Had a horrible commute home yesterday. I bought some new wheels for my commuter bike. The plan was to use the new wheels with my slick (Specialized Armadillo Nimbus) tires and the old wheels with my knobby tires. This way I could just swap them on those days when there is snow on the bike trails. Plus I plan on riding the C&O Trail more often this spring.

Well get the new wheels on the bike, first commute. Make it to work fine, 12 miles. Get almost halfway home and the rear wheel is damn near about to come apart. Pretty much every spoke is loosen enough that the nipples where rattling. The salesman said they were supposed to be pretty decent wheels. Guess he was wrong. I did return them so they could retension the wheels. I'll give them one more shot then I'm going to just return the wheels and get my money back.

Didn't even get 18 miles out of them... terrible.

I seem to have some serious wheel issues... lol.

PBW

First commute in 10 months. I only made it one way. Son took me to work, I rode home. Windy and 0 C. Friday night crazies out. First time this week I got to ride with out a light. Will try the one way again on Monday. Rode Mt Bike since flurries were supposed to happen all day. Roads were dry so I can't complain to much.

Well, this week we went back to work, and I rode Monday through Wednesday. Thursday, I was tired and the cold wind was up in the morning, so I didn't ride. Today...well, I still don't ride on Fridays.

The weather this week has been very, very nice. No rain, just cool in the morning (about 31 degrees F). So it's been a good week to begin commuting again by bicycle.

John

I forgot to mention that I got a nice compliment from a guy in my building as I came in from the garage. He asked me how far my commute was and noted that with the weather and low light this time of year it must be a little hairy on the way in. I showed him my blinkies and reflectorized stuff. He was really impressed with my illuminite gloves.

He said, "Well I really admire you guys."

I said, "Don't tell anyone else, but I ride in because it's fun."

Maybe I've found a subject to convert!

The Last 2 days I have had good fast commutes. I love sundays for the commute NO CARS to speak of so crossing the major roades is a breeze.

Well it has warmed up here in the UK, but the remains of road salt & grit from the cold spell are still enough to get bike and rider very grotty!

The ride home last Friday had one frightening moment. The road outside my workplace is an unlit country lane, and I heard two cars coming up behind me. Now these guys were not just speeding, they were racing. I could hear the engines screaming and tyres squealing long before they reached me, so I had time to get off the road before they passed, at what seemed like 80+mph. The words I would like to use to describe these people and their lethal behaviour do not belong here. Truth is, few people treat their own car this way, so I suspect they were "joyriders". Either way they should be locked up before someone is hurt or killed.

OK, rant over.

Cheers,

Ed

My ride home last night was perfect. I love riding Sunday nights. It feels like I have the road all to myself. Cold, but very clear.

Today a co-worker dubbed me the toughest person in the office. He saw my bike downstairs and realized I had commuted today. I wasn't that tough, though, as the windchill was 22 degrees F, and I've ridden in 13 before. I'm sure many of you would call me a wimp for just doing that!

I didn't want to ride in this morning because of the cold, but I realized that "too cold" just wasn't a good enough excuse. Actually, the cold wasn't the problem this morning. Fogged glasses were.

Teresa

No commuting today. I'm going to see a doctor about a potentially serious illness. I'm very concerned about the shortness of breath in yesterday's ride home (24km with a tailwind no less). Still, it was another beautiful day in paradise.

Back on the bike after a couple of days off with a sore knee and it was good to be back.

Chris L - Hope everything is OK

It was a mild 20 F with a gentle breeze on the way in and looking like the temps will hold in the upper 20's F for the ride home. Rumor has it that we will not see temps much north of 10 F for the next week here in Maine. Good thing I am headed to central Florida for business. No biking, but no freezing.

Like Maine, we were in the 20's. I think we had more than a breeze over here.
The icecycles are growing every day. My deck has some that are at least 36"

The morning commute was great, but this afternoon saw a steady rain. I used my rain cape, and did pretty well. I found it more enjoyable after taking off my safety glasses--better visibility.

