I saw more, too, but I figured it was because I was coming in earlier than I normally do. That may have played a role, but I think it was actually probably more people out this AM generally. Surprising given the forecast for afternoon rain.

As for gloves I stick with my fingerless gloves until temps are below freezing unless it's raining, so I can sort of identify with the gloveless rider you encountered...

Hoping to avoid problems today when I go over into NE this afternoon. Last time I went where I'm going I took a spill courtesy of the new street car tracks on H St, despite trying to be vigilant about it. Think I figured out a better route to avoid H St as much as possible. I'm all for the street cars, but those tracks are certainly a riding hazard even for an experienced rider on fat 35 mm Schwalbes.

Brisk ride, 22 F at the start, 1h 20 minutes for 18 miles on the cross check, no studded tires needed yet, water bottle got slushy, gatorade still liquid.

Potsed this in the old thread first...oops!:

Turns out it was the ACL and a partial MCL tear. Anyway, had my first commute, post-surgery today (had surgery on 11/22). Felt good, and it was a nice brisk morning here in Austin. My surgery leg's quad muscle is really atrophied though, I'm working on getting it back to size. Leading up to the commute I have been doing some daily easy paced riding with a gradual build up in length and speed. Having to go slow for a while has made me re-appreciate bike riding though. I don't race against myself all the time anymore, I tend to enjoy it more.

Free advice: don't tear your ACL, the few weeks after surgery suck and I'm still working regaining full flexibly in my knee.

First flat on the way into work - I've had two on the way home, but never a flat on the way in. Got that fixed with my freezing fingers, got back on the road and got stuck at a train. Yesterday was worse though, I had to drive...

27F and clear. Brisk!!

32F and clear this morning. Right now the moon is directly ahead of me in the mornings, absolutely beautiful! 45F with a light head wind on the way home, warm enough to wear shorts!
Probably the last bike commute for awhile, supposed to have a big snow storm tomorrow and Friday. They are also saying a return to normal winter weather. :cry: Bugger!

About 45 degrees this morning, but a 20mph headwind made it feel colder than it was. Not uncomfortable, though - - The same wind was a tailwind on the way home! Hammer Down! This morning pre-sunrise I used a new tail light setup, mounted on a stretch of PVC 18" long: at the ends a pair of Cherry Bombs (NiteRider) and in the center a PBSF Turbo, with a PBSF Stealth behind them on the seat post. Cars were swinging wiiiiiide - my wife said I would be arrested for impersonating a police motorcycle!

We will NEVER EVER forgive you!!!!!!!!!! (jk . . .)Glad you're feeling better, glad you're back on your bike! I will follow your advice and never tear my ACL . . .

Wet wet wet coming home this evening. A few others out there on the roads though. Most of my gear passed the test of the first rain in a while.

This morning was great here in Pittsburgh. Sunny but chilly (about 28 F). Frost on the cars, so I went back inside to put my wool sweater on over my polypro base layer and under my Showers Pass jacket. Wore my O2 rain pants over Thermasilk long underwear on the bottom. Smartwool socks under my duckboots (anticipating rain in the afternoon). I also used my pogies (Cli-Mitts) for the first time. They work! I wore a pair of mid-weight gloves but could have gotten away with less. One drawback: Can't cool down by opening the sleeve cuffs--the wind doesn't go up through the mitts. A little hot when I did the final climb to work.

The anticipated rain came in the afternoon. Steady--not torrential, but it didn't let up and about 40 F. Shucked the wool sweater and the long johns before I started out. Pogies proved to be waterproof, as advertised. All the gear worked the way it was supposed to: I was damp on the sleeves of my base layer and dry everywhere else. Didn't see many other bike commuters so felt like a bad hombre.

Got home and my wife asked me how the ride was.

"Minor injury," I said.

"Oh really? What?"

"Teeth hurt from smiling into the cold rain for an hour."

Bike and gear are drying out in the basement waiting for tomorrow morning.

Another sweet commute, even though I got caught in the rain on the return leg. I was riding my vintage 79 Raleigh Competition GS #1. I got two exactly alike. This is the taller one.. The bike rides...;) I just pumped away, and it just galloped like a stallion.. ;) I will be putting lights on this bike in short order..;)

http://www.cehoward.net/newral132.jpg

I finally got all my classes sorted out for the semester. I only have classes Tuesday and Thursday. I plan to ride in most days to do work, but it hasn't panned out this week so far as I've missed Monday and Wednesday this week.

I had a flat as I was getting ready to leave school on Tuesday. The hole was on the inner part of the tube, not too far from the valve. I think the loaner wheel from the LBS which is drilled for schrader is allowing some debris to find its way inside the wheel. The tire didn't want to seat properly and after the 2nd inflation I rode home with a slightly out of balance wheel. I didn't get around to fixing it today, so I'll be on the mountain bike tomorrow.

I did manage to find an inexpensive replacement laptop. A mint condition off-lease dual core T60 Thinkpad for $299.

