Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

[Aggie_Ama]

Okay, I went through the last thread and picked everyone who said "yes" to joining in. I think the consensus was just tell us how you did each week, come by for encouragement, etc... Fall started Monday so the challenge did too, goes through March and the beginning of spring.

It is going to be a struggle for me to do my hybrid commute 2x weekly but I got to try. I am trying to lose weight and this is an easy way to force myself to do exercise even if I don't want to. :p I would have the goals but I don't have enough time to figure out why the print screen function is not working with me tonight. Jeez I only do it for work daily. Do we want those showing, I have it saved on my computer? :)

Outspokin'
tulip
pardes
Bicicilista
BikerHen
danadear
ms pepperpot
Aggie_Ama
Kacie Tri-ing
indigoiis
kfergos
twin
Eden
TsPoet
Grog
TattieFritter
tjf9
andtcktoo
SouthernBelle
GLC1968

[Grog]

My goal: Commute on my bike 90% of the time (9 times per 10 days). Excepted are the days when the temperature is below 1 degree Celcius (not often, where I live) at 7 a.m.

[andtckrtoo]

Count me in, too! I'll be riding 2-3 times a week. I'm riding in today and I rode in on Monday. Depending on what is going on tomorrow, I may ride in then, too.

[Aggie_Ama]

Added andtckrtoo to the list.

My goal is 1-2x a week, hybrid commute for a weekly total of approximately 50 miles. The commute is husband drives me to work in our car on his way to work and I bike 27 miles home. He does the same two days, our gas guzzling Dodge Truck stays parked all but one day a week (the day he mountain bikes) and we are using 1/2 the gas we used to. Actually even less than 1/2. We used to fill up every 5 days, now we put half a tank in on payday (every Friday). We drive about 100-150 miles a week on the truck instead of close to 400. We do use the truck to go camping or mountain biking together, so it gets driven more in the weekends but still only 2-3 days a week instead of 5-7.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm in. Shooting to maintain 3 days a week.

[indigoiis]

My week:

Mon: 12 miles (bus and back)
Tue: 63 miles (work and back
Wed: 12 miles (bus)
Thur: 0 (need to run errands so drove to bus.)
Fri: 0 (it's going to storm tomorrow, so driving to bus.)
---------------

87 miles for 9/22-9/26

Thanks for helping me log this... I am giving myself incentives. Since I haven't filled the tank in the truck in over a month, I bought myself a Pearl Izumi whisper jacket in high-vis yellow and a new pair of winter gloves.

Gots to have the SWAG.

;) Indy

[Eden]

M + W 12 miles round trip
F - I'll probably bike to my volunteer position, 20 miles round trip.

I can't really make a claim to have goals.... its just how I get to work.. I don't have a parking pass so I can't drive -they actually patrol the neighborhood for cheaters!!!! My only other option is the bus and with a 20 min commute by bike vs 40 min by bus its kind of a no brainer.

Last evening was my first commute of the year in the cold rain though, sigh.... its not supposed to be winter yet. It is supposed to warm up for the weekend.

[GLC1968]

Count me in, too!

I'm not sure if my goals are realistic or not, since I haven't lived through a winter in this state - nevermind with a commute that is this long.

I commute 19 miles each way. I do this at least once a week right now. I'm actually up to once a week with a full commute (both ways) and once a week with a half commute (drive to work, bike home, bike in the next day, drive home).

My goal is to get to two full commutes and one half commute per week by the end of October and to maintain it all winter. I don't know if that's even possible as I have no idea what winter will bring in terms of weather. For now, my goal is to get to get there before October is out. That'll be 114 miles a week. I'd be happy with that. :)

[ms pepperpot]

tomorrow's my last commute before being on holiday for 2 weeks. I expect it to be a lot colder/wetter/darker when I get back. I'm currently riding a heavy borrowed bike which only has one gear which I can use. I'll get my lovely new bike about 3-4 weeks after I get back. My first challenge is to carry on commuting most days for those first 3-4 weeks (assuming I can keep the borrowed bike for that time). Once I get my new bike I'm hoping I'll be so excited it will be much easier to keep going and I'll set a new challenge. (I have 6 miles each way)

[kacie tri-ing]

I am trying for 4 out of 5 days. I have a 15 mile round trip, but school starts very early! I am already in the dark:)

[twin]

My commute is only a total of 7 miles a day however I run most of my errands on a bike. I will try for 5 out 5 days. Fun! I have not missed a school day yet. I know my commute is really short.

[tattiefritter]

Ooh, me too.

Goals:

Continue commute to work once a week (barring ice and strong winds)
Commute to running club as much as possible
Continue bike errands (Library, farm shop, butcher etc).

I did my first commute to the running club last night, its just over 7 hilly miles each way. I cycled in nice and steady and had quite a break at the other end as sorting out some shoes for Cross Country races over the winter (New Shoes!).

Then ended up doing the hardest run I've done in a long time with a faster group which we somehow managed to tag along with. Over 6 miles and they went looking for hills to run up at warp speed :eek:. The overall pace was also fast and as I was one of the slowest I didn't get my usual rest waiting on other people. I loved it though, nice to work hard. My legs were shot by the end. I had to keep reminding myself I still had to cycle home, people were offering me lifts home!

Then it was a sllooooowwwwww ride home, though I have to say my legs felt a lot better after the ride home than they did at the end of the run. They feel ok this morning, if I had just got straight in my car as normal they would be quite stiff I think.

The ride home was also the first commute this year I did entirely in the dark. I'm not sure if I'll do this every week. I won't be next week as I will be saving my legs for a trail race on Saturday but every little will help.

[Aggie_Ama]

I did my two days this week for a total of 43 miles. DH's route home by car is past me and both days I was feeling a little weak, normally I tell him to go home but I took the short ride this week. Tuesday I was really hungry but yesterday I was just out of gas. There was a headwind and I was really fatigued all day for some unknown reason. Felt a little defeated to need the ride both days but the truck was only on the road 1 day this week. ;)

ETA- I should feel good. I did 23/27 miles Monday, just skipped the county road home to get dinner quicker! Yesterday I still did 20/27 miles. It was hot and a headwind, I could have just waited at work and made DH come get me which is more miles on the car because it is out of his way but following me home is on his way. What is this defeatist attitude? Rubbish.

[tulip]

Week 1: I'm out of town down on the Chesapeake Bay, so no commute. I was planning on just going for a ride or two this week, but here in eastern Virginia we've had quite a stormy spell. More rain and serious wind in the past few days than in a long, long time.

But tomorrow is the River Ride and I'll do the metric. And then I lead a ride on Sunday. Not commuting miles, but miles nontheless. I'll be back home on Monday and the post office commute will resume.

[Biciclista]

week 1
Monday and Tuesday almost don't count as they were my 99th and 100th commutes of the year. I would have done anything to finish THAT.

But today was my true first day of the challenge and i did ride in. I ride in the morning with DH most days and I'm not sure he appreciates the fact that pokey mimi is even pokier in the dark!
thanks for doing this!

Tulip, your hair is amazing!

[divingbiker]

Tulip, your hair is amazing!

Mimi, I've met Tulip, and I don't recall her hair looking like that!:D

[SouthernBelle]

I commuted 3 days this week. I would have commuted today but the road bike REALLY needed to go to the shop which is a bit of a drive away.

I took it over a long lunch. I was shocked when they said they hoped to get it back to me by the 9th! They're that backed up. Sigh.

So all my commutes will be on the Nyala for the next couple of weeks.

[tulip]

Tulip, your hair is amazing!

Makes wearing a helmet a bit of a challenge...Divingbiker remembers correctly.:rolleyes:

[Grog]

I have commuted four out of five days. On Thursday I had to stay home to await a delivery. Next week it will have to be 5 out of 5 to meet my objective... unless I end up going to the office by bike on the weekend.

I had pouring rain (and a flat tire) on Wednesday, and it's getting chilly in the morning. But the colours are so beautiful!

[andtckrtoo]

My goal for next week is to ride 3 out of the 5 days. One would think this would be especially easy for me as I live a whopping 2 miles from the office, but I find I'm good at making excuses as to why I need the car. It's supposed to be cooler next week, so if I have to ride home over lunch to feed our sick pup, I can do so without returning to work all icky and sweaty (I sweat so fast - I swear). The other two days, well, I have to take Jimmy (aka spoiled mutt) into doggie daycare. Hard to ride with him on the bike.

[bikerHen]

First week? Five rides! So far so good. Only one kind of rainy morning commute. It has been getting into the high 30's for my AM rides. But the PM rides are just perfect. :D bikerHen

[Aggie_Ama]

You gals are amazing, I cannot bear to ride in the rain. For one thing since it rarely rains here you should see us attempt to drive in it. I don't want to be on the road with those yahoos. We carpool on rainy days, still helps but not as much.

[Eden]

Up here if you refuse to ride in the rain you don't get out much from Sept - May...... The worst part is thinking about it. Once you are out there its not so bad.

