OneLessFixie

That looks like it was taken from the Pattullo Bridge, amirite?

Mr. Hairy Legs

Nope, Alex Fraser.

Darth Lefty 

They're diurnal. I don't really see them after the time change.

MauiWowwee

Broke a spoke tonight. Luckily I was near a light rail station when it happened and just hopped on to my destination.

mgw4jc

Bailed this morning for two reasons:
(1) Rain
(B) Legs quite sore from running a marathon on Saturday

Wife gave me a ride in and I brought my bike with the intention of riding home this evening. Today's temps are 44 low and 64 high. Tomorrow is supposed to be 20 / 40. Gonna have to bundle up.

Darth Lefty 

One of those days when I attempted to sleep in and shouldn't have bothered because infant and pets kept me awake. I should have gotten up at 5, then I could have ridden, but since I got up at 6:15, by the time I cooked breakfast, and watched it get cold while feeding the baby who chose just then to get fussy, it was too late to shower much less ride. I'm disappointed, I needed it mentally. This might have been the only day of the week I could have ridden.

arsprod 

18F, 3" of snow - don't have studs on yet so I rode an old mountain bike, good for snow but ssssslllllloooooowwwww. It's too damn early for studded tires

joeyduck

@Darth Lefty. Those are the worst days I how you can slog through it okay.

My commute was nice. About minus three Celsius. Seemed to be more moisture on the roads today I took it easy on the shady parts.

It was a nice ride!

spivonious

Cold and rain forecast to be steady all day means I drove in. I really need to get some waterproof gloves and shoe covers.

Hypno Toad

I second that! 5F in MPLS and the 2-3" of snow on Saturday was not very well cleaned up on many side roads. Got to work with thighs burning and sweating like mad. I've got my studded tire mounted last week thanks to the storm that dropped a lovely mix of rain, sleet, snow, and general yuck all over the roads (still bad ice on side roads from that). This is going to be another LONG winter.

dramiscram

First snow this automn, it's nothing new but it's always a bit of stress for the first ride. It was okay.

wphamilton

I took the rain bike this morning. Since it was raining. More than I realized actually, as the creek was already near flood level and low sections of that route were under water. I didn't want to deal with it so I turned around and took the surface streets.

It was the first test ride since I'd done a bit of work on the bike. Front fender, changed the shifter, a few other things, so I felt that it was pretty risky to take on a commute in cold rain. But fortunately nothing serious came up on the shake-out, other than a fender rub when I used the front brake. I missed it by having a low tire when installing it, and aired up was just enough difference. I'll take it off before putting up with it, if I can't get it lined out. The fender came off of a bike with 26" tires - it seemed to work, but maybe too much to ask of it on my beater road bike.

jrickards

I'm pleased to report that my winter bike is coming along nicely. I've finished making the studded tires and have mounted the front tire on the wheel. However, the rear wheel needs 2 spokes replaced so earlier, I took one of the broken spokes to the LBS and got a couple of replacements. I took the cassette off, pulled out the broken spoke and put in the new one only to discover that the old spoke had longer nipples than the ones that I purchased to replace them so I actually need longer spokes than the originals, otherwise, the rear wheel would have been ready tonight. I also have to wait for the replacement shifter for the rear derailleur, the original slips when I try to change gears and although I could ride it single speed, I can't with the rear wheel needing spokes. By the weekend, it should be up and running and I'll be able to bike in to work next week.

HydroG33r 

They make all the difference! My 45NRTH Fasterkatt SPD boots are GREAT for fall/spring in Vancouver as they're 100% waterproof... though the last few days with temperatures between 0 and -4°C (25 to 32F) was pushing the limits of the Fasterkatts' insulation.... had some cold toes after my ~1h ride in this morning. To be fair the Fasterkatts are only rated down to 25F, and I only wear a medium weight merino wool sock in them as they fit quite tight (I already sized up from 43 to 44, but should have gone 2 sizes up to 45 to allow room for thicker socks).

45NRTH also makes the WÖLVHAMMER boot... rated from 0 to 25F (down to ~-18°C).

