AUTHOR: Drew Bryden DATE: 6/4/2004 09:31:06 PM ----- BODY: Today was a perfect day to commute by bike.

The ride in:
Temps in the mid fifties with a calm wind. My quickest inbound commute time to date at 15 minutes.

Comments:
The Bianchi Volpe made it out for today's commute. The weather was ideal. Unfortunately, if I had a section here to keep track of being harassed by motorists, I would have to add my first incident here. I had to smile afterward, realizing (after I sped after them) that they were consuming $2.20 gallons of gas in their full-size pick up as they drove away from the fast approaching cyclist in their rearview. I will make an effort to not respond to these idiots in the future, but the brief chase was fun.

The ride home:
Temps in the lower sixties, sunny with a strong wind at my back. Short sleeves and shorts were sufficient. Were it not for the above mentioned chase scene, I would have had my fastest round-trip commute ever.

Number of fellow cyclists seen on both trips: 2 -------- AUTHOR: Drew Bryden DATE: 6/3/2004 09:16:55 PM ----- BODY: Cape Cod’s weather ran the gamut today - started off overcast, was clear and beautiful all day, and the skies became ominous and opened up with a deluge just in time for my escape from work. I did commute by bicycle today, however. What would a bicycle commute diary be without a bicycle commute? How did this become a bicycle commute blog anyway?

The ride in:
Temps in the mid fifties and overcast. A windy, yet dry ride.

Comments:
I rode the Trek today. The weather reports called for afternoon rain again, and for once the weather reports were correct.

The ride home:
Temps in the sixties, in light rain after waiting out passing downpours. The road spray and puddles were large, but the ride home quite comfortable. I arrived home with the front of my shoes and socks damp, otherwise dry. The bicycle needed a bit of a cleaning and fresh lube after today’s commute.

Number of fellow cyclists seen on both trips: 1
-------- AUTHOR: Drew Bryden DATE: 6/2/2004 10:44:58 PM ----- BODY: Today was a rain or shine bicycle commute day for me, and I chose to ignore the weather reports. I am happy I did.

The ride in:
Temps around fifty with puddles and a heavy mist. Front of windbreaker, shorts, shoes, face and glasses were very damp on arrival to work.

Comments:
I took the old Raleigh mountain bike out for today's commute again. The weather report called for passing showers and the possibility for severe thunderstorms developing by the late afternoon. I had a hunch that I could avoid serious rain today, and I was correct. I wish I had left a little earlier this morning, as getting cleaned up and dried off took a little longer
than normal. Otherwise, a great bike commute day!

The ride home:
Temps in the lower sixties, overcast with a strong wind at my back (gusts to 18 m.p.h.). Short sleeves and shorts were sufficient.

Number of fellow cyclists seen on both trips: 1
-------- AUTHOR: Drew Bryden DATE: 6/1/2004 09:33:23 PM ----- BODY: Yesterday was Memorial day. God bless our fallen heroes.

Yesterday was a rest and recovery day for me. I took a 17 mile Cape Cod Canal ride out and back on the Bianchi. 55 degree weather, overcast with 12-16 m.p.h. winds.

Back to work today. The weather was frightful most of the morning and early afternoon. Temps didn't climb much above 50, and a canoe would have gotten me to work better than my bike. Therefore, no commute info today.

The adjuster for the cheesy front brakes on my old Raleigh (my foul-weather ride) broke this evening. As a solution, I took the rears off completely and transferred one arm to the front. No more rear brakes! I feel more confident with the idea of riding to work with front brakes and no rears, than with rears and no fronts. I may just leave them this way.

I hope to pedal to work tomorrow, rain or shine. -------- AUTHOR: Drew Bryden DATE: 5/31/2004 11:08:46 AM ----- BODY: What a beautiful holiday weekend... couldn't have asked for better weather this Memorial Day! Yesterday I ran the Johnny Kelley Road Race five-miler. My time could have been better, but considering it was only my second race (first five-miler) I guess it wasn't bad at 47:11. My first race was a 5K last November. I am looking forward to my next: the New Charles River Run on June 27th.

Along with my cycling, I have found running to be very addictive and therapeutic. I hope to find some like-minded (and equally slow) running and cycling partners soon. I even went so far as to purchase my youngest sister running shoes and a running outfit to encourage her along. I have recently joined NEMBA, so I am sure to hook up with people on their scheduled, organized rides.

Did I mention what a great weekend it has been? --------