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2018! The ?How was your commute?? thread!

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2018! The “How was your commute?” thread!

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Old 02-14-18 | 09:55 AM
  #301  
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No bike commute today--but for a hopeful reason! My wife wanted me to drive today, because hopefully today or tomorrow our little toddler can come home from the hospital! It's looking like tomorrow, probably, but I'm glad I drove just in case I need to go get them from the hospital. And I'll be able to get there more quickly after work, anyway.
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Old 02-14-18 | 10:52 AM
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I'm hopeful for your family, [MENTION=447810]kellichou[/MENTION].
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Old 02-14-18 | 11:16 AM
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Pleasant 38F but warmer temps came with rain
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Old 02-14-18 | 12:20 PM
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Bare legs today! Temperature was somewhere between 57° (weather app on phone), 54° (weather channel), and 50° (Goofy the Garmin). It had just stopped raining when I left, but it was dripping, so I had on my jacket. Made it 10 of 11 miles to work before another shower hit. The jacket was warm, even with the zipper just barely engaging around my waist.
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Old 02-14-18 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by mgw4jc
Temp was about 35F when I left home. I soon realized I was a bit over dressed and started pulling the balaclava down off my chin. That helped, but with about two miles to go I had just turned off a main road into a neighborhood. Riding no-handed, I unclicked the helmet, removed my glasses, took off the balaclava and put the others back on. Much better. My ears got a little cold, but it was worth it.

A high of 63F this afternoon. I'll be stowing some layers for that trip home.
I debated stopping yesterday because I fogged up my glasses if I stopped or rode to slow. Today felt colder I was disappointed that it was not in 40s like I was expecting.

Originally Posted by pdlamb
Bare legs today! Temperature was somewhere between 57° (weather app on phone), 54° (weather channel), and 50° (Goofy the Garmin). It had just stopped raining when I left, but it was dripping, so I had on my jacket. Made it 10 of 11 miles to work before another shower hit. The jacket was warm, even with the zipper just barely engaging around my waist.
bare legs riding I do not remember what is like. I am glad I went with what wore yesterday since the temps were about the same except there was not RAIN..


all in all a good ride.
it was such a pretty sunset that I stopped to take a picture. after put the phone away and turned away from the sunrise. it seemed even prettier in my rear view mirror.
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Old 02-14-18 | 01:51 PM
  #306  
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It might be nearly 50°F on the way home. My winter gloves will be too hot. I might just wear my hands, as I didn't bring other gloves.
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Old 02-14-18 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
It might be nearly 50°F on the way home. My winter gloves will be too hot. I might just wear my hands, as I didn't bring other gloves.
I just wore the light gloves even though it was ~38F this morning. They were still ok. Am looking forward to the 10 degree or more jump this afternoon. How's your new job? It looks like you're back in the cyclecommuting groove again.

Oh, and @kellichou congrats on the new baby! Is it your first? Newborns are nice since they basically sleep most of the time. Some advice we got and followed from our old neighbor/friend was to put the baby straight into the crib (forget the bastinet). We also had the crib in a separate room which allowed us to close both doors and let at least one of us to get decent sleep. I did "baby on-call" some of the time (some weeknights but mostly weekends if I recall?). But the wife did most of them. Oh, and we found out that Viva paper towels were soft enough to replace baby specific wipes. Finally, we used to have a recurring amazon order for the baby formula powder. Maybe they might have good prices for baby diapers?

Last edited by ptempel; 02-14-18 at 02:44 PM.
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Old 02-14-18 | 02:53 PM
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[MENTION=25132]ptempel[/MENTION], yes, I started this job on Monday, at Columbia University. What a place this is! And the commute is ideal. I might be able to do it five days a week.

It's not a baby.

Originally Posted by kellichou
my baby (2 years old) is in the hospital (respiratory issues, viral, 5 days so far, probably an 8-10 day stay, although no one can say)
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Old 02-14-18 | 05:14 PM
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Leaving work for home. Just wanted to report it's strange out there today. Dark and cloudy and there's this strange stuff falling from the sky. It's cold and wet kinda like water. Ya'all have fun out there.
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Old 02-14-18 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
@ptempel, yes, I started this job on Monday, at Columbia University. What a place this is! And the commute is ideal. I might be able to do it five days a week.

It's not a baby.
Glad to hear that you like your new job. Cyclecommute 5 days a week for the WIN!


