Ride home last night was awesome, and this morning under the cover of darkeness, I only needed a vest and long sleeve jersey while riding in. I'll be towing home a few days worth of clothes today; should make for a longer, but great ride home. I'm lucky enough to have space in my office/storage room for my bike. Sure is hard to concentrate on work when I'm staring at my bike all day.

My commute was cold. Not as cold as the teens last week, but not as warm as the 50s this week. It was back to the low 20s this morning. I'm getting meteorological whiplash.

It's not all that significant, or unusual, but I feel the need to share about the stupid cabbie of the day. I'm going down 5th Ave. in the traffic lane, since there are cars parked all along the side. I look back, and there's cab following too close. Then he decides to honk me. Traffic is slow, and I'm going exactly the same speed as the car in front of me, so I'm not slowing him down. There really isn't anywhere for me to go, so I stay where I am ten or fifteen feet behind the car in front. Continuing to honk, the cab gets some space in the next traffic lane, decides to whip around me squeezing by way too close, and cuts in front of me. He goes another 20 feet and traffic stops altogether. Meanwhile, I breeze past the lot of them. I should have given him a nice smile and a wave as I passed, but I wasn't quite quick enough. All this drama, and he gained a grand total of a car length.

An 18 year old girl I faintly know almost hit me on my way back getting groceries. As I'm turning right onto a residential street, she is turning left onto a street going in the opposite direction. I was on the extreme right side of the street during the turn practically next to the curb. She on the other hand is driving on the left side of the road while turning. She showed no sign of slowing down.

Last week I worked four days and commuted 3 of them, while the weather was windy and cold in ELP. But the thing is that the cold weather makes the commute much more enjoyable - the pre-sunrise cold air slap in the face at 5:15am is awesome. This next week the morning lows will be in the mid-40s and no wind, so with the better weather will be less than sterling memories - - but fun nevertheless. Ride Free!

It was all good until I was on my way home from the co-op.

Let's just say that after pulling up behind me and honking, and then trying to push me out of my rightful lane before gunning it and cutting me off, that the dip**** in the red pickup truck was incredibly f'ing lucky he made the next light.

Scary... Caught a couple of drunks in 2 cars (6 people total) trying to get behind the wheel (I was at a restaurant next to a pub when I saw them stagger by). Fortunately for them (and everybody else on the road), the off duty police officer that just happened to walk in the door when they were getting in their cars went out and talked them out of driving home.

I decided to go home before anyone else decided to drive home (I stayed off the main roads). I also called the non-emergency dispatcher and requested additional patrolling to keep an eye on things.

Be Safe Out There!

Cold -2C/28F but the nasty headwinds of last week are gone. I'll take it.

A foot of snow the night before and temps hovering at 0c made it ok on the way out but very dicey on the way home. All the runoff water was getting ready to freeze and I had a heck of a time differentiating safe and slippery slush let alone dodging it while not being flattened by cars that were traveling at 40mph. I'll be VERY pleased when this winter is over. For the last ten years I've always felt its a bit of a gamble. 4 years back I went down on black ice on my motorcycle. That cracked a few ribs - thanks to my armor it could have been MUCH worse, but on my bike I can't wear motorcycle armor and not overheat so its even more nerve racking. Still, one month to go.

I need a goal. I have decided that for the rest of February I'm going to allow myself 2 driving days. I know for some of you guys this is no big deal, but this my kick in the pants month of getting myself back on the bike regularly and trying to become a bit less of a man. 2 driving days come from 1 after work semi-formal event and one co-out day. Wish me luck.

I don't know how you guys 'up north' do it. I left the house this morning at 7am, it was 42 degrees, and no real wind. I ABOUT FROZE! The first few miles were miserable, by the middle of my 8 mile commute, my ears had warmed up and quit hurting, but even a hour after getting to work, my legs are still cold. I guess I need another layer or something.... I had on cycling shorts, and thermax tights, a short sleeved jersey, long sleeved tee and my rain jacket as a wind breaker. Had a beenie on under my helmet and full finger gloves. I was sweating when I got to work, but my legs still feel cold and it may take a while to get warmed up and working...

