2014!! How was your commute today?
#351
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
10" snow last night, I'll be lucky to get out of my driveway!
#352
tougher than a boiled owl
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 1
From: Rocky Coast of Maine
Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser
Not much to report up here, another snow event is upon us and I have not commuted by bike at all as I have had project work out of town. At least its the middle of winter and not so great riding anyway.
#353
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
No rides to report. Woke up to everything covered in 1/4" of ice. The office opened at 10AM and I drove in.
#354
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Finally another commute after nearly 2 weeks since the last one. Normally I only ride on Tu/Th, but today I'm leaving around noon to make it to the soft opening of the newest location of my favorite LBS, right near my house! First 100 people get a $20 gift card!
About 33°F so right around 10 degrees warmer than my coldest commute I've ever done. Not too bad, still slow though.
About 33°F so right around 10 degrees warmer than my coldest commute I've ever done. Not too bad, still slow though.
Last edited by PatrickGSR94; 02-05-14 at 09:34 AM.
#355
My new coldest commute ever at -25F. I was dressed for it so it wasn't bad. I actually got a little over heated toward the end.
#356
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
#357
I use bar mitts and vary the glove thickness/layers according to the weather. Today was a thick pair of rag wool mittens.
No problems with either hands or feet.
#358
I'm home sick but probably couldn't have rode today anyway - we got dumped on with snow last night, and my city is short on salt and not doing well clearing snow lately. Which makes the roads pretty miserable on Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, etc. as the snowpack gets polished by cars and nice and icy/bumpy. This is our worst winter in decades. I like cold weather, but I'm ready for Spring.
#359
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
I got poison oak about a week ago, with a really bad rash on my right wrist and forearm. Sweat really makes it burn. I'm not riding until that's a bit more cleared up, though by then we'll be out of this nice clear, cold weather and back to rain.
Oh: If I get poison oak, it's almost always in winter as in the summer I can identify and avoid it. I was working up in my woods.
Oh: If I get poison oak, it's almost always in winter as in the summer I can identify and avoid it. I was working up in my woods.
#360
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 4
From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
Big snowstorm last night dumped 7” of heavy snow with a ¾ “ crust on top. Sandalwood was deep loose snow all the way to 161. 161 was plowed but was icy due to freezing rain after the snowfall. I left at 3:30 am. I got to work on time. 161 thru Linworth was a mess. They hadn’t plowed it yet. Riding home, 161 was plowed all the way to Forest Park. After having traffic all day, Sandalwood should be a nice frozen hardpack for tom’rw morning. Temps are supposed to be in single digits.
#361
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
The ride home with a detour to the new LBS by my house was absolutely brutal. Headwinds with wind chills in the teens. 17.8 miles and I averaged less than 10 MPH. I spent a large majority of the time in the lower 4 gears, and had to drop into my lowest 34-28 gear more times than I can count.
There were descents were I can regularly exceed 30 MPH, where this time I only got up to about 18. One long gradual descent where I usually do 20, I was barely doing over 10.
I hate head winds.
There were descents were I can regularly exceed 30 MPH, where this time I only got up to about 18. One long gradual descent where I usually do 20, I was barely doing over 10.
I hate head winds.
Last edited by PatrickGSR94; 02-05-14 at 09:12 PM.
#362
www.ocrebels.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles area
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Fairly normal commute for this time of year, i.e. nothing compared to what most of you have done recently! It was 44 Deg. F on the way to work and 66 Deg. F with a bit of a chilly wind on the way home.
The Metro was more crowded than usual, esp. with bikes, but oh well, we all fit and made it to our destinations so no worries.
Rick / OCRR
The Metro was more crowded than usual, esp. with bikes, but oh well, we all fit and made it to our destinations so no worries.
Rick / OCRR
#363
Yesterday was my coldest commute ever at -25F... until this morning, when it was -33F on my way to work.
I was dressed for it -- layers and no exposed skin -- so all is well.
I was dressed for it -- layers and no exposed skin -- so all is well.
