Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

2013!! How Was your Commute Today?

Search
Notices
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.

2013!! How Was your Commute Today?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-14-13, 01:55 PM
  #151  
Senior Member
 
enigmaT120's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Falls City, OR
Posts: 1,965

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
25 degrees, dark, but clear and dry! The roads were dry, too. It's nice riding weather for this time of year. But then, I hate rain. Yet I live here.
enigmaT120 is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 02:55 PM
  #152  
Senior Member
 
EKW in DC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What month is it again? It was sixty degrees this morning, despite a stiff northerly breeze . Seems Like May, but it's January. Cooling off during the day, which I planned for, so it'll be a rare day where I dress warmer for the ride home than I had for the ride in.

2013 riding very nice so far indeed.
EKW in DC is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 02:59 PM
  #153  
Senior Member
 
whitenhiemer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 90

Bikes: 2013 Giant Escape CIty

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Last night I went to the gym. I guess I had a good sweat going on from my house to the gym, as when I finished my workout I walked out and found a nice sheet of ice had frozen to my seat. I had to chip the ice off so I could ride back home.



Time to warm back up.
whitenhiemer is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 04:31 PM
  #154  
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Still very cold (for NorCal). Needed skullcap and ski gloves.
caloso is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 05:36 PM
  #155  
Senior Member
 
metabike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 393
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
A couple of firsts for me this morning:
  • First ride ever in single digits (4 degrees, no wind thank goodness but I ended up overdressing).
  • First ride ever on studded tires (studded mountain bike tires, good grief the rolling resistance!).
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
gt snow tires.jpg (91.9 KB, 8 views)
metabike is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 09:43 PM
  #156  
Super-spreader
 
Mr. Hairy Legs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: where black is the color, where none is the number
Posts: 887

Bikes: shiny red tricycle

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1167 Post(s)
Liked 101 Times in 97 Posts
Got snowed on both ways! It was fun, but I'm worried that tomorrow may be too icy.
Mr. Hairy Legs is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 10:09 PM
  #157  
Dirt junkie.
 
SnowJob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 406

Bikes: Surly Ice Cream Truck, Peacock Groove road bikem, Salsa Fargo

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
A little chilly!
SnowJob is offline  
Old 01-14-13, 10:36 PM
  #158  
Senior Member
 
Rudz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fontana, California USA
Posts: 228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It was about 50 degrees, and very very windy, if the wind wasn't trying to blow me down, it was pushing my back making me have to work much harder than usual and made the uphill ride extremely difficult. But I refused to get off and walk my bike and I just gritted my teeth, curse and lowered the gears and pushed harder. Gotta say that 5 mile ride sure as heck tired me out. I have a balaclava to help me stay warm in the cold and some cold weather/wind gloves I picked up from Harbor Frieght real cheap, wore my bright green hoodie and goggles to keep dirt and wind out of my eyes. But no matter how bad the weather I tell myself that it won't stop me from riding.

I don't have a car, if I can't ride to work then I don't get paid and since I'm a temp they'll fire me in a heart beat. Worst case scenario is I take the bus home, but to me its a waste of 1.50 because i have two arms and two legs that work just fine.
Rudz is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 12:01 AM
  #159  
Bicycle Commuter
 
Bluish Green's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
20F and a nice ride home - and I was surprised to see 4 other bicyclists out (which is more like what I see in summertime).

One was a very rare sight indeed... a salmon with a rear blinky light. That one dominated my thoughts for several blocks afterward. Why on earth would you put a red blinking light on the back of your bike... and then pedal on the left side of the road, against traffic? Who is going to see the light? Why??

Perplexing.

A great commute, though.
Bluish Green is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 06:26 AM
  #160  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Merrimac , MA
Posts: 1,370
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times in 89 Posts
It was a very nice commute to work today, the temp was 30f when I rode through town with clear starry skies. What a pretty sight!! I was a little overdressed on my upper body but better that than to be cold the whole way to work.
essiemyra is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 07:07 AM
  #161  
Belt drive!
 
vtjim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Posts: 2,614

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
30F/-1C with a headwind this morning. I saw a dead opossum on the road. Blech.
vtjim is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 07:11 AM
  #162  
Senior Member
 
tarwheel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896

Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Nice ride this morning with cool temps in the mid-40s F and light mist. Since forecasters were calling for a rainy day, I felt like I got off easy with the mist. They totally blew the forecast yesterday, calling for rain most of the day and we didn't get a drop. We are stuck in a weather pattern with a cold front stalled over NC, which means it's cloudy every day and the forecasters don't have a clue whether it will rain or not, or how much if it does. Yesterday the predicted rain stayed to the NW and it moved even farther away this morning. It's looking right now like we'll have the same weather all work week, so I'll have to take my chances with the rain or miss a week of riding.
tarwheel is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 07:55 AM
  #163  
Senior Member
 
locolobo13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Phx, AZ
Posts: 2,116

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Liked 2,646 Times in 952 Posts
26F this morning. Coldest so far this winter for me.
locolobo13 is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 09:02 AM
  #164  
Senior Member
 
FenderTL5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 794

Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yesterday afternoon, the most unfavorable conditions I've ridden in so far; Sleet and freezing rain temp right around 30°F.
The ice was building up on the exposed part of the bike and the top of my helmet. Otherwise, "I" was warm and dry.


