Andy Dreisch

Bright and sunny this a.m. Cold for these parts. 44 degrees 13 mile trek to work. Slow speeds (left knee still hurts).

Given that I broke my finger and mangled my shoulder pretty good on Saturday (an "endo" on my MTB) and ran some very serious hills yesterday, I'm amazed I got up the gumption to do anything today.

As I mentioned, my left knee is still not 100%. Surprised how long it's taken to heal from that century several weeks ago. But I'll take it slow again tonight and I've got an ice pack here at work.

PaulH

This was our first subfreezing morning of the season here, and I saw my first ice patches. It feels like winter is finally arriving, although it still does not look like winter. There are tentative snow forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday, and my hopes are high.

It was a delight to start the day with a ride through the cool, clean, refreshing air. All we really nead now are the visual effects.

Paul

pinerider

Rode home last night, temp was -8 C or 16 F, with a gusty wind. Warm enough, but... pretty well at the bottom limit of temp for what I was wearing. (Short sleeve bike jersey, long sleeve tee shirt, bike jacket) I bought some inexpensive Auclair lobster mitts ($22) at the LBS, ends of my fingers and thumbs were getting numb after about 20 minutes of riding. Looks like I'l have to spend a little more to keep the fingers warm! Helmet liner kept the head warm, but the face was a little cool when riding into the wind, will have to buy a balaclava too!
Rode the Hamiton Street Railway (bus) in this morning, temp was -16 C or 2F. I'll try those temps when I get more warmer stuff!

Some relevations from the ride:
1. Bike tires make a noise at low temps
2. Piles of road salt are slippery when turning at intersections
3. Billowing clouds of road salt dust stirred up by passing cars leave a (you guessed it!) salty taste in the mouth.

tchazzard

I wimped out this morning. It was 14 F, but strong NW winds, so the "feels like" temp was around 0 F. I straight 0 F would not bother me, but plowing into 30 MPH gusts are a bit more than I could deal with this morning.

Ed Holland

Hi Folks,

Back on the bike for me today after a four day break. I definately missed the riding and felt a little slower than normal. It was very good to be back on two wheels and the prospect of the ride home and more commuting tomorrow is a good one.

Cheers,

Ed

threadend

-0- degrees F. My eyelashes froze together every time I blinked and I had to breath through my mouth when my nostrils froze shut.

Funny thing is, after seeing the morning weather forecast for 0 to 5 below, I went out and bought a new battery for my truck last night, just in case it was to cold to ride. Darn, there's 50 bucks I coulda spent at the LBS or REI instead, what the heck am going to do with a new battery :confused:

Jean Beetham Smith 

Perfect amount of snow, 1-2 inches, for the morning commute. First tracks for almost a third of my trip (8.5 mi). Also, I want to report a first for me, maybe we should start a poll on this. A driver refused to right hook me! She actually, slowed, looked my way and waited for me to cross the intersection before turning.

vssn

Conditions were great this morning, no rain, clear sky, road surface almost dry. I left 10 mins later than usual so traffic was moving very slowly. Wish it was like this every morning.

Hants Commuter

I must be really bitten by the cycling bug. It's wet outside and I need to be home in hurry tonight, but I still take the bike.

Today's ride was good despite the rain. I even added a couple of miles and an extra hill.

Ed Holland

Bad start this morning....

I got about halfway through my journey, in rather heavy traffic when at one point I find myself on the cycle lane inside a bus. He indicates to stop at the next stop but leaves room for me. Ahead, already at the bus stop there is another bus and it seems at first that the bus next to me will leave room that I could pass him and move out to overtake the bus ahead of us. No. He skilfully closes the gap to leave me stuck. At which point, when his doors open I thank him very much for his consideration. The conversation is left with me saying "OK, no problem, just a bad morning" (it is pouring with rain). At the next bus stop I see that the same thing is about to happen, so I move out behind the (same) bus, ready to overtake both of them as they stop. This time, as I'm alongside the bus on the outside he decides to pull out and around the other bus, almost flattening me and running me into the oncoming traffic, in a move that he didn't have room for because there was only 1/2 of a bus width in front of him! I was wearing a fluorescent top AND had my lights running because of the weather - to ensure visibility. I screamed out and he finally checked mirrors and stopped. I started as politely as I could "Don't you check your mirrors..." etc. but in the end could not get my point across - to him I was at fault all along. I'm afraid that I gave him a very rude instruction which could be translated as "go away" that I will not repeat here. A car driver in the line of traffic the other way was full of support for me.

This is unusual, normally our buses are driven by very considerate and safety concsious individuals - they have a lot to put up with. Just seems that I was unlucky today.

Wishing you folks safe rides,

Ed
After that I steamed in to work to quell some of the anger.

tchazzard

Headed out this morning with 11 F temps, a slight wind out of the west, and bright blue skies. I was stuck in one gear for the first mile, at which time things started thawing out. I still was sans some gears by the time I got to work, but the bike is now hanging in the furnace room at my office, thawing out. I will apply a good coat of lubrication at lunch and look forward to a nice ride home in the dark tonight.

bradw

Today it was about 20-25F at 7am, a little wind, and light snow.
The sun was barely up and it was cloudy, but visibility was good. Traction was OK, but I noticed some cars having difficulties pulling away at intersections.

I had my Vistalite headlight on low beam and my taillight on flashing.

I pedalled slowly and got in without incident. There were a couple instances where I used the sidewalk to avoid long lines or iffy intersections.

