COLDEST COMMUTE EVER!!

For me, anyway. 19F here in Montgomery, Alabama. Our coldest night of the year. My 6 mile ride was a little slower than usual, and I could not get my balaclava to cooperate with my cycling glasses. But I did it.

Still working on the right balance of clothing. I wore a performance top, a polo/pro top, and a cannondale jacket. The jacket was pretty wet.

I had some winter tights and Nashbar's Cargo/commuter/knickers pants over that. The cargo pants are awesome --very wind resistant.

Abort! Abort!

Today was supposed to be the maiden voyage of my new bike (Jamis Commuter 3.0). I prepared last night by charging up the batteries for the lights, pumping up the tires (hadn't used a presta adapter in decades), figured out I could hang my trunk bag on the side so I could use the seat post for a tail light, and laid out my clothes. I rolled the bike out the front door and after I closed it, I realized I had forgotten my keys. So I pulled out the cell phone and woke up my granddaugter to let me back in. Then as I was rolling the bike down the walkway towards the street, I could feel something rubbing. I brought it back inside to do some troubleshooting and found that the front fender was rubbing the tire. I had to loosen the brake nut and reposition the fender, and then readjust the front brake. By the time that was done, there was not enough time for me ride and get to work on time. So it looks like the initial commute will have to wait until next Tuesday. The silver lining? I get the weekend to work on my tailbox construction, and I avoided a 22 mph headwind this morning! Of course, that sounds pitiful after reading about folks braving single-digit temps. I second Joey's props for you hearty souls! :)

Didn't ride today. Too warm. :p It was -8F at our house. I was going to ride if it was -10 or below, because my current record is -12. The MUP just isn't in a condition to make it worth riding unless I could break that cold record.

I did my 2.5 mile hike to the bus. 40 minutes after I got to work, I opened the can of Monster I carried with me on my hike, and there were ice crystals in it. :D I don't know why, but I love the cold.

This was my first 5 day bike commute week. I must be getting in shape, it was faster and easier than any of my previous weeks. If I take the long way home it will be my longest week so far too.

I've already commuted half as many miles as I commuted last year!

Decent ride in this morning. The thermometer on the house read -15.9 when I left. The thermometer on the bike comp (PB Protege 9) is supposed to read to -20*F, but it just said "--". I suspect that means "you gotta be kidding."

I was totally fine, it was a nice ride, but I need to get a decent face mask, probably a neoprene one. I got some very mild frostbite on one cheek; it's puffy and red, but I still have feeling in it. Everything that I was able to actually cover was fine.

15 degrees and breezy in Philadelphia this morning. I was warm in long underwear and tights. my eyebrows were horribly cold in the wind though. Never had that happen before. Tomorrow I'll rock the karate kid headband.

This surprises me. When my glasses fog up, it's the moisture from my breath that does it. This is exacerbated when I wear a face mask since it tends to direct my breath under my face and right up to my glasses.

The worst is when the fog freezes on the lens. Then the wind won't blow it away. All the more reason to avoid stopping except when you absolutely must!

Congratulations are in order! A 5-day commute week is a rite of passage in my book. I haven't done it lately myself. The first week or so after the holiday break was hectic and I drove much more than rode. Starting Wednesday, though, I decided to ride (even though I had off-site meetings) and got away with it. I have intentions of riding every day for the next month but I have no earthly idea if I'll follow through or not. But it would be neat to celebrate the first anniversary of my first bicycle commute (Feb 11) with a solid month of no car for work.

As for this morning.... 22F; balmy for you upper-midwesterners but people around here think I'm absolutely nuts for riding in weather like this. It was calm this morning so frankly it was no big deal. It was the maiden voyage with the balaclava I got for Christmas. I learned that every time I stop I have to pull it down under my mouth so I don't steam up my glasses. Luckily at 22F you don't really need full skin coverage.

I was going to post about my 15F ride but made the mistake of reading about everyone else's (except you Aussies) first. I will now slink away in shame.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'd have to say it's a lot easier doing 5 days a week here in Northern California than the frozen zones so many of you are riding in. Mornings are only 30-40F and afternoons are very pleasant. My hat's off to those conquering the elements!