[kacie tri-ing]

Four out of five last week! My one day driving was so I could run in the morning instead of the evening!

[tpage]

Hello everyone, I would like to join the challenge. I live in Northeast Mississippi. My challenge is to ride to college everyday, unless it is pouring down rain. I road everyday last week. A daily mileage of 9.5 miles with hills. My goal is to lose a little weight and get in shape.

[Grog]

Welcome to TE, tpage, and to the fall and winter commuter challenge! We look forward to your reports. :)

**

Here's mine: Did 4 out of 5 this week, had to stay at home one day to receive a shipment and ended up not going anywhere for the day, just working in my study at home.

So next week would have to be 5/5 (my goal is 90%)! However I already know that Monday morning will only be a half commute: I'm lending a bike to someone so I'll ride the bike to the office so she can have it, and then I'll come back on transit at night. So it might be 85% for the week.

[out_spokin']

Week 1 went well!
M - telecommute day, but rode to Pilates - 4.8 miles and a car-free day!
Tu - to/from bike locker at bus stop - 9 mi
W - telecommute/rest day
Th - to/from bus + to/from work - 12 mi
F - not a work day, but still got the Pilates ride in - 4.8 mi

To start this week off I rode to/from my Quaker meeting yesterday on the road bike - speedy and fun! (11.7 mi)

Commute on, everyone! ;)

[Grog]

With no further ado I hereby change my goal from 90% to 80% of days. Even in the summer I don't actually commute by bike 90% of the time, I stay at home almost one day a week to work. As I don't like coming short of my goals, I'll change this one for a more attainable one. :)

VoilÃ*.

[danadear]

Do we have a new thread each week? I forgot to post last week. I did my weekly ride on Wednesday and it was great. Weather was beautiful. I made an adjustment that worked out wonderfully. I'm going for two days this week. Tomorrow and either Thursday or Friday. Have a good week everyone!

[SouthernBelle]

Last week's report:

Last week I commuted 3 days. It would have been 4, but I had to drive to leave off my bike at the LBS.

This week I commuting on the Nyala which is actually quite fun.

I'm hoping to get in 4 days this week.

[tjf9]

I commuted all 5 days last week. On Thursday, I actually commuted to a restaurant, had dinner with the family, then got a ride home, but it was close to my normal commute. ;) Fortunately the weather is cooperating so it's not a challenge yet. My real problem is getting out of the office before dark. I had one dark commute last week - which reminds me, I need new batteries for my lights!

[tennisgirl43]

I'd like to join the challenge, too. I don't work currently, so my goal consists of running errands by bike.

I've committed to not drive my car this week, unless there's no way to avoid it, and only use my bike. With the gas shortage in Georgia, I figured that was a small way I could help with conservation.

I rode 22 total miles today, with a trip to Lowe's, the LBS, Kroger, and Starbucks.

[Aggie_Ama]

If you updated week 1, I put it below. Way to go gals!

Outspokin'- every day or telecommute
tulip
pardes
Bicicilista- every day
BikerHen- 5 days
danadear- 1 day
ms pepperpot
Aggie_Ama- 2 days, 43 miles
Kacie Tri-ing- 4/5 days
indigoiis- 87 miles total
kfergos
twin
Eden
TsPoet
Grog- 4/5 days
TattieFritter
tjf9- 5 days
andtcktoo
SouthernBelle- 3 days
GLC1968
tennisgirl43
tpage

[Aggie_Ama]

I went for a run last night and my legs feel, it was very hard not to just car pool with DH but that wastes more gas and I get stuck at work longer. Tonight I am riding home, don't know if the legs will support the full 27 miles or if I will hop in when DH passes this evening. I am hoping to go the distance since I will be less inclined in the winter. I even brought along my Polar monitor to see how many calories pedaling home burns. ;) Besides, tomorrow is a pure rest day and Thursday I will likely commute home again.

[indigoiis]

Week 2:

Monday - didn't ride, too much rain.
Tuesday - 30 in, 30 home.
Wednesday - can't ride - meetings
Thursday - can't ride - daughter has late class
Friday - 7 to bus, 30 home, weather permitting
Weekend - Plan on 40 miler.

[Aggie_Ama]

Well I did it, all 27 headwind filled miles! My polar shows I burnt 1252 calories!

My husband did tell me something unsettling this afternoon, still digesting how to deal with it. He said he was told a motorist was raped after her vehicle broke down at the very intersection I get stopped by a light daily. He said it was supposedly evening but not super late, exactly how it will be come daylight savings time. I may just ride my bike to my somewhere we can meet and he can get me. Anyone know if I could call the local sheriff to just see if that really happened? No details, just was there a rape there in the last month? I cannot find it in the paper but not every rape or violent crime ends up in the paper. Although I do wonder how his friend knew of it. Ugh it is really messing with me!!

I found the paper article about the incident. I have to decide how much I can handle riding through that area. There is no alternative to going through that area and once it is dark it is a really open area with no lights. I am hoping to get some mace or pepper spray before the time change.

[indigoiis]

This is a concern of mine as I travel through a dark area that is part of a bike path but behind a supermarket and a crappy area. I've already seen creepoids on the path in broad daylight.

I have a personal alarm I carry with me given out for free at a Women's safety thing. It isn't meant to call for help, it's meant to scare the hell out of an attacker (it has a really high pitched whine and flashing lights) - giving enough time to get away. I feel better carrying this. I also ride a lot faster through that area. And, I have lights on my bike and helmet.

Someone told me, if you are ever attacked, HOLD ON TO YOUR BIKE and make a lot of noise.

[kfergos]

Week 1 - 5/5 days
Week 2 - 5/5 days

I don't think I drove a car once during September. It is starting to be dark/dusky mornings and evenings, but I've got loads of lights, including my favorite, the Down Low Glow (http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow). I hear it's very noticeable even in just overcast or dim weather.

(Caveat: I do ride in a car on the weekends with the DH when we're going places; he's really not into going by bike, so that's that. I'd really like to convince him to use his nice new bike that we just got this spring more often, but he's convinced he just Does Not Like bike commuting/errand-running. :()

[Aggie_Ama]

This is a concern of mine as I travel through a dark area that is part of a bike path but behind a supermarket and a crappy area. I've already seen creepoids on the path in broad daylight.

I have a personal alarm I carry with me given out for free at a Women's safety thing. It isn't meant to call for help, it's meant to scare the hell out of an attacker (it has a really high pitched whine and flashing lights) - giving enough time to get away. I feel better carrying this. I also ride a lot faster through that area. And, I have lights on my bike and helmet.

Someone told me, if you are ever attacked, HOLD ON TO YOUR BIKE and make a lot of noise.

Good thoughts. We had already planned to have DH pick me up along the way, he eventually comes up on me but some days it is a little further than others. I am considering pepper spray but might look for one of those alarms. It is very isolated but such an alarm might startle someone enough to make them think again. Or long enough to call 911 and make them think twice. I am also looking for a women's defense class. I don't want to stop commuting, it is too good of exercise for one scum to ruin it!

[andtckrtoo]

I wanted to thank you ladies for starting this thread. I am feeling lazy today - from a lower body torture session, er, ah, workout, yesterday and could not bring myself to actually do a Spinervals this morning, but thinking of the promise I made to y'all, I hopped on Mike the Bike and rode in to the office. That nice little spin helped loosen a lot of tight things! :P

Put me down for 2 Days - I know I can do that, but I'll aim for 3.

[crazycanuck]

Wrong hemisphere :(

I thought about starting something like this in May for our cooler months but it seemed a bit pointless..:( :rolleyes:

Keep riding in the dark, it's not that bad!

[SouthernBelle]

I had my first really chilly commute of the season, low 40s. I hit the layers right, but might have been a little more comfy in full finger gloves. But I won't need them this afternoon.

[Aggie_Ama]

Week 2- I did one day for 27.05 miles. Carpooled with DH today so we can do some shopping after his doctor's appointment.

[Eden]

While I don't work today I'm probably going to go over to see a lecture on "performance enhancing drugs in sports" (I work at a hospital - interesting people/lectures are a fringe benefit :rolleyes:), so I'll be adding an extra day. It's not raining right now, but it has that look of utter downpour.... I guess I better get used to it.

On a nice note - we had a bicycle commuter focus group yesterday at work. They really are committed to making cycling to work as desirable as possible.

[tulip]

Today was my first commute of the week (I had to travel to a funeral earlier in the week). It was chilly, and I almost didn't go, but I'm glad I did. Only 7 miles, but that's 7 miles more than yesterday! I saw my across-the-street neighbor at the post office (she had driven). She said I was so good to ride my bike; I think she was kindof embarrassed that she drove, although I certainly don't judge her for not riding a bike. I actually had mail, so it was successful commute!

