I had to drive again today due to icy streets and it's looking like the whole week might be a bust. We had about 6" of snow and sleet last weekend and it has been very slow to melt. The sleet and packed snowed turned to ice, and the clouds and cold temperatures have kept the sun from melting it off. I drove my bike commute route this morning to check it out, and I may be able to ride tomorrow if the sun finally comes out and we don't get a freeze tonight. However, if it freezes overnight we will have black ice on most of the streets in the morning. On top of that, the forecasters are calling for snow or freezing rain again on Friday. I don't know how you Northerners deal with it.

18F and another dusting of snow for me this morning. Enough snow to quiet the tires down. I got first bicycle-tracks on the 5 miles of MUP that I ride.

Saw some crows picking at a dead thing on the ice on Lake Champlain. Eiw. Yesterday, on my ride home, the neighborhood turkeys were out. I stopped and counted 20 of them. There were 3 or 4 big toms, and one of them got uppity. He was walking toward me trying to act tough.

BIked in on the new MTB - the back tire is fairly aggressive to deal with the mud on my commute, but I learned that when all the mud is frozen, the fender really doesn't like it when rocks are picked up. Eh, they're quick to take off for weekend fun. I also learned that 7th gear on the freewheel skips. DOn't know why - I don't get a skip in any other gear, and it's shifted by a Suntour ratcheting shifter - there aren't any detents to jump out of. *sigh*

Good though, I liked the commute in.

Studded Tires. I actually get better traction on ice with studded tires then on wet pavement.

Overcast, light snow and minus seven Celsius with the usual *!"#en salt sludge in the curb lane.

had to do a roadside field repair of a frozen rear derailer cable. I guess it got wet when I washed it last week. had to actually disconnect the cable at the der; remove the housing from its stays and slide it back and forth; then reattach both and readjust the cable length; then check the shifting before wrapping it up and getting under way in earnest. ugh it must have taken 15 minutes.

it snowed last night and was actively snowing (very light) this morning. only about an inch or so but it complicated things. the bike is dripping now on the loading dock with cardboard under it. the cagers were OK

felt good to ride; Monday I swam; Tuesday I did weight training; today I rode. going out of town Friday so what I choose for tomorrow will be interesting.

13.45 miles
26.7 mx spd
13.4 avrg spd
1 hr saddle time (the computer doesn't include the 15 minutes messing with the rear der)

We don't get enough snow and ice around here to make studded tires a worthwhile investment. Often we go years between snowstorms. By the time I ordered studded tires and received them, the streets will be clear and it might be 5 years before we get another storm like this.

Despite running late this morning, I made all three trains and got into work on time. The roads were pretty dead, as if people saw the teeny bit of slush on the roads and played hooky today. No complaints here, a quiet road is a good road.

First commute in the rain this morning, but the finders, rainjacket, and dry change of clothes in the backpack made it all pretty nice actually. I'm logging a little more mileage than I thought I would, looks like 25 miles every two days, when I had been expecting 20. Can't wait until I can ride from home and make it 30 miles each day though!

First commute of the year! We got about an inch of snow last night, so it was a sloppy mess this morning. Regardless, I had a blast. The route was beautiful with the snow and the traffic was relatively light.

I realized after lugging my bike up to the office that I really need some sort of mat to put it on during the sloppy winter months.

Rode in Monday, found the tire flat when it was time to go home at 5:00. Wouldn't hold air at all. Got a ride home and returned with the car to pick up the bike. Went to Sports Authority to get a patch kit (I know, I should already have had one). Took everything home, removed the *()&@#()*HF Vittoria Ranonneur tire (OMG, what a pain!), and applied the patch. Not sure what caused the puncture. Put it all back together and pumped it up to 85 psi.

Tuesday morning, tire has air! It's my day to drive though, so the bike stays in the garage, but I can't wait for Wednesday.

Wednesday morning, guess what? Tire's flat. So, I drove in today too, and plan to visit my friendly neighborhood LBS and get a new tube and perhaps a proper patch kit.

RANT off.

Pulled up to a car and motioned to the driver to open the window. Pointed out to him that he left his cup of coffee on the roof. The snow was keeping it from sliding off oddly enough.

Guy in a bigass Ford pickup opened a door in front of me. No real danger of getting doored--I anticipated it and was merging into the car lane when it opened. He got it about half way open when I went by. I used used my Dad voice and yelled "DOOR!"

I hope he wet himself.

First extended commute of the year. Legs are tired but it reminded me of what I was missing.

So jealous.

despite the slop from the snow yesterday morning, the commutes the last two days have been awesome... I love this part of winter where my senses are so dulled that any temp above 20F feels like summer.

14 degrees, down from 28 yesterday, but the sun came out and it felt like a balmy 18. Icy, plowed roads and a nice, solid hardpack on the trail makes for some fun and fast riding. That and residual stress from (probably) bombing my chemistry exam today.

Tank, that looks HELLA fun! Way better than dodging skiers and moose for ten miles.

buzzed home in short order. I'm liking beating the evening rush leaving at 4 and getting home at 5. but I almost miss the traffic!

12.89 miles
26.5 max spd
12.6 avrg spd
1 hr 1 min saddle time

a little wet snow this morning on the way in but a nice ride. Temp was 27〫F tonight- felt like a warm summer night to me! Amazing how the body acclimates to temperature changes. I almost could have ridden home with no gloves and a hat- chose to wear them though and was quite toasty.

It was a decent ride in at 20 F ( -6C ). The snow is pretty much to the side of the roads, and the roads look better today than they did on monday morning. I guess they are more concerned about what is coming in on friday evening. The storm warnings are saying this storm will resemble the 19 Dec storm, which dropped 23 inches (58 cm ) of snow. I am flying out tomorrow and will be gone for two weeks, and I wish you all a storm that will not happen. I will re-learn riding in cold weather when I get back.

Took the Schwinn for it's first "long" ride (i.e. not around the block). Thought I had cured the problem of the BB loosening up, but by midway, it was scraping the FD. Gonna be a long, really annoying ride home.

Beautiful 11 miles in at 52 F. Look forward to shorts and t-shirt ride home with the sunset. Plan to drink a cold one in honor of my fellow commuters back east in the cold. Cheers!

40F, foggy. I am exhausted, late night, usual early morning.

arch2wheel ~ not sure whether to hate you; envy you or thank you!

Cold.

The commute itself isn't bad. It's the paranoia of having my bike stolen while I'm here sitting at work that has me seriously stressing out.

rumrunn6- It was intended as a compliment and the envy is on my part. I used to think I was roughing it by just riding to work. This forum has put me in my place.