Terrible: +2C, horrible wind, rain, and pitch black. All the drivers were nice, though, that was a bonus.

Yes, those steel pipe bikes are a dream on the road. I gave away my last one last year, and I miss it.

A very unusually warm morning at 48F ( 9C). Lots of rain, but with the warmth not a problem. It heads down this evening, but more seasonal.

I was expecting an easy ride this morning after taking a day off yesterday and mild temperatures in the mid-40s this morning. What I didn't expect was the headwind, which made my commute feel like I was riding uphill the whole way. Hopefully the wind will be at my back this afternoon, but it's supposed to be blowing even harder tomorrow. We have been having a very mild winter with no snow or ice, but it has been very windy, which is tougher than cold temperatures for me.

Another interesting ride in. Was warm (about 52 degrees) with FOG. This is the third morning I have commuted on my bike, so I saddled up as usual, and left maybe 10 minutes early. Had all my lights going, headed out into it, very aware that I could hear the cars before I could see them. As it turned out, it was an easy commute, but I was constantly wiping my glasses to keep them clear of the fog for the first half of the ride. After I got north of Hwy 70, it lifted some, and I didn't need to fool with them. Traffic was light and well behaved, and I was into my shop nearly 30 minutes early. A good start to the day! I am enjoying riding to and from work in the cool south Florida winter mornings...

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

At -18C with a light headwind, this was the coldest ride in about a month. I wore my respirator but was able to go without the goggles, but just barely.

Went out last night to ride home and large bird had pooped on my handlebars, stem captain watch and fender 2nd time this month. The only bike parking in this office complex we just moved to is right under a crabapple tree.

Options:

1. Cut down the tree. Not really an option but it was my first thought.
2. Set a trap for the bird and kill it. More birds will come and they have a just as much right to that tree as I do.
3. Bring bike up stairs and keep it in the office. If I wasn't so lazy, or if I were training for cycoX
4. Get a cover. Hmmm... should have a cover for rainy days anyway.
5. Continue to remove bird crap from bike about twice a month. This seems like the path of least resistance.

12 degrees F (-11C), clear.
Total count is up to 5: Fellow commuters who say "wow, those studs apparently don't slow you down"

27F, gray but sunny(?)

Kids were thrilled to finally have separate locks so they could park their bikes wherever they wanted independent of the other bike's location

Second day commutting, second flat....ugg.

It's been raining, more or less, all year and finally clearing up today. There's been a wind advisory - 35 mph gusts - all day which would be interesting with my rig and I was kind of looking forward to the variety but it doesn't look likely. It's dead calm now and probably be light if any wind when I leave.

On the bright side the temperature is pleasantly warm, as it has been since December, and I'm on a roll with 100% cycling in 2012 commuting. It's actually 55 consecutive commuting days, by accident. I didn't plan it, but I'm wondering now if I can stretch that to 100 without ever driving in.

SAWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!! That is a great looking bicycle. Are you pretty tall? That frame is a monster. Post pics when you finish dressing it up for commuting!

38 degrees on the ride in pre-sunrise, then 39 degrees on the afternoon leg home. Both trips were very comfortable. I'm ready for it to get warmer, though, us desert dwellers are used to hot rides!

I, too, love that Raleigh Competition^^^^^^

Getting back into my Boston commutes after 3 months in NYC.

Fortunately, I had set up my city bike for my return (I'd been on my folder in NYC). It's running so sweetly. Weather was intense this morning. High gusting winds with a pelting rain and cold. Sometimes the wind was so strong I had to stand to keep up some speed on level ground.

My rain gear:

Showers Pass Jacket, Gore Tex rain pants, Showers Pass rain hood, Showers Pass shoe covers, Gore tex mitten covers over Polar Tec gloves. I was dry as a bone when I arrived 10 miles later.

Had the bike path pretty much to myself saw only 4 other cyclists and a half dozen joggers and a few walkers, including one woman basically pushing a huge umbrella down the path into the wind and rain.

The ride home was calmer and drier- no white caps on the Charles River.

Rainy for the first half of my commute in Pittsburgh, with a temperature of around 40 F. The warm weather is supposed to end tonight, but I have to drive tomorrow:( so at least it's a good day for it. The rain wasn't too steady and I had the gear for it, but it was a relief to wipe off the glasses when I stopped at the porto-john in the park toward the end of my commute (I've learned to be very thankful for that thing. One of the consequences of my commute, coupled with my gigantic smoothie that's part of my breakfast every day, is that I need a pit stop 10 minutes before I get to work rather than 10 minutes after.

The ride home was great. 47 F. with no precip from the sky but some puddles to ride through.

Not long enough.

Low 50s and raining buckets this am. So much fun!

Thanks, not going to far with the dressing up.. ;) I love the sporting look. I will be banging some front lights, rear lights. Also, be sporting helmet light front and rear, and a backpack. With that I am dressed for the commute.. ;)

BTW, I am 6'3" at 135 lbs... don't laugh... :)