2012 - How Was the Commute Today?
#201
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Did not have to ride uphill both ways but did ride into a south wind on the way into work and then into a north wind on the way home. Wore short sleeves and shorts on the way in, tights, long underwear, jacket and hat on the way home. Gotta love the ever changing Texas weather.
#202
Tractorlegs
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Today couldn't have been a better day for commuting - The pre-sunrise morning ride was 51 degrees, and the afternoon was 60 degrees with a 15 mph tailwind. Wow, what a day!
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#203
GATC
But ALL of the parking lots I tried to string together as a low-traffic route home were occupied by yokels working on their donut/roostertail skillz.
#204
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Today could have been titled "The Ice Bike Cometh" or "A Bike For All Seasons".
Last night as I was heading to bed I looked out to see a heavy snow storm underway, I checked the weather and the forecast was for a slushy, icy commute in the morning. I pumped up the tires on my "Ice Bike"- an old Specialized Rockhopper (Ice Breaker) I got for $200 and set up with studded tires, nice fat fenders, a rack and lights.
It performed like a champ as I slogged through two inches of wet snow. It was like riding with the brakes rubbing for the ten mile commute but it was good work out and I got there in good time.
Last night as I was heading to bed I looked out to see a heavy snow storm underway, I checked the weather and the forecast was for a slushy, icy commute in the morning. I pumped up the tires on my "Ice Bike"- an old Specialized Rockhopper (Ice Breaker) I got for $200 and set up with studded tires, nice fat fenders, a rack and lights.
It performed like a champ as I slogged through two inches of wet snow. It was like riding with the brakes rubbing for the ten mile commute but it was good work out and I got there in good time.
#205
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A windy ride in, with a head wind pushing me backwards. The temp is not too bad 44f (7C), but with a nasty wind chill. Hopefully, the wind dies down a bit before the end of the day, but days that start out this way, usually end the same way.
#206
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The temperature was 51 F and it was raining when I got up, but a cold front was passing through so I figured it might clear up by the time I normally leave (6 am). However, it started raining even harder when I got ready to leave, although the radar was showing that the showers were almost passed, so I hung around and did some work on my computer. The front took longer to pass than I expected, so it was 7:15 by the time I finally left, but it was worth the wait. The rain had largely ended, the wind had shifted to the north and the temperature had dropped 5 degrees. So, what started out as a potentially soggy commute or driving day, turned into a fantastic ride with perfect temperatures, a nice tailwind and my first morning commute in daylight in many weeks.
#207
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26 F when I started out this morning. Ice covered several portions of the bike path, with patches here and there all along the path. The studded tires worked as advertised.
#208
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39 Deg.F when I started out, hit 35 at the lowest temp point. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary . . . except there was a bike car on the Metro train! Didn't have to fold up my folder!
Rick / OCRR
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#209
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Commute home last night was plenty warm, but the 20 mph headwind was less than welcome.
The winds reversed themselves overnight, of course, so I got a good workout coming in to work this morning. I came I in earlier than usual since I start my Wednesday class this afternoon (a transportation planning class that focuses on bicycles for the first several weeks from the looks of the syllabus, so I'm excited about that). That meant I actually ride in with the sunrise this morning. Quite pretty.
Looking like I'll finally catch a break though and the winds will be strongly at my back as I rode to class. 20 mph tailwind... WOOHOO!
The winds reversed themselves overnight, of course, so I got a good workout coming in to work this morning. I came I in earlier than usual since I start my Wednesday class this afternoon (a transportation planning class that focuses on bicycles for the first several weeks from the looks of the syllabus, so I'm excited about that). That meant I actually ride in with the sunrise this morning. Quite pretty.
Looking like I'll finally catch a break though and the winds will be strongly at my back as I rode to class. 20 mph tailwind... WOOHOO!
#210
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The ride was sweet. I am finding out the more I commute, the more savvy I get.. I am running ample lights now, and that makes a difference. Not nothing high end, but enough to be seen. Also, I am making sure when I merge into traffic on a shoulderless road, the first thing I do is to seek control of the car in back of me. Once I do that, there is no "hope they see me, or good Lawd don't let them hit me". They be coming at 50+mph on a 30mph road with no shoulder. I have to take the full lane for a hellish 3/4 mile. However, the more I am doing it, the better I get at handling it, therefore, make the ride more enjoyable and safer.. I am riding my 88 Centurion Ironman Expert this morning. It is outfitted with a brand new computer which I was fighting myself to stop looking at it too..
