mjw16

I don't stretch before or {immediately} after rides to and from work, I rely on starting slow and gradually warming up by riding at a moderate pace until the legs are loose. I, however, do focus on stretching 3 x's a week in the evenings (something I have to resume on a regular basis). I find that the various ham/glute/quad/calf stretches we did as warmups for soccer/football practice are a good start. I also include some yoga stretches for my back/neck. While I don't think this is ideal, my busy schedule doesn't allow for much more. I think it's moderately effective in keeping my legs healthy and loose enough to get through week after week of commuting.

Standalone 

Y'all weren't kidding. My ride in (east) was calm as can be. But that wind you had is sure here now!

I just stepped outside the lobby here and the wind was whipping around the corner of the building at like 35-40. Right out of the west. I'm going to have a slow ride home... :/

caloso

A gorgeous day. Break in the systems so I really ought to take advantage of it... I feel a long lunch coming.

floriderron

20 mph head winds. And the funny thing is they are supposed to turn and be head winds going home also. Nice!

noteon 

Stupid wind.

rumrunn6

made it home through 30 mph side gusts and wicked head winds
just keep pedaling just keep pedaling
was in the drops more than I expected
barely touched the vertical bar ends
these new shifters are so much better than my old friction shifters (10 spd bike)
not sure this bike is the best commuter of my 3
the frame could be bigger but it's a matter of effort and expense now, it was OK
the cones fore and aft need a slight tweak tighter
34 miles round trip, I'm beat
can't believe I have to go out soon
keep on truckin'
BTW: the flag totally gets me more courtesy clearance, I'll do anything for another inch or two
the temps were changeable - wore tights and wind pants in and tights and loose shorts home
up top wore 2 t-shirts - 1 long sleeve, and top layer was a fleece which I had to unzip and even carry on the way home, but then glad to have it for the last 8 miles
so much for aerodynamics
rechargeable AAs for front strobe are old garbage and tossed, rear super flash held up again this time clipped just to the flat edge of the rear rack - perfect fit
a little chaffed

breakaway9

The morning commute was good, cold compared to the last few days but good none the less. The trip home started off okay. About 3 miles form home I noticed something stuck to the side of my tire #%$#@!#$ was something close to what I must have said.... Fourth $#!@#@ing goat head in the last two weeks... in the middle of winter.... do we ever get break from these things? I made it all the way home and went inside had a drink, walked calmly back out the garage pulled on it and PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!! People complain that herpes is a problem... these things have got to be worse....

KitN

I did about 16 miles round trip today. The first half of my journey was great but the whole ride on the way back it rained. Luckily my jacket had a hood which I pulled up over my head and as low as I could on my forehead to try to keep the rain out of my eyes. Other than the rain it was a pleasant ride.

tarwheel 

I pressed my luck and rode today, despite the forecast for possible showers this afternoon. I got lucky and only hit some sprinkles on the way home, and the temperatures were really mild (mid-60s). This was the first week that I've ridden all 5 days in quite a while, plus I topped 600 miles for the first time ever in a February (636 total). It's usually my lowest mileage month of the year due to the weather and the fewer days. If I can squeeze in a ride Saturday, which is doubtful given the forecast for heavy showers, I could top 650 miles for the month.

Nettabird

I'm still at work. 27 degrees F and central-Illinois, feel-the-trees-moving-with-your-eyes-closed windy.

I like to leave work later on days like these -- fewer cars on the roads. It's damned scary getting a gust of wind right when a car passes too closely!

buzzman

just a short commute today over to Cambridge but did a road ride this afternoon. All lycraed and spandexed and road biked up. Managed to crank out 41 miles in the 50 mph gusting wind. Sometimes moving along very fast and sometimes struggling to keep upright.

Lots of cars running stop signs- an amazing number actually. Drivers treat me more respectfully on my commuter with upright bars, milk crate and blue jeans than on the road bike in full kit- why is that? It was a little disconcerting if truth be told.

more snow and cold on the way!

rumrunn6

Hey Buzzman, congrats on the 40 miles. When I left W. Newton it was sunny and warm, by time I got to Concord it clouded up and got coldish again. About the cars running stops signs, I think Friday afternoon drivers are the worst. About less courtesy when in your kit, I think the Freds get more - maybe from fear - meaning a rider in a kit can be trusted to stay upright, and they can drive closer to you. It's not fair, every biker should get 3 feet.

noglider 

buzzman, people who have never worn cycling clothes think they're silly and that we're trying to make some kind of point with it. So these drivers feel confronted in some way. They know the guy with the milk crate on the bike is just trying to get somewhere to his humble job, just like the drivers are.

buzzman

Concord was where I was- I should have looked for you- I saw maybe two cyclists on the whole Concord loop. Yeah, it's always strange to get back on the road bike after a winter of commuting only. The bike feels squirrelly and so do I. And adjusting to the kind of driver attitudes that one gets out in the 'burbs/country as opposed to the city takes some getting used to. When I'm doing nothing but road riding and then come back to the city riding/commuting I have to make some mental adjustments again.

I might head out there again today. One more road ride before the snow sets in.

rumrunn6

I was on rt 117 in Concord.