You have my respect for commuting in the cold weather, that 42 is about all I can stand here in South Florida...

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Cold commute this morning with temps in the upper 20s F, but it didn't feel so bad because the wind was light. Hopefully I'll get a break from the wind this week because it about wore me out last week. Today is also supposed to be the coldest day of the week and highs are supposed to the reach the 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Forecast is calling for nice weather the whole work week, but I will believe it when I see it. The local forecasters have been very bad about predicting rain/precip lately.

23F with stiff headwind, still some snow and ice on the MUP but mostly cleared. The spots that weren't had fresh snow on top of the ice so no traction problems.

I woke up tired this morning and groused to myself about getting outta bed to ride. A few minutes into the ride I passed a guy I know who lives near me, rides every day, and is 72 years old. His commute is shorter than mine (about 8 miles each way) and he doesn't always ride home (has co-workers who takes him), but he's still working full time at 72 (by choice) and riding all year round. When I passed him he was smiling. He's 20 years older than me - I stopped complaining

My commute in this morning was longer than usual, due to my own stupidity. About a mile and a half out I realized I'd forgotte to put on my backpack . . . guess I didn't have enough coffee or whatever, I don't know. Anyway back to the house, tell my wife I forgot my backpack, put pack on, start again.

Made one Metro train later than usual, but otherwise no problem. 50 Deg.F when I left the house, so nice temps. Clear skys in Norwalk, but when I got off the Metro in Los Angeles a heavy fog greeted me . . . then two firetrucks (lots of flashing lights) on Figeroa, but got by them without incident. A "welcome to Monday" commute!

Rick / OCRR

Foggy.

23F, need to find a way to stop sweating so much

who thought biking in sub freezing temps would be so hot

You are wearing too much clothing. You should be cold when you start. I have had multiple iterations of trial and error before I got to where I was happy with my clothing at varying temps, and I still get it wrong on occasion. Best of luck.

Around 20F this morning with several inches of fresh snow on the ground from last night. Took the lane most of the commute, even where there is a sidepath for a few miles. The paths around here never get cleared and I wasn't in the mood to blaze a trail this morning.

In Australia - we all drive on the wrong side over here

im working on getting a thinner jacket to wear which would fix my problem, the one i have now is fleece lined with a hardshell outside-very little ventilation

maybe ill try just a thin hoodie over my wool shirt next time and see how that goes. its hard to find a balance thats good on the bike and good for walking around outside all day too

That balance is hard. In order not to be cold while riding, you need to wear fewer clothes than you would while walking. But carrying the extra clothes on the bike is an unpleasant chore.

I wear as many sweaters as I need, depending on temperature, and I wear a windproof rain jacket on top.

Lower 70s here and already too hot. Ran errands on the bike this afternoon and was jetting sweat, though not really uncomfortable.

It was an excellent ride home for me, my fastest time since I've started tracking this year (26:20 from parking lot to parking lot).

Fairly normal commute today. I got to the crosswalk on the MUP that crosses four lanes of traffic and pressed the button that turns on the flashing "Crossing" lights. Car closest to me slows to a stop. Next lane over the car stops. I slowly move into the cross walk and have to stop in my tracks in the middle of the road because a cop car going the other way in the 3rd lane decided not to yield. Thanks pal!

35F/2C Still. Started overheating toward the end of my ride (4.5 miles). Some light peaking out as I near my office.

First (bike) commute in a few weeks. Between vacations and icky, salty roads, I've been walking and/or taking the bus. Too lazy to drag my beater bike out of the basement, and the Soho is too nice for cruddy conditions.

Anyway... It was a crisp 0F/-18C. I rode the MUP along Lake Champlain for the scenery. Saw lots of ducks, and one cat. There was one other bicyclist going the other way. We are legion.