2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#701
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
I had a nice morning ride -- 31 degrees and cloudy but dry. This afternoon it kept raining and threatening to snow, it was about 35 degrees, but I stupidly took the long way home anyway (worked at the site where I can ride home in the daylight!). It was OK. Strong cross wind most of the way.
#702
Thread Starter
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
We've entered that time of year in Far West Texas when the wind is always still in the morning, but always a strong wind from the west in the afternoon. That means every day from now until the hot weather hits in June I will commute in no wind every morning, and a strong tail wind every afternoon! I live on the right side of town! Today's commute was just that - cool, brisk morning ride and then the wind pushed me home. I feel like a sailor!
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Trikeman
Trikeman
#703
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Just started riding to work again today, on my new Singlespeed, and it was awesome!
I love a nice ride on a brisk morning! Saved 4$ and burnt over 500 calories!
I love a nice ride on a brisk morning! Saved 4$ and burnt over 500 calories!
#704
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
It was a nice ride in at 35f (2C). It was supposed to rain early, but it didn't. My bike is covered up for the day, so it can rain when it pleases.
#706
I rode in with a nice morning, light winds, sunrise just beginning...since I work in a basement I was surprised when I came up for coffee and it was grey and raining. I expect a wet ride this evening.
#707
Duly noting the ominous predictions of thunderstorms I configured the rain bike last night. Full windshield and fairing, vinyl scale top/back cover, the works. Then added the lights, brakes, and old wheels but I didn't bother with the brake lights and rear view display. I took it out a couple of times in the rain last night for a shake-out, adjusting the body so that steering is unencumbered. (If you've ever had the steering stick on a quarter turn while attempting a sharp slow turn, you know that's not pleasant. Especially in gusty wind and driving rain.)
After all that, not a drop of rain this morning. The radar doesn't look all that threatening for this evening either. I guess I'll look at the bright side - it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
After all that, not a drop of rain this morning. The radar doesn't look all that threatening for this evening either. I guess I'll look at the bright side - it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
#708
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
nice rippin' tailwind in this morning. All the air is getting sucked into the coming storm. I expect to be riding in snow/cold rain on the way home, and tucked the necessary stuff into the pannier.
#709
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
so freaking warm, mid 50s and a decent tailwind. i was wearing shorts and a long sleeve T and i was still overdressed. i was such a sweaty-mess when i got to work. my body is not ready for this kind of heat.
#710
Thread Starter
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
Happened again! 38 degrees in the morning pre-sunrise, no wind, crisp but comfortable. Then West Texas struck again - - niiiiice tail wind pushed me all the way home!
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Trikeman
Trikeman
#711
Rider of the Storm
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1986 Trek 850
it was 47 and raining this morning at around 7am.. looks to be clear on the way home though..
#712
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
Wow! what a friggin' exhilarating ride home. I left the office amidst foreboding clouds and strong winds (mostly tailwinds, but very fickle and gusty). I was literally riding with the "blast front" of the incoming storm.
Along one of the streets in downtown I nearly got blown over - the wind was going CRAZY, with debris pelting everyone it the area. Then the wind shifted in one sudden, cold downward blast and I had a steady 20-30mph tailwind the rest of the ride home, accompanied by wind-driven snow in increasing amounts. By the time I got home it was DUMPING.
As I rode I could see the low clouds swallowing the mountains. It was really epic!
I love riding in this kind of stuff!
Along one of the streets in downtown I nearly got blown over - the wind was going CRAZY, with debris pelting everyone it the area. Then the wind shifted in one sudden, cold downward blast and I had a steady 20-30mph tailwind the rest of the ride home, accompanied by wind-driven snow in increasing amounts. By the time I got home it was DUMPING.
As I rode I could see the low clouds swallowing the mountains. It was really epic!
I love riding in this kind of stuff!
#714
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, Maryland
Bikes: Trek 820 mtb, A no name red steel pipe bike, my commuter
It is warm here too at 56f (13C). Lots of fog and I lost my feeling of area to the right curbs. I came out of one dark area, riding in the middle of the road. The warmth is nice, so less clothing.
#715
Just a commuter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Bikes: Scott Metrix 20 for commuting, Specialized Dolce Elite for fun
Spring in Stockholm: t-shirt, light wool sweater, and my Gore Phantom = a little bit too warm. Could've skipped the sweater!
