Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Frankfurt am Main, Germany/Arlington, VA
Bikes: Surly Pugsley, Jamis Renegade, Kona Rove, Salsa Pistola, Raleigh M60, Raleigh Sport Touring Team USA
Yesterday was a real mess going home. The snow started around 10am and changed over to rain in the late afternoon. For my ride home at 5pm it was still raining and there was from between one to three inches of slushy snow accumulated on the trail. Given the morning forcast I had put on my wheels with the Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tires. While it was slow going through the heavy stuff, the real problem was my glasses fogging up severely limiting visibility. Almost didn't see the trail was blocked in one area where a stand of bamboo was bent over. My usual 25 minute commute was about 38 minutes.
Overnight the temperature remained around freezing so everything crusted up. It was very difficult to find a clean line to ride without frozen ruts and footprints. The ride was easier with the studded tires than a similiar ride in early December with just knobby tires. Even so, crossing a couple of overpasses the rear was fishtailing. The 22 minute commute ended up being 35 minutes. Didn't see a single other cyclist this morning, but it looked like there was one fairly fresh tire track going in the same direction. It's supposed to warm up to the low 40s so it will be back to slop for the ride home. Got to get some fenders!