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How was the commute today?

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How was the commute today?

Old 01-03-08 | 09:34 AM
  #22451  
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i got nothing.
 
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From: Cali Forn NI A (SoCal)

Bikes: 13 BH G6 with SRAM Red

mid 50's here in san diego....sorry about your -21...you guys are definitally hard core....i considered not riding cause we have a chance of rain today.

how far are you guys commuting...i couldn't imagine doing my 15 one way in temps like that.
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Old 01-03-08 | 09:35 AM
  #22452  
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From: Calgary

Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery

a balmy -7C this morning, my first time on the bike in 08. I felt sluggish as hell after a 3 week layoff due to a bad cold, bad back and holidays. Looking forward to getting back in the groove.

Heywood, I'll have to email a friend of mine who's always bragging about the "much warmer weather back east".

;-)
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:01 AM
  #22453  
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From: Cowtown, AB

Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.

I only got 2 hours of sleep last night, so I was feeling whiffly on the way in. Thankfully, I was able to draft off of a minivan for the last few blocks of my commute. I re-tensioned the front wheel last night, so it isn't making the spooky spokey noises anymore. The switch from studded tires yesterday to 25C slicks today is a nice change as well.
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Old 01-03-08 | 11:23 AM
  #22454  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Awesome. 40F, overcast, and calm. Had a "no-chain" day.
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Old 01-03-08 | 12:28 PM
  #22455  
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Bikes: ANT Club Racer, 2004 Trek 520

8F with a RealFeel of -16F due to wind.

Still, dealt with ok for the first 6 miles of the commute. Then I got a flat.

That sucked.

Apparently, below 10F, rubber tends to adhere to other layers of rubber. Had to wrestle the tube out of the tire, take turns peeling off and putting on my lobster claws to do work, and wound up spending twenty minutes looking for a puncture because my hands were just too numb to feel the tread properly.

Got back on the bike and finished the last 7 miles with my rear brake rubbing against my rim, but I didn't want to get off again and fix that.

Ah well, that which doesn't kill you gives you good war stories.
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Old 01-03-08 | 12:56 PM
  #22456  
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Windy and cold (at least for me). 34 deg and 16mi wind. ' had to battle the headwind going home. My toes and fingers were a little hard to move.
I'm still lovin it.
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Old 01-03-08 | 05:22 PM
  #22457  
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Flat and smooth. 63 degrees. Perfect.
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Old 01-03-08 | 06:50 PM
  #22458  
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From: Russell Township, Ohio, USA

Bikes: 1975 Paris Sport 700, 2007 Dahon Mu P8 (folding bicycle), 1984 Miyata 210, 2024 Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike

Coldest I've ridden in yet. Started out a little under 10 F and probably went below zero before reaching the office. When I rolled in 50 minutes after leaving the house, my right foot was just starting to feel cold and I had an icicle hanging from my glasses to my right cheek!

The cold had a negative effect on my headlight battery too, showing a low charge indication only 25 minutes after leaving the house with a fresh charge. It ordinarily shows up halfway through the ride back home. Still, it lasted almost the whole ride back and shut off completely just as I was entering my street.

I was glad to have a new homebuilt light on my helmet for the first time today and it was amazing: brighter than my NiteRider MiNewt X2 Dual on the bars and longer lasting.
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Old 01-03-08 | 09:23 PM
  #22459  
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From: Halle, Germany

Bikes: Surly Troll

A pleasant 28 mile RT commute today. 50s in the am and 60s in the pm, no wind, but looks like a big storm system is rolling this way. Tomorrow's bike commute forecast looks a little rough, will have to see how things look in the am.
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Old 01-04-08 | 12:59 AM
  #22460  
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Stay warm people! (outside of you Southern Hemisphere people...how's summer doin' down there?)[/QUOTE]

Had a hot breeze riding home, looked at my cycling computer and
38 degrees 104 farehiet I think
lucky only a short ride but the dry throat was not nice
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Old 01-04-08 | 02:52 AM
  #22461  
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From: Brooklyn

Bikes: '05 Fuji Silhouette, '06 Specialized Tarmac Comp, '06 Bianchi Pista

17 degrees on the ride in. Dressed a little lighter today (silk, smartwool, shell) and felt even better. 2 hours into work, turns out have get myself to Jersey which involved riding back to Brooklyn to get the car in a hurry. Left before my clothes completely dried with 13 degrees out on the way home but was still nice and warm. That Shower Pass jacket is something else.

Gonna hate sitting in traffic on the way home.
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Old 01-04-08 | 05:52 AM
  #22462  
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From: Bristow, VA

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Specialized Sirrus, Specialized StumpJumper, Giant Cypress,

My coldest commute to date - 12F when I left the house this AM, 15F on arrival at the office. All went well once I got used to the icy mustache ...
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Old 01-04-08 | 07:15 AM
  #22463  
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Bikes: zilch

A lil' chilly: 19F. I had too much on though. So I stopped at my mother's work place and dropped off a couple of things. Steam was rolling off of me when I stopped at traffic signals. Motorists had something funny to look at.
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Old 01-04-08 | 07:29 AM
  #22464  
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From: Alexandria, VA

Bikes: IRO Model 19, Surly Crosscheck, 1989 Arnie Nashbar, Cannondale CAADX, Niner Air 9

Cold but no wind today. Left late and caught merged with another rider where the 4 mile run trail and mount vernon meet, at the airport. I followed him until we caught another rider. I was the last in a 3 bike train for a mile or so until I felt warm and passed them at the rugby fields. They tried to keep up for a while but I stepped on it and dropped them. Once we got into DC one of the guys caught up at a light, we rode up 15th before he turned on Independance Ave. The fast pace really warmed me up and I arrived at work with my goatee soaked with sweat, it was a great way to fend off the cold. I realized that the number of cyclists I see increases exponentially the later I leave (duh), I'm usually on the road by 5:30/5:45 but enjoy seeing other riders when I leave late.
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Old 01-04-08 | 08:02 AM
  #22465  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

My coldest commute yet this morning, 17 degrees. However, I actually felt warmer than yesterday (which was 21). Maybe I'm getting acclimated, but it was probably due to some tweaks in my apparel. My gloves were feeling too stiff yesterday using liners, so today I rode without them and they were actually warmer. Apparently the liners were restricting circulation. My feet also felt warmer, though I'm not sure why. I did wear an extra layer on top -- a short sleeve jersey over my long-sleeve Craft base layer, with PI Gavia jacket over that. My water bottle froze enough that I couldn't drink out of it when I finally got a chance to use it. I was very lucky with the traffic signals this morning and didn't hit a red light until the very last signal, which always gets me, but even that one was shorter than usual.
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Old 01-04-08 | 08:05 AM
  #22466  
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From: Raleigh, NC

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Originally Posted by spokenword
8F with a RealFeel of -16F due to wind.

Still, dealt with ok for the first 6 miles of the commute. Then I got a flat.

That sucked.

Apparently, below 10F, rubber tends to adhere to other layers of rubber. Had to wrestle the tube out of the tire, take turns peeling off and putting on my lobster claws to do work, and wound up spending twenty minutes looking for a puncture because my hands were just too numb to feel the tread properly.

Got back on the bike and finished the last 7 miles with my rear brake rubbing against my rim, but I didn't want to get off again and fix that.

Ah well, that which doesn't kill you gives you good war stories.
Getting a flat is my biggest fear or concern about riding in very cold temperatures. My morning commute is mostly on neighborhood streets and lightly traveled roads with few places to stop. It's also very early when I leave (6:30 am), and dark, and I can't imagine trying to fix a flat under those conditions. Which are all very good reasons for using good, flat-resistant tires -- screw the extra weight.
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Old 01-04-08 | 08:09 AM
  #22467  
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From: Bristol, CT

Bikes: 60's SpaceLiner, 60's Ross Futura, 60's Sears spyder, 70's Zebrakenko, 98 Ross Chimera Hybrid, 90's Schwinn Frontier, and ThunderHorse, my trusty mountain steed, also my gf's 64 Schwinn ladies cruiser and her purple lowrider are at my disposal.

on the way home last night I took a detour next to the train tracks and did a little off-roading in the snow on my winter MTB... until my crank fell apart. I somehow lost a bolt, it will go back together fine, but today I rode downtown on one of my cruisers. Balloon tires are actually pretty effective in the snow.
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Old 01-04-08 | 09:32 AM
  #22468  
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From: Philly

Bikes: Stella fixy conversion, Trek 2300, Specialized Rock Hopper, Schwinn Collegiate 3, Mz Skorpion

Not as cold as yesterday, but still pretty frigid. I rode in on the tandem because a friend wants to shoot some pictures of me and the lady on it. Should be fun, we'll be in Love Park in Philly, how appropriate.
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Old 01-04-08 | 09:51 AM
  #22469  
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commuting Canuck
 
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From: Calgary

Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery

another really nice morning, -2C. Felt not too bad, still a little creaky from so much time off. I think I'll get a tailwind pushing me home again, which is nice.
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Old 01-04-08 | 10:06 AM
  #22470  
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From: Land of the Lobster

Bikes: Marin Larkspur 1998

My coldest commute to date, 2F. Paranoia got the better of me and I put on one layer too many so was a bit too warm. First ride with my new face mask, which worked well.

It is supposed to jump up to 30F today, and highs of 45F (!) are predicted for next week.
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Old 01-04-08 | 10:06 AM
  #22471  
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From: Cowtown, AB

Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.

It was a balmy -2C this morning. Traffic volume was low, and security left the parkade doors open so I cruised right in. Seriously - it's the best part of my day...
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Old 01-04-08 | 11:00 AM
  #22472  
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From: Alabama

Bikes: Haro V2 and Ironhorse Outlaw

25F when I left the house this morning, no wind to speek of, except what i generated. My coldest commute to date, and it wasn't to bad. Also first commute on new Motobecane Fantom Cross...and it worked out quite well.
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Old 01-04-08 | 11:04 AM
  #22473  
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

No ride in today. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and lots of downed tree branches. I'm hardcore but I'm not stupid.
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Old 01-04-08 | 01:16 PM
  #22474  
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Coldest ride of year for me so far, had taken off time due to holidays etc. I coudln't find my gloves this morning so I just piled on extra layers and ended up being too hot, but with no sensation in my fingers to speak of(or toes...).

My front tire was woefully underinflated, but since my pump just broke, had to deal with the sluggish results. Thankfully I wasn't battling wind.

Then, as a nice punctuation to the morning, as I was crossing Eye Street on 16th street, I made the mistake of thinking I could get across the intersection faster than a HUGE garbage truck that was turning left. I rarely/never break traffic rules, and now I remember why. The truck, from a dead stop, accelerated and AIMED towards me, my back wheel just barely missed being clipped. It was stupid of me. Will never do it again.
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Old 01-04-08 | 02:26 PM
  #22475  
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commuting Canuck
 
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From: Calgary

Bikes: 07 Rocky Mtn ETSX-70, 00 Rocky Mountain Hammer (commuter) 98 Lemond Chambery

Originally Posted by pinkrobe
It was a balmy -2C this morning. Traffic volume was low, and security left the parkade doors open so I cruised right in. Seriously - it's the best part of my day...
be careful of those things. Some poor cyclist in my building timed it wrong and got smoked by the door on the way out.
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