Yeah, same here... Texas is not exactly the Great White North. I think 22 is the coldest morning I've seen in a year.

Right, no exposed flesh! even if you're fine, that bit of skin can die.

30sF, foggy, brisk.

Ditto.

Predicted ride home: 30sF, foggy, brisk.

About -12F this morning. That's record cold rides two days in a row, and I'll admit right now I have no desire to extend the streak or break that record.

-7F with a -23F wind chill

-3 with a -14 wind chill...I was cold...couldn't get warm...glad that tomorrow will be 7 degrees...never thought I'd say that...

-14 (-25 wind chill) this morning in Dayton. I gave in and ordered some Pogies. I hope to never have frozen fingers again!

warmed up tonight!: 6〫F :p

But it's due to get really cold in the morning but I don't have to work until the evening and fortunately, I've been doing the short commute. Just 6 miles each way.

A little nippy this morning. Had to wear sweat jacket and jean jacket, but no parka. This afternoon was really nice. I think it was in the mid 70's. :)

I wimped out in to work and home on Tuesday and called out yesterday. First day back in the saddle since Monday. Had a mean stitch in my side from about the 1/2-way point to the 2/3-way point.

It was about 40ish(F) on my way in this evening and the first Metro Atlanta snowfall for the year happened while I was spinning my way to work.

And to the stupid cager in the gold Ford Focus (like he'll really be reading this, HA!): passing me with a speed difference of 15-20 mph with your windows up is not the right time or manner in which to discuss the laws of the road with me. And honking your horn doesn't mean squat. I caught your meaning by the finger waving, glaring expression, and the fact that you were watching me while wandering out of your lane. But seriously, if you want to discuss Georgia law with me, come meet me at work where I have my badge and code book and I'll show you just how wrong you are (assuming you meant what I think you meant).

To the MARTA bus driver in the same incident (again, like he'll really be reading this, HA!): thank you for helping me take the lane. I appreciate it. Your courtesy to me as another vehicle on the road is seriously appreciated. I wish I knew who you were so I could call in kudos.

Warmer by 18 F than expected and while the air was humid, the rain had passed. I made good time for me, too.

I passed the 150 km and 100 mile marks for the year on my way home this morning which means that I'm doing well for my 100 miles/month goal.

Much better on the way back in to work this evening. I was dressed for slightly cooler weather so I got pretty warm in the 39F temps.

I rode in this morning in -7f. The winds were calm so it made for a lot better ride than yesterday. My feet were alot better with the chemical hand warmers in my boots. I let them warm up for about a 1/2 hour before I inserted them. But I noticed during the ride that with them all tucked up inside my boots they don't get much air to them and by the time I pulled them out at work they were'nt very warm. 10 mins into the commute I hit a bump as I'm riding up a driveway apron and SNAP!, my seat bolt breaks. I had problems with that last year. For some reason in cold weather my seatbolt has a habit of snapping in two. No problem. I carry an extra. I take 5mins to fix it and away I go.
The ride home this aftn was a relief even tho it was 19f. Had a fierce southerly wind trying to knock me sideways. But hey, I'll take that over -12f anyday. I got home and dumped a couple of buckets of hot water on the bike to clean all the crap off of it. Today I put it up on the workstand and cleaned it off with some Pledge. Looks nice.

Even with the frigid temps (low teens), both Thursday's and Friday's rides home were beautiful. Clear skies, bright sunshine. On Friday, as I passed under the 14th Street bridge, I saw a Red Tail hawk on top of a pigeon. I stopped so as not to disturb it and watched from a distance. After one of only two other cyclists I saw passed without disturbing it, I decided to get a little closer. I was able to get to within about 12 feet to watch. I could actually hear the flesh/tendons tearing as it downed feathers, bones, and all. It would periodically look directly at me as I sat there still on the trail moving slowly and avoiding direct eye contact. I felt priveledged as I stayed and watched this magnificant hunter reduce the bird to a pile of feathers. I eventually had to move on as the cold was really starting to sink in. Even though most of my co-workers and friends thought I was crazy for riding on the "coldest days in ten years", these are the sights that most people never get to see on their daily commutes. That's one reason it's still worth it in adverse weather.