D'oh! Sorry, @kellichou. Hope your little girl recovers quickly. Slight case of no read-itis, I guess.
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Old 02-14-18 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by locolobo13
Leaving work for home. Just wanted to report it's strange out there today. Dark and cloudy and there's this strange stuff falling from the sky. It's cold and wet kinda like water. Ya'all have fun out there.
Wow. Life's getting tough in the land of the sun...
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Old 02-15-18 | 06:10 AM
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A very nice uneventful commute in this am with the temp at 29 f degrees with dark partly cloudy skies.
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Old 02-15-18 | 07:31 AM
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Warm enough for shorts only today - 58F! And supposed to get over 70 this afternoon. Roads were wet from overnight rains.
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Old 02-15-18 | 08:21 AM
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Yesterday afternoon the sun came out and temp spiked to 43°F which meant on the way home from work I saw people on the MUP in t-shirts and shorts, and on the roads I saw some motorcycles. Here in South Dakota people go crazy the first nice day we get after a couple of months of single degree temps and below.

However, we still have some significant snow accumulation built up, which meant yesterday's temp melted off some of it and made the roads and MUP quite wet. Subsequently on this morning's commute at 23°F there was quite a bit of sheet ice on the pavement. I'm glad I rode the winter bike, as even with carbide studs there were a few spots where I felt the rear end get a little loose. Never went down though, so it's all good.

Temp is supposed to stay below freezing, so I'm guessing the ice won't melt off super quick. Wind is supposed to pick up this morning as well. Of course it's out of the north, which is the direction I'm heading to ride across town to a client location over lunch. Headwinds! Yay!
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Old 02-15-18 | 08:46 AM
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A taste of Spring - 53F and rain, supposed to be near 65F this afternoon. Apparently warm weather ald=so encourages drivers to act like idiots... well more than usual
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Old 02-15-18 | 08:56 AM
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60-degrees at 6am... awesome!!! Strong head-wind, and the streets were really sloppy... but did I mention 60-degrees!!!
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Old 02-15-18 | 10:13 AM
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36F, gray & clammy
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Old 02-16-18 | 08:00 AM
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Was 57F and a slight spritz of rain this morning. Commute was a-ok. Just have to clean the bike later due to the usual road grime. The traffic was also really light in Manhattan. It was mostly because the schools are out today and all next week for winter break. Good for them. Well, at least we have Monday off from work. Yeeay. But we're supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow late tomorrow. Booo.
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Old 02-16-18 | 08:06 AM
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Wet and sloppy the whole way. (Puddles and mud on the ground, rain had stopped 5 minutes before I left for work! Score!)

Gave my new fenders their first real sloppy wet test and they proved to be the best $30 I've ever spent on a bike part! Worked like a charm to keep me from getting disgusting.
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Old 02-16-18 | 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
Wet and sloppy the whole way. (Puddles and mud on the ground, rain had stopped 5 minutes before I left for work! Score!)

Gave my new fenders their first real sloppy wet test and they proved to be the best $30 I've ever spent on a bike part! Worked like a charm to keep me from getting disgusting.

I was absolutely astounded the first time I rode after putting fenders on my bike. I realized how much more moisture comes up from your wheels than falls down from the sky. The rain from the sky is relatively clean. The stuff thrown up from your wheels is anything but. Having fenders actually makes riding in the rain enjoyable.

On a different note, I made an interesting observation this morning compared to yesterday morning. Most all factors (wind, bike, traffic, etc.) were identical. The big difference was the temp. Yesterday morning it was 23F, this morning it was 3F. I felt like I was expending the same or maybe slightly more effort this morning.

Yesterday's average speed: 13 mph.
Today's average speed: 10 mph.

More confirmation to my hypothesis that the colder it gets, the slower I get.
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Old 02-16-18 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
Gave my new fenders their first real sloppy wet test and they proved to be the best $30 I've ever spent on a bike part! Worked like a charm to keep me from getting disgusting.

Fenders and dyno lights are two things I refuse to skip on a commute bike.


Last night was crazy: 71° in February? Today it was all the way down to 64° -- skipped the dull winter jerseys for some bright ones, even if they're not as warm.


It would be nice to see that bright thing up in the sky, though. Dull gray overcast, I may as well be in the Midwest.
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Old 02-16-18 | 10:31 AM
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40F, heavy mist.
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Old 02-16-18 | 12:35 PM
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Ride started out tame enough, 38F and wet but not raining, pretty nice tailwind. And then a flat. At least it was in the front. Time for new tires... I hate to replace them when the LOOK just fine!
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Old 02-16-18 | 12:54 PM
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First time since Tuesday I’ve felt good, no cardio discomfort, but I’ve got no initiative to pedal. What the heck, self?
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Old 02-16-18 | 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
First time since Tuesday I’ve felt good, no cardio discomfort, but I’ve got no initiative to pedal. What the heck, self?
That's why they invented going down hill.

Cures what ails your legs.
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