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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How was the commute today? Continued.

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Old 12-10-10 | 04:03 PM
  #7376  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Great commute at 26F and overcast with winds from the WSW @ 6mph. Slow today for no apparent reason except that it was cold. This will be the last commute on slicks because the studded tires are going on tonight. They are expecting snow/rain/sleet mix Sunday to Monday. Actually saw some other bicyclists on the road this afternoon. Two were riding together and crossed at an intersection into a park, and one on Berkshire Ave. Unfortunately the one on Berkshire was a salmon heading the same direction as me on the other side of the road who later turned into a salmon sidewalk rider.
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Old 12-10-10 | 05:54 PM
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
-6C/21F and about an inch of new snow. Wore what I've been wearing for the past few days and I think I've become acclimatised to the cold, because my back was sweaty by the time I got home.
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Old 12-10-10 | 08:09 PM
  #7378  
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From: seattle, too many links

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the sky parted and there were sun breaks, blew off the rest of the afternoon and got in as many miles as i could on the way home.
in short, the commute home rocked.
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Old 12-10-10 | 11:14 PM
  #7379  
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From: Thailand

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Fixed gear bike quite popular in Bangkok now, many kids use it as commuting bike.Only think i fear that most of them didn't use protection equipments at all, because they think it wasn't cool to use them with fixed gear bike.
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Old 12-13-10 | 05:57 AM
  #7380  
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From: Columbia, Maryland

Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter

The temp was not bad, somewhere around freezing, 32 F ( 0 C). There was some flurrying going on, but nothing is sticking. The winds are what made the ride more work this morning, and it looks like the winds will be here for a few days. This makes 2 weeks in a row for windy rides.
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Old 12-13-10 | 07:02 AM
  #7381  
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What fletch said...for me was this was my first ever ride in the snow and I was pretty excited! Googles came in handy! The wind is getting old.
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Old 12-13-10 | 07:04 AM
  #7382  
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This morning at about 6:00 AM I was riding southbound on Centre St in West Roxbury, and I spotted a really nice helmet LED light attached to an elastic strap lying on the road. Petzl Tikka was the brand name and it was turned off. It must have popped off someone’s helmet. I myself use one front handlebar Cateye flashing light mainly to be seen, but I do have a few dark patches of roadway. In fact after many years I’ve been shopping around for a stronger headlight. I tried the headlight on and it seemed perfect for my needs. I did consider riding off with it, but I figured if I had lost it, it would be worthwhile to re-trace my route and look for it. It was lying in a spot likely only seen by cyclists or cager residents on the street getting into their cars. I will check again tomorrow; why let it go to waste? If not there, I will go and buy one this weekend.

Other than that, it was a nice commute at 50* F, but after a long rain Sunday. I just put on the Marathon Winter studded tires yesterday, and if colder, it would have been a perfect set-up for black ice. About three weeks ago I was riding after a rainy day and I went over an innocuous puddle and went down from a deep hidden pothole. I scraped my knee pretty well and tore through a nice pair of rain pants, cycling tights and a vest. So as a Public Service Annnouncement, I would remind my fellow riders, don’t ride over puddles if you cannot see the road surface; same thing for piles of leaves.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 12-13-10 at 08:20 AM.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:13 AM
  #7383  
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From: Raleigh, NC

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I regretfully decided to drive today for safety reasons. It rained all weekend here, turning to snow flurries overnight, and there were patches of black ice on many roads. It just wasn't worth the risk to me as I know from experience what it is like to go down on the pavement. The weather is looking bad for bike commuting all week here, and I'll be lucky to ride two days. Last week I was able to ride every day despite extremely cold temperatures for NC, but at least it was dry and not too windy.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:20 AM
  #7384  
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
First rainy (and above freezing) commute in December. The pedestrian overpass was completely iced over and the studded tires were essential for that. I met a pedestrian at the top. He was impressed with my riding skills coming up the overpass but warned me about the ice on the way down (since it is not straight down, but turns as it goes down) and told me that I could walk along the side where there was some snow left, but I showed him my studded tires and told him I would be careful.

Edit: and now it's snowing again...

Last edited by bijan; 12-13-10 at 09:12 AM.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:25 AM
  #7385  
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5°F w/wind chill of -4°. Still a little snow/ice on the street from Friday night so I was extra careful.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:42 AM
  #7386  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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35f slight wind and foggy, back to wearing the shorts/leg warmer combo i guess our dec 1st snow storm is gonna be it for a while, i certainly wont be complaining about it.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:43 AM
  #7387  
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From: Thibodaux, LA

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Well, today was my first commute in freezing weather, though it was dry and windy... no snow, no ice, just humidity and cold, about 29°F. I tried out my new ski gloves and was pleased that they worked very well. My feet are still colder than I like, so I will try to find something warm for them tomorrow.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:55 AM
  #7388  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Excellent commute in this morning at 49F and overcast with light scattered rain and winds from the S @ 11mph. First commute with the studs, and they roll surprisingly well. I was originally expecting snow this morning, but it was way too mild for it.
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Old 12-13-10 | 08:56 AM
  #7389  
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From: Alexandria, VA

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Good ride in. Temps right at freezing and a slight dusting of snow on some of the grass and leaves as well as parked cars. Wind was blowing pretty good in spots, esp. down by the river where there's nothing much to break it. It's certainly more enjoyable riding in calm weather or with a tailwind, but I must be getting used to it, b/c it didn't bother me too much.

