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-   -   How was the commute today? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/7855-how-commute-today.html)

BengeBoy 01-23-08 10:54 PM

Seattle has been about 10 degrees (F) colder than normal this week -- meaning morning commutes start out in the mid- to high- 20's -- but wonderfully dry and clear for a change.

With the sun coming up just a little bit later each morning, I've been able to catch the sunrise hitting Mt. Rainier on my way into work each morning this week (I have a 20 mile RT commute), with the big full moon up in the West. From the top of the Mt. Baker tunnel, you can see the Cascade range to the East...the Olympic Mountains to the West, and of course Mt. Rainier off to the South. It's been so pretty that I've seen other bikers stop just to admire the view.

Some pretty hard-core commuters out there in the cold riding away -- most of them blow by me like I'm standing still. Gotta work on that...

KLW2 01-24-08 06:37 AM

Sub Zero and windy...oh well, keep on going.

lapher22 01-24-08 06:45 AM

63 and foggy with1/4 mile visibility but good ride no incidents and low wind. Always good here since there are no hills so if you stop pedaling you stop moving.

tarwheel 01-24-08 07:00 AM

Breezed into work today without getting caught by a single red light, the first time that's happened, so my ride was about 5 minutes shorter than usual. Ironically, I got caught by just about every red light yesterday. I hope this is a good omen for the day ahead.

tarwheel 01-24-08 07:02 AM

seattle
 

Originally Posted by BengeBoy (Post 6039288)
Seattle has been about 10 degrees (F) colder than normal this week -- meaning morning commutes start out in the mid- to high- 20's -- but wonderfully dry and clear for a change.

With the sun coming up just a little bit later each morning, I've been able to catch the sunrise hitting Mt. Rainier on my way into work each morning this week (I have a 20 mile RT commute), with the big full moon up in the West. From the top of the Mt. Baker tunnel, you can see the Cascade range to the East...the Olympic Mountains to the West, and of course Mt. Rainier off to the South. It's been so pretty that I've seen other bikers stop just to admire the view.

Some pretty hard-core commuters out there in the cold riding away -- most of them blow by me like I'm standing still. Gotta work on that...

That sounds incredible. You're lucky to have such scenery on your route. The views on my route consist of suburban neighborhoods, a few gas stations and shopping centers. Although sometimes I get a nice sunrise, sunset or view of the moon.

vtjim 01-24-08 07:20 AM

Crisp! Bike computer said no degrees F / -18C. Fleece on the legs. Fleece on top. Nylon cycling jacket. Beanie under helmet, ski goggles, gloves, neck gaiter. Nice and warm. :)

I stopped in the woods and listened. No sound at all. It was weird, but nice. No skunks today, but a squirrel ran in front of me.

I saw bike tracks (in snow) that were made after my evening commute yesterday. The tracks went off the edge of the MUP pavement, then back on, veered left at about a 45-degree angle, and then turned into an obvious front-wheel washout. :D :eek: Didn't look like a fall though.

jyossarian 01-24-08 09:13 AM


Originally Posted by MIKEnDC (Post 6038991)
I like the UA stuff OK, but I'm absolutley sold on a light silk base layer topped with SmartWool and a Goretex pullover. I add a light wool sweater or microfleece vest in the lower 20s and below.

FTW - Here's a man who knows how to dress. Not to mention wool and silk doesn't stink as much after one wearing.

My commute was uneventful, just the way I like it.

bbunk 01-24-08 09:34 AM

After way to long off the bike, I got back on. Commuted to work for the first time in months:( today. Rained a little last night but it was dry and warmer than usual this morning. It was a great day to start up again.

And thanks to all who post here. Reading about your rides helped get me out of my no riding funk. :beer:

Intheloonybin 01-24-08 09:37 AM


Originally Posted by KLW2 (Post 6040081)
Sub Zero and windy...oh well, keep on going.

Good job klw2!

I was really tired this morning, so I drove.

During the sit in (minor) traffic, I wished I had biked in. Even though it was -13F.

My feet were cold on the way home last night at 10 pm with the wind. Would have had to switch to boots this morning on platforms.

Oh yeah... My ski goggles started to fog up for the first time towards the end of the ride. It was about -10F when I got home.

pinkrobe 01-24-08 10:25 AM

Only -12C this morning, so not too bad. My legs were tired from being on the trainer last night, so I had to use agility to get to work instead of the usual raw power. I was 2 minutes later than usual, which isn't bad.

jterribili 01-24-08 12:24 PM

uneventful commute this morning - one of those mornings my glasses kept fogging up though.

DCvision 01-24-08 12:47 PM

2nd day of commuting.. foggy and cool for south fla...first day commuting, on the way home rain forced plan B, Metro Mover (elevated people mover, connects to main rail system) to Metrorail, then short ride home... having fun!

BengeBoy 01-24-08 01:37 PM


Originally Posted by tarwheel (Post 6040155)
That sounds incredible. You're lucky to have such scenery on your route. .


Check this thread out for the view of Mt. Rainier this week....


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381077


Here's another pic and comment on this week's weather from a good local biking blog:

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...2/3480799.html

And, when the clouds are gone, we get this (I cross this bridge every day...)

