Filling in for absences- I had my last work commute of the year..Leaving the plant it was in the high 30's- here in the Southland, we are not used to that kind of extremes.. The plant is about 40 miles inland, so it does get that cold.. There was actually frozen due on the grass.
Did not take my full finger gloves. Took a liner- hands were very cold for first 10 miles.. Did take my new 'Wind Shoe' covers- those were nice.. Feet ok and winter jacket- rest of me ok. Cool but sunny for my last 26 mile 2002 commute. Cool and sunny felt a little energetic, actually thought I could race two racers up a hill, while on my touring bike with semi- loaded panniers.. That was a laugh. Actually did better than I would imagine.
Hated to end commute when it was getting in the 50's and sunny.. Stopped at Bank's money machine, some +++ +ole yelled an obscenity, appeared he didn't like cyclists.. last mile filled my panniers up with some needed Christmas supplies at grocery store.
That 26 miles gave me 8,656 miles for the year. One week to go.. No more work commutes are possible as of now for 2002..

Here in Washington, DC, we actually had a white Christmas, although ine would be hard-pressed to detect any evidence of it today. Temperature 36 F/3 C, wind 30 mph/50 kph -- a brisk , sunny morning. Unfortunately, the brisk was right in my face the whole time, but I now have a tailwind to look forward to on my return. Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Paul

Our first big winter snow storm dropped a tad over 14 inches of snow last night, ending just before sunrise. The wind was gusting over 30 mph and has not let up, so there is a lot of drifting.

The roads were not very well cleared when I reached the decision point as to whether I should bike in. I went with the car due to the high wind and lack of visibility (blowing snow). I will be back on the bike tomorrow.

Happy, happy, joy, joy, the snow is finally here!

First sub freezing Commute. Sure was glad to have that microfleece jersey I bought last month. My face felt like it was going to freeze off for the first mile or two and I wondered what everyone did to avoid that. Then I warmed up and my face wasn't cold anymore and I figured it out. There was hardly any traffic on the road today. Noone honked at me, Noone passed too close, the sun was shining, it was just a great commute.

Move to Maine....our nice long/cold winters really toughen one up. Seriously, I do not use any sort of face protection, but if you need it, go with a balaclava.

Enjoy!

The official tally for the storm Christmas night was 20 inches of nice dry snow. This made for a nice commute this morning. The snow banks are high, the roads were still covered with compacted snow and the sun was signing brightly. And somehow, having snow on the ground always makes it seem warmer. The air temp was 8 F (-13 C) with a calm wind...but boy did it seem warm.

The weather out through New Years is supposed to be sunny and warm....so absent health problems, I should easily get in two more days of commuting in 2002!

It was in the mid 20s (F) and a little breezy, with a forecast of intermittent snow showers.

When I stepped out I noticed that my street was a sheet of ice. I walked my bike to the corner where the main street was clear.

I then proceeded to ride to work. About 3 miles into the 6 mile ride I realized I had forgotten my bike lock. Since I was in no hurry, I turned around and headed home.

When I made it back to my street, I foolishly decided that my bike skills had miraculously improved in the last 30 minutes, so I rode on the sheet of ice towards my driveway.

My right hip met the road in a split second a mere two feet from the driveway.

No damage. I got the lock and made it to work, carefully avoiding all icy patches. I even got to ride through the snow in the park.

I rode home for lunch. Temps had gone from this mornings low of 8 F (-13 C) to 34 F (1 C). The roads were still mostly hard packed snow, but there were some long stretches of slush, which made for some tricky riding.

No more snow in the forecast, so I guess I will have enjoy this white stuff while I can.

TC I am over in Nashua. We had about 14 inches.
I live in a condo and I guess I am lazy as I did not ride. How in the world do you keep your chain lubed. I must leave my bike outside and the chain rusts up in about 1 day of no riding. Then I say the car sounds ok.
Don

No commute by bike today threaten huge winds was windy this am now no wind it seems to have missed us or just plain fizzled!

I have a shed that I store my bike in, unless there is not weather predicted over night. I use White Lightning Clear Streak to clean the chain if the day's ride is not dry...wipe off all excess, let it sit, then add a good lube such as Tri-Flo or Pro Lube.

Hope this helps.

Hello All i finally seem to have found a site with fellow crazy peeps :p i commuted of and on fro the last 5 yrs last winter was the first i rode all the way thru (go me!!!) As I live in KS there is little or no snow most of the time just windy LOL today was cold as all get out (15 f and windy ) wore 3 layers and dodged the crazy people in cars. seriously I have little trouble with traffic.here in 30 mins I am heading home as it warmed up nicely I have a pack full of clothes to tote :)

One word
GLORIOUS
Happy new year

Back to work today, so first commute in 10 days, felt great, traffic was light, bike needs a good cleaning though. Happy New Year to everyone.

