2016! how was your commute today?
#76
Let's Ride!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
[MENTION=366933]mgw4jc[/MENTION] I am jealous. I have cold possible sinus infection and have driven every day but MOnday. I hope that I can get over it so i can ride next week.
#77
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
@mgw4jc I am jealous. I have cold possible sinus infection and have driven every day but MOnday. I hope that I can get over it so i can ride next week.
Get well soon!
#78
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
First commute this year! It was dark, wet but not raining, about 35 degrees F. The climb in the middle of my route felt like it took for ever. A couple of times I started day dreaming and came back to go "What, am I still on this hill?!" 4 cars passed me in the 9 miles. I get off work early today so I can do my longer ride home and get 31 for the day. It's supposed to be nice, and best of all, will be in the day time.
#79
Shimano's Shaman

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 210
Likes: 8
From: Italy
Bikes: TFCT Starion Class Hull n. 312 "Thunder Child" - Sport Touring & Utility
First commute this year for me, too.
Unfortunately, rabid dogs disguised as so called "colleagues" welcomed my return messing with both of my steed's quick releases.
Unfortunately, rabid dogs disguised as so called "colleagues" welcomed my return messing with both of my steed's quick releases.
#80
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
a few degrees above freezing, dark, and a bit wet this morning...so pretty good! (no ice)
It's Christmas for the in-laws, so I'm getting picked up from work, to go EAT. (I'll put the bike on the back of the car.)
It's Christmas for the in-laws, so I'm getting picked up from work, to go EAT. (I'll put the bike on the back of the car.)
#81
commu*ist spy
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
Someone threw soda at me. Has this happened to someone else?
#82
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1,475
From: Merrimac , MA
It is unfortunate that people can not be nicer to each other. I have not ever had soda thrown at me, but I have had people yell out their windows or beep, and it would seem to startle me. I just ignore when people do that.
It was a very nice commute to work this am. The temp was 25f degrees with mostly cloudy dark skies.
It was a very nice commute to work this am. The temp was 25f degrees with mostly cloudy dark skies.
#83
First commute of the year...thursday the 7th. 14F on the way in (10 miles). Fingertips got cold for a few minutes but other than that it was a good ride. 22F on the way home. Glad I did it...don't want to get lazy this time of year.
#85
Nothing thrown as far as I can recall but yeah, a few instances of verbal abuse. Sometimes it seemed as if the person just did not like the idea of anyone commuting by bike. Like it offended them.
#86
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Warmer today at 37F. And humid with a bit of light fog. Visibility was fine but it did look cool across some fields and in some trees. I wore the same thing I've been wearing for previous sub-freezing mornings and got too hot. I unzipped my outer shell and my quarter zip shirt for some cool air flow. Felt good.
Got some rain coming in this morning, but should be gone by lunch or so.
Got some rain coming in this morning, but should be gone by lunch or so.
#88
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
1.5 inches of fresh snow had fallen when I left the house and it was still coming down. We're supposed to get another few inches before the end of the day. The snow was wet and heavy and I had to drop my gearing way down just to push through it. As I got closer to downtown they had gotten more snow than at my house and I was riding through about 2.5" of the wet stuff. It was quite a workout just to hold 6 mph, which made my commute about twice as long as normal. Unfortunately I arrived at the client's office a sweaty mess. Also unfortunately because it was a client's office I didn't have access to my supplies I usually use to freshen up. Oops.
Shorty after I arrived a woman came into the office and announced, "Is the person who rides a bike in here?" Turns out the spot on the sidewalk where I've been locking my bike to a lamppost was hindering the snow removal equipment. She showed me a new place where I could lock up my bike inside a parking ramp. I informed her that I had considered using the ramp a few weeks ago when I first arrived at the client, but the big "No Bicycles!" sign at the entrance convinced me to park elsewhere. She said that sign was just to keep kids from riding around on the ramp and that I wouldn't have any trouble using it for my bike.
Shorty after I arrived a woman came into the office and announced, "Is the person who rides a bike in here?" Turns out the spot on the sidewalk where I've been locking my bike to a lamppost was hindering the snow removal equipment. She showed me a new place where I could lock up my bike inside a parking ramp. I informed her that I had considered using the ramp a few weeks ago when I first arrived at the client, but the big "No Bicycles!" sign at the entrance convinced me to park elsewhere. She said that sign was just to keep kids from riding around on the ramp and that I wouldn't have any trouble using it for my bike.
