My wife tried to put a stop last night; said it wasn't good for the car to only drive it 10 minutes at a time, the water builds up inside.
She's right. So I started it up and let it idle for 30 minutes. That should drive out the water. I'll do that once a week.

11 for 11 so far.

howdy folks....
i couldn't post yesterday.... kept getting some error message....
anyways, yesterday was about -5c/-12cwindchill.. with a fresh snow over some ice....
i got a little cocky and was flying along and drifted slightly into a little ridge causing my tire to wobble a bit... i was going too fast and not paying attn. and almost bit it... goof thin i recovered...
i've been experimenting with getting my studded tire pressure just right... i had put them up to 40psi yesterday but found that the loose snow over the ice made it difficuklt to steer and i was slipping a little.... my front tire had some grip my the loos snow pushed it around a little...

this morning i reduced the pressure to 36/40 (front/back) and felt i had more control in the front end..... it was -10c/-16c windchill this morning..... there still was some snowfall last night so conditions were similar to yesterday; loose snow over ice.... and finally a little colder ( on the radio they said our area has had an avergae of 16degrees temps above seasonal norms...)

i've still been wearing polyester underwear shirt, with a polarfleece vest under a MEC cycling jacket water resistant windbreaker... on my legs i've been wearin polypro tights under windpants.... on my head a polypr balaclava and goggles... im cold for a little bit and then warm right up...

so far so good.....!!
i've only missed one morning and made up for it on a wknd, so, so far i have perfect attendance...!!

ciao4now

jims

12 down, 9 left

Temp was around 0C, -5 windchill. Nice ride in, I took it easy and just cruised in. I'm kind of waiting for the weather to actually make this a 'challenge' because this is like riding in october. Anyways, it feels good to get this year off to a good start. I'm ahead of my annual mileage goal by 42km at this point, so I'm happy.

good morning....
it was -13c/-20c windchill this morning... so almost back to normals...
the wind was out of the NW, and i cycle W to work, so it was a little chillier....
i added a touque over my balaclava and i added a long sleeve cotton between my long sleeve polyester shirt and polarfleece vest... i kept with the usual tights and windpants on the bottom half...

went to wlamart at break and they had the Starter brand Dri-Star polyester undershirts marked down.... they were originally 9.98 but marked down to 5.98... so i bought a sleeveless black one and a white tshirt.... i didn't realize the sleevelss black was marked down, so i may go get another one.... they be good in the summer... i got Mediums so they fit nice and tight, but not too tight....
can't wait for the ride home to try them out...

keep up the good work everyone!!!

jimsy

I'm new to this thread, but thought I'd add my story thus far...Between vacation and out-of-state travelling for work, I've only had six days in the office this month. During that time, I've had five bike commutes. Of the five commutes, the weather has been unseasonably warm, which has been nice although I'm sure it won't last. This morning it was 19F and looks to be a little warmer yet this afternoon with less wind.

Great work all, keep up the good work!

good morning folks....
it was -14c/-22c windchill this morning...
i added a touque over my balaclava and i added a long sleeve cotton between my long sleeve polyester shirt and polarfleece vest... under the poly shirt i wore the dri-star t-shirt.... so, 3 layers with a vest under a windbreaker.... my arms felt a littl cold to start, but i was hot when i arrived..
i kept with the usual tights and windpants on the bottom half...
i normally wear sneakers with a cotton sock and wool sock... my feet were a little cold this morning... i'm going to look into some business-galoshes.. my fingers got cold too... i'll have to switch back to my mitts... i have some leather "garbage" mitts that i am going to take to the hockey shop and get them to split it into a lobster style glove... i'm not paying $60 for the name brand ones, when the hockey shop can split/sew them for <$20...

anywyas, keep up the effort people!!! jan. is almost done and we'll have to do a Feb. challnege!!.... heck, maybe we'll turn it into a 2006 challenge!! i figure, once we make it through jan and feb, the rest will get easier...

jimzee

-5C/-10C windchill

i'm eating vegan this week, only unprocessed and unprepared food. i do it now and then as a bit of a cleanse. i don't think i'm getting the calories, or just maybe not the carbohydrates that my body is used to. i feel myself dragging on the bike. but i just take it easy and pedal. next week i'll be back to all my pastries and bread and bars.

13 days down
8 days to go
0 days missed

jimmi, when i checked the weather this morn i noticed winnipeg had a -22c windchill, i was curious how you were gonna make out. glad it was a success.

i'd love to be able to say i commuted 100% of days in 2006. it sure is something to strive for.

hello.... good morning... -19c/-26cwindchill...
today was tough to get up....
last night both of my sons had outdoor hockey practice at the same outdoor rink...
one had practice at 6, the oldest at 8... it was beautiful out... it was around -8c and there was a nice light snow falling... big fluffy flakes.. the flakes covered the ice nicely and left ttrails where the pucks travelled.. i'm an asst. coach for both kids so i was on the ice for both.... then after that i played myself at 1015 to about 1130... so it was rush rush rush.... last week i seemed to play better after having skated before... last night i skated better again too... even got a few points! so, i got home at midnight had a 2nd beer and hit the sack.... i normally getup at 520ish, but today i was up early... i had that achy, sore tired feeling after little sleep and i was looking for excuses to stay home and sleep... but, i got up had some oatmeal, coffee and watched sportscentre.. im awake now, having biked, but my eyes are sore..