Last night was kind of disheartening, just when i think people are getting used to seeing me and accepting the fact that indeed i do have a right to the streets, along comes someone really ignorant and rude. I had managed to trigger the stop lights again and proceed across teh intersection riding my customary 2- 4 ft from parked cars when a car load of younger people came up behind me, because of oncoming traffic they were forced to wait to pass. on the way by one yells "get off the rode dumb ass" now i ask who is the real dumbass? by riding my bike i save a $200 dollar a month car payment, $100 or so for insurance, probably abother $50-75 for gas. hmm seems i have almost 400 a month to spend on toys? who's the dummy now LOL.

Well, I took some down time to let my left knee heal once and for all. I haven't commuted in for more than a week.

I rode in today just 7 miles, mixing a ride on San Jose's glorious if horrendously slow light rail. Light traffic made for a fun ride. Tested my new full-fingered gloves I got from my daughter as a Christmas gift. Worked perfectly.

Good to be back aboard !!

Flat City! Got on my bike Friday; found a flat rear tire. Rode off to work on my backup bike. A mystery pinhole, right on the edge of the Tuffy -- probably something that snuck in through the sidewall.

With my main bike back in service, I had a pleasant ride today until, approaching my office, I felt the rear tire go flat. The cause of this one is no mystery...I can see the head of a big sheet metal screw staring back at me.

Probably what I deserve for not simply taking the time off between Christmas and New Years.

Paul

Temperature was around 30 degrees Farenheit. No wind. Little traffic. Worked hard for the first half. Beautiful morning. Had a great ride. Found my mind wandering into that state of meditation that can only happen on a bicycle after a half hour of warm up when the body just starts working the pedals without any conscious thought. Got some good thinking in. Half of the last commute of the year is over! Hopefully the ride home is equally nice.

No commutting last week or this week, as we're shut down for the holidays and for cost-saving. So I'm relaxing around the house, putting together a 8'x12' back yard shed (more work, much more, than I had thought), and testing out my rain cape in the downpours we've experienced here. I did have a good ride Saturday, and put in about 8 miles. I need to get on the bicycle again soon, so as to keep those pounds off (or take a few off that have accumulated--I now know I don't have cancer, as the weight losses I was experiencing were really due to bicycling!).

John

I'm not supposed to be commuting at the moment as my work has shut down for a couple of weeks. However, I clocked 78km in Brisbane this morning just on general running around - and I'm not finished for today either.

I decided to ride 13 miles from work today, pushing it just a little, given my knee and all. But I feel fine, even though there was a pretty serious headwind the whole way.

I met my wife at my daughter's high school, we went to dinner, then picked up my daughter from b-ball practice. Traffic was light again, and I managed somehow to avoid the rain although the roads were wet from rain all day.

Bike-commuting is GREAT !!! You really realize it only if you're away from it for a while as I have been.

Hoping to ride this last day of 2002. I only have to go to work for one meeting at 11am. It is now 25 F (-4 C) and raining, so everything is a sheet of ice, including the road. It would be a tad dicey even with studs on...so going to hold out as long as I can to see if the temps rise. If not, then I will drive and run some errands on the bike later.

4507 miles and counting.

On my morning ride in there is this little curb (maybe 6" / 15cm at most) that I hop the front wheel onto.

But today I missed. My bike bounced against the curb and I fell off.

Fortunately there was no traffic. My rear derailleur was slightly scraped and it feels like I mildly strained my left leg.

That's three flops this year. One while riding uphill on a dirt trail a few months ago, and two while commuting this week.

What awaits me on my return trip? :(

First Commute of the year. Nice and warm (must have been in the upper 40's (F)). Traffic was light. Couldn't figure out why my left foot refused to clip in. I had a bolt come loose in the pedal. Luckily it didn't fall off. Took most of the ride pretty slow. Didn't want to ride my bike at first because I was sure it was going to be cold. Just goes to show that sometimes that little voice of discouragement in your head is dead wrong about things. Had a wonderful ride. Was very glad I started the year out with a bike commute, instead of taking the easy way.

Yesterday, the Xerox repairman looked at me from behind a disassembled printer and asked, "Pete, you're not riding home in the rain, are you?"

:D

1) "No, I'm taking the new Stone Mountain/Atlanta Underground Bicycle Tunnel."

2) "I've developed the skill of riding inbetween the drops."

3) "No, I thought I'd stay here at work until it lets up, about another 5 or 6 hours."

Really, he's a good friend. I just kidded him a little...it turned out to be a good ride, though a wet one.