BUT, as soon as I arrive I'm hearing stories from my car and bus commuting co-workers about long traffic jams and behind-schedule buses. Two people gave up and will try again this afternoon.

I think there's only an inch or so of snow with no drifting.

To think I almost gave up on the ride to use the bus!

Ouch !

A bad start this morning. I slept late and didn't have time for breakfast, The ride into work went okay but then realised that I'd left my bottle full of Carbohydrate drink on the Kitchen table .

It also rained on the way to work so all in all it was a bad morning.

The journey home was dry but windy, but my times are gradually getting slower as the weather gets worse, so I think it's time to ease off the timing of the rides and just concentrate on getting to and from work safely.

Chris L

Got a semi-spanky storm last night. Plenty of wind and an interesting light show across the South Pacific, but sadly, no real rain to speak of . It also blew over fairly quickly. It's still stupidly hot around here.

eyebike

cold for texas. 37F with a 25mph north wind and drizzle. yuck. And to top it off the water heater for the shower in my office was off.

bradw

I posted earlier today about my morning commute. In spite of the snow and gloom, I had no problems while cars and buses were caught in big jams.

On the ride home tonight everything was OK except for the car that tried to bump me out of the way.

I was going up a gentle hill towards a stop light. I was second in line in the right lane, and I was waiting to go straight.

As I came to a stop I noticed a car behind me only inches from my rear wheel. Fortunately we all came to stop without incident.

Several moments later I'm suddenly bumped from behind. I turn around, expecting to see a driver sheepishly apologizing for letting his foot slip off the brake.

Instead there are three young guys waving for me to get out of the way!

Since there were three of them in a car and only one of me on a bike, I spouted some obscenities but moved over. As the driver rolled past me he waved as if to say "No harm, no foul." I was at least expecting an obscene gesture or something threatening to explain the idiocy of bumping a bike with a car, but no, just casual indifference.

He then waited for the light to change and drove straight through the intersection. I was expecting him to be in a hurry for a right turn on red, but it wasn't even that. He simply wanted a clean shot through the intersection.

By the way, while it was gloomy out it was well before sundown with good visibility, I had my flashing red tail light on and had all the legally required reflectors and more.

I thought about calling the police, but with no damage, no witnesses, and a city full of weather-related accidents and traffic jams, I honestly didn't think I could reasonably expect much to be done.

Tomorrow promises to be icy, so I'll take the bus. Should be good riding by Friday.

P. B. Walker

bradw,

I would have simply pulled out my cell and dialed "911". And of course, stayed exactly where I was. Just tell the police you are on a bike and at which intersection, and there's a car behind you bumping you. And then just look down and read the license plate to the 911 operator. Screw 'em if they can't take a joke.

While it may not seem that bad, it could have potentially been a disaster. What if he's foot slipped and he didn't hit the break in time? Being run over or dragged under a car isn't a laughing matter.

Bumping is just so uncalled for. That would have just set me off... lol. You handled it much more calmly than I would have.

PBW

Chris L

They probably wouldn't have pressed charges, but in that situation they may well have given the owner of the car a phone call and a lecture about road safety. I tend to think these people may have thought about it next time if they'd had a phone call from the cops.

P. B. Walker

Not to mention, they are now on record as having harrassed a biker. So, say in a week or two, when they run someone off the road, the police have a history on them. Makes it much easier to press charges and win those lawsuits. You know if they do it once, they do it again, especially when they keep getting away with it.

PBW

PaulH

First tracks of the year in DC! I woke up to about 3" (8 cm) of snow with more falling. There was an ice layer at the bottom of the snow and it was very slick. My neighborhood was unplowed, and it was tricky technical icebiking for the first quarter mile. Studded tires actually would have been good in those conditions. The Vredstein Triggers performed well except where there was ice. The main roads are fair, but the secondaries are in poor shape. I arrived dry and happy.

The one problem so far is that the little cafe on the bottom floor of my office building has failed to open, and there is no coke machine. I do see a few cars moving (slowly) on the streets, so there is hope that something will open for lunch.

In the meantime, the view out my window is great. It will remain so for some time since we are expecting up to 10" (25 cm).

Paul

mtessmer

Ahhh, it was 3 F , a beautiful sunrise, the streets are all white with all the salt they have laid down, it was very quiet out, smoke from all the chimneys. All and all it was a great ride in this morning. Now, if I could only find a way to keep my toes warm all the way in to the office.

P. B. Walker

You are a better man than I, Paul. I skipped the commute on bike this morning in favor of a long swim. My commute is mostly by bike trail... and they don't plow those for some reason... mmmm...

PBW

toolfreak

Good ride, the first time within a week, had a new bulb installed on my headlight, what a difference!

Now i can run a LED light for spare and 20 W halogen for sight, the performance was good, but the expected runtime with both lights on is only 1.5 Hr.

Anywayz, the weather was good, wind by 3 BF and temp. 3 degC, they expecting frost next week, wohoo, my first ice ride!

cheers

Jean Beetham Smith 

Nice ride in this morning, warmer than the past 2 mornings at 12F. Grey clouds settling down like nesting hens, getting ready to lay a snow storm. It started snowing around noon and there was 4 to 5 inches of new snow when I left to go home. All my co-workers were trying to talk me into taking a lift home. Did they really think I spent 2 weeks salary on a winter bike to not ride in the snow? It was a great ride, first track a lot of the way. New bike did well, disc brakes are great in the snow!

pinerider

What more could a bike commuter ask for??
I arrived happy and dry this morning, too! About 25 F, -4 C light snow falling occasioinally, roads just a little wet Only swore at 1 driver on the way in.