I'm new to the site, and to commuting. I've been pedaling in for almost 2 1/2 months now. I only have about a 2 mile ride, but it was pretty frosty at 5 degrees -2 with windchill. How far are the rest of you riding in? What do you do about the salt? I store my bike in a shed overnight so I haven't been rinsing it real regularly.

I thought somebody might get a kick out of the crazy weather we are getting today. Last night at 8pm it was 7C. This morning at 8am it was 0C and quite a nice commute. Three hours later the wind is gusting to 60K and -11C.

It's about 15-20 F here in Maryland, but dry as a desert. There was some rain-turned-to-snow last night, but barely a half inch all told. So other than a bit of black ice, the cold is the only thing going on.

Today's commute was not so great. The temp was about 12 when I left home, and it was really windy. I had to stop after a few blocks and reinforce my head. less than a mile later my chain comes off and gets all twisted up. That was no fun and I think I chipped some paint straightening it out. Then around the lake... huge headwind the whole time. I was spinning in my lowest gear for a while.

I'm still glad I didn't drive, though. Driving sucks.

Check out this thread. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78849

48F and VERY windy this morning. Temperature due to drop after this cold front passes through! Glad I got my battery powered heater socks!

See this poll.

I'm comforted by all the cold weather cyclists. It was in the teens this morning in St Louis, gusty winds, which is considered "really cold" for St Louis (having lived in Chicago, I chuckle, as I'm sure do you others in the great white north!)

I have to say I finally got my clothing right and was not cold at all. I think the key was the wool scarf and balaclava. Also the ski goggles really helped. New item this winter is lobster gloves with thinsulate which are working really well. Other than that just standard poly jersey with gortex windbreak jacket, wool socks and running shoes, nylon covered lined pants. I find the running shoes work much better than my regular spd's which fit too tight for thick socks and are too well ventilated.

To add to my satisfaction, my boss's car gave out this morning. He is always giving me a hard time about bike commuting. I cant wait to get in a little jab on how unreliable cars are in cold weather! :)

It was 9° F when I left this morning, -11° F with the wind chill. My eyes started to tear almost immediately and when the tear hit my riding glasses it immediately froze. Once I got going I warmed up a bit and my face was fine after that - until I hit the Roosevelt Bridge over the Potomac. The winds off the river were ferocious. I cannot describe how painful the experience was except to say that it felt like being trapped in a 7-11 Slushee machine - constantly battered and frozen.

All in all - a beautiful day for a bike ride!

35F, no wind & dry at 6AM today. I had a fast ride in on my Bianchi but nearly got squashed by an 18 wheeler about 3/4 the way in to work: As I went through a downhill intersection on green, the trucker was turning from my right into and then through the collector lane for the freeway onramp. At this point, the bike lane has two traffic lanes to the left with the collector lane on the right. Driver looked directly at me from about 15 feet away but never saw my headlight, blinkies, spoke reflectors or my reflective vest. I was invisible & that big front wheel was now right beside me & coming over! Fortunately it was early with no traffic in either lane to my left. I was able to swerve to end up paralleling him in the innermost lane doing about 25MPH so I could then slow & let him pass on my right, cross behind and get back into the bike lane. Gotta stay alert all the time. Don

The ride to work and home was cold . It was about 10 f coming to work and about 5 f on the way home . In some spot it had to have over a foot of snow and other spots of the rode it had very little snow . I had a good ride today . But I do not know if I will ride to work the rest of the week . Have a good nite .

Cold this morning. Dressed appropriately though, so not a problem. It was below 20 F when I left, with gusty winds. I had on 3 long-sleeve poly shirts plus my lightweight nylon running jacket this morning when I took the dog for a walk just before leaving. Realized I would be _too_ warm once on the bike and left one shirt at home. I did wear nylon warm-up pants and was glad of them.

Ride home seemed cooler though the wind has dissipated.

RicardoJM, I like your idea about setting the goal of riding all the way from home at least once per month. My commute from home to work is 32 miles (64 miles round trip). I've done it before, it just takes some extra planning (i.e. going to bed early the night before, getting up early for the 2h20m ride, then leave work at a respectable time (I tend to stay until 6-ish).
I think I'll make this a New Year's resolution!
MikeB

-20C, -28C windchill, unfortunately I couldn't ride today :(
Wanted to bring some Christmas goodies for my co-workers, didn't think they'd survive the paniers.
Wednesday's my last work day before I'm off for the holidays, back on the 4th of Jan, so it looks like I'll probably only get one more ride in for the year. It's a shame - I was hoping to get in at least one ride at sub -30C temp this year. (It was -30C with the windchill going home last night, but that doesn't quite count). I should reach the 3000km mark for the year though.

Had some arctic air move through the South this past week - so I can comiserate with our chilled northern neighbors - (you Canuck commuters are just insane) - luckily it's been bright and sunny - no cold stuff falling from the sky at least... but I did put on two pairs of socks :)

Great Googly Moogly! It was cold today... 23 degrees...(I don't even know what the wind chill factor was) ... but I started out and my face was hurting from the wind hitting me.... I had a balaclava, wicking t-Shirt, Under Armour Cold Gear long Sleeve, Under Armour Cold Gear Tights, two pairs of Pearl Izumi socks, sidetrak neoprene booties, Lake Cycling Firepalm cycling mittens, Oakley sunglasses......and I warmed up at exactly 16 minutes and 23 seconds. :) I watched my cyclocomputer until I felt warm all over...

