Well, it's my first slushy ride of the season. :)

I am really glad I bought a disc brake equipped bike and studded tires. It was a very fun ride both ways.

Wow! I just got a workout going to work. Coming home was a BREEZE. In the AM it was 15 F with about a 30 MPH head wind. I needed the studded tires I had on. But the news media was flapping their lips and wringing their hands about how horrible it was going to be. We had the wind chill but hardly the snow worthy of all the warnings. Usually I can tell from the conditions outside and by my arthritis when a real storm is on the way. I am still tired from the ride in yesterday. And it was still fun and gasoline free. My fifth winter to commute.

My worst week for bike commuting in months. Missed two days due to cold, rainy weather but I was hoping to salvage the week by riding today until a cold front came through during the night with extremely high winds. The winds were blowing so hard (40+ mph) that it kept we awake half the night -- we live on top of a hill -- and it just didn't seem safe riding at the time I normally leave for work, so I drove. Oh well, it's January and my mileage was much higher than usual last week due to unseasonably mild weather, so it all averages out in the end.

I wasn't disappointed after all, gusty wind as advertised. Up to 45 mph gusts according to the paper. It was pretty wild. I've got to be more circumspect describing my commutes with my wife though - this morning she started making noises that I should consider driving some days.

As I arrived this morning there were snow flurries! Not enough to stick though, even in the shadows.

Rode in a couple hours later than usual. Traffic sucked a bit but otherwise. Chilly and cloudy in the 40s but really not too bad.

First commute of 2012 for me. Last week was too busy with work and after work activities for me to get on the bike. I can concur with the east coast posters on the high winds today. Greatly benefitted on the way into work as the wind was at my back most of the way. Will be a different story on the way home. Either way, it felt great to be back on the bike.

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

CEHoward GS: You may need to post a picture. I'm 6'4" and 180, and most people say I am too skinny. I can't even imagine 40 lbs less.

And BTW, I like your Raleigh Competition as well. I have an '08 Grand Prix and love it.

Yesterday I wore the full rain gear. Yuck. But my feet were dry when I got to the train station, so that was nice.

Today I looked out the window before leaving, and saw the moon and the stars, and thought, okay, that's what I like. I got a mile down the road before it started raining, and it poured for the next five miles, with a wicked headwind. By the time I got on the train, I was pretty drenched. Looked up just before getting on the train and saw the moon and stars... no rain. What is this, April already?

Oh, and to 'how was the commute today' well I'm afraid it kinda sucked.

Missed the commute yesterday... I'd called in sick. This morning greeted me with cooler temps and strong wind. TV said 37 but it certainly felt colder than that, and the Stem Captain thermometer also suggested it was more like 32. Stronger, more gusty winds expected this afternoon.

Continuing to gain confidence in the whole clipless thing, but trying to keep telling myself not to get cocky lest it literally lead to my downfall. :-)

Terrible commute. Freezing fog this morning and my bike slid out while going through a roundabout. I'm fine, but I tore holes in my cycling jacket and pants, damaged the zipper on my trunk bag, and broke the mount for my light. Yay for Friday the 13th!

Long time no post in this thread (I'm a home-office-based consultant now), but I've ridden with my 7-year old son to school a few times this week. Taking advantage of the dry weather. The best part has been seeing all his friends wave at him as they're driven by their moms.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18...o/IMAG0495.jpg

Great stuff. The weather is Sacramento lately is blissful. It's a shame I can't take proper advantage of it. I have a tendency to get a flat tire every 2 weeks because I ride too fast over sudden, uneven pavement (like deep grooved train tracks or random electricity boxes in the sidewalk). Its frustrating because I know what the problem is and it's all my bad - I need to be more attentive and patient.

12-15 mph cross-winds yesterday, according to my iPhone Weather Channel app. It seemed more than that. Brutal. Still more fun that driving, though!

Picked up a set of studded tires from CL in October, then of course no snow or even hardly cold for that matter. November, December, half of January. Then Wednesday 53 for my commute home. But what’s this in the forecast? Thursday the snow started to come down and stick to the ground I could hardly sleep with the anticipation of finally getting to try out those studs. Thursday morning just a hint of something in the Air but then by noon it was coming down and accumulating the ride home was fun and the tires worked great, but the best part was the snow kept coming and the temperature dropped even more. Friday morning I awoke to snow covered roads with ice I was like a kid getting his first solo ride, I flew down the driveway took the lane when needed and had a great ride to work with a smile on my face the whole day waiting for the ride home.

Not bad. Chilly but I was dressed for it.

strong headwinds coming in this morning. Smooth sailing all the way home. No commutes until Tuesday.

I conceded Monday to the wind, rain, and cold, but rode to work the rest of the week. Yesterday morning, it was 32 degrees with a 30 mph north wind. My ride in is 12 miles straight north, so it was the toughest commute I've done in a while. It took me over an hour to get to work. It was barely over 40 degrees in the afternoon, and the wind was gusting close to 40 mph, but at least it was a tailwind for the ride home.

