How was the commute today?
#7151
The Land of Living Skies
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Bikes: Kona Hahannah, Rocky Mountain RC-30
Definitely not the most enjoyable commute. Between the falling ice pellets driven by a 40K wind and the loose snow from the fresh 2 cm overnight combined with warmer temperatures at times I wished I had taken the bus. The funny part is that I actually prefer -25C to -5C because at least the snow is hard packed.
Tomorrow will be better.
Tomorrow will be better.
#7152
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Podunc, Minnesota
Bikes: '14 Bacchetta Corsa, '93 Ryan Vanguard, Action Bent SWB USS
18F with 20mph quartered winds. When going into the wind after ˝ mile my balaclava froze to my beard! I only travel 3 miles in that direction, the remaining was with the wind mostly at my back. I made good time this morning… which was good because I left 15 minutes late.
I hope accuweather is correct and that wind will die down before the commute home!
I hope accuweather is correct and that wind will die down before the commute home!
#7153
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Good lord, you are cold weather studs, you Warriors of the Frozen Tundra. I doff my helmet to you all.
Here in the capital of the Golden State, it's not golden but gray. Gray, gray, gray. My Cygo-Lite died this week and I've got the cheapie LED light on until I get the bright one fixed or replaced.
Here in the capital of the Golden State, it's not golden but gray. Gray, gray, gray. My Cygo-Lite died this week and I've got the cheapie LED light on until I get the bright one fixed or replaced.
#7154
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: A light one, a heavy one, a yellow one and a rusty one.
In Portland we went from the 20's F and an ice storm that pretty much shut down the city last weekend, to a high of 66 F yesterday. I rode in this morning at 5:30 am wearing a thin long sleeve jersey and I was sweating like crazy. Crazy weather.
nate
nate
#7155
cyclist/gearhead/cycli...
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 1
From: DC / Maryland suburbs
Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Freakin' cold here! It started to snow as I was approaching campus. I'm guessing there will be about 3 inches on the ground when I head home this evening.
#7156
The only thing that got me out of bed this morning was my bike commute . . . how bout THAT! Yes, my life is that boring.
#7157
Originally Posted by moxfyre
Freakin' cold here! It started to snow as I was approaching campus. I'm guessing there will be about 3 inches on the ground when I head home this evening.
#7158
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
Bikes: 2 Cannondales
35 degrees F. No wind. Balmy by some standards I'm sure. My wife left at the same time in car. I passed her about a mile later in traffic. I love passing cars stuck in traffic. Makes my day.
#7159
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Dublin, Ireland
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport, Specialized Stumpjumper Comp, Brompton, Trek 1500
Its the old endorphins - bit of an addiction this cycling.
#7160
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Podunc, Minnesota
Bikes: '14 Bacchetta Corsa, '93 Ryan Vanguard, Action Bent SWB USS
I had absolutly no desire to bike after work today! It wasn't the weather, 20ish and no wind... Maybe the lack of sun, maybe the fact I knew my wife was in a growly mood. Whatever the reason, I just didn't have any fun. Tomorrow's another day! I'm taking my wife's van to be serviced tomorrow and buy some tools after work. Hopefully Friday will bring a better day of biking!
#7161
Flaming Anarchist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill, NC
Bikes: 2008 Bachetta Giro 26 1985 Trek 550 1994 Bianchi Alfana 2006 Cannondale T2000
I left work at 5:30 - traffic was backed up everyhwere. I passed at least a gazillion cars. People were mad, upset, amused and jealous ("Gee, if I only had the guts I could be on my way, instead if sitting here, burning all this precious fossil fuel....)
I actually feel sorry for all those poor saps. Keep pedaling.....keep smiling....
I actually feel sorry for all those poor saps. Keep pedaling.....keep smiling....
#7162
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,366
Likes: 628
From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Bikes: Still have a few left!
Trying to adjust to living in the Tropics of Washington State: another 60F day with no rain. Pretty good for mid January. Had a quiet commute in this morning. It was really nice at lunchtime so I grabbed my Expedition Touring bike & rode back to work, unfortunately forgot to bring my patch kit, levers & pump, thus gauranteeing my 2nd flat of the new year. Since it was my rear tire & only 4 miles, I decided to just ride home flat & was surprised to be able to maintain 10-11 mph. Just had to be very careful on turns. Highlight of this disabled commute was when I slowly overtook & then passed a guy on a mountain bike. Don
#7163
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well I left my bike at work... wife picked me up. My excuse: worked late & had errands to run... not enough time to bike home in this weather, shower, then head out before the insurance shop closed. Truth is the last few rides have been pretty difficult. We had a warm spell with freezing rain followed by colder weather & snow, then more freezing rain. I'll take -39 over this any day!
The roads are a real mess... glare ice, bare in places, coverd with mushy snow in others, ice potholes (not sure what else to call it). All this combined with worn out studs and a lack of sleep... ultimately I think I just needed a little break.
I left the bike in the underground parkade at work... figured I might as well take advantage of not riding it & let it thaw out & dry off. I'll try again Friday... I miss my bike
The roads are a real mess... glare ice, bare in places, coverd with mushy snow in others, ice potholes (not sure what else to call it). All this combined with worn out studs and a lack of sleep... ultimately I think I just needed a little break.
I left the bike in the underground parkade at work... figured I might as well take advantage of not riding it & let it thaw out & dry off. I'll try again Friday... I miss my bike
#7164
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
It snowed last night. Just about an inch of extremely fluffy powder. Didn't even notice it on the bike. 15F degrees. Nice ride. Got a little too warm though.
Tomorrow morning may be the coldest ride of the season. Another Arctic cold front is coming through. Actually, looking at the temperature now, it has gone down about 5 degrees since I got to work. (10F now.)