Tempted to cycle today look at that sun! Just got back from the pool, did my 500 meters, and finally did alternate side breathing! WooHoo! Was supposed to check out a bigger MTB frame but the guy is out of town and wifey doesn't want a visitor. Oh well, still have to mount my new higher pressure commuter tires on the hybrid and pay bills ugh. Got to ront something for my son's school reports.

SNOW BE GONE! 1"-8" expected ... lovely

vja4Him

Rode 23 miles today ... into town, then along the Dry Creek Trail. Rode around downtown and our neighborhood to get a few extra miles.

While riding through downtown some jerk yelled out his window, "Hey, you know I could have hit you!" I was riding in the center of the right lane, and this guy was the only car on the road! He was tail gating me for a couple of blocks before deciding to pass me, then yell rudely at me that he could have hit me.

I tried yelling back at him that I have a right to be on the road. I tried catching up to him so I could give him a piece of my mind ... wanted to tell him that he needs to be more careful and keep his eyes on the road so he won't hit somebody!!!

I was wearing my highly reflective construction vest, which is very visible!!! The only way he could have hit me is if he wasn't watching the road or is blind.

rumrunn6

Eastern Mass increased the snow predictions for Sunday night into Monday morning to 10" - 15"!

Monday is NOT a day to commute by bike, I'm sorry but that would just be insane. Wouldn't it?

Got the new tires on the hybrid, lowered & extended the handlebars; replaced & adjusted brake pads; cleaned & adjusted brake cables.

I have a bone stock Huffy MTB that wants to get dirty!

buzzman

a late night commute tonight. Did bike path in and home. Not a soul on it. What would one expect end of February on a Saturday night at midnight? There's still some icy patches and more snow due tomorrow and Monday and me still waiting for a replacement studded tire for my rear wheel.

I have a feeling rumrun6 is right Monday may not be the best of bike commuting days in Boston.

Glad I racked up some miles this weekend 'cause I may be missing a day on Monday.

apricissimus 

Pshaw. I'll be out there, riding my bike. Beats taking the T, that's for sure.

metalchef87

I haven't ridden at all in the last 3 weeks...and I am ashamed. I made it all winter, then we had a stupid ice storm that rendered me unable to ride for a week, which put me out of the habit. Then I spent a week walking to work because it was a nice change, and finally when I am ready to begin riding in again...I get a bad cold and can't do it! It is supposed to be beautiful later this week and I am praying that I am feeling better by then...I will ride again!!!

rumrunn6

metalchef87 - impressive weight loss! congrats! to what do you owe your success?

metalchef87

I owe my success to three things really:
Eating right
Exercising
Hard Work/Determination

MIKEnDC

21F/-6C and windy. The "big storm" didn't end up being very much around here: around 2 or 3" or so--just enough to be a PIA.

On the plus side, the gub'mint is on Delay Start/Liberal Leave today so I won't have to listen to the chattering chowder-heads as much or as early. That's a good thing.

Standalone 

I rode home from a meeting last night in the beginnings of this storm, 7.4 miles. The wind had turned on me and it started to snow just as I was leaving, and got fairly heavy quick. The snow was blowing right out of the NE as I headed E.



The roads were merely beginning to be wet--- even on my old road bike w/ a super skinny tire up front, I felt very stable. The only problem was the stinging snow in my eyes. Of course I would pick this weekend to forget my helmet at work. :/ Boy was I missing that little visor thing.

I got off and walked the last 400 yards or so-- the road along the beach was put through a marsh, and is full of repaired cracks and unrepaired potholes, and the lines of tar started to feel a little slick.

I'm looking at the foot of snow (and growing) out my window and watching it blow at 35 MPH, and I'm pretty stoked that I rode in it, even if only at the beginning.

One of our pastors asked in disbelief if I were riding as she watched me unlock my bike after the meeting, and gave me a blessing: "You're crazy!"

TODAY: Work is cancelled, I'm a teacher.

TOMORROW: Bus/Train. I have to pick my boys up at daycare one train stop early, and I haven't bought my folder yet, so even if the weather were perfect, I'd need to take the bus.

mjw16

Fun! By 6 am we probably had 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground. I dusted/scraped off the car for the wife and got on the bike for the ride in. I'd been looking forward to at least one ride like this this Winter. Traction was ok as it was powdery snow but, things got tricky where the drifts were and on the intermittant icey spots (bridges mostley). The wind was coming out of the North/West at up to 30mph and blew snow and what felt like sleet, creating near white out conditions. The toughest part was crossing the 14th Street bridge. Since you're so exposed on the bridge, the crosswind and stinging snow/sleet, combined with ice, made it a little treacherous. I managed to make it all the way to 15th and Independance before dumping it. This was the first wreck, albeit a small one, in my 6+ years of commuting. My glasses fogged up and I simpley plowed right into a curb that I couldn't see. Just when I was starting to feel a little cocky, I take a header into the snow. Nothing broken/bent/hurt beyond my pride, I guess. There were several cars there to see it too. Just found out that the wife is bailing out of word today so, looks like I get to ride home and not have to worry about picking up our son. Snow should end in DC by 2 pm today.