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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

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Old 01-06-14 | 10:54 AM
  #26  
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not so bad here ... went for an afternoon constitutional and latte.

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Old 01-06-14 | 11:20 AM
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I'm glad the Western Ocean is around me.. except for the N Pacific current from Fukushima .

The next week, the temperature will vary from High 40s to Low 40s..(F)
warms when it rains .

.. temperature often like AMS..
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:24 AM
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Tomorrow is forecast for a high of 22 with wind chills to -7... I will ride it if it isn't icy. Not sure what I'll wear, buuuut... I will do it.
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:29 AM
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-17F as I rode out to the coffee shop (work is cancelled today). I'll find a bank sign where I can get a pic.
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
I'm glad the Western Ocean is around me.. except for the N Pacific current from Fukushima .

The next week, the temperature will vary from High 40s to Low 40s..(F)
warms when it rains .

.. temperature often like AMS..
this is Danish winter right now

rain slightly tapping on the cobblestones outside of my open window!
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:33 AM
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Esbjerg same Temperature?



FWIW, my latitude is lower .. Lat: 46.15694°N

Last edited by fietsbob; 01-06-14 at 11:37 AM.
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
esbjerg same temperature?



fwiw, my latitude is lower .. lat: 46.15694°n
55° 40′ 47″ n, 12° 34′ 33″ e
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Old 01-06-14 | 11:59 AM
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I start questioning my sanity when temps get into the teens (F) and I'm riding my bike to work. The warm car is simply too tempting. Also, the gear required for 20 and below is a step up to the next level, which is only a couple days a year around here, so the investment is not really worth it.
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Old 01-06-14 | 12:03 PM
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My coldest commute so far has been about 15 F and I've done that several times. However, temps are supposed to drop to the single digits tonight with wind chills in the -5 to -10 range, so I will probably drive. I am not convinced that my gear -- mainly gloves and shoes -- will keep me warm enough in those conditions. Temperatures are supposed to be a little milder with no significant wind on Wednesday, so I do plan to ride that day and perhaps I'll set a new personal record low.
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Old 01-06-14 | 12:16 PM
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-7F actual this morning, with gusts driving windchill down to -30/40 range. For my 1 mile commute, my gloves proved inadequate even with chemical warmer inserts. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder yet.
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Old 01-06-14 | 01:02 PM
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-23 this morning with windchill -45. I put my bike in my van and drove to work, where I park about a mile away cause it's free. I got on the bike and was doing fine untill about a block from my work. My freewheel started freewheeling in both directions and I walked the bike the rest of the way. I'll see if it will hook up on the way home.
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Old 01-06-14 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by PennyTheDog
I did my first bike commute of the year today: 9.4 miles at -19F, with a windchill of -45F. Truly, it didn't feel too bad. At that temperature you really notice where there are gaps in your clothes-- even a sliver of exposed skin starts to ache almost immediately. My toes got a little cold toward the end of the ride, but it was actually a pretty pleasant ride.
Last year, in similar temperatures, I noticed a gap between the top of my ski goggles and the bottom of my balaclava and that really hurt (like a "brain freeze") when it got cold.
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Old 01-06-14 | 02:50 PM
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I was out walking in -2šF the other day. I'm going to see how I like cycling in cold weather. I was just out cycling in the rain at about 40šF.
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Old 01-06-14 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by catadromous
-23 this morning with windchill -45. I put my bike in my van and drove to work, where I park about a mile away cause it's free. I got on the bike and was doing fine untill about a block from my work. My freewheel started freewheeling in both directions and I walked the bike the rest of the way. I'll see if it will hook up on the way home.
The pawls on your freewheel aren't engaging. It's happened to me too in extreme cold. That and other funny things can start happening when riding at those temperatures.

I don't have a fixed gear mountain bike, but IMO that is the way to go if you can handle the commute on one and you are going to be subjecting yourself to those kind of temperatures routinely. Almost nothing there that can immobilize you if it freezes.
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Old 01-06-14 | 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by catadromous
-23 this morning with windchill -45. I put my bike in my van and drove to work, where I park about a mile away cause it's free. I got on the bike and was doing fine untill about a block from my work. My freewheel started freewheeling in both directions and I walked the bike the rest of the way. I'll see if it will hook up on the way home.
I had some water trapped in my rear hub earlier this year and it froze up my hub, just like what you are experiencing. I pulled it apart, flushed it out with some alcohol and repacked the bearings. So far it's worked well down to -20F.
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Old 01-06-14 | 05:59 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by catadromous
-23 this morning with windchill -45. I put my bike in my van and drove to work, where I park about a mile away cause it's free. I got on the bike and was doing fine untill about a block from my work. My freewheel started freewheeling in both directions and I walked the bike the rest of the way. I'll see if it will hook up on the way home.
My freehub on my MTB did the same right before the holidays. It would go in and out in the cold until it never came back, even after warming up. I just got a new wheel as the old wheel had several other issues in addition. Tomorrow will be the first ride with it at -10. I would hate to have the same issue with a new wheel. My fixed gear commuter has had no trouble in the same temps as suggested by others. I should just get a fixed wheel for my MTB....

