2014!! How was your commute today?
#251
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Today was my first commute of 2014 (unfortunately a number of factors made it hard or impossible to commute earlier this year). Actually first in a month considering my last day in the office for 2013 was the week before Christmas. A bit slower then normal, partially due to being a bit out of shape but also a nasty NE headwind for part of my ride.
Felt good to be on the bike, thought the temp changes, from ~43 at my house to almost 60 at the office made it interesting to keep a good temp.
Felt good to be on the bike, thought the temp changes, from ~43 at my house to almost 60 at the office made it interesting to keep a good temp.
#252
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
0degC (32F) and clear & calm. It's not completely dark for the entire AM commute now!
The components on my commuter are all getting worn (chain, cassette, gears, rims, BB) so last night i bought a used 2010 cannondale caad8 from a dude that NEVER rides. Factory grease was still on the chain and the cassette was bright. I rode it this AM and it's nice--needs some customization to suit me, but nice. Might give it to the wife instead. We'll see. At least I'm not worried about my rims self-destructing.
The components on my commuter are all getting worn (chain, cassette, gears, rims, BB) so last night i bought a used 2010 cannondale caad8 from a dude that NEVER rides. Factory grease was still on the chain and the cassette was bright. I rode it this AM and it's nice--needs some customization to suit me, but nice. Might give it to the wife instead. We'll see. At least I'm not worried about my rims self-destructing.
#253
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 23
From: Lexington Park, Maryland
Bikes: Current: Origami Crane 8, Trek 1200 Former: 2012 Schwinn Trailway
Pretty ****ty. Lack of snow tyres meant I had to hump it about 1/4 of the way before mounting up and taking off.
M.
M.
#254
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
Horrible. I had to drive 2.5 hours each way.
#255
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 17
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Bikes: Checkpoint ALR 5, Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS, FX 4
Nearly got sideswiped. Some a-hole passed with inches to spare, then continued drifting to the shoulder nearly pushing me into the grate that covers the storm drains. I slapped the rear panel of his minivan but the guy was oblivious. Whatever... The guy was in a minivan, that's punishment enough.
#256
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
Good and back in the saddle again after two days of car usage due to maintenance issues.
#257
11F -12C with a strong headwind. My gloves were just not designed for these temps...nor my shoes!
The ice is starting to dissapear which is good but there are stil a few slippery patches. I passed one other bike commuter coming in this morning. Not a single runner spotted.
The ice is starting to dissapear which is good but there are stil a few slippery patches. I passed one other bike commuter coming in this morning. Not a single runner spotted.
#258
-18C or 0F ~10miles as I had to turn back. I was dressed fine except for maybe around my butt/hips but my lights weren't going to last the commute and my computer and powermeter were on the fritz. Kinda sucks turning back home to hop in the car but I learned a few valuable things about my gear in 0F.
#259
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
YEAH !! The north wind sleep in this morning !! It's Oklahoma, I'm sure it let me done on the way home
note to self -- wear eye protection when the temps drop to 3 degrees.
note to self -- wear eye protection when the temps drop to 3 degrees.
#260
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Frigid Friday! That's what the local news media were calling it. So, of course, I had to ride and set a new record cold commute for me (12 F). It wouldn't have been so bad except for the wind, and the windchill temp was below zero. Fortunately I had a tailwind about half the way to work, but the stretches where I had cross and headwinds were brutal. My water bottle was frozen solid by the halfway point to work. Not sure if I can take temperatures much colder without buying some warmer gloves and shoe covers, but it probably isn't worth the cost because we haven't had weather this cold in more than 10 years. No point spending $100+ on gear that I will rarely if ever need.
#261
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Another day, another drive. Side roads still have large patches of packed snow and ice, and none of the shoulders on my regular route have been cleared. Hopefully things improve a bit over the weekend before we get hit with another frigid blast next week.
I'm seriously considering getting a trainer so I can keep my legs somewhat in shape.
I'm seriously considering getting a trainer so I can keep my legs somewhat in shape.
#262
Brr. 9° Everything was fine except the left hand - same gloves but right hand warm, left hand stinging and unresponsive numb. Strange. I'm noticing now that my wrist also feels stingy. Did I forget to pull one layer up to the wrist? Wrist warmers, is that something in your bag of tricks?
I guess I should have put my handlebar shield back on. Those who do this consistently, you have my respect.
