Quite windy this morning, and it's only getting worse. At least it will be a tailwind this evening. Of course, it's not supposed to change directons overnight, so I'm looking at a 30 mph headwind coming in tomorrow w/ gusts as high as 55 mph!!! :eek::eek::eek: And I hear it may be even worse in New England. Crazy storm.

If any of my ride were on really busy streets, I'd definitely consider NOT bike commuting. As it is, I think I'll probably go for it, if for no other reason than to enjoy a 55 mph tailwind at times on the way home! And, oh, the bragging rights... ;) We'll see, though. No decision made yet.

I've been riding the last couple mornings w/ a set of Avenir clip and strap pedals that I salvaged from an abandoned bike in the basement of my building. I'm still getting used to the sensation of being able to pull as well as push the pedals, but in low wind situations when I could easily compare them to my old standard platforms, it felt good and I was noticably faster. Clipless in my future?

Oh, and today I was back on my standard commute route and was able to navigate it the whole way w/o having to dismount for snow or ice. Very nice. May snow tomorrow a little, but nothing to serious to cause havoc like the storms a couple weeks ago.

No cycling for me this week. Pick any or all of the following reasons:
rain all week
figured I'd take a break
high level management visiting our office, need to get to work early and un-sweated.

Yesterday was one of the nicest days this winter; sun shining bright, not a breath of wind, just cold enough to keep the trail firm but warm enough to roll without heavy clothing. Five miles to class, then 25 miles home via the Coastal Trail. Caught that break between storms where the air is so clear, it feels like you can see forever. Denali, Mt. Forakker, and Mt. Iliamna were all out, and the Talkeetna's looked so close that I felt like I could just bike right on over there. Then I was almost blinded by the alpenglow on the Chugach as the sun set on the way home.

And today I wake up to a surprise snow storm, with an easy five inches on the ground and still coming down thick. Time to cede the trail to the fatbikers for a couple of days and cultivate my ever growing appreciation for public transport. Oh well, skiing is gonna be bomb tonight.

Yeah, I love my city. When the skiing sucks, the biking's good. When the biking sucks, the skiing rocks. And when they're both good, I'm very tired. :)

"Nice" :twitchy:

Actually it worked out about right.... My typical ride time is about 1:20 +/-. It was 1:08 this morning, and closer to 1:30 this afternoon. So still about 1:20 +/-.

Today was a strange day. On my ride to school (4 miles), I was riding 20mph in a school zone. The car in front of me was going 20mph as well (nobody likes getting a $350 fine), so I decided to get in the right tire track to catch a little draft. A car comes up from behind me and stared to obnoxiously rev his engine and yell at me to get out of the way (despite the 4-ton SUV right in front of me). I just ignore it and at the 4-way stop, the car in front of me turned left and I continued straight. Right after getting through, pissed off driver floors in to pass me, but turns left only a block away. He had to wait for oncoming traffic, so I ended up passing him on the right. This started a cursing tirade, but I was going 20mph again so I didn't care much. I wish bikes had some loud revving noises for when the cars in front of me are going slower than I can ride.

After my first class, I went to the mall to get my work schedule, then over to the Red Wing store to get some mink oil. They're a small business and couldn't take debit and I forgot to get cash, so I ride over to the ATM. While in line, the car behind me is trying to inch forward in front of me. I asked what she was trying to do. "I'm in a car. Cars get first priority at drive-thru ATMs." She was dead serious. Looking like she is above logic, I turn around and wait for the car in front of me to leave. Just after I get my card in the slot, she blares the horn. Pro-tip: don't honk at people to hurry up at the ATM. Just because of her impatience, I withdrew $140 in $20 increments. 7 transactions is what you get, lady. I went and paid for the mink oil, then back to class. ride home was uneventful.

To summarize, today = wtf?

wow. mondaycurse on a Thursday- huh? ^^^^^^^^


My day was loaded with lots of 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 1 of Oxygen all over the place. When those little doodads get together it makes for some sloppy riding. Desperately needing new rain gear. Might as well be shielding myself with a yellow paper napkin- the rain soaks right through in about the same amount of time.

