How was the commute today?
#7301
Originally Posted by moxfyre
Yesterday morning the Paint Branch trail network in Maryland still had a nice thick layer of ice on it. It had thawed and refrozen so many times that I doubt they could plough it. I dunno about other area trails, but this one was positively treacherous.
#7302
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
Originally Posted by balto charlie
Really!! I read somewhere on the internet that "someone" plowed the Paint branch. None of it was plowed?? Perhaps some of it? What part of it did you ride. Maybe it was plowed after the first storm but not the 2nd. How was it last week between snows? Doesn't matter anyway as it's snowing as I type.
#7303
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 106
From: Washington, DC
I had to ride home early today to attend to a repair on my cable modem connection. I'd planned on driving back to work afterwards, but when I saw the snow, I figured I'd better not chance it. Back on the bike I went.
Total distance for the day -- 20-26 miles. Now I know what it is like to be a "real" commuter. The drawback is that I'm not awed by you all any more.
Paul
Total distance for the day -- 20-26 miles. Now I know what it is like to be a "real" commuter. The drawback is that I'm not awed by you all any more.

Paul
#7304
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,366
Likes: 628
From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Bikes: Still have a few left!
37F & clear with no wind at 6AM, not much traffic, rode my Motobecane Grand Touring in the morning. It was sunny & warmer by lunchtime so I rode the Torelli back to work in the afternoon. Last time for a while as its supposed to start raining again tonight.
#7305
Rode to work today and home . Hard day at work.
Rode the ss today .It rode well .Think spring !!!
Have a good nite .
Rode the ss today .It rode well .Think spring !!!
Have a good nite .
#7306
Cyclist and village idiot

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Amelia Oh
Bikes: 2005 Gary Fisher Nirvana S 2001 Trek 2200 1999 Schwinn Mesa 1989 Mangussa?
The snow cleared up yesterday so I was able to ride all the way home and not take the bus. Good ride, nice and sunny and not to cold.
The ride in this morning was nice, a little chilly tempature right around 26F. High today is supposed to be in the mid 40's which will be a real nice change!
The ride in this morning was nice, a little chilly tempature right around 26F. High today is supposed to be in the mid 40's which will be a real nice change!
__________________
Fear is never boring
Fear is never boring
#7307
ahh...temps in the teens and no wind. that is nice. we have had thawing during the day and freezing at night, which means fingers of ice sticking out into the street, especially around driveways. sometime in may, i suppose, i will be able to just charge ahead wihtout having to worry about one of those glaciers sneaking up on me.
have a nice one, folks!
--->crunchy bug
have a nice one, folks!
--->crunchy bug
#7308
Commuter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maine
Bikes: 2006 Giant Cypress EX (7-speed internal hub)
We had a bit of wet snow last night, but not too much of it. Woke up this morning and everything was thick white, so my first thought was "I guess I'm driving today". (No studs or knobbies!) But I shovelled the steps, and it was about 32F and melting, and the more I thought about it, the more I figured the main roads would probably be just wet but not slippery, so I decided to ride after all. It was pretty, but very messy; lots of puddles. I arrived (5 miles) with grit all over my boots and pants legs, and a big gritty streak up my back. (My little rear fender just doesn't cut it on days like this!)
I cut through a parking lot on the way, which was mostly clear of cars but a bit slippery. At one point an SUV and I came around a corner about 30 feet away from each other and my back tire swerved a bit as I turned and slowed to avoid her. She saw me too, so we both gave each other a kind of nervous grin. It was not close enough that it was dangerous, so therefore it was kind of fun!
I cut through a parking lot on the way, which was mostly clear of cars but a bit slippery. At one point an SUV and I came around a corner about 30 feet away from each other and my back tire swerved a bit as I turned and slowed to avoid her. She saw me too, so we both gave each other a kind of nervous grin. It was not close enough that it was dangerous, so therefore it was kind of fun!
#7309
Commuter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maine
Bikes: 2006 Giant Cypress EX (7-speed internal hub)
Originally Posted by spidercyclist
Think spring !!!
