How was the commute today?
12-04-08, 07:31 PM
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Today was my first "winter" commute. Mid-20s, light layer of snow on the ground until I got to the main roads. It was exhilarating!
I hadn't commuted for a bit over a week and I forgot my lock so I had to bring my bike into my office. That isn't a problem, though trying to be the good employee, I don't want to bring a wet, salty bike into the office. So it goes.
It was a great ride.
I hadn't commuted for a bit over a week and I forgot my lock so I had to bring my bike into my office. That isn't a problem, though trying to be the good employee, I don't want to bring a wet, salty bike into the office. So it goes.
It was a great ride.
12-04-08, 09:51 PM
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Usual route along the RR tarcks until I hit the real trails. Recieved my new Voler jacket yesterday and it kept me warm even when the temps at the end of my ride was in the mid 20's. The pic below is at the start of my ride and the sunset is at my back. The second photo is my route heading east.
12-04-08, 11:04 PM
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Awesome ride home
It was a balmy 26 degrees Fahrenheit! I stayed pretty toasty in my makeshift winter riding gear aka unvented rainpaints and jacket. I figured I'd go totally fred, so my beard is growing in thick...and it does help somewhat with staying warm. Anyway, I am starting to love riding in the cold!
12-05-08, 06:36 AM
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I'm getting out of sync with the weather (or more accurately the clueless weatherman).
Yesterday the forecast called for falling temps and snow as the day progressed, so I took the snow commuter with the studded tires. Temps fell...not a lick of snow...roads were bone dry.
Today, just a slight chance of light snow up in the snow belt. Roads are still dry, so I take the Fuji. As I am riding to work, it starts snowing.
Yesterday the forecast called for falling temps and snow as the day progressed, so I took the snow commuter with the studded tires. Temps fell...not a lick of snow...roads were bone dry.
Today, just a slight chance of light snow up in the snow belt. Roads are still dry, so I take the Fuji. As I am riding to work, it starts snowing.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
12-05-08, 07:11 AM
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20 degrees with a wind chill of 10-15, but it was actually a nice ride. light traffic and it was a cross wind so not to hard to handle.
But like Chip I loaded up extra gear for the ride home because according to the weather it's either going to be sunny and 30 or 2-3 inches of snow and windy.
I wish I could be that "accurate" at my job.
But like Chip I loaded up extra gear for the ride home because according to the weather it's either going to be sunny and 30 or 2-3 inches of snow and windy.
I wish I could be that "accurate" at my job.
12-05-08, 07:19 AM
These go to eleven
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Funny FredOak! I had a little wind to battle, but we had rain last night, so I was dodging the frozen/semi-frozen remains that had congregated in all the street's nooks and crannies. Enough to keep me awake. Tired legs from playing tennis last night (before the rain) so really slow going up the hills this morning. DC Commuters--watch for the ice patches-----
12-05-08, 07:32 AM
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9 degrees, dry, sunny. Snot froze on my mustache. Awesome!
12-05-08, 07:47 AM
You gonna eat that?
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27 this morning... only 2 degrees colder than yesterday morning, but I could feel it. I wasn't overly cold, but yesterday morning wearing the same clothing I was toasty warm. Today, not so much. I don't think it was the wind either; about 5 mph both days.
There's a TV in our breakroom and I was watching the weather when my manager came in to get coffee. As I walked out with him, I said, "I pay a lot more attention to the weather since I started riding my bike." He replied, "Well, it woulda been a cold ride this morning." I said, "It was." He was like
"You rode?" "Yep. All five days this week."
There's a TV in our breakroom and I was watching the weather when my manager came in to get coffee. As I walked out with him, I said, "I pay a lot more attention to the weather since I started riding my bike." He replied, "Well, it woulda been a cold ride this morning." I said, "It was." He was like
"You rode?" "Yep. All five days this week."
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
12-05-08, 07:53 AM
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I took the short way to work today and it felt effortless. At the start of my commute there was a crosswind threatening to throw me into traffic, but once I changed direction it became a tailwind. Forgot my cell at home, but I'll just make due without it.
12-05-08, 08:05 AM
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18 F with 10-15 mph headwind.
Very enjoyable except for one spot where I got really cold...the quarter-sized patches of exposed skin right behind my ski goggles where the goggles don't quite cover the balaclava face opening. Toes got a bit chilled too despite neoprene shoe covers.
I love the dry, crisp air. Much better than the 30's where it seems like I'm always either chilled or overheated.
The best part of ice bike commuting are the stares of disbelief from drivers.
Very enjoyable except for one spot where I got really cold...the quarter-sized patches of exposed skin right behind my ski goggles where the goggles don't quite cover the balaclava face opening. Toes got a bit chilled too despite neoprene shoe covers.
I love the dry, crisp air. Much better than the 30's where it seems like I'm always either chilled or overheated.
The best part of ice bike commuting are the stares of disbelief from drivers.
12-05-08, 09:44 AM
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Warmest temperature (45F) for my morning commute in several weeks. The low has been near the freezing mark or colder just about every morning since mid-November. Oddly, the temperature has dropped about 5 degrees since I left for work due to a cold front moving through the area. Hopefully it will warm up by the time I leave work this afternoon, as I didn't dress for temps in the 30s.
Managed to bike commute 4 out of 5 days this week. I would have ridden every day except I had a dentist appointment on Tuesday, and I would have needed a 2.5-hour lunch break to bike to it.
