How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
12-05-11 | 03:18 PM
#5051
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Monson, MA
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
Excellent commute home at 58F and partly cloudy with mainly crosswinds from the S @ 9-11mph. The weather felt really nice this afternoon. It's almost hard to believe that it's the beginning of December and it's this warm. Also crazy to think that we got ~15" of snow that created a bunch if havoc for about a week not that long ago.
12-05-11 | 05:14 PM
#5052
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')
25ºF with a slight wind. The warm spell melted most major roads back down to asphalt, but there're patches of black ice everywhere from the refreeze. Took off from campus early today so that I can make it to a work meeting, so I got to ride home in the sunshine! I headed down to the MUP to see if it was rideable:
Yes, but in no way fun to do so. It might not look like it, but that trail is rock solid; I rode down it for a stretch and didn't make a mark, despite bouncing pretty hard over the frozen foot tracks. I guess it was too much to hope for that people would've stayed off the trail during the warm spell. Hopefully there's enough air left in the snowpack to allow the ski groomers to chew it down to level and smooth again. If not, it'll won't improve until after the next snow storm.
I tried to head down this alley early yesterday morning on my way to work, only to sink into 4 inches of dense slush and wallow to a stop, and then walk back and take a different route. Now it's frozen solid, and representative of a lot of back roads around town that weren't aggressively plowed before the storm. There're also 4-6 inch tall berms of frozen brown slush all over town, where plowing during the storm heaped up road slop that then froze last night.
Luckily, plenty of side roads look like this, which is actually fun to ride if you've got studded tires. This is right out front of my apartment building; I can literally ice skate from one end of my street to the other right now.
Yes, but in no way fun to do so. It might not look like it, but that trail is rock solid; I rode down it for a stretch and didn't make a mark, despite bouncing pretty hard over the frozen foot tracks. I guess it was too much to hope for that people would've stayed off the trail during the warm spell. Hopefully there's enough air left in the snowpack to allow the ski groomers to chew it down to level and smooth again. If not, it'll won't improve until after the next snow storm.
I tried to head down this alley early yesterday morning on my way to work, only to sink into 4 inches of dense slush and wallow to a stop, and then walk back and take a different route. Now it's frozen solid, and representative of a lot of back roads around town that weren't aggressively plowed before the storm. There're also 4-6 inch tall berms of frozen brown slush all over town, where plowing during the storm heaped up road slop that then froze last night.
Luckily, plenty of side roads look like this, which is actually fun to ride if you've got studded tires. This is right out front of my apartment building; I can literally ice skate from one end of my street to the other right now.
12-05-11 | 07:26 PM
#5053
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
25ºF with a slight wind. The warm spell melted most major roads back down to asphalt, but there're patches of black ice everywhere from the refreeze. Took off from campus early today so that I can make it to a work meeting, so I got to ride home in the sunshine! I headed down to the MUP to see if it was rideable:
(pics clipped for brevity)
Yes, but in no way fun to do so. It might not look like it, but that trail is rock solid; I rode down it for a stretch and didn't make a mark, despite bouncing pretty hard over the frozen foot tracks. I guess it was too much to hope for that people would've stayed off the trail during the warm spell. Hopefully there's enough air left in the snowpack to allow the ski groomers to chew it down to level and smooth again. If not, it'll won't improve until after the next snow storm.
I tried to head down this alley early yesterday morning on my way to work, only to sink into 4 inches of dense slush and wallow to a stop, and then walk back and take a different route. Now it's frozen solid, and representative of a lot of back roads around town that weren't aggressively plowed before the storm. There're also 4-6 inch tall berms of frozen brown slush all over town, where plowing during the storm heaped up road slop that then froze last night.
Luckily, plenty of side roads look like this, which is actually fun to ride if you've got studded tires. This is right out front of my apartment building; I can literally ice skate from one end of my street to the other right now.
(pics clipped for brevity)
Yes, but in no way fun to do so. It might not look like it, but that trail is rock solid; I rode down it for a stretch and didn't make a mark, despite bouncing pretty hard over the frozen foot tracks. I guess it was too much to hope for that people would've stayed off the trail during the warm spell. Hopefully there's enough air left in the snowpack to allow the ski groomers to chew it down to level and smooth again. If not, it'll won't improve until after the next snow storm.
I tried to head down this alley early yesterday morning on my way to work, only to sink into 4 inches of dense slush and wallow to a stop, and then walk back and take a different route. Now it's frozen solid, and representative of a lot of back roads around town that weren't aggressively plowed before the storm. There're also 4-6 inch tall berms of frozen brown slush all over town, where plowing during the storm heaped up road slop that then froze last night.
Luckily, plenty of side roads look like this, which is actually fun to ride if you've got studded tires. This is right out front of my apartment building; I can literally ice skate from one end of my street to the other right now.
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Trikeman
Trikeman
12-05-11 | 07:28 PM
#5054
commuter and barbarian
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 3
From: Potomac, MT, USA
39F and raining, but today was my first ride in my new waterproof socks. It was wonderful.
My feet were the last to get properly taken care of when it comes to cold rain. From now on I laugh at the rain.