[Geonz]

Well, if kfergos is allowed in, can I come too? I don't even drive on the weekends - I drive when I rent a car (or if the Subaru dealer lends us one for our bike rides for sag, like last Sunday :) )
I just got a ***really*** bright little flashlight, a Fenix something or other from www.batteryjunction.com . I realized that it is a nice little defense device. It's blinding. Cruising in the dark dark last night I realized it's also pretty good for requesting oncoming drivers to dim their brights. (We don't have too many creepzoids around here... ) It was expensive ($50) but it's as bright as my big battery-in-the-water-bottle-carrier light that broke last week was (I had it jammed between the other stuff on the handlebars and must have stretched the wrong part and broken some wires). The $50 also got me a cute holster for it ... and it's a sweet piece of machinery ... and I have sort of decided that the "I can get that for cheap from China via Walmart" is a bad idea, and getting things that are well done and will last is a better one. (It's an Xtracycle thing ;) ) WIth what I save being without a car, I can do it.

[out_spokin']

Well, the commute's over for the week, about to hit the airport for a biz trip. I made 2 for 3 rides though, and I ended September with 69% - just above the goal! Definitely need the lights in the morning now, and the temps are falling into the normal fall zone...glad to have this group to help stay excited about being on the bike on those early mornings!

And yes - the more the merrier -- car-free, car-lite, any kinda bike commuting is a happy thing in my book.

[kacie tri-ing]

I made four out of five again...I'm happy with that!

[kfergos]

5/5 - and with a yucky ingrown toenail. Ew. That's all I'm gonna say on that.

Did I just see Xtracycle? How's commuting on one of those? I'm thinking of converting a bike with an Xtracycle kit, but it looks involved and expensive. Is it worth it?

[Grog]

Assuming that I'll make it home all right, it's 9/10 for me this week. On Monday I brought my spare bike to a colleague in my department who's just visiting for two months and previously bikeless. So I came back by transit. Otherwise, I commuted by bike every day! Not a whole lot of rain yet. Fall foliage is splendid, especially looking through my yellow lenses!

[SouthernBelle]

4/5 days for me this week. Yay me! A new personal best. & today I rode in a skirt.

[Eden]

M, W, Th, F for me. I got in an extra day by attending a lecture (at my workplace) on one of my off days. Today was my first good and rainy commute.

The lecture was actually about performance enhancing drugs in sport, though not at all what I was expecting. It was by an ethicist, who is *for allowing* peds... he had some compelling arguments, but for me it comes down to the governing body of a sport can make any rule they want - without even having to justify it. What is a sport but a list of mostly arbitrary rules to play and create a score, by which a winner is derived. So no matter how good the ethicist's arguments were if the governing body of the sport says no PED's then to go against that rule is cheating and that should be the core issue, not whether or not the reasons that the drugs are banned are valid or not.

[Geonz]

For a shorter reading, omit the passages in brackets :)

When I first saw the Xtracycle, I emailed a friend saying "I just saw something that fortunately is too expensive to tempt me." I was surfing for panniers, racks, *something* so that I wasn't so frequently saygin "I'd have taken the bike, but I had to bring _____."
Then I spent more time on the website, and also priced out the "racks and panniers and .." - especially since I *use* my bike. Quality matters.
I questioned the quality. Was this some quirky gadget that Californians with excess discretionary income got for show? Would it fall apart?
It was the history page that shifted me. These guys had been down in Central America with "bikesnotbombs" and had noticed bikes being overused... and went back and got a grant and got Stanford engineers to figure out how to elegantly, simply make a bicycle a more functional cargo machine.
Oh, and of course a chunk of the Xtracycle profits supported getting bikes down there.
I sent a few emails to Xtracycle. Laughter Medicine answered them.
I asked my bike shop guru who is ALAS AND ALACK moving to Wisconsin in a week or two... "ever heard of Xtracycle?"
"A reasonable carrying alternative," he said. And by the way, he'd be glad to make it happen to my bike. In fact, his eyes dilated... his breathing quickened...


[[[[[
[ I drove 735 miles to my sister's house for the fambly "Epiphimas" gathering. On the way I decided to go for it. I got to my sister's house 3:00 California time and called Xtracycle, Friday January 6... and got their voicemail. "You've reached Xtracycle. We decided to take a few days off at teh end of the year. If you want to reach ___, call ____. .... Laughter can be reached telepathically."
At 7:00 California time, 10:00 Baltimore time, after quaffing a few beers with the siblings (I have 5), I wanted to share that message with them. I called again... and a human answered. I hung up 'cause I was certainly not prepared to *talk* to somebody... and figured that there's was a business like the one I'm in and the phone was at somebody's house - and that, like we sometimes did, they'd forgotten to change the voicemail message :)
]]]]]

I ordered it. And I was just now inspired to peek at my blog, 'cause I had it going since 2005, so I wrote about the process. Snork... what could I know?

{{{{ My bike shop guru put it on. Therefore, it wasn't complicated. I think it takes a competent (but not excellent) mechanic to do it. (Tho' my guru is excellent.) Since it goes on lots of different kinds of bikes, you have to decide exacty how parts are going to get connected. But - once it's on there, it's on there.
I thought I commuted a lot. I thought the stuff on the website about "it will change your life" was California drivel.
I think I thought wrong.
It is so not complicated. It simply turns my bike into a practical vehicle.
The bags are like the back seat of my car, except after havin the Xtra for a year, I sold my car to my brother because in this college town I just don't need one. I've got the money in the bank, so I can get one... it's been a year and a half, and Illinois winters... and boy, do I *NOT* want a car. I'm FREE!
}}}}



I love my Xtracycle.
It rides like a bike. Carries like a truck.
And horribly nonmechanical Xious does not have to carefully load it so it doesn't fal over. I do have to make sure the silly straps don't dangle into the wheels, but I can put *anything* in there and it just stays and rides so easily... it's lke the back seat of a car. Only... what's a car?


((( I especially love watching people see it and THINK.
They think "Crap! She got that bike on PURPOSE!" Not "'til I can get a car."

Oh, and I was the third one in this town... and now there are a dozen.
And now longbikes are going mainstream - Surly, Trek, other folks are makeing them and Xtra has put the design online as "open source." I think this is amazingly gonadian of them. So you can make your own if you want :)
)))))

[kfergos]

Geonz, thank you for the excellent run-down of the Xtracycle. You've given me quite a bit to think about. Do you remember how much it ended up costing total, with having your wrench install it and all?

[Geonz]

I am thinking $500. (However, I sometimes have to make my wrench let me pay him for labor.) I think the Xtra has gone up a bit in price since 2006 (like all things bicycle - my bike shop guys warned us it would happen iwth the inflationary forces :( )

It has been very much worth it. The blender, now, that was a silly thing to get (but tossing my pop-tart money in the jar for it lost me about 5 pounds...) - but the bike... it really *does* change the whole definition of a bicycle.

[bikerHen]

Week two in the bag. I'm still 5 for 5. Had my first Fall rain commute this morning. Nothing like an hour ride in the rain!:p I LOVE my fenders! bikerHen

[twin]

5 of 5 although I may have one of the shorter commutes.

[tattiefritter]

Have had a couple of enforced no computer days as I needed to get stuff done!

Did the shopping I needed to do by bike on Saturday and cycle commuted to work and back on the Monday. No riding to running club as I was resting up for a trail race and didn't go.

[Aggie_Ama]

If I have time I will update who is still in the challenge or has joined (hi Sue!). I did make my 1x a week but we did use the truck 2 days and this week we will be driving it multiple days while we continue to work on the landscape project that is taking over our time right now. Our monthly fuel consumption on it is still way down and has been since we got commuting bikes in April. :)

[indigoiis]

Week 2 totals

9/30 60 miles
10/3 37 miles


Week 3 plan:
10/6 - 13 miles
10/7 - 60 miles
10/8 - 0
10/9 - 0
10/10 - 12 miles

[Grog]

The real fun starts this week.

There is a forecast of rain for almost every day of this week, and the heavy winds are going to start tonight. Hopefully I'll make it home before the 75 km/h gusts hit Vancouver, and it will have died down tomorrow. It can be pretty crazy to see the big Douglas firs at my office window swinging in the wind. On those days I definitely avoid riding as some of those big conifers have a bad habit of shedding branches. I don't want to be hit by a tree on my way home!

And I'm going to get a new pair of tires tonight. I've been getting a flat a week - always a different cause - since I started using the current tires on my commuting bike. I'm not very interested in having to change flats in the rain, cold, and wind.

Good luck everyone for this week!

[kfergos]

I'm going to have to change my goal for this week, since on Friday I'm getting my new bike (:D :D :D) and that involves some driving, ironically enough:

Mon - 2 rides
Tues - 2 rides
Weds - 2 rides
Thurs - 1 ride (dropping old bike parts off to put on the new bike; hard to ride home sans saddle and tires!)
Fri - 1 or 2 ride(s), depending

Minimum Total: 8 rides for the week of October 6 through 10.

[SouthernBelle]

I just looked at the weather for the rest of the week.

