How was the commute today?
12-23-08, 07:30 AM
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0 degrees when I set out in the morning. About 7 on the way home. I misplaced my lobsterclaws the other day and had to wear some backup gloves. Even with a hand warmer inside, freaking cold. I've had such horrible luck with gloves. It's really sad.
On the way home I yelled at this ass of a rider. The roads are all funky, snow, ice, etc. so extra caution is to be had. 4 way stop and this cab starts going, which I'm following slightly behind/side, and this guy just comes from behind a stopped car, yells at the cab for not stopping, etc. I called him out, making sure to mention we had the right of way and he was an idiot.
Follow the rules, yo. Life will be happier, cars will like us more. :-/
On the way home I yelled at this ass of a rider. The roads are all funky, snow, ice, etc. so extra caution is to be had. 4 way stop and this cab starts going, which I'm following slightly behind/side, and this guy just comes from behind a stopped car, yells at the cab for not stopping, etc. I called him out, making sure to mention we had the right of way and he was an idiot.
Follow the rules, yo. Life will be happier, cars will like us more. :-/
12-23-08, 08:23 AM
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0°F on the thermometer this morning and a very nice ride.
No problems, I switched to platform pedals last night so I had my hunting boots on. If anything I was a little overdressed. My rear derailler was frozen solid but that's become pretty common - I just shift into 3rd before parking, and I find I can get around just fine in 3rd on the rear by using the triple up front, which has not ever frozen on me (it doesn't get sprayed on by the front tire).
My dress was:
Feet - thin ankle height poly socks, high wool socks, high top leather hunting boots
Bottom - long underwear (hunting underwear, pretty warm type), bike shorts (yeah, I looked like a superhero wearing these over the long underwear), lined windproof running pants
Top - Long sleeve alertshirt, poly sweatshirt, J&G rain jacket with the pits mostly closed (they could have been a little more open)
Hands - cheap $9 hunting gloves - essentially cheap blaze orange ski gloves - very toasty
Head - Nashbar poly stretch tube configured as a gaiter stretched up over the head, then a cheap balaclava, and a helmet with rain cover, and my normal eyeglasses.
The only cold bit was a corner of skin below my left eye, that eye teared up a bit in the wind and where the tear ran down there was some exposed skin. I probably should have worn my prescription goggles but I usually don't bother unless it's REALLY cold.
No problems, I switched to platform pedals last night so I had my hunting boots on. If anything I was a little overdressed. My rear derailler was frozen solid but that's become pretty common - I just shift into 3rd before parking, and I find I can get around just fine in 3rd on the rear by using the triple up front, which has not ever frozen on me (it doesn't get sprayed on by the front tire).
My dress was:
Feet - thin ankle height poly socks, high wool socks, high top leather hunting boots
Bottom - long underwear (hunting underwear, pretty warm type), bike shorts (yeah, I looked like a superhero wearing these over the long underwear), lined windproof running pants
Top - Long sleeve alertshirt, poly sweatshirt, J&G rain jacket with the pits mostly closed (they could have been a little more open)
Hands - cheap $9 hunting gloves - essentially cheap blaze orange ski gloves - very toasty
Head - Nashbar poly stretch tube configured as a gaiter stretched up over the head, then a cheap balaclava, and a helmet with rain cover, and my normal eyeglasses.
The only cold bit was a corner of skin below my left eye, that eye teared up a bit in the wind and where the tear ran down there was some exposed skin. I probably should have worn my prescription goggles but I usually don't bother unless it's REALLY cold.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
12-23-08, 09:17 AM
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It was 7F when I left this morning earlier than usual to get to the dentist (people in the office think I'm nuts for this winter riding stuff 
) - had to bike thru some busy city areas so I thought I would beat the rush hour traffic. Worked out quite well --- course I may have whimpered slightly when I set the bike out into the snow ... the big plows FINALLY did a good job on the side streets since the storms started last Friday - it was pretty tough getting around - and dangerous.
) - had to bike thru some busy city areas so I thought I would beat the rush hour traffic. Worked out quite well --- course I may have whimpered slightly when I set the bike out into the snow ... the big plows FINALLY did a good job on the side streets since the storms started last Friday - it was pretty tough getting around - and dangerous.
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12-23-08, 10:26 AM
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-3F for the morning ride means a 20F ride for the ride home will feel balmy 
Roads much improved over yesterday.
Roads much improved over yesterday.
12-23-08, 05:54 PM
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I had a strong headwind from the south as I rode home and went uphill so it made for a good workout. Inspite of the cooltemp, I was sweating buckets when I got home.
Ernest
12-23-08, 06:23 PM
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In a car :/
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12-23-08, 06:25 PM
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0°F on the thermometer this morning and a very nice ride.