Overcast and 32° this morning but there's more wintery precip in the forecast for this afternoon.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
icea.jpg (88.9 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg
iceb.jpg (89.7 KB, 10 views)
FenderTL5 is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 09:21 AM
  #165  
Senior Member
 
Rudz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fontana, California USA
Posts: 228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
33 degrees but no wind, so it was great.
Rudz is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 09:23 AM
  #166  
ouate de phoque
 
dramiscram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Posts: 1,781

Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
-8 celcius, strong headwind, light snow, dry pavement, very nice commute.
dramiscram is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 10:39 AM
  #167  
Senior Member
 
arsprod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 2,043

Bikes: Fairdale Weekender Drop, Motobecane 29LTD, Cannondale H400, Basso Coral

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 183 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 14 Posts
18F this morning, left early so about 1/3 of the ride was in the dark. It was my first commute on my new (to me) winter bike that I finished this weekend. I bought the frame at the local bike co-op, the rest of the parts were from my wife's old bike and my boxes o' parts. The only things purchased new were fenders and a chain. I'm really happy with it - next steps are studded tires and eventually drop bars.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMAG0629.jpg (100.3 KB, 11 views)
__________________
I'm slow, go around
arsprod is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 10:59 AM
  #168  
Senior Member
 
EKW in DC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Feels a little more like January today than it did yesterday, though still kinda warm. Temperature in the upper thirties to low forties for the ride in, with fog and drizzle. Actually like riding in those conditions, so no complaints from me there, though with all the puddles around me it was a good morning for fenders and lights. Looks like similar weather for the ride home this evening.
EKW in DC is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 12:03 PM
  #169  
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
The new year is off to a bad start for me. I've only had a couple of days that I've been able to commute so far. There's just too much ice on the local roads, and I've already had a moderately painful fall about a month ago. Oh well, I'm getting back into swimming at the local gym until I can get on my bike and start commuting again.

I really miss Az this time of year.
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 12:29 PM
  #170  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Snohomish County, WA
Posts: 63

Bikes: 89' Trek 400

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
low 30s, dry and clear. I got up a bit later this morning, so the sky was getting bright. The pavement was lovely, because blackice was gone!
whk1992 is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 03:54 PM
  #171  
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Respect to the kid riding a unicycle to school (RCHS in West Sac). I like your style, kid.
caloso is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 05:35 PM
  #172  
Senior Member
 
PDX Reborn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: PDX
Posts: 187
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by caloso
Respect to the kid riding a unicycle to school (RCHS in West Sac). I like your style, kid.
We have a few of those around Portland. Portland "Keep It Weird"..gotta love it!
PDX Reborn is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 06:13 PM
  #173  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: WKY
Posts: 730

Bikes: 2014 Trek Crossrip LTD, 2013 Raleigh Misceo

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Clear and 25F this morning with a constant 10-15mph headwind. Not too bad. It started to spit snow about 3:30 pm and by 4:30 it was full blown sleet! Not really all that heavy, but by 5:00 the roads were starting to be covered. Since I don't ride in the snow I'm not really prepared for it. The sleet seemed to offer a bit of "crunch" so i went for it. I took it slow and easy. Had a fellow in an SUV roll up beside me and ask if he could give me ride somewhere. I thanked him but declined. Must have felt sorry for me! The Bontrager H2's didn't slip, but they certainly would not be my choice of snow tires! At any rate, I made it. Probably won't get to ride in the morning.
downwinded is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 06:34 PM
  #174  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Posts: 311

Bikes: '23 Devinci Hatchet Carbon Apex1 '19 Norco Bigfoot 6.1 ,'12 Motobecane Turino (killed by dog crash), '12 Trek 3700 Disc

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 74 Posts
I've got Marathon Winter tires now on my Trek 3700 Disc bad-weather-bike. My commute is 16km each way, all highway - and now that there is snow there is no shoulder to ride on. The only thing I fear is the snowplow coming up from behind me... I hope it will miss me rather than make my widow rich.

I'm glad I use toe clips as it allows me to switch between sneakers and winter boots as required (over socks or sealskinz insulated socks). WPB tights over anything from nothing to varying types of thermal leggings, WPB shell over anything from short-sleeved shirts to varying types of thermal tops, balaclava, earmuffs, ski goggles, rain cover over my helmet and either non- or insulated gloves inside my pogies.

So far so good. As always the wind is not my friend... especially in the winter here as it has often been 50-70+ km/h

Friday morning the morning low is expected to be -22*C. Likely windy as hell. lol

Between the MTB, studded tires, extra gear for changing conditions, wind and who knows what else, my commute has grown from 30 minutes in the summer to 45 minutes or longer.

I better be fast as hell come spring when I switch back to my frankencommuter!

LOL

Last edited by Bearhawker; 01-15-13 at 06:36 PM. Reason: forgot gear
Bearhawker is offline  
Old 01-15-13, 09:45 PM
  #175  
Super-spreader
 
Mr. Hairy Legs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: where black is the color, where none is the number
Posts: 887

Bikes: shiny red tricycle

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1167 Post(s)
Liked 101 Times in 97 Posts
Hovering around the freezing mark today... I had to be pretty careful with ice patches. Nice to not have rain to deal with though!
Mr. Hairy Legs is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.