I knew there was a chance of showers today, so I have rain gear in the pannier. But tomorrow there is an 80% chance including thunderstorms! I guess I better pack extra shoes and socks to keep dry.

[bikerHen]

Made it through week three. Althought I did have to have my husband pick me up on his way home from work yesterday. I was a little careless with my rotary cutter and cut a deep slice in my index finger. It's right where I grab the brakes on my road bike. So I'm on my mountain bike for a few days. :rolleyes:

Morning commutes are getting a little cooler. I've had two rides in the mid twenties this week. Brrrr to start but once I get moving nice and crisp! bikerHen

[Eden]

Brrr indeed.. and its getting darker too.

M + W 12 miles to and from work, F 22 miles to and from the animal shelter.

I bought myself some Tire Sparx (led's that fit onto your valve stems) for added side visibility.

[Grog]

Cooler and darker, but I love wearing the wool, and I enjoy riding in the dark (provided I have good lights, which I do).

100% for me this week. I even had more kilometers than usual because I did a few detours on the way to and from work.

Happy me. I love this.

[Geonz]

It got chillier here but mainly still just jacket weather... I wore gloves some days but it wasn't really necessary.

Next week still nice!

Buzzed by a driver two days... same guy (WKG 44). Not so close that I can say "you did that on purpose" - but there's a whole left lane, dude, goin' the same way on this one way street - so I'm gonna have my camera at the ready next time, just to send a message (and be sure not to get sloppy with lane position).

[indigoiis]

Week 3 actuals... it's getting darker out there!

Week 3:
10/6 - 13 miles
10/7 - 60 miles
10/8 - 0
10/9 - 0
10/10 - 0 miles
10/11 (today) 30 miles - had to work an event.
Total week 3 miles: 103


Week 4 - tomorrow (it doesn't count, cuz it's not commuting) I'll ride 25 with the Mister cuz he got his new old Colnago (another one) and wants to test ride. It's a beauty. Maybe I can get some snappies.

Mon. 10/13 - 60 (buses running reduced schedule for holiday)
Tues. 10/14 - 20
Wed. 0
Thur. 0
Fri. 30 or 60, depending on how I feel...

[SouthernBelle]

I did 3/5 days.

Last night I bought a handlebar basket. It's detachable. It will make it easier to buy milk by the gallon!

[kfergos]

It's been gorgeous weather for the most part, and I've been enjoying using all my bright lights in the dark. As I expected, I did 9/10 commutes to work:

Mon - 2
Tues - 2
Weds - 2
Thurs - 1
Fri - 2 (the way home was on the new bike!)

Then on Saturday the new bike and I did a couple quasi-commuting trips together that I don't know if they count or not:

- 13 miles round trip to the grocery store for croissants (mmmmm)
- 12 miles round trip to the ice cream place for root beer floats (mmmmmmmmm)

So I either did 9 or 11 commutes this week, depending on how you count.

Total miles: 155

[SouthernBelle]

Where are all our challenge commuters?

Riding in this morning, I had some brake pad (center pull) rubbing going on the front wheel. More an irritation than anything else. I stopped to buy some luncheon yogurt and reached down and tried a quick adjustment but that didn't cure it. Blech.

[sfa]

Is it too late for me to join this challenge? I was dithering on the lights issue, but I bit the bullet and got headlights, then installed fenders this weekend so I'm all set to go for year-round cycling. My goal is only one day per week--my husband's work schedule and my after-work schedule is such that doing more days isn't a realistic goal at the moment.

Sarah

[SouthernBelle]

We're easy. :D It's never too late. I think you can include any utility cycling too!

[out_spokin']

Well, came home from the biz trip with a cold, so 0/0 last week, and decided to give myself one more recovery day today without the frigid air blast in the still-weak lungs. I'm gonna dig out the warmer gloves and facemask tonight since we've dipped into the below-freezing mornings! Happy to have this challenge group to help me get back into it - I'm already prepping in my brain for what I'll need to hit my goal the next couple of weeks.

+1 on the "not too late to join" sentiment!

[twin]

5 of 5 for the 3rd week and I am trying to add some miles before school and a little during my plan because my commute is not to long. Fun stuff.

[Geonz]

I got to ride in the long way to day :-) Short way is 6.7 miles, but going out the South end of town I can make it 18.

[Grog]

'twas Canadian Thanksgiving today and I actually did not go outside at all today.

I shall be commuting on all other days this week.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have been carpooling. Today it was pouring this morning and I am sorry but 2" of rain in an hour is not riding weather. I am not sure I can keep up the challenge, I am finding with the long commute it is really fatiguing to try. :(

[ms pepperpot]

I'm back finally. Should have been back on Sunday, but due to unforeseen circumstances I was back on tuesday night. I didn't get home then until 9pm so didn't ccyle today. I don't think i'll get to this week, becasuse of other complications.

So it's back to cycling on monday. I think I need some encouragement. I haven't cycled for 2 plus weeks, I've been in a considerably warmer climate for the past 2 weeks and now am back to drizzle and dark nights( including dimness in the morning already). I need need need to keep going, otherwise i'm scared that i'll have fizzled out completely by the time i get my LHT. Help pleeeese!!!!!

[Geonz]

You can do it, you can do it

YES YOU CAN! YES YOU CAN!

Get on the bike! Get on the bike!

Get yourself some reflective waterproof pants (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,87166_Outhere-Smartwear-Smart-Tex-Reflective-Pants-Waterproof-For-Men-and-Women.html) like the ones I scored (and I got them for 7.95 - two pairs came to under 20 bucks including shipping!!!) ... damp still feels GOOD!

[SouthernBelle]

Get yourself some reflective waterproof pants (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,87166_Outhere-Smartwear-Smart-Tex-Reflective-Pants-Waterproof-For-Men-and-Women.html) like the ones I scored (and I got them for 7.95 - two pairs came to under 20 bucks including shipping!!!) ... damp still feels GOOD!

How did you get them for 7.95? It shows 49.95.

[Biciclista]

I'm back too. I rode yesterday, to surprisingly fresh cold weather! It felt really good to be on the bike. But today I drove, had to take son to airport (and it's raining)

[Grog]

I had to take the bus today to accompany a friend with lots of luggage halfway to the airport.

Watching all the people with ipods on the bus, I started thinking that maybe I should have a dedicated one-day a week where I take the bus only to listen to podcasts and radio shows that I otherwise would never have the time to listen to. I won't wear an ipod on the bike and I really don't go anywhere far walking these days.

I feel a bit confused about this. I love to ride to work - a lot - but I feel that I'm missing on a type of downtime that I love, too. :S

[kfergos]

I tell you ladies what, my legs are pooped. I've ridden every day since October 6, at least 25 miles each day. That feels like a lot of days in a row of riding. I just have tonight's commute home -- it's another gorgeous fall day here in New England -- and then I'm calling it quits for the weekend. I have a hankering to go for a walk with my camera and catch some of this fall foliage while it's still glorious.

Maybe this is counting my chickens, but this week:

Mon - No commute; 90-mile Tour de Landry's
Tues - 2/2
Wed - 2/2
Thurs - 2/2
Fri - 2/2

Edit to add: Yep, rode home on Friday. That gives me 8/8, since I took Monday "off" (only in the commuting sense, of course!).

[Geonz]

I got 'em, I got 'em :) :)

Yea, the online price was $50, which - had I been sure they were what they are - I might have gone for anyway, but the "deal of the day e-mail" had them at $7.95.

Apparently (according to somebody who used to work there) this happens now and again... a boo-boo. Maybe a number crossed so that the price was pulled in from another product?

At any rate, I have two of them now :) Wore one today.

Rode in the short way today 'cause I have to be early and there's a to do list a mile long of stuff to try to squeeze in, and I should ahve gotten it doen earlier this week, so I'm trying what doesn't *really* work and trying to motivate with the "reward" of riding longer if I get the list done.

However, maybe it is working because I *did* actually write the list down this morning. (I'm more than a tad absent-minded.)

The guy in WKG 44 who passed me closely so he could get to the red light faster? Welp, that happened twice on my 9:00 arrival days... but today I was out earlier and welp, I reckon I know where he lives now. His little car was parked on that street... I've mentally composed a "let's be friends" note, keeping in mind that he's prob'ly somewhere on a continuum of completely psychotic and a potential health hazard to a young driver who simply didn't *think* of actually moving the car over a little (it's a two-lane, one-way street and the other lane was empty) because young male drivers sometimes don't *think* period.

But that's purty far down on the todo list, which I am going to STOP being distracted from right nOW :) :)

10 commuting trips for 100 commuting miles this week :)

Today was first morning that I really *did* need to be wearing those gloves and the hat.

[indigoiis]

This week I didn't do as much as I would have liked, but I had a visit from Aunt F.

Mon: 3 miles
Tue: 0 - Thurs - 0
Fri: 30 miles home.

