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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.

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Old 11-28-11 | 06:14 PM
  #4951  
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From: El Paso, TX

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Originally Posted by no motor?
Same here, but I wonder how many more commutes I've got left for the season. I quit riding outside when it gets icy, and I think that's coming soon.
Move to El Paso. Tucson. Phoenix. Vegas. In the Southwest you can commute all year around just like Mr. BigRing!
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Old 11-28-11 | 06:19 PM
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From: El Paso, TX

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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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Old 11-28-11 | 08:34 PM
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 05:39 AM
  #4954  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 06:43 AM
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From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV

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It was 39 yesterday going in. 50 this morning. Calm winds and 72 coming home. Should be a delight.
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Old 11-29-11 | 06:48 AM
  #4956  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

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Originally Posted by GriddleCakes
10ºF and calm today. Nice ride to school today, might try the MUP heading home; skier reports indicate a solid footpack down the centerline.
Have you ridden on that type of surface before? It's not so nice. Very rough.

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!
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Old 11-29-11 | 06:57 AM
  #4957  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 07:36 AM
  #4958  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:16 AM
  #4959  
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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!
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:26 AM
  #4960  
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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...
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:40 AM
  #4961  
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Originally Posted by dcb23
Warm is right for DC...wow. Hard to pack, I keep defaulting to my fall/winter gear and then I heat up quickly.
Yup. I just did shorts and a long sleeved jersey this morning. Tomorrow's supposed to be back into the 30s/40s though.
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:42 AM
  #4962  
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From: Simcoe County, Ontario

Bikes: Steve Bauer Sirocco "Steve", Kawasaki Sumo 4.0 Fatbike "Black Betty", Retrospec Amok-16 "Rocinante/Veronica"

Originally Posted by Igo
I don't know why people in Canada and Alaska ride bikes in winter. I ride for recreation. That ain't recreation.
Call me a Canadian but just because it's cold doesn't mean it's not recreation.

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
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:52 AM
  #4963  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:54 AM
  #4964  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 08:59 AM
  #4965  
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From: Alpharetta, GA

Bikes: Nashbar Road

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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 09:09 AM
  #4966  
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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

Last edited by Steely Dan; 11-29-11 at 09:14 AM.
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Old 11-29-11 | 09:23 AM
  #4967  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 11:52 AM
  #4968  
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35F and foggy. Took 2 trips to the kids' school 'cause my son forgot some of his homework. When I got back (still before school started) I asked him why he didn't go back for his darn homework.
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Old 11-29-11 | 12:32 PM
  #4969  
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62 F at 7:00 AM. Calm.

Almost needed arm warmers.
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Old 11-29-11 | 03:24 PM
  #4970  
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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 03:57 PM
  #4971  
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From: Alpharetta, GA

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Originally Posted by Chalupa102
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.
I know what you mean, the speed boost is addictive. And on the other side of the coin, with the velo I don't really care what the weather does as long as it isn't too icy to ride.
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Old 11-29-11 | 04:42 PM
  #4972  
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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.

Originally Posted by vtjim
Have you ridden on that type of surface before? It's not so nice. Very rough.
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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 05:15 PM
  #4973  
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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.

Last edited by dygituljunky; 11-29-11 at 06:46 PM. Reason: °C, not °F. Oops
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Old 11-29-11 | 05:40 PM
  #4974  
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From: Lancaster, PA

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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.
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Old 11-29-11 | 06:10 PM
  #4975  
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Fantastic ride home in the dark, upper 50s, pouring rain, fog, and considerate car drivers!
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