Pacific Northwest - Ok, I'm peeved. . .

Wow, I was already for the commute today. My Xtracycle was tuned up, brand new 700 x 35 studded tires all mounted, and it was looking ready to go. Wake up this morning and YES!! Couple inches of snow:love: But then it hits me, I can't ride today, I have a meeting I cant get to on my bike. :eek:

It's just not fair:cry:

Lol I bused and rode today Seattle streets are a little slick. Everett on the other hand has about 3" of snow.

I drove (my car) today. Streets on Mercer Island were horribly slick - black ice, white ice, clear ice...every kind of ice. (schools closed). I90 and streets downtown were wet but not slick.

Saw a number of bike commuters on I90 bridge and downtown who seemed to be doing OK.

I went out for a quick assessment last night and determined that I would probably kill myself on the bike. Very very slick out there. So, I bit the bullet and drove :( .

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1926.jpg

Looking north towards 212th...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1927.jpg

Looking south towards Mount Rainier (it's there, hidden behind clouds)

East Hill

I rode in this morning, although I did it very carefully. Rather than bombing down the Des Moines hill like I usually do, I pretty much coasted. There was snow on the side of the road, so I took the lane whenever I could or felt like the shoulder was just too dangerous. None of the cars really seemed to mind at all.

I knew it was pretty icy when I checked my mirror once and noticed my SuperFlash blink reflecting off the pavement :eek:.

Down in the city things seemed better. The only place I had any trouble was turning off of Alaskan Way onto one of the side streets. That was a 90 degree right turn that was pure ice, so I got to refine my falling skills (again). Not too bad, though, since I was only going 4 or 5 MPH at the time anyway.

I saw a few other commuters once I got into the city. I didn't see any on the hill or before Georgetown. I did see tracks of one other bike on the hill, though, so I know that I wasn't the only one out this morning.

I don't get to leave until 7 again tonight. I hope this stuff doesn't turn back into a skating rink before 9.

Looks like you made a good decision East Hill. I probably would have given some serious thought before going out in that.

It wasn't the ride in last night that would have been so bad, so much as knowing that when I got off this morning that there would be ice everywhere.

I'm going to go for a walk later to make another appraisal. The weather forecasters say it's going to warm up to rain tomorrow, and after that I have two days off before I have to worry about the commute :D .

East Hill

AAkk its snowing at Gas Works

I've had a fun 24 hours. Yesterday I went out to leave for work, and my winter bike's rear tire was flat :( So I pulled the old Fuji out of the garage and rode that. I wasn't sure what to do this morning, as I hadn't had time yet to fix the flat. But then we found out that the kids didn't have school, so that gave me time to get out and slap a "new" tube in the back. Then the tire's bead started lifting off the rim-sorry, sidewall's shot! I looked around and found an old semi-knobby tire, 26x2, on an old rim. So I got that mounted and the wheel back on the bike, and manage to leave for my school on time. the ride itself wasn't bad; only slid out once, on a corner, and what a beautiful morning! So I get to the college, and see the sign:"Campus Closed":O So I dropped off some gear in my locker, then rode home. Oh well, at least I got a good ride in.

:rolleyes: They just cancelled the meeting that was the reason for driving this morning. . . UGH!

Thankfully I just finished moving on Saturday. I'm living at the top of Novelty Hill now, and we got about 5" up there last night. I put the snow studs on while watching TV last night, and there was no snow even when I went to sleep. At 4:30am there was 4 - 5" on the ground. First commute from the new place, 4 miles longer each way (1.5x my old commute distance) and snowing. WooHoo!

Thankfully I just finished moving on Saturday. I'm living at the top of Novelty Hill now, and we got about 5" up there last night. I put the snow studs on while watching TV last night, and there was no snow even when I went to sleep. At 4:30am there was 4 - 5" on the ground. First commute from the new place, 4 miles longer each way (1.5x my old commute distance) and snowing. WooHoo!

Ah, so that's why you've been missing the last few days!

East Hill

Yep. The past couple weeks I've been moving Jeeploads of stuff to get things situated, and last couple days we moved the furniture and set up the computers, so I'm just back online again.

Man, I forgot how sissy you people (we people?) are about snow. Half a inter in Montana and those pictures have me laughing. :p

Yep, we're wimps. The first step, after all, is admission. Now we can deal with our problem. Or not.

Man, I forgot how sissy you people (we people?) are about snow. Half a inter in Montana and those pictures have me laughing. :p

But...but...but...if we weren't complaining about the snow then we'd be complaining about something else :p .

East Hill

snow day for schools yesterday so I stayed home w/ the kiddies.

Yep, we're wimps. The first step, after all, is admission. Now we can deal with our problem. Or not.

It has nothing to do with being wimps. It has to do with being prepared for extremes. You want to see people whine go to Anchorage when it hits the 80's. I have seen people from Big Sky state run and hide from a little rain shower, doesn't even phase anybody from here.

snow day for schools yesterday so I stayed home w/ the kiddies.


I was mad they screwed up last night. I was looking forward for my Snow day with my 3 year old. Had the 4x4 all gassed up and ready to head over to the local sledding hill.:(

Yep, it was too icy for me yesterday morning, before 7:00 am. After walking down a very slippery hill to the bus stop I was glad I didn't bike in. And all around my work, black ice. I almost fell just crossing an intersection. Noticed a bicycle commuter walking his bike in the area...today back to rainy and warm and happily peddaling along. Ice wouldn't be SO bad if it weren't for all the hills.

Had the 4x4 all gassed up and ready to head over to the local sledding hill.:(

Is it difficult to dodge all the kids out on a snow day if you're 4-wheelin' on the local sledding hill? :lol:

Is it difficult to dodge all the kids out on a snow day if you're 4-wheelin' on the local sledding hill? :lol:

Nothing more fun to a 10 year old than a 50mph ski lift ;)

But with all the Qtips driving around Lakewood, I wouldnt feel safe for my 3 year old on the bike:eek:

But I like being a wimp. It gives me something to whine about.