^^^^This post sums it up. I was on the other side of that line tonight. Fortunately I knew it and had everything for the ride home tonight. This morning on the way in I didn't put on the shoe covers, didn't wear the rain/wind pants and jacket and was a little on the cold side much of the way in. Tonight it was 11°F on the way home so I threw on the whole deal- shoe covers, rain/wind pants & jacket over my other layers and I was toasty (except my forehead, which I corrected by stopping and readjusting the balaclava). Gorgeous ride home tonight. Crystal clear night, no one on the bike path but me and some geese and I was warm as could be.:)

Saw a mega-hawk on the way in. Wasn't the usual red tailed hawk it was about 1/3 larger. Got to look it up*- wanted to stop and take a picture but when it's this cold I prefer to keep moving.

* just looked it up and it was definitely a Peregrine Falcon. What an amazing bird. I've seen it along this part of the Charles (Brighton along Soldier's Field Road) off and on for a few years. It's one big bird- very majestic.

I had a great ride. Tonight was the first night I was able to ride home in the dark since I put the Christmas lights on the bike. It was also the first time I rode the Hakkapalettias on icy roads at commuting speeds. I am just amazed how the bike did not slide around or that I didn't fall. Some of the roads have not been plowed or salted and the snow has been compact. Then today we got some freezing rain, making a very nice layer of ice.

There were spots I was sure I would go down when making the turn. But I didn't. I did take the turn much slower than usual and wider, but this would have usually made me go down on my non-studded tires. I'm still learning how far I can push the Hakkapalettias, but I am having fun learning.

26-21 degrees for my 15 mile r/t to deacon's meeting tonight. Wind at 1 MPH. I've learned enough from you guys in only one week being active here that this was both my warmest, AND least sweaty winter ride ever.

No wind sure helps, too!

Dick's Sporting had a ton of summer base layer stuff on clearance. Awesome. Will pick up more.

Top: rbk playdry sleeveless, wool/lycra thermal (wore a different, dry polyester shirt on return), thin old j crew vneck sweater, Jeep insulated reversible reflective hi vis construction guy jacket Bottom: My old Holey Duofolds, Lined running pants Socks: Hiking liner socks, Smartwools, tennis shoes. Head: Bandanna tied over head and ears, old thin scarf straight overtop my head, fleece neck warmer over chin and nose. No eyewear.Hands: Thin stretchy grippy snowboarding glove liners.

I know the insulated outer layer is not the best, but I didn't know better when I bought it, and it's the brightest thing ever.

Almost ready to start really commuting-- not just to choir and meetings. bf.net kind of rules.

9:15pm
7 deg F with snow, ice on the road............
beautiful windless night.
my Hakkalipeta W106 studded tires worked great thought the rolling resistance is increased.
now sitting by the woodstove with my youngest hanging out and watching TV-life is good........

Almost hit a ped.. my back tire actually did swing around a little and hit his shopping bag as I was braking.

Here's the scenario. I'm cruising at a moderate speed down a slight incline in a bike lane, half the speed of cars maybe. I enter a 4 lane intersection, with a turn lane, so that's 5 lanes total, pretty wide. Light turns yellow the exact moment I enter the crosswalk on my side. If I stop now, i'll be in the middle of the intersection, so I just keep going. By the time i'm almost across, the opposite light turns red and the walk light comes on for peds. The guy doesn't even look to see if it's clear and starts walking so I yell 'WATCH OUT!", brake, and manage to stop before hitting him. Then he looks at the light, which had just turned red and gives me attitude about the light being red. I explained it wasn't red when I started through, and just went on my way, as he did as well. So now this guy probably has a negative attitude about cyclists because of a fast changing light. I guess it's timed for faster moving traffic...

I hate wide intersections..

that stinks. I'm all about bells and lights and verious dork gear on my bike for this reason.

^^^
What he said

Not that bad, considering it was my first day on the bike in two weeks. Felt good to be back.

