It was a very windy ride in -3c temps. The roads are dry and the drivers were polite, so a great ride. I do need ear protection of some kind however.

I finally broke out the full finger gloves. Though....it's still not thaaaat cold yet. It was in low 40s (F) this morning.

Yesterdays ride home was brutal, 22 mph winds in my face the enter way home...ugh. Made the almost 60 degrees feel like 50 or so.

This morning: It was actually a tad warmer today compared to yesterday, about 40 degrees. Still the wind was enough to require a jacket. This afternoon its supposed to be high 50s, low 60s...meaning I'm now in that time of year where I have to bring warm morning stuff and moderate evening stuff. My backpack is jampacked.

Like most others here it seems, I broke out the winter gear for the first time today--tights, thermal shirt, neoprene booties, gloves and the hat. As usual for me it was sufficient, except for the fingertips.

Do any of you folks who ride in really cold weather have good recommendations for gloves to keep my fingers warm? I know it doesn't get that cold here in NC, but I have very poor circulation in my hands and very low body fat, so I need warmer gloves than I would otherwise. If you don't want to clog the thread, feel free to PM me. Thanks!

Had some cruddy winds to battle the past few days making it pretty cold out in the later hours. I've had to don three layers and my full finger winter gloves (I don't have an intermediate pair of full fingers, and the winter ones are a bit overkill still), I think Sunday night/Monday morning was 1C feeling like -3C according to weather.com. I've been wearing my scarf around my neck for a week or two anyway now to try and ward off any chesty/neck cold BS I tend to be prone to.

Still, it's been fun and I've not yet had to put on the thermal leggins.

Today was surprisingly warm but Thursday is set to drop way down again.

The ride in went well this morning, 39F when I left, wore a polypro long sleeve shirt with a short sleeve over it, light shell jacket and my safety vest. Had full finger gloves on and a headband to cover my ears. Within 10 minutes I was too hot and took off my shell, it made the rest of ride much better.

Witnessed a rear-end auto accident right before I went in the gate to the Navy Base, no one was hurt, but I called 911 and stayed until the cops showed up. Made me glad I wasn't in a car.

Now to the ride home. Took a slightly different route and was on a 4 lane divided highway with one lane blocked off for construction. I was in that lane and looking over my shoulder to see when it was clear to cross when BAM!!! The next thing I know I'm flying over the handlebars. Turns out the construction consisted of taking out sections of concrete from the road, creating holes about 6 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 1 foot deep. A couple of construction workers came running over to see how I was. They were pretty impressed that I was able to get up. I punctured my front tire, knocked my front wheel out of whack, and bent my fork on my Electra Townie 3. Road rash on elbow, knee and hand, and some possible broken/cracked ribs.

Anyone have experience with rib injuries? It's fairly painful, hurts to breathe and so forth. Don't know if I should go in for x-rays. Hope everyone else had a safer ride than I did today!

It was 41F when I left this morning. My commute is not far, and so by the time I start warming up, I am already at work. Its only 5 miles one way.

Why call 911 if no one was hurt? It's not like they have nothing better to do than deal with fender benders.

Ouch! Heal well!

Ribs crack/break fairly easily afaik. I'd play it safe and go with an x-ray.

My boyfriend once didn't go for an x-ray after a bike accident figuring he just had a sprain. Well, a week later, when the sprain would not heal, he finally saw a doctor, and it turned out he actually broke his hand. It partially healed already, and it healed improperly, so he has slight assymetry in his hands now, and his handwriting has deteriorated because of this injury. So if you suspect a fracture, it might be a wise move to see a doctor.

gloves
 

I don't tend to have problems with keeping my extremities warm. However, maybe that's because I do a good job dealing with them. I've got two sets of long-finger gloves -- Pearl Izumi gels for cool temps, and PI Pittards for colder temps. The Pittards are large enough that I can wear another pair of thin wicking gloves under them. The extra inner pair of gloves seems to really help, and you can always take them off if the temps warm up during a ride.

Also, REI has a very good selection of gloves. Pearl Izumi have some new lines of winter gloves that seem like very good values, and I will probably buy a new set soon. I can't remember the specific model names, but REI had several different styles of PI gloves that cost about $40 a pair. They looked warmer than my current PI gloves but weren't too bulky.

BTW, I live in Raleigh, and there are REI stores at Cary Crossroads, North Hills in Raleigh, and perhaps another location in the Durham area.

2 more months and i'll be back on! the 2 flooded out bridges will be rebuilt then (12/31/07 PDA), commute back on (12 miles each way)! there will be wider sholders on the bridges as well.
guess i need to focus on rebuilding commuter drive-train!

Had some rain and thunder last night. Looked like we might get the same this morning. I left late because I could not find either of the two pairs of waterproof pants I_Just_bought! Good thing it did not rain after all. Weather was cool but not cold. Ride home was warmer. No real traffic issues. I was very tired and so I was slow, and kind of zoned out, although I never ride with earphones.

I know...I think he's a little humiliated every time we talk about it and each time we've had the conversation he'll say- "I should get a bike." And you pegged it about the drop the child off at day care- but it's right around the corner from his house. If it were me I'd take him in on a bike trailer, lock it at his school and then ride in from there. This was the first time I've really quizzed about the cost and the time factor- I've got to admit I was shocked that it takes so long to get in by car- on a quiet night it takes 15 minutes to drive in but rush hour it can take 4 x's more time! He's a bit younger than me and he's in good shape and on a tighter budget than I am and I think he struggles a bit to keep his weight manageable so he's an ideal candidate for biking. The commute's a little long for some first timers- it's 11 miles in via the bike path- that's the way I usually go- and by roads it can be shortened to about 9 miles. Depending on the route it's a 20+ mile round trip. But an easy enough trip once you get used to it.