2012 days ridden to work: 8
2012 commuting mileage: 196

This evening I finished my FIRST week of commuting on a bike. 70.2 miles in four days riding (was rainy on Wednesday and I do still own an S10 pickup), had one close call the first day, two flat tires (one the first morning, another this afternoon before the commute), and lost 9 lbs the last two weeks. I would call that a GOOD week. I've worked out most of the bugs in the commute, am comfortable with the routes, and really enjoy being able to get on my bike twice a day. The average speed will come up a bit (about 16.2 now) as I get in better shape and people on the route get used to seeing me and make those small allowances. Three miles of the commute is in the bike lane of a BUSY highway, and those miles I don't much enjoy with 18 wheelers passing three feet away at 55+, but I can live with it. All-in-all a VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE...

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Yesterday was the first real snow in Chicago. Started after I got to work, about four or five inches by the time I left. Unplowed, churned into slush some places, almost untouched others. Had to remember how to ride in snow, it's weird how the tires will slip sideways or down a hard packed surface until the knobs or spikes grab, and a bit nerve wracking until you get used to it.

Went for a ride last night, got offered a ride by plow driver, had a whole lot of fun.

This morning was a slog four about five blocks in the little ring until I got to a plowed street, and then it was trivial. Home was pretty much the same.

Very short. Today was not a day my schedule allows me to do my 23 mile rt commute to work, but I did sneak in a 4 mile ride to run an errand. It was cold--around 20, with some new snow, slush and ice from a 2-3 inch snowfall we had today. Gear, bike and rider were up to the task, though I have to admit that riding feels a little harder in those conditions. Maybe it's the wind. Maybe there's more rolling resistance on the roads or maybe it's the extra focus needed in less-than-ideal conditions, even with studded tires. I don't think it's over-heating or too much weight on me: I wasn't wearing heavy clothes or shoes--or at least no heavier than most days. It just felt a little harder.

One thing it did show me, though: If I'd had to make my long commute in these conditions, I could. And I will.

Still pleasant, in the 20s and 30s F with flurries but with a stiff headwind. Rode through a red light with a police officer in his car looking right at me on the other side of the intersection. I usually wait for the light, but it was quiet this Saturday and didn't see him until I was in the middle of the intersection. I expected the police car to turn around and ticket me, but he let me go.

It's been cold for those of us in normally-tropical Atlanta. Temps right at freezing.

I've been struggling to get back up to speed after a respiratory bug that got me during Christmas and lingered a week into the new year. I'm much slower than I was but I'm doing better about getting on the bike every work day, even if it takes a while to get where I'm going.

On the way home this morning, I really felt like stopping about 2/3 of the way home, taking a break, and maybe eating a little. I pushed on through because I know when I give in, I usually don't get going again.

:thumb:

A cold morning commute to meet friends and family for breakfast at a diner. 11 degrees with a bit of a headwind made for a cold ride. Especially since I took off not having checked the temperature. I was a bit under dressed. The ride home was better- wind at my back made a nice difference.

2-3" of snow on the ground today, kind of slushy underneath. Got out my "snow bike," reduced tire pressure, and took off for a test ride. No problems. We'll see what happens by Tuesday - supposed to have a lot more snow by then and work could be closed through Wednesday. Then warmer temps, slush and large amounts of rain. That'll cause flooding. Then more snow next weekend. Should be an interesting week bike-wise. Playing it day by day to decide if/how I'll get to work. I don't relish being on the street with cars sliding down hills next to me...

I didn't commute today because it was Sunday and also because I was driving from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. A funny thing happened I had to tell about, though.

I stopped into the Sideling Hill rest area on the PA Tpk and ran into 50 of my students. The boys and girls hockey teams from my school were returning from a tournament, and we were surprised but happy to run into each other in a such an unlikely place, over 150 miles from school.

In one brief exchange I realized that I'm not the only one aware of my recent all-weather commuting. I walked over to a table where some of my current and former US history students were sitting. All said hello, and then one cracked, "Hey Mr. Weiss. Didja bike all the way here?"

"Not techinically." I replied. "It was a unicycle."

WOW!!!! That's some scary ice out there tonight!
 

Went to Mom's tonight for dinner. After dinner, she took her dog out for a walk, and nearly slipped on the sheet of black ice that is covering the entire city of Sherwood (Oregon). Since I had my bike, she decided to drive me to the bus stop rather than make me ride to it (or home).

Catch the bus, ride to the Tigard Transit (Freezing) Center. Get there and check the schedule for the next 76 or 78 to Brrreaverrrrttttonnnn Transit Centerrrrrr. I've got a 45 minute wait. That's not going to work for me.

I rode home on a local trail, without any problem until I hit the skating rink known as SW Hall Blvd (Read: Sketchy, Scary, with LOTs of car under the best conditions, and this wasn't the best conditions). Damn that was slick. I hopped off after realizing that I'd never be able to mount the bike and get the thing moving before having the wheels slide out from under me. Walked across Hall, and spotted a bus heading for Beaverton... Hauled Butt to try to catch it almost made it to SW Greenway before it roared past me (damn Garage bound bus).

Headed back to the trail, safely managed to get to Denny, but when I got to Lombard... DAMN!!!!!! I managed to stay upright, but I've never been that scared from ice before.

I hopped up on the sidewalk and stayed there for the remainder of the ride, but I plan on staying close to home until temps warm up again.

You riding studs, K'Tesh?

Would doubt it. Not much use for studs here. I rode part way this morning but took the light rail through the west hills. Spotty black ice and I really didn't feel like dealing with it.