Tomorrow morning may be the coldest ride of the season. Another Arctic cold front is coming through. Actually, looking at the temperature now, it has gone down about 5 degrees since I got to work. (10F now.)
#7165
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 1
From: Absecon, NJ
Bikes: Puch Luzern, Puch Mistral SLE, Bianchi Pista, Motobecane Grand Touring, Austro-Daimler Ultima, Legnano, Raleigh MountainTour, Cannondale SM600
Snowed an inch during the day yesterday & my 25c gatorskins just didn't cut it. Roads were very slick. Had to replace braking with careful planning. Switched to the 37c conti country grips last night & road in this morning in relative confidence. Little traction loss here & there, but not bad at all. This weekend we're supposed to get a big storm. Should be fun!
#7166
Proshpero
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Bikes: Fixed Surly CrossCheck, Redline Conquest Pro
Gorgeous sunrise: leaping neon salmon bursting into nebulae against a watery stained-ink blue. Turn a corner, look back up: it's fresher, brighter, fluffier. Cross a street, watchful for cars, look back up: non-color, gray, beige: sunrise closed for the day.
54F and getting warmer.
54F and getting warmer.
#7167
It sucked. Almost there, I hear my rear rim rubbing and stop to find that my rim has collapsed! Argh. This is a Sun CR-18 36-hole rim that was supposed to be bomb-proof. Well, I guess I've ridden it about 5 days a week for the last 2-3 years so it has taken a beating. To get the rest of the way to work, I had to remove the rear brake pad on the crunched side and hobble on the sidewalk. By the time I got to work, about a six inch strip of rim had peeled off, was clinking against the chainstay and the tube was completely bulging out of the tire. How it didn't pop, I'll never know.
#7168
around 15 °F, clear and little wind. no new snow, just some leftover ice in the neighborhood. the wind is supposed to pick up a little during the day, from the north, so damn. i dislike headwinds when it's cold already. but i appreciate having the freedom to ride.
#7169
The Denver area is going through a warm up period. The commute in yesterday was good. Temps were in the low to mid 30's along the river and there was not any wind. I saw 2 other people on bikes. This is much fewer than what I see during the warmer months.
For the ride home, the temps were in the low 60's and the wind was at my back. The sun was shining and the ride was sweet. There were many more bikes out. I was able to help another biker out who needed a hex wrench to tighten his bottom bracket bolt.
I was getting concerned about finding a weather window that would allow me to commute at least once in January. As it turns out, it looks like I will ride again tommorrow.
For the ride home, the temps were in the low 60's and the wind was at my back. The sun was shining and the ride was sweet. There were many more bikes out. I was able to help another biker out who needed a hex wrench to tighten his bottom bracket bolt.
I was getting concerned about finding a weather window that would allow me to commute at least once in January. As it turns out, it looks like I will ride again tommorrow.
#7170
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Foggy, foggy, foggy. Just the standard weather for January around here.
#7171
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 106
From: Washington, DC
The trip home yesterday was a blast! There was about two inches of beautiful powder. For some reason (possibly salt) there was often a frozen layer right at the road, and this led to some spots that were technical. In other areas, the snow had been compacted by traffic. It was great Nokian weather, and a joy to glide through the snow with the studs silent for the first time in a month. There was one steep hill on the way home that the police had closed to all automobile traffic. I asked permission and they waved me through, "It's just closed to motor vehicles." There I was with no traffic, a hill, and beautiful, fresh powder. First tracks!
I let it run, sailed down the hill full bore with "Live For Today" playing in the jukebox in my mind and snow swirling everywhere like smoke. I floated over the white landscape as if in a dream.
I didn't actually hit the slopes of Tremblant until this morning, but, as far as I am concerned, my ski vacation began with yesterday's commute.
Paul
I let it run, sailed down the hill full bore with "Live For Today" playing in the jukebox in my mind and snow swirling everywhere like smoke. I floated over the white landscape as if in a dream.
I didn't actually hit the slopes of Tremblant until this morning, but, as far as I am concerned, my ski vacation began with yesterday's commute.
Paul
#7172
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,366
Likes: 628
From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Bikes: Still have a few left!
56F today with a light breeze as I set off to work. A co-worker joined up with me about 1/2 way to work & we rode together the rest of the way. Nice to have company sometimes. Don
#7173
Good ride to work and home all but the rode I live on .
The rode I live on has 3 inch of snow and a 1 inch of ice on it . So by studded tires did not work well. But I still had a good ride . Have a good nite .
The rode I live on has 3 inch of snow and a 1 inch of ice on it . So by studded tires did not work well. But I still had a good ride . Have a good nite .
#7174
Belt drive!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont
Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX
-10F. Coldest ride of the season so far. I left well before sunrise so I had a nice quiet commute with the snow crunching under my tires. Not much wind, but it was at my back anyway. A good ride. Feet got a little chilly but nothing uncomfortable.
Passed one runner on the trail, also fully-covered. We exchanged "Morning!" to one another. Turned out to be a woman. I expect this kind of silly behavior from us men (out running/cycling at -10) but I thought women were more intelligent.
Temperature is still dropping. It's not supposed to get above 0F today.
Passed one runner on the trail, also fully-covered. We exchanged "Morning!" to one another. Turned out to be a woman. I expect this kind of silly behavior from us men (out running/cycling at -10) but I thought women were more intelligent.
Temperature is still dropping. It's not supposed to get above 0F today.
#7175
how was the commute today? well, thanks for asking...it was quite pleasant. right around 6 °F, not as cold as in vermont it would appear, but worth putting the wind pants over the tights. i still get sweaty, though. it's supposed to stay about this cold for a while, which means the bike lanes will remain largely unusable because of frozen slush and hard ice and whatnot. *shakes head*