On the way home I even rode through water where the creek had flooded the MUP. My feet were fine. I don't know about my bottom bracket -- probably not the smartest thing I ever did, but I didn't think about that until it was too late.
My feet were the last to get properly taken care of when it comes to cold rain. From now on I laugh at the rain.
On the way home I even rode through water where the creek had flooded the MUP. My feet were fine. I don't know about my bottom bracket -- probably not the smartest thing I ever did, but I didn't think about that until it was too late.
12-05-11 | 09:48 PM
#5056
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Bikes: Gunnar Crosshairs, Giant Trance, Felt Breed, Marin SS MTB, Felt Pyre BMX bike, oldschool GT trials bike
Tonight was my first ever sub 0 (just barely) temp commute, with snow on top of it. Great times, after the first 5 mins I felt great temp wise and stayed that way the whole commute home. I also learned how great it is to have snow reflecting the light, I rode all of the MUP with no lights on front because of how much the snow lit things up, just turned them on for the sections near roads.
As an interesting side note, I work at a bike shop and even had my manager ask me twice if I wanted a ride home...
As an interesting side note, I work at a bike shop and even had my manager ask me twice if I wanted a ride home...
12-06-11 | 05:37 AM
#5058
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
Nice and warm here, at 57f (14C). It is difficult to believe. The cooler air is coming in today with rain of course, and tomorrow's ride could be wet and cold. Of course looking at Anchorage, AK, I will take wet and cold. So far none of that white stuff has come this way.
12-06-11 | 07:07 AM
#5059
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
Another warm morning commute with temps in upper 50s and light rain. Roads were very wet but the rain quit during my ride and my fenders kept me dry. Wore my seldom-used rain jacket but didn't really need it, altho the fluourescent yellow color was nice given the conditions. I ate a light breakfast and was very hungry and tired when I got to work. Then one of my coworkers gave me a sausage-and-egg biscuit and all was right in the world.
12-06-11 | 07:47 AM
#5060
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Today was my first commute on a bycicle. I bought a bike last week and haven't gotten to ride it much due to excessive rain. I am a newbie to cycling so the cars still make me a bit nervous. My commute is only like two miles, but being my first this morning...it was rather exhillarating. I used to get upset with cyclers that would ride on the roads because I knew nothing of cycling. It felt good this am to have all the warm drivers have to go around 
. Anyways...the weather was a bit nippy but not terrible with my attire. It was low 40's, not much wind. Oh, and like I said I'm still new to cycling and I did 15 Miles yesterday on an indoor bike. After about 2 minutes of riding this morning my legs were feeling it lol. Anyways had a good time... 
. Anyways...the weather was a bit nippy but not terrible with my attire. It was low 40's, not much wind. Oh, and like I said I'm still new to cycling and I did 15 Miles yesterday on an indoor bike. After about 2 minutes of riding this morning my legs were feeling it lol. Anyways had a good time...
I love that stuff with studs. And it absolutely freaks out everyone who sees us riding on it, too.
12-06-11 | 09:34 AM
#5062
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
Whenever I get on that kind of shiny ice I can't resist spinning the rear wheel.
Today's ride was a warm -5C. Classes are over so I'm going to start heading to university later to study. Leaving the house at 8:00am, I saw quite a few cyclists out this morning. I'm going to try using chemical warmers to keep my headlight battery warm on colder days to see if that helps with the run time.
Today's ride was a warm -5C. Classes are over so I'm going to start heading to university later to study. Leaving the house at 8:00am, I saw quite a few cyclists out this morning. I'm going to try using chemical warmers to keep my headlight battery warm on colder days to see if that helps with the run time.
12-06-11 | 09:46 AM
#5063
Got My Vans On
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 156
Likes: 3
From: West Plains, MO
Bikes: 1970(s) Schwinn Supersport (under construction)
Today was my first commute on a bycicle. I bought a bike last week and haven't gotten to ride it much due to excessive rain. I am a newbie to cycling so the cars still make me a bit nervous. My commute is only like two miles, but being my first this morning...it was rather exhillarating. I used to get upset with cyclers that would ride on the roads because I knew nothing of cycling. It felt good this am to have all the warm drivers have to go around . Anyways...the weather was a bit nippy but not terrible with my attire. It was low 40's, not much wind. Oh, and like I said I'm still new to cycling and I did 15 Miles yesterday on an indoor bike. After about 2 minutes of riding this morning my legs were feeling it lol. Anyways had a good time...
. Anyways...the weather was a bit nippy but not terrible with my attire. It was low 40's, not much wind. Oh, and like I said I'm still new to cycling and I did 15 Miles yesterday on an indoor bike. After about 2 minutes of riding this morning my legs were feeling it lol. Anyways had a good time...
12-06-11 | 10:33 AM
#5064
35F and gray, went back to shorts, survived
12-06-11 | 10:39 AM
#5065
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Paoli, PA
Bikes: 2012 Singular Peregrine, 1976 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Schwinn Circuit, 1994 Cannondale M400
My commute yesterday (sorry, just saw this thread for the first time; I normally hang in C&V) was positively fantastic for early December. Around 45°F in the morning and 55°F in the afternoon.