#716
Warm, foggy, no hat, shorts, more birds, very nice. I like hearing the sounds of the bicycle and the street after weeks of head gear and my OTG goggles (I tear up easily with even a slight cold wind).
#717
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Drove yesterday due to forecasts for severe weather that never materialized. So my legs were well rested this morning, which was a good thing because I had stiff headwinds all the way to work this morning. Fortunately the temperatures were very mild in the mid-60s and the rain we had overnight had stopped but there were lots of limbs and branches on the roads due to winds.
#718
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Bikes: 2011 Giant Rapid 3, 2001 Schwinn Mesa GSX
This was my first real commute, this morning. The weather here in Michigan has been dicey and I'm not quite hardcore enough (yet) to be a year round commuter. This morning was really nice though, it was about 39 degrees, no snow or rain, relatively dry for just having had snow and sleet the last two days. So I took a shot. My 2011 Giant Rapid 3 is in the shop getting tuned up and I won't have it back until Monday so I rode my old Schwinn Mesa mountain bike to work. I was missing my Giant (especially since I hadn't been for a ride since early November) but it was still a gorgeous ride and I absolutely loved it! I'm planning to continue commuting regularly from hear on out.
#719
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 223
From: Canada
Bikes: 2009 Trek 520
This morning was my first ride since a week ago Sunday. Last week I was rushing to get the hardest parts of my hardware project out of the way. I definitely won't be riding on the day I have to bring the project to class. It weighs 28 pounds and probably wouldn't appreciate being bounce around a lot. Monday night I only got an hour of sleep and didn't feel like riding Tuesday.
It was -9C with a bit of a headwind. My legs were a bit stiff from the week off riding. The little bit of snow we got last weekend smoothed out the side streets.
It was -9C with a bit of a headwind. My legs were a bit stiff from the week off riding. The little bit of snow we got last weekend smoothed out the side streets.
#720
It was almost 80 degrees coming home yesterday, wet of course but not raining and a far cry from the predicted thunderstorms. A little too warm behind my windshield. I ignored the 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms this morning and chose the light road bike, shorts and jersey. Perfect temperature but wet, as always. It took me three years, after moving here from West Texas, to realize that the state was in a "drought". It rains almost every other day, depending on how much water in the air you call "rain".
#721
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 1
From: NoVA
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport
Foggy, warm and a little wet (on the road).
#722
ride for a change
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,221
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
A good winter adventure day. Many miles of half frozen snow boulders, fully frozen snow boulders, icy puddles, open puddles, and sheer ice interspersed with hunks of damp pavement. 30F no wind. Not bad all in all. Definitely a day to pay attention! Oh and the studded tires paid for themselves yet again by saving my ass pretty much constantly.
#724
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 181
From: south Puget Sound
33F and kind of icy/slushy; not too dire but there was a 2 hr delay to schools. Last night was biblical downpour of rain slush and snow. I had to beg off going to get my daughter from her after-school program, I was too wet to enter the house as I was (and I needed to start dinner and some other things before going to get her) and could not bear the thought of putting the wet clothes back on or putting on new ones to get just as wet to go navigate a cranky 7 yr old back home through the downpour.
Anyway, I was pretty aggressive drying stuff out, hung clothes in the room w/ the water heater and furnace, newspapers jammed into shoes (insoles removed) all that stuff that is usually November-only around here, and it was all ready to go this morning, whew.
Ice was not too big a deal, I currently am running 40mm slicks and I just let some air out to put a little more rubber on the road this morning.
Anyway, I was pretty aggressive drying stuff out, hung clothes in the room w/ the water heater and furnace, newspapers jammed into shoes (insoles removed) all that stuff that is usually November-only around here, and it was all ready to go this morning, whew.
Ice was not too big a deal, I currently am running 40mm slicks and I just let some air out to put a little more rubber on the road this morning.
#725
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
Warmer and drier today... Mid 50s F and sunny this morning with a bit of a tailwind. Already 70 now this afternoon. Glad I decided to opt for short sleeves for the ride in. It'll definitely be a no brainer on wardrobe for the ride home.







