I have been noticing some extreme variances the past few weeks. It may be 50 something in most parts, but as soon as I drop down to a creek crossing the temp drops and my hands suddenly get cold. When I climb back out of it it isn't so bad anymore.

Took a new route to my new job that is about five an a half miles away compared to my old three mile commute. I actually go through some of the city and travel through rougher areas with pot holes and cracked sidewalks. I'm actually really happy with my hybrid bike because in some areas I transition to the sidewalk because of traffic situations and sometimes it's pretty rough. I of course go slower on sidewalks but I'll take more time over super busy angry drivers in a couple sections. And because of the cold and rain almost no ones out using them. This new route also has some nasty hills. At least for someone in my fitness. But now when I have a hill I need to go up on my route I see it as a challenge. Well now that I think about it it's a lot of downhill to work and uphill back home. Nothing to motivate going up the hill than to head home and relax after a shower. Ofcourse everyone at this new workplace is saying "You ride your bike here? but it's so cold!", when it was like 44 degrees. Which is funny cause I've ridden in like 14 degrees. My right knee was giving me trouble but is doing a lot better. I think I need to strengthen my hips for that. I may not be fast but I'm starting to like climbing.... Oh and one more thing. A guy next to me at an intersection was asking where a gas station was. Only the 2nd time someone said something to me from a car. And this time it was nice.

I'm amazed at how many drive in the dark without their lights on. It's gotta be at least 1 in 10.

The five miles and hills will become second nature soon enough. I hop on a sidewalk for a short stretch too. It keeps me off of a busy highway and there is rarely a pedestrian. I'll just pass them slowly.

They have been recently working on the railroad tracks that I have to cross. They're putting in new ties and laying new gravel on the sides. A road that parallels the tracks and that I have to get on briefly was a parking lot, probably due to the work on the tracks. Anyway, I got through the traffic easily but had to stop briefly to wait for one of the railroad tie machines before I could cross. It was a pretty fancy deal that can pull out the old tie and put in a new one. The track does not have to be removed at all.

No rain this morning. Clear and about 37F at the start. Not bad at all.

I counted 5 cars driving in the dark this morning with no lights on. They must think they are saving gas.

Fast commute this morning after taking the day off yesterday. I made a good call driving yesterday because it rained much of the day and then heavy fog settled in during the time I would have been riding home. The fog developed very suddenly but was gone by this morning.

I was underdressed a little because it's supposed to be sunny and "warm" this afternoon, thus I had to ride faster to build up some body heat. So I got to work about 5 minutes quicker than usual and added another mile or so to my commute to make it an even hour. When I got to work I found that our building supervisor finally fixed our shower, which has had cold water only for the past 3 years. I had complained about it numerous times to no avail, until I found out one day that the other shower -- the handicapped one, which I had never used -- only has hot water. When I brought that to the attention of our building manager, he finally realized that something wasn't right and got it fixed. The squeaky wheel gets the oil ... eventually.

23F (-5C) and light winds this morning, which made for a fantastic ride. I had one too many layers on, but it wasn't bad. The sun wasn't up during my commute, but it's now making an appearance for the first time in days!

Upper 40s today with gusty winds in the forecast for this afternoon. I took a small detour on the way to work to drop off some urine samples at the veterinarian's office and pick up some arthritis medicine for my dog.

The road past the vet's office is a regular two-lane road with no shoulders. Lanes aren't wide, but they're wide enough for a car to pass me safely (i.e. not wide enough for the legal 4 feet of space, but still room enough to pass without buzzing). I had two cars in a row hang back behind me, even with plenty of passing space, until I waved them past.

Department Christmas Lunch is today, so I'll most likely be heading home early.

23F and a pretty stiff cross wind which is forecast to be a headwind by this evening. Must be dumbass pickup driver's day - 2 ran red lights, 2 blew through stop signs. I can confirm at least 1 was a woman so blows my stereotype of an angry white guy targeting bicycles

37 degrees this morning and HUMID. my glasses fogged up and eventually i had to take them off. I did not bother putting another pair on but wow it sure does mess with you when you are used to see clearly and behind you (mirror) and I had neither after I took them off. It sure felt good to ride.

My commutes recently have been very mundane and placid. Which is good. Drivers have been giving me a wide berth and waiting to not right hook me. I am not sure if I can attribute it to driver awareness, my riding position or my incredible visibility.

I did have a guy shoal me last night and then proceed to go slower. I could not safely pass since it was a narrow, bumpy and busy road by the hospital.

I put my studded tires on Sunday night and they have been unneeded but they feel fine and the noise doesn't bother me. I am running them at 80 psi and the studs still bite so I know I'd be fine on ice at that pressure.

With the upcoming forecast I'll likely take them off now that I have broken them in as advised.

