2017! The how was your commute thread!
#351
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
This morning was 11°F with a wind chill of -8°F. I was cold, to the point where I changed my work location to shorten my commute. A month ago I was perfectly fine at temps 15 degrees lower.
Amazing how fast we can lose our winter skin.
#352
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,127
Likes: 6,342
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
This week has been great. I've had tailwinds in the morning, which is unusual. I rode in on Monday, Wednesday, and today (Thursday). Last night, I stopped at a friend's place on the upper east side, so I took an entirely different route. From there, I had meant to ride through Central Park but I absentmindedly missed the entrance and ended up taking 5th Ave all the way. I hit the congestion that I usually avoid, and it is indescribably dense. When traffic stops for a light, I cannot slip between the cars, as there is no space between them. I passed by Trump Tower, and while there is a lot of protection there, I was glad to see that the police manage to keep traffic moving.
__________________
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.
#353
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Bikes: 2016 Surly Long Haul Trucker; 68 Schwinn Racer; Giant Ranier mtn bike; '74 Raleigh Grand Prix (project)
How was my commute? On the way in, it was ok. Wind at my back or side for the most part. On the way home, it was cold, at least my toes. They seem to be my limiting factor. About 25 deg F, with a bit of a headwind out of the NW. I think the low to mid twenties is about my limit as far as it being enjoyable. But we will see. I am really happy that I have been able to ride all winter so far at least once a week. This will make the early spring temps feel pretty toasty.
#354
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
I actually had to walk the bike home tonight. My leg was too sore/swollen from this current infection. I just couldn't muster the strength to power through the pain and discomfort, I was sad. I also had to walk alone since the Mrs and baby girl had to turn back to look for a lost boot and the boy rode ahead on his own.
#355
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
20ish degrees.. while the wind was light it sure stung! Drove yesterday as I had errands to run and seemed like a good excuse. Just based on how much my panniers weigh with all the extra clothes on the days it warms up, it's the extra weight from the clothes that takes the toll.
#357
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...
Cold and uneventful. I'm ready for Spring. I wouldn't mind a good snowfall before then, but if it's just going to be cold, I'm ready for Spring.
For the last couple days, when I got to the bike lockers at the station for my ride home, one of the other bike commuters had a flat tire; so he borrowed my pump to inflate his tire. Glad I could help. I told him to keep the pump (I hae an extra for some reason) but he declined, saying it's a short walk if it comes to that. Okay.
For the last couple days, when I got to the bike lockers at the station for my ride home, one of the other bike commuters had a flat tire; so he borrowed my pump to inflate his tire. Glad I could help. I told him to keep the pump (I hae an extra for some reason) but he declined, saying it's a short walk if it comes to that. Okay.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
#358
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
19F this morning, 9 with windchill. As I was dressing I seriously considered driving but the pull not to wimp out overcame my whining (and probably good sense) so I rode. And of course it was fine. I got to wear sunglasses on the way home yesterday!
#359
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
33F and sleeting today.
Yesterday, 35F and sunny. I had a meeting offsite but it was a great day so broke out the road bike and did a 29 mile roundtrip to other location rather than my usual urban 13 mile roundtrip
Yesterday, 35F and sunny. I had a meeting offsite but it was a great day so broke out the road bike and did a 29 mile roundtrip to other location rather than my usual urban 13 mile roundtrip
#360
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
full on snow this AM! Are we really doing this again, Vancouver? 1,000 days without a real 'snow event' until this winter. Oh well, i love it.
[MENTION=190611]joeyduck[/MENTION]
((((( re: continued infection
[MENTION=190611]joeyduck[/MENTION]
((((( re: continued infection
Last edited by timvan_78; 02-03-17 at 11:41 AM.
#361
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,127
Likes: 6,342
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
Last night was so blissful on the way home. I played my Bach cantata on my headphones as I rode on the bike path. (I don't listen to headphones in motor traffic.) The night sky was so clear, and the scenery on the Hudson was pretty breathtaking. It's rare to have such a clear winter night. I can't capture the beauty with my cellphone camera, because it focuses on the foreground instead of far objects. Or is there a way to adjust that with an iphone 6S?
I seem to have gotten my clothing down to a science, so I was super comfortable even though it was cold and windy. I have a wool t-shirt and then a dress shirt which seems never to get sweaty thanks to the non-cotton layers around it. Above the dress shirt, I wear one of these silly looking high-tech cycling jackets or cardigans or whatever they're called. It's very thin, and it's sometimes all I need. Then sometimes I wear my winter jacket over that.
