Pacific Northwest - So, whos riding today?

Brrrrr!!!! -3 (approx) with the windchill. Think I will stay indoors today and maybe get a few miles in on the trainer. Whats the weather outlook in your area and do ya have any plans?

3:30 in the afternoon, it's 29 degrees with a 16 MPH wind from the East. I'm working in my shop today. I think I'll probably miss the commute tomorrow, and for at least a few days. Ice on the road and (more importantly to me) on the trail make for a very poor ride without studded tires.

I got in about 6 miles just to see how my CX bike handles the snowy stuff. I forgot the adage about removing fenders for snow, and created my own "snow brakes" between the fenders and tires. Other than that the knobbies handled the snow very well, even on a pretty big hill with about 200 vert ft of elev gain. When I got home I hit the treadmill for a real workout, riding in the snow was just an excursion.

It was fun passing a couple of stuck vehicles on the hill though.

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I just got home from work(waiting tables). Snow falling, 27deg.F., and I had one too many layers on and got kinda toasty. Roads are just wet; nothing really troublesome.

3:30 in the afternoon, it's 29 degrees with a 16 MPH wind from the East. I'm working in my shop today. I think I'll probably miss the commute tomorrow, and for at least a few days. Ice on the road and (more importantly to me) on the trail make for a very poor ride without studded tires.

I wandered out for a look see around 2.00 pm, and encountered fools on ATVS doing donuts on the street.

Headed back home, and stayed out of their way.

The side roads on the East Hill are nasty/icy.

East Hill

I got about a mile from home and turned back because of black ice. I was well bundled up and was really comfortable, but just too many patches of (hard to see) ice for me to be comfortable, and I have to take a big descent after a couple of miles to get out of my neighborhood.

Hope to commute tomorrow and Tuesday, though.

Everyone be careful out there.

Anyone happen to ride the Sammamish River Trail between Woodinville and Redmond or the 520 trail from Redmond into Bellevue? What kind of shape are they in?

I am trying to decide if I will ride into work tomorrow or give it a rest until the black ice goes away (which could be a week or more).

I rode on the snoqualmie valley/iron horse trails this morning. Some serious headwinds and cold temps. Wimped out and cut the ride short - frozen ears and toes after an hour of riding.

Woodway,

I just got back from a 25 miler, and I rode the SRT from Wilmot Gateway park in Woodinville down to 116th St. The MUP is bone dry and totally clear, as are most of the roads in Redmond.

I started up on Redmond Ridge, and the snow/ice was shallow but complete boilerplate on the side roads. Trilogy parkway, 133rd, and all the side roads heading out to Woodinville along the Ridge were still icy. Everything in Woodinville and Redmond coming back home was totally clear.

Where are you starting from in Woodinville? The snow/ice seemed to dissappear about halfway down Woodinville-Duvall Rd at 175th.

I rode on the snoqualmie valley/iron horse trails this morning. Some serious headwinds and cold temps. Wimped out and cut the ride short - frozen ears and toes after an hour of riding.

I was wanting to do Duvall to Tokul and back, but decided against it due to the winds. Too many brittle maples/rotted alders. I'll do it in the next few days.

It was effin' icy this morning! but I rode with studs. i mean studded tires.

Go figure, the snow didn't reach up to Eugene. At mid-day it was 40 degrees and the sun was in and out all afternoon. There were a few riders out, but not me, I had to shop for a holiday tree.

Wickedly icy up on the plateau today, went for a walk and nearly bounced on my butt several tiimes- solid sheet ice everywhere. Snow I can ride in, not hard ice like this. No studs, and have had my allotment of crashes this year already, so I await either more snow or clear pavement before I'll ride again.

Studs were a necessity on today's ride, and I'll be glad to have them the next couple weeks from the sounds of things. It's supposed to stay cold for a while and maybe dump more snow.

Hopefully Woodinville Cycle gets my Marathon Winters in quickly, so I can swap out my Innova chump-o tires with the steel studs that are mostly worn down and misaligned and partly falling out.

