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Originally Posted by mr geeker
(Post 18465516)
Today is the coldest commute I've had this year, -5 and feels like -24. This is right near my limit... if this were a week day, I would definitely opt to take the bus, but it's not so I can't. Eh, guess it will make me look like more of a bad ass than I really am :D.
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 18467862)
This was an unusual one since I forgot it was a holiday. I even got up early to get a jump on the day, and wasted no time getting on my way. Traffic was light, and even the early morning school buses were not out and about yet. I was feeling good, sun coming up and shaping up to be a clear day and with a little extra time I was tempted to take a detour to check out a potential short-cut I'd spotted on the map. A new housing development that butted up against a road I knew. Then I thought, "No it's Monday, diversions are unwise with possible cascading failures" so I decided not. Yet when I reached the decision point there was an inviting break in the traffic and I was overwhelmed by the whim. Commencing a slow but short climb through the construction zone, while being careful of the large machines and the workers who were already bustling about with impressive energy, it looked promising at first. Lots of speed bumps, varied grades, I'd guess about 20-25 very large houses, it will be sedate during those sleepy mornings.
At the far reaches I spotted a paved walkway which I knew would likely lead to the corporate complex that I sometimes cut through. It was starting to become less than ideal because, sidewalk. It started out quite steep but passable without pedestrians, and then the grade increased sharply, defeating me for the first time on the fixie. But only for about 50 feet, and then I was able to continue on. But shortly thereafter right at the road entrance I was turned back by a 8 foot chain link fence, secured by a heavy chain and a serious padlock. I guess they really don't want people wandering into the neighborhood from the commercial area. Arriving at the offices, the almost empty parking lot finally clued me in that this is a holiday. I was a little chilled since I tend to dress light and 25° is cold by our standards so I went in anyway to thaw out, and talked with the security guard who I've known there for years. After 15 minutes or so I was ready for the return, and the extra morning ride, with the sun now shining and the winds finally settled, was an unexpected pleasure. |
Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
(Post 18467979)
Well at least you have the day off. Not so for me. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be right around 20F, which is right at my lower temp limit for commuting. I REALLY don't want to break my commuting streak that I've had going since September. Winds shouldn't be too bad, so we'll see.
That said, just an extra layer torso hands and feet, additional to mid-upper 20's wear, is enough for 20°. Plus a balaclava in that range. IME. |
Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 18468027)
Streaks are insidious, goading us to do something that we'd otherwise choose not to. Don't let yourself be influenced by them; your own reason, preferences and instincts are far superior to what is ultimately just an arbitrary number.
That said, just an extra layer torso hands and feet, additional to mid-upper 20's wear, is enough for 20°. Plus a balaclava in that range. IME. |
Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
(Post 18468502)
Well I also want to continue my January streak, since I hardly commuted at all in January of last year. This year I'm 4 for 4 so far. I've mentioned it before but my problem is being out sub-freezing temperatures for 80+ minutes at a time (15.5 miles) and my toes going numb. I've tried all manner of combinations of materials and setups on my feet but toes still freeze.
Also, I mention because people sometimes dispute me on this so I think it's not generally known, keeping the lower legs warmer (to keep the blood warm) helps with the feet. Ditto wrists and forearms. |
Way to go ZmanKC. With the low temps and ice still on the streets... I decided to drive b
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 18468528)
Constricted blood flow can obliterate the effectiveness of layers if it makes them tighter, which is why extra or thicker socks never worked for me. We need the blood flow to keep extremities warm. Best for me have been the thicker neoprene shoe covers, and I can put something between those and the shoe as well.
Also, I mention because people sometimes dispute me on this so I think it's not generally known, keeping the lower legs warmer (to keep the blood warm) helps with the feet. Ditto wrists and forearms. |
Hmmm... my new company blocks the Bike Forums website at work! :cry:
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cold, but not as cold as yesterday.
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Frigid: 15F/-10C with a fairly strong headwind knocking temps down further. Interesting convo ^ about layer, I thought a lot about that on the way in as, of all places, my crotch was freezing!
Big surprise for me as how many bikes were out, runners too. I counted five going inbound to DC along with me and then one coming the opposite direction. I thought the cold would have kept people in.re Regarding streaks, I'm a slave to a 5+ year streak for commuting to work. I know it'll have to end sometime this winter when the MUP is uncleared, my commute is longer than it used to be and I was lucky to be on city streets that whole time. |
January got off to a good start for me, but I've had to drive more than normal last week and will this week too. We are a one car family and I bike so my wife can use the car. But she hasn't been feeling well and I've been taking the car so I can get home more quickly and take kids to various activities.