I seem to have gotten my clothing down to a science, so I was super comfortable even though it was cold and windy. I have a wool t-shirt and then a dress shirt which seems never to get sweaty thanks to the non-cotton layers around it. Above the dress shirt, I wear one of these silly looking high-tech cycling jackets or cardigans or whatever they're called. It's very thin, and it's sometimes all I need. Then sometimes I wear my winter jacket over that.
__________________
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.
#363
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Bikes: 2016 Surly Long Haul Trucker; 68 Schwinn Racer; Giant Ranier mtn bike; '74 Raleigh Grand Prix (project)
Rode in tonight tô my 12 hour night shift. About 34 deg F. Supposed tô be about the same tomorrow at 5 am, so should be ok. What will really be nice in the morning is that the 10 mph wind that was Straight out of the South as I rode due South today, is supposed tô remain out of the South for my ride home in the morning. Should be pretty nice .
#364
Shimano's Shaman

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 210
Likes: 8
From: Italy
Bikes: TFCT Starion Class Hull n. 312 "Thunder Child" - Sport Touring & Utility
Yesterday commute: 37,4 F (3 °C) and rainy, but pleasantly uneventful.
Tonight, I think I'll wimp out. It's downpouring, and the Thunder Child needs to have all of her four brake pads replaced, but I wasn't able to do that due to time constraints this afternoon. In addition, both of the two main headlights need maintenance, too. And in the end, Mrs. Atvar was not happy at all knowing me out riding in the rain.
I'm aware of what Rule n.9 says, but I think I won't obey to it, tonight...
Stats
2017 
-------------------
Commute ratio (January): [NA/31]
Near Misses: 1
Idiots met: 7
SCR FCN: 16
SCR score for today's commute:
- AM: 16+0-0 = 16
- PM: 16+0-0 = 16
SCR total score for 2017:
1
Tonight, I think I'll wimp out. It's downpouring, and the Thunder Child needs to have all of her four brake pads replaced, but I wasn't able to do that due to time constraints this afternoon. In addition, both of the two main headlights need maintenance, too. And in the end, Mrs. Atvar was not happy at all knowing me out riding in the rain.
I'm aware of what Rule n.9 says, but I think I won't obey to it, tonight...
Stats
2017 
-------------------
Commute ratio (January): [NA/31]
Near Misses: 1
Idiots met: 7
SCR FCN: 16
SCR score for today's commute:
- AM: 16+0-0 = 16
- PM: 16+0-0 = 16
SCR total score for 2017:
1
#365
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: Kansas City, KS
Great start to the week, train broke down on the tracks and of course anyone from the railroad don't have an IQ high enough to think that maybe they should push it a little further so it isn't blocking traffic. But hey at least the temp was decent and little wind. Taking off Friday so it's a short week.
#366
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
A cool 34F morning, but warming to 65F today, so it will be a warm ride home.
I hopped on a new MUP this morning. It isn't 100% finished, but it is rideable. It isn't very convenient to my normal route, but I may consider adjusting my route sometimes to use this because it avoids a good bit of traffic and drops me out about two-tenths of a mile from my office.
#367
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
Nice morning (33F) with fairly calm winds for a change. Chance of some light showers for the evening commute.
#368
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
Had a commute Saturday that was 12F, this morning 27F and supposed to be near 50 this afternoon with rain. I was determined not to bring extra clothes to accommodate the change in temps just stuff not to wear for the ride home. It's a challenge!
#369
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
Do tubes heal themselves?
Had a flat on Thursday on the way home from work. It was cold and very windy, and I was only 1.5 miles from home. I decided I'd just walk the bike the rest of the way home and deal with the flat in my garage rather than freeze while I was trying to fix it on the side of the road.
When I got home we were in a hurry to leave town for a couple days. For some reason I decided to pump up the tire before we left. I figured I'd fix the flat when we returned on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon my tire was still fully pressurized. So I didn't mess with it. Was still inflated this morning, so I just went ahead and rode to work. Didn't lose any air on my commute this morning.
Weird.
Had a flat on Thursday on the way home from work. It was cold and very windy, and I was only 1.5 miles from home. I decided I'd just walk the bike the rest of the way home and deal with the flat in my garage rather than freeze while I was trying to fix it on the side of the road.
When I got home we were in a hurry to leave town for a couple days. For some reason I decided to pump up the tire before we left. I figured I'd fix the flat when we returned on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon my tire was still fully pressurized. So I didn't mess with it. Was still inflated this morning, so I just went ahead and rode to work. Didn't lose any air on my commute this morning.
Weird.
#370
Senior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Bikes: 1976 Japanese Schwinn Traveler (III), 1980s Pegeot(?) french road bike,
This week is supposed to be nice and mild. High of 81...this is the second day I've worn short after having to bundle up every morning for the past four months to ride in 40 degree winds. Very nice! I feel light and quick.