I am at nearly 3000km since late June when I got a smartphone and Strava. So I figure I am near 4,500 km for the year since I stated exclusively commuting by bike in April. I rode intermittently in February and March and only only one or two days in January.

I wish I could report the same 'placid' drivers. 3 of the last 5 afternoon commutes have included an aggressive driver blaring their horn at me while crossing, with the signal. It is an unusual and busy crossing. There are two busy country roads and an interstate exit feeding one of the county roads. Map reference, if you're interested: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.9403.../data=!5m1!1e3 - Crossing Minnetonka Blvd and McGinty Rd.

Here is last night's GoPro footage, you can jump to 1:28 to get to the 'action'

WARNING: my language is not acceptable for basic cable:

Also, really nice long crossing signal, it's flashing "DO NOT CROSS" before I finish crossing on a bike!

Started raining just as I rolled out of the driveway this morning. Luckily, it was for only a few minutes and then it passed.

Yeah I have it much better. Nothing like that at all, that is a wonky crossing and like you said short.

I would call the city every day I almost get hit and send the video each time. Get them to give a longer crossing and ideally not allow right turns while crossing. Maybe get them to sit a cop there and ticket drivers for failing to yield. I personally think people behave better when they know they can't get away with the little things.


Your accent isn't from Minnesota is it?

HA! I needed that! dontcha know.

I did issue a complaint to the city and county, not the first, not likely the last. I've created a YouTube playlist to capture all my videos about this intersection. I need to be more dedicated to editing and adding videos, only one in ten 'offenses' gets added to YouTube.

I am pleased to report that my city repaired the fire hydrant that was leaking water across one of the roads on my route. I put up with it all summer but called the city when the weather started getting cold because I was afraid that the water would turn to ice on cold mornings. It took them a couple of weeks to fix it after I called, but the road has been dry lately -- just in time for winter.

That is good news. The first few icy days here a few weeks ago someone still had their sprinklers going. I also saw some idiot watering their sidewalk one cold morning.

Rode the fatty to work today. It was snowy, dark & cold (~2C) when I started then grey, rainy, filthy & cold when I arrived. Had a good ride though.

Side note: Man, I need fenders on that thing, glad I've got a set of Portland Design Works, Dave's Mud Shovels on the way because the taste of road grit on my water bottle was just nasty!

I used to ride a 5 mile distance to work before I was transferred to a new store. And after biking to work now I was like I have become lazy with only riding the 3 mile route before. I make it in about 35 minutes now depending on traffic. I made the 3 miles in 15minutes.

I was all ready to take the bus this morning, but I was running a minute late, and the bus was a minute early, so while I was still two blocks from my stop (and running), I saw my bus pull away. Okay, well, I'll check my phone to see when the next bus is supposed to come...whoops, forgot my phone at home. Went back home, changed into my cycling gear, and rode instead.

-5C (23F), low winds. I was a bit underdressed and my fingers got quite cold. I'll probably have the same problem going home.

This is probably going to be my last post in this thread before the holidays, so I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in the 2015 thread.

I know compared to some areas the amount of snow today was negligible, but I haven't lived in an area where it snow in over 20 years. I forgot how quiet and peaceful the snow can be. :) It was also the first snow of the season for ABQ.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...217_072844.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...7_072724-1.jpg

Great ride this morning with temps in the low 30s and no wind. It's about 10 degrees colder than yesterday but very tolerable. We are having an all-day feast at work today, so I'm glad I was able to ride and burn up some of the calories. It is really hard for me not to put on weight over the holidays because there is so much food around, and I'm just about always hungry.

Riding home yesterday the same railroad tracks were being worked on. They were putting new asphalt on the crossing. One of the workers told me to stop, which I was already doing. I asked if I could walk around it and they waved me through. I had to carry my bike over the gravel and tracks and then get back on the road. Then I had to watch out for a backhoe that was backing up in my direction. One guy said to me, "Look out there." They all had the white hard hats on, so I turned and said, "I'm alright. I've got at hat too," and knocked on my helmet. Then I got past their work area and hopped back on the bike.

Nothing exciting this morning. The track crossing was done, but I do have to watch out for a lot of gravel right around it.

there was some snow on the ground this morning but I could've take the bike... But I'm a lazy bastard and this is my last day of the week so I dug the van out of the snow bank.

3.5-inches of snow is enough to close all the schools in this part of the country. So... with the kids and wife staying home today (she's a teacher), I decided I needed a 'snow day' too! However, my 'snow day' thus far has consisted of sitting with my laptop in the guest bedroom to get work done. Hmmm...

Oh man, thank you - it's so seldom that we get to really make an impact on drivers! There's some conversation about starting an effort in Indy to record license plate numbers of aggressive drivers (i.e. dickheads) and report them to police. The mayor apparently has local pd on board with it who would make at least cursory phone calls to said dickheads. I don't think it'll work but the thought is nice.

25F and no wind this morning - wonderful!