Clifton - thanks for the RR. I live between Woodinville and Maltby and my normal route is down 156th to Woodinville-Duvall to 175th and then onto the SRT. I drove into work this morning, and that section of my commute is just too icy/dangerous to be on a bike. Even if I had studded tires, I would worry about the cars sliding around and flattening me. So the plan for tomorrow is to drive my bike down into Woodinville, park and do my normal work commute from there.

Monday morning update:

I just got into downtown Seattle from the Eastside.

Beautiful ride - I'll take clear and 20 degrees over rainy and 35 degrees any day.

However, I saw only 1 other rider today...I think that's the fewest I've ever seen (and that was a lightly dressed guy on a fixie; maybe he was just heading home after a long night?).

Some patches of ice in my neighborhood. I90 bridge bike path between Mercer Island and Seattle has a fair amount of ice near the Mercer Island side. The water that normally collects on the south side of the path (next to the concrete barrier separate the path from the road) has frozen over...it's covering half the path for a couple of hundred yards. Also some icy patches in the I90 bike path as it goes through the parks just west of the Mt. Baker tunnel. Finally, looks like there were some sledders out in the park yesterday and they have dragged a lot of gravel onto the path - you might miss that in the dark.

This morning was chill-EEE!
Wool base layer, fleece vest, then the long-sleeve jersey over top of it all.
Fleece knickers and Gavia Plus tights, wool socks, fleece-lined booties.
Gloves and liners, balaclava, ski goggles.

The studded tires did their job keeping me rubber-side-down, although my speed dropped from 16mph average to 12mph.

Clifton-

Dude youre da man! I'm gonna have to see whats under the tree for me, my performance and nashbar catalogs had tons of stuff for winter circled in them! Till then, Its colder than yesterday and its my hunnys birthday. Heading home from work now, (got laid-off for Christmas and new years) think I'll stay in with Jen today.

Be safe!

I didn't ride this morning. Didn't know what condition the streets were like in Seattle (Everetts sucked)
I will try tomorrow at least for getting me on an earlier bus to Everett going home.

thx for the report! i held off on the commute today, scared of an icy i-90 trail.

are you on regular (non-studded) tires?


Monday morning update:

I just got into downtown Seattle from the Eastside.

Beautiful ride - I'll take clear and 20 degrees over rainy and 35 degrees any day.

However, I saw only 1 other rider today...I think that's the fewest I've ever seen (and that was a lightly dressed guy on a fixie; maybe he was just heading home after a long night?).

btw, kudos to everyone who rode today!!

West Seattle was iced in this morning. The neighborhoods were in terrible condition, ice inches thick. I couldn't even get down my alley to the street, let alone the arterial. The arterial wasn't even clear. There was black ice in patches and the only "clear" pavement was on the car tread path in places. It got worse on another arterial that's less travelled and another part of my bike commute. It was the bus for me today. I didn't see one bicyclist this morning. Hopefully this sun will melt the ice today so the roads are clear tomorrow. Then we'll see what happens on Wednesday/Thursday.

I did ride around a bit yesterday on my mountain bike - with my nubby tires a bit deflated and that was FUN! Stayed off the main roads due to hills+bad driving. Only had problems when trying to get up steep stretches of hillside.

I rode my usual 18 mile commute from Lake Stevens to Everett this morning. Depending on how much sun they got yesterday, roads varied from almost clear to icy to 2" of crunchy snow. My studded Marathon Winters kept me upright, but even they got squirrelly in some places.

Riding the half-mile stretch of the US 2 bike path over the Snohomish River into Everett, I was surprised to see that I was the first person laying down a bike tire trail through the 2" of snow since it fell on Saturday (there were several sets of footprints, though).

I got to Yakima for work today - 14 degrees and the wind had to have been blowing close to 20 mph. Top it off with snow coming down sidways and I was none to happy to head home to the warmth of my shop, trainer and Tour de France videos.

