I'm good to go.
06:15 to 06:58 42 minutes 44 seconds, 9.6 miles. I did not ride home, Laurie picked me up so I could get Matt to the model railroad exhibit set up. I found that the route north to Greenlawn avenue to cross the river is 3 miles shorter going home so I will use it tomorrow.
11-13-07 It was wet but not raining so I headed out at 06:30 and the ride was uneventful. The weather was great and the bike performed flawlessly. I arrived at 07:10 am 40 minutes flat, a full 2 minutes faster than Monday. I locked up the bike and changed. Damn, no underwear. Looks like I am going commando today. Several employees expressed enthusiasm about me commuting by bike and one even greeted me with a "we're not worthy" gesture as soon as he saw me. As for now I think Ice is the only thing that will keep me off the bike. The ride home was safe but long. It is a balls out sprint for 13.5 miles. I still don’t want to cross the 104 but tomorrow I am going to try to cross Frank at the Harmon light. I made it home in 60 minuets and 11 seconds. That will improve over time. Also when I get a locker I won't carry clothes or shoes so that means less weight. I am starving when I got home and I ate a huge plate of Zitti. The weather looks good for the remainder of the week.
11-14-07 I got out in plenty of time and made it into work at 07:20. I had an uneventful ride this morning but caught a light shower between Dyer road and Frank road. I carried my lunch and clothes in plastic grocery bags instead of the backpack and lunch box to cut down on the bulk and extra weight. I was considerably more fatigued this morning after having rode home last night but I still made the trip in right at 40 minutes. I took the route home down Harmon to cross the 104 and it went fine. It only saves me a half mile but I will take it. I had a head wind pretty much the whole way home but still managed to average 14 mph so I was home in plenty of time to eat and get Nils over to the statehouse for the model railroad display.
11-16-07 I drove the van today, the afternoon is going to be 28 degrees and there is freezing rain in the forecast for this afternoon. I checked the mileage with the car and its the same as the bike odometer so that’s good. The forecast is below freezing for the remainder of the week so I will not ride. I will (for the record) log non-riding days with an explanation. Next week looks better so I will work on the bike.
11-20-07 uneventful ride and nice weather. Overcast but warm. Around 55 and no wind. I really did not feel like riding this morning but I did it any way. By the time I was up Hoover road I was glad I rode. I love the south end in the morning it's peaceful. I rode across Groveport to Kobel this morning and it looks just like a mining or steel town in western Pa. Or southern Ohio. The weather co-operated and the rain held off and the ride home was great. The vast majority of motorists were polite and passed me with a wide berth with the exception of a few who insist on passing within inches of my left flank.
Well, I've been wanting to do this for some time. I love the idea of riding my bike to work and now I have a job that makes doing so possible. I found a great 80's vintage Suteki road bike
'for 5.00 at the thrift store. It has a nice component group, wheels and rides well enough.
11-11-07 Saturday I found a Nashbar winter jacket at the thrift store for $5.00 Good karma. I serviced the bike, installed the panniers, lights, computer and so on. Made sure I have tools tubes a pump and a patch kit. I did a few laps to check things out.
The bike seems good to go.
I used the G maps pedometer site to plan the routes to and from work. Approximately 10 miles there and 16 miles home. This is due to the fact that I do not want to cross route 104.
I set up coffee and packed lunch before bed and took one more look at the bike.
11-12-07 Ok, this is it. I dressed, packed lunch and had a coffee and I'm out. 06:15am and I’m scared. Is this juvenile or irresponsible? Should I just drive like everyone else? I'll just get the car. Hoover road, Home road Gantz road, Dyer road this is easy.
There's a loud crunching noise so I stop. The rear reflector on the wheel fell off and got caught in the spokes and went flying. It's cool. I keep going. I stood up to crank up the hill to Dyer road but the load on the back wobbled and the pannier hit the wheel. No dancing on the pedals. I will make a brace to keep the panniers stable.
Ok I'm at the 104. So far so good, I'm making good time, it's not too cold and I know the route. High street, Dering, Parsons, Llewlen, Groveport, Watkins and I'm here. Traffic was not bad and I'm barely winded.
I changed in the men's room and I'm good to go.
06:15 to 06:58 42 minutes 44 seconds, 9.6 miles. I did not ride home, Laurie picked me up so I could get Matt to the model railroad exhibit set up. I found that the route north to Greenlawn avenue to cross the river is 3 miles shorter going home so I will use it tomorrow.
11-13-07 It was wet but not raining so I headed out at 06:30 and the ride was uneventful. The weather was great and the bike performed flawlessly. I arrived at 07:10 am 40 minutes flat, a full 2 minutes faster than Monday. I locked up the bike and changed. Damn, no underwear. Looks like I am going commando today. Several employees expressed enthusiasm about me commuting by bike and one even greeted me with a "we're not worthy" gesture as soon as he saw me. As for now I think Ice is the only thing that will keep me off the bike. The ride home was safe but long. It is a balls out sprint for 13.5 miles. I still don’t want to cross the 104 but tomorrow I am going to try to cross Frank at the Harmon light. I made it home in 60 minuets and 11 seconds. That will improve over time. Also when I get a locker I won't carry clothes or shoes so that means less weight. I am starving when I got home and I ate a huge plate of Zitti. The weather looks good for the remainder of the week.
11-14-07 I got out in plenty of time and made it into work at 07:20. I had an uneventful ride this morning but caught a light shower between Dyer road and Frank road. I carried my lunch and clothes in plastic grocery bags instead of the backpack and lunch box to cut down on the bulk and extra weight. I was considerably more fatigued this morning after having rode home last night but I still made the trip in right at 40 minutes. I took the route home down Harmon to cross the 104 and it went fine. It only saves me a half mile but I will take it. I had a head wind pretty much the whole way home but still managed to average 14 mph so I was home in plenty of time to eat and get Nils over to the statehouse for the model railroad display.
11-16-07 I drove the van today, the afternoon is going to be 28 degrees and there is freezing rain in the forecast for this afternoon. I checked the mileage with the car and its the same as the bike odometer so that’s good. The forecast is below freezing for the remainder of the week so I will not ride. I will (for the record) log non-riding days with an explanation. Next week looks better so I will work on the bike.
11-20-07 uneventful ride and nice weather. Overcast but warm. Around 55 and no wind. I really did not feel like riding this morning but I did it any way. By the time I was up Hoover road I was glad I rode. I love the south end in the morning it's peaceful. I rode across Groveport to Kobel this morning and it looks just like a mining or steel town in western Pa. Or southern Ohio. The weather co-operated and the rain held off and the ride home was great. The vast majority of motorists were polite and passed me with a wide berth with the exception of a few who insist on passing within inches of my left flank.
