Very interesting commute today. I explored another route, which brought me smack in front of the Surpreme Court! Watch for Falling Rocks!

Back in winter mode. One of the challenges of the winter commute is just keeping track of all the extra gear. One of my treasured pieces of gear is my little neoprene face mask. Boy do I like that thing. Protects the face from the wind. Anyway, it seems when I whip off my helmet to park, and head in, I have a handful of face mask, gloves, and balaclava. The little face mask tends to get dropped. Last night after class, I couldn't find the face mask. Looked in the classroom, walked all around campus. Looked in the bathroom. Nowhere. Curses. I was NOT looking forward to the eight miles home in the cold, dark and damp without that mask. I trudged out to the bike rack. There it was! Sitting on the sidewalk a few meters from the bike. I must have dropped in my rush to class. And it sat there for 3 hours, amazing. Argh. I will not let that mask out of sight again!

Slow, slow slow. Slow and painful. Painfully slow. I checked my tire pressure when I got to work, hoping i was running way low as that would explain the slowness. But no, they were fine. It's just me.

Chilly. I couldn't find my amber glasses this morning so my eyes were bright red from the cold air.

I'll include Wednesday's commute in this post also since I didn't post about it then

WEDNESDAY:
took the flat route in in the morning and made pretty good time... the ride back was a different story... there was a basketball game that night so I got stuck in gameday traffic. was really tempted to filter but decided to wait instead.

TODAY:
really windy... decent ride in in the morning but on the ride back I had the headwind from hell in my face almost the entire way back... it slowed me up so much, worst headwind ever

Good commute, a little chilly, 9F/-13C and a little "brown sugar" snow on the roads so it was a little slower, but fun non the less.

38F and windy on the way home. Ride home was uneventful. Saw a mother and her 5-6 yo jogging on the FDR MUP. And the child was jogging, not in a stroller while the mother jogged.

Good things: Brought gloves, weather is cold, but no snow. 5/5 for commutes w/ a cold. Also, it's Friday!
Bad things: Forgot to apply lip balm, forgot ear muffs, runny nose, not cold enough to freeze snot.

Outstanding day. :D

Took the Townie3 with utility trailer and some fishing tackle, two casting rods, planning on knocking off work early and see if I could catch some speckled trout or a redfish on the way home.

Crystal clear, blue skies, little breeze at my back for the ride this morning. Found a brand new looking bandana on the side of the road. It'll go well with the good stocking cap I found beside the road last Tuesday. Started making a Townie3 rap song.

The client came down to the cottage. Got the go-ahead on some other projects for him. Got paid for the first time in two months (since I finished the projects for my last client). Then he left. Took a break from work in the middle of the day, on the rising tide, and caught 14 mullet in my castnet just about filling the 25 qt. cooler I carry on the utility trailer for my lunch and drinks. So much for fishing on the way home, nowhere to put anything else. New problem, no ice and I'm hours from leaving. Does this client have an automatic ice maker in the freezer? Pay dirt, and he has an over-sized bin, perfect. Good thing they're not using the cottage this weekend.

Shadows were getting long by the time I started home. Glad I had a sweatshirt. Not cool enough for gloves. Very nearly all the cars behaved well. Had a couple that passed with oncoming traffic a little close, but it came out okay, most didn't.

Get home and the wife has taken care of the bills. Got me two cartons of smokes and has not one, but two steaks for my dinner. :D

She doesn't even know I got paid for the first time in two months. ;)

Top THAT. ;) :D

Boston was cold today. Didn't have to be to my rehearsal until 2pm and left with 25 minutes to do what is normally a 25 minute commute if I take the bike path. I chose the streets- shorter, faster but Boston drivers- man. But despite that it was a fine commute into town because the wind was negligible and/or at my back so I could move right out with the traffic most of time.

The ride home, in the dark, with a cold Northwest wind felt a little forboding. I can feel a big snow will come soon and it's tough to fight the depression that comes with giving up the best part of my day- my bike rides. I always want to keep riding despite the snow, slush and ice but usually one scary incident and I'm taking the bus till March.

Had two drivers wave me through intersections and show great respect for the fact that I was out there in the cold and dark and riding. Then had two drivers completely dis me. Both pulling out of parking lots both getting the full glare of my bike light on their faces and clearly seeing me coming- with bright yellow jacket, yellow helmet, and reflective vest- and they still pulled right out in front of me.

