How was the commute today?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: New York City
Bikes: 2006 Dahon D7, 2015 Kona Minute
First commute of the new year for me... now I know what commuting in 24F feels like. It really wasn't too bad!
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
I could not have been more comfortable with temps in the mid 20's.
__________________
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
Live Deliberately.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Bikes: CETMA Cargo, Surly Big Dummy, Surly Straggler, Rocky Mountain Blizzard
Heavy snow is the best kind of riding. No one on the trails, cars driving slow, and cutting through fresh snow like it twas butter.
Commuter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Specialized Epic Carbon 92', Old-school fully-rigid specialized Hardrock
Don’t be angry with me because your wife had to bring you to work because you don’t roll on snow. Arent you the one that works in bike advocacy and I work in construction? Wouldn’t it be beneficial in your line of work to trade your hummer for something more fuel efficient?
circus bear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Austin
Bikes: 97(?) GT Richochet, 00 Schwinn SuperSport
Yes it was...you didn't happen to be the guy on a Kona with goggles headed into Downtown about 10AM did ya?
Nice ride in for me too. A lot of First Tracks for most of my ride...
I-25/Broadway to Wadsworth/Quincy for the locals....
Commuter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Specialized Epic Carbon 92', Old-school fully-rigid specialized Hardrock
Goggle yes, kona no. I on a grey hardrock and am headed south in the morning.
Live Deliberately.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Bikes: CETMA Cargo, Surly Big Dummy, Surly Straggler, Rocky Mountain Blizzard
Don’t be angry with me because your wife had to bring you to work because you don’t roll on snow. Arent you the one that works in bike advocacy and I work in construction? Wouldn’t it be beneficial in your line of work to trade your hummer for something more fuel efficient?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: East Metro Atlanta, GA, USA
Bikes: Giant Sedona (Mid 90's), Giant Seek 2, Greenspeed Anura
Nice, 50(F)ish. Rode along with a guy from my favorite LBS for about a mile so we chatted. Traffic was lighter than usual for most of the ride, oddly enough. The lights were not on my side, though.
Commuter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bikes: Specialized Epic Carbon 92', Old-school fully-rigid specialized Hardrock
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Flint, MI
Bikes: '12 C-dale HT; '89 C-dale sr300; Trek 820
Mid-teens and snow on the side roads. It made my day.
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
None today or this week for that matter. I'm in mandated training for new supervisors. Even though it's right next to the American River Bike Trail, no bike commute. There's no place to lock up the bike, no place to clean up. Meh.
Ride in was uneventful, 35F, a little foggy.
The ride home was mostly fantastic. 74F and fast. I did the 15k in less than 40 minutes for the first time. I dropped 5 people: a 10 year old, his dad with a trailer, 2 homeless people and someone over 70 (ok maybe over 80). And I passed them like they were standing still. Hmm, now that I think of it the 10 year old was standing still. So I dropped 4 people.
Then the dark side. At my second most dangerous intersection I almost got run over by a guy doing a "California stop"* at the intersection. He was a teenager in an Acura (WTF?) and he looked really guilty when I stared at him. Fortunately he saw me at the very last second.
*Most people in California believe that the right turn law means something like this: "Slow down to 20 mph or so and cruise right on thru as long as a big truck isn't coming your way. Most valuable/smallest vehicles lose all ties."
(I was clearly winning on the least valuable car rule, but on size I was toast).
The ride home was mostly fantastic. 74F and fast. I did the 15k in less than 40 minutes for the first time. I dropped 5 people: a 10 year old, his dad with a trailer, 2 homeless people and someone over 70 (ok maybe over 80). And I passed them like they were standing still. Hmm, now that I think of it the 10 year old was standing still. So I dropped 4 people.
Then the dark side. At my second most dangerous intersection I almost got run over by a guy doing a "California stop"* at the intersection. He was a teenager in an Acura (WTF?) and he looked really guilty when I stared at him. Fortunately he saw me at the very last second.
*Most people in California believe that the right turn law means something like this: "Slow down to 20 mph or so and cruise right on thru as long as a big truck isn't coming your way. Most valuable/smallest vehicles lose all ties."
(I was clearly winning on the least valuable car rule, but on size I was toast).
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Rode in the dark both ways yesterday as I had to work late. The result of that was my headlight started going dim on the way to work this morning because I had run it longer than usual. Duh ... My commute started out nice because I saw another bike commuter on my route for the first time in months. I caught up with him just as I had to turn left and he went straight, but I rang my bell and surprised him. His tail-lights were really bright and I had wanted to tell him that, but perhaps I'll get a chance some other day.
Anyway, writing this reminds me that I need to change the batteries on my light for the ride home, so I better go do that before I forget. Later dudes.
Anyway, writing this reminds me that I need to change the batteries on my light for the ride home, so I better go do that before I forget. Later dudes.
Guest
Posts: n/a
good ride in this morning i got to try out my new shoe covers and they really did the trick...the roads are still a little bit messy from the last storm so i had to ride in the travel lane for most of the route but people were courteous...it was 10şf when i left the house with no wind
A fairly nice ride this morning. 37F and not very windy.
I saw two skunks in Discovery Park this morning. (Gave them a wide berth!)
I saw two skunks in Discovery Park this morning. (Gave them a wide berth!)
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Today's commute was great until I arrived at work and realized I had left my bike lock at home.