The highlight was seeing a redtail hawk swoop into a culvert beside the railroad tracks and pluck out a mouse.
So cool!
Just one more reason why I like to ride a bike. Would have missed that if I was in my car or on the train.
The highlight was seeing a redtail hawk swoop into a culvert beside the railroad tracks and pluck out a mouse.
So cool!
Just one more reason why I like to ride a bike. Would have missed that if I was in my car or on the train.
12-06-11 | 10:40 AM
#5066
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
12-06-11 | 11:04 AM
#5067
Professional Dumbass
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sillykon Valley, CA
Bikes: 2009 Scott Speedster S60, 2011 Cannondale CAAD10-3
I don't know how you folks in colder climates can do it, but here in Sunny Northern California, the low temps rarely drop below 40F. However, this morning, it was around 35-37F. While I've been wearing thermal tights and a long sleeve jacket, my ears and toes were freezing! Otherwise, it was another good 10-mile commute to work.
12-06-11 | 11:42 AM
#5068
Got My Vans On
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 156
Likes: 3
From: West Plains, MO
Bikes: 1970(s) Schwinn Supersport (under construction)
I don't know how you folks in colder climates can do it, but here in Sunny Northern California, the low temps rarely drop below 40F. However, this morning, it was around 35-37F. While I've been wearing thermal tights and a long sleeve jacket, my ears and toes were freezing! Otherwise, it was another good 10-mile commute to work.
12-06-11 | 11:54 AM
#5069
Wheezing Geezer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 0
From: Crowley, Tx
Bikes: Bacchetta Corsa, RANS Stratus XP
The combination of wind and rain and cold was more than I was willing to battle yesterday, and I drove to work. It was 32 degrees with snow flurries and a 20 mph north wind this morning. I ride 12 miles pretty much straight north to work, so it was a chilly ride this morning.
12-06-11 | 12:02 PM
#5070
The Rock Cycle
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 17
From: Western Colorado
Bikes: Salsa Vaya Ti, Specialized Ruby, Gunnar Sport, Motobecane Fantom CXX, Jamis Dragon, Novara Randonee x2
I rode to work all 5 days last week. It was in the mid 20Fs in the morning, 40F or so on the ride home.
Yesterday it was forecast to be 15F. Not *quite* ready to ride in that yet (but I will eventually), so I decided to run the car. Woke up and it was 23. I could have rode but I didn't have my bike set up and I was running late. Today it was 13F so I drove again. Supposed to be in the teens again tomorrow (car), warmer by the end of the week and I will try to ride then.
Yesterday it was forecast to be 15F. Not *quite* ready to ride in that yet (but I will eventually), so I decided to run the car. Woke up and it was 23. I could have rode but I didn't have my bike set up and I was running late. Today it was 13F so I drove again. Supposed to be in the teens again tomorrow (car), warmer by the end of the week and I will try to ride then.
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Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
12-06-11 | 03:43 PM
#5071
Professional Dumbass
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sillykon Valley, CA
Bikes: 2009 Scott Speedster S60, 2011 Cannondale CAAD10-3
12-06-11 | 03:57 PM
#5072
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
Another day hovering around 10F (-12ish C), which is the transition point for me to break out the next level of cold weather gear. I stuck with my 10-25F clothing and was fine, though part of my next phase of gear includes covering my nose, which was a bit cold on the way in today. Otherwise, I'm comfortably warm in my thin layers and windproof outer shell.
12-06-11 | 05:12 PM
#5073
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')
29ºF, sunny, wind picking up again.
After this past November, it is a warm spell; but it's all about acclimation and what you're used to. I spent a few years down in Tahoe, on the CA side; we'd get tourists up from Vegas and Sacramento in the depth of summer gushing about how lovely and cool 95ºF felt, while I would be standing in an ankle deep puddle of my own sweat whenever I'd stop moving for more than a moment.
I like to build up a head of speed approaching a controlled intersection, then put both feet down on the ground and slide to a stop with the bike; it's kinda fun, but mostly it freaks out cross traffic because it makes it look like you're sliding towards the intersection out of control. Can't do it after the gravel trucks have been out, though.
I like to build up a head of speed approaching a controlled intersection, then put both feet down on the ground and slide to a stop with the bike; it's kinda fun, but mostly it freaks out cross traffic because it makes it look like you're sliding towards the intersection out of control. Can't do it after the gravel trucks have been out, though.
12-06-11 | 05:29 PM
#5074
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
12-06-11 | 05:36 PM
#5075
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
This morning it was 17 degrees and the roads were covered with ice, so I drove my car. I figured I lack the expertise and the correct tires for ice riding, and it's just too dang cold. However, just like a couple of months ago, on my way in I saw three bicycle commuters braving the icy cold. Then at my work we had a bunch of Border Patrol officers visit to check ID's (I work at a Greyhound Bus Station in El Paso) and they all rolled in on Trek Police bikes . . . If I would have ridden, they all would have driven. I know it.
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Trikeman
Trikeman