No problems, I switched to platform pedals last night so I had my hunting boots on. If anything I was a little overdressed. My rear derailler was frozen solid but that's become pretty common - I just shift into 3rd before parking, and I find I can get around just fine in 3rd on the rear by using the triple up front, which has not ever frozen on me (it doesn't get sprayed on by the front tire).
My dress was:
Feet - thin ankle height poly socks, high wool socks, high top leather hunting boots
Bottom - long underwear (hunting underwear, pretty warm type), bike shorts (yeah, I looked like a superhero wearing these over the long underwear), lined windproof running pants
Top - Long sleeve alertshirt, poly sweatshirt, J&G rain jacket with the pits mostly closed (they could have been a little more open)
Hands - cheap $9 hunting gloves - essentially cheap blaze orange ski gloves - very toasty
Head - Nashbar poly stretch tube configured as a gaiter stretched up over the head, then a cheap balaclava, and a helmet with rain cover, and my normal eyeglasses.
The only cold bit was a corner of skin below my left eye, that eye teared up a bit in the wind and where the tear ran down there was some exposed skin. I probably should have worn my prescription goggles but I usually don't bother unless it's REALLY cold.
No problems, I switched to platform pedals last night so I had my hunting boots on. If anything I was a little overdressed. My rear derailler was frozen solid but that's become pretty common - I just shift into 3rd before parking, and I find I can get around just fine in 3rd on the rear by using the triple up front, which has not ever frozen on me (it doesn't get sprayed on by the front tire).
My dress was:
Feet - thin ankle height poly socks, high wool socks, high top leather hunting boots
Bottom - long underwear (hunting underwear, pretty warm type), bike shorts (yeah, I looked like a superhero wearing these over the long underwear), lined windproof running pants
Top - Long sleeve alertshirt, poly sweatshirt, J&G rain jacket with the pits mostly closed (they could have been a little more open)
Hands - cheap $9 hunting gloves - essentially cheap blaze orange ski gloves - very toasty
Head - Nashbar poly stretch tube configured as a gaiter stretched up over the head, then a cheap balaclava, and a helmet with rain cover, and my normal eyeglasses.
The only cold bit was a corner of skin below my left eye, that eye teared up a bit in the wind and where the tear ran down there was some exposed skin. I probably should have worn my prescription goggles but I usually don't bother unless it's REALLY cold.
You are a wealth of information for extreme cold weather riding.
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12-23-08, 11:34 PM
Bikeman
Well, I'm off for two weeks. Now I have to come up with reasons to get out on my bike so I don't get fat.
12-24-08, 05:37 AM
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36F/2C with not enough headwind to squawk about. Winter advisory/freezing rain never materialized hereabouts, so at 3:30AM I was yanking the studs.
Knickers and slicks: YABBA-DABBA-DOOOoo!!...
Happy holidays to all--I'll be using-lest-I-be-losing for the rest of the calendar year. Be safe!! (especially when passing liquor stores this time of year
)
Knickers and slicks: YABBA-DABBA-DOOOoo!!...
Happy holidays to all--I'll be using-lest-I-be-losing for the rest of the calendar year. Be safe!! (especially when passing liquor stores this time of year
)
Last edited by MIKEnDC; 12-24-08 at 05:41 AM.
12-24-08, 07:23 AM
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Some time this summer, when I'm riding home in 95ºF heat with matching humidity and a 20mph headwind, I will be cursing south Texas weather. But not the case this moring--near 70ºF at 5:45 with a tailwind. My kind of Dec 24th commute!
12-24-08, 07:51 AM
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Great ride through center city Philadelphia this morning. Very quiet. Happy holidays all.
12-24-08, 08:04 AM
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it was a bit slushy this morning and it felt warm at 30ºf
my feet were a bit wet when i got to work so newspaper sits in the shoes now until i leave
happy holidays~
my feet were a bit wet when i got to work so newspaper sits in the shoes now until i leave
happy holidays~
12-24-08, 08:35 AM
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The road was ice. Thankfully I have a short commute.
12-24-08, 08:36 AM
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It was 34F with a misty rain - main roads clear - but the side streets - the wet snow sucked my wheel, snow was anywhere from 2" to 6" deep - and over a good 1/2" layer of ice - I ended up basically "riding" one foot clipped in and the other out and at times made like a skate board and pushed. Really awful. Streets were cleared yesterday morning - but the people pushing the snow into the street from their driveways and the snow from where the cars were parked is back into the street. Ugh
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12-24-08, 08:33 PM
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Fantastic ride. Roughly 60 degrees F. Increased my average speed by almost 1/3. The ride into work this evening puts me at 75 miles for December. Full report in the Clydesdales/Athenas section.
