View Poll Results: How often did you commute by bike this past January?
Voters: 99. You may not vote on this poll
Hey winter commuters, how did you do in January?
#27
Old, but not really wise
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 814
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA commuting to Washington DC
Bikes: 2010 Kona Dew Drop (the daily driver),'07 Specialized Roubaix (the sports car), '99 ish Kona NuNu MTB (the SUV), Schwinn High Plains (circa 1992?) (the beater)
By your measurement scheme, I only hit 25%, or once a week, for all practical purposes. However, this met my goal for this January, which was a month filled with days I couldn't practically ride for reasons beyond my immediate control.
For February, my goal is probably similar, but if the weather stays mild, I will easily exceed that (I've got #1 for the month under my belt already).
For February, my goal is probably similar, but if the weather stays mild, I will easily exceed that (I've got #1 for the month under my belt already).
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 740
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Bikes: 1973 Mercian Pro, 1972-73 Peugeot Track, 1983 Lotus Competition, Early 1970s Bottecchia Pro/Giro, 2000 Bob Jackson Special Tourist, 2011 Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen; 1996 Franklin custom
14 out of 18 work days, or 77% Rode the bus one day, drove car 3 times.
Good on you 100%ers!
Good on you 100%ers!
#29
dazed and confused
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
Bikes: 2011 Cube Hyde Team Alfine 8 IGH, 2007 Giant Rock hardtail mtb
9 out of 14 possible days. For the most part weather hasn't been the factor. First week back I was still recovering from a flu, I work at home some days, had to drop the kids a few times, and had to collect parcels requiring a car (including 50kg of homebrew ingredients to kick off the year!).
So while not great, not horrible.
So while not great, not horrible.
#30
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
7 out of 20, a new January record for me, now on my 7th year of commuting. I usually only average 12-14 days a month even during the ‘good’ 3 seasons for reasons other than weather. Still been getting almost 3000 miles a year though.
#33
One Man Fast Brick
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Langster, Bianchi San Jose, early 90s GT Karakoram, Yuba Mundo, Mercier Nano (mini velo), Nashbar Steel Commuter, KHS Tandemania Sport
I rode every work day in January here in the Chicago area. Even the snow storm days. Approximately 660 miles commuting for work. Probably a little less than 80 miles for other errands.
#34
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
I ride 7 days a week. This includes commuting to work, shopping ,running errands and recreational riding. This is my 5th winter and it's been the warmest, most snow-free winter ever.
#35
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,643
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Bikes: 2012 Jamis Xenith Race, 2009 Jamis Aurora, 1993 Bianchi Ibex, 1964 Schwinn Traveler 3-Speed
Hard for me to gauge the percentage because I can only commute either two or three days a week depending on our school's rotating schedule (I teach first period half the time, and it's always two in a row, so in a five day week, so a three day week will either be MT&F or MTh&F and a two day week will either be a TW or a WTh. I'll say this--every day I could commute in January according to my schedule, I did. About 280 commuting miles (a 23 mile round-trip commute), and some of those commuting miles aren't work commutes, but other car trips I saved, so let's say 10 times and we're in the ball park.
I am loving it!
I am loving it!
#38
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
I've commute 13 of 21 workdays.
Reasons for days missed:
2 - No studded tires yet
2 - sick/recovering
1 - kid was sick
1 - mechanical issues
1 - roads were just too icy after some serious freezing grain
1 - bellow -20C and I didn't have my cycling boots yet
I was aiming for 3 days a week minimum and I beat that.
Reasons for days missed:
2 - No studded tires yet
2 - sick/recovering
1 - kid was sick
1 - mechanical issues
1 - roads were just too icy after some serious freezing grain
1 - bellow -20C and I didn't have my cycling boots yet
I was aiming for 3 days a week minimum and I beat that.
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
#40
Not safe for work


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
The first half of the month was pretty great considering January is usually a bitterly cold and snow filled month. But this year the winter has been incredible! Too bad the last half of the month was filled with far flung errands so my total was less than I could've ridden. Still, I've never cycled a bit over 100 miles in January! Pretty awesome for me!
#41
SE Wis

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,561
Likes: 4,336
From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
My best Jan. ever 7 commuting days, 158 miles! Could have been more but had some appointments and middle of the night call ins resulting in 18-24hr shifts where I took the car. It usually isn't the cold that stops me as much as the road conditions. I have more miles on the bike this winter than I do on my plow truck!
#42
A miserable 125 miles on 7 commutes and no weekend rides. I lost a week to oncall, days to heavy rain and then a cold beat me up. I started off so well and I feel like I lost a lot of good opportunities with mild weather. OTOH, this is the best January ever! OK, I've never ridden in January, so it's a politician-style statement.
#43
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Corvallis, OR
I took 1 day off because of multiple DR appointments in opposite sides of town. Went through the pacific NW snowpocalypse w/ flying colors. Had some peds/coworkers tell me I was crazy for riding through the snow, ironic that I was the one helping cars get out of stuck snow situations and not the other way around.
#45
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, MA
Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Fantom CXX, 2012 Motobecane Fantom CX, 1997 Bianchi Nyala, 200? Burley Rock 'n Roll
Out of 20 commuting days, biked 13 (126 miles), took the bus 6 times, and drove once (had an appointment before work).
Jim
Jim
#47
I spent half of January in Portland which had one of the mildest winters they have ever seen, and their winters are already pretty mild.
Came back Canuckistan where you could have played ice hockey on many of the roads and had a week of riding where studs were mandatory and had some freaky cold and then the latter half of the month has been unseasonably warm... it felt more like March.
Came back Canuckistan where you could have played ice hockey on many of the roads and had a week of riding where studs were mandatory and had some freaky cold and then the latter half of the month has been unseasonably warm... it felt more like March.
#48
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: Peugeot road bike, Haro mountain bike
Things have been pretty wimpy here in Milwaukee too. There hasn't been much snow, and the cold doesn't really bother me once I get moving. I did all 21 work days in January for a total of about 420 miles. I was actually excited when we finally did get some snow, because I've had my mountain bike w/front snow tire all ready to go since November. I had never ridden through snow before, so I was anxious to try it out. I never expected to be able to ride to work every day this school year, but if February is anything like January, it just might happen...
#49
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
I averaged between 4/5 or 5/5 for the month, with the exceptions being due to sleeping in rather than weather. It's been really mild here this winter, with maybe a couple dozen days below 20F, and no days below 0, with little to no snow accumulation on the roads.
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Still waiting for winter to rear it's ugly head here!
Commuted 5 out of 22 days. I'm not a diehard, I'll bike if the temps are above 25 F and the roads are clear, otherwise I drive. But hey, that's 5 days more than I had expected to bike in January!
Oh, and I'm 2 for 2 in February so far!
Commuted 5 out of 22 days. I'm not a diehard, I'll bike if the temps are above 25 F and the roads are clear, otherwise I drive. But hey, that's 5 days more than I had expected to bike in January!
Oh, and I'm 2 for 2 in February so far!






