#89
Nice ride to the station this morning. In the evening, left work later than usual when the temp had dropped to 5°C, at which I feel I'm approaching my limit wearing just a thin wool base layer and the new soft-shell jacket.
#90
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
I've gotten off to a good start for 2016 with three days commuting this week but decided that my legs needed a rest today. I've ridden six days in a row and have really been dragging the past couple of days. A complicating factor is that our hot-water heater at work has broken again, which means that I'll have to take cold showers for a while -- a not very appealing prospect in the dead of winter. In the past when our water heater broke the weather was much warmer, so cold showers were much more tolerable.
#91
Let's Ride!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
ungh i miss bike commuting... i am tired of driving... i am tired of the greenish yellow mucus coming from my head. I might just have to ride some next week. i feel like i am loosing someof my fitness by not ridng.
#93
commu*ist spy
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
It is unfortunate that people can not be nicer to each other. I have not ever had soda thrown at me, but I have had people yell out their windows or beep, and it would seem to startle me. I just ignore when people do that.
It was a very nice commute to work this am. The temp was 25f degrees with mostly cloudy dark skies.
It was a very nice commute to work this am. The temp was 25f degrees with mostly cloudy dark skies.
#94
Thread Starter
Day trip lover
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: capital city of iowa
Bikes: '16 Giant Escape 3 (fair weather ride), Giant Quasar (work in progress), 2002 saturn vue (crap weather ride)
Had to ride through rain and muck... I realy need to get some fenders.
#95
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Back on the bike this week.. really should of rode last Thursday/Friday. Wore 2 socks, insulated underwear and 2 jackets. I guess better hot than freezing my coconuts off.
#96
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
A cold 26F this morning. Clear and sunny with a high of about 45 this afternoon.
#97
19° here in Atlanta. It seems like a mild winter so far, but I also think it helps to get the layers right without over or under-dressing. Either one makes it harder.
#98
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
6F, snow, ice, real winter riding! I guess it was inevitable though I was saying to someone last week it would be cool if I could go the whole season without using my studly-tired bike.
#99
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
Around 23F this morning, but had a fairly strong headwind that put the windchill into the single digits. I can go weeks without seeing another commuter, and this morning I saw three!!! I couldn't believe it! Who would have thought the cold & wind would actually bring out more bike commuters?
#100
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
2F this morning, but no wind so it was a pretty easy commute. My face felt a little cold the first mile or so, but by the time I got to work I was noting how warm I was overall. Even had a little sweat going on the lower back.
When I rolled the bike out of the garage I noticed that my freewheel had seized up after Friday's commute home through the unplowed snow. Had to use my hand to break it loose so I could coast without chain suck. Amazing how fast SD winters destroy bikes, and a good reminder why I ride a beater in the winter versus one of my "good" bikes.
Had a guy yell at me at an intersection. "Put the bike away for the season!" Apparently me just being out riding was enough to anger him. Whatever.
Started feeling like I was coming down with a bit of a cold yesterday. Sore throat and a little congestion. Woke up this morning and I wasn't any better, but I wasn't any worse either. Between that and the temp, my wife was a little incredulous that I still was going to ride my bike to work rather than drive. "Driving won't make me feel any better," was my response. Had I driven I would have just stewed all day about the fact that I didn't ride.
When I rolled the bike out of the garage I noticed that my freewheel had seized up after Friday's commute home through the unplowed snow. Had to use my hand to break it loose so I could coast without chain suck. Amazing how fast SD winters destroy bikes, and a good reminder why I ride a beater in the winter versus one of my "good" bikes.
Had a guy yell at me at an intersection. "Put the bike away for the season!" Apparently me just being out riding was enough to anger him. Whatever.
Started feeling like I was coming down with a bit of a cold yesterday. Sore throat and a little congestion. Woke up this morning and I wasn't any better, but I wasn't any worse either. Between that and the temp, my wife was a little incredulous that I still was going to ride my bike to work rather than drive. "Driving won't make me feel any better," was my response. Had I driven I would have just stewed all day about the fact that I didn't ride.
Last edited by Tundra_Man; 01-11-16 at 09:30 AM.