I tell you though... dry (warm) feet make all the difference. I don't think twice about riding in the rain now... as you mentioned though I also do have waterproof gloves (one thin pair for warm rain, and one thicker pair for colllld and wet).

dcb23

Cold headwind 30F/-1C

mgw4jc

24F this morning made for the first sub-freezing ride this season. My chinny chin chin was the only thing cold, but mostly just for the early miles.
I saw 1 dead deer by the side of the road - also the first of this season.

High is only going to be 38 today, but back into 50s before week is out.

tarwheel 

First commute on my new Soma Saga touring bike, and it was a cold one. Temps were hovering at the freezing mark, with a wicked wind out of the NW. Forecasters are calling for record low temperatures tonight in the upper teens. I certainly don't remember ever dipping into the teens in November, and it would be unusual for December around here.

One reason I rode my touring bike was to "calibrate" the computer because I know how far it is to certain points on my commute. However, the bike shop didn't tighten down the front cable hanger, which caused it to move against the wire to my computer, which caused it to intermittently quit working during my commute. I couldn't figure out why my computer kept blanking out but figured it out once I saw the bolt about to work loose on the cable hanger. If that's the worst problem I run into on the new bike, I'll be happy. Overall, the LBS did a great job on the bike, and it's shifting and braking flawlessly. Here's a pic.

spivonious

Whew! 22F and a steady 15-20mph crosswind made the ride into work this morning very tough. It took me about 30% longer than normal. Hopefully the wind dies down by the ride home, or I'll have a 20mph headwind.

jrickards

Very nice!!! I like the matching of the tan saddle, tan bar tape and tan sidewalls of the tires, well done!!

wphamilton

Better today with the fender off. Any water I encounter is going to be frozen anyway. I shudder to think of what the Greenway looks like since it was over a foot deep when I rode home last night, hasn't drained much and will remain frozen probably until Thursday. Speaking of ice, there were patches at the apartment entrance where the paving contractors have been watering it in some scheme to fix their mistakes in resurfacing the parking lot. I guess doing it right, which would require applying intense heat to the surface would be too difficult and expensive so they've been hosing it down for weeks. Apparently to wash oils off. But I thought surely they'd stop before a big freeze.

Other than that, and riding more in the traffic lanes because I don't trust my traction on all the slick frozen leaves, the plus side of 23° is getting here with no sweat, and thanks to my fairing able to just wear office clothes with a windbreaker.

PatrickGSR94

Man, haven't bike commuted since last Tuesday (or ridden at all, even) and I'm about to go nuts. Haven't really felt well since the ride home last Tuesday, lost my voice, freezing cold weather, all that crap. This morning it was 17°F, and 20 is pretty much my cutoff. Will try to ride tomorrow morning.

dramiscram

I chanced the summer bike this morning, it was a good call, I had to walk 500 meters overall to get over icy patches of road but the rest was dry pavement.

The Wind is crazy this morning, 50-55 kmh with gusts up to 90kmh but it was a tailwind, tonight will be like freezing hell on two wheels. For the first time in a long long time I almost skipped the bike ride to take my van because of the winds... I hate Wind...

arsprod 

Totally bailed today - 9F, -7 with wind chill. I've decided no single digit riding until after Thanksgiving, sort of like not wearing white after Labor Day

RidingMatthew

i have been a slacker or too busy to ride. My wife has appreciated me getting home earlier too. I have seen a few deer dead this year. I have seen alive turkeys as well. That is a nice looking bike @tarwheel!


I have not ridden in a while i have gone to the gym a few times and it has been fun to vary my workout some. I love the weight lifting I do. amazing how the muscles respond to working out. a little sore but not too much. I really need to ride my November totals have been sad compared to other months.

joeyduck

@tarwheel Nice bike!

The commute this morning was nice. It was just above freezing and a little overcast. I ran across a fellow who was heading my way we roDe together and chatted. He commented on my visibility, now as long as drivers notice me.

The ride list night was fine. I did have a car pull a close pass, I am certain it was on purpose. I am also certain it was the same car the buzzed me in the same area twice Friday. I got the plate and called it in. I told them not to call the driver but just to put it on file and if it happens again I will call the RCMP back. I will be extra vigilant tonight.