#371
Do tubes heal themselves?
Had a flat on Thursday on the way home from work. It was cold and very windy, and I was only 1.5 miles from home. I decided I'd just walk the bike the rest of the way home and deal with the flat in my garage rather than freeze while I was trying to fix it on the side of the road.
When I got home we were in a hurry to leave town for a couple days. For some reason I decided to pump up the tire before we left. I figured I'd fix the flat when we returned on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon my tire was still fully pressurized. So I didn't mess with it. Was still inflated this morning, so I just went ahead and rode to work. Didn't lose any air on my commute this morning.
Weird.
Had a flat on Thursday on the way home from work. It was cold and very windy, and I was only 1.5 miles from home. I decided I'd just walk the bike the rest of the way home and deal with the flat in my garage rather than freeze while I was trying to fix it on the side of the road.
When I got home we were in a hurry to leave town for a couple days. For some reason I decided to pump up the tire before we left. I figured I'd fix the flat when we returned on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon my tire was still fully pressurized. So I didn't mess with it. Was still inflated this morning, so I just went ahead and rode to work. Didn't lose any air on my commute this morning.
Weird.
#372
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
I'm going to run down to the bike parking area in the basement and check it over lunch. I brought a spare tube so if it's flat I'll change it in the comfort of a warm area. However if it's still holding air I'll just say a prayer of thanks and leave it alone.
#374
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
We've been enjoying snow on our island paradise the last few days. We got about four or five inches, which is a lot here. The kids enjoyed sledding and snowman building over the weekend.
The school district decided not to run busses but keep schools open on Monday, which I don't really understand. Anywho I got to teach/review my whole two students atomic theory.
Being on an island which never/rarely gets more than a dusting snow that rarely lasts the day we've accumulated roads which are nearly impassable for the island bikes and golf carts. Some golf carts with treaded tires or greater than one wheel drive and some cars made it, otherwise we walked. Being stubborn and out of necessity I took the bike. I rationalized that I needed to bring out our weekend garbage, kids, and grocery cart. I kicked the boy out of the trailer right away. Then I walked to the road and after several failed starts I managed to get going only to bail in front of the in-laws. I found it is very hard to start when I can only start pedaling with my right foot and my left leg does not have the power, flexibility, or dexterity to maintain momentum on snow starts. I had to walk the bike and trailer (and 60 pounds of trash and kin) up the small hill. From there I got going without much issue and maintained it more or less the whole way to the dock. The trip home was much better. Though again I had a hard time in front of the in-laws, it's an area that doesn't warm up and the snow was all sugar snow that doesn't seem to compact. When I got home my son, who walked along side of me, said I got 45 bonus points for making it home.
Regardless, props to all you daily snow commuters. It's tough work.
Knock on wood my infection seems to be cleared up.
The scenery from the weekend. A snowy weekend. https://imgur.com/a/kJUb0
The school district decided not to run busses but keep schools open on Monday, which I don't really understand. Anywho I got to teach/review my whole two students atomic theory.
Being on an island which never/rarely gets more than a dusting snow that rarely lasts the day we've accumulated roads which are nearly impassable for the island bikes and golf carts. Some golf carts with treaded tires or greater than one wheel drive and some cars made it, otherwise we walked. Being stubborn and out of necessity I took the bike. I rationalized that I needed to bring out our weekend garbage, kids, and grocery cart. I kicked the boy out of the trailer right away. Then I walked to the road and after several failed starts I managed to get going only to bail in front of the in-laws. I found it is very hard to start when I can only start pedaling with my right foot and my left leg does not have the power, flexibility, or dexterity to maintain momentum on snow starts. I had to walk the bike and trailer (and 60 pounds of trash and kin) up the small hill. From there I got going without much issue and maintained it more or less the whole way to the dock. The trip home was much better. Though again I had a hard time in front of the in-laws, it's an area that doesn't warm up and the snow was all sugar snow that doesn't seem to compact. When I got home my son, who walked along side of me, said I got 45 bonus points for making it home.
Regardless, props to all you daily snow commuters. It's tough work.
Knock on wood my infection seems to be cleared up.
The scenery from the weekend. A snowy weekend. https://imgur.com/a/kJUb0
#375
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...
Beautiful day yesterday afternoon! When the train pulled into the station, the sun was just disappearing on the horizon. And when I got to my locker, I had another surprise:

This was not there in the morning! I just hope they don't rip it out with a snowplow.
Dero Fixit | Public Bike Repair Station

This was not there in the morning! I just hope they don't rip it out with a snowplow.
Dero Fixit | Public Bike Repair Station
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.




