MIKEnDC

20F/~-6C with light wind (of the head variety, of course). A sunny, near 40F day yesterday cleaned up the cleared roadways pretty nicely. Still some icy bits here and there, though. I was watchful on my way home yesterday to see where they might be this morning.

Could have easily done without the studs today--but I took my slower, less-clear alternate route and was glad to have 'em. I do believe they will come off for the weekend, though. Supposed to be pretty nice. At my job I perform best when I am most cynical and suspicious--so when I see a forecast high of near 50F for February 1, my instincts tell me to look around for the other shoe to drop. Maybe next week when the ingredients may be in place for a nor'easter. Those are the storms which can really dump some snow on DC. They aren't rare, per se, but they are infrequent, and it's been a couple of years since we had a real good one.

Uh-oh...

tarwheel 

We've been in a weather pattern since December where fronts come through the area midweek, bringing cold rain or snow for a couple of days. So I haven't bike commuting more than 3 days a week since early December, sometimes only two. We had the usual pattern again this week, so I rode Monday, Thursday and Friday. Fortunately, our weekend/holiday weather has been relatively nice although cold. As a result, I've ridden considerably more mileage on my days off this month compared to commuting -- which is unusual for winter.

I might try my first fixed/single speed commute next week. I just had my regular commuter bike converted to a SS/fixe since I'm getting a new touring frame for commuting. The touring frame is supposed to arrive any day now, so I went ahead with the conversion. Just picked up the new single speed last night but didn't have time to ride it yet. Will get it all dialed in this weekend and perhaps ride it to work some days -- which should be a real workout since my commute route is very hilly.

timothyday

Great day for riding in Philadelphia. I was running late by 20mins and had to drop something off before I could get to work. So that was me riding like a bat out of hell up Broad St. It feels awesome to whip around city hall when the lights are red and it's just you. Shaved a few minutes off my usual time in the process. Have a great weekend, everyone.

Commuter76

Gorgeous morning for riding here in Austin. High 30's, clear, little traffic (on the route I took). I made probably my best time this morning. I finally passed the other bike commuter on my route (mostly luck). I've seen him twice before and he left me in the dust both times, but not today, hahahahaha! (maniachal laughter)

lapher22

Sucked, Muggy low 80's upper 70's sprinkling rain, but now it's cooling off thanks to the cold front blowing in.

fletchh

It was a typical commute into work, 20 F (-6 C). The roads were pretty much dry, a couple patches of black ice, but not many. The few bike lanes were either partially covered or iced over, so most of the
trip was in the road. The landscape is all iced over and somewhat pretty. The only place to ride
or walk is mostly in the road. The ride home will be warmer 30 F (-1 C). We hear Sunday is going to
get up to 50 F (10 C), then back to snow and ice on Tuesday.

dwilbur3

A great ride in this morning. I finally got my 160mm crank arms installed and it just feels so much more natural than the 175mm. If you're a short (or short legged) guy/gal I recommend finding some shorter crank arms and trying them.

My second 5 day bike commute week.

brockd15 

How long did it take you to work up to 5 day a week commuting? How far is it?

Doohickie

Chilly, about 30 degrees, wind was almost calm. My core was too warm but my extremities were too cold. I would have been better off wearing one less layer but putting on heavier gloves and headgear.

HardyWeinberg

32F, pea-soup fog. Lotta fog-colored cars driving w/ no lights too.

dwilbur3

It took me about 10 weeks. My commute is about 9 miles each way (tho flat) and I was a bit out of shape (probably 10-15% overweight). I also didn't have any rain gear or fenders until about two weeks ago.

maurice74

January (my first month going to work completely by bike) was rainy here in Italy. I get a lot of rain one day, but now I have a good poncho to protect myself in rain cases. Today was sunny, and it is a pleasure to use bike to go work.
I start from my home on the bike, after 2 km I catch a train (a very slow train, but I spend my time reading a book or using my eeepc to see an episode of battlestar galactica). When arrived at my station, I mount my bike (ok, it is an electric folding bike) and go to work, with a 4 km trip including a 12-15% hill.
The evening I do the return-trip.
It is interesting and at the end relaxing to use the bike to go work...
maurizio

T-Hussy

Supposed to be 60 in denver today, 25 this morning. Would have had a 5 day commute week but had to see the doctor and drive to an out of town meeting.

caloso

Very mellow. 39F and sunny. No jacket, just a wool sweater and cotton pants. Cool but not cold. Probably goiing to be 60 or so this afternoon.

Scubachisteve

MUCH better this morning. Ditched the 20-year old clunker (Peugeot PH501 road bike), donned the trusty messenger bag, headed out on my '08 Fuji Roubaix and made it to work in record time. (I won't comment on the weather here in Socal because I know everyone else is still toughin' it through the winter)

LouiseTopp

I rode five miles along a country lane, very peaceful with only the sheep in fields to keep me company. We have some lovely cycle paths in the UK, a lot of them are being built on old railway lines. The only wind I get is a gentle breeze, and the smell of manure which suddenly hits me in the face (not literally)

MIKEnDC

Sounds nice. Unfortunately they're pretty testy here this afternoon in the suburban hell I ride through. Got honked at right next to me going through an intersection, buzzed several times, and as I merged into the right-most of a three-lane divided, some jerk-off passing me in the middle lane calls out through his rolled down passenger window,

"Something-or-other something-or-other, Lance!"

