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Best thing about commuting in cold temps

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Old 11-01-06, 11:33 AM
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Best thing about commuting in cold temps

The best thing for me about communting in cold temps is it separates the men from the boys. The colder it gets the fewer bikes I see. And you know what, once you get going -- it ain't that damn bad out there!

Plus, the looks you see are priceless
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Old 11-01-06, 11:36 AM
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I think the best thing is not being hot and sweaty when you get to work. Either that or riding in the dark.
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Old 11-01-06, 11:48 AM
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The complete lack of pod-zombies on the MUP!! Here here! This week the only other bikes I've seen have been commuters. The recreational riders are hiding inside with their trainers and tv's.
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Old 11-01-06, 11:50 AM
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I like watching people who look like they're ready for Hoth, scrape ice off their idling car's windows.
Meanwhile I've got steam rising off my helmet.
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Old 11-01-06, 11:52 AM
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I like having my own little biosphere thing going on. I know it's freezing outside, and I should be cold, and sometimes wet, but I'm not, I'm warm and dry. Very cool.
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Old 11-01-06, 11:55 AM
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OK, I've got to ask -- what does MUP stand for?


forgive me, I'm an ignorant noob
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Old 11-01-06, 11:55 AM
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Publicly, I will admit to liking the fact that I am not sweaty once I get to work. Privately, I love the way it separates the fair weather folks from the "real" commuters.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:03 PM
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My favorite thing is getting to school and having numb hands, feet, and face despite warm gloves, wool socks with an undersock, and well... my face is just bare. I also like how riding with a helmet is colder than riding without one, sucks the heat right out of you. Winter makes me miss Phoenix.

The only good part I've found about cold weather commuting is that I'm still on a bike and not stuck in a car.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by ragboy
OK, I've got to ask -- what does MUP stand for?


forgive me, I'm an ignorant noob
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Old 11-01-06, 12:18 PM
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And best of all, cagers don't want to roll the window down to yell!
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Old 11-01-06, 12:34 PM
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I love it, too. Sure, it feels a little crazy, which is fun. More than that it is quiet and I usually get to see the sun coming up.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:37 PM
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I didn't see anyone this morning at 21 degrees. Not a problem either. I think I'll be good down to near 10 as long as the wind stays down. We'll see how I do in single digits or below 0 wind chills.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:39 PM
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Two words:

SNOT ROCKETS!!!!
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Old 11-01-06, 12:47 PM
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It's been 22 or so the past couple days... not much traffic out there on the path. A few people bundled up walking their dogs, and a couple cyclists commuting.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by bike2math
pod-zombies
Gotta remember that one... plug 'em in and poof, they are zombied.
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Old 11-01-06, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by squeakywheel
I think the best thing is not being hot and sweaty when you get to work. Either that or riding in the dark.

Seconded!
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Old 11-01-06, 12:58 PM
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By the time Dec comes, if it gets this cold then (20s) I will totally be wearing a facemask, don't know why I think I can get away w/o it today. Still a lot of residual body warmth from late summer?
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Old 11-01-06, 01:03 PM
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During the day I have the thermostat at my house set way down to 62 F which is plenty warm when coming indoors after the ride home. It usually takes several hours before I cool down enough that I need to kick the heat up a bit. I'm thinking this might save me money on the gas bill. If I get cold in the house maybe I'll just start going out for a ride instead of turning on the heat!
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Old 11-01-06, 01:04 PM
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I enjoy my frosty goatee or wet depending upon the temp.

My least favorite involves female joggers and an increase in clothing.
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Old 11-01-06, 01:21 PM
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Best thing is I have my choice of spots on the bike rack! When gas hit $3 I was parking in the bushes hoping some clueless commuter wannabe wouldn't trash my bike while swinging around their roadmaster.

Bent
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Old 11-01-06, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ragboy
OK, I've got to ask -- what does MUP stand for?


forgive me, I'm an ignorant noob

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Old 11-01-06, 02:22 PM
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I wonder the same thing.
If every one started riding would that just suck as same as the car. Espically since we have limited room and places to lock as is. That and theft would be rampant. Just a guess.

I avoided that by moving to a motor city. Which has an enviromentally bicycle friendly place. Sometimes lonely is good.


Yes at 50f I am cold. I enjoy riding in the cold because I know it could be much more colder else where.
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Old 11-01-06, 02:37 PM
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Somehow, the air looks and tastes cleaner and the ride seems quieter. Also, it all but eliminates encounters with dope addicts and drastically reduces bottle debris on one section of my ride.
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Old 11-01-06, 02:46 PM
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No triple-wide strollers on the MUP, hogging up the entire path.
Fewer drivers will roll down the window to yell stuff.
Empty MUP at 5:30am and 25F.
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Old 11-01-06, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ragboy
OK, I've got to ask -- what does MUP stand for?


forgive me, I'm an ignorant noob
My Under Pants
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