Gusts as high as 40 mph expected by the time of the evening commute, though from the sounds of things outside my window, it's already howling! Luckily, with the exception of the 14th St Bridge, it should generally be more of a tailwind, or perhaps a little of a crosswind most of the way.

The wind is ushering in some colder weather, so it looks like I will have to add layers and go with the full-fingered gloves for at least the next couple days, if not the rest of the week.
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Old 12-13-10 | 10:09 AM
  #7390  
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First cycle commute in over 2 weeks. I thought I would take advantage of the balmy -10C/14F temperatures this morning (forecast to climb to near freezing this afternoon) and get in at least one ride in December.

Not the greatest of rides in. No incidents, just tough slogging and slow going, thanks to poor road conditions and even worse trails. It's my own fault, I guess, for choosing the roads less traveled. The worst are the trails that haven't been plowed and are traveled mainly by pedestrians...it's like riding on cobblestones.

My rear derailleur cable was frozen right from the get-go, so I only had the front 3 rings to switch between, but it was enough. I parked my bike in a heated parkade, so all the accumulated snow and ice should nicely thaw and dry out by this evening when I head home. Maybe not the best for the bike with all that metal rapidly expanding and contracting.

I dunno, guys. I'm just not like some of you hard-core winter cyclists. It's just not as much fun anymore. Yeah, yeah, HTFU, I know. Yes, I would like some cheese with my whine!
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Old 12-13-10 | 10:11 AM
  #7391  
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From: south Puget Sound
48F, steamy (really, steam up to ~20' off the ground, blue sky above). We got about 6" of rain this weekend (according to the kiddy pool in the backyard I emptied Sat am), and the creeks were all really high.
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Old 12-13-10 | 10:25 AM
  #7392  
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From: Potomac, MT, USA
13F with 15-20 mph headwind about half the route. My clothes are better these days so it wasn't as bad as I expected. With studded tires on I had no problem with the icy roads. I did develop an ice ball on my right eyelash, so by the time I got to work I couldn't see out of my right eye. Ah winters...
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Old 12-13-10 | 10:44 AM
  #7393  
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From: seattle, too many links

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Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg
48F, steamy (really, steam up to ~20' off the ground, blue sky above). We got about 6" of rain this weekend (according to the kiddy pool in the backyard I emptied Sat am), and the creeks were all really high.

in pioneer square, more then the creeks were high

gorgeous morning ride today

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Originally Posted by yummygooey
crabon/campy/rapha/roadie-bro.

next step is recumbent.




my bikes | bike blog | beer blog | work 1 | work 2
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Old 12-13-10 | 10:54 AM
  #7394  
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From: Edmonton, AB
One neat thing about riding on clean, white snow: if it's packed enough to be able to pick up some riding speed, and cold enough for the snow to be dry, the knobby studded tires will pick up a certain amount of the snow and shoot a neat little cloud of snow forwards from under the front fender. Picked up by the halo of the front light, it looks really cool.

Of course, then it blows backwards and starts collecting on the bike.
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Old 12-13-10 | 11:33 AM
  #7395  
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Knee warmers for the low 50s ride in, but I pack 'em up for the low 80s ride home.
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Old 12-13-10 | 11:36 AM
  #7396  
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Pineapple Express is heading towards us. Warm and heavy clouds but no rain yet, perhaps this afternoon.
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Old 12-13-10 | 01:56 PM
  #7397  
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Lovely this morning. -7ºC and clear. New tires (Marathon Winters), new wheels, and the contra-flow lane was even plowed. Doesn't get much better than that.
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Old 12-13-10 | 03:36 PM
  #7398  
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho

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49f and overcast about to leave work and VERY glad i wore shorts, I hate this up and down weather!!! According to the weather guessers it supposed to get down into the teens tonight but of course that forecast has changed dramatically over the last few days. What does it take to be a meteorologist? Completion of grade school
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Old 12-13-10 | 04:29 PM
  #7399  
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From: Monson, MA

Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike

Good commute this afternoon at 43F with rain and winds from the WNW @ 8mph. First time during a commute where I've had to pull off to relieve myself. I had to go at about the half way point and knew that I wouldn't be able to hold it till I got home, so I pulled off onto a side street and found a tree. A little before that, I witnessed the probably the worse red light run I have ever seen. It was at a pretty major interestion and I was stopped at the light. I could see the light for the crossing traffic turn red, and saw between 5-6 cars blow it after it was clearly red. They weren't even speeding through or anything; they just casually ran it like it was still green.
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Old 12-13-10 | 06:40 PM
  #7400  
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From: Toronto, ON, Canada
-5C and snow. Definitely a change from the rain this morning...
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