[Grog]

This morning should have counted double. It was POURING rain. I mean, really really raining HARD. I didn't think about finding proper booties (actually I thought about it but by then it was too late and I couldn't waste time looking) so within 5 minutes I could feel 2 inches of water slushing around in my shoes. I remembered that feeling all day as I stood in wet shoes. (thankfully I had wool socks and was never cold)

I know exactly what I have to do, I just need to make the time.

6 / 8 this week for me (Monday was a holiday).

[kfergos]

This morning should have counted double. It was POURING rain. I mean, really really raining HARD. I didn't think about finding proper booties (actually I thought about it but by then it was too late and I couldn't waste time looking) so within 5 minutes I could feel 2 inches of water slushing around in my shoes. I remembered that feeling all day as I stood in wet shoes. (thankfully I had wool socks and was never cold)

Oh man, I know that feeling. Where your feet go "squelch, squelch" every time you take a step, and you can literally pour water out of your shoes at the end of the ride? I don't know if you've found this, but I find that if I resign myself to wet feet, it actually isn't that awful. If you try to fight the foot wetness, though, you're doomed to misery the whole time. Good for you riding anyway!

Yay for wool socks! I'll have to try some this winter. Last winter I did lots of synthetic, but really wasn't pleased with the result.

[out_spokin']

As planned, took Monday off to help recover from my cold, so 2/3 last week. No other supplemental riding, but got some reflective sidewall tires to up the safety quotient for the dark morning rides for now, and soon to be evening ones too. Gotta install those tomorrow and get back in the swing!

[bikerHen]

Another week done and I'm still 5 for 5! AM rides are getting colder, PM rides are getting darker. I guess I have to face it, winter is just around the corner. :o bikerHen

[kfergos]

As planned, took Monday off to help recover from my cold, so 2/3 last week. No other supplemental riding, but got some reflective sidewall tires to up the safety quotient for the dark morning rides for now, and soon to be evening ones too. Gotta install those tomorrow and get back in the swing!

Post pictures of the sidewalls! Are those also puncture-resistant? How much were they? I'm interested in getting a pair, but I also really like my tough Gatorskins for not getting flats.

First day with a freeze warning this morning! BRR.

[SouthernBelle]

It was rather cold here too this a.m.! I had on 2 layers of wool and full-fingered gloves. I was rather chilled for a moment as the wool doesn't necessarily cut the wind, but once I got going I warmed up.

I am interested in the reflective sidewalls too! Wonder if they come in 26"?

[Aggie_Ama]

Post pictures of the sidewalls! Are those also puncture-resistant? How much were they? I'm interested in getting a pair, but I also really like my tough Gatorskins for not getting flats.

First day with a freeze warning this morning! BRR.

They make reflective Specialized Armadillos which are a tough tire like the GatorSkin. ;)

[Biciclista]

despite a forecast of light rain, I rode my bike in to work today. That guarantees a wet ride going home since the sky is falling as i write this.
what was I thinking? Rain pants!!!
eeek!!!

[kfergos]

They make reflective Specialized Armadillos which are a tough tire like the GatorSkin. ;)

Ooooooo! I just checked them out (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=42101&eid=355). It's probably better if you hadn't mentioned them... :D They do look really cool. I wonder if I have $110 between the cushions in my couch??

[Aggie_Ama]

I wonder if I have $110 between the cushions in my couch??

Lol. I always wonder that when I want something. They aren't cheap tires but they pretty bomb proof.

[Biciclista]

wow, THAT is expensive!

[ms pepperpot]

I cycled in this morning - thanks everyone for the encouragement.

It was quite pleasant then, now I'm looking out of my office window at the rain, it's getting dark and I need to head home quite soon. I have to cycle home though as I'm not in the office tomorrow and I'll need my bike.

[SouthernBelle]

Ah well. They don't seem to come in 26s anyway. I did spend more than that on my roadbike tires, even from biketiresdirect.

[ms pepperpot]

I have asked for reflective walls on my new bike and that will have 26 wheels. I think they'll be Schwalbe marathons. Maybe try looking at some of those.

[Grog]

This morning it was pouring rain and I realized that my sweet partner had ridden to work wearing my booties. A lot of my gear had been left at my locker at work (long story) and I just wasn't going to ride in the rain.

I went to the bus stop (with a bag full of clothes to leave in my locker for the week) and waited...

And waited...

And waited.

Two full buses went right by the half-dozen people waiting there with me.

After almost half an hour of waiting, I decided I would work from home and walked back. Now I couldn't spend that much time just trying to get to work.

Meanwhile, dozens of bike commuters happily rode in the rain on the nearby bike route. I was so envious.

You won't catch me trying to get on the bus on a rainy day again!!

[ms pepperpot]

I think commuting may need to go on hold for 2 weeks, unless it's definitely not going to rain.

I started home this evening in the rain, and soon found out that the slightly dodgy breaks on my dad's bike (which I'm borrowing at the moment) don't work at all in the rain. It was clearly going to be too dangerous to cycle all the way in the dark, rain and relatively heavy traffic.

I stopped at some friends who live very close to my work, hoping to leave the bike there and get the tube the rest of the way. unfortunately they were out and i didn't want to leave the bike locked up on the street so i ended up walking and pushing the bike 6 miles back home (including stopping off at the super market as I'd already planned). I finally got home, rather bedgraggled, at 9pm.

I'm going to start a countdown until 4th november when I get my new bike - then I'll be back cycling everyday I promise.

[Biciclista]

i have to leave work in 10 minutes and i hear thunder and the sky is filled with big black clouds!!!!

eeeek!

okay, 1 hour later. It is POURING. It started to rain less than a mile from home. I barely got wet. . . this time.

[bikerHen]

I have asked for reflective walls on my new bike and that will have 26 wheels. I think they'll be Schwalbe marathons. Maybe try looking at some of those.

I've got 26" Schwalbe Marathons on my LHT. Great tires! They are a little on the heavy side but, I've yet to have a flat, which makes up for the extra weight in my book. :D The reflective side wall is very visible at night and is holding up well going into their second winter. I got them at bike tires direct. bikerHen

[SouthernBelle]

Ms. P, What kind of brakes do you have on that bike? Sometimes a piece of sandpaper or a file used to rough up the surface of old brakepads helps.

[out_spokin']

I'll post a picture this weekend per your request! I got the Schwalbe's after finding some good testimonials on this site and others. I'm running the 26" x 1.5 slicks, cost me just over $30 each at my LBS. They've got a nice Kevlar belt - there's a Marathon Plus super flat-stopper version but in this climate I don't need THAT much protection, but I'm doing enough side-street night riding that I really wanted the reflective stripes.

[ms pepperpot]

Ms. P, What kind of brakes do you have on that bike? Sometimes a piece of sandpaper or a file used to rough up the surface of old brakepads helps.

very old caliper brakes - there's a good chance the brake pads have never been changed and the bike's over 15 years old. i've just given them a bit of a sand and will see how they go, but I'm a bit weary of using this bike if it looks like rain.

I have a new motivation to try though. The brooks saddle I've bought for my new bike has just arrived. I'd like to temporarily put it on this bike so I can start breaking it in for the next couple of weeks until new bike day.

[kfergos]

I admit it. This week I wimped out one day and had my husband pick me up from work. In my defense, he'd be going right by my work anyway -- we go to a church thing Tuesday nights that takes us in the opposite direction of my house. Normally I ride for the challenge, since it's hillier than my normal commute, but this Tuesday I just didn't feel it. :rolleyes: So...

Monday - 2/2
Tuesday - 1/2
Wednesday - 2/2
Thursday - 2/2
Friday - 2/2 (First below freezing commute! 29 degrees F when I left, about 30 minutes late, at 6:50)

And I ended up getting one of the Armadillos with reflective side walls, not because I couldn't wait but because I got a nice slice in my rear tire that I felt required a replacement tire (as some of you who commented on my tire-replacement question (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=27470) know!).

[bikerHen]

I only got 4/5 this week. :( Alarm malfunction. It went off an hour late on a day I do my early ride to the gym before work. It totally threw me off for the day. Although my sister took half a day off, I left work early and we did a late afternoon 20 mile ride. :D bikerHen

[SouthernBelle]

Last week I only got to ride in 2 days. :mad: Hoping for 4 this week as I will need the vehicle on Wed.

It was rather nippy this morning!

[sfa]

Haven't updated since signing on for this challenge--I cycled once last week and twice the week before (my "goal" is just once a week), but am not going to manage this week at all--we've got 6:00 appointments with the kids every single day this week except Friday, and on that day I need to be home early for critical trick-or-treating hours! I'm going to throw my bike in the car one day this week, though, and at least try to get in a lunchtime ride or two.

Sarah

[Grog]

Last week I did 4 out of 5, as I worked from home on the Monday (after my sweet partner had left with part of my rain gear and the bus would just not come and get me!). On one of those 4 I had a flat tire on the way home and I had to take the bus because I didn't have the time to change it. :(

This week I'm not working on Monday, but I plan a 4/4 for the rest of the week. It's getting quite chilly in the morning. And it's going to rain. Lovely. :)

[Geonz]

Started another week here ... nippy (39) and it's pretty windy now.

