How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
02-01-11 | 09:27 AM
#451
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,977
Likes: 191
From: Washington, DC
The CCT was super slick this morning. I stopped to take a leak, and I could barely keep from slipping on the film of ice from the light rain and drizzle that froze on the asphalt. Goes to show how good the studs are in these conditions. The MVT still has lots of icy stretches, but they were rideable with studs. I had to cut through the airport to avoid the bridges.
I'm really liking the National Park Service this year, which has again plowed the CCT, and is completely free of ice from last week's storm. In comparison, the MVT is still a mess. Not sure who is responsible for the MVT, but I wish they would run a plow over it just once after a storm.
I'm really liking the National Park Service this year, which has again plowed the CCT, and is completely free of ice from last week's storm. In comparison, the MVT is still a mess. Not sure who is responsible for the MVT, but I wish they would run a plow over it just once after a storm.
02-01-11 | 09:52 AM
#452
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 214
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From: Burnaby BC, Canada
Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15
Nice ride in this morning on my new wheel, but I think my old worn chain is too worn for my brand new cassette. Certain gear combinations are a little noisy. I'll have to pick a new one up quickly. -4C this morning but pretty comfortable except the saddle sores... Don't know what brought those on last week but they really suck. 25km through the dark to work.
02-01-11 | 10:02 AM
#453
28F, sunny
02-01-11 | 10:37 AM
#454
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Not sure I'll have the cash for them in time for this season, but I'll have some by next winter for sure. With as much as metro costs these days, ten days of metro commuting avoided will pay for the tires.
02-01-11 | 12:47 PM
#456
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
From: seattle, too many links
Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike
i underestimated how cold it was.... never again
02-01-11 | 01:00 PM
#457
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Bozeman, MT
Bikes: only have one at the moment :( But at least its a CrossCheck so its multipurpose and STEEL.
02-01-11 | 01:03 PM
#458
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Relatively fog free. I was perfectly dressed for the weather, except the tips of my fingers. I just have never had good circulation there. It bothers me when I ski too.
02-01-11 | 03:09 PM
#459
Thread Starter
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
From Crystal City there are really two routes. I'd just use the Mount Vernon Trail and 14th St Bridge all thing being equal. It's cool to see all the things going on at the airport, and the planes come in low for landing over Gravelly Point. Also, there are good views of the DC "skyline" from across the Potomac as you head north along the trail from the airport to the 14th St Bridge, which empties out right next to the Jefferson. The alternate I used today is nice in its own way, especially for its view of the Pentagon and its surroundings, riding not too far from Arlington Cemetery and then the view of the Lincoln Memorial as you cross the Memorial Bridge, but the Old Jeff. Davis Hwy is a pathetic excuse for a paved street. I've mapped out both routes from near Crystal City metro to the Mall going both ways. Here are the links.
Along MVT: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
Alternate I took today: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...&z=14&lci=bike
I'd offer to meet up with you as a fellow BFer and ride over together to show you the routes, but sadly my riding time is generally limited to my commuting miles.
Hope the map helps, though. You might want to compare this map to the latest map of CaBi station locations to find the closest place to either river crossing to trade in your bike and/or hop onto a new one to avoid the extra cost of having a bike out for 30+ minutes.
If you want variety, I'd perhaps recommend doing a loop and going up one way and back the other?
Along MVT: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
Alternate I took today: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...&z=14&lci=bike
I'd offer to meet up with you as a fellow BFer and ride over together to show you the routes, but sadly my riding time is generally limited to my commuting miles.
Hope the map helps, though. You might want to compare this map to the latest map of CaBi station locations to find the closest place to either river crossing to trade in your bike and/or hop onto a new one to avoid the extra cost of having a bike out for 30+ minutes. If you want variety, I'd perhaps recommend doing a loop and going up one way and back the other?
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
02-01-11 | 06:41 PM
#460
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Doohickie. Sorry about that. Not sure what happened. Try this one. This is the alternate route.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
02-01-11 | 10:22 PM
#461
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 502
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Iowa
Bikes: surly cross check
holy hell, Biking through a foot of fresh snow is not as great as I thought it would be. I was riding my single speed, so going up hill into the wind was awful. It was like riding a bike in a foot of fresh mashed potatoes.
Gorgeous day for a ride! (But dang it cold) 
02-02-11 | 05:48 AM
#463
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
Right around freezing, not a bad ride. Icy rain, but water is running, so that is good. It should all finish by today, and from the looks of things this area may have dodged the bullet. Gotta love it when temps get above freezing. I want the side of the road back, as I am tired of competing with cars in the same lane, and I should get a good portion of it back today.
02-02-11 | 07:11 AM
#464
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I drove today because my legs needed a break. My average speeds were off the past two days and I was just feeling tired. Fortunately it was raining this morning, and it's supposed to be very windy all day, so it's a good day to take off. The downside is the temps are supposed to reach low 70s here this afternoon, but cold again tomorrow when I'll be back to biking.
02-02-11 | 07:24 AM
#465
"Per Ardua ad Surly"
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, Ontario
Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Mongoose Hilltopper ATB, Surly Cross-Check, Norco City Glide
No commute today... got a snow day at work. Had to clear the drive so Mrs. Nelson could drive to work though.
We really didn't get that much snow so I might do tearing around on some trails later on.
We really didn't get that much snow so I might do tearing around on some trails later on.
02-02-11 | 07:41 AM
#466
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Last night late: Horrible windy wet commute home after a long long day.
Had a very early start today and lo and behold...almost felt warm out there. Was wet but just misting. Shed the winter coat. Actually quite nice ride.+
Had a very early start today and lo and behold...almost felt warm out there. Was wet but just misting. Shed the winter coat. Actually quite nice ride.+
02-02-11 | 07:43 AM
#467
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
The weather site current conditions suckered me again. Said -25C when I left, but after getting to university it changed to -28C. I thought it felt colder than -25, when its this cold you can feel every degree. I wore my Lake winter cycling boots and added chemical toe warmers. Despite being designed for a reduced oxygen inside boot environment, they were stone cold by the time I got to school. My toes were very cold by the time I finished my ride.
Otherwise I was dressed well for the temperature and didn't sweat much. The snow on the roads was packed super hard and is great / fast to drive on. Ride home is supposed to be a much warmer -9C.
I bought my bike in to thaw Monday evening and gave it a good cleaning, a re-lube and some new front v-brake pads. Last night I put it back in the garage to cool down. This morning the front brakes were frozen again. I'll have to spray something down the brake cable tonight.
Otherwise I was dressed well for the temperature and didn't sweat much. The snow on the roads was packed super hard and is great / fast to drive on. Ride home is supposed to be a much warmer -9C.
I bought my bike in to thaw Monday evening and gave it a good cleaning, a re-lube and some new front v-brake pads. Last night I put it back in the garage to cool down. This morning the front brakes were frozen again. I'll have to spray something down the brake cable tonight.
02-02-11 | 08:45 AM
#471
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
Today was another snow emergency, about the fifth since Christmas, and I rode my winter beater bike from Kenmore Square in downtown Boston to the suburb of Norwood this morning, leaving at 5:45 AM. Rte 1 was entirely rideable with my Marathon Winter studded tires, and my reverse commute direction had very light traffic.
There seems to be an increasing peevishness towards bicylists and runners these days with the repeated, yet unremoved snowfalls. I picked it up on talk radio when last night even the amiable Dan Rea was griping about us. Maybe it's because we're the only commuters having fun out there?
I only got one shout-out (no honks) this morning from a guy who passed me easily by more than ten feet on the Jamaicaway, "You've got to be kidding."
There seems to be an increasing peevishness towards bicylists and runners these days with the repeated, yet unremoved snowfalls. I picked it up on talk radio when last night even the amiable Dan Rea was griping about us. Maybe it's because we're the only commuters having fun out there?
I only got one shout-out (no honks) this morning from a guy who passed me easily by more than ten feet on the Jamaicaway, "You've got to be kidding."
02-02-11 | 08:50 AM
#472
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Pretty good ride in this morning. Misty, but warm and not freezing, so that made me happy. Hoping that the promised sun and temps in the 50s today help to melt away a lot of the crap on the road and trails. There was already significant melting over the last 24 hours so fingers crossed!
Still no word from the LBS on my LHT frame... it was ordered the beginning of last week, and I was told it would take about a week to get in, so I'm still hopeful I'll get the phone call that my new bike frame is here.
Still no word from the LBS on my LHT frame... it was ordered the beginning of last week, and I was told it would take about a week to get in, so I'm still hopeful I'll get the phone call that my new bike frame is here.
02-02-11 | 08:50 AM
#473
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Bozeman, MT
Bikes: only have one at the moment :( But at least its a CrossCheck so its multipurpose and STEEL.
-13F this morning. The cold headaches really suck. Plus, I think the cold is causing my tires to drop in pressure because about 5 minutes after I leave the house it gets MUCH harder to pedal and I dont suck quite that much...
02-02-11 | 09:17 AM
#474
Thread Starter
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Doohickie. Sorry about that. Not sure what happened. Try this one. This is the alternate route.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&z=14&lci=bike
My commute yesterday was non-existant; I worked from home. Today, I drove. If they treated the roads with anything that was effective, I might ride, but they just put sand down and hope the sun comes out.
It's a good thing it's Packers versus Steelers in the Super Bowl; at least the visitors to the area are used to weather like this.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Last edited by Doohickie; 02-02-11 at 09:20 AM.
02-02-11 | 09:28 AM
#475
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, CA
Bikes: Lynskey R230 DA DI2 ENVE 3.4 SES, 6KU Fixie, Cheap Aluminum Slapstick Trainer only bike
Windy Windy Windy. 7 mph on the way in which usually have no wind. On the way back it is supposed to be 15mph with 40mph gust. Should be interesting going against wind tonight.