tjspiel

So I'm on my way to work, it's raining pretty steady, it's 38 degrees, and there's a headwind of course. I'm thinking to myself that this is pretty much the definition of crappy riding weather.

About an hour later I look outside and what do I see? It's snowing !!!

Now I'm looking forward to my ride home. Funny how a few degree temp change and a tail wind can change your whole outlook.

Ridefreemc

Sounds rough to me, but it would make me appreciate something more - maybe better riding weather, or even being inside sometimes.

HardyWeinberg

Dude that is life here from pretty much a couple weeks ago until June. June it'll be 50s and raining.

psychicandroid

I just rode home in the same weather. Sadly the snow turned back into rain once I was over the bridge and back in wisconsin. It was a nice ride though, I have to admit. once you just accept you're going to be soaked until you get home it's not so bad.

rumrunn6

funny how a little distance can change a perspective. here I am no longer a year round commuter thinking I'm so glad not to be you. But I do remember the excitement at the prospect of riding through falling snow.

ItsJustMe

My biggest gripe about living in southern Michigan is that it doesn't get cold enough. It snows but then it melts and turns into slush and crud and freezes solid and is slippery. Farther north when it snows, it stays cold and it's actually not bad to ride/walk/drive on.

Steely Dan

i gotta agree, rain in the 30's is just about the worst, especially when the ground is cold enough that it freezes on impact. i'd much rather it be colder and just have that precipitation come down as snow.

snow is fun. freezing rain isn't.




i feel your pain, chicago is in that same "slush belt". it gets cold enough to be cold, but it doesn't stay cold enough to be cold. it's one of the reasons i swear by studded tires. we have way too much freeze/thaw here. everything melts on a sunny winter day, and then refreezes into ice as soon as the sun goes down, right about the time i'm riding home from work.

MNBikeguy

Gotta hand it to ya tjspiel.
I looked at the wind forecast and threw in the towel and grabbed the car keys this morning.

I admit...looking forward to the snow. I find winter commuting more refreshing. Maybe I've got a loose cassette upstairs...

tjspiel

'cept I didn't actually check the forecast and was a bit taken by surprise with regards to the wind.

I'm sure I would have rode anyway though...


It wasn't terrible, just unwelcome.

modernjess

today was a slap in the face.

noglider 

Yeah, the only thing worse than cold rain is cold rain with bad wind. And I think shifty wind is worse than a steady headwind, though it's a close call.

MNBikeCommuter

I couldn't do it this morning. On a good day it's an hour and a half biking to work. 38F and wind and rain was a good excuse to call it a rest day and make sure the car still works. I'll be back out there tomorrow morning. 28F and wind and dry is easier to handle.

gerv 

We are seeing highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s. It'll be dry for the next few days, but always hard to know if there'll be ice on the roads.... hard to know whether to whip out the ice bike or go with the regular commuter.

swwhite

I rode to work in that today also. I recently waterproofed my rain pants, and bought some Redwing waterproof boots. Last year I got a decent rain jacket. Helmet cover and waterproof gloves have been with me a while and work well. The temperature of around 40 degrees was just right for riding in that gear but not getting too hot. It was a great trip.

MNBikeguy

You've got some great gear but this is the grumbling thread.
I wanna hear a grumble outta you....

treadtread

I have really, really good rain gear - lots of it - and its all in India. I couldn't bring it over - out of luggage space - so now I don't have any rain gear and all the good stuff is expensive But I'll be buying some light, waterproof jacket soon - any recommendations? I don't want a padded jacket - just a thin, waterproof jacket.

FanaticMN

The rain was fine.

The wind wasn't the worst.

The wet leaves were a slight PITA.

...that's all I got.

Mad Scientist

Can I grumble about not getting to ride the last couple days? I had to watch one kid in the morning and pick the other two up from school in the afternoon, so I worked from home.