My only problem was that my camelbak kept freezing over...Had to crunch down and really draw hard for little sips....

All in all...when I finished, I felt exhilirated and euphoric...(maybe that's the frostbite)...but it definetly is addicting!

I checked tomorrow's forecast and it's going to be a balmy 34 degrees with no wind! Yay!

Excellent! That's pretty much the weather we are having in St Louis. For the face, sunglasses won't protect you from the wind. I'm using ski goggles and it helps, but part of my cheeks are still exposed so I'm looking for something to cover the rest of my face. I think I have a neoprene face wrap somewhere with breathing holes, but I think the last time I used it, my goggles got all steamed up.

:rolleyes:

-6F on my rides last night and this morning. 23 degrees? That's tights and t-shirt weather! :p

Just kidding. It's all relative. :beer:

The #%!^@*( pedestrians have gone and walked all over my trail and made it bumpy. Wish they'd pick one track and stick to it. I'm trying to form a cycle track by riding in the same place every day. I see a few other riders are joining in, so that's helping out.

Then again, with 50 degrees forecast for Thursday, the snow might all just go away anyway. Strange, strange weather.

First snow commute of the year today. The temp was pretty warm, around 30F when I left. The wind wasn't too bad and the sun was a great purple red over Lake Monona. This is actually only my 2nd or 3rd snow commute. It wasn't bad at all, but there was very little snow and no ice.

34F & dry with no wind at 6AM today. My dogs serenaded me with barks & howls as I departed but after that, I had a quiet commute in on my Bianchi, only saw 4 or 5 other cars traveling my way but of course there were hundreds heading for downtown & the Capitol campus. It was 48F & clouding up for some afternoon rain showers when I knocked off for the day at lunchtime. No more commute until after the holiday so everyone have a Merry Christmas. Don

I'm planning on picking up a new tube for my camelbak, hopefully this will prevent those flavorless water slushies..

http://tinyurl.com/5rjmo

Funny... I had a 'Tortoise and Hare' moment this morning. I left home a little later than usual, and as I am rolling down my driveway, I see another commuter (whom I had never seen before) barreling down the road in front of my house. We are heading in the same direction, and he zips out of view, really stomping on the pedals. I take a liesurely pace, so he vanishes in the distance in no time, 'en danseuse'.

I follow my normal route, which involves a few urban shortcuts through parking lots and the like. I had forgotten the fellow commuter who had passed me at my departure until I hear some heavy breathing behind me on a campus path, and 'mister huff-and-puff' zips by me again. Somewhere along the way, we had taken diverging routes, but mine had proved the quicker.

A little ego boost at the start of the day feels pretty good; when I can outpace somebody without really trying. (who knows... maybe he stopped for an espresso)

Good ride today with -20C and -29 windchill. Cagers seem to be a little froze up today. Everyone in the office was whining about how cold it is. The thing is it could easily be -35C with a -60 windchill. It is almost like I piss them off when I tell them they were probably colder riding in their cage than I was on the bike. I honestly was not cold at all however I did spend enough money on gear to make sure I never get cold. It is better than spending money on gas and watching it go out the tailpipe.

Make it a great day.

Shawn

nice ride today it was about 38 f .I was not going to ride today , but glad I did . Have a good nite and Happy x-mas .

Great ride in this am. -23C, -31C windchill. The snow on the roads was well packed (much easier than the soft stuff). I was very comfortable for the whole trip - I think I'm getting the clothing figured out. Toes were a bit cold near the end of the ride. Maybe Santa will bring me some nice lite, warm hiking boots. :)

When I got to work my odo read 2997km (for this year)... doh... If I wasn't running late I would have done a 3km loop to hit the 3000km mark. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for the ride home.

Looks like this'll be my last commute for the year! :cry: I'll see if I can sneek in a couple of rides during the hollidays, Till '05... Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

low 20s, cloudy and dry. an easy ride in, "light snow" forecast for the afternoon. should be interesting! i haven't been riding as much due to holiday-related work and family pressures. i hope to do some actual recreational riding during some of these days off. certainly the new year holds promise for lots of cold-weather riding to work. happy holidays to everyone!

--->bug

Low 30's, slight headwind. Forecast is threateninga major winter storm, but when I left, the streets were barely wet. Nice good pace, bike was working good too. Still a bit overdressed, coulda lost the balaclava. Anyhow, as I start to climb the hill over I-270, the snow/ice begins. Tiny little ice pellets, traveling at high enough velocity to sting when they hit skin. Slowly they get bigger. As I start my way down the other side of the highway, my front tire flats - from what, I have no idea. Kept control, and hoofed the rest of the way to work (only a stones throw, took maybe 3 mintues).

Second flat of the year. grrr. At least I'll have something to do on my lunchbreak. Still, a good ride though. The way home will be interesting.

I love that ice in face flat tire combo that happens.

-13C, -22C with the wind. It was one of those commutes where you just keep your head down and grind it out. Well, not literally keep your head down, of course, that would be highly unsafe. Cut thru the chinook center parking lot this morning and greeted all the parking lot attendants, when they replied, it sounded like they had botox injections cause their faces were so cold. They should buy those poor souls little watch booths. Overall good commute. Tomorrow is my last ride before my trip back home. I'll have to find a gym while i'm there to spin for a week.

Good commute today. -23C with a slight wind. I broke the rear derailer cable on the way in. The LBS probably doesn't have much to do these days so I will drop by at lunch. Shifting gears is pretty tricky at these temps. Nothing really wants to turn or move. Pretty uneventful overall.