Commuting - Ever have one of those sanity questioning moments?

I'm having one at the moment, as the hour to leave for home draws nigh, and I'm faced with the challenge of riding in the sub-zero temps with a -32F wind chill. I feel excited and really questioning my friggin' sanity. There is even a little fear. I mean I don't want to loose a body part to riding in this weather, you know? That's not what commuting is about. A co-worker is willing to get me half-way, I'd still have to ride 10 miles. I'm like: "I'd rather do the whole thing than just 10."
Will have to post when I get home to let one and all know what exactly happened. I've done some insane things in my day, this is at the top of the heap.

No way in Hell could I do that. All of my precious bodily fluids would seep from my eyes and freeze solid. I'll leave this sort of thing to true warriors such as yourself.

You have my admiration and my condolences.

It is a dark day. I got a mile from work and the rear fixed gear hub that I'd replaced the bearings on locked up. I walked back to work and called a cab. I am really bummed. Seems I didn't get the cone nuts tightened right and they loosened and with the riding and the cold they packed the bearings in real tight. This is the third hub I've trashed. I was really looking forward to the ride too. I felt good, was well hydrated, and had enough on that I wasn't really feeling the cold. It felt good. I should have stopped when I heard the strange noises from the hub, cause I did some damage. It'll take a week to get it fixed. I'm not the happiest, but I did get home without freezing and tomorrow is another day.

It is a dark day. I got a mile from work and the rear fixed gear hub that I'd replaced the bearings on locked up. I walked back to work and called a cab. I am really bummed.
That kind of thing happens to me once in a while. I start to get bummed out, but sometimes I accept that maybe I was being protected from an unforseen problem. What if you had ridden halfway home, broke down, then had to walk in that s*it for 10 miles? I sometimes think we cyclists have a "patron saint," or someone like that watching out for us!

Anyway, it goes with the territory, I guess! Happy riding!

;)

LBM,
those are my thoughts exactly. Although at the time I wasn't thinking that way, I was mad and pumped from the psyche up to get out in that nasty stuff, which really wasn't that bad, I'd actually started building up a sweat. A mile from work, an easy walk back and a quick phone call, I'm back in biz. 10 miles out? Frostbite, frozen body parts, hypothermia, who knows? I wasn't happy, but I lit my "thank you candle" and began counting my blessings as I put together another ride.

Ready for more.

Always.. Biking clears my head.. Minnesotians are supposed to be tough..
I would have to think about that..But then we in the southern climes wonder if not, breathing in such conditions is sign of living on the edge?
What a charmed life to think 45 degrees is awful cycling conditions. Hononulu and San Diego- they say has no weather..If you can do it, I say congratulations and amen. And that you are better for it.

Always.. Biking clears my head.. Minnesotians are supposed to be tough..
I would have to think about that..But then we in the southern climes wonder if not, breathing in such conditions is sign of living on the edge?
What a charmed life to think 45 degrees is awful cycling conditions. Hononulu and San Diego- they say has no weather..If you can do it, I say congratulations and amen. And that you are better for it.


In a way it's kind of crazy that we live in a part of the country with the climate as such that we have to wrap our bodies to keep from dying, but hey, it's all part of the adventure. ;)

That kind of thing happens to me once in a while. I start to get bummed out, but sometimes I accept that maybe I was being protected from an unforseen problem. What if you had ridden halfway home, broke down, then had to walk in that s*it for 10 miles? I sometimes think we cyclists have a "patron saint," or someone like that watching out for us!

And sometimes from an unexpected source!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=43573

I sometimes think we cyclists have a "patron saint," or someone like that watching out for us!


Definitely seems true! I started commuting in June, and since then have had exactly two "hardware events" that made it impossible to finish a trip - both within two blocks of my destination! ;)

-chris

I commute with four other riders everyday. We recently decided not to commute by bike when the temps go below 10F. This is supposed fun not dangerous and it just wasn't fun at those temps. You have to manage your riding so you don't get burned out or sick. Don't over do it. Everyone stay saf out there.
Mark

OHHH, you mean question your OWN sanity! I thought you meant others questioning your sanity. Like the other day when I arrived home in a cold driving raing, and my neighbor, from the shelter of her porch, said "You are NOT a well person!" I took it as a compliment.

OHHH, you mean question your OWN sanity! I thought you meant others questioning your sanity. Like the other day when I arrived home in a cold driving raing, and my neighbor, from the shelter of her porch, said "You are NOT a well person!" I took it as a compliment.
Some of the highest compliments are the misdirected criticisms of the uninspired.

I will be questioning my own again tomorrow. I pulled a bone head move. It snowed last night, about 3 inches. Nice powdery stuff, easy to roll through. I set up my commuter with the Nokian tires. Just short of work there is a lake, it's frozen solid, with ice fishing house/shacks out on the ice. I decided today would be the day that I would try a short cut across the frozen lake. I rode out on the ice of the lake, following the road that trucks and cars had made. I had no problem remaining up right and going in the direction I wanted. The tires/studs gripped famously. Well, the path ended, and I continued. Not a good idea. The bike went out from under me and I came down on my butt, sliding about five feet. I could see where the studds were gripping from the scratch marks on the ice. It was a blast, I've got pics, not of the fall but of me out on the ice. Now my body is feeling a bit stiff, and I'm hoping the ride home will loosen some of the tightness, and then drop this old bag of bones in a hot soaking bath before turning in.

I was so jazzed by the whole experience, by the time I got to work it was difficult to settle down and do the job I have to do. I love this stuff.

So you hit the ground because the studs didn't go on the rough terrain?

Some of the highest compliments are the misdirected criticisms of the uninspired.

Good Gods! There's a bumper sticker for you! :D

No, the surface was way too slick, the ice had been wind blown, polished to a glass like surface, under powdery snow. I thought the snow would offer a layer of covering that I could get some sort of purchase with the studs, but I wasn't able to get anything, even when I got back on the bike and tried to pedal onward, the studs spun.

Home, 46 mile commute to and from work. Two headlamps, adjustment to handle bars from fall on ice, chain fell off, fogged goggles, fogged glasses, cold finger from hole in glove.

naisme - I love reading your posts because they're so inexplicably inspiring. :D I do admire your determination and it makes me question how I can be complaining when here it's only in the 20s with a light breeze.


Some of the highest compliments are the misdirected criticisms of the uninspired.
I love that! Is that yours or are you quoting someone? Either way, it sums some things up perfectly. :)