Great riding weather, were did my trail-riding budies go?

Today was my first REALLY cold ride. 27-degrees F, with a 12 mph headwind (wind chills were 15), brilliant sunshine (and sun glare). I had 2 very thin base layers under a long-sleeve jersey and a pullover that I just got from Performance yesterday (for $59). 2 pairs of cotton socks, neoprene booties over cycling shoes, leg warmers, a balaclava and Gore gloves. 11 mile commute into work, and my only complaint was slightly cold toes. It was a great ride!

Apparently I was a bit cranky this morning. My wife virtually bankrupting us and trashing christmas will do that.

Enough of my whining.
I passed a gentleman on a mountain bike and said morning. A mile later I turned around and he was on my wheel where upon I expressed my annoyance. Later after I calmed down after we caught up to each other a few times I apologized for acting like a jacka#$. I still feel he was in the wrong but my reaction was a bit unnecessary so I manned up and apologized.
Later I encountered another rider on a hill and told him to pass me. I am not to fast on the last hill approaching work with my FG. Unfortunately that rider geared down with me trying to avoid latching onto his rear wheel. Ah well.
Beautiful and warm ride. Tomorrow is supposed to drizzle at the freezing mark and I doubt I will be riding in. Snow or rain I can handle. Not the in between zone.

Not good.

On my rides yesterday and this morning I thought I heard something coming from one of my tires--sounded like a rock caught in a tread rolling over the pavement. I stopped at day care this morning to meet The Kid's new teacher and when I got back on the bike the rear wheel rubbed against the frame as I started to roll. I thought the QR axle had slipped again--happens all the time on this bike--so I got off and adjusted it. No joy. Turns out my wheel is so far out of true it rubs against the frame and the brake pads on every rotation. I had to ride the mile or so from day care to my building with it rubbing (and it's uphill! Bonus!).

A friend is giving me a ride home and I'm taking the wheel into the shop. Fortunately my LBS has alsready agreed to get me back on the road by tomorrow.

30F when I left so I put on the silk and wool and that's all it took. Remembered why I don't like anything covering my ears (muffles sound) but I'll have to get used to it again if I want to keep my ears warm.

Nice and sunny. Brisk, 40F. Stopped at grade school bike rack to yak w/ 7 yr old's teacher for ~10 min, and so caught my wife when she was getting to the trail after dropping the 3 yr old. I have to leave early today so I couldn't toodle in to work at her speed though so had to dash. I never mean to treat my commute as a time trial but I'm just always late, is how it seems to work out, either late getting in or late getting to wherever I need to go when I leave.

One other thing I noticed this morning. Now I know 4am is early, but I think the cold kept people in bed longer this morning. There was hardly a car do deal with at all this morning. I felt so alone - yet so safe.

Yeah it is! Geez! Sometimes I cringe when I have to be to work by 6am and leave at 5am, but holy smokes!

Telecommute today. Yesterday I left for work at about 11 am, pedaling through our weird mid-summer weather (in the 80s F) on my new narrower tires (35 cm, down from 40 on my hybrid). Fun--consistently one gear higher than before. I should really put a new battery in my cyclo-computer. When it came time to turn for the subway station I just kept going and rode all the way in (20 miles?). It's a good thing the students sit about 10 feet away from my steamy self in class.
Then, even with temps around 90 during the day, the days are so short that by the time I head home from my night class it's more like 65 and dropping. Not cold by my midwestern childhood standards, but it does pose a wardrobe problem.

They were calling for some seriously cold temps this morning. I was anxious to get up and get at it.
But I do usually leave around 4:15 or so.

Wow, it sounds like you guys are having some cold weather, good on ya for riding. Luckily I live on island so that mild ocean air helps out with the temperature a bit, it was 5 C this morning for me (I don't know what that is in farenheit). It was nice out, got a real nice sunrise over the ocean and enjoyed an audiobook along the ride. 30 km just keeps getting shorter is seems as I continue to ride.

Fargin' cold! The new commute (carless these days) has me pedaling to the bus stop at 6am,
then another ride from the main terminal to work. It was 25* when I left the house this morning.
That is the coldest ride I've taken in years. Good thing I still own my Lobster Mitts!

Back from the LBS. You more experienced cyclists probably already guessed--I had a broken spoke.

Now heres a thing, got a Girvin Flexstem from Bike Rescue in York and i've been dying to try it out! Rode to work this morning and this stem is amazing, really takes the sting out of 80psi tyres and backed up by a brooks B66s saddle it's now a lovely smooth ride and the wind dropped. Coming home however was a different story, strong headwind all the way and did'nt get above 9mph which was a real drag!

Out of the house a bit late 5:10 instead of 5:00. Had to spin a bit faster than usual to not be late. Did not meet another bicyclist-a first this season's morning commute. I usually meet one guy who must have a nuclear-powered headlight, but not today. I often meet couple of DUI bicyclists without lights or helmets, but they must have called in sick. Weather was OK, around the freezing point, no wind, so I guess it is that most bicycle commuters are summer soldiers.

I ride because I'm 66 and trying to stay alive.

Coldest commute yet for me - 26 degrees with a wind chill of 18 when I left the house this morning.

Geeze. Slow ride home. 2.5 more hours. That's 5 fricken hours on the road today. I'm glad it's over. Tomorrow is a day off the bike - completely.

Chilly around 34 F but not too bad, no real wind to speak of. Although the weather.com says it is going to be subfreezing on the ride in tomorrow.

And then, the ride home. Not fun. Not much warmer (around 34 when I set out, but dropping as the sun was setting). Gear kept me warm enough, but man, what a headwind, and - I forgot to mention - first time on the bike in 2 weeks, and it was rough. I was pretty tired. Usually, i can cruise on the flat part of the commute at about 18.5 mph, but couldn't get over 15 with that wind, and I'm feeling my legs now. On the plus side, my new Cygolite Hi-Flux II headlight works real nice.

Warmer than yesterday...36(F) when I left this morning.

The other evening I went to my local big box store (Wal-Mart) and got a pair of lightly insulated wind-pants, slightly larger long-sleeved athletic shirt and a hooded jacket that's fleece on the inside and some crazy smooth yet thick technical fabric on the outside.

The shirt and jacket worked great...The wind-pants are too small (I'm wider than tall, so I got mediums hoping the waist would stretch, which it did) in the...Uh...Crotchal area...When I wear my riding shorts underneath. There was too much pressure...Uh...THERE...While riding. So. Back to get larger pants.

And smaller riding shorts. Anyone have any experience with those underpants with the chamois?

Well my one car died from lack of use (good news/bad news). So I was all set to go this morning and they are calling for icy conditions and the studded tires aren't suppose to be here until tomorrow, so I drove the other car.

I hate the car now, but given my route I don't want to take unnecessary risk, so I did what I thought best, so I could ride again another day...being dead or injured would really cut into my bike riding.

Had a couple of beers last night, so I woke up dehydrated and not wanting to get out of bed. I had thoughts of driving in, but once I got on the bike everything was fine. I even took the long way to work and picked up breakfast again for the 3rd time this week. Temperature was in the 50's and the traffic was light.

42°, calm and clear skies. Broke out the termal underwear and full finger gloves for the first time. Nice, pleasant ride.

It was a cold one this morning at 19ºF but I wore just the right amount of clothing. My fingertips got pretty cold about halfway so I shook them to get the blood moving around. I still haven't broken out the long underwear but I feel like I will be very soon.

A bit chilly but the 8 miles went pretty quick. I just feel so much more alive in the morning at work when i ride in. Gotta love it!