Pacific Northwest - First commute since the storms. Sad.

Between the snow and regularly scheduled time off, I haven't ridden in around 2 weeks. Today was the first commute and I was a very sad case :( It took me about 10% longer, and I actually had to stop and just breathe at one point because I was feeling nauseous. Sad, sad, sad.

You'd think that I didn't do anything but sit in my comfy recliner drinking egg-nog, eating cookies and candies, and watching TV. Oh, wait...

Hope y'all had a good ride today!

yes i did, like you I haven't been on the bike for 2 weeks. The ride in was easy flat and down hill. Tonight its the reverse. I hope all the walking I had to do to get to work this last couple of weeks kept me in enough shape to climb hills again.

The snow fall in Spokane has just been insane. Set a record for December snow at 47 inches and we got another 4 to 5 inches today. I usually commute with the mt bike but I also haven't ridden anything except the trainer during the past few weeks. On a brighter note I finally ordered a pair of Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pros. It should make the snowy commute a little more fun.

Also been off the bike for 2 weeks, and with all the travel I did in November, it's been more like six weeks since I've ridden my normal amounts. I run so have kept cardio training going, but that first slog on wheels up onto the plateau out of Issaquah isn't going to be fun. Have resisted getting a trainer, but these last 2 weeks finally pushed me over the edge. I hate losing my cycling muscles!

Also been off the bike for 2 weeks, and with all the travel I did in November, it's been more like six weeks since I've ridden my normal amounts. I run so have kept cardio training going, but that first slog on wheels up onto the plateau out of Issaquah isn't going to be fun. Have resisted getting a trainer, but these last 2 weeks finally pushed me over the edge. I hate losing my cycling muscles!

I live in Issy and share your dread of the plateau. The only difference is I broke down on Sunday and got a trainer. Cougar Mountain was bad enough a few weeks ago I don't even want to think about it now.

Oh, and the bike lane is a giant sand pit thanks to the snow.

I too, finally got on the bike today. Most of my trip was on the Interurban Trail, but then I headed up Canyon Road in Kent, and boy was there grit all over the road :( . Still a few spots with snow, too!

Still, it felt sooooo good to get going :D .

East Hill

2nd day back in the saddle and my derailuer snapped off the comuter :(

At least the road bike will get some use for a while

The only difference is I broke down on Sunday and got a trainer.

LOL! I did too. I have no room in my small apartment for a bike + trainer, and unfortunately have found riding on gym bikes to be unsatisfying...but was going crazy. (I also run, but that doesn't keep cycling muscles going). Barely found room in my small garage for the trainer, but it works there. The first 'ride', with bright lights and some cranked-up tunes, wasn't bad at all. am back riding on the street again now, but it's nice to know that the trainer's a viable option if necessary.

I am VERY happy to say that, although I have been off the bike for about three weeks, I spent
the majority of it in a very warm, sunny place in South America. Home tomorrow.

A stairmaster and weight lifting will do wonders.

I would love to commute to work, but I am now working 6:30 to 3:30, and I am not up for what could be a very tough ride on the Burke-Gilman only to show up late, a serious no-no. Wondering if anyone knows the status of the B-G along the top of the lake to Cascadia? Has it more or less melted off yet? I was out for the first time yesterday and found the ride nice, if cold riding home in a headwind.

Oh, I have a fluid trainer, and nothing rocks more that a biking video while riding the trainer. It really provides visual stimulation for trainer rides.

well, I can pretty much guarantee as I write this there is snow there, and will be more overnight!

Ack snow, i moved back here from Ohio to escape this cr@p !! Oh well at least this stuff will be gone by the time I head home :)

I've been on the bike for short rides every day since last Thursday - some wet, most dry, often chilly. (saw a lot of riders out all weekend doing the lap of Mercer Island).

Today commuted into downtown Seattle from the Eastside.

My nemesis - the I90 bridge bike lane -- was completely clean and slush free (just wet). It was so clean, in fact, that I wonder if the wind last night melted all the snow as it came down or whether they actually cleared it? (though I saw no slush piles that would suggest they cleared it).

However, the climb up to the Mt. Baker tunnel was slush and then that bike path through the parks that goes from the bike tunnel west across MLK and then downhill to Hiawatha street was a slippery, slush mess. Based on the temperatures today I'm assuming/hoping it will melt by this afternoon.

I drove last night to Seattle from Olympia. I5 to Tacoma was wet. I5 from Tacoma and north, especially around Federal Way (higher elevation) was horribly slushy/snowy. I almost headed back to Olympia. I think that your nemesis was one of those lower-elevation situations; is the Baker Tunnel higher up?

I think that your nemesis was one of those lower-elevation situations; is the Baker Tunnel higher up?

I think there is maybe 100 feet or so of elevation difference between the bike lane across the bridge and the tunnel - maybe less? I don't know if that's enough to make a difference, or whether it has more to do w/exposure to the wind and rain.

Between work travel, personal travel, and the snowpocalypse tm I haven't been on the bike since early December...waaah

Where was everybody today?

I saw one rider on the way into downtown Seattle, one ride on the way home. I've ridden through some reasonably bad weather the past two winters and it was the least I've seen yet.

well personally I am sick with a sore throat so you won't see me out there....

Godson's home on leave (he's a Marine) and celebrating his 21st birthday today with family. I want to be the DD if he wants to barhop with friends, so I drove in to work today (I have no capacity for alcohol anyway, being a skinny runner/biker).

Same here as of today. 3 wks off, 5 # on.

I saw (I think) 4 others on the way in this morning (South Renton -> Redmond). Two were going the opposite direction, and two passed me. What can I say?

This afternoon looks like fun. Sustained 16-20 MPH winds from the south (my direction of travel, of course).

cross country skis and great in the winter when you cant ride but since the snow melted today

I switched to the trike this week so that I could put miles in without worrying about gravel, residual snow, broken branches or other crap in the road. Less concern for me when the weather turns. I am glad I did, my 23mm tires on the other bike aren't a great source of comfort in these conditions.

There's like a half-inch of gravel in the bike lanes and on the shoulders of my usual route. Oh yeah plus the branches.

It's been like four weeks for me, just rode to work and back yesterday and it felt good to be biking again.