Fortunately, it's so par for the course at this point I would have had only myself to blame had I crashed into them.

Got home, dropped off my gear and headed out to the supermarket with the bike- love my milk crate. No other bikes in the disintegrating bike rack at the market. Saw an opposum on the ride home- that was strange. And no, it wasn't a big rat it was, indeed, an opposum.

commuted weds 33 miles (included med/wellness home visits for work), tough with wind and traffic. the next day (thursday) was a day off to recoupe. todays rides in/out were COLD. going in, the sun was coming out and wind with me. i had to work later tonite, came home against the wind, in the dark, and with friday/holiday drivers, the ride was taxing. a 4/5 commuted week!

It was about 21F,windy & cold. I a cross a bunch of punks
,that gave me a hard time. So I gave them ahard time right back . I turn around and the punks were gone .
You would think at nite and has cold as it was out the punks would stay home. But still a good ride .

BEAM. it doesn't make sense, doesn't make one inch of sense. but i lurve riding to work in the snow and/or when it's this cold. i just had the best time all week this week.

most of the night was freezing or below freezing, so yesterday's snow/wet didn't get too much melt in. it was probably a bit below 0 when i set out, and enviro can sez the wind-chill was -4. snowing slowly and quietly, little tiny sparse sub-zero flakes floating down. whole city those quiet shades of grey and white, with that light all over it. most of the roads were cleared and/or sanded, but there was about an inch of whatever it was on some of them. i'm still baffled by that. how can something be so miserable and anxious an experience if you travel one way, and two steps away from that world there's this other life, that's the dead opposite? the gap between driver's seat and saddle is just that extreme and that wide.

i expected trouble going up the first block or two, on the bike path. it's a short but distinct grade for less than half a block, and it was clear the sand truck hadn't been there last night. i kept being ready to slip because of the grade, expecting trouble, but nothing happened. just powered steadily up it making that wonderful crunch-crunch-whisper-crunch noise, and the only time i slowed down was when a car showed up at the top of the block and started down the same patch. i got carefully out of the way until they were gone because whoa nelly milo, i wouldn't have wanted to have any bikes in front of me if i'd been steering that car. it was like that for the first kilometre or so, then it was bare wet pavement all the rest of the way; i barely had to slow down from my normal speeds except to cover myself for cars coming out of less-clear intersections. nice to see the city apparently sands the bike road in the same priority as the major car routes.

i had a nice moment at the major intersection just in front of the bridge. it's cyclist-controlled, and feeds a little bike-only left turn straight across three or four lanes and the entry ramp, into the bike shoulder that leads alongside the ramp and eventually onto the mup for the bridge. i keep an eye on it, because it's usually backed up with traffic feeding onto the bridge, and drivers are watching the queue to the ramp, not the light. never assume, when someone stops, that they've seen me and know i'm coming. so today there was a semi leaking over the intersection marker as it followed the queue, when the light changed. the truck stopped, but it took a moment of watching to make sure he was stopped for the light, not just the queue. nice. i gave him a big grin for his manners as soon as i realised he was leaving me room to do my thing, and he waved and grinned back. those kinds of little moments keep me happy with my species all day. i love the friendly eye-contact with the car people.

just powered all the way up the bridge. tracks of maybe two other bikes in barely dust-thick snow all the way, and nobody else. pretty pretty city when the snow is on it - all those different dimensions and textures out there for the eye. no snow going down, and once again it was distinctly warmer on the other side. led sez 0 again, but i swear. it felt more like 6 or 7 degrees. i was slopping around outside of workin my birkenstocks all day long - it just didn't feel all that cold. just a wonderful ride, all the way.

i made myself a bet yesterday about mr ego in the spandex undies. the bet was that i'd see his bike in the rack today, just because yesterday when i tried to start a cheerful little moment between fellow bikers he sneered smugly and superiorly until it transpired that i'd ridden the day that it snowed, when he had not. then he lost all his oomph and started to look unhappy and anxious with life. not exactly a rocket scientist's bet, but eh. i owe myself a nickel.