#7310
Ride home last night was tough, especially on the 2nd leg in Baltimore, snow coming down hard. Too much for glasses and too hard to ride without. Rode in 2 different worlds today. Baltimore had 2 inches of snow, schools late, slippery conditions but main roads were fair. DC burbs only had wet or dry pavement. Go figure. Things are warming up nicely for the weekend tho'
#7311
Originally Posted by JohnBrooking
Ha! We don't dare think spring around here for at least three more months! You're not getting this cyclist's hopes up, no sir... 

#7312
winter is comming
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Lachine, Quebec, Canada
Bikes: Mikado kensington 2003, "commuterized" 8yr old Mongoose hilltopper SX, Baycrest Hurricane 10 speed
Gr8 day for commuting. The mother in law called this morning, and was surprised to see I was still home so late. When I said "well it doesn't take a long time with the bike", she went "excuse me??? did you say on the bike? it's cold out there". To which I replied "It's not that cold, it's just -10C" And she said "You make me laugh".... hahahaha. I love these reaction from ppl...
The ride was sweet, with no ice and 60PSI in my studded tires. Got to work pumped again, I love riding!
The ride was sweet, with no ice and 60PSI in my studded tires. Got to work pumped again, I love riding!
#7313
Rebel Thousandaire
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Hartford, CT
Bikes: Public D8, Yuba Mundo (cargo), Novara Buzz (1-speed, soon to be 2-speed w/ a kickback hub), Xootr 1-speed folder
Yesterday afternoon, Broadway in East Cambridge was at least two feet deep in water from the foot of the Longfellow Bridge at Third Street to Galileo Galilei Hwy (aka Binney Street). I made the mistake of trying to ride through one part that didn't look so deep, and was rewarded with two very wet feet. Here's a picture I took of the intersection of B'way and Third Street, looking north across B'way.
#7314
winter is comming
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Lachine, Quebec, Canada
Bikes: Mikado kensington 2003, "commuterized" 8yr old Mongoose hilltopper SX, Baycrest Hurricane 10 speed
Originally Posted by Ya Tu Sabes
Yesterday afternoon, Broadway in East Cambridge was at least two feet deep in water from the foot of the Longfellow Bridge at Third Street to Galileo Galilei Hwy (aka Binney Street). I made the mistake of trying to ride through one part that didn't look so deep, and was rewarded with two very wet feet. Here's a picture I took of the intersection of B'way and Third Street, looking north across B'way.
#7315
switching to guns
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 0
From: kings county, nyc
Bikes: allez fuji tracku nishiki TT GT KHS arrow Miner 29'er CIOCC Corsair and now a f*cking awesome waterford skeet velo
made the commute today from Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan in about 35 mins. Not bad with a light rain sprinkling over salt and slush crusted streets. Got to work completely soaked though, and covered with road grime. Poor bike looks even worse...
Last edited by ch0mb0; 02-04-05 at 11:47 AM.
#7316
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
I got to work safely and relatively on-time. That's all I can say.
#7317
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.
34 and no fog this morning. Started to rain just as I was rolling up to work. I jumped in the shower and as soon as I was fully soaped up, the water pressure started to dropping and within 30 seconds it was gone. Somebody had been repairing the water line the night before and hadn't properly turned the water supply back on. Luckily I had my phone in the bathroom and I called my coworker at his desk to inform him of my situation. He tried to get me to pay him $20 bucks to fix it until he found out I was not amused, then went out and turned the water back on. Talk about being helpless. I'm glad that he was there to answer his phone.
#7318
I must have died and gone to heaven, we've been in the upper 40's F (maybe fifties today) and sunny the last few days! What a hoot! I'm getting extra miles in and wearing lighter clothing. This is really spoiling me. I hate to think about going back to our "normal" temps, it's going to be a rude awakening.
#7319
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield, WI
Bikes: Raleigh M40, 1979 Bianchi, 2009 Gary Fisher Marlin
Originally Posted by mtessmer
I must have died and gone to heaven, we've been in the upper 40's F (maybe fifties today) and sunny the last few days! What a hoot! I'm getting extra miles in and wearing lighter clothing. This is really spoiling me. I hate to think about going back to our "normal" temps, it's going to be a rude awakening.
