How was the commute today? 2011 Edition.
#101
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
sowing/repair. In the fall I went online and found a decent pair of clipless boots, and over the long run, they will be cheaper than continually
buying shoe covers.
#102
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
Not a bad ride and the usual cold at 25 F ( -4 C). We are expecting up to 4 inch ( 10 cm) of snow, but I don't expect that much, and most of it will come in the evening, so I might have to deal with a dusting when I leave. Of course I am crossing my fingers.
#103
Clyde that Rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: 2008 Jamis Aurora,1988 Specialized Hardrock, 1980? Kuwahara Carrera
The headwind of yesterday morning wasn't there as a tailwind on the ride home last night... :-(
Made my first pre-dawn commute of the year this AM. 22F/ winds at 6 MPH. Was kinda nice to have fewer cars on the road, but there were also a couple people who were in too big a hurry for 6:30 AM (although my safety wasn't an issue, just cagers doing stupid things.) Winter storm warning in effect this evening, might be getting the first couple flurries as I make my way home... should be fun!
Made my first pre-dawn commute of the year this AM. 22F/ winds at 6 MPH. Was kinda nice to have fewer cars on the road, but there were also a couple people who were in too big a hurry for 6:30 AM (although my safety wasn't an issue, just cagers doing stupid things.) Winter storm warning in effect this evening, might be getting the first couple flurries as I make my way home... should be fun!
#104
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
SLOW!
It was so slow, I felt like something was wrong with me. Then when I got to work and dismounted I discovered my rear (hydraulic) disk caliper was dragging pretty badly. Never happened before in the cold. I'm not sure what to make of it. Temps were in the low teens (~-10C).
It was so slow, I felt like something was wrong with me. Then when I got to work and dismounted I discovered my rear (hydraulic) disk caliper was dragging pretty badly. Never happened before in the cold. I'm not sure what to make of it. Temps were in the low teens (~-10C).
#105
On a Mission from God
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 5
From: Thibodaux, LA
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
Lots of headwind today, and temps were high 20F's. Felt like it was taking forever to get there, but I made it in time. No dogs today.
#108
Anyway, this was one of the coldest of the year for me (Austin, TX), not really loving it, but I know it could be worse.
#109
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.
Ride in today was cold, around -12. Weather man says -2, but the stupid weather station they use is mounted on the roof of a building (either the college station or the airport) about 10 yards from an Air Conditioning exhaust vent. It always reads about 5-10 degrees high, even in the summer.
I like it when its this cold, hearing the tires squeal through the snow and whatnot. Very comforting even if it does make the ride that much harder.
#110
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
#111
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Bikes and smoking... reminds me of this blog post I saw yesterday. Pretty funny.
Ride in was good. First ride in a few days. Ended up being sick Friday last week and then rode in to work by car with my wife yesterday to be able to go to a concert afterwards. Back on the bike this morning, though. Feared it would feel colder than it did. It was actually a nice ride in, with temps just shy of freezing. I could feel the moisture in the air, though. Building up to snow this evening. They're saying 1" or so. I'm hoping for that or less so it doesn't really hamper my bike commuting and might melt in the sunny 38F/3C day predicted for tomorrow.
#112
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
That blog post is funny, ive always thought smoking didn't really effect me that badly until i had a physical recently and my blood oxygen level was lower than it was supposed to be we shall see how much improvement i get (which should be alot
)
)
#113
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Burnaby BC, Canada
Bikes: Velosport Appalache 15
Nice chilly ride in this morning, -3C/26F. Everyone seems to be coming in early to avoid the snow in the forecast for this afternoon. Is it weird that I'm looking forward to it? Riding with shellaced bars was very different from the cork tape I'm used to, but I think the change will stick. I really like the color now, an olive drab green. I was worried it wasn't going to darken, but after 5 coats it's about right. The new brass bell really helps tie it together. The old red bell will go on the trailer bike for my son.
#114
Large and in charge
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Mokena, IL
Bikes: At one point it was a Trek 700 something. Now it have Velocity Psycho wheels, a tape job. Thumb shifters (Shimano Deore). Corncob grouping, and drop bar ends all wrapped up in tape.
Slush. So much slush. I put some full fenders on the road bike (ish. It has 28 ultra sports and dyad rims). Decided today was the day to test them on my commute. The snow is extremely sticky today. The fenders filled up quick and just started throwing slush all over my shoes. Oh well, I don't melt. I don't even think my trekking bike with it's massive fenders could have handled the snow today, just too sticky.
#115
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
Today I drove to work in a car, like a normal person. I'm thinking normal is overrated.
#116
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
My optimism for the MUP to be cleared by yesterday's ride home was, well, overly optimistic. Had to backtrack a few times as I encountered uncleared sections. I got honked at on a short section of road near my house. That was the first time I got honked in quite some time. Seriously people wide road, go around.
