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May give up and surrender tomorrow...
We got eight inches of wet snow today. There is a slush base to it that will freeze solid tonight in the 10 to 14 degree F temps. Snow plows have only hit about half the roads I use. Additionally, the two townships I travel have little salt left as a result of previous storms. So, I may have to surrender and stay home tomorrow. This will be the first day this winter I won't be able to commute by bike. I know, I should stop whining and get over it.
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when I was a teenager, I had a 10 mile commute with no backup plan. One time, there was four inches of snow with rain on top. I took my entire planned commute time to get 1/10 of my commute. Fortunately, someone gave me a ride. Rode home though. Some conditions just can't be ridden in.
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Originally Posted by NOS88
(Post 16465583)
I know, I should stop whining and get over it.
After a perfect record of 1596 consecutive workdays bike commuing round-trip (seven years, five months), I missed a ride home in December due to snow, turned around and called-in one day in January due to snow, then had a mechanical that kept me off the bike for two days. Excrement happens. |
Catch a virus quick, sick days don't count on your commuting calendar :thumb:
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Originally Posted by tsl
(Post 16465806)
After a perfect record of 1596 consecutive workdays bike commuing round-trip (seven years, five months), I missed a ride home in December due to snow, turned around and called-in one day in January due to snow, then had a mechanical that kept me off the bike for two days.
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I used to say it was the plows that scared me on a snow-commute, but the closest I ever came to getting picked off was by an retracted wing-plow on a 60 deg sunny day while I was on a wide shoulder. If the road is not too deep and you have good lights its not out of the question to go with it. Of course if you have a coworker favor you could call in for a ride that would aleviate the issue ;)
7 yrs in a row... That is a record that makes me jealous :) None of my bike commute range jobs have lasted more than a year or two in a row to do that... Grr. |
Originally Posted by tsl
(Post 16465806)
Yeah, no-one likes a whiner. ;)
After a perfect record of 1596 consecutive workdays bike commuing round-trip (seven years, five months), I missed a ride home in December due to snow, turned around and called-in one day in January due to snow, then had a mechanical that kept me off the bike for two days. Excrement happens. |
Don't feel too bad. I've only ridden 3 times this year because of this weather. It's either too snowy, too icy, or just too cold.
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tsl is the bad-ass-est bike commuter on this forum!
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We don't get snow here in Bakersfield, CA very often (in fact there hasn't been snow on the streets since Jan '99), but reading this post just gave me a thought that may help those of you who do have to deal with snow/ice. Maybe it's a dumb idea, that could never work on a practical level, and maybe they already exist, but imagine something like a peddle powered snow mobile. In my head I'm seeing it as having a beefy mountain bike frame, the rear tire would be a fat tire with 1/2" metal studs as well rubber knobs for traction, the front forks will drop down to two short ski like planks that are attached with large ball sockets (which will allow the user to make corners a little easier), the gearing on the cranks will be low enough to allow the rider to more easily propel the bike, and possibly there could even be an electronic assist with variable assist levels. Again I'm not really sure how practical this would be, just a crazy idea.
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I rode to work (to the train station, that is) yesterday morning; it was raining. Not much fun but no problem. But when my train got to the city, it was snow; not so much fun either, being a heavy wet snow. Rode the citibike to my office, not bad. But it was really coming down! Left early, citibike again, got to the NJ station where there was so much snow (6-7") I could barely get my locker open. Riding wasn't too bad! Wished for thicker tires (I have 32 mm's). Bike was a mess!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...203_142432.jpg Getting to the station today wasn't bad, surprisingly, though a little slow. Missed the express, caught the local and a lot of sleep. But I'm leaving early again today, and tomorrow looks like I'll be staying home. Gonna be a sloppy one. |
Originally Posted by NOS88
(Post 16465583)
Snow plows have only hit about half the roads I use. Additionally, the two townships I travel have little salt left as a result of previous storms.
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Originally Posted by tsl
(Post 16465806)
Excrement happens.
I will remember that one |
Commuting in PA without the snow is something to be proud of :eek: With, you deserve a medal!
When I lived in Vermont I tried to ride year 'round. Through some CRAZY snow and winter muck regularly. There used to be thread in this forum about "extreme commuting" or something like that, we would retell our exploits in. After a moment of clarity, I said "enough is enough" Im not a martyr :cry: Sometimes my Wife gives me a ride in. Sometimes I ride my lil peewee scooter, Its Ok I tell myself :lol: |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 16466742)
tsl is the bad-ass-est bike commuter on this forum!