#7320
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324
Bikes: 2 many
Originally Posted by Ya Tu Sabes
Yesterday afternoon, Broadway in East Cambridge was at least two feet deep in water from the foot of the Longfellow Bridge at Third Street to Galileo Galilei Hwy (aka Binney Street). I made the mistake of trying to ride through one part that didn't look so deep, and was rewarded with two very wet feet. Here's a picture I took of the intersection of B'way and Third Street, looking north across B'way.
#7321
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,366
Likes: 628
From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Bikes: Still have a few left!
47F, light rain & wind from the South at 6AM today. Really had to grit my teeth to get out into it but once I got moving, it wasn't so bad & the commute in was invigorating. Came home for the day at Noon. The sun was out & the wind was gusting from the West which gave me a headwind for 3/4 of the ride home. Have a good weekend all. Don
#7322
Guest
Posts: n/a
The Commute & the Furby from H-E-double-hockey-sticks
Morning commute was pretty good... -14c, bit of a cross wind, very slippery with my worn out studs.
Commute home was the most "technical" yet. -18c, 30km/h head wind, 4" of fresh/partially packed snow on top of the ice, snow & blowing snow, so I couldn't see were the ruts were.... spinning/sliding all the way home... averaged 8.7km/h
(I walk at 5 to 7km/h if I'm in a hurry)
It took me 1hr & 20min to get home (summer rides are 25 minutes, winter rides have normally been 40 to 45 minutes)
I took the sidewalk in some places
I'm very much against riding on sidewalks, but I was desperate to find at least minimal traction... definately getting the Nokians for next winter.
--- On a Lighter Note ---
Last night (~4:00am) my wife & I woke up to the sound of a "Ferby" McDonalds toy (this one plays a saxaphone) in the bathroom sink! I guess one of the kids got it wet & it short circuted & started to play... freaked us out.
I could not get the thing to shut up. I even tried drowning it
I finally got fed up & threw it out the window onto the icy street... "crack".
This morning as I rode past the ferby I noticed it was STILL playing the saxapone! I put him in my pannier & headed for the river...
When I stopped on the bridge to give the little guy a swim, he was Still making music.... I suspect that this spring, some kid downstream will find a furby along the river bank & it will still work
Morning commute was pretty good... -14c, bit of a cross wind, very slippery with my worn out studs.
Commute home was the most "technical" yet. -18c, 30km/h head wind, 4" of fresh/partially packed snow on top of the ice, snow & blowing snow, so I couldn't see were the ruts were.... spinning/sliding all the way home... averaged 8.7km/h
(I walk at 5 to 7km/h if I'm in a hurry)It took me 1hr & 20min to get home (summer rides are 25 minutes, winter rides have normally been 40 to 45 minutes)
I took the sidewalk in some places
I'm very much against riding on sidewalks, but I was desperate to find at least minimal traction... definately getting the Nokians for next winter.--- On a Lighter Note ---
Last night (~4:00am) my wife & I woke up to the sound of a "Ferby" McDonalds toy (this one plays a saxaphone) in the bathroom sink! I guess one of the kids got it wet & it short circuted & started to play... freaked us out.
I could not get the thing to shut up. I even tried drowning it
I finally got fed up & threw it out the window onto the icy street... "crack".This morning as I rode past the ferby I noticed it was STILL playing the saxapone! I put him in my pannier & headed for the river...
When I stopped on the bridge to give the little guy a swim, he was Still making music.... I suspect that this spring, some kid downstream will find a furby along the river bank & it will still work
#7323
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Yesterday I rode the 4 miles to work in 32 degrees and overcast. Forecast was for Sun and highs in mid 40s, in two days it will be sunny and 50. HA. Came out of work to unexpected 5" of snow. I have a REI Novara Safari so it was no problem. Cars were traveling a lot slower so it was actually nicer than dry pavement. Felt great.
Manassas Virginia USA
Manassas Virginia USA
#7324
n00b street rider
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: North Bay Area, California, USA, Terra Firma, Milky Way, Virgo Supercluster.
Bikes: Lemond Nevada City
ROFLOL! Oh man...the Furby from HELL! You should have kept him on the bike for company man! Imagine a icicle encrusted Furby commute bike! LOL!
#7325
Chilly, 25F, but nice ride. After this weekends warmup, most of the ice and snow is gone. A few patches remain. PM ride looks to be great, 50F. Groundhog was wrong....Spring is in the air