I was thinking about what a bike-commuter-centered consumer market would include. OnStar. My bike is my vehicle, after all.
A huge issue with bikes is being stolen. I want my little phone to tell me, "This is OnStar. Your bike has been moved, but you have set it in Park position. Would you like us to activate the Stinky SquirtSeat now?" And I would approve adn then that special bag for those who sometimes have bladder control issues with sudden stops would deploy...

If I didn't ride and get more oxygen to my brain, I woudln't think of these *brilliant,* marketable ideas...

[Biciclista]

last week i was very pleased with myself, 3 commutes. Today I started off this week nicely; and I plan to ride at least tomorrow too.

[ms pepperpot]

I manage 3 last week. One day I wasn't working in the office. On Friday it was raining and I was worried about the brakes. I've now managed to fix the brakes temporarily - they're still not great in the rain but not unusable.

I've cycled both yesterday and in this morning, and they've both been chilly but lovely sunny mornings - very nice. I have my new brooks saddle on now, so need to keep going to start breaking it in.

[SouthernBelle]

Drat, it was cold this morning. Even though I had on a heavy jacket my tummy got cold. I need to pull up those cinch cords.

Sad note: I ride through an older section of town where most of the old woolen mill workers used to live. Overnight, one of the houses burned down. It was all taped off and still smoking.

[Geonz]

*Finally* got up early enough to go in the long way this a.m. I was fighting the 'snooze or not" battle when I heard the weather guy say "winds from teh ESE" and BOING! I was out of bed. I didn't realize the concept of tailwind had such power ... (but "tailwind" meant that yea, I had enough time to ride long and not rush).
I rode the folder so I could go even faster.
The street that was closed M-W (my valid reason for nto going the long way) was still closed, actually, but I could get through on my bike.
I ordered a small mess of blinkies from http://www.batteryjunction.com (under their "nite-ize" section), and a mess of rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.

[SouthernBelle]

Well that's not fair. The only tailwind I get on my commute in would be from the north. I'll do without that.

[tattiefritter]

October wasn't a great month for me, I had a bad cold at the start so didn't commute to work at all after the first week of October :(, my motivation always seems to take a dip after a cold. We've had a pretty crap month weather wise in October, lots of strong winds and rain. However we seem to have gone straight into winter now as its been cold and frosty all week - it's currently gorgeous outside but I'm on a rest day as have a running trail race tomorrow. I did get all my kit ready for Tuesday but it was icy when I woke up (don't ride on ice anymore).

I have been pottering about doing errands on the bike over the month but only a couple of miles at a time so not massive amounts.

Hopefully November will be a better month, not so much wind please weather gods (or rain either, or even just give us one of them at a time rather than the double whammy!)

[Geonz]

Hey, the Weather Channel here was all about talking about your bad weather... condolences!!! Here's to improvements for November!!!

[Grog]

4 / 4 this week, but I did part of the way back on the bus tonight to go with a colleague for dinner... but after dinner I cycled home.

It was POURING this morning. But I have pretty good gear. Including the terribly dorky but oh so effective helmet cover. All I'm missing is "rain legs."

Dorky, you say? Mine is yellow.
http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/CyclingClothing/5010575s_v1_m56577569830710581.jpg

But oh! so great.

[SouthernBelle]

I got in 3 days this week. I could have done 4, but on Friday I just felt like wearing a skirt and heels. :p

I'll have to drive Monday. So Tuesday will probably be my first post-DST commute home in the dark and full test of my lights.

[kfergos]

This week I had trouble with motivation. Partway through my Wednesday morning ride, my down low glow stopped glowing, so now I'm down to just a front and rear light -- both plenty bright enough to be safe, but I do feel much more visible with bright blue light emanating from my down tube.

Mon - 2/2
Tues - 1/2 (45 and rainy, and I had to go, not home, but to our church group [which I was leading] and sit around for hours. Recipe for being freezing? You bet. So I skipped it.)
Weds - 2/2
Thurs - 2/2
Fri - 2/2

We also had some pretty good windy days, which meant my route took much longer than usual. And I've been thinking about winter in New England, and how much I don't want to ride on ice or in snow, but it looks like I'll be doing that anyway. Oh well. I do have studded tires, but somehow they just don't help me feel that much more confident. It just wasn't a good week on so many levels.

[Grog]

I got in 3 days this week. I could have done 4, but on Friday I just felt like wearing a skirt and heels. :p

I'll have to drive Monday. So Tuesday will probably be my first post-DST commute home in the dark and full test of my lights.

So?
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/535008914_1b9e369395_m.jpg

:)

Granted, wherever you live is NOT Copenhagen. I just wanted to show off this cool blog.

[SouthernBelle]

Aware of it and read it frequently. Unfortunately, I'll have to be in 2 different counties.

[bikerHen]

Hey Grog, Love that helmet cover! It would go great with my dorky reflective vest and be much more stylish than my shower cap/helmet cover. :p Where can I find one? bikerHen

[Grog]

Hey Grog, Love that helmet cover! It would go great with my dorky reflective vest and be much more stylish than my shower cap/helmet cover. :p Where can I find one? bikerHen

Looks like REI sells similar ones:
http://www.rei.com/search?query=helmet+cover&button.x=0&button.y=0
(but without the visor, which I find very helpful)

MEC has them, with and without the visor + skirt at the back:
http://search.mec.ca/?N=10&Ntt=helmet+cover&bmUID=1225602483378

MEC is sort of the Canadian REI however membership is required to make a purchase (but costs about $5). I guess I could also arrange to buy one for you and get it shipped somehow. If the REI one doesn't suit your fancy and you want the MEC one, send me a PM!

[kfergos]

I forgot my bra this morning! :eek::eek:

Thank goodness I keep an entire spare set of clothes at work just in case!

[Biciclista]

well, this morning i broke rule #1. I rode in the dark and the rain!
It was not raining when we got up, and it was still not raining when DH stuck his
head out while i was eating my breakfast. SO i got all dolled up in my
hat, longfingered gloves, raincoat and rainpants. And sure enough, less than 2 blocks from my house it was raining. A few blocks later, DH put on HIS raincoat, because he WAS getting wet.

So now i have all my gear spread out in our little locker room in hopes that it will dry by quitting time.
It's supposed to rain all week, today might be the only day i ride.

[Geonz]

I've been known to drape things near enough to the 'puter so the heat helps (no locker room, and the'puter is under my desk and out of sight). Gore-tex and its imitators *rock* when it comes to being wearable home, too... rain slows me down but doesn't stop me!

[SouthernBelle]

Kinda dumb yesterday. On a whim, I decided to ride my roadbike in rather than the commuter, Ole Blue. This is no problem in the summer. But as I got ready to leave, I realized, "Duh, no lights."

Fortunately, I ride in well-lighted areas.

[kfergos]

Today I rode in heavy drizzle with a nice strong tailwind part of the way. About four miles into my ride, a guy flagged me down. He was standing next to his pickup truck and waving a piece of paper. When I stopped*, thinking he was in trouble, I found out that he wanted to help me. He explained that he went by me every day, that he lives in my town, and asked if I wanted a ride. His reasoning: (a) The weather's going to be getting colder soon; and (b) He's afraid I'm going to get hit by a car.

It was a very nice thought, but a little strange, too. I told him I'd ridden through winter before, and that I tried to be as safe as I could. Most of all I said "I do this because I like it." Then I thanked him several times for his nice thought. I don't know if he really understood why I'd choose to voluntarily ride in 55 degree rainy weather: His offer sounded, to me, like he thought I had no other choice but to ride.

* Stopping was exciting in and of itself: the road, freshly paved, had probably not gotten really wet before. I skidded, then started to fishtail a little bit before I eased up on the brakes. The disc brakes on my new bike work great even wet, but boy do they howl!

[Biciclista]

got in two commutes this week YAHOO!

[Geonz]

I get the offers for rides, too.
Car-culture people can't imagine voluntarily riding in less than ideal conditions... or that oh, for the sake of other values, I'm willing to risk riding in traffic. (No, I don't put myself above them. These are just my choices. I just wish more people could comprehend them ;) )

[Eden]

My husband has been riding or taking the bus. He gets people offering to drive him the block and a half to the bus stop.....

I've been doing my typical commute. Took the bus on Monday, because I had a rest day on the schedule and a team meeting after work (so coach would totally know if I was cheating ;) ) I don't think I can actually drive to work.. I don't have a parking pass and all of the parking is off campus.

[Grog]

It's raining extremely hard today.

I only have an hour-long obligation on campus.

I am afraid I will take the car. It's hard to believe.

I better leave a note to my husband because if he sees the car gone when he comes home he'll be sure it's been stolen!!!