These go to eleven
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Distrito de Columbia
Bikes: BF Pocket Crusoe; B Tikit; dust-gathering MTB
kylejack, that sucks! Glad the ride was good. Mine was great today. Thought I'd need my facemask (over-nose half-face ski type) but ended up taking it off. Too hot!
Now that I've got a couple months commuting behind me and trust what my folder will do (commuting coincided with folder purchase), I rode the main artery today for the first time for the 4-5 blocks where I had been using the sidewalk. It's a 6-lane road and open enough (when I'm on it in the early a.m) for cars to get some speed up. I was pleased to be quite comfortable on it, as it shaves a little time from the sidewalk ride. Kudos to you road warriors who ride these types of main arteries for long distances! I knew I needed to wait until my competency was up to speed and I was familiar with my new bike. I learn a LOT on this forum!
Now that I've got a couple months commuting behind me and trust what my folder will do (commuting coincided with folder purchase), I rode the main artery today for the first time for the 4-5 blocks where I had been using the sidewalk. It's a 6-lane road and open enough (when I'm on it in the early a.m) for cars to get some speed up. I was pleased to be quite comfortable on it, as it shaves a little time from the sidewalk ride. Kudos to you road warriors who ride these types of main arteries for long distances! I knew I needed to wait until my competency was up to speed and I was familiar with my new bike. I learn a LOT on this forum!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Should I get a balaclava or does that make me look too much like a terrorist?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
Likes: 1
From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
Cold cold cold cold cold. I forgot my safety glasses, and the cold air aginst my eyeballs was no fun. I got used to it in a few miles. When I walked into the office, my eyes felt hot!
Depends. I have a beard, so for me, yeah. If I go into a store, I make a point of pulling the thing off or at least open it more as I walk in.
Depends. I have a beard, so for me, yeah. If I go into a store, I make a point of pulling the thing off or at least open it more as I walk in.
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Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
These go to eleven
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Distrito de Columbia
Bikes: BF Pocket Crusoe; B Tikit; dust-gathering MTB
Makes you look like a ninja. Wear one with an eye patch and look like a ninja pirate, just to piss off the ninja/pirate contingents.
Actually, they seem well regarded on this forum. I don't own one, can't comment on their warmth etc.
Actually, they seem well regarded on this forum. I don't own one, can't comment on their warmth etc.
No one carries the DogBoy

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,320
Likes: 2
From: Upper Midwest USA
Bikes: Roubaix Expert Di2, Jamis Renegade, Surly Disc Trucker, Cervelo P2, CoMotion Tandem
This morning there was a fresh coat of snow on the driveway, so First I got to shovel the driveway for my wife, meaning I started out late. Temp was -4F (-20C), and the wind was about 10-15 mph (16-24 kph) from the NW. I head SW, so it wasn't too bad. Because of my late start, I got the joy of the morning backup at the middle school. I decided it was time to filter. I've never done it before, but in this case, no one was moving and I would freeze if I stopped, so I passed a bunch of cars in the left lane. I moved back over to the right lane. Very uneventful. From there it was just pedal and push through the compacted snow. The plows got most of the bulk off, so there was only a little bit left. All in all a good ride. Going home will be more into the wind, so that will probably be more effort. Oh well.
Clothing:
On my head: skull cap + balaclava + helmet + ski goggles
Torso: UA winter base layer + sweatshirt + SP Elite jacket
Hands: Target stretchy gloves + Ice fishing mittens (these things are great)
Legs: cycling shorts + polypro tights + lined wind-proof sweat pants
Feet: Smart-wool socks + Columbia Winter boots
Clothing:
On my head: skull cap + balaclava + helmet + ski goggles
Torso: UA winter base layer + sweatshirt + SP Elite jacket
Hands: Target stretchy gloves + Ice fishing mittens (these things are great)
Legs: cycling shorts + polypro tights + lined wind-proof sweat pants
Feet: Smart-wool socks + Columbia Winter boots
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 181
From: south Puget Sound
low 40sF, dry (no fog), no real wind
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
20 degrees above normal.....global warming, gotta love it!
__________________
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
daily commuter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Brussels, Belgium
Bikes: Rocky Mountain Blizzard (Steel is Real!)
Hey there,
Last week was really cold , the coldest in twelve years over here !! Minus 15 °Celsius early in the morning!
Lots of snow and cyclepaths unavailable.I still ride on city-slicks , so I had to ride on the right side of the carlanes.It turned out to be allright.
Since the beginning of this week temperatures went up , to about 4 or 5 °C, cloudy and rainy.
My bike looks like hell ,all black and dirty with dust , salt and winter-road grime.I need to find some time to take some good care of it (her?).Maybe tomorrow,it's my day off.
Take care and ride safe, see you next week.
Last week was really cold , the coldest in twelve years over here !! Minus 15 °Celsius early in the morning!
Lots of snow and cyclepaths unavailable.I still ride on city-slicks , so I had to ride on the right side of the carlanes.It turned out to be allright.
Since the beginning of this week temperatures went up , to about 4 or 5 °C, cloudy and rainy.
My bike looks like hell ,all black and dirty with dust , salt and winter-road grime.I need to find some time to take some good care of it (her?).Maybe tomorrow,it's my day off.
Take care and ride safe, see you next week.





