I got the wind from the west this morning and I was heading east!!! I had one of my fastest times into work in a long time, averaged almost 18mph instead of my usual 15-16. Gonna be a hard headwind the whole way home this afternoon though, but at least it will be sunny and warm.

Riding home last night the roads were dry and the temps around 40...there were actually a couple of roadies out, which made me feel kind of plodding on the snow bike with the studs. So after looking at the weather, I decide to get the Bianchi ready for todays ride. But then, when I walk outside this morning I find that everything is covered with them little ice pellets, slicker than cow slobber, so I ended up back on the snow bike. I think I am really starting to get a case of spring fever, or as Pvt Benjamin said, "I wanna be normal, I wanna go out to lunch!" ;)

Today's commute was not fun. I had to drive in today due to a flat rear tire this morning.
I am getting to the point that I hate driving and perhaps even hate cars.

Warm! I wore shorts and was only chilly. The sun was out, the birds were singing, and spring is in the air.

Big near freezing snow storm with snow flakes the size of plates....stick to your glasses, clog the vents on your helmet kinda stick, wet snow. It was a fun ride.

I was dusted on the ride home by a geared scofflaw, but I passed a couple of guys and a bus on the way in to make up for it. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so I'm running on fumes now...

Nice ride. Overcast.

Got right hooked 2 blocks from my house, but La Madonna di Ghisallo was smiling on me. I locked up the rear wheel and the front wheel actually kissed the car's bumper and I don't know how I managed to stay upright. At the time, I was really angry that the guy didn't signal and just slammed it to the right, but in retrospect I should have known better than to put myself in that position. It's a scary way to be reminded, but I'll take that lesson any day.

Otherwise, despite the steady rain, it was a great ride in. I took a slightly longer route along the Sacramento River and I had the bike path to myself. Totally silent but for the ZZZZZZZZ of the tires on the wet asphalt and the plap-plap-plap of the rain on my jacket.

Today's commute was rainy, but not cold (it's about 53F out).

Passed another commuter on a hill this morn, just to be caught 2km later. Wouldn't have been the case if I didn't leave my studs on, but i'm expecting snow this aft.

40's with some light wind this morning. the commute in was good. a little faster and my feet hurt less. took the road route because the PB Trail wasn't fully melted yet.

the commute back may have been the worst wind I have ever ridden in. 30MPH gusts and in my face almost the whole way back despite my silent prayer to the wind gods to give me a tailwind. stopped by campus to eat dinner since I got out of work late and was really hungry. saw another cyclist skitching on a car going uphill on the way out of campus. I'm glad I don't do dumb crap like that. other than the wind, the commute back was good.

40's with some light wind this morning. the commute in was good. a little faster and my feet hurt less. took the road route because the PB Trail wasn't fully melted yet.

the commute back may have been the worst wind I have ever ridden in. 30MPH gusts and in my face almost the whole way back despite my silent prayer to the wind gods to give me a tailwind. stopped by campus to eat dinner since I got out of work late and was really hungry. saw another cyclist skitching on a car going uphill on the way out of campus. I'm glad I don't do dumb crap like that. other than the wind, the commute back was good.

street ride in again but a fantastic ride home along the bike path. It probably would have driven many cyclists insane but I loved it at the end of such a long challenging day. There was light snow as the temperature was dropping and refreezing much of the water on the path, which was 8" deep or more at times. There were some sections that were a mix of ice, water, snow and slush. At times I was like an ice breaker literally cracking thick sheets of ice as I rode.

But then I stopped by some woods on this snowy evening and well... I can't help it. With many thanks to Robert Frost but he captured this moment so perfectly:

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Cold again. And I wore in my sneakers to wear around the office but they've got thicker soles so my seat wasn't the right height. I tried to get in early to get out early today, not looking forward to an office day today.

My wife's car finally died after 15 years and 170,000 miles. She's in a hurry to replace it but I told her to take her time, drive my truck, I'll just bike everywhere. :D

Sunrise was fiery red this morning. Beautiful.

What a change from yesterday! Below freezing and wind gusts to 41 mph / 67 km/h. My coat went on and my hood went up meneaqth my helmet. The gloves also came back into play. However the wind wasn't that difficult and the beautiful sunny morning was a great start to the day.

Paul

Great ride in this morning. No rush, just easy laid back riding. Fixed the flat last night and put new brake pads/shoes on the bike also. Everything was as perfect as February could be.

Traffic wasn't bad, but I was so slow it didn't matter. Today is Friday - it's a good thing...

I was at home watching the kid yesterday. Took a sick day due to the fact he had a short flu bug. Perfect timing since Thursday is one of my 2 recovery days. Last night the little guy crawled into bed with us and we all had a horrible night's sleep. Slept in for 2 hrs and rode to work late. It was gorgeous ride with daylight from the moment I left my door. Confused the heck out of my coworkers due to the fact that I work the same schedule almost no matter what. Change is good.

Brisk! Apparently a snowsquall descended on our neighborhood right after I left home, so they thought I was biking through that, but never a sign of it until an hour later I was walking up from my cube for some coffee, then I saw some flakes. I did have to skitter across the icy back deck on my spd shoes leaving the house, that was my only adventure this morning.

Despite the forecast of rain, the morning is brilliantly blue and bright, 38F and calm. When I turned on the American River Bike Trail, I briefly thought of turning east towards Folsom but, like a good little worker bee, I turned west towards downtown and my office.

Now I regret it deeply.

pretty typical commute. saw another cyclist about 500m behind me for most of the ride. not looking forward to the ride home, friday afternoon is the only time i ever get honks, yells or buzzes.

Not the best commute.... Flatted just over half-way into the 17 miles. OK to fix but rather messy as the roads were wet and grimey this morning. The sting came when I refitted my rear wheel, tightened the QR and the nut on the end of the skewer stripped. Bum! Managed to get it *kind of* done up and limped into town. Tried two bike shops, both still closed, the first until 11am, the second until 10am :( Now I know what to do at lunch...

Ed

still doing the street ride in for the morning and the bike path home at the end of the day. Got out a little earlier today and took these pics of the bike path. I feel like a polar bear on the melting ice caps.

the iceman cometh.

Streets have been cleared of snow this week. I was off Monday and Tuesday. Rode in to work Wed. Thur. and Friday. It was great. Red sun, birds chirping. Temp in the 30's. On the way home temp in the 50's. It feels good to be back riding to work.