[Geonz]

Dont be surprised if it feels wrong in the car :)

I took the fast bike today 'cause there was an inside ride at the LBS, so I was glad the weather goddess stuff worked and it rained while I was at work, not riding. Lost a glove at work... but happily *found* the reset button on my furnace at home 'cause it's gonna get nippy... gosh, the $50 that saved in not calling the repair guy out... guess that can go towards... hmmm... what gadget :)

[ms pepperpot]

It's been a bit hit and miss this week, partly because i haven't been at work everyday. My new Surly has now arrived though, so I'm hoping it'll be plain sailing from now on rain or shine.

[kfergos]

Did all my planned rides this week, although Thursday night was the classic "it was a dark and stormy night" scenario and I almost got hit twice by turning cars that didn't see me from the side.

Mon - 2/2
Tues - 2/2
Wed - 2/2
Thurs - 2/2
Fri - 2/2

Saturday morning I could've ridden to the grocery store. But I needed 5 lbs of flour, 5 lbs of sugar, 2 lbs of brown sugar, eggs, croissants, and some miscellaneous stuff including a box of cereal. I have a Tumbuk2 messenger bag that, looking at it, just didn't seem to fit the bill. Ladies with panniers: Would those have worked well for my trip?

[SouthernBelle]

Yes. You need a nice set of grocery panniers.

I commuted 3 days this past week which meets my goal for an average week.

[pardes]

The past two weeks have been rainy and messy but I was dry and toasty warm for commuting each day. The ride home is dark but I have good lights on the bike and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the Riverfront is with all the lights dancing on the river and on the slick roads. I'm so happy to say that no matter what the weather or temperature, all my commutes have been lovely in multiple ways.

And....drum roll please, I bought a winter bike this weekend that will make things even more enjoyable and safe.

[Grog]

I made it 3/4 this week. On Monday I worked from home and on Thursday.... I drove. :eek: (I NEVER do that.) It was pouring rain almost every time.

I get bonus points because on Friday when I went to the gym where my locker is located to change into my rain gear (it was pouring again)..... the da*m place was LOCKED!!!!! Ridiculous! At 5:30 p.m. on a week day. I was SO MAD. Thankfully I had my lights and rain jacket, but no rain pants. I was soaked by the time I was home, and quite cold. I'll have to do a bit of work this week to go to the bottom of that issue. What would have happened if I didn't have my lights???? Or if I had left my panniers in my locker as I sometimes do?????

Thanks for letting me vent.

[ikkin]

i would just like to note that i am 1/1 so far this week. :)

[Geonz]

1/1 here too :)

Nippy this a.m. and I forgot my work clothes and I haven't found the gumption to get away and peel off the thermals, so I'm cooking. Hopefully it'll just cook out any stray germs.

[indigoiis]

Today it's Veteran's day and the buses are running a shortened schedule, so my friend and I rode in from a park-n-ride about 16 miles away.

After two weeks off the bike, I feel healed! I am totally back!

I didn't realized how much I missed it until I got back on.

I am riding the Giant Cadex instead of the Specialized Dolce. I just like the Giant better - it's been established. I need to sell the Dolce and put some money into the Cadex. The Cadex is perfect with the only exception being my tailbone issue. Actually, it doesn't feel sore after 16 miles but I know that after 25-30 it will.

I also need to retape the bars and move the hoods up, and this bike will be perfect.

The frame is small but amazingly, it works for me. I'm 5'6 and it can't be more than a 51 (it's not marked.)

No hip / side / groin pain, either. WHOO HOO!

Clothes: My friend wore way too much. Silk underwear, wicking turtleneck, fleece vest, armwarmers, windbreaker.

I had read in Bicycling that the best layers for 28-42 were a thin base, fleece cover, windbreaker. I wore that and I was still sweaty. But not exhausted-sweaty.

I am so glad to be back riding. I mean, I don't know how much I'll actually be able to do it with the dark issues (I need better lights) but it's worth it.

[Grog]

1/1, but I am about to drive again. It is pouring rain and I need to go to campus only for an hour for a run. (Today is a holiday in British Columbia - Remembrance Day.) And I am not sure I will be able to access my locker to change. Brrr!

I have a meeting to attend tonight though, and I will ride then, giving me a half point. :)

[ms pepperpot]

So far 4/4 this week. Even better last night i cycled from work all the way to my boyfriend's which is twice as far from my work to my place (about 12 miles), and then from there back to work this morning, so I'm feeling particularly smug.

Last night was a bit of an adventure as it was the first time I had done the journey so was route finding at the same time and ended up taking a few detours and taking a really long time overall. This morning was better, with a breakfast stop en route. Fortunately the weather was nice for both rides.

[SouthernBelle]

It's Friday again. I commuted 3 days this week, which meets my goal. I feel slightly guilty for not riding in today, despite needing to drive far afield this evening.

But I'm going to fill my truck up with gas as prices have dropped below $2!

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't been commuting but we have been carpooling. Drove the truck twice this week but it is still an improvement over 5-6 days a week. Gas is down to $1.92/gallon but we don't want to get complacent, it will go up again. It is nice to have my little car cost less than $30 to fill up (13 gal tank) and the truck finally less than $50 when we had been looking at $100 fill ups this summer. I hope it stays low through the holidays. ;)

[Eden]

We put $12 worth of gas into our car last month and haven't put in any yet this one! We have driven the car once - my husband's work sponsors a volunteer day, gives them a day with pay to do it and organizes a trip to the local food bank warehouse to pack food and it was a bit too far to ride (plus we knew we'd be quite tired at the end of the day). As a group we packaged up 22,000 lbs of dried beans into family sized servings in about 5 hours. That actually did amount to a hill of beans....

[Aggie_Ama]

I live 20 miles from work, 7 highway miles from the nearest supermarket 11 miles by hilly but bikeable roads. DH is 26 miles from work. We chose the house for the road riding we could do on the weekends and schools (even though no kiddos) knowing we would be car bound. But I think it is a Texan thing, we love our cars and driving. DH was never happy until he got his last truck, before he had a sedan. We make changes but we still love driving and taking trips by car. I miss the Sunday drives on county roads we used to do growing up.

22,000 lbs! :eek: That is a whole lot of beans!

[Biciclista]

believe it or not, I rode again today so i got my two commutes in this week (if i survive the home trip!)

i missed getting drenched by minutes yesterday, but today seems a bit safer in that respect.

[Geonz]

Gore-tex and smart-tex came in handy today, as it was gently raining the whole way. Yesterday I had to dodge backhoes and the guy directing traffic gave me a howdy; today he wasn't directing traffic but we exchanged grins... I'm thinking he likes "rotten" weather, too. Hey, it's 50 degrees - that ain't bad for November!

Tomorrow's supposed to be 25-30 mph winds, high temp 42; expected wind chills int he mid-20's with snow showers and flurries. I think I'll just get out at dawn and attack it, just for fun.

[Grog]

I rode in this morning... I was not a happy camper as I was supposed to run at 8 a.m. (at a place near my work) and when I put my helmet on I realized my rear tire was flat. $*W"/&%_/$ Sent a text message to my running partner, fixed the flat (it's nicer to do it in the basement than on the sidewalk tho') and took off. I had my run at 8:30 instead.

So it's a 3/4 this week. I am a little disappointed, but considering the fierce winds yesterday, I think it was a safer decision.

[kfergos]

Despite my best mental excuse-making efforts, I still rode both ways every day this week:

Mon - 2/2
Tues - 2/2 (the evening ride was fast; I really pushed myself since I had to get home, shower, and leave in a tight time frame)
Wed - 2/2
Thurs - 2/2 (got rained on)
Fri - 2/2 (got rained on, then misted on -- glasses + mist = gah!)

I may add in another 25-mile commute to church this Sunday. It's supposed to be thunderstorms, but I don't know if I can resist the opportunity to ride in 58-degree weather in mid-November. I hope the rest of the winter is this mild, although coworkers are already saying it's supposed to be a nasty winter. How can anybody predict this kind of thing ahead of time?!

[Eden]

The stripes on the wooly bears? ;)
http://www.coldspringschool.org/Mill/00003951.jpg
(more seriously - our winters on this coast are often more predictable as to amounts of cold/precipitation depending on whether its an el nino, la nina or neutral year. Maybe there's something like that out east too?)

[indigoiis]

12 miles today, and 16 last week.
A LOT less than in summer... but... it's something!

[Transmutable]

Bad commute today, I think I need to reevaluate this biking on ice thing. Going in it was snowing fairly heavily, and I didn't really have any glasses or goggles or anything... on the plus side I could open my mouth for a drink of water! Fishtailed once as I was coming up to a stop sign, but no biggy.

Coming home however, I bit it not ten feet out of the parking lot. I was fine, a little bruised, but hey, learning experiences. I lowered my seat (to lower my center of gravity, you see) and while it was a little annoying to bike with my knees up in my ears, I made it home. Welllll, almost. I decided to cross the road before the intersection because there weren't any cars and turned a little too sharply. I've never fallen so fast! Falling in the road was actually pretty scary and I walked the last block and a half. Curse you winter, you win. For now...