-19C for the ride in this morning. I encountered an unplowed section of the MUP about 3km in to the ride. Unfortunately I had to walk the bike a few minutes just to see that it was not plowed. So I had to ride on the road a few km to bypass that section. The parts of the path that were plowed were not optimal. They used a tractor so there is a soft middle section and two hard tractor tire tracks on each side.
A person who decided to yield the right of way to me despite me having a stop sign almost got rear-ended. The car beind them swerved into the curb lane at the last second. I've taken to just waving those people on, they end up creating dangerous situations.
-19C for the ride in this morning. I encountered an unplowed section of the MUP about 3km in to the ride. Unfortunately I had to walk the bike a few minutes just to see that it was not plowed. So I had to ride on the road a few km to bypass that section. The parts of the path that were plowed were not optimal. They used a tractor so there is a soft middle section and two hard tractor tire tracks on each side.
A person who decided to yield the right of way to me despite me having a stop sign almost got rear-ended. The car beind them swerved into the curb lane at the last second. I've taken to just waving those people on, they end up creating dangerous situations.
#117
It's true, man.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
The sign on the bank said 22F this morning, this doesn't take the 12-15mph headwind into account. Small taters for you yankees, but definitely chilly for Texicans.
I was afraid I'd miss the train because my fingers were too stiff to feed the ticket machine. Do I upgrade gloves for 3-5 rides a year? Probably not.
Doom on the foiks who ran their sprinklers last night. Doom, I say.
I was afraid I'd miss the train because my fingers were too stiff to feed the ticket machine. Do I upgrade gloves for 3-5 rides a year? Probably not.
Doom on the foiks who ran their sprinklers last night. Doom, I say.
#118
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
From: seattle, too many links
Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike
dry and cold, snow/rain/wind starts tonite at about 4p... and i rode the fast bike with out the fenders, gotta get outta here early today
#119
Descends like a rock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 16
From: Fort Worth, TX
Bikes: Scott Foil, Surly Pacer
The sign on the bank said 22F this morning, this doesn't take the 12-15mph headwind into account. Small taters for you yankees, but definitely chilly for Texicans.
I was afraid I'd miss the train because my fingers were too stiff to feed the ticket machine. Do I upgrade gloves for 3-5 rides a year? Probably not.
Doom on the foiks who ran their sprinklers last night. Doom, I say.
I was afraid I'd miss the train because my fingers were too stiff to feed the ticket machine. Do I upgrade gloves for 3-5 rides a year? Probably not.
Doom on the foiks who ran their sprinklers last night. Doom, I say.
#120
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: NOWHERE
Bikes: noyb
27 degree start to day. Was happy I chose to put on my merino glove liners inside my winter gloves. Those downhills that start my morning commute do not warm up my hands. Also chose mountain bike because of snow forecast for evening commute. Not a drop of snow even now...sky is still light grey...I am having doubts about the snow speil at this point. Another road heading to I-5 was shut down this morning, making the best available route count via motor vehicle to I-5 in near my work place a grand total of one. Traffic has been backed up all day down there and it involves a bike route crossing the main street. Noticed I need a new pair of laces for my bike shoes too. Fabu! I am really hoping it snows beause the last time it was fun - I'd love a change of routine.
#121
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
Our high for the day was about 24F. This afternoon it was colder. Around 8F. It will bwe colder in the AM with a bad wind. The wind chill as I rode home was about 0F. I felt the chill in my clipless shoes and a little wind chill on my nose and lips. That is about all that is exposed. This is the first day it seemed the otg ski goggles were really helping. No tearing in the eyes with a fierce wind out of the NW. I was going to ground at one corner so I dove and rolled on a small snow bank and saved getting bruises. I wish for a path to work with NO CAR tracks!
#122
Just caught the beginning of the icy/rainy mix on the way home, glad for those googles! Yesterday, a woman at the bike rack said I looked overdressed with my ski jacket and googles...I was properly dressed for today's evening weather.
#123
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Chilly Arctic blast started sweeping into Central Texas this morning. Temps were in the 20's during the commute in...with a nice headwind. Caught the same northerly wind as a tailwind on the way home.
Supposed to be even colder tomorrow. Definitely cold for Texas!
Supposed to be even colder tomorrow. Definitely cold for Texas!
#125
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Spokane WA
Bikes: Seven Axiom Ti, Trek 620, Masi cylocross (steel). Masi Souleville 8spd, Fat Chance Mtn. (steel), Schwinn Triple Bar cruiser, Mazi Speciale Fix/single, Schwinn Typhoon
Solid ( and very bumpy) ice for 1 1/2 blks till I got to arterial(s), (fairly bare) , high today might have hit Twenty- was maybe 15 when I left home- stud traction better today ( no crashes) after reducing tire pressure a little more, 7 layers and "lobster" gloves needed today- Thank god for Sorels!



