Artkansas 

How was your last commute for the year?

Mine, foggy and 40 degrees. I've had a cold for the past couple of weeks so I've been taking the bus instead, but today I felt strong enough to do the 9.6 mile ride.

Took it gently and was able to do all the ride except for the one section with a 20% gradient. I pushed the bike up that after riding the rest of the way up the hill.

The real thing that got me riding instead of slacking off today was that it's a half-day at work. That means it would take two hours to get home by bus on a mid day schedule instead of catching the evening schedule which gets me home a little faster than the bike. And the daylight ride will let me take the long-cut through a beautiful park instead of wrestling with traffic in a particularly bad spot.

doOde

bummer about the cold, nice you had 1/2 day. i got out 30 min early yesterday!

going to work=fast and fun. saw the usual commuters out, chatted and had a good time.

coming home=slow and wet. took my time because i couldnt find the energy to make it snappier.


13 miles 1 way w/~15lbs in front panniers. 2010 im switching to backpack but may keep the front rack on.

Pig_Chaser

Pretty cool at -25C. There was a fresh 1/2" of snow or so on the trails. One of the trails was fairly drifted, resulting in a narrow shallow channel running right down the middle of the trail. The ride has been really nice all week with the reduced traffic.

vaticdart

37 and clear in Seattle, with wet roads from last night's rain. That's about as cold as I'll ride in when it's not raining and without studs. Pretty deserted out there this morning, both in terms of motor and bicycle traffic.

kmcrawford111

I rode only about a quarter of the way because of the possbility of considerable snow. But it turns out I would have been just fine. Sucks, but at least I didn't drive the whole way.

Happy 2010!

tjspiel

About 7 F with a headwind and the first 2 miles of road covered with rutted ice. Never got out of the small chainring. Bike trails were pretty good though.

TheLifeOfBryan

My last work commute was cold but good. After getting home last night I did a full grocery run, which was my last ride of the year. On the way home I hit 5,000 miles for the year (~4400 by bike, ~600 on skates, a very small amount running), and at that moment I was carrying 47 pounds of food. So this morning I didn't feel too terribly lazy when I caught a ride to work with my girlfriend instead of riding in the cold rain.

bigbenaugust 

Mine was yesterday... 2 hrs. on the bike for 15 mins. in the office to rotate the tapes. Mid-50s for the high, mostly cloudy.

Today, I am riding to my wife's office for lunch.

dwilbur3

I managed to dodge the rain every day this week! The ride in was pleasant this morning, almost no wind.

My first year of cycle commuting was a very rewarding experience. I lost about 5 pounds and I've never been healthier. On top of that, my physical therapist said biking was the best thing I could do for my blown out knee (skiing last March ripped the medial, meniscus and ACL, the first two are healed, the ACL never will).

jeffpoulin

My last commute was on the 23rd. A rainy day, but otherwise pleasant. I did some Christmas shopping after work. Looking forward to 2010, and especially looking forward to longer days this spring. It's funny how much I miss riding in the dark when it's summer, and how much I wish it were light when riding in the winter.

FreddyV

Yesterday I did my last ride, so I could take all my dirty laundry and whatever home riding the public transport. My last commute was pretty nice altogether, though cold (+1C) and a light drizzle. I didn't need to use my rain jacket so I was alright. Though when my outer layer of gloves became wet I took them off and could feel the cold through my inner (thin, fall/spring) gloves. Got pretty cold fingers, but I was alright.

Basically, my first year of bike commuting is over. I did 3339 miles over the entire year which, I think, is pretty nice for a first year. Its just around 200 miles less than actually riding half a year solid.

I'm cranking up the mileage for the upcoming year. My 2009 goal was to ride 6000km, I'm cranking it up to 8000 km. Not because I want to, just because I can.