coming home was coooooooooooollllllllddddd. and dark. frost/ice patterns thick like lichen on the upward part of the bridge, but again i didn't have any of the trouble i was braced for. i went a slightly longer way just to get to the bank-and-grocery strip, and the only moment i did have was on the way home with a gallon of milk slung over one handlebar and a frozen pizza on the other. not all that smart considering the weather, but i felt okay enough about it. the last couple of side-road blocks coming home felt like the risky sections. on those i did feel some squirming from my tires; just enough to give the strange-effect feeling and provide a warning, but it was fine.

i feel really lucky. this is my first winter even thinking about riding a bike, and for an introduction this week's weather has been just about perfect. it's had just enough to give me an idea what to watch out for in more real winter, but nothing to cause me any trouble while i got the idea. it's getting strange suddenly to remember that i'll only be going to this job and doing this ride for five more weeks - just when i truly really can't stand the job another minute longer, i start to feel bulletproof about the ride.

songs: devil baby, mark knopfler; burning of auchidoon, june tabor; easy money, martin simpson.

The previous post by Tokolosh was excellent. I share his sentiment about commuting at this time of year.

I left this morning in a panic when I couldn't find one of my neoprene shoe covers, not because I needed it today but because snow is expected early next week. I feared I had dropped it- I read in one of these threads about someone losing their precious balaclava and I empathisized, one cannot live without these things when the temperatures start dropping.

As I left it was sunny and, to me, relatively warm, perhaps 28F. There was some breeze but it was gorgeous. There were few, if any, cyclists on the bike path, mostly weekend joggers and walkers. The Dr. Paul Dudley White bike path (someday I should create a thread just about this visionary physician), is wonderful when there's not a soul on it. It is, in my opinion, poorly maintained, has sections of inferior design and has not solved the crossing roadway issue at all- in fact, it basically ignores it but it's still great.

I got to my rehearsal and two others in the cast had cycled in so at least I'm not the only total geek in all my gear and crap. Winter in general seems to require so much "stuff". I looked over at the corner of the studio where I had dropped my things and it looked like someone had unpacked a suitcase from a polar expedition. At a certain point in rehearsal I noticed an odd smell, like old sneakers. I was in the middle of a scene and I kept getting these odd whiffs and I'm like oh, **** what is it? is it me? -the shoes, what? When the scene was over I surreptitiously checked myself and finally tracked it down to of all things- my hands! My gloves! They're big skiing gloves and my hands do sweat in them most days. Man, got to wash those gloves! Old man Winter.

The ride home. I have a choice- city streets or bike path. The bike path is dark and has sections with water and the dreaded ice. The streets on a Saturday night are loaded with pedestrians on one section where there are bars, clubs and cheap restaurants filled with college kids. Lots of parked cars line the road, the subway runs down the center of the road (above ground), there are stores etc. It's definitely take your lane and put your pedal to the metal and get into the slipstream of traffic when possible and maintain a steady 25 mph as best you can. All the while keeping safe distance from the cars in front, watching for jay walking pedestrians and keeping the jerk in the car behind you from muscling by you simply because you're on a bike. I opted for the bike path. I was the only one on it. The river looked like black ink. There is a point where Harvard University is reflected in the water and a footbridge crosses the river. It is stunning to look at on a clear, cold December night. The puddles were not completely frozen over and the mud would crunch as I rode through it. There were short sections of black ice forming as I moved west and the temperature dropped.

I rode through the section I call "Watership Down" where suicidal rabbits dart from the left and right. I was once again ever thankful for the bike path, for the chance to imagine a world not so littered with automobiles. I rode my last mile or two on main roads and back streets. Having only one section where I must assert myself and take my lane in the face of drivers who are looking me straight in the eye and despite my left arm seemingly stretched half way across the road right in front of them still swerve round me rather than let me take the left fork in the road. And for all of that I wouldn't trade places with them for all the world. If they only knew.

I think Im gonna wuss out tomorrow.... driving today, I noted the tons of ice and refrozen snow about. Not worth breaking bones to save 5 bucks in gas.
My studed bike tires won't get in until Thursday or Friday. Then it will be no worries.

So in the end, my monday ride will be stuck in my Jeep din an iced over traffic jam with thousands of other fools.

