How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#4951
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
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Trikeman
Trikeman
#4952
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
This morning 31 degrees, dark, quiet, crisp, fresh for the inbound commute. I have rarely enjoyed bicycling as much as these pre-dawn spins. The afternoon ride had a nice, albeit small, tailwind so I sat up and became a sail! 31 degrees is perfect for bicycling. It's cold enough to slap your face, but even though it feels cold, you don't actually get cold. Here in El Paso, that's the coldest it's a-gonna get, with rare exception.
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Trikeman
Trikeman
#4953
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Potashville
Bikes: Reynolds 531P road bike, Rocky Mountain Metropolis, Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10, Look 566
Cold, blustery. About -6 ºC with wind chill about -12... but hardly any ice left as we had a warm spell over the weekend. I've been off the bike for a month with one reason or another, so it was the first true winter ride with the studs. I went slowly and cautiously, but the ice was dry enough so seeing beyond the beam of my headlight was the only drawback.
#4954
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
Another warm day at 57f (14C). Yep, it is difficult to plan clothing as the temps are all over the place. I always have one spare pannier and it always has something in it. I put away my cut offs shirts, but I still am wearing shorts.
#4956
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
My ride this morning was nice. 49F/9C with a light tailwind. Saw a guy riding the other way. He was wearing a winter parka and running studded tires. Maximum overkill!
#4957
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Monson, MA
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Another awesome and fast commute in at 49F and overcast with light winds from the SE @ 3mph. This now is the fastest ride to school I've ever had. Some of the roads were a little bit damp and there maybe rain on the commute home. Unfortunately I didn't pack the rain gear, so hopefully I don't get too wet.
#4958
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA
Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura
Having left my bike at the office over the holiday weekend, it was nice to get back in the saddle. It was 3°C or so and drizzling on my way home this morning.
I'm right on the edge of my comfort level for riding in shorts. I think it's about time to order winter bibs so they're here by the time the really cold weather gets here in January.
I'm right on the edge of my comfort level for riding in shorts. I think it's about time to order winter bibs so they're here by the time the really cold weather gets here in January.
#4959
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Southern Wisconsin US
Bikes: Schwinn DBX, Trek 820
Dark! 17 mile an hour headwind almost put me in the cage this morning. But it was 33 degrees and dry AND I am within 100 miles of 5000 commuting miles in 2011. I HAD to bike it!!!! Another excellent day for a bike commute. Ride Safe!
#4960
Drizzling, and pitch dark, and I have to negotiate about a half mile on a shoulderless road. That means I have to take the full lane. This a 6:30 am. Car are zooming up on me. I have on yellow rain jacket along with flashing rear and front lights. However, I still feel defenseless. After that half mile, I breathe a breath of relief. The other 7 miles I h ave to go to get to the subway, is a two laner with a center lane. Most of the time I take the center lane, and then move over to a full lane. Even with the danger, the ride was a blast. Temps was around 55. Hit the subway, then downtown Baltimore for breakfast, then about 2 miles to work. 
Thinking about stealing off at lunchtime for a 1 hour ride on a bike trail...

Thinking about stealing off at lunchtime for a 1 hour ride on a bike trail...
#4961
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 0
From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
#4962
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Simcoe County, Ontario
Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"
I'd move to North Australia given totally free choice but my wife won't go that far from her family... so I ride here

Cheers
#4963
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 871
Likes: 115
From: Minnesota
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
Temps seem to be a big part of these reports this time of year. :-) Here, 26F, which is 8 above the normal low. And St. Paul continues to sweep streets WITH WATER.
#4964
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
Had my slowest commute in a long time yesterday, with light rain, wet roads, darkness and headwinds both ways. It was still better than driving and I got to try out my new headlight (L&M Urban 500) and the light-weight Castelli rain jacket I bought in May haven't had many chances to use since then. Drove today because it was pouring rain when I got up and it's expected to continue most of the day.
#4965
We were looking for snow flurries this morning but it only rained a little. Mid-30's it was a little warm for a windbreaker with my rig. Still a good day for a ride, much better than driving in this mess.
#4966
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
gale warning on lake michigan today. 40 mph wind, gusting up to 55 mph, blaring right at me out of the NNE.
my normal 50 minute commute turned into an hour and 15 minutes. that's a no joke head wind. i was nearly blown right over by some of the stronger gusts on multiple occasions. the lake was going nuts, the marine forecast says waves may build to 20 ft. by this evening, which is insane for lake michigan.
if the wind holds up this afternoon, it's likely that i'll break the sound barrier on the ride home
my normal 50 minute commute turned into an hour and 15 minutes. that's a no joke head wind. i was nearly blown right over by some of the stronger gusts on multiple occasions. the lake was going nuts, the marine forecast says waves may build to 20 ft. by this evening, which is insane for lake michigan.
if the wind holds up this afternoon, it's likely that i'll break the sound barrier on the ride home
Last edited by Steely Dan; 11-29-11 at 09:14 AM.