It worked out well on Friday though as it was chilly an rainy from about 11am to 8pm. Yesterday the office was closed for MLK day. This morning it was below 15F, but clear. I could of ridden in that but am not resenting the warm car. Good job to all y'all riding in those cold temps! |
4F, -16C - I'm going to report winter temps in Celsius from now on, much more dramatic
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Coldest commute of the winter so far with temperature dropping to 18 F, appropriately on my birthday. We almost always have some of the coldest weather of winter right around my birthday and often snow and ice. My water bottle was frozen solid by the time I got to work, and my fingers and toes were starting to feel the nip. Fortunately, they finally fixed the broken hot-water heater at work, so I was able to take a nice hot shower.
Ironically, temperatures were the warmest ever for my annual birthday miles ride over the weekend. That was fortunate because it was a long ride (62 miles) and took more than 4 hours. Some friends and I rode on local greenways to a diner for brunch, and the trails were covered with mud, sand, leaves and branches as well as flooded in several spots -- which made for slow going. |
the wind this AM was as bad as last Mon and Wed. i decided to wear my Baffin snow boots. no playing around. not in the mood to be cold esp. after a cold day on the hill (skiing) yesterday :)
however, i should have layered an extra glove (work gloves) and skull cap liner. i wore wool glove liner plus tactile medium weight glove and a double lined fleece skull cap. BK Bridge report: it's a bit slippery in spots, some parts due to ice but most parts due to the enormous amt of loose salt left on the bridge. with the wooden slats it's not as bad as the salt has fallen thru but the entrances/exits are full of salt. definitely need a covering for your face (mouth especially) on the bridge - since there's salt everywhere, with 40 mph gusts it blows right into your mouth. it's beyond nasty. i'd much prefer dirt. |
Cold. very, very cold. Woke up this morning to 19 American, with it feeling like 12 when I took the dogs for a walk (I spared the wife this one). When I left, it was still 19 but supposedly felt like 19. I don't normally ride when it is this cold out, but dang it I wanted to do it at least once! I bundled up. Glad I kept some of my old Coast Guard gear, because I sure used it! Doubled up on gloves and shirts and had toe covers on my shoes. The only thing I wish I thought about was some sort of wind pants. Sounds silly, but some chaps made for breaking wind would be all ya need. My thighs were the only part that felt cold. All in all, sure, I would do it again!
http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/...psemdlwlbb.jpg Also was the first time riding my Miyata. I love the rack I got (Iberia IB-RA4). The cheapie I had at home and had planned to use did not offer anywhere near enough heel clearance, and really I had a hard time fitting it on. This one has a ton of adjustment each and every way imaginable. I had inches of clearance, so I might bring my bags forward a little when I ride home. It has half step + granny gearing, which I am liking but I think it will take several rides to get used to. If I end up keeping this bike, I'll get some wider tires. Right now I have some 23s on, and I really missed my 32s once I got close to/in the city. But I had these hanging around, and they are really nice, plus this is my only current bike where the blue will work and not clash. http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/...psdvs2ucga.jpg |
-14c so I just went straight to work. Snowy slushy roads meant that I was more in the way of traffic than usual but it all worked out OK. That was until I went into a parking lot and was immediately honked at repeatedly. The lady within 30 feet of going into a lane expected me to move over to allow her to drive fast through a hotel parking lot so she could exit the other side and take a short cut to her work. I couldn't believe it. I had honestly inconvenienced many other drivers on the road and they did not show any aggression towards me - than this lady comes along and illegally cuts though a hotel parking lot, honking at me. I wish I was a better person - but I stayed in her way and went slower. Then I blocked the exit to yell at her. I feel like an idiot now having done so, but honestly, she should have left home a bit earlier to avoid being such a rude ignorant driver. To make matters worse, I saw her car at her work and I yelled at her there too. I think she was afraid of me (I am 6'5") so she immediately apologized and me being the kind-hearted soul I am, I yelled at her again (I was still in a rage). I have worked hard to not get mad and not act this way but this lady really set me off today. Tomorrow I will use the MUP.... That is my happy place :).
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Temp back up in the positives this morning at 6F. Pretty easy ride to work, as I went to the clients office that's only 4 miles from home. Snow is now falling and we're supposed to get about an inch today so I'll have a slower ride home. Two things of note:
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Originally Posted by volvostephen
(Post 18470106)
[snip]I wish I was a better person[snip]
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I was thinking about the layers also since it was 18° as I'd mentioned, and I didn't really add a layer from 25° wear as I'd advised. I replaced the wicking short-sleeve base with long sleeve, so I only sort-of followed my own advice. I like to ride cooler since it's under 40 minutes at the longest and I don't have many stops.
