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How was the commute today?

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Old 12-15-04 | 03:09 PM
  #6876  
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From: Absecon, NJ

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Originally Posted by velogirl
25F, sunny, and windy. Tried the plastic bags between 2 pairs of socks. My feet still got cold, and they were soaked when I got to the office. No more plastic bags. I'll have to bite the bullet and get some booties. Everything else was toasty, but I looked like the Michelin Man with all my layers. Eh, who cares?
velogirl- I've been using the formula of two pairs of wool socks for a couple years now and it works down to the single digits. One pair is thick and the other thin, both Smartwool brand. It seems to work best with the thicker as the base. For shoes I use a pair of cheapie Nashbar mountain bike shoes which have a little insulation built in. My commute's only six miles though which might not be as long as yours.
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Old 12-15-04 | 07:02 PM
  #6877  
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From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL

Bikes: Still have a few left!

48F with broken clouds at 6AM, 51F forecast: Finally got my old cyclecross bike back together after rebuild & repaint so this seemed like a good day to ride it in just to see what final adjustments were needed to the bar/brake & saddle positions. Smooth ride through light traffic but for the second time this week, a single vehicle chose to honk from behind just as I turned off the main drag onto a side street. Not sure what the problem was as both times they were 100 yards behind me & no other cars or cyclists around. I was turning away from them, not across their path! Maybe some of them really are out to get me??? Don
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Old 12-15-04 | 09:04 PM
  #6878  
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From: Wash DC Metro

Bikes: November, Trek OCLV, Bianchi Castro Valley commuter

Low-Mid 20s, clear, no frost, minimal wind sunrise as I rolled up to the bikerack. Feet and head were too cold - headband over ears and one pair of cycling socks not enough. Legs marginal (long cycling tights). Trunk (long sleeve base layer, medium weight jersey, windproof jacket) was OK. Glad it's was just a 6 mile ride. For ride home, added leg warmers over tights, neoprene booties over cycling shoes, and a baklava instead of the headband. Felt almost too warm. Plus it was low 30s by then.

Thursday looks to be 21 deg in the morning and about 40 (balmy!) in the PM. Need to find my glove liners to go with my lobster mittens and I think I'll be OK with what I wore for the ride home (I hope).
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Old 12-15-04 | 11:11 PM
  #6879  
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From: OaKsTeRdAm
left a bit later than usual and had to jump on it to make it in on time....but stopped long enough to snap a couple pics....morning commute + fog.....just have to live in the bay area to kind of understand....
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Old 12-16-04 | 12:09 AM
  #6880  
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Cold today ,But good ride home and to work .
Have agood nite .
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Old 12-16-04 | 08:32 AM
  #6881  
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26 F / -3 C again. Didn't bother with the hood this time, and the temperatures worked out perfectly. One thing that has been great this week -- there have been small ice patches. When you hit the ice, the studs stop their song and everything becomes as smooth as a ballroom. I'd forgotten the wonderful feel of riding on ice with studs.

Paul
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Old 12-16-04 | 08:39 AM
  #6882  
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Fairly cold in the morning -- mid twenties. Wore enough layers to have to hang my first two layers up to dry in the coat room. If I let those layers go for a few more days without a wash, maybe I'll get that locker in the shop locker room that I have been lobbying for. Ride home was around 32 F and a bit windy. Fortunately, it was mostly cross with a tail almost all during the last stretch. I sweated my butt off. It's funny how a few degrees of temperature can make such a difference.

Skipped the commute this morning and drove. You can all call me lazy today.
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Old 12-16-04 | 08:50 AM
  #6883  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

22F, 20MPH headwind. Couldn't get out of my gear fast enough when I got inside. Overheated. Beats driving though.
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Old 12-16-04 | 10:14 AM
  #6884  
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From: New Hope/Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I had a nice commute, 16 miles, 32F/0C (like you couldn't figure that out). The clouds broke and I could see a hint of a sunrise. This weather has been unbelievable! Super mild and no snow! Fine with me, I've been able to do the long distances.
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Old 12-16-04 | 11:16 AM
  #6885  
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From: Lachine, Quebec, Canada

Bikes: Mikado kensington 2003, "commuterized" 8yr old Mongoose hilltopper SX, Baycrest Hurricane 10 speed

Both of yesterday's commutes were really hard. The temp was 1.4F, and I just installed studded tires... so exhausting.
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Old 12-16-04 | 12:53 PM
  #6886  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

No ride in today. The twins had a checkup and that's a two-parent job. Maybe I'll have to spend some time on the trainer tonight while watching the tube.
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Old 12-16-04 | 01:37 PM
  #6887  
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From: SoCal