#4967
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
There were some extremely slick sections on the ride home yesterday. I was able to get my rear studded wheel slipping with little effort. One underpass has a frozen over puddle in it. Some days its solid enough to ride on top of, other days it breaks while riding across it. On days where it breaks, it can be a tricky section to get through.
The warm weather that started last Monday afternoon is continuing. -4C with a 15km/h headwind this morning. I was an hour late leaving the house, so I took the MUP to bypass the busiest section of my commute. I saw two other commuters this morning, one of them passed me. I didn't feel the urge to race as my legs have been sore with the transition back to the touring bike.
This morning I had a helpful idiot tail me in my blind spot instead of passing. Since I couldn't see the car I didn't want to make my left turn, so I just had to stop and let them go by.
The warm weather that started last Monday afternoon is continuing. -4C with a 15km/h headwind this morning. I was an hour late leaving the house, so I took the MUP to bypass the busiest section of my commute. I saw two other commuters this morning, one of them passed me. I didn't feel the urge to race as my legs have been sore with the transition back to the touring bike.
This morning I had a helpful idiot tail me in my blind spot instead of passing. Since I couldn't see the car I didn't want to make my left turn, so I just had to stop and let them go by.
#4970
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Monson, MA
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Great commute at 64F and overcast with head/crosswinds from the SE @ 10-12mph. Took a longer route to avoid the steeper hill and it was great. I LOVE my homemade coroplast velo. I may have lost some speed this afternoon because of the headwinds, but I was still faster than what I used to get without the shell, and that would be on a good day with tailwinds.
#4971
Great commute at 64F and overcast with head/crosswinds from the SE @ 10-12mph. Took a longer route to avoid the steeper hill and it was great. I LOVE my homemade coroplast velo. I may have lost some speed this afternoon because of the headwinds, but I was still faster than what I used to get without the shell, and that would be on a good day with tailwinds.
#4972
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
10ºF again! Back to back days in the double digits, baby! Only had to wear two shirts under the jacket today, and I even ditched the neck warmer for the ride home. Plus I've only got one class on Tuesdays, so I get to ride in late and leave early; in the daylight both ways, no less! Good ride, today.
Only every winter. But I should've been more specific: skier reports indicated a smooth, solid footpack. The MUP is groomed for skiing, which makes for a level, smooth, but soft surface. If the skiers can ski the groomed snow down to hardpack before too many walkers get to it, it doesn't get horribly pitted and ends up relatively smooth. Since everyone walks, skis, and bikes in the center of the trail in the winter, the middle of the trail develops into a solid hardpack a few feet wide, with the edges staying annoyingly soft for days to weeks after snowfall.
When the snow is soft I stay off of the MUP, both to avoid marring the grooming (although walkers tend to tear it up pretty quick, I don't feel like adding to the problem), and because it's a lot more work than riding on plowed roads. But I like the scenery and lack of cars on the MUP better, so I'll ride there when conditions allow. Rode home on the MUP yesterday and it was alright, except that the sides are really soft, so every time I pulled over to let a skier go by I pretty much sunk to a stop; plus it felt about 10º colder down there in the creek drainage. Took the road both ways today.
When the snow is soft I stay off of the MUP, both to avoid marring the grooming (although walkers tend to tear it up pretty quick, I don't feel like adding to the problem), and because it's a lot more work than riding on plowed roads. But I like the scenery and lack of cars on the MUP better, so I'll ride there when conditions allow. Rode home on the MUP yesterday and it was alright, except that the sides are really soft, so every time I pulled over to let a skier go by I pretty much sunk to a stop; plus it felt about 10º colder down there in the creek drainage. Took the road both ways today.
#4973
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA
Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura
3°C, drizzling off and on during the ride. My toes are numb and my legs are cool. Time to break out/replace the winter gear.
I feel fantastic after the ride and, as a bonus, my water is nicely chilled.
I feel fantastic after the ride and, as a bonus, my water is nicely chilled.
Last edited by dygituljunky; 11-29-11 at 06:46 PM. Reason: °C, not °F. Oops
#4974
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA
Bikes: Cycle Genius LTX
Nice ride in this morning, 59 degrees. Ride home was another story. Heavy rains throughout the day. Coming home in the rain and dark, I didn't see ont of the large piles of leaves that now block the shoulder of the road. Almost wiped out.







