How's this for multi-modal commute?!
Originally Posted by
mcours2006
I didn't check the weather forecast for today so it was my usual road bike with the skinny tires. Nice dry ride to work.
Here in Southern Ontario we got quite a bit of snow during the day today, so needless to say
by quitting time the roads were well-covered with more than just a dusting.
Riding was out of the question, not only because of the snow, but the darkness. Would have made the commute more than a little dangerous.
So I opted to run the 18-km back home. It took just about 100 minutes, or about twice the normal commute time on my bike, but it
felt much more comfortable.
In hindsight though, even if I knew it was going to snow and had brought my winter cross bike with the 35-mm studs I still would not have been comfortable riding under these conditions.
It's one thing riding early in the morning when traffic is sparse, but the afternoon rush hour, paired with the lack of daylight and the treacherous road conditions, would have been a good recipe for disaster.
Thanks for reading.
So true about commuting in the dark, morning vs evening, and the vagaries of the intervening weather. Earlier this week I replied to this Commuting thread, ”It must be winter again":
Originally Posted by
medic75
And so it begins.
I didn’t bother to check the weather before leaving this morning and rode the wrong bike 
My only hope is that it doesn’t get bad enough that they begin to put salt on the roads.
I don’t want to expose this bike to any of that crap. That is why I bought a winter beater
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Just three days ago, I replied to your thread of 9-18,
“Considering winter commuting - need advise”
Originally Posted by
Archwhorides
…
I think of winter riding as game in which “winning” is figuring out how to ride more days comfortably and safely.
In my experience, if you start winter riding in clear/dry conditions, then gradually ratchet up to conditions with more precip, you get accustomed to the seasonal challenge and learn which gear is appropriate.
For some the bike answer is a beater, for others it can be something quite different.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Nicely said. My slogan is "Gear and gumption.” My take on winning, in any bad weather, is taking the correct bike...my pristine carbon fiber bike on dry (non-salted) roads, and the beater otherwise.
I lose when I take the beater and the roads are dry in both directions, or when I take the carbon fiber on a messy road…
In reply to this Winter Cycling thread “Emergency Winter Cycling Kit?," I posted:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
...Since I have excellent Commuter Rail as an alternative commute, even on which to take my bike, I have frankly disdained busses, which are more accesible and frequent on my routes.
Last week I did take a bus with my bike, and was pleased with the service, and carrying capacity, so now that looks like a primary emergency measure.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
How I Use The NYC Metrocard and Bike
Of course, as a resident of NYC’s rival Northeast Metropolis, I just had to post about our "beloved" MBTA
I have been impressed by Toronto’s mass transit system. How well can it accommodate you and your bike?
For myself, it’s rare I can leave for home before 7 PM for my 14 mile, off-peak reverse commute, and by that time, traffic is pretty light. Except for about a one mile dark stretch, I feel pretty safe, but peering frequently in my rearview mirror. More often though, I take the Commuter Rail home.
Thanks for the opprtunity to reply. 
.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 11-16-18 at 07:49 PM.