anyways....
bike was good today... had on: poly/poly/cotton/polarfleece vest/windbreaker on top
bottom: tights/windpants... it was a little chilly to start out this morning and my legs were kindof cold... at -20c and below i think ill put some long underwear between tights and windpants...
hand were a little chilly too... toes were good...

boy, am i glad its friday... i'm pooped and need to sleep in tomorrow... both kids have hockey tonight and tomorrow... tonight there's conflict... tomorrow i'll be at both games.. 1boy 1 game sunday at 11ish... goodtime for sunday mornjing.. a little bit more sleepin-time..

have a GREAT weekend everyone!!

jaymzee

14/14 so far. Only 7 to go.
47*F (!!!) this morning at 5AM, what crazy weather. Should be 15.

Long sleeve poly baselayer shirt, bike shorts and a windbreaker shell, that's all.
I'm going to order a new fender set today, I'm getting plastered up the back due to the broken rear fender, the rack just isn't containing the mud. I shouldn't be worrying about mud in January in Michigan!!!

That's what I'm thinking. At the end of this month, "1 down, only 11 to go".

This morning wasn't too cold, about 25F but the roads were such a mess. Between the dirt/salt snow/slush combo I had to deal with, my bike was covered in slop by the time I got to work.

I was 5/5 this week, which I thought I had done before (I've been commuting since September) but after looking at my log I realized this is the first time. Boojah.

Also, 7/8 on the month so far. 7 to go.

January is my B1TCH!! I PWN U!

14 down, 7 to go.

-10c/14f no wind.

Forecast for monday/tuesday is 9c/10c. I've lived in northern ontario and southern/central alberta all my life, and this is the warmest winter I can recall in my 29 years.

Sign me up for the feb challenge, this has been a great motivator dogboy.

Agreed! I'm in as well.

Ug...downed by a major chest cold. No work on Wed or Thursday, but I drove today since I'm still pretty down and didn't want to worsen my condition.

I'm pretty bummed about driving today...I guess I'll get over it.

don't sweat it dogboy!!
better to miss 1 day and get better than take the chance, get more sick and miss more days!!

get well soon!!

jim

Like jim said, get better before you jump back in the saddle.

We don't have a lot of control over catching colds.

WTF!!!
man, i have lost so many messages on this forum.... i get distracted by another window, come back and all the text is gone!

so, now you'll get the reader'sD version...
-14c/-26c windchill...
had an extra layer on top today: poly/poly/cotton/vest/windbreaker
1 extra on the bottom: tights/LJ's/windpants

went for a bike last night too.... got home, cut my kid's hair, had a shower and was in bed by 9pm... this wknd was crazy... we had 4 hockey games, basketball tournament and 2 birthday parties this wknd.... and a coaches meeting (which was pizza and beers and wasn't too stressfull... winkwink)... so i was pooped... i was almost planning on calling in sick today... i need to vote and goto the university to get a textbook for a class tuesday night... busy busy busy... another hockey practice tonight too!!

anyways, be cool....
hope you're feeling better dogBoy!!
6 more days!! 12 more commutes (or 11 now, i guess)....

jimz

15 down, 6 to go

Wind from the west at 35km/hr gusting to 50km/hr

7C/45F

11/12 5 to go. Today was kind of hard as I'm still a bit stuffed up. I added another layer figuring I'd be slower, which I was, but the effort level was the same, so I overheated. Ug. 16F when I left. Its supposed to get up to 35F today, so the ride home should be warmer.

Good on you DogBoy!!!! I'm riding virtually everyday of the year back and forth to work. If you are sick best take it easy riding in the cold (cover your air intakes..mouth/nose)....the blast of cold air can push a cold right down into your chest and knock you flat for a week if you're not careful. You've had some pretty goo dweather I see.

This morning was a tad on the colder side at 1F. Made it in without much trouble, which is nice for a Monday morning. On Mondays I bring in all my clothes for the week (four days of dress clothes, one casual for Friday) along with clean towel and other misc. items, which makes for a slower, bulkier ride.

Can't wait for the ride home as it's supposed to be around 30F and I won't have all the stuff slowing me down.

We wife had to make an emergency trip out of town, so she picked me up at work so I could take the car home. But now I'm at work with my car and my bike. My plan is to bike home, and to work tomorrow. Then tomorrow at lunch I'll drive home with the bike in the back and bike back to work. Yeah, that should keep me in the challenge. Plus I'll get 1.5 commutes tomorrow. Bonus points anyone ?

yea take a bonus point for that one

Dog boy, Are you in Madison?

I Was there in the 60s and 70s- pre bike paths. Sunrise on a still January morning can be Beautiful. Old Schwinn Varsity took me anywhere. Scarfs and handkerchiefs had to due. Big boots for the toes. SPent some time in Oregon too ( SMall town near Madison), @ a 7 mile cummute as I recall.

ENjoy .

JBS class of 70( almost) and 75 (finally)

morning folks....
today is a balmy -1c/-7c windchill...
yesterday it went from -14c/-26cwindchil in the morning to a sloppy +3c by 4pm.... (do you believe in global warming now?) and it even rained last nigt a bit!! crazy.... nice crunchy snow this morning and good traction... good speed... windy though, 26kms..

have a great day folks!!!

jim