I'm afraid my rather predictable two-word reply didn't quite carry to him, and so it would've been even more fruitless to try and indicate the true depth of his idiocy by pointing out the name on the downtube and seattube of my bicycle: "LeMond."

vja4Him

Left home about 6:05 a.m., to ride my old mountain bike today to the bus station, about 2.5 miles, then took the bus to work. My Switchback actually rides much better than my Townie.

After work, I decided I didn't want to wait for the bus, so I rode into town. Made it into town before the bus. Stopped off at Dittos to make some copies, then continued the ride home. Commute home was 10 miles, so I put in about 12.5 miles today, and I feel great! Even though I'm really sick with a terrible cough, chest pain, sore throat, stuffed up, the ride still felt good.

Temperature for the ride home was 71 degrees! This morning there was ice on the windshields again, so it must have warmed up at least 39 degrees today.

Almost got run over when walking across the crosswalk to Dittos ... I had the light to walk, but a pickup truck decided not to stop and wait at the red light. Fortunately they saw me just in the nick of time and slammed on their brakes!

Big_e

I had to work late and it was dark when I got off work. I was dreading the ride home. It being Friday evening, I figured everybody and their dog would be driving drunk right about now but I was wrong. I had missed the rush hour completely. Very few cars to deal with. The only problem I have is that I had to ride through some mud puddles so my beautiful bike is dirty.
The Meteor rides again!
Ernest

John C. Ratliff

I don't ride on Fridays, so I have nothing to report for today other then it was freezing fog. Yesterday, the same, and I did ride. There is a wooden walkway in the first part of my commute, and approaching it I said to myself, "You'd better get off and walk that walkway." I did, and I'm surely glad too! There was a thick, almost invisible, layer of ice over the entire walkway. I slipped, but didn't fall, just walking the bike. At one point, with one step my body slid sideways without effort or desire. I breathed easier when I got past the wood, and rode the rest of the way on my "vehicle avoidance route," which meant bike paths, back roads and sidewalks (nobody was walking).

John

Doohickie

Crap. I had extra time in this week and figured I'd leave work a little early and ride around in the glorious weather. Instead something came up and I was at work until 5:30, almost 6:00. So I had to get straight home. Still, 7 miles in that wonderful weather was better than nuthin'.

metalchef87

Today was my first commute in in nearly a week. We had an ice storm on Tuesday and it knocked the power out for over 175,000 KY residents...my whole town was out of power for three days. My wife and kids went south 40 miles and stayed in a hotel to keep warm, but I had to stay around for my job. I had to stick around and make sure the students that didn't have anywhere to stay were fed and kept warm; that is the most rewarding part of my job, in a time of disaster or emergency we step up and make sure the people get through it. Berea was actually declared to be in a state of emergency, and we just started getting electricity back yesterday. Unfortunately those weather conditions don't make riding in very easily...actually it was pretty much impossible, so anyway the ride today was nice...20F in the morning with flurries and around 30 and snowing on the way home. It is supposed to be near 55 on Sunday...I can't wait!

Commuter76

Well, the commute this afternoon was not so great. The weather was mild and sunny (quite enjoyable). I was riding home and was about 1/3 the way there. I took a corner that I enjoy zooming around, but I was going too fast. My tires slid out from underneath me and I took my first spill on my bike.

I am only now posting this because I had some chores to do and then I began working to fix my bike as well as can be expected. I fell on the right side and I'm pretty sure I bent my rear derailleur. The derailleur cable had come loose, so I got a quick lesson in resetting the cable (but not before I took the shifter apart only to find the cable still attached). I also found quite a bit of paint damage to the frame. At least the frame is Aluminum so I don't have to worry about rust.

I also have road rash on my right elbow like I haven't had since skateboarding in Jr. High almost 20 years ago. Oh well, I can use this as an excuse to get a new derailleur I suppose.

spiker

Wednesday was the interesting commute day. But only for the extremes with the weather. Temp was 28, about 15 degrees warmer than usual for the morning ride in. But it was snowing with maybe 3/4 of an inch of snow already on the ground. Topped out at 3 inches & turned straight to rain. When I got out of work the temp was 51 degrees & a tropical downpour. Normally after or during a downpour like this there is one low spot with slow drainage & I can lift my feet & coast thru & keep the feet dry. Tonight however there were 4 low spots, coasted thru the first, the second (& usual one) was at a new high & far longer than usual. Was up over the bottom bracket & had to pedal thru soaking the tooties. Two more followed but not as bad. Fortunately all this was less than 3/4 of a mile from home. Had Thursday off & tended to bearings.

HardyWeinberg

Headwind last night convinced me it might be time for the studs to go away. I just don't know if we'll get another black ice-fest though...