Originally Posted by The Velominati
Rule #9
If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period. Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work. :thumb: |
Originally Posted by mtbikerinpa
(Post 16465895)
I used to say it was the plows that scared me on a snow-commute, but the closest I ever came to getting picked off was by an retracted wing-plow on a 60 deg sunny day while I was on a wide shoulder….
Originally Posted by buzzman
(Post 8128373)
I have been riding a bike for transportation purposes in New England winters for almost 40 years now. A few things I've observed during that time:...
#4) In really bad conditions the only motorized vehicles on the road will be snowplows, emergency vehicles and people in cars who are too stupid to stay home. That means that the bicyclist must be prepared to take evasive maneuvers and ride with extreme caution when in the proximity of any motorized vehicle during the winter. #5) Snowplow drivers are super dangerous. Don't mess with them. They have often been driving the plow in horrible conditions without sleep for 24-48 hours and are soused in coffee and possibly worse and they may not be able to discern whether your reflectorized vest and blinkie is an alien spacecraft landing or the beginning of a migraine headache but the last thing they'll expect it to be is a bicyclist... #10) Winter cyclists are definitely marching to the beat of a different drummer.;)
Originally Posted by DX Rider
(Post 9336865)
I was just curious how other people approach the situation...
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In fact, many of us here are Rule #9 cyclists. That said, I rather enjoyed the warmer temps (mid-20s) and clear dry roads the past two days. Rode the Litespeed today, blissfully unencumbered by fenders, panniers, winter cycling boots, or studded tires. I rode the three-seasons commuter yesterday. I had to haul in the week's worth of work clothes and food. Then I hauled home the first of two shipments of bike parts for the parts bin. Four cassettes, six chains, several packs of bar tape, and I can't remember what else. Cables, housing, brake pads (disc and rim), pulley wheels, and whatnot will be ordered after the next paycheck. All this due to Rule #9 cycling. Winter and rain are murder on drivetrain parts. |
If it's bad tomorrow I will more than likely skip it .
I've managed to get through each storm so far this winter but got caught heading home late in one of them and grinding along in deep snow I broke my chain. I do carry a chain tool and set about to fixing it in the freezing cold- the temp was close to 10f and the pin on the chain tool snapped. All this happened about 3 miles into my commute and I ended up walking the 7+ miles the rest of the way. Sometimes it's just better to wait it out and ride another day. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 16466742)
tsl is the bad-ass-est bike commuter on this forum!
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I'm curious as to why it is such a big deal to commute every single day.... I wonder if our obsessiveness turns some lurkers and occasional commuters off.
I ride when I want. I take the bus when weather is crappy. Luckily that isn't too often. |
Originally Posted by gerv
(Post 16468717)
I'm curious as to why it is such a big deal to commute every single day.... I wonder if our obsessiveness turns some lurkers and occasional commuters off...
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 16441436)
…occasionally my wife gives me grief about riding in severe temperatures and says, “You only want to ride today, so you can write about it on Bike Forums.” :lol:
Originally Posted by sherbornpeddler
(Post 16459709)
Headline: Warm Weather Rider Motivated by Brave Bundled Bikers!
Jim from B's wife's observation ought to be embroidered on one of those layers. You all are terrific, inventive and "cool". …It is nice to roll. I do enjoy the hikes, snowshoeing and XC skiing but rolling is like an old friend. Thank you Brave Bundled Bikers.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 16468349)
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Originally Posted by NOS88
(Post 16465583)
We got eight inches of wet snow today. There is a slush base to it that will freeze solid tonight in the 10 to 14 degree F temps. Snow plows have only hit about half the roads I use. Additionally, the two townships I travel have little salt left as a result of previous storms. So, I may have to surrender and stay home tomorrow. This will be the first day this winter I won't be able to commute by bike. I know, I should stop whining and get over it.
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Originally Posted by gerv
(Post 16468717)
I ride when I want. I take the bus when weather is crappy. |
Originally Posted by gerv
(Post 16468717)
I'm curious as to why it is such a big deal to commute every single day.... I wonder if our obsessiveness turns some lurkers and occasional commuters off.
In fact, I'm no more committed to my preferred mode of transportation than the typical car owner. |
Some people rise to a challenge and some do not.
Not trying to compare my short easy commute to anyone else. It was a challenge for me to begin. With just a few adjustments, I found out it was not hard at all. Even down to temps in the teens. Same thing with adverse conditions. With the right "tools" and some determination, its doable (sure not gonna say riding in sgl digits with bad road conditions is easy!). Some rise to the challenge. Others look at it as impossible before they have even tried. I see the same thing in the workplace. "I don't know how to do that", "No one has shown me how" or "I've never done that before". It seems a lot of folks are not willing to tackle the task and figure out what needs to been done as they go along. Others embrace the challenge. |
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