2017! The how was your commute thread!
#2651
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1,466
From: Merrimac , MA
This morning's commute was pleasant with the temp at 43 f degrees when I left the house. We had a rain and windy two days that started Sunday. Some areas have not yet gotten the power back. I had to ride through one of those areas this morning. It was pitch black on the main road which felt a little eerie. Even the road that leads to my where I work was dark, no street lights.
#2653
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
Another cool morning, 0C/32F (actually, I guess that makes it the coldest this season so far), and damp too so it felt colder than yesterday but I was dressed sufficiently well to keep me warm. At the beginning, my neck was cold but that went away, then my toes but that went away, then my left thumb (under gloves) but that went away. Also, at first, my eyes were tearing up but that had nothing to do with the puppy rescue video my wife showed me before we left for work, no, not at all!
The temperature is falling this evening from 3C/39F to 1C/34F between 6 and 9 pm so the kids should be well dressed tonight (and I should be too as I'll be sitting out in a lawn chair handing out candies to them). I thought, with the warm fall earlier this month, that Halloween might be warmer but no, it is about normal. At least we don't have snow like other places such as Timmins.
The temperature is falling this evening from 3C/39F to 1C/34F between 6 and 9 pm so the kids should be well dressed tonight (and I should be too as I'll be sitting out in a lawn chair handing out candies to them). I thought, with the warm fall earlier this month, that Halloween might be warmer but no, it is about normal. At least we don't have snow like other places such as Timmins.
#2654
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
#2655
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,687
Likes: 426
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
18F this morning, but thankfully the 25+ mph winds we've been having for the last couple weeks finally died down to a more reasonable 5 mph, so it really wasn't too bad.
I just had my regular work clothes on under my windbreaker. Because it was <20F I did break out the balaclava, but I brought along a head band that I'll switch to for a ride across town at 11 AM when it's supposed to be 28F. I just used my regular long fingered cycling gloves which were a little light for the temps, but because I was on my road bike I didn't want the dexterity loss I get with mittens.
My toes were a little chilly as I just had thin dress socks on in my clipless shoes. My shoes have lots of ventilation holes which is great in the hot summer months, but not so great for winter commuting. I'm too cheap to shell out for a 2nd pair of clipless shoes, and once I switch to the winter bike I ride platforms, so I just deal with cold feet for a couple weeks every fall and spring.
I got my first ice cream headache of the season coming down a big hill that was less than a mile from my house where I didn't yet have time to warm up. Unfortunately that's normal for that hill in the winter.
I just had my regular work clothes on under my windbreaker. Because it was <20F I did break out the balaclava, but I brought along a head band that I'll switch to for a ride across town at 11 AM when it's supposed to be 28F. I just used my regular long fingered cycling gloves which were a little light for the temps, but because I was on my road bike I didn't want the dexterity loss I get with mittens.
My toes were a little chilly as I just had thin dress socks on in my clipless shoes. My shoes have lots of ventilation holes which is great in the hot summer months, but not so great for winter commuting. I'm too cheap to shell out for a 2nd pair of clipless shoes, and once I switch to the winter bike I ride platforms, so I just deal with cold feet for a couple weeks every fall and spring.
I got my first ice cream headache of the season coming down a big hill that was less than a mile from my house where I didn't yet have time to warm up. Unfortunately that's normal for that hill in the winter.
#2656
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
I was off work yesterday for my daughter's 14th birthday. I missed commuting on the coldest morning since last winter. I would have needed the tights at yesterday's 33F low. But this morning was back up to 44F and it looks to be even warmer the rest of the week. And highs getting over 70.
It's dark for about half of my ride in now. The time change is this weekend which will change that, but it will then soon be dark at the end of the day before I get home.
It's dark for about half of my ride in now. The time change is this weekend which will change that, but it will then soon be dark at the end of the day before I get home.
#2657
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 11
From: Ottawa,ON,Canada
Bikes: Schwinn Miranda 1990, Giant TCX 2 2012
Rainstorm wreaks havoc on streets in Ottawa, Gatineau - Ottawa - CBC News
#2658
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
not sure, but it was forecasted since saturday morning so others got it before us...
rainstorm wreaks havoc on streets in ottawa, gatineau - ottawa - cbc news
rainstorm wreaks havoc on streets in ottawa, gatineau - ottawa - cbc news
#2659
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 679
Likes: 148
From: Plano, TX
Bikes: Fahrradmanufaktur Trekking Bike, Lightning Phantom, bikeE AT, Radwagon3, HP Velotechnik Scorpion
I had a black cat crossing the road in front of me from left to right this morning. Well that must be good start for Halloween...
#2661
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,684
Likes: 2,602
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Yesterday I had to go outside and walk around the office complex around noon just because it was so nice; 70F after frost. It felt like it was headed back to frost as the sun went down on the way home, but the mercury only dropped to 40 or so. That made for a nice ride this morning. Early because of an early meeting, the GPS was in night mode when I started and I was almost halfway to work by the time the sun came over the ridge. (Wow, there's a lot of glare when that happened!)