I guess I should have put my handlebar shield back on. Those who do this consistently, you have my respect.
#263
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
another day, another low temp record, -6F -21C with 15mph headwind... yeah, it sucked
#264
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Brr. 9° Everything was fine except the left hand - same gloves but right hand warm, left hand stinging and unresponsive numb. Strange. I'm noticing now that my wrist also feels stingy. Did I forget to pull one layer up to the wrist? Wrist warmers, is that something in your bag of tricks?
I guess I should have put my handlebar shield back on. Those who do this consistently, you have my respect.
I guess I should have put my handlebar shield back on. Those who do this consistently, you have my respect.
#265
Another cool morning at -6°F and 15mph headwind. Broke a plastic toe clip when it hit the ground so I was riding with bits dangling.
#266
What kind of shifters do you have on your bike? I do much more shifting with my right hand, rear derailleur so it tends not to get as cold or numb. In contrast, my left hand is more static because I don't have to shift the front derailleur as much. I notice more of a difference when riding my bikes with STIs than the ones with bar-end shifters as well. With STIs, my hands tend to stay parked on the hoods most of the time. With bar-end shifters, I am moving my hands around more and they get less numb and cold.
#267
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
29 degrees, with the moon and stars out! I love it. Three cars passed me in 9 miles. I'm getting off work early this afternoon and will get to take a longer ride home in the sunshine. I hope I can remember the route when I can actually see stuff around me.
#268
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
Awesome. Clear, calm, a couple degrees above freezing. I rode the new (to me) 2010 CAAD8 again, with my own clipless pedals/shoes this time. Fun!
I havent even had time to take the dust off the frame since its 4 year hibernation in the previous owner's garage. lol.
The poor bike probably doesn't know what hit it...
I havent even had time to take the dust off the frame since its 4 year hibernation in the previous owner's garage. lol.
The poor bike probably doesn't know what hit it...
#269
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: tulsa ok
Bikes: 2012 Trek Wahoo, Year ? Askar road bike, 1959 roadmaster middle weight, 1984 Nishiki Citisport
Please Oklahoma, make up your mind!!! Yesterday was -3 and today is 57 deg. I prefer the latter, but It get tiring always packing the thermals. Rant over...
#270
Calm before the Polar Vortex returns...41F / +5 C, tKing care of much of the ice but around noon today the cold returns with a vengence so my homebound commute will be much different.
#271
For me, today was the hardest commute of the year. Maybe because it was 44°F yesterday and today was 19°F with a 22mph headwind. Black ice was really bad in spots but somehow my tires never slipped-lucky I guess.
#272
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Warmest morning commute in weeks, with temps in the low 40s. I paid for the warmer temps, however, with a stiff headwind out of the SW. The weather this week is looking like a near repeat of last week, with another winter storm forecasted for Tuesday night. Hopefully it will hold off long enough for me to ride to work tomorrow. Last Tuesday I drove because forecasters said the snow/sleet would start mid-afternoon but it held off until evening. Right now, the forecasters are saying snow won't start here until tomorrow night, but they are notoriously bad about predicting any kind of precipitation around here, particularly snow.
#273
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,543
Likes: 41
From: England / CPH
Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS
great! good to be in the saddle again!
#274
Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MO
Bikes: 2012 Trek 7.2 FX
-3F, -25 with wind chill - new low temp record ride. I waited until almost 9a to leave hoping the temps would rise with the sun but they didn't budge, actually got colder because the wind picked up. All in all it wasn't a bad ride just really slow and I had to stop twice because of fogging. I'm discovering there's a threshold of fogging issues - I have it figured out to about 15, below that is another story. And it's official, one of my work colleagues said "you're a f$@%in idiot!"
Yesterday, about 52F. Today, -12F with wind chill (excluding additional wind chill while biking). Can't go very fast since there's some issue with my chain and/or rear derailleur. I'm quickly realizing that I need a single speed bike for Winter..
BTW for your fogging issues I would recommend "CLARITY DEFOG it". I first started using "Jaws Quick Spit" but it didn't last very long. One Clarity Defog application lasts about 10 days. I wear a balaclava and ski goggles, so most of my breath goes straight into the goggles causing them to fog (without anti-fog treatment). It also prevents most of the condensation from freezing at the upper portion of my goggles next to the air vents, when wind chills are brutal.
#275
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
A lot of snow and Wind so no bike for today and probably no bike for the second week in a row.




