2014!! How was your commute today?
#676
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Definitely cold again this morning, but I guess I'm just getting used to it at this point. I have found if I leave at just the right time I can beat a couple of the school bus stop pickups. Today I did not do that.
#677
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)
uhhhh hello Winter? This is Spring. You have greatly overstayed your welcome. In case you didn't know, 6 weeks after Groundhog Day was over a week ago. So get the heck out! kthxbye!
#678
Those of you still with the seriously cold winter have my sympathy. I think the snatches of really nice weather we've had have me in denial about the lingering winter - near freezing and I put on an extra jersey and ride in cold
. Not so long ago I'd have thought 30° was a relief, and I reckon a few posting here would feel that way now, so things are looking up. A few more days maybe, then those beautiful commutes that make it worthwhile ...
. Not so long ago I'd have thought 30° was a relief, and I reckon a few posting here would feel that way now, so things are looking up. A few more days maybe, then those beautiful commutes that make it worthwhile ...
#679
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
Same here.
i drove all last week because I had a passenger with me everyday. It took quite a bit of internal convincing to get myself out there this morning. I almost peeled off early and headed to a bus-stop. I didn't and glad of it.
It'll be hot and humid soon enough.
i drove all last week because I had a passenger with me everyday. It took quite a bit of internal convincing to get myself out there this morning. I almost peeled off early and headed to a bus-stop. I didn't and glad of it.
It'll be hot and humid soon enough.
#680
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
This is the "dangerous" time of year to be cycling in to work. With daytime temps above freezing and overnight temps below, melt water freezes into smooth, flat surfaces. Even the sidewalks are tough going: boot prints have frozen overnight rendering the sidewalks into a rough ride (and not easily walked on either). Furthermore, with the amount of snow we've had (and continue to get) this winter (and spring?), it will be a while before the melting is finished.
Without studded tires, I'm going to wait out this time of year this year (putting together some DIY studded tires for next winter).
A note about this year's snow: I was walking my dog yesterday along an infrequently used path (the city hasn't opened this section of the trail yet but I and other dog walkers will use it anyway) when I accidentally stepped off the path (i.e., footprints before mine) into unbroken snow and my boot did not hit solid ground, despite my leg being buried in the snow up to the top of my thigh. Despite my wish to have spring arrive soon, a fast melt of all this snow will result is so many flooded basements in our city (especially the section we call "The Valley").
Without studded tires, I'm going to wait out this time of year this year (putting together some DIY studded tires for next winter).
A note about this year's snow: I was walking my dog yesterday along an infrequently used path (the city hasn't opened this section of the trail yet but I and other dog walkers will use it anyway) when I accidentally stepped off the path (i.e., footprints before mine) into unbroken snow and my boot did not hit solid ground, despite my leg being buried in the snow up to the top of my thigh. Despite my wish to have spring arrive soon, a fast melt of all this snow will result is so many flooded basements in our city (especially the section we call "The Valley").
#681
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
#682
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
This is the "dangerous" time of year to be cycling in to work. With daytime temps above freezing and overnight temps below, melt water freezes into smooth, flat surfaces. Even the sidewalks are tough going: boot prints have frozen overnight rendering the sidewalks into a rough ride (and not easily walked on either). Furthermore, with the amount of snow we've had (and continue to get) this winter (and spring?), it will be a while before the melting is finished.
Without studded tires, I'm going to wait out this time of year this year (putting together some DIY studded tires for next winter).
Without studded tires, I'm going to wait out this time of year this year (putting together some DIY studded tires for next winter).
I hope you don't live in the ''valley'' and get flooded
#683
Super-spreader
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 887
Likes: 101
From: where black is the color, where none is the number
Bikes: shiny red tricycle
Nice and warm today. I saw the pointy helmet + designer jeans guy today... must be spring.
#684
Full Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 288
Likes: 20
From: The White Mountains of AZ
Good both directions
Started the day by accidentally brushing a goat-head thorn out of my tire and the Stan's wouldn't seal the resulting hole so, lacking any glitter, I had to break it down, throw some coffee grounds in there, and recharge with Stan's. Worked like a charm and pretty easy since I was still only 100-feet from the air compressor.
Also had a pretty quick ride home with no noticeable tailwind. I think the ECR on Knards is faster than it looks.
Also had a pretty quick ride home with no noticeable tailwind. I think the ECR on Knards is faster than it looks.
#685
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Ride home involved a detour and a set of 4x(3'+3') over under intervals. I don't normally like doing shorter intervals with a back pack, but you have to do what you have to do.
#686
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Uneventful ride home yesterday.
I left a little early and got in before the rain started this morning. I'm thinking it will be done and gone before I leave this evening.
I left a little early and got in before the rain started this morning. I'm thinking it will be done and gone before I leave this evening.
#687
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
No but I am in a bit of a lower area. However, in the 10 years we've been here, we've never had a flood (except when our sump hole got blocked, I check that each year now).