John

Doc says I'm OK. I will be back into it tomorrow. Not even death can stop me now!

John.. We get so little rain about here, not 100 % prepared for it.. What about those wind visors that are placed over the helmet. Might they be better for rain and fogging.. Seems might keep a little rain away from the face also.? Supposed to velcro to any helmet.

Nice uneventful ride this morning. Windy though.

However, I do seem to be attracting a lot of idiot drivers lately. Last night I was just about to turn off the main street on the last leg of my journey when a car raced up behind me. He had obviously not been paying attention and saw me at the last minute (signalling for the turn), because he honked and then shouted obsceneties as he passed. I almost, almost aborted my turn and chased him for an argument at the next set of lights, but thought better of it. Even so, in the heat of the moment I suggested that he "go away", though I didn't quite phrase it that way.

I'm getting tired of being hounded off the road....

Cheers,

Ed

CZ, these were discussed in the winter biking forum at this thread


Last evening's ride home was chilly, -6 C, 21 F with a gusty 25 mph wind. No problems with cold other than my feet. Big problem was too many friggin red lights on the way home!!!

My commute this morning was uneventful, -7 C (19 F) light wind. I'm still getting cold feet, I bought some wool socks, but I think the hiking shoes I've been wearing are the problem. I'm going to buy some better ones that will keep my feet warm on the ride.
Lucky me gets to go to the dentist this afternoon, so I get to ride home in the daylight!!

I wimped out today, bloody hell. Can you blame me though, -30C feels like -42 with the windchill. (for you 'mercans thats -22 and -44)

Yuk, is it f'n spring yet????

Brrrr!

The commute was nice this morning. I didn't realize it was snowing until I stepped out the door, what a nice surprise. The temp was a perfect 25F with no wind. The only thing better than riding my bike through the snow this morning was the look I got from the astonished staff and patients at the clinic. They actually though I was cold, despite the fact I walked in sweating.

Coldest commute I've done yet... 23F. I've finally decided wireless cyclocomputers are sh1t. I've put my old wired computer back on, but left the wireless on just to see how bad it is. It froze up this morning after about 15 mins and didn't give a reading after that.

This old wired computer is great. It's a Trek Radar. Has temp and time on the bottom, speed on top in big letters, and then in the middle you can switch between distance, ride time, odometer, max speed, and average speed. If it had a backlight, it would be the PERFECT computer for commuting IMO.

Being this was the coldest temp I've ridden in, I figured out I need one more layer on my head. I had a balaclava on and a headsweat thing on top of that. I was just at tad cold on my head. I think I might get a stocking cap... pearl izumi has a good one.

I also found out my shoes with booties don't cut it. I even had on two socks. Toes were frozen when I got to work. I had already ordered some winter shoes (Northwave Grizzlies) so I'll be happy when those arrive.

Does anyone else find it annoying to have several layers on their legs? I wear my bib shorts, leg warms, and then a pair of heavy duty tights... and I just hate having those tights on, but I can't go without.

First time in my life the water in my water bottle froze...

PBW

All I've worn so far is my Target $10 lined "water resistant" track pants and have not had cold legs at all.

A thin balaclava under my helmet has kept my head warm enough so far, too - coldest temps have been -12 C (10 F)

Thankfully winter is not as harsh here temps rarely get below 0 f anymore and even then it is not nearly enough to stop me. You know this winter i did not buy a big heavy coat? just a small wind shell and pile on the layers underneath. I have to layer my legs anyway so might as well u know. Any way get the new bike tomorrow hopefully. Wednesday and thursday are my days off so I will get the first commuter on it on friday!

Back in form after the last two days. Whatever illness/impediment I had has decided to bugger off (purely for it's own safety of course). Another beautiful morning. I don't know how long these cooling southerly winds will persist, but I'm sure enjoying them.

Yesterday was not as uneventful as I'd hoped. On the way home there was a hideous racket emanating from the rear wheel bearing. Emergency repairs last night seem to have cured the problem.

Good ride in this morning, despite very windy conditions and almost being swiped by a taxi....

Cheers,

Ed