I even did the stupid thing of wearing my Gore Tex mitten covers with the cuffs of the glove on the outside of my rain jacket sleeve, which meant the mittens slowly filled with water as it drained down off the sleeve. I had about a cup of water in each mitten by the time I got to work. Always layer in the rain like you are shingling a roof.

Other than all that it was a very pleasant day to ride. ;)

Yea they are magical moments. I can go from sprawl suburb to farm land all by crossing the freeway. As I mentioned the dogs make the trip horrible. You get close to a house and you start pedaling harder just waiting fro the dogs to come out.

Good one. I would have just laughed in her face.

Tougher ride this morning than I expected. I gave my touring bike the day off and rode my Merckx Corsa, expecting to make great time. Not. It was cold and very windy, and it never felt like I had a tailwind. Got to work in about the same amount of time it usually takes on my touring bike.

This whole week has been tough for commuting, with rain or snow on 3 days. I slept late yesterday, planning to ride to work in daylight for a change. Then a snow squall blew through the area righwhen I had to leave for work. It was snowing so hard I didn't feel safe riding, so I ended up driving. If I had gotten up and left at my normal time, I would have missed the snow and cycling would have been fine as the weather cleared up later in the morning. Sometimes the timing for bad weather just doesn't jibe with work schedules.

Sartre put it well: "Hell is other people."

Rough commute today: 25mph headwind, panniers loaded with twice the typical weight. Looking forward to the return trip: headwind becomes tailwind, and I'm stopping at my beloved LBS to install brand spanking new high-profile cantis.

Cold this morning, but sunny, heavy traffic. Bike path plowed, but they mostly missed it and plowed the dirt along side. Not looking forward to ride home in mud.

Yesterday's sludge froze over then we got loads of snow over that during the night, foot or more deep at times. I had to carry my bike from the house to the street then was unable to ride up the Williamsburg Bridge, couldn't get any traction even on studded tires. Other than that it was rideable on studded tires, but tiring and sloooooow... But it was %$#! fun!!! :thumb:

Strangely, drivers were nice, no honking, no crap, gave me way, some funny comments, I was actually nicely surprised.

http://a-world.net/files/bf/commute/2010/01.jpg

http://a-world.net/files/bf/commute/2010/02.jpg

http://a-world.net/files/bf/commute/2010/03.jpg

Adam

Too funny. Good job. Serves the bee-otch right.

Fun ride in this morning. I expected it to be hellish with the winds that are out there, but it wasn't too bad. I just accepted it was gonna be a windy, windy ride with a lot of strong headwinds and spun away. Normally 30-ish minute commute was around 40 today, so not bad. Also had the exciting experience of "sailing" across the 14th St Bridge over the Potomac. With sustained 30+ mph winds coming from my 7 or 8 o'clock (as in aviation speak) and gusting to 45 or so, I got buffetted around a bit, but I was also able to use my body and panniers as sort of a sail. I went the last 3/4 of the way across the bridge without pedaling, easily going 15 mph or so at the end (no computer to be absolutely sure), and having to tap the brakes a couple times. Crazy and fun!

I sometimes joke about "if I had a sail for my bike" on windy days, but today I didn't even need the sail! ;-)

45F and raining

awesome pics... Today's commute was weak. My commuter had a flat and I was too lazy... and the weather too cold to fix it. Rode the tank - KHS Urban Express. Forgot how decent of a ride it was. But man its been over a year since I've been on it. Not as good of a workout. But I was still burning on the hybrid with fat tires.

I think that some motorists actually respect you more when you ride while it's crap out.

Super windy this morning but no rain unfortunately: was hopng for some hellacious horizontal stuff. Oh well. On the way home almost full moon over one should and cool sprinkles on the other, just enough to make the cars put on wipers. Solid leaves, twigs, occasional downed limbs on bike path from recent high winds. Oh - almost went over the wall onto ornamental agave when new SPD-SL's got sticky while front wheel balked in mud on the cyclocross portion of my ride. Fun evening.