Update on I-90 bike path (Seattle).

I got a better look at the ice patches on the way home (from downtown Seattle back out to Mercer Island). Current Monday-evening status:

- There are small, intermittent patches of ice along the concrete barrier (the south edge of the path) all the way across. As long as you spot the ice or ride at least 2 feet from the edge of the barrier, no problem.

- There is a short stretch of more troublesome ice right up at the Mercer Island side (after you've climbed up from the lake surface to the actual beginning of Mercer Island). The ice stretches 90% of the way across the bike path, and last about 40 or 50 feet. The ice is rough, and didn't appear to be super-click. Just slow down and take it easy; you'll be OK.

Chilly out there over the lake...

I'll keep riding all week, even with the call for more snow Wednesday and Thursday. Sweet holy balls is it cold out there, though!

I am planning a hybrid commute tomorrow. I've got the bike strapped to the car,and I am going to drive down to the Woodinville P&R. I'll drop the car there for the day, and ride my bike to downtown Bellevue.

The roads up here north of Woodinville are still ice covered. It's just too dangerous to share them with cars, in my estimation. Plus I would need studed tires which I don't have.

Cycled into work today. Dropped my car at the Woodinville P&R @ 6:00am as planned and jumped on the bike. Once I got moving, it was a pretty good ride. The moon and stars were out, and I had the SRT all to myself. Beautiful morning to ride! Hopped off the SRT at Leary way, and rode up the 520 trail to Bellevue. Had this one to myself as well - I saw one ninja jogger between Woodinville and Bellevue. I did not see any other cyclists. Navigated through downtown Bellevue to the office. Both trails are in good shape - bone dry and just a couple of icy spots that are easily navigated.

For clothes, I had on a smartwool base layer, top and bottom. Over the top of that I put my bike shorts and my Bellweather Aqua-no rain pants. On my upper body I added a couple poly layers and my Showers Pass jacket on the outside. Smartwool socks on my feet and then my Lake 302 boots. Bellweather climate control fleece gloves on my hands with Dakine snoboard gloves over the top. Finally a thin wool hat on my head with a pull-down face warmer and my helmet over the top. If anything, I was a little warm, and I had to unzip my jacket to cool down as I rode.

Everett roads were still icy this morning and cold really cold. Rode from Downtown Seattle to Fremont this morning. Boy was I ever awake when I got to work.

Darkness, corner, speed, road plate, and ice, made for a spectacular crash at 6th and 90th nw this morning. My ribs still hurt, and ruined a perfectly good pair of knickers.

Mixed methods for the last two days. Bike to bus, bus to transit center, bike to work, reverse repeat on the return.

After getting home, I ride around for my errands (like hitting the liquor store for rum). Get home, cook dinner, enjoy meal, movie, and rum...

Rubberside Down!
K'Tesh

Good greif! KHQ in Spokane predicted -17 on Saturday and the bad thing is is that they didnt say anything about windchill...
On the brighter side, someone sponsored me online for the Tour de Cure! Woohoo my very first sponsor. Thank you anonomous person! Well she requested to be anon, and I have never met her. So cool!
C'mon gang! cough up so my honey wont have to do that damn insulin thing! :)

Roads at the top of Redmond Ridge are still pretty narsty when you get off of Novelty Hill. Of course, Lake of the Woods development is totally clear, but when you get to the edge of the development it's back to being icy again.
Woodinville-Duvall Rd is partially cleared, but much of the shoulder is still packed snow over a layer of ice. Studded tires make it passable from 212th down the hill to the 522 exchange, but be darned careful once it becomes a 2-lane down the hill. The right lane is still pretty icy until you get to the light at 175th.

175th is clean, including the bike lane.
Rt 202 is clean.
Avondale is clean.
Novelty Hill is clean up to Trilogy Pkwy. The steep side (heading down to 203) is bad. Traffic was backed up all the way down the other side to Avondale yesterday, and I was passing cars (at my awesome 6mph) going up it.

btw, do any local shops sell nokian studded tires? (the 28mm version)

i need some!!

btw, do any local shops sell nokian studded tires? (the 28mm version)

i need some!!