@PatrickGSR94 got me worried about toes. I didn't think about them while riding, not really aware of the feet as cold or otherwise, but after stopping and walking in I did notice that they felt cold. Not painful but colder. Maybe we just block it off. |
Woohoo 5 for 5 so far this month/year! This time last year I only had 3 commutes in by this point. Doing good!
When I woke up at 5 AM it was 19F outside. By the time I left the house at 6 it was about 22 or so. The bike computer showed 24F most of the way in (and it's pretty accurate to TWC's temperature reporting in my experience). Traffic seemed light, no issues at all with motorists. Toes still froze, as usual. I even tried some plastic bag pieces over my wool socks, inside my shoes, to no avail. My torso also got to feeling really cold/numb, despite having on 4 layers up top, bib shorts, and 2 pairs of tights. Arms were fine, so I guess I need some sort of thicker vest layer that won't add any more material to my arms. It was a little too cold for my normal full finger lined cycling gloves, so I used the ski gloves I have. Those things make my hands sweat like crazy even when below freezing. The insides of them are still wet now even 3.5 hours after arriving at work. I brought my regular gloves so I can wear those on the way home and not have to worry about wet gloves. Yuck. |
Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 18470384)
I was thinking about the layers also since it was 18° as I'd mentioned, and I didn't really add a layer from 25° wear as I'd advised. I replaced the wicking short-sleeve base with long sleeve, so I only sort-of followed my own advice. I like to ride cooler since it's under 40 minutes at the longest and I don't have many stops.
@PatrickGSR94 got me worried about toes. I didn't think about them while riding, not really aware of the feet as cold or otherwise, but after stopping and walking in I did notice that they felt cold. Not painful but colder. Maybe we just block it off. |
Driving today. Our nanny is on a leave so I dropped off wee man for his first ever full day of daycare. The drive to the day care was fine but from there to work it was a horrid stop-and-go slog down a major surface artery, five miles in a straight line took 30 minutes. I'm not a particularly fast or strong cyclist but I definitely could have done as well or better on a bike. Weather prevented, and I didn't have a plan. I'll have to ask the daycare if I can leave the trailer there in the future!
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Cold! Supposed to get some on the way home, going to be interesting!
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Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94
(Post 18470399)
It was a little too cold for my normal full finger lined cycling gloves, so I used the ski gloves I have. Those things make my hands sweat like crazy even when below freezing. The insides of them are still wet now even 3.5 hours after arriving at work. I brought my regular gloves so I can wear those on the way home and not have to worry about wet gloves. Yuck.
So last year I bought a box of vinyl gloves at the home improvement store. I put those on as a base layer underneath my winter gloves. One box of 100 gloves will last me most of the season. When I arrive at work my hands are soaked with sweat as normal, but the moisture is trapped inside the vinyl and the gloves stay completely dry. As a result, my most recent pair of winter gloves have lasted much, much longer than previous pairs. Even more importantly my coworkers and I no longer have to put up with the mysterious funk emanating from somewhere in the office, that eventually gets traced back to my sweaty winter gloves. As a bonus, the gloves are handy when cleaning/lubing your chain so you don't have to wash the grease off your hands. To get double use out of a pair, I'll usually come home from work and do my chain maintenance while I'm still wearing them. |
ew yuck, don't your hands end up like prunes? Mine do with nitrile gloves after only 15-20 minutes with them on. Something about these ski gloves it seems like my hands sweat more with them than with thinner gloves. Maybe because it holds in more heat? I dunno...
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12F with wind chill of -10F or so with gusty crosswind. Two layers on my legs and three layers up top did the trick. I actually arrived at work a bit sweaty.
Feet just had medium-weight SmartWool socks and sneakers. The key is to loosen the laces on your shoes so you can get maximum bloodflow to your toes. It makes a big difference on cold days. |
[MENTION=86492]tarwheel[/MENTION] - Happy Birthday! I hope you're enjoying your birthday cold snap.
[MENTION=301784]PatrickGSR94[/MENTION] - Have you tried toe warmers for your feet? I bought a couple of pairs to use on the really cold days. Placement is a bit tricky, but seemed to help. |
wow, you guys have some cold. 9degC/48degF and not raining this AM. I had a nice tailwind home last night.
It's starting to get light during the AM commute. This time of year I'm commuting both ways through clouds of crows as they roost above the dark, wet MUP. Trust your fenders & keep your mouth closed! |
Today's commute was wet, both ways... ugh. Love my fenders.
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High 20's, I had to find my running pants. Head wind at 16mph. Lovely memories when its 80F at 6am while heading to work. Sorry, no potentiality dangerous conditions.
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