Bikes: Trek7300, GT Palomar

I live so close to work right now I had to map out a route that would make things more challenging. So instead of a one mile commute, it's now twelve miles each way! I'm partying.
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Old 12-16-04 | 03:30 PM
  #6888  
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From: San Jose, CA, USA
Originally Posted by hotwheels
I live so close to work right now I had to map out a route that would make things more challenging. So instead of a one mile commute, it's now twelve miles each way! I'm partying.
I'm in a similar situation. about 1.5 miles each way. I usually do 5 or 6 in the morning then do a longer 10 - 12 miler after work. having the 5min 1.5 mile option is nice when running late or if I need to go home at lunch. I'm training for when we move farther away. We're looking in neighborhoods that will be 10 - 15 miles away from work. I can't wait!
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Old 12-16-04 | 10:59 PM
  #6889  
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Nice ride today .Not as cold and icey .
Have a good nite .
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Old 12-16-04 | 11:10 PM
  #6890  
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From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL

Bikes: Still have a few left!

This was a bikeless day so I could bring food to our office christmas luncheon but tonight my wifey asked me to find something to do in the garage while she cleaned house for the weekend. No problemo, I & my 2 dogs found my Bianchi was sorely in need of new bar tape & I had some Torelli chunky cork tape. I think the orange really sets off the Celeste. Don
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Old 12-17-04 | 12:10 AM
  #6891  
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From: Alpharetta GA

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Cool but beautiful when I went in at 2 p.m. Cold but no wind when I left around 11. One interesting bit of driving by a Benz propelled cager going in to work: I was easing in to a left turn decel lane when this Einstein whips around me on the right then back left in front of me to make the turn arrow.

Last edited by Alphie; 12-17-04 at 12:20 AM.
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Old 12-17-04 | 08:37 AM
  #6892  
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From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Good lord. 30+MPH quartering headwind. At least it was above freezing. Barely. Supposed to drop into the teens (F) before my ride home. I brought cold weather gear to work.

At least I get to look at this when I ride. (Image is "live" so it might not be as nice when others view it.)
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Old 12-17-04 | 09:02 AM
  #6893  
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From: Antioch, IL

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 0, Rivendell- Sam Hillborne, Montague folding bike.

This is my first post here. I've been commuting about 2 years, but this was the second time once the temps dipped below freezing. I ride 25 RT in northern IL. It was a beautiful cold morning with light winds. Nice sunrise view of Venus and Jupiter.
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Old 12-17-04 | 09:32 AM
  #6894  
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From: Decatur, GA

Bikes: Giant Revel 1, Surly Ogre

On the ride home wednesday, I left one of my pannier zippered compartments open and lost my new balaclava and helmet cover. On the ride in this morning I found the balaclava. Yay! The forward to the arctic cold and snow on sunday. Winter in the south!
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Old 12-17-04 | 09:38 AM
  #6895  
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From: Calgary

Bikes: '04 Kona Fire Mountain

rear blinker fell off this morn. stopped and threw it in my pocket for the rest of the commute, i felt naked without it behind me. it definately give me security, or at least a sense of security.
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Old 12-17-04 | 10:37 AM
  #6896  
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From: ann arbor mi
low 20s. decided to go with balaclava and regular bike helmet, no ski helmet or goggles. eyes watered a bit, but otherwise just fine. nice sunrise, too.
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Old 12-17-04 | 10:40 AM
  #6897  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Super foggy and cold, like a Jack the Ripper movie. I rode in wearing regular clothes but I put my bike clothes in my back pack if I get a chance to take a long detour home tonight.
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Old 12-17-04 | 10:55 AM
  #6898  
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From: DC / Maryland suburbs

Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo

Rather pleasant, since there was no wind, temp in the 30s. There was a layer of frost on the golf course and ice on the swamp! My brand new u-lock (thanks Kryptonite) fell off of the bungee strap on my rack trunk. I need to find a new way to hold it on.
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Old 12-17-04 | 12:10 PM
  #6899  
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From: San Jose, CA, USA
Originally Posted by moxfyre
Rather pleasant, since there was no wind, temp in the 30s. There was a layer of frost on the golf course and ice on the swamp! My brand new u-lock (thanks Kryptonite) fell off of the bungee strap on my rack trunk. I need to find a new way to hold it on.
I keep mine under the rack trunk. My trunck attaches with 4 velcro things, so I set the ulock with the large straight part at the end, and then set the trunk on top. The straps for the trunk hold the u-lock in place. This is the best way I've found to carry it to minmize wobbliness, noise (my u-lock rattles a lot with bumps and stuff) and convienence. Also, any time I'm going to lock my bike, the trunk goes with me, so it's not inconvienent to have it under the trunk.

My ride was a little chilly this morning, 39F. Cold ears and fingers, but not too bad. Legs still a little weak from my ride on tuesday and a mild cold.
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Old 12-17-04 | 12:37 PM
  #6900  
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From: SoCal

Bikes: Trek7300, GT Palomar

In SoCal Western Sycamore seed pods are all over the road -thanks to a nice Santa Ana! Now if all those seeds would grow.
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