rumrunn6

right on! you did it!

robert schlatte

I always feel a little anxious before my first "snow" ride of the winter because of the real or imagined perils involved, etc. But after I get out and ride in snow, cold, slop, etc. the first time and see that it is not as bad as I imagined and often quite enjoyable, I get over the anxiety and I am good for the rest of the winter. I will say that it helps immensely that I have two routes that I can take into downtown Columbus where I never have to leave a of bike trail which the local metroparks division and city keep meticulously plowed.

mcours2006

That's a good idea, but you will have to figure out how to deal with the problem of fogging. I wear a balaclava that covers all my nose as well. I don't now if that's what is causing the fog, or if it's moisture from my own eyes. Either way, the condensation clears after your start moving, but man, those first 10-30 seconds of riding almost blind is kind of harrowing.

PatrickGSR94

I got a ski mask for about $30 and it just doesn't work for me. If my mouth and nose are covered, the moisture still works its way past the foam seal and into the mask and fogs it up. I have resorted to just covering my mouth and nose and leaving the tiniest of opening for my eyes, and riding with no eye wear when it's down near 20F. It wasn't too bad last time I did it.

OICU812a

@PatrickGSR94
Ski goggles make all the difference, get a vented face mask. My balaclava with thinner material at the mouth is too hot. Moist air comes out the eye slit and into my goggles causing fog.

These fog the goggles, gotta ride with your nose/mouth exposed 3/4 of the time.

They make vented masks for construction hardhats, it clips into the straps. I saw one at Princess Auto once, but cant find any like it online.
Sorta like this. I think I would cut off the forehead/ears though.



Anyone using this type of venting and goggles?

PatrickGSR94

@OICU812a Yep, I have a vented balaclava and it still fogs up my ski mask.

OICU812a

Dang... Have you tried treating the lens with antifog?
My goggles are pretty old, the foam deteriorated around the upper and lower vents. I peeled away the remaining vent foam and got much better ventilation inside the goggles. They still fog, but it clears faster when I de-balaclava my face.

PatrickGSR94

Haven't tried it. Honestly it wasn't too bad just going with my face fully covered except as small as possible around my eyes.

Jim from Boston

@PatrickGSR94If interested, see this post, and a subsequent one for my perennial suggestions about fogging. I’ve solved the problem for about 14 miles, down to single digits, with a similar solution as @OICU812a

As endorsed by chefisaac

PatrickGSR94

Thanks, yeah I've seen your posts before. I found OICU812a's suggestion about removing the seal foam around the ski mask to be curious. Why would I bother with a ski mask if it wasn't able to seal around my face?

OICU812a

@PatrickGSR94 Not the face seal, the vents.
https://goo.gl/photos/rrTfWaYoZU6XcpGY8

capejohn

It's good to see your still commuting and still talking about it here.

Jim from Boston

Thanks for the note, @capejohn, presumably in regard to my accident in 2012. How are you?

I started cycle commuting about five months later, in October. In April 2013 I got a carbon fiber road bike to replace the Bridgestone RB-1, and I ride as much as I can (as the job allows) though not enough. I did 60 miles in the Allegheny Mtns in October.

My fractured sacrum is more comfortable cycling, than walking or prolonged sitting (at my job).

CrippledKonaBoy

My MAIN motivation for leaving the bike at home was two-fold -- one, I take the bike inside with me, and it took most of today to clear the space I use for parking (just got back on the job after an injury); also, the lock on the damned garage door decided to take a dump on me, and not allow my key to insert. So I have to force the door, and I'll need time to fix it once I do.

Weather DID enter into it, too...1F, windchill -15F, and I just wasn't in the MOOD for that. But the first two are rock-solid reasons.

capejohn

I don't remember your accident in 2012, I may have missed it, but am happy to see things getting back to normal for you. I very seldom visit the commuter section since retiring in June of O 10 and seeing someone (you) from those days was the reason for my note. Now to find, chipcom.

PatrickGSR94

Woohoo 5 for 5 so far this month/year! It was 19F when I woke up, about 23 when I left at 6 AM. Bike computer said 24F the whole way in. Toes froze again. Oh well, still glad I rode.

icyj

The only times I have said "I shouldn't have ridden" have been several sub-zero rides (notably one with a 10mph headwind and an actual temp of -9 deg F). About half way through that ride, all I kept thinking of was that I should phone my wife, but the thought of removing a glove to dial the number seemed worse at that moment then just riding on. I made it without getting frostbite, but now I try to limit my sub-zero riding (which can be some of the most enjoyable riding) to routes that are close to home, rather than my "longish" commute to work.

Jim from Boston

I do recall we had a couple (friendly) exchanges in the good old days, well before the accident, and I recall your avatar, as well as your location in Fairhaven, MA. I think a colleague has a summer place there.

I adopted my avatar just a couple years ago. It’s a picture of the ”Pru” taken from our front window in Kenmore Square during the last World Series in Boston, with the windows illuminated to read “Go Sox.” (The Prudential Center In Boston is 52 stories, 749 feet tall, and visible from Fenway Park.)

Funny you should mention @chipcom. I have previously wondered about him too. Back on 7/28/14, I posted this reply to your thread, ”Chipcom” on the Commuting Forum.

And on 11/19/15 I posted to this Road Cycling Forum, "Gone but not forgotten."

tarwheel 

Although I would agree with that sentiment most of the time, I have ridden a few times when I later regretted it. My commute is fairly long, about 16 miles each way, which can take 50 minutes to 1:20 depending on the conditions. I have not yet encountered temperatures in NC that have been too cold for me, with coldest commutes in the mid-teens most winters. However, I have gotten caught in thunderstorms and other conditions that made me regret riding, such as:

- Heavy rains, winds and lightning associated with outer bands of hurricanes, tropical storms and plain old thunderstorms.
- Air pollution from large wildfires that caused heavy smoke and unhealthy conditions for riding.
- Extremely hot, humid weather with temperatures exceeding 100 F and the heat index more than 110.

Perhaps I'm more cautious than other dedicated bike commuters. However, I'm also 62 years old and have ridden 40+ years without any serious mishaps. One of my main reasons for riding is my health and well-being, and it doesn't make much sense to me to bike commute when weather conditions and other factors make it unsafe and/or unhealthy.

rumrunn6

+1 live to ride another day!

Jim from Boston

Why didn't I ride?

I posted about my most regrettable ride to the thread, ”Riding in the rain.”

rumrunn6

oy, wutz the opposite of lol?

mcours2006

I didn't ride this past Monday and Tuesday because of low temperatures (-18 to -20) early in the morning, and nasty winds in the afternoon (gusts of 50+km/h). Could I have done it? Probably. Would I have enjoyed it? Probably not. So no regrets on not riding.

I did ride these past two days though. Temperatures and wind much more agreeable (only -10 in the morning and little wind to speak of).

Jim from Boston

? ? ? ? ? ?

chipcom 

still alive and kicking...just don't have much time to get in here to play.