2014!! How was your commute today?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
2014!! How was your commute today?
Well since it's already the 2nd I guess I'll go ahead and do this one.
Happy 2014! I was off work yesterday and we had some nice weather, but was busy with stuff so didn't get any riding in. Oh well. My next commute opportunity is Tuesday but they're saying morning lows in the lower teens, and I just don't think I'm equipped for riding 15 miles in that cold. So I'm not sure when my next commute will be.
What about you?
Happy 2014! I was off work yesterday and we had some nice weather, but was busy with stuff so didn't get any riding in. Oh well. My next commute opportunity is Tuesday but they're saying morning lows in the lower teens, and I just don't think I'm equipped for riding 15 miles in that cold. So I'm not sure when my next commute will be.
What about you?
#2
recumbent bike advocate
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Okeechobee. Florida
Posts: 435
Bikes: Bacchetta Belladare, long wheelbase
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First Commute of the year. Actually, my wife and I were on the recumbents (she rides a Terratrike Rover and I was on my Bacchetta Belladare ) yesterday for a 'first day' ride down to the coffee shop for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The weather was kind of overcast and smelled of rain, so we didn't add to the ride.
This morning I was up at 6 and got on the Belladare at 7 for a commute to work. It was about 65 degrees and still, with a heavy fog, and by the time I completed the 7.8 mile commute I was pretty well wet. When I ride in the fog, my glasses get so I can't see through them, so I find myself pulling my helmet down so the visor is close to my eyes, and then pulling the glasses down a bit and looking over them. That way I can still use the mirror on my glasses, but don't have to look through them.
Very light traffic, no trouble, did have a semi make a close pass as I rode north on Hwy 441 towards my office, but no worries.
Feels good to make that first bike commute of the new year. Will be in the car tomorrow for a couple reasons.
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
This morning I was up at 6 and got on the Belladare at 7 for a commute to work. It was about 65 degrees and still, with a heavy fog, and by the time I completed the 7.8 mile commute I was pretty well wet. When I ride in the fog, my glasses get so I can't see through them, so I find myself pulling my helmet down so the visor is close to my eyes, and then pulling the glasses down a bit and looking over them. That way I can still use the mirror on my glasses, but don't have to look through them.
Very light traffic, no trouble, did have a semi make a close pass as I rode north on Hwy 441 towards my office, but no worries.
Feels good to make that first bike commute of the new year. Will be in the car tomorrow for a couple reasons.
Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Abilene, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
24 degrees out but fortunately not windy. There wasn't a whole lot of traffic out which was nice.
I rode the Schwinn this morning - been thinking about alternating between it and the Raleigh. I can't decide which one I like better.
I rode the Schwinn this morning - been thinking about alternating between it and the Raleigh. I can't decide which one I like better.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Didn't ride in today because of the snow forecast. I went out to start my car and it was dead. I guess I haven't driven it in a while! I had to have my wife drive me in with her car. I'd love to ride tomorrow, but I'm a bit wary of the forecast high temperature of 15F with 25-30mph winds.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Wisconsin US
Posts: 275
Bikes: Schwinn DBX, Trek 820
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
0 degrees, plenty of snow, head (North) wind but I didn't mind since I was in a van carpooling with a couple of coworkers.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 794
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
43°F and raining when I left the house.
I rode 3 miles to the MTA stop, then rode another 1/2 mile to the office once downtown.
The temps are supposed to drop, into the teens by tonight, with snow mid-day.
My mirror was broken off the handlebar when I got off the MTA.
I rode 3 miles to the MTA stop, then rode another 1/2 mile to the office once downtown.
The temps are supposed to drop, into the teens by tonight, with snow mid-day.
My mirror was broken off the handlebar when I got off the MTA.
#7
Senior Member
First ride of 2014 and one of the hardest in recent memory. In fact in sucked! 19F and about 4" of snow overnight. That's usually not a bad thing but the mup wasn't cleared at all and the streets weren't much better. Since the temps were low and it was fresh it's the kind of snow that's ride-able, but just barely. My normal hour winter ride took 1:45, some of which was walking. I actually stopped to take a picture - more to rest than get a pic. I'm not taking this as an omen for the year!!
__________________
I'm slow, go around
I'm slow, go around
#8
Senior Member
Southern ME commute to NE MA through Seacoast NH. 15degF, 2" of snow on the ground, snow still falling at a good clip, plows and salt trucks not even out yet.
Wife drove me to the bus station (could have rode, but didn't). On the bus looking out the windows there were more than a dozen cars spun off the highway. Dusted the snow off the bike and pedaled into work.
Dang. Soupy stuff at the shoulders and no idea where the edge of the road actually was had me riding in the right tire track cleared by cars. Meant that cars had to pass over snowy roadway to pass me, but f' 'em.
Only 3 mi biking each way today, but all the hallmarks of an adventure. First '14 bike commute in the bag on the second day of the year, this is already more commuting than I did last January.
Wife drove me to the bus station (could have rode, but didn't). On the bus looking out the windows there were more than a dozen cars spun off the highway. Dusted the snow off the bike and pedaled into work.