I will check at Redmond Cycle and Sammamish Valley for you today on my way home from work. What Nokian model comes in a 28? The smallest I've seen for anything studded is a 32, in the Nokian A10.

I will check at Redmond Cycle and Sammamish Valley for you today on my way home from work. What Nokian model comes in a 28? The smallest I've seen for anything studded is a 32, in the Nokian A10.

thx, C!!

(btw you're right, the smallest is a 32)

Ice Bikers do it sideways!!!
my zip tie/studs broke off and i just wish i had platform pedals instead.
No way i was going to ride to work, but i sure had fun going for a spin.

Still icy out where I live.... might try going for a spin myself, but my wheels may not convert it to forward motion...:o

Went around Bellevue/Kirkland (20 mi) once the temperature hit 27. It was pretty smooth sailing except for the top of Rose Hill/ Bridal Trails where the bike lanes had residual snow/ice where the street plows left thicker piles on Sunday. Everything down low was clear.
Sounds like this could be my only off-trainer riding for a few days.

Good ride home tonite. Did not see another cyclist/jogger/walker from Bellevue to Woodinville. It was 25 degrees when I left the office in Bellevue - a good 10 degrees warmer than when I left home this morning. It felt like I was in the tropics! :thumb:

Harry - bummer about your fall. Hope you did not bust anything.

Damn it! I just can't bring myself to ride the 9 miles to work in the dark with black ice and sliding cars. I took the bike out for a spin on Sunday after the snow stopped and was almost hit 3 times in 6 miles. It's not me that can't stop. It's the cars with lousy tires. My Schwalbe Marathon Winters are just fine. I haven't ridden in the last week and I feel like a real weeny. Just can't afford to risk serious injury right now.

thx, C!!

(btw you're right, the smallest is a 32)

Matt -
Stopped at Woodinville Bike and Sam. Valley Cycles; no studded tires at all. SVC doesn't have the Nokian A10 or the Marathon Winter on their order forms. Are those not QBP, because I know that's their supplier.

Spokane is nuts right now. 4"-5" of snow over bits of residual ice.
The roads are that pie-crust flaky kr@p that makes it squirrelly as all get out.
I'll finish the work day at home because there is no way I wanted to combine the roads with the dark and all the exquisitely talented drivers making their way home from a restful day at work.

Just got in, had to bring that fat tire cruiser, it was a blast, only about 2' at northgate. Is was able to keep up with traffic on 85th no problem. Cheers.

We got about 15 inches in the last 15 hours. No biking today :notamused:, but hopefully by the Saturday the streets will be packed down enough to ride on.

15 inches. Wow. My bikes might be grounded, but, my skiis are doing a happy dance!

We got about 15 inches in the last 15 hours. No biking today :notamused:, but hopefully by the Saturday the streets will be packed down enough to ride on.

Crikey! That's a lot of snow.

Woodinville (on the Ridge) got hit with maybe 3" to 5" this morning. Cold, crunchy, mostly packed so that I had nice tire tracks to ride in on the way to work.

We have had snow on the ground in Everett since late Saturday afternoon. And it has snowed almost everyday since then. No riding at all this week and the commutes have been grueling. Tonight I am going to stay at Alki so I don't have to spend hours on the bus to get to Everett.

I'll take some more pix on the way home. Our Facility Mgr. made the call and we're closing up shop early, so I'm headed home now.
The Girl says that it's still sporadic white-out conditions 500' higher, up where we live (she stayed home today.)

Never ridden in snow before this week. Yesterday I removed the fenders and slicks and put on my cross tires. They were ok, but I still wiped out in the snow leaving work yesterday, much to the amusement of the Life Skills students palying outside. To be safe I will probably get some studded tires eventually.

I did have some fun with a coat hanger and some sleds...

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