The Ironman just glided along the road at a swift pace. I was overdress to, not uncomfortable. After my breakfast stop, I shedded some clothes..
Good first half of the commute, the return leg home is going to be even better!!
The Ironman just glided along the road at a swift pace. I was overdress to, not uncomfortable. After my breakfast stop, I shedded some clothes..
Good first half of the commute, the return leg home is going to be even better!!
#211
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Snowstorm hitting the entire pacific NW. even usually-dry tricities was not immune and we had several inches (and more brewing as I type this). Studded tires worked admirably, but I definitely need to stay on the less-traveled roads as car tire-packed snow has been ridiculously slippery.
So I needed to be extra careful, and probably rarely went faster than 10mph but it was a ton of fun.
So I needed to be extra careful, and probably rarely went faster than 10mph but it was a ton of fun.
#212
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First commute since last Friday. Low 40s F, windy, and sunny. Beautiful. Can't wait to ride home, even though that wind will be in my face the entire way.
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Hey, Glad to see someone else commuted today in the "top news story North West snow storm". Took out the mountain bike and left the cyclocross commuter in the garage. I just hope the roads are negotiable on the way home. Most of the commute is on trail except for around Walmart in Richland.
#214
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#215
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What a nasty headwind coming in this morning.
Left work early in order to stop off at the bike shop for a quick repair to my squeaky front brake. I think I annoyed the mechanics but i needed it. They worked on the thing for about 25 minutes but I am now squeak free.
For some reason, the people in the elevator at my building all wanted to know about my winter commutes.
Left work early in order to stop off at the bike shop for a quick repair to my squeaky front brake. I think I annoyed the mechanics but i needed it. They worked on the thing for about 25 minutes but I am now squeak free.
For some reason, the people in the elevator at my building all wanted to know about my winter commutes.
#216
Tractorlegs
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Another great commute, about 40 degrees in and 60 degrees home. Most of the time here in the desert southwest the wind is still in the morning, and blowing from the west in the afternoon - therefore the morning pre-sunrise ride is always still and enchanting, and the afternoon spin home always has a tailwind because I live on the east end of town. Couldn't be a cooler setup!
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#217
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All the slush from yesterday was today transformed into small ice crests, if you know what I mean. Tiny lanes of solid ice, which once you were in, couldn't get out of. Going downhill, my shoulders went way, way up close to my ears and I was stiff as a tin man. Literally petrified...
So no, not a great start of the day. Hopefully the ice will be slush again once it's time to go home.
So no, not a great start of the day. Hopefully the ice will be slush again once it's time to go home.
#218
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Just chilly this mornning at 24f (-4C), but no wind, and that was nice compared to yesterday, which was like riding in sand.
#219
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Chilly coming in...will be chilly in the office today, forgot to pack my bag with some critical articles of clothing.
#220
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No ride today either, which makes it a whole week since I was last on the bike. -44C with the wind chill doesn't allow much margin of safety on a 50 minute ride. After the 10 minute walk from where I parked my car, the front of my legs were getting numb. I really love my down jacket on days like these. I save it for days that are below -25.
#221
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I expected a fast commute this morning with a tailwind, but my legs just didn't have it today. Perhaps it was the cold as the temps dipped into the 20s for the first time in a while, plus I got caught at every long traffic signal and got very chilled waiting for the lights to change from red to green. I was hoping the red lights would give me a break since it's my birthday, but they are cruel masters. On the bright side, it will be a sunny day and I'm sitting in my warm office now drinking hot coffee.
#222
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21 F, which is not bad at all when it's dry with no wind like it was this morning. The ride would have been great, but for the two long detours off the bike path path to get around trail maintenance activities (tree limbing). They've been working along the trail for the last two weeks, but hopefully they'll finish soon.
#223
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18 F with no wind when I left the house. It was so peaceful and quiet. For whatever reason, there was ice on my left glove on the fingers. Couldn't figure out where the water or ice came from.
#224
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3 NoVAs in a row? I ride from McLean as well. I guess you mean the Custis detours right? Those are pretty annoying.
27 or something, but i left late and there was little wind and a little sun, so it was perfectly comfortable.
27 or something, but i left late and there was little wind and a little sun, so it was perfectly comfortable.
#225
Tractorlegs
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No ride today either, which makes it a whole week since I was last on the bike. -44C with the wind chill doesn't allow much margin of safety on a 50 minute ride. After the 10 minute walk from where I parked my car, the front of my legs were getting numb. I really love my down jacket on days like these. I save it for days that are below -25.
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