#364
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Bikes: Trek Verve Ebike and Surly Wednesday
One of my longest commutes. I took the longer route with plenty of hills and little traffic. Light snow and headwind made the going slow. Took me over 2 hours to get home. Started out with sunglasses and half mask over my balaclava. Stopped and changed to goggles and scarf which worked much better for me. I was comfortably warm except for the groin area. Got to add another layer there. I was tired by the time I got home. I'm still learning how to dress below freezing, but I enjoy the challenge.
#365
Member

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield, CA
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Allez comp, 2011 Specialized Hardrock
Had a wet one today. Wasn't dressed for it all, but my commute to work is only 2 miles, and being we so desperately need the rain out here I didn't mind. The only annoying part was the water kicking up on my lower back and into my face due to a lack of fenders.
#366
Back in action after three days of work training and riding the metro.
Just about freezing, two fully loaded paniers, no wind...a nice ride in but my legs were getting a workout.
Just about freezing, two fully loaded paniers, no wind...a nice ride in but my legs were getting a workout.
#367
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Lost a whole week. I'm out of the habit of riding now and getting all bundled up to ride in this morning in 14F weather just didn't sound appealing. There are still lots of branches down on the road, and packed snow that has turned to ice in several spots. It doesn't look like it will melt until the end of next week.
#368
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
#369
Monday morning with a strong head wind and temps just below freezing. The drivers seemed a little extra hurried so I beat a hasty retreat to side streets for my ride from Capitol Hill.
My riding colleague finally had her wheels replaced so it was nice to see another bike in the rack for a change.
My riding colleague finally had her wheels replaced so it was nice to see another bike in the rack for a change.
#370
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA, USA
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
More snow last night, which made the roads very slick this morning. Cars were sliding around a bit, so I was glad I drove in.
#371
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Nice ride this morning but it took me 1h35 because of the light snow that we got last night, just ½ inch of snow can do a big difference.
There should not be anymore snow this week so I might be able to do 1 or two other bike commute this week. I'm still only one commute behind last year at the same date.
There should not be anymore snow this week so I might be able to do 1 or two other bike commute this week. I'm still only one commute behind last year at the same date.
#372
It was relatively pleasant this morning with low 40's and very light precipitation, and should be the same going home, but that's too soon coming to an end. Our GA Governor has already extended his emergency, tripling the number of counties in a state of emergency. Just in anticipation of a snow repeat. This time we're ready says he. Sure you are, Gov.
You're ready for half the area to stay at home this time. (We're only looking at a maximum of 3-4 inches snow, maybe quarter inch of ice ...)
I'm switching back to my rain bike, the trusty old Denali with big 32 mm tires. Maybe with my home-brew pogies. BTW, a question for you northern extreme weather types. The last time a couple of weeks ago, halfway home my gears literally froze up in a big block of ice. Also the derailleurs, although the brakes were still working. I had to stop and chip it all off with a pocket-knife. What do you do with that? Carry a can of de-icer? WD-40? Slather it all with grease first?
You're ready for half the area to stay at home this time. (We're only looking at a maximum of 3-4 inches snow, maybe quarter inch of ice ...)I'm switching back to my rain bike, the trusty old Denali with big 32 mm tires. Maybe with my home-brew pogies. BTW, a question for you northern extreme weather types. The last time a couple of weeks ago, halfway home my gears literally froze up in a big block of ice. Also the derailleurs, although the brakes were still working. I had to stop and chip it all off with a pocket-knife. What do you do with that? Carry a can of de-icer? WD-40? Slather it all with grease first?
#373
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
34f this morning and really foggy, sunny as could be and 47f this afternoon. Supposed to be up to 52f this week and raining the rest of the week though...
#375
5°F with a bit of a headwind but glad to be riding. I only rode I day last week because my regular commuter has 23mm gatorskins and I was tired of crashing on black ice. Picked up a cheap Cannondale MTB on Saturday and immediately pressed it into service-I think I found my new beater!