Catgrrl70

Easy ride! About 38 when I left, no rain, light wind, wet streets. No traffic. Like, none. My main route through the waterfront was amazing. It was quiet - absolutely no one around but me for one stretch. Downtown deserted just after 7:00 am. I somehow hit all the green lights too and only had to put a foot down once. Hopefully it won't be raining too hard on the way home and traffic and peds will behave themselves. What has been up with the peds this week?! LOL!

caloso

Low overcast and muggy almost. Very little traffic -- I think many folks are off this week or at least today. I've been riding the fendered fixed gear all week but today I brought the fenderless roadie. Hope the rain will hold off and I'll be able to get out of the office a little early to get some miles in before the bachanalia.

scoatw

Thursday,December 31,2009. 33f I woke up and looked outside the window and the snow was coming down in buckets. A heavy, wet snow. That turned into slush when it came down upon you. I started riding at 3:45am. While I rode the snow was sticking to me and completely covered me up. I stayed warm thanks to the clothes I wear. But as I rode and tried to brush the snow off of me. Every time I did that I got a handful of wet slush. I got to my oasis in the night. The BP in Linworth. And switched gloves from the cotton jersey gloves which were sopping wet by now.To the mittens. They’re much more waterprooof. I watched the News last nite and wasn’t planning on having the snow studs cause I did’nt think it was going to be that bad. But I woke up and decided to switch to the snow studs. Glad I did, cause the side streets were pretty slippery. This aftn. I rode home in mostly wet roads but they were clear to ride on. Still glad I had the studs on because the shoulder was covered in a wet, slushy snow. And I felt better riding in that knowing I had the studs on. We’re in the middle of it now. Supposed to have frigid temps next week. I had the Loki’s on and my fingers were nice and toasty. How about you? Let’s hear others commute. I finished the year off with 5236 miles.

bmt074

Only about five miles today - just back and forth to work. It snowed out a bit so I went home through snow and slush getting soaked in the process. Why don't I have fenders yet???

I finished the year with about 1500 miles. I'm hoping to double that in 2010.

mustang1

I've been taking the train all this week. I thought of using the bike today, but I didn't wanna take the small chance I might get a flat on the way back.

exile

I've been off since the 23rd although I had to drive that day. I got a few errands done including an oil change and christmas shopping so it wasn't a total waist driving. When i rode it was the usual cold (about 25F if I remember correctly). No snow and not to windy either so I guess a normal December ride.

Happy New Years everyone!

SSSTANG

I am just getting over a cold but it wasn't bad enough to stop me from riding. The temp here was 0*C+/- 1* all day and my 13 mile ride to work began at 0600 and was pretty much uneventful. There was very little traffic because it was new years eve. During the ride home it started sleeting/snowing and continued until I made it to the house. When I got home I found that my wife and son were not at home and I was locked out. That gave me time to get about 10 extra miles in and it was also the only way I could stay warm.

RonE

My last commute of the year was 30 Dec 2009. It was a beautiful day, but was pretty chilly by my standards in central Florida at 45F for the ride in to work. It warmed up to 70F for the ride back. I started commuting this summer, and that ride bumped me over 1700 miles on the bike since May.

kegoguinness

Last commute: Morning slush that became snow, whooshing along in 2-3 inches of heavy snow, wiped out as I turned to head into the ofice parking lot, but a fairly gentle fall. Ride home was WET, but no slush and ice Happy new year/feliz ano nuevo everyone. May your 2010 brings lots of miles and no doorings!

daxr

4 inches of fresh snow:

mechBgon

It was just below freezing and snowing moderately when I started home tonight. There was just enough fresh snow cover to obscure the lane markings, and the wet snow was sticking to my clear glasses so I had to wipe them with my glove a couple times (I took the direct route home, under 2 miles / 3 km). I was on my super-reflective mountain commuting bike with studded tires, worked great.

Anyway, I got home safely and ate an ENTIRE 50¢ BOX of Mac & Cheese for dinner

swwhite

Cold. Slippery. Took a fall.