Another sunny, windless day in Anchorage. 20F and 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground. The MUP looked like this:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y.../snowtrail.jpg

This guy walked where I had just biked. I think he was making better time than me:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...ndompusher.jpg

So it was all road riding today. Only got honked at once, and I think it was friendly (short, quick beep as the SUV passed). Just waved and kept going. Got back from class and really didn't want to get off of the bike (that ever happen to you?), so I rinsed out the growler and headed down to Glacier Brewhouse for a refill. Took a detour down to the coast just in time to catch some sunset afterglow on the tidal flats.

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...latssunset.jpg

And the school week's over, time get up in the hills and get some fresh powder! Have killer weekend y'all, and keep the rubber side down.

Not exactly today, more like a few days ago before the big storm here in the northeast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n1_kzi3Nr8


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=139219

Beautiful light snow, perfect temperature for a ride (28F/-2C), very few cars, and very few stoplights ^-^ Working on Saturday is kind of a pain, but I'm happy -- if I hadn't had to get my butt to work, I would probably still be in bed this AM, and would've missed this.

Great thread, btw -- love all the commuting pix. I guess I need to find myself a camera ^-^

15-20 mph tailwind... nuff said :)

You guys out east are getting all the snow lately We have been enjoying sunshine with single digits in the morning and around 30F in the afternoons. The bike commuting has been great. The only problem is that the roads are clear but they're coated with a white powder of salt dust and when cars go by they kick up a huge cloud. That is not allot of fun to breath in while you are biking. It's so thick at times you can hardly see very far in front of you. Non the less I can sense spring is on the way even though we have a ton of snow on the ground. I was even able to take my lighter faster bike to work yesterday. I have studs on that one also which came in handy in a couple of places.

I hear you about the salt -- they don't know how to do it here in Loutown, so often it's just dumped in huge piles in the middle of the road ... ergh. I think this is the first year I've seen more frequent (if less voluminous) snow here than my Mom and Step-Dad in CT!

I didn't commute by bike today. I had to use public transport...

Why you ask? It wasn't the weather. It wasn't my physical or mental wellbeing. It was the bike. Yesterday, she died of natural causes. The derailleur hanger at the dropout just snapped off. Metal fatigue. I cried. I still do when I think of it. Really? Yes.

Today I filled my day with regular work at the office, and seeking a new frame, which I found. Tomorrow a friend of mine is picking up a 1996 Cannondale 2.8 frame. The minute he offered me he could pick it up for me, I stopped calling him co-worker and started calling him friend. I like him.

My last work commute in Arizona if not ever at least for a very long time. :(

Tonight a thunderstorm is predicted. So we will see if I make it home from work unscathed.

I have spent the last 6 years solely relying on the bicycle to get me to work. I didn't even use mass transit.

I move to Minnesota next week to write another chapter.

We welcome you to Minnesota with welcome arms, wheel! I'm sure I don't have to tell you it won't be the same as AZ. :)

Thanks. I am not sure how I feel about. It has some good and some bad. I have to give up my car free lifestyle, in order to take care of my parents.

Back on my old commuter. The tire has two patches in it, and I am carrying a good spare. I am still not sure what put the holes in it, but I did tape over the area on the rim where the steel was soldered together. Not bad coming in, 24 F ( -4 C). The temps are moving up into the 20s F pretty consistently, and that is good. Something coming from the west this week, but if it stays up and does not swing down, we will get nothing. Hopefully, that is what will happen.

Actually got to commute today... Been off the bike for the entire month of Feb due to ice/snow on the MUP. Had to do an abbreviated distance sice conditions are still pretty rough, and probably walked near 1/2 a mile in total, but I'm glad as heck to be back on the bike!

-R

Thankfully February is finally over and let's all hope that the weather in March is much better. It started out good today with light winds, lots of sunshine and warmer than usual temperatures. However, the forecasters are predicting yet another winter storm for the Mid-Atlantic states tomorrow. As usual, NC is right on the rain-snow line, so it could go either way here. As much as I like snow, I'm hoping it's just a cold rain so I can get back to commuting as usual on Wednesday.

I'm still not used to pushing my Tikit around; the weight and balance are different. No doubt I'll get used to it in time, but today, I got grease on my light tan pants in three places. And these are fairly new pants!