2016! how was your commute today?
#3276
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Well, I hit my goal: 200 consecutive bicycle work commutes. Woohoo!
Temp was 8°F when I left the house, which was the projected high for the day. Head wind was blowing pretty good which put the wind chill well below zero. Thankfully it's not supposed to change directions until tomorrow morning so I should get a push home which will help as the air temps drop.
Now I've got to ride 5 more times to hit 205. I'm off work starting on the 22nd through the end of the year. If I can make it to 205 I'll only have driven to work 3 times in the last year (the last time being Feb. 5th.) Might get tough. We're supposed to get a good dumping of snow starting tomorrow, then by Sunday the actual air temp is projected to drop to -22°F.
Temp was 8°F when I left the house, which was the projected high for the day. Head wind was blowing pretty good which put the wind chill well below zero. Thankfully it's not supposed to change directions until tomorrow morning so I should get a push home which will help as the air temps drop.
Now I've got to ride 5 more times to hit 205. I'm off work starting on the 22nd through the end of the year. If I can make it to 205 I'll only have driven to work 3 times in the last year (the last time being Feb. 5th.) Might get tough. We're supposed to get a good dumping of snow starting tomorrow, then by Sunday the actual air temp is projected to drop to -22°F.
#3277
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
I opted for an additional base layer this morning and was glad I did once I started hitting some headwinds. It was in the low 30s, so not too bad, but wind.
Fifteen miles for the ride to work. I am off work tomorrow to go see Rogue One and get some Christmas shopping done. Happy weekend everyone!
Fifteen miles for the ride to work. I am off work tomorrow to go see Rogue One and get some Christmas shopping done. Happy weekend everyone!
#3278
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
It's 4F this morning with -12 windchill - I officially have a cold and hacking up scary stuff - hit 4,000+ commuting miles yesterday - so I drove today
#3280
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 514
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, MO
Bikes: Klein Quantum Race; Cannondale Supersix EVO Di2; Trek Crossrip LTD; Trek Boone 9 Disc
17F/-8C with fairly light winds this morning. What wind I had was mainly a tailwind, so no complaints.
My commutes are usually uneventful as I primarily take lightly traveled roads, neighborhood roads and MUP's for a majority of my ride. Even so, this morning I witnessed more dumb driving than I've seen in quite a while. I watched two cars blow through red lights (not just pushing a yellow light... these had been red for while and it looked like they simply weren't paying attention AT ALL), one guy nearly t-boned me coming off a side street (but at least he gave me a friendly wave as he drove past), a car making a left turn at an intersection labeled 'No Left Turn', and one guy, who was playing on his phone or something, that managed to sit through a green light. I was behind directly him and finally yelled "HEY" to get his attention (as I don't have a horn), and it did seem to wake him up. He started forward just as the light turned yellow again. I didn't cuss at the guy or flip him off (which would be tough to do in mittens), but he proceeds to put his pickup in park and get out of his vehicle. I'm thinking 'oh great, what type of crazy person am I going to have to deal with this morning'. But, he just looks at me and the five other cars behind me for a couple of seconds, doesn't say a word... and gets back in his truck. Interaction with crazy person avoided. Ha ha!
My commutes are usually uneventful as I primarily take lightly traveled roads, neighborhood roads and MUP's for a majority of my ride. Even so, this morning I witnessed more dumb driving than I've seen in quite a while. I watched two cars blow through red lights (not just pushing a yellow light... these had been red for while and it looked like they simply weren't paying attention AT ALL), one guy nearly t-boned me coming off a side street (but at least he gave me a friendly wave as he drove past), a car making a left turn at an intersection labeled 'No Left Turn', and one guy, who was playing on his phone or something, that managed to sit through a green light. I was behind directly him and finally yelled "HEY" to get his attention (as I don't have a horn), and it did seem to wake him up. He started forward just as the light turned yellow again. I didn't cuss at the guy or flip him off (which would be tough to do in mittens), but he proceeds to put his pickup in park and get out of his vehicle. I'm thinking 'oh great, what type of crazy person am I going to have to deal with this morning'. But, he just looks at me and the five other cars behind me for a couple of seconds, doesn't say a word... and gets back in his truck. Interaction with crazy person avoided. Ha ha!
