I had a late start into a headwind. I didn't actually wimp out (wind chill 20, I was toasty) but I knew I'd never make it to work on time fighting the wind. I hopped the train less than half way to work.

Got there 5 min. early (but missed out on a better ride.)

best commute of the month, didn't get soaked, wasn't that cold... but still dark, I can't wait for spring

The last few commutes have been a workout because I have been pulling trailer so that I can pick up my daughter from school (wife is visiting Paris). Winds are blowing close to 30 mph (50 kph), but the trip home should be mostly a tailwind.

Paul

Lucked out this morning...wet roads, but no rain. Not looking so lucky on the way home. The rain is supposed to let up by 5pm, but still coming down by the bucket full as we approach 4:30pm. Good day to be a duck.

The leaf crew was out today and, as usual, parked their truck across the entire path. I thought I'd just pedal around as usual, but the ground was so soft that my wheels (road bike) just sunk down deep into the mud. I didn't stop, but was really churning for awhile. Then I had trouble getting back up on the pavement. Arrived covered in mud! Fortunately the shower in our basement was fixed today for the firsttime in about a month.

44F (7C) and drizzly. I almost bagged it and drove in, but I'm glad I brought the bike. It'll be a long day (now turning into night) here at the office and I'm glad I started it right. On the bike, as God intended.

Gray, blah ride in. No wind, few fellow travelers, cooler no sun, just solid high gray clouds. Kinda tired too, not sleeping enough this week. A few drops of rain at the end with more promised for the ride home. An OK, ride -beats driven almost any day.

Relaxing. After a rainy and cold commute both ways nothing's better than taking it easy afterward knowing the weather didn't stop me today. It's like the twelve step program: one day at a time.

Too bloody hot! I can't stand this weather at all. The forecast was only about 28C, but I reckon we cleared that by 4.30am this morning, and add another 15C for the humidity. About the only nice thing I can say about today is that I won't be dealing with this sort of heat again in 2003!

The forecast Max in Hobart tomorrow is just 18 C. Now that is far more suitable for human habitation.

Rain again today... it has been a tough week for riding - 2 soakings and two freezings. The freezings are much preferred! The most annoying thing is my colleagues, who keep telling me to buy a car.

Have a good weekend,

Ed

I feel really pumped after my ride in this morning. Alexandria/DC was about 36 degs at my normal departure time of 6:30. My combination of long riding pants, parka, and hood is working well. Although it's dark at that time there was no ice on the trail and it's always fun to see other riders and the sunrise. I'm finding that my little Cateye halogen headlight (with its 4 AA batteries) really isn't sufficient to see the whole trail and the batteries wear quickly. I'm thinking of upgrading to a nice, rechargable system as I'll have to depend on this for the next couple of months. Looks like the ride home will be nice; sunny and mid 40's.

Frosty ride in this morning. Tempature was 25 F and the windchill made it feel like 17 F. It was pretty damn cold at first, but after the first couple of miles I got nice and toasty! Great ride, I relaxed and took my time. No rush this morning since I did not feel like going to work today.

Hopefulley the the ride home is just as good.

I had a good ride in, snow everywhere, -4F/-20C, smoke from the chimneys, cars, gutters and sqweaky crunchy snow under me made for a eerie but pleasant ride in to work this morning. My feet got cold but the rest of me stayed toasty warm.

Coldest morning yet, 32 deg at 6:30.

My hands got cold after 10 minutes, but since it's only a 20 minute commute 4-me, that's not so bad...

43F,no rain but wet roads at 6-6:20 AM, my bike buddy who starts 1/2 hour later got caught in heavy rain & had to stop & put his poncho on. When I left at 3:30 PM it was 50F & the streets were dry. This was a pretty mild commute week for December. So far, I've logged 43 bike commute days since October 1

Yesterday was much easier than the day before. I still towed a trailer both ways and picked my daughter up from school, but the lack of 38 mph (60 kph) wind gusts was a clear improvement. (In fact, towing the empty trailer into the wind was more of a workout than pulling it full on the trip home.

In conterast, yesterday was clear, fairly calm, and seemed almost dreamlike. It was a beautiful ride -- to work, to school, and back home. WIth no headwinds, it seemed like floating.

Paul

Bad commute yesterday, It started raining again as I set out for home. Then about 2/3 of the way my rear tire blew. Yet another sidewall faiure on a Hutchinson Kevlar "Excel".
That is the last straw.... That is me through with this tire once and for all. Went to the bike shop today and purchased a nice new set of Continental "Dura / Ultra gator skins" to match what I put on my other bike.

Have a good weekend,

Cheers,

Ed

Slow going today. Things were pretty good near my house but it got a lot sloppier about 1/2 way (15 mile commute). Lots of slush and ice and "brown sugar" on the edge of the street.

Uneventful, but as usual, a nice ride in, about freezing with a slight headwind/chill factor, but the cold faded after 2 miles.

Here at work, I feel great! (Grabbing a post-ride snack.) W-man says sunny, 57 today.

:D

Gonzo Bob, I started this morning and got a couple of miles into it and came back home. The main roads and secondary roads are fine but the back roads stink! I live in New Hope and go threw Robbinsdale, Crystal, Golden Valley and then into Minneapolis. Minneapolis was fine but all of the suburbs were awful. I think they went a little crazy on the salt/sand (brown sugar), it was like going through deep mud. This was a first for me, I've never turned back (I've been riding year around for over 22 years), now I'm feeling bad about it. I guess I'm going to have to get creative... hmmm, maybe part of it was psychological.

Beautful morning, calm 42 deg, bright orange clouds in the sky and same color leaves on the ground, everything looked fluorescent for 10 minutes or so...
We had a some showers yesterday and it made everything clean.

Just gald I'm able to enjoy this, there are so many that cannot.

jesus - today was a rough ride and a slow one - I think the DC public works people decided to rest on their laurels after their response to the first snowstorm last week because in my opinion they had not done a great job of clearing the snow that fell this weekend - I had several really close calls on icy / slushy patches but made it into work in one piece

Hey! I commute thru New Hope to get from Brooklyn Park to Plymouth! Today I rode Boone Ave but the "shared parking+bike" lane was pretty messy south of Bass Lake Rd. I was somewhat suprised since I went riding yesterday for a couple of hours and the streets and roads north of my house are in great shape.

If you ever see a guy riding a purple/white smoke MTB with one purple pannier, that's me commuting to/from work!

Hmmmm... I just live a few blocks east of Boone on 50th, do you cut accross to Plymouth on 49th/Schmitt Lake Road? Good luck on your ride home.

Sometimes. I vary my route and cross 169 at 63rd, 49th, or Plymouth Av. Thanks! See ya on the streets!