#2662
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,687
Likes: 426
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
You OK [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION]?
Manhattan truck plows into cyclists; up to 6 dead, police sources say - CNN
Manhattan truck plows into cyclists; up to 6 dead, police sources say - CNN
#2663
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,138
Likes: 6,361
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
You OK [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION]?
Manhattan truck plows into cyclists; up to 6 dead, police sources say - CNN
Manhattan truck plows into cyclists; up to 6 dead, police sources say - CNN
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#2665
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 183
From: Queens, NY for now...
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
#2667
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,138
Likes: 6,361
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Thank you, [MENTION=465722]robertorolfo[/MENTION].
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#2668
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
#2670
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...
Feels like November out there! gloves, skullcap, windbreaker, and it took me a mile to start to warm up.
Saw a big buck standing on the sidewalk as I went by. That's fine, deer, you stay on the sidewalk.
Saw a big buck standing on the sidewalk as I went by. That's fine, deer, you stay on the sidewalk.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
#2671
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Slightly warmer than yesterday. The sunrise was pretty twice, but I wasn't able to get a photo. As I started out it was a deep orange and spreading into some clouds. Then it faded and about 5 minutes later it popped hugely into bright pinks and purples. Good morning!
#2672
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
i am back on the commuting saddle
I started a new job Oct 2 with same business but it meant moving to a new building in the same city. (better working conditions and more money made it worth it.)
I missed a week of beautiful fall weather riding that first week of Oct.
I went to AdventureFest by bicycle times. My legs had lost some of their strength and speed even with going to the gym a couple times but it was a good time with multiple bikes. I got to demo 8 bikes and I rode my mountain bike and my cyclocross bike on a couple rides as well.
I got my commuting plan together for the most part and said I am going to do it so I did Oct 18th. I was so excited to have done it. it made me miss the facilities I lobbied to get installed and make it nicer but just have to do some work here in the new building.
Last week I rode 4 out of 5 days to work
and rode to the last Upward football games of the season. I refereed 3 games and coached one then rode home. I was able to get 122 miles last week. I did not ride Monday because legs were feeling tired. I have ridden 2 (so far) out of my 4 day work week this week. 
yesterday I saw 34F on the GPS and today was cooler than I expected but still a good ride.
I went to AdventureFest by bicycle times. My legs had lost some of their strength and speed even with going to the gym a couple times but it was a good time with multiple bikes. I got to demo 8 bikes and I rode my mountain bike and my cyclocross bike on a couple rides as well. I got my commuting plan together for the most part and said I am going to do it so I did Oct 18th. I was so excited to have done it. it made me miss the facilities I lobbied to get installed and make it nicer but just have to do some work here in the new building.
Last week I rode 4 out of 5 days to work
and rode to the last Upward football games of the season. I refereed 3 games and coached one then rode home. I was able to get 122 miles last week. I did not ride Monday because legs were feeling tired. I have ridden 2 (so far) out of my 4 day work week this week. yesterday I saw 34F on the GPS and today was cooler than I expected but still a good ride.
#2673
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
I get those at times too. In fact, I seem to get them more often than others: is it like frostbite where, if you've had it once, you're susceptible to getting it again?
#2674
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
Not surprised, you current status is Newbie. 
Yeah, that's not fun. I was riding with a friend about a month ago on a century ride and he got 2 in the space of 20 minutes. Before I gave him my spare tube, I insisted on checking his tire and lo and behold, there was a shard of glass that had pierced through the tire and was rubbing the tubes. After it was removed, he completed the remaining 80km/50mi and the next 3 centuries over the next 3 days without another flat.

Yeah, that's not fun. I was riding with a friend about a month ago on a century ride and he got 2 in the space of 20 minutes. Before I gave him my spare tube, I insisted on checking his tire and lo and behold, there was a shard of glass that had pierced through the tire and was rubbing the tubes. After it was removed, he completed the remaining 80km/50mi and the next 3 centuries over the next 3 days without another flat.
#2675
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,687
Likes: 426
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
Dark and overcast this morning. 33F with a strong tailwind. Made great time on the way to work.
Saw a dead racoon laying on the MUP under a train trestle. It was a pretty darn big one, probably the size of three volleyballs in a row. Perhaps it was pregnant and that's why she was so fat? It looked like the head had suffered an impact so I'm speculating it was up on the train trestle and got hit.
Saw a dead racoon laying on the MUP under a train trestle. It was a pretty darn big one, probably the size of three volleyballs in a row. Perhaps it was pregnant and that's why she was so fat? It looked like the head had suffered an impact so I'm speculating it was up on the train trestle and got hit.