I feel great after that ride and I'm in such a great mood it's perplexing my coworkers (I'm usually a bit of a grouch for the first 1/4 of the shift).
I feel great after that ride and I'm in such a great mood it's perplexing my coworkers (I'm usually a bit of a grouch for the first 1/4 of the shift).
12-25-08, 07:17 AM
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Oops. I broke it.
The rear wheel suddenly went out of true and started rubbing against the brake pad. I'm standing by the side of the road as I type this, waiting for the family sag wagon.
Some of the spokes on the rear wheel are way loose.
A bummer, yes, but I have extra wheelsets at home if this set is shot.
The rear wheel suddenly went out of true and started rubbing against the brake pad. I'm standing by the side of the road as I type this, waiting for the family sag wagon.
Some of the spokes on the rear wheel are way loose.
A bummer, yes, but I have extra wheelsets at home if this set is shot.
Last edited by dygituljunky; 12-25-08 at 04:24 PM. Reason: grammatical
12-25-08, 03:47 PM
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Merry Christmas fellow commuters! I had a great Christmas ride as the overnight rain stopped, the skies cleared and temperatures soared to the lower 60s F. After all the presents and lunch was taken care of and the family had gotten back from a walk, I decided to take a quick easy spin. So I rode 22 miles at a nice recovery pace, dressed in a bright green jersey with red arm warmers.
Also had a great ride on Christmas Eve. It was quite a bit chillier when I left, mid-40s, but warmed up to upper 50s during my ride. I had planned to ride just 20 miles or so, but it felt so nice outside that I extended the ride to 40 miles. Since I didn't plan to go that far, I had to stop and get some more water along the way, so had a nice break at the 20-mile point.
Passed the 7,250-mile point for the year, so I've averaged more than 600 miles/month -- even though I'll have trouble topping 500 miles in December with all the rain we have had lately.
Also had a great ride on Christmas Eve. It was quite a bit chillier when I left, mid-40s, but warmed up to upper 50s during my ride. I had planned to ride just 20 miles or so, but it felt so nice outside that I extended the ride to 40 miles. Since I didn't plan to go that far, I had to stop and get some more water along the way, so had a nice break at the 20-mile point.
Passed the 7,250-mile point for the year, so I've averaged more than 600 miles/month -- even though I'll have trouble topping 500 miles in December with all the rain we have had lately.
12-25-08, 05:34 PM
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Did a 15 mile lap in between meals. Riding X-Mas day is AWESOME! Its better then early Sunday morning. Almost nobody on the roads. Rode down the Marietta GA Square and maybe 5 cars around the square with kids on the play area. I got passed by no more the 25 cars in 15 miles and on a normal Saturday It would have been well over 150. Then the fact that it was 60f was just icing on the cake.
12-26-08, 09:13 AM
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good ride in this morning, didn't get to ride on christmas day but i did go for a run after a pretty big breakfast...i realized that my rear was flat just as i was rolling into work and i don't have a spare so i will be walking home today...i haven't had a flat in a while kind of frustrating but i need to more prepared i suppose
12-26-08, 10:54 AM
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Had a great ride in today even though I had headwinds of 10-20. My son came down for Christmas and we got to go for a short 12 mile ride. That was great. I got his bike rebuilt after his accident and he was happy. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Looking forward to the ride home I will have 10-20 tailwinds. Ye-Ha!
12-26-08, 07:58 PM
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Ok ride ... temperate in the 40's
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12-26-08, 08:03 PM
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61 degrees both ways...this morning it was POURING RAIN...and I do mean pouring...dry this evening took a longer route home...rode about 7 miles total...very beautiful starry skies.
12-27-08, 01:51 AM
Share the road.
It was jacket on/jacket off running errands all over the place sort of day. I think it got up to 65 F. Spaghetti at a mom/pop restaurant for lunch was the high lite of the day.
12-27-08, 07:47 PM
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So effin beautiful!!!!! 72 degrees and SUNNY!!!!! I rode an extra 10 miles, getting errands ran along the way...but OMG it was so nice...I wore shorts and a t-shirt....HURRY SPRING HURRY
12-29-08, 06:02 AM
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Boy... it was a dream on Saturday to ride into work... temperature was well into the 60's. And this morning it was in the mid-40's. It's great to get the heavy layers off of my back! Traffic was super light too. I think the Government weenies who work on the base were playing hookie.
I agree with MetalChef above.... HURRY SPRING HURRY!!! I'm afraid it will be a while though!!!
I agree with MetalChef above.... HURRY SPRING HURRY!!! I'm afraid it will be a while though!!!