Last edited by john4789; 01-06-14 at 06:00 PM. Reason: freehub not freewheel
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Old 01-06-14 | 06:07 PM
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Super Cold

Tonight and Tues., it is to get down to -25F. Add in any Wind Chill you may make by riding and that number could drop dramatically. How low can you ride?
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Old 01-06-14 | 06:15 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Colorado Kid
Tonight and Tues., it is to get down to -25F. Add in any Wind Chill you may make by riding and that number could drop dramatically. How low can you ride?
For me... -52 F.

YMMV

For folks who are unaccustomed to snow, ice, and cold, winter cycling can be really difficult when you don't have the right gear or a bicycle that just is not equipped.

The studded tyres went on to my bikes in November and I have several bicycles set up for winter cycling... synthetic grease in the hubs, freewheel / freehub, and bottom bracket keep things running at extreme cold and in the case of my three speed, synthetic oil in the hub will keep it spinning smoothly at any temperature I could conceivably ride in.

Braking is also affected and you have to watch for ice build up on brake pads / rims... take a warm bike into a deep freeze and moisture will condense / freeze on the rims... my winter bikes rarely get warmed up and stay cold all winter.
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Old 01-06-14 | 07:35 PM
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Tomorrow morning will be my first commute in single digit weather. Mid-teens in previous winters were less than comfortable but nothing I would choose to avoid. I'm a bit worried about the equipment functioning well though. I have a 5 sp IGH that has not yet shown problems in cold weather but not as low as it will be in the morning. Should be interesting and in any case, is far better than having to sit down in a cold car seat - I hate that!
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Old 01-06-14 | 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
For me... -52 F.

YMMV

For folks who are unaccustomed to snow, ice, and cold, winter cycling can be really difficult when you don't have the right gear or a bicycle that just is not equipped.

The studded tyres went on to my bikes in November and I have several bicycles set up for winter cycling... synthetic grease in the hubs, freewheel / freehub, and bottom bracket keep things running at extreme cold and in the case of my three speed, synthetic oil in the hub will keep it spinning smoothly at any temperature I could conceivably ride in.

Braking is also affected and you have to watch for ice build up on brake pads / rims... take a warm bike into a deep freeze and moisture will condense / freeze on the rims... my winter bikes rarely get warmed up and stay cold all winter.
Everything's relative, isn't it? My coworkers think I'm some kind of hardcore extremist suicidal madman for cycling 1 mile just below 0F. When I tell them I'm a lightweight when it comes to cold weather cycling... I don't think they believe me.
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Old 01-06-14 | 07:53 PM
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Did 30 mi in -17F today (wind chill -43F).

Nah, just kidding. brrrrrr.
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Old 01-07-14 | 05:44 AM
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Yesterday: 3 above, icy slick streets. No go.

This morning: 22 above, ice mostly melted, game on!
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Old 01-07-14 | 06:29 AM
  #48  
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Just rode in.



Yesterday felt colder due to the winds. 0° and calm wasn't too bad for 6 miles.
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Old 01-07-14 | 11:37 AM
  #49  
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9 degrees when I arrived at work this AM, a personal low for me. Roads were dry, just a bit of wind, and less traffic than usual. Other than my toes getting a bit cold, everything else was toasty.

An interesting note: Schools here had a 2 hour delay. My wife, who teaches, says that it's because they didn't want the kids to be waiting around in the cold. Obviously they didn't think this decision through:

1. Temps increased from 10 to 15 in that 2 hour period. Winds also increased causing the wind chill to be worse than earlier.

2. If parents can dress their kids for 15 degree weather, they should be able to dress them for 10 degree weather.

3. The buses have to contend with more traffic with a 2 hour delay, so the kids may have to wait at the stop longer.

I suspect the decision to delay was less about the kids and more about perception of potential liability or some such nonsense
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Old 01-07-14 | 11:59 AM
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I should have ridden today, despite the -19*F temps, it took me over an hour to dig out the driveway (again, shovelled for 2 hours twice yesterday, it just keeps drifting shut). The commute by bike is around an hour on snowy roads so I would have been to work before I got my driveway cleared.

I had to clear it so the rest of the family can get out anyway though.
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