Cold again this week, -19C/-2F this morning and the same for the next couple of mornings. I guess since the first day of spring has passed, this must be Winter2014 2.0.
#688
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis
Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral
#689
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Still cold this morning with a -12° celcius, beautiful sunny sky and a good tailwind. If the weatherman is right I should be able to ride my summer bike for the first time next week. Can't wait.
#690
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO
Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007
30-degrees and some idiot spent the night across town. The GF picked me up last night to go with her to run errands, and my choices this morning were to get her up early for a car ride back( we would have been late, I know her) or to get up and ride the mongoose beast I keep at her house 4.5 miles to work.
Nice work out, don't want to do it every day.
Nice work out, don't want to do it every day.
#691
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
I got to play the Samaritan yesterday afternoon. I came up on a young girl by the side of the MUP who was struggling to get her chain back onto the chain ring after a derail. She was playing around with the rear derailleur. I showed her how to elevate the rear wheel, shift the front derailleur up and turn the crank to re-seat the chain. She was truly amazed at how easy it was.
#692
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)
Had my trunk bag and panniers all loaded up last night, tried to get to bed as early as I possibly could (still 11 PM), then woke up at 5 and just didn't feel up to it. Blahhh, 35° this morning. So. Sick. Of. Cold and dark.
Sucks.
Thursday should be much warmer, but there's a chance of afternoon rain...
Sucks.
Thursday should be much warmer, but there's a chance of afternoon rain...
#693
Too cold still, my downfall is that i bought a vented clip shoe... can see my feet just freezing over on my way to work. Wish I did ride to work today, annoying tailgaters on the way to work! ah i miss having a worry free commute..... rode last friday and was rewarded with snow..... please end already winter.
#694
just ride
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: North Idaho
Bikes: '15 Scott Speedster 20
I really feel bad for you guys still waiting snow to be gone... spring is here for me. Temps are still on the cool side and thunderstorms will soon be coming but at least I can ride!
Rode to a meeting today, 8.6 miles round trip. I had a headwind 3/4 of the trip and the way back was in the dark but my headlamp made that a no-problem.
Rode to a meeting today, 8.6 miles round trip. I had a headwind 3/4 of the trip and the way back was in the dark but my headlamp made that a no-problem.
#695
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Love it. Fix a kid's bike, they will ride for a day. Teach a kid to fix a bike, they will ride for a lifetime.
It rained off and all day yesterday. I had made it in before it started. Forecast said it would clear out before 5pm. At 4:15pm I could see some blue sky. At about 4:40 it was sunny and raining. It stopped before I left at 5 though. Wet roads, but no rain on the way home.
29F at 7am this morning. Bundled up and just did it. My commute motivation mainly comes from not having a car. That is, there is one car between my wife and I. She homeschools our kids who also have gymnastics practice every day. So she has places to go and needs the car. She would get up and take me to work if I needed her to, but I try to minimize that by convincing myself that I don't have a car.
It rained off and all day yesterday. I had made it in before it started. Forecast said it would clear out before 5pm. At 4:15pm I could see some blue sky. At about 4:40 it was sunny and raining. It stopped before I left at 5 though. Wet roads, but no rain on the way home.
29F at 7am this morning. Bundled up and just did it. My commute motivation mainly comes from not having a car. That is, there is one car between my wife and I. She homeschools our kids who also have gymnastics practice every day. So she has places to go and needs the car. She would get up and take me to work if I needed her to, but I try to minimize that by convincing myself that I don't have a car.
#696
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Another cold morning with -12° celcius. Hell is suppose to break loose tonight on the east coast, here we should get mostly Wind so I chanced it with my bike. In the worst case scenario I'll call my wife.
#697
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
The cruddy weather finally convinced me to join a gym so I can still workout on days when it's raining, snowing, sleeting, etc. Took advantage of it yesterday and made the right call because otherwise I would have been riding home in cold downpour with temps in the 30s. Back in the saddle today with sunny skies but brisk cold wind out of the north. I can handle that.
#698
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
Yes. She was about 18 or 19 and said she "was only using it to ride to school". We were about a quarter mile from a public community college. I got the feeling from that comment that she may have been a bit defensive talking to a kitted roadie (even an old fat one like me). Her bike was not super cheap-Specialized comfort bike, 7 speed cassette and a triple. I hope I conveyed to her the message that "it's all good".
#699
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
my regular train broke down so I made a dash to the next station down the line to catch the Amtrak, which does not stop at all stations, like the one I usually use. Bike Ride Profile | Sprint to Irvine to catch Amtrak after Metrolink fail. near Tustin | Times and Records | Strava
#700
ouate de phoque
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Another cold morning, -14° celcius when I left for work. Next week should be warmer.
Still a nice sunny sky, nice tailwind.
Still a nice sunny sky, nice tailwind.