And today was yet another great ride in- though they seem to be doing some work on the bike path for a section so I had to take a detour.

Rode home and stopped in Harvard Square to pick up my wife and we rode home together along the river in the dark- very cool ride.:)

Woke up ridiculously early this morning and came into work. The streets were abondoned. The 4 cars that did pass me gave me tons of room. The one car that had thier high beams on dimmed them for me.

The temperature is getting abit tricky. Yesterday I was abit cold wearing fabric layers, so this morning I wore a windproof layer (with some ventilation) and was too hot. Oh well, works up a sweat.

Nice ride in. Mid-40s. I'm beginning to get why you guys use those clipless pedal things. I've slipped my left foot off the pedal three times this week. I have a huge bruise on the back of my left calf haha. It's starting to become annoying.

Low 40s this morning. Sleepy. I was out seeing The Tragically Hip last night. :)

Riding home yesterday I saw a stealth cyclist far behind me on a long straight, so I engaged the warp drive. Later I saw he wasn't gaining, but I wasn't dropping him either. :eek: I always slow down to <10MPH on a long bike bridge. Grab a drink, check out the scenery. He caught up to me when I was there, and it was some dude in black lycra on a very fast-looking road bike. I got off the bridge and gave chase but he stopped about two tenths of a mile later, got his own drink, and made a u-turn. He eyeballed me as I went by. Probably wondering how somebody on a full suspension MTB with a trunk bag could be so fast. :p

This is how I rode my bike to the office today:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/...77f0a7a6_o.jpg

I love Halloween!

Great weather. Passed one commuter on a street that winds through a forest. He had a blinkie which looked like it was trying to shine through his backpack. You had to look for it to see it. On the front he had nothing :(

Some driver passing in a car slowed down and opened his window and gave me some advice. Something like "......passing....light...................killed"

I think he was upset that I passed him at a red light. I originally was kind of upset, but by the time I'm typing this it's hard to remember the situation at all.... in one ear and out the other I guess.

Temperature is just right, about 10°C perfect :D

I think everyone can relate to having a commute like this....:D

click the kitty

I rode in wearing my costume too. I know I know. useless without pics...But you'll have to wait because of corporate internet policy restrictions.

Basically, Hockey player that lost the fight. basic hockey gear with extra blood, tooth out, black eye.

And I broke off most of a stick, cut it in half and screwed it to either side of the helmet (think arrow through the head gag). Put a little goo around the junction of stick and helmet. A fully functional, 12 mile commutable costume.

Hey tarwheel, thanks for the advice on gloves and the shout-out to REI. I shop there too (the one at Southpoint in Durham) and will check out their selection. This may be a repeat of the last 2 Christmases, where my wife has bought me some cold-weather gear but had to give it to me early because I needed it too badly. Maybe I'll see you out there on the road sometime!

Commute today was fast & good.

Nice and foggy. Monastery cemetary extra cool of course.

Nice ride, not too cold. The sun wasn't quite up when I started, but false dawn was showing.
I passed someone walking along the MUP wearing a good pirate costume. I don't see people walking that part of it very often.
I was also passed by someone I've taken to calling "KHS guy". He rides a nice KHS road bike and wears full KHS branded lycra. I can't tell if he is commuting or not because he never carries a bag or panniers but he is out at the right time for it to be a daily commute. I like him because I also happen to be on a KHS, albeit an old mountain bike with rack and a pannier.

A guy in an SUV threw a bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup at me - bowl, spoon, and a little bit of soup, too. Too bad for him he has a tag and I have good eyesight. First time I've remain calm enough to actually read it. Called it in. Police officer looked very bored while I was explaining the situation. He didn't sound very enthused and wasn't very hopefully about finding the person. Oh, well. It's the best I could do under the circumstances.

Wasn't very hopeful?

You gave him the guy's license plate.

I imagine he would be more hopeful if someone threw a bowl of soup at one of his relatives.

It doesn't get that cold here so I spend most of the fall and spring wearing glove liners. I went to REI to get a new pair a few weeks ago and got a pair that's just a tiny bit thicker than liners and they have a nice grippy nubs on the fingers. Regularly $30 but I got them for 19.99 on sale.

Pretty foggy today. It's always hard to dress for fog. It's chilly at first but the high humidity and no wind means that I'm always sweating by the end.

Oh, and I had a hawk swoop right over my head with a mouse in his talons. I think it was a Red Tail, but maybe a Harris' Hawk. Anyway, it was awesome.

COLD! I'm just getting my lazy ***** back on the bike and forgot how cold it can get with the wind, and am not used to the idea of 40° mornings yet :eek: Time to dig through my drawers and find my hat & gloves again.

Can't complain, though, considering its Oct 31 and the pavement is dry in PDX!

Still got the officer's name? Send him the article about the lady here in NC who was tried and convicted for assault (or was it attempted murder? I forget) for throwing something in the window of another car while driving on the highway. Sure, the speeds are different, but considering we're riding without airbags, seat belts, etc., it's just as dangerous....

I'm kicking myself because I didn't get the officer's name. I'm hoping they'll make a courtesy call to follow-up but I don't know if he even filed a report. I have the police department name and the time of the incident. If only I had photographic memory.

:( No ride today or yesterday. Got a flat (pinch at the valve stem) and I was all out of presta valve tubes. Oh well, I guess a little rest is nice. It was a fun bus ride in today ;)

pictures
 

vtjim,

I live across the lake in NY in Peru..

You took some tremendous pictures of the Adirondacks which are in my backyard..

And your pictures of the bay in Burlington (I think thats what they are of) are equally beautiful.

My hat is off to you.

Jerry