Dang. Soupy stuff at the shoulders and no idea where the edge of the road actually was had me riding in the right tire track cleared by cars. Meant that cars had to pass over snowy roadway to pass me, but f' 'em.
Only 3 mi biking each way today, but all the hallmarks of an adventure. First '14 bike commute in the bag on the second day of the year, this is already more commuting than I did last January.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
First ride of 2014 and one of the hardest in recent memory. In fact in sucked! 19F and about 4" of snow overnight. That's usually not a bad thing but the mup wasn't cleared at all and the streets weren't much better. Since the temps were low and it was fresh it's the kind of snow that's ride-able, but just barely. My normal hour winter ride took 1:45, some of which was walking. I actually stopped to take a picture - more to rest than get a pic. I'm not taking this as an omen for the year!!
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
yeah I was gonna say it would be better if it actually said $0.00 0/10, but the 9/10 should make it a bit more obvious what it is.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 498
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Today was my first full bike commute since late November (very hard BMX crash & also laser eye surgery).
Dark and 7 deg C, Light mist...turned to light rain...turned to full-on rain.
The body held up OK. Good to be back on the commuter!
Dark and 7 deg C, Light mist...turned to light rain...turned to full-on rain.
The body held up OK. Good to be back on the commuter!
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
waiting for the northeast boyz to chime in. this morning looked OK but tomorrow morning is gonna be a whole 'nother story ...
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Those of you riding in the snow - be safe out there! Car drivers around here tend to be overly confident in their all-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes when the white stuff is on the roads.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
and visibility isn't so great
#16
Bicycle Commuter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I made the commute this morning, but it was one of the rougher rides I've done. It was surprising how bad the streets were.
It could have been worse, though. 14F and 4 inches of fresh snow, in all variations from pristine, untouched snow on unplowed streets to car-trafficked slop, to piled higher in inopportune spot locations that made for fun little surprises.
It was more work pedaling, which is okay since I need the workout anyways. The sliding around wasn't so bad on its own. The doing of all of that out in traffic with cars was what made it more stressful.
It could have been worse, though. 14F and 4 inches of fresh snow, in all variations from pristine, untouched snow on unplowed streets to car-trafficked slop, to piled higher in inopportune spot locations that made for fun little surprises.
It was more work pedaling, which is okay since I need the workout anyways. The sliding around wasn't so bad on its own. The doing of all of that out in traffic with cars was what made it more stressful.
#17
Senior Member
Good weather for day one of my "commute by bike every working day of 2014" pledge. Temps in the high 40's. Left my headlight plugged into the charger at home, other wise no mishaps.
#18
Senior Member
Delightfully free of cars! The snow in Chicago seems to have scared everyone, and there were almost no cars on any of the roads I ride. Got to ride past several people trying to get their cars out of where they'd been plowed in, always fun.
Tomorrow looks to be awful, though. I don't think they're going to get everything plowed before it gets really cold, and I expect to have nasty ice ruts all over.
Tomorrow looks to be awful, though. I don't think they're going to get everything plowed before it gets really cold, and I expect to have nasty ice ruts all over.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 497
Bikes: 2013 Lynskey R340, 2014 Specialized Tricross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
68 degrees and beautiful. Pretty much like every other morning. Looks like a huge piece of rain coming in for the next 2 days. I'll probably ride the bus tomorrow.
#20
tougher than a boiled owl
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rocky Coast of Maine
Posts: 1,125
Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Oh, not so good. Still not riding, wind chill is 29 deg. below 0 right now and more snow again. I am not kidding around, more snow again, really?. We are knee deep in it now. I thought I left that all behind me when I moved a few years ago. Not the case at least this year. I took the bike out for little jaunt on New Years Day and the gears froze up immediately and then I couldn't shift anymore. Had to give it up.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: WKY
Posts: 730
Bikes: 2014 Trek Crossrip LTD, 2013 Raleigh Misceo
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Newbie
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
-25c / -13f (-37c / -34f windchill) - overcast. All hail merino wool!
#23
Senior Member
It was a nice first ride of the year. I cleaned up my bike last night since my boss was coming to visit and I keep my bike in my office. With all the traffic, I'm guessing that everyone came back from their vacations today. I also saw a lot more drivers on their cell phones tonight.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,264
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
One of the toughest commutes in my three years of commuting: 18F/-8C, brutal cross winds actually had me wobbling on the bike for a bit, and the wet heavy snow from last night is all frozen solid.
We came out of this pretty easy here in DC with maybe 3 inches but the cold is something to deal with. My co-commuter was pulling into the office garage as I came up and we both had a laugn at ourselves for being out in this weather.
We came out of this pretty easy here in DC with maybe 3 inches but the cold is something to deal with. My co-commuter was pulling into the office garage as I came up and we both had a laugn at ourselves for being out in this weather.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 794
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
13°F with 7 mph wind this morning in Nashville. We had flurries on/off yesterday so there was a skiff of snow next to curbs.