Managed to bike commute 4 out of 5 days this week. I would have ridden every day except I had a dentist appointment on Tuesday, and I would have needed a 2.5-hour lunch break to bike to it.
12-05-08, 09:53 AM
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Warmest temperature (45F) for my morning commute in several weeks. The low has been near the freezing mark or colder just about every morning since mid-November. Oddly, the temperature has dropped about 5 degrees since I left for work due to a cold front moving through the area. Hopefully it will warm up by the time I leave work this afternoon, as I didn't dress for temps in the 30s.
I'm getting out of sync with the weather (or more accurately the clueless weatherman).
Yesterday the forecast called for falling temps and snow as the day progressed, so I took the snow commuter with the studded tires. Temps fell...not a lick of snow...roads were bone dry.
Today, just a slight chance of light snow up in the snow belt. Roads are still dry, so I take the Fuji. As I am riding to work, it starts snowing.
Yesterday the forecast called for falling temps and snow as the day progressed, so I took the snow commuter with the studded tires. Temps fell...not a lick of snow...roads were bone dry.
Today, just a slight chance of light snow up in the snow belt. Roads are still dry, so I take the Fuji. As I am riding to work, it starts snowing.
And it didn't help that I listened to the weather at 6:35 but didn't leave nearly 8. As tarwheel said, the temps dropped several degrees this morning; I don't think it was actually 46 when I left. I'm praying the forecast at least gets the "high of 50" right, because if temps keep dropping I'm gonna be bumming on the way home this afternoon.
12-05-08, 09:57 AM
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"Yep. All five days this week."
Congrats, I wish I could ride all week. I haven't worked up to it yet. 60 miles round trip, I only get every other day.
Congrats, I wish I could ride all week. I haven't worked up to it yet. 60 miles round trip, I only get every other day.
12-05-08, 10:10 AM
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Dressed *just* right! Good thing too! It was hovering about 1 to 3 degrees when I left the house this AM. Squeeky snow...
Starting to get anxious about my studded tires getting here. Put my older-ish set on the girlfriends commuter and ordered the Schwalbes. I have another week to wait.
Should have ordered them earlier. Might have pushed my luck.
Starting to get anxious about my studded tires getting here. Put my older-ish set on the girlfriends commuter and ordered the Schwalbes. I have another week to wait.
Should have ordered them earlier. Might have pushed my luck.
12-05-08, 10:28 AM
You gonna eat that?
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You're still doing twice the miles I am- 60 miles for me is 4 days of commuting. When I first started commuting, I was pretty happy with riding about 1/3 of the time. Then... I got a new(er) bike and started riding every day if at all possible. I usually ride 4 days out of 5. This was the first 5-day ride-to-work week in at least 2 months. Ironic, since this has also been the coldest week all season so far.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
12-05-08, 10:35 AM
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Great ride this morning. Temps in the mid to upper 20s, wind less than 10mph (if I'm to believe weather.com).
Switched from the Descente Shelter gloves I bought on Chainlove back to the Outdoor Research Grippers, and my fingers (especially the thumbs) seemed a lot happier about it.
Switched from the Descente Shelter gloves I bought on Chainlove back to the Outdoor Research Grippers, and my fingers (especially the thumbs) seemed a lot happier about it.
12-05-08, 10:38 AM
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I don't pay any damn attention to the weatherman any more. I only have one bike, and it has the studs on all winter. I dress for the 5AM temp and figure either it'll be warmer in the afternoon, or I'll just have to work harder to keep warm if the temp drops. I don't think the weatherman can tell if he's going to get wet with someone halfway through throwing a bucket of water at him. At least, not in Michigan where storms and fronts dodge and scurry all over the place as they cross the state.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
12-05-08, 10:40 AM
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I'm a little bummed, I drove Thur/Fri this week, it's almost unheard of for me to drive at all. But I really overdid it at TKD on Monday, and I'm supposed to test there on Friday, and my legs were so sore from Monday that I could barely walk by Wednesday. Then I gave blood on Thursday, so I didn't want to get at all dehydrated before TKD testing on Friday.
I would have rolled over 16000 miles today too. Oh well, next week.
I would have rolled over 16000 miles today too. Oh well, next week.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
12-05-08, 11:29 AM
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12-05-08, 11:29 AM
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i have been having fun this week riding on the new cross tires and finding some different routes to and from work which involves riding some short trails...it's more relaxing since i cut out a lot of traffic
12-05-08, 11:50 AM
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Balmy 27 degree's this morning..but hey, it's dry cold!!
12-05-08, 11:59 AM
GATC
30F sunny dry roads; my 7 yr old had kind of a crazy wipeout, he stood up to hammer right when he was telling me a story about building a ramp to jump his bike off when he just... fell off his bike into a shrubbery. He lay there in silence, which concerned me when he didn't wail at air-raid levels, then he said 'ow' and got up to tell me which parts hurt, then said he should have been paying attention rather than talking, and then got back on his bike and rode on the rest of the way to school. Whew
12-05-08, 03:20 PM
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Posting again after a hiatus (in posting, not in commuting!). Just hit 1500 miles for the year (well, since February). Next year 2000 for sure.
3 flats in the last 2 weeks. Must stop riding by the thumbtack factory.
3 flats in the last 2 weeks. Must stop riding by the thumbtack factory.
12-05-08, 04:22 PM
cyclepath
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25 f and comfy.
Bare and dry roads.
Bare and dry roads.
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