At least I get to sleep in an extra 45 minutes :-)

Rode in today in my first snow storm. About an inch of wet snow on the bike path. Feet warm and dry, hands warm and dry, almost too warm in the torso with Polar Fleece vest and pullover. Slipped once on a turn up a slight hill but all in all my Michelin 1.5 rear tire with good chunky tread and my Continental front 1.5 seems sufficient. It was alot more like mountain biking than my usual commute. Was cold and snowy on the way home with ice patches forming that will make for a gnarly commute tomorrow a.m. I'm thinking about putting 1.95's on the Buzz just to feel a little more confident. Though saw one other rider this A.M. going the opposite directon on the path. I've seen him before- fixed gear, real nice bike, steel frame, dressed in all dark clothing like a European racer from the 60's, no helmet, wool cycling cap riding as confidently as if he were on a MTB with studded tires. His tracks were a perfect straight line, his cadence quick and his body relaxed. For the first time we greeted each other- did I detect a European accent? I could've stood to relax a bit more on the bike.

Rode in this morning, 39 degrees and no wind. Kept a high cadence going to stay warm and kicked butt getting to work. I was sitting outside cooling back off watching people get out of their cars all bundled up. They think I should be freezing. Ithink they should be riding, as most of them live closer to work than I do. I got to work wide awake with my heart pumping. I love riding in. Riding home tonight was 45 degrees, so I took a layer off to ride home. I was still a little warm, but I'm learning. Tonight was unusual in that I saw 4 other people on bikes with lights and 4 unlit riders. I average only 1 other rider with lights and 1 or 2 unlit riders in a whole week. This was on a Sunday night well after dark. I just hope the riders without lights take my advice. I'm glad to see others on bikes. Even if they don't ride regularly, maybe thet'll keep an eye out for me when they're driving.

cold wet and nasty. felt like i had frostbite on my forehead. grumble :mad:

cold and beautiful, but dry with only a few icy spots to watch out for.

a few swirling gusty winds (remnants from 10 miles west), playing with me giving me a big headwind for a few seconds, then pushing me uphill with a huge tailwind for a minute

deep thoughts by billh: Riding in winter is just like riding in summer, except it's cold outside.

Boy it seemed cold today. A water main burst yesterday down the street and we were without water for most of the day. This morning, I think it was 17F. So I was thinking "cold". But it was a beautiful morning. Sunny, blue, crisp. No wind. I was layered perfectly, cruising along to work and thought, "Wow, except for a small patch of skin around my eyes, I'm perfectly toasty warm, it's just like riding in summer, except . . . it's so cold out". Doh. Somehow that seemed to warm me up a little more.

Mid 20Fs and snow-covered. I put the studded tires on yesterday afternoon, which turned out to be wise, as there was a lot of ice on the trail.

Saw one other cyclist heading the other way. We exchanged greetings. There were bicycle tracks in the snow that were laid yesterday. I think more people are discovering snow riding.

I got to work and as I was coming in I heard two people making comments about it being "way too cold for that..." Like I'm being pulled along by an invisible rope and not generating any of my own heat. :)

It was a little chipper out this morning (2F) but the skys are clear and the roads in fair shape. I stayed plenty warm and had a real nice ride in. It's not going to get much warmer today so I'll be layered the same at lunch time and my ride home afer work.

Weird weather today. Left the house at 7:30 and it's -15C plus windchill. 15 minutes later it's -5C with a warm wind out of the north, and no visible Chinook arch. Now, it's -18C or something with 40km/h winds gusting to 60 km/h out of the north. WTF!? I love Calgary weather. We put spikes on the wife's mtn bike and rode in together this morning. I also changed out my ring to a 38T from a 42T. The hills home should be a tad easier.

just in case anyone's interested, here are the members with 99+ posts on this thread :) keep it up!

Total Posts: 10,723
User Name Posts
caloso 419
Chris L 394
Ed Holland 385
ollo_ollo 326
mrfix 285
Andy Dreisch 275
Zin 250
Kodama 226
mtessmer 219
spidercyclist 209
ridealot 209
vtjim 193
Jean Beetham Smith 189
tchazzard 181
PaulH 170
Inkwolf 141
pinerider 137
Paul L. 127
cicadashell 123
mjw16 111
balto charlie 107
Sailguy 105
SaskCyclist 100
jyossarian 99
RonH 99
...

I'm way down at measly 17

I got served with fog today on the way to work.

I don't know why I find that statistic interesting, but I do. It's also interesting to note that the guy who created the thread, Gus Riley, only has 31 posts.