Right around the freezing mark this morning--which is about a dozen degrees F more than yesterday. I was dressed lighter, of course, and so ended up feeling a bit colder--also of course.

High temps today and tomorrow are supposed to be above 10C (50s pushing even 60 tomorrow). Too bad rain is coming with it (though there are plenty of places to my south that can sure use it). I'm hoping for a dry 10C ride this afternoon before the rain moves in--just about my fav conditions... :D

Teens, F. 20-30MPH headwind blowing off the lake. Snowing. :rolleyes: Actually it wasn't too bad, but it sure was slow.

I saw a lone duck swimming around in the water. Time to go south, little dude.

No foot down!!! :beer:

18.75 miles, 15 traffic lights, 4 major intersections, three left turns across traffic and no stops today!!

:dancin:

Sore legs syndrome continues, but the commute itself was fine. I am going to try to make it all the way to Friday without a break. That will make it 3 weeks in a row without a day off.

Got cold just reading the last page here.

Today in New Orleans - 68° and breezy.

sukkas.....;)

It was a sore day; my legs never seemed like they warmed up even though it was warm outside (mid-50s). Oh well, if I'm gonna be lethargic, at least that's easier when its warm. By the time I leave it should be down to the mid-40s), but the wind will shift around to be out of the north (i.e., at my back). So I got that goin' for me.

I like the cold. It makes for nice variety. I think I'd get bored with beautiful weather all year.

Beauty as they say, is all about point of view and taste. Sounds like you have beautiful weather too - if that's what you like.

my legs felt great on the bike today must have been the veggie filled dinner i had last night...it wasn't too cold this morning at 18ºf and my toes stayed warm too i realized that keeping the shoes just a bit loose helps keep the circulation flowing and keeps a layer of air around my foot

Good news is that it is in the low 30's today. Bad news is up to 12" of new snow. Haven't been able to commute since before thanksgiving. Too much snow and ice on the roads. We have had some accumulation of snow every other day for a couple of weeks now. Roads are getting narrower and trying to dodge snowplow blades doesn't sound like fun. I applaude those who are still riding in this slop but I am just not man enough. I am on the trainer but that is extremely boring and very sweaty. Hopefully the snow will end sometime soon.........

"Where are you going?" asked the security guard as I finished locking my bike to a street sign in front of my office building. I looked at him like he had two heads and said, "I'm going to work!" "Oh, ok.", he responded and walked away. Must be a new guy.

Ride in today was windy, VERY. Two days in a row going for 3. Eventually I will work my way up to everyday.

Last night was almost eventfull, when a Bobcat and I almost collided. He ran out in the road and a car scared him my way. It was back and forth for a minute then he ran across the bridge and into the woods. No one got hurt. As long as I don't have the same experience with a bear or panther I will be o.k.

Well at my arrival it warmed up to 24.... and according to the news there are wind gust up 30 mph, add the mix of snow/rain from yesterday it was actually a fun ride!! The wind was all I didn't like!

cold and clammy.

My son was fooling around again riding to school and wiped out again, but he got back on and rode off, after stopping to check that his brake calipers and levers were working. Then, it was raining when we got there and his numero uno concern in life is keeping his seat dry, so he got off the bike and stood there holding his sweatshirt over it and waited for me to take the plastic bag out from under the seat to put on it. I put it in the rack for him and then realized that he had moved over to shelter my own bike's seat. That was cute.

HAHAHA!!! That is great! Kids is gonna be a biker! :thumb:

Cold and clammy here too. 35F, 98% RH, and calm means pea soup fog. And a chill that just gets into your bones.

Incredible sunrise as I was riding to work this morning. That made it somewhat more bearable catching every red light on my route.

Warmest morning in a while here, upper 30s, which tells you how cold it's been lately. It's already warmed up to 63 F by 1 p.m., about 5 degrees warmer than the forecasters predicted, so I'll be overdressed riding home. Hopefully it won't be raining by then because showers are supposed to be moving in sometime later in the day.