#3281
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
0 degrees in the windy city this morning with a -17 windchill.
i wussed out and took the train. boooo me.
shockingly, the CTA was actually on top of its game this morning. color me pleasantly surprised.
i wussed out and took the train. boooo me.
shockingly, the CTA was actually on top of its game this morning. color me pleasantly surprised.
#3282
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
I was looking at some silly bike forum on my phone when I looked up and saw it was time to go, and I wasn't ready. By the time I was out the door, I was three minutes late
which means I had to raise my average speed by 1 mph or I'd miss my train. Which isn't really that easy, that early in the morning! I made it, though. Whew.
which means I had to raise my average speed by 1 mph or I'd miss my train. Which isn't really that easy, that early in the morning! I made it, though. Whew.
__________________
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#3283
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,473
Likes: 4,556
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
#3284
Not really possible to store it inside at work... believe me , it's probably safer anyway outside.
Had to work the rear derailleur cable...no response for the fist block....slowly started working (shift.. wait a couple of minutes...bingo..it shifts )

Key is not to go to far up the cassette and use just the front which I guess works better mostly (shorter Run? stays cleaner?)
#3285
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 186
From: south Puget Sound
2 hr school delay for snow today. My son desperately needed it for an assignment he totally forgot to do last night. Nice ride in but all that slush and water coating everything could be some serious ice tomorrow morning. Might be time to put the studs on tonight.
#3286
Boston's getting Arctic like Temps and wind.
But I was warm and happy on my 10 mile ride home into the teeth of a steady 20 mph wind with gusts to 35 mph.
1 positive thing about a brutally cold headwind is working so hard that you get home in a sweat.
But I was warm and happy on my 10 mile ride home into the teeth of a steady 20 mph wind with gusts to 35 mph.
1 positive thing about a brutally cold headwind is working so hard that you get home in a sweat.
#3287
Roadkill

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 2
From: Dayton, OH
Bikes: Novara Verita, Novara Buzz, Radpower Radwagon
Today was my first time skipping a ride because of weather in over 2 years (last time was wind gusts >50 mph). I put on my studded tires this past weekend just in time to get in a day's commute before the snow storm. 4 inches of snow on Tuesday, and the studded tires (Schwalbe Marathon Winter) were awesome! The steep hill on my way home did suck a little more than normal though.
This is my first winter in Ohio, so riding in snow that isn't slushy on the streets is new to me. I moved from New Mexico, where it does get down in the teens (°F), but the wind chill is less brutal. Anyway, yesterday was my coldest ride ever: 5°F, no wind. Overall, it felt pretty good. A little slipping in the snow/ice ruts on the bikepath, but nothing major. On the icy streets, I could hardly tell the difference from normal riding.
Today, however, the winds picked up and the windchill dropped to -13°F (4°F air temp). I feel comfortable with my body layers, but I haven't pulled the trigger on some sort of eye protection. Being new to Ohio, I was concerned about exposed skin at that temp (just around my eyes in my balaclava), so I drove in to work today. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get something in the next week or two and be unstoppable (short of work being closed anyway)! ;-)
This is my first winter in Ohio, so riding in snow that isn't slushy on the streets is new to me. I moved from New Mexico, where it does get down in the teens (°F), but the wind chill is less brutal. Anyway, yesterday was my coldest ride ever: 5°F, no wind. Overall, it felt pretty good. A little slipping in the snow/ice ruts on the bikepath, but nothing major. On the icy streets, I could hardly tell the difference from normal riding.
Today, however, the winds picked up and the windchill dropped to -13°F (4°F air temp). I feel comfortable with my body layers, but I haven't pulled the trigger on some sort of eye protection. Being new to Ohio, I was concerned about exposed skin at that temp (just around my eyes in my balaclava), so I drove in to work today. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get something in the next week or two and be unstoppable (short of work being closed anyway)! ;-)
#3288
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Had my bike in the shop a couple weeks ago for a bunch of stuff (new Stages Power meter on 105 crankset, new rear wheel, cassette, etc). It was ready for pickup the day after Snowmageddon 2016 hit Greater Vancouver. Was keen to check out the Stages, so threw my bike on the trainer in the basement (we've had a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine for >3 years, but I've never ridden it - mostly just my wife). Did a 25km ride tonight while watching Thursday Night Football; it was almost even tolerable riding on the trainer
#3289
Tough rides yesterday and today, headwinds each morning on the way in. Today 15F/-9C. Amazing how you discover the weak spots in your layers....the crotch being one of 'em :0
#3290
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Chance for freezing drizzle today so took the bike with the studded tires. Of course the wind was the against me the entire way. Don't remember so much drag from the tires last year, very probable I had them backwards! Probably won't do anything now.