[SouthernBelle]

Trans, that sounds scary. Do you have studded tires? If you have a lot of snow and ice to ride through on a regular basis, they would be worth the investment.

[indigoiis]

Rode 20 today - 5 more than I was expecting to. Yay!

[indigoiis]

6 today... that's it for the week... :(
10, 20, 6 = 36 for this week.

[kfergos]

Not a good week. I came down with a cold just as the weather turned wintry.

Mon - 2/2
Tues - 2/2
Wed - 0/2 (home sick)
Thur - 2/2
Fri - 0/2 (husband drove me)
Total miles commuted: 81.25

In the future I think I'm just going to stay home if I'm too sick to ride my bike. If I can't ride and function for the day afterward, I probably just need to rest. I just feel incredibly guilty taking time off work for anything -- it's the culture of my company to drag yourself in no matter what. Probably that just spreads disease rather than actually getting work done, but I have a hard time bucking that and saying "Hey! I have a cold and I'm going to stay home, drink hot tea, and take soaky baths because that'll help me get better sooner." Oh well. Next cold, I guess.

[SouthernBelle]

Don't feel bad for that!

I was just a total slacker this week.I only commuted once. Some days I had to have a vehicle, but one day I was just sorry.

[tpage]

Hello everyone,
I appologize for not checking in on my commuting progress, but I have been very busy with school and a family. But I have been very diligent riding my bike at least 4 days a week, that was until these past two weeks. Last week my bestfriend died and this week was Thanksgiving break. I plan to get back on schedule this Monday. I have even found that one of the teachers at school rides on the weekends, so over the fall/spring break (dec 17-Jan 13) i am going to meet with him and a few other friends and ride. I am really looking forward to it. I made them promise not to ride off and forget i was in the back lagging behind.

[lph]

ah, well, I'm not really signed up for this but it seems that this is where we go to gripe about our winter commutes so here I am ;)

Made a bad decision yesterday about my commute. Several, actually. The day before yesterday I rode home in WAY too much clothing, on my heavy winter bike with full studs - on bare roads in a very unusual warm wind. Got home snorting like a walrus and soaked in sweat and tossed all my bike gear in the wash. Bingo, yesterday morning my winter jacket and tights were still damp, and the temperature had dropped. Oh well, still just around freezing and the temps were going to rise again, so I layered up with other stuff and took my mtb w/o studs. Got 10 yds before I realized I NEEDED studs in front at least, turned around and grabbed the studded front wheel off my winter bike. My dh laughs at me cause I spend more time getting ready than he does on his entire commute.

Even after a full day of warm weather it was sooo slippery out :eek: and I had to take every turn at a snail's pace and remember to only use the front brake if possible. I really missed studs in back as well. And my ride home got delayed for a million reasons, all stupid, so by the time I rode home I was hungry, tired, and it was dark and COLD out. I was literally skating all over the place with frozen feet and hands and chattering teeth by the time I got to where I was headed.

Uerg. Just needed to gripe. I hate it when I miscalculate both food, clothing and bike like that.

[ginny]

So, I'm not signed up either, but as I'm commuting everday this winter in windy wyoming - albeit about 1/2 mile - I thought I would chime in. I rode in today on snow and ice for the first time. It was kind of like driving a 2wd car on snow/ice. Interestingly, with all the hats and balaclava, I forgot my helmet on the one day I am most likely to crash :confused: ... duh! So, I will check in with Performance and LBS on studded tires today. I will probably be needing them all winter. Do you guys have separate wheels that you have all fixed up that you just switch out for the studded/not studded tires or do you change back and forth with tires on the same wheel set? Or do you pick one for the winter and stick with it? I'm such a newb!
Thanks!

[kfergos]

Welcome ginny! I ride on studded tires all winter -- I just stick with them. It works OK. You get a good work out riding on those! ...But it seems like if you could afford to have an extra wheel set lying around, I'd go with switching those out if I could. In my experience studded tires tend to be significantly more difficult to get on and off than your average tire.

Speaking of studded tires, ladies, what do you think: I have Hakkepelita (forgive the spelling disaster there) 700x40C studded tires right now. I'd like ones with a reflective stripe, and the Schwalbe Marathon Winter HS 396 has that, but my LBS tells me they can only get it in 35C. Would the difference in width make you rethink the swap?

[SouthernBelle]

Hmm, we need to bump this up!

I did get in 2 days this week. I'm having trouble with my fingers in the cold, suspecting Reynaud's, so Tuesday my hands were in real pain by the time I got to the office.

Wednesday was better.

I'm off to Chattanooga today. That would have been a REAL commute.

[Eden]

We've had a pretty warm, dry start to winter out here. It's rained a little, but nothing like November usually is... It is starting to get cold though. Of course, even our cold is nothing comparable to a lot of places, but it's in the 30's out today... brrrrrrr
I continue with my typical commute, but on my off days (T&Th) I mostly ride indoors, as my coach gives me these really complex workouts that I'd have trouble doing on the open road...

[kfergos]

Reporting in on my first week back riding after getting the flu...

Mon - 2/2
Tues - 1.25/2 (rode 4 miles to the bike shop in the evening, rather than the full 13.25 home)
Wed - 0/2 (doctor's appointment required driving there)
Thurs - 2/2
Fri - 2/2

Total rides: 7.25
Total miles: 98.6

With putting studded tires on, my average speed is now down from 16 to 14 mph. Ah well, all the better to gaze at the frozen scenery. :)

[out_spokin']

Long time no post -- I've been a traveling fool. Decided to spend tiny extra time getting ready for my bike commute instead of on the intertubes! ;)

This is one of the reasons having you all on here is such a great thing - it would've been so easy to just blow it off after so many days away from home at a time.

So, with just a week to go before the halfway point in our challenge, I'm doing great! I finished November at 73% of my office days, and it actually felt weird to drive to the commuter lot the other day - and even my regular bus driver was asking where my bike was.

And now the long delayed photos of my reflective Schwalbes...which I LOVE. First time I've actually noticed the ride difference in a similar tire size/tread. Plush, quiet, and as you can see, pretty nicely bright!

[SouthernBelle]

That's looking good.

I'm in the process of re-doing some vintage steel to use as a commuter, waiting for some parts to come in. But I should go ahead and order some Marathons since that's what I want to use.

[kfergos]

I'm going to have to change my goal. On Tuesday nights I can't ride home because I have an ongoing commitment elsewhere, and now that my commutes take >1 hour, I won't be able to make it home in time to leave. Anyway, I'm aiming for 9 commutes a week, every day except Tuesday night.

M - 2/2
T - 1/1
W - 2/2
Th - 2/2
F - 2/2

Total commutes: 9

Monday was 8F; Wednesday was steady 25-mph headwinds; Friday was pouring down rain in an ice storm. What a week. Friday convinced me that my Novara jacket is just not waterproof enough; I think (after reading the discussion in the apparel section) I'm going to try out the Showers Pass Elite.

[bikerHen]

Sadly I think the weather is finally forcing me onto the trainer. :mad: We had a really wet snow yesterday and now we are heading into an artic freeze. The shoulder are covered with fist size chucks of ice and lots of icy ruts. My bike handling skill are just not up to that kind of riding. :o bikerHen

[out_spokin']

We've made it halfway to the next equinox! Congrats to all you hard core northern hemisphere folks who've been riding in any way, shape or form into the winter months...:D

Fittingly this morning was my coldest ride of the year so far, 9F/-13C, calm and clear, full-on lights needed both ways.

I had my first epic commute of the season last Thursday - a bit of snow helped create a couple of accidents which made the bus portion a total parking lot, stop & go for over an hour, doubled the usual time. I was warned there were crazy winds but was so tired of sitting that I wasn't going to bail on the ride home -- steady hard headwind, with additional 25-30 mph gusts! I had to use my granny ring the second half of the ride, which was also double the usual time....gotta love those stubborn moments of wanting my goal enough to put up with the "wow, this really isn't fun right now" thoughts!

Peace to you all and happy holidays!

[bikerHen]

As of last Thursday I am so out of the commuting challenge. :mad: Wednesday/Thursday Spokane received almost 30" of snow, setting a new all time record for the amount of snow falling in a 24 hour period. While we are use to snow in these parts, it usually doesn't fall all at once. Spokane was almost shut down Thursday. We could only get to work with our 4 wheel drive Bronco and even that was a bit exciting. Now that the plows are catching up with the snow, the streets are all reduced by a lane or two. No room for me even if I wanted to give it a try. The temp is staying well below freezing, it was -2 yesterday morning. :eek: So none of the snow is melting anytime soon. In fact it's snowing right now. On the up side, we will definitly be having a white Christmas! :D bikerHen

[Grog]

I've been out too ever since it started snowing. I don't have anywhere to go to anyway. :)

back in