Polar Vortex
 

Next week is to be round two for the Polar Vortex. This time it is to bring the same mind numbing cold and Snow it did the last time. How are you getting ready for this nasty weather and will it affect your commute? (Are you still planning to ride?)

I wimped out and drove to work for most of Round 1. Going to ride through this one.

Rode through the last one; I'll ride through this one.
Three layers and goggles;I'm good to go.

I drove too. It was -29 with the wind chill here. I'm not sure what I'll do this time. So far it doesn't look like it will be quite as cold. I'm sick of driving.

I drove too but I plan to try out riding with two pairs of socks and my ski goggles. It's only supposed to be super cold here on Wednesday before getting back up closer to normal.

I will ride with a long sleeve shirt on. Other than that, no changes.

I had a jammed shifter on my studded tire commuter for the last one. So instead of pedaling and keeping warm, I was standing and freezing in a snowdrift waiting for the bus.

Hope to redeem myself for this go 'round.

on a -20 C, I usually go on a wool midlayer with jeans followed by a windproof/waterproof pants & jacket.. then I have a winter mitt and toque to match it up..

another item that really helps me is a wool balcava(name?). got mine military issue off fleabay. Its warm and thin enogh to fit under my helmet with no fit issues.
actually I ordered two, cause after riding into town, it is wet, so when leaving I put on the dry one, then both are dry again by morning

I seriously considered riding when it was -8F and blowing hard. Then I realized that something could go wrong and it would be very painful. I decided against it, and I took the subway. Maybe I could have added to my macho points by making it on bike, but I don't really regret my decision. I might ride this time, but I haven't decided yet.

I go home at night and throw darts at pictures of Al Gore.

Working from home today. Going to be icy and cold for at least a week around here. Studded tires go back on the bike, and I'll have to dig out all of my cold weather gear.

This weather is driving me nuts. All of January has been bouncing down into the teens or single digits, then a few days of bouncing up into 50s, then down. Then up. Just yesterday, I rode 14 miles because the weather was near 60°f with sun and light wind, and today the high is 15°f with snow/ice on the ground.

Just pick a season and stay with it already! :)

Rode today. Going to work was fine, -26 F with wind chill. Coming home got a flat tire and there was no way I was going to fix it in the cold.

Now I Don't Feel Bad
 

Glad to hear some of you are riding through this stuff. On Wed., it is down to -15F (Wind Chill) with 8"+ of drifting Snow. No way can I ride in this deep of Snow. (Never mind the bone chilling cold.) Gotta drive again. :cry:

I ignore the wind chill numbers because

1) I make my own,
B) It all depends on the direction I'm heading, and
iii) they're designed to guide people (and are tested using people) who are just standing around, doing nothing. I also make my own heat.

5F coming home tonight, and I still have my pit zips open.

EDIT: Looked it up, -8F windchill on tonights commute. I was mainly crosswinds, but a few blocks of headwinds.

I drove today. It was 27 when I needed to leave, which is doable for me. But we had sustained winds at 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. That is not doable for me, not combined with those temps.

Good commuting today...somewhere in the 0-5F range (not sure about wind chill). I saw several folks getting their cars jumped.