#3291
Last night's commute home was pretty gross - 10 mph headwinds and 19F. Taking the day off today because it was 4F outside.
#3292
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Coldest commute since last winter with temps in the low 20s F. Forecasters had predicted lows in the teens but I didn't think it would dip that much and I was right. I was dressed perfectly and very comfortable, even my fingers and toes. My water bottle was slushy by the time I got to work but not frozen solid, which usually happens when temps are in the teens.
The ride home last night was another matter and very difficult. The front that brought this cold air was moving through NC yesterday afternoon and it was very windy. Temperatures were dropping throughout my ride and were down to about 30 F by the time I got home. However, the worst part was that I was riding right into stiff headwinds almost the entire way. It was probably my slowest commute of the year.
The ride home last night was another matter and very difficult. The front that brought this cold air was moving through NC yesterday afternoon and it was very windy. Temperatures were dropping throughout my ride and were down to about 30 F by the time I got home. However, the worst part was that I was riding right into stiff headwinds almost the entire way. It was probably my slowest commute of the year.
#3293
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 514
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, MO
Bikes: Klein Quantum Race; Cannondale Supersix EVO Di2; Trek Crossrip LTD; Trek Boone 9 Disc
I commuted 4 days straight this week (Mon-Thurs) for 168-miles! I drove to work today because of an office activity after work. Unfortunately my old car is not liking these cold temperatures very much. Just as I got parked in the parking garage at work, it blew the lower radiator hose. Well damn! At least it didn't happen on the freeway.
#3294
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 5
From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
Cold...for me. Probably a toasty time by the fire for others in the country. Temps at 30, "feels like" in the teens, dry and windy. Very enjoyable ride, made all the more enjoyable knowing I don't have to ride home. Office holiday party is tonight. Let the booze flow!
#3295
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 186
From: south Puget Sound
25F, two shirts under the coat today, and my ears were definitely cold by the time I got to work. Nice sunrise though!
#3296
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 431
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
Temp today is the warmest it's been all week, topping out at 15°F. However, snow is falling steady and we're supposed to get about 7" of accumulations by tomorrow, at which point the temps are expected to drop to -25°F with winds pushing the wind chill down to about -50°F.
Got about an inch of fresh snow down on the ground so far. I'm thinking I'll probably ride home early and finish the day working remotely. I could make it home later in the deeper snow, but it would just take more time. I don't have any reason I need to physically be in the office this afternoon, so I might as well make my commute easier.
Got about an inch of fresh snow down on the ground so far. I'm thinking I'll probably ride home early and finish the day working remotely. I could make it home later in the deeper snow, but it would just take more time. I don't have any reason I need to physically be in the office this afternoon, so I might as well make my commute easier.
#3297
Coldest day so far, something under freezing but pleasant enough on my faring bike to only need my indoor clothes. Unfortunately I was something of a distraction on the roads, with cars pacing me a couple of times and one a lane over using his smartphone camera. Why did that start up all of a sudden, why today? I don't know, unless people think this weather is "extreme" and think the bike is clever.
#3298
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 186
From: south Puget Sound
Temp today is the warmest it's been all week, topping out at 15°F. However, snow is falling steady and we're supposed to get about 7" of accumulations by tomorrow, at which point the temps are expected to drop to -25°F with winds pushing the wind chill down to about -50°F.
#3299
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,473
Likes: 4,556
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
I'm thinking I'll probably ride home early and finish the day working remotely. I could make it home later in the deeper snow, but it would just take more time. I don't have any reason I need to physically be in the office this afternoon, so I might as well make my commute easier.
#3300
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Reykjavík
Bikes: Trek Crossrip 2 2017, Cube Cruve Pro 2015 and Berlín Dutch Bike 3 speed 2014
My commute was icy for the first time in weeks.
I was glad I had studded tires on the bike as there was no ice at home lucky me as I already crashed once this winter on an unexpected ice.
I was glad I had studded tires on the bike as there was no ice at home lucky me as I already crashed once this winter on an unexpected ice.