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archi...3/3463743.html

caloso 01-24-08 01:48 PM

No hot water in the shower room this morning. Ay yay yay. Other than that, no complaints.

HardyWeinberg 01-24-08 01:59 PM

Yeah great view of Rainier today (and all week). 17F, no wind.

scoatw 01-24-08 04:44 PM

Rode in this morning with 24f and calm winds. There was a light snowfall as I rode in. I was expecting the howling snowfall we had on Tuesday. But I lucked out. I like riding in the snow like that in the morning. Its peaceful and serene. I kept the road tires on because I knew the snowfall would be light. I stopped at the BP as usual to pick up a newspaper, and some lady commented to me how she sees me every morning and thought it was "amazing" how I ride everyday, particularly in this cold weather. I said "Thanks". Riding home the temps dropped to 19f. It felt nice and cool. It's all in the gear. Had the wind at my back.
I might have to put the snowpants on tom'rw morning. Talking about 7f in the morning. If so, that will set a new personal record for me. At this point I'm pushing 400 miles so far.
_________________

madfiNch 01-24-08 04:51 PM

-12 to -17 degrees this morning, depending on where your thermometer was. My commute to the U took 1 hour and 10 minutes. I stopped 3 times. Once to blow my nose, once because I found somebody's license on the path and stopped to pick it up, and once because my eyelashes froze shut (after I had removed my goggles because my breath was fogging the outsides of them)!!!
I think I'm taking a day off tomorrow...

trombone 01-24-08 08:27 PM

Man. You guys are hard-core. That's why I live somewhere where the temperature never drops below about 5C(40F), and I can just wear shorts and a jersey all year round.

It's Australia day on Saturday, and on the way home last night they were doing a sound check for the event at Darling Harbour. Some opera singer signing the national anthem with a rock-band backing. Anyway, the upshot was that the peds on Pyrmont Bridge were even more all over the place than usual. Almost ran into a couple doing the 'random sideways movements' as I approached.

Bah. I dislike MUPs. Also my headset is working loose. But the exciting thing is that I pick up my new bike at the weekend (so can also book my old one in for a service).

zephyr 01-24-08 08:34 PM

24 mi RT commute today. It was a rain jacket ride in the am with moderate rain for much of the 12 mile distance but luckily no wind. Took it slow and easy on the downhills and corners. I need to get something like sealskin socks to keep my feet dry, cause my wool socks get wet when it rains (I wear Keen sandals while riding).

The evening trip home was dry, but looks like a big pacific storm is heading in off the ocean. Haven't used the bus or car yet this year to work, but tomorrow might be a day to consider it if the storm is a mean one.

Strelnikov 01-24-08 11:34 PM

Stood outside talking to my professor in this 28F weather for a good 15 minutes, so my fingers were cold to start with. Got a new balaclava so my warm face made up for it. Riding home at 7:00 uphill is getting to be a drag, but I know it could be worse, yet I am starting to move a bit slower this week.

gbcb 01-24-08 11:55 PM

0C/32F this morning. I felt all right starting out, but for some reason was really tired by the time I got to work. It's not like my commute is very long (15-20 minutes, tops). I thought I had a nasty headwind, but I couldn't see tree branches moving at all :(. Maybe it's just the end of the week and I need a good weekend.

MIKEnDC 01-25-08 06:01 AM

22F/-5C going into about a 1-gear headwind most all of the way (my ride is almost a straight shot--save for a few side-to-side jogs). Pretty nice, really...:D

tarwheel 01-25-08 07:04 AM

My green light mojo was short-lived. Yesterday I had green lights all the way to work and only caught one red light going home. I was cruising, except for the 20 mph headwinds from the NW on my trip home. It felt colder going home with temps in the mid-40s than it did going to work in the morning with temps about 32, due to the wind. This morning, it looked like my green light streak would continue as I made it through the first 5 signals without having to stop. Then the 5th light screwed me over. It turned red as I approached and then the sensor didn't pick up my bike, so I had to sit there through two light cycles. Same thing happened at the last light, the longest one on my route. It was 21 degrees. I went from feeling very comfortable to chilly sitting through all those lights, and on top of that, my water bottle froze so I couldn't even get a drink while I sat there waiting. I guess the red lights were getting me back for yesterday's good luck.

pinkrobe 01-25-08 10:37 AM

-15C when we left the house, but it didn't feel that cold until the downhill. Frosty cheeks for sure. No other drama on the way in, other than a fair-sized truck almost took out a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The ped was 100% in the right, and gave a hands-up "WTF?" as the truck turned in front of him with inches to spare. It's surprising [or not], given that a woman was killed in a crosswalk a week ago by a cement truck, and the police are keeping a well-publicized eye out for violators.

bbunk 01-25-08 10:48 AM

Beautiful ride this morning. Not much traffic and not cold. Unusually light traffic this morning. I have to make one left turn on my ride in and there were no cars in either direction to even have to watch out for or merge with. I can't remember that ever happening and I have been driving the same route for 2 1/2 years. My legs were a little dead after riding yesterday and then playing a double header softball game last night.:o


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