Was my 2nd bike commute to new job in downtown Seattle from Bellevue. Last summer I had a job in North Seattle and road North around Lake W. (very long flat safe ride, was very nice, if only Burke Gillman pavement could have been smoother instead it's getting fissured), this winter will be my first winter commuting in Pacific NW across I90 into Seattle.

Morning, good ride, looked really cold but air was very humid and was quite warm, felt like 55. I90 bike path was empty at 9:30, late start today, some rain for last three miles in town, my Gore Tex jacket (sleeveless cause it's warm) laughed at it. Traffic was cake, biggest worry was riding too fast too close behind the cars on the wet roads.

Ride home was not terribly fun, dark, rained steadily from the start and gradually rained harder, wind on I90 bike path was pretty strong, car spray was getting kicked up high and was being blown horizontally, had some trouble tilting towards the wind and still keeping the bike upright enough such that my tires wouldn't slip out from under me. From 90 I ride up to the outskirts of Kirkland along Bellevue way, was mixed. Rode nearly in the gutter of the road with a lot of water, traffic wasn't terribly heavy but it was then raining pretty hard (and it had been dark already when I left work). I wanted to take the lane, but wasn't willing to test traffic. One car did pass at speed (35-45) and didn't please me only giving my about 3 feet. Most cars thankfully did either give me the lane or did slow down some and gave me about 4-5 feet. A full goretex jacket, light shirt, non waterproof gloves and winter tights kept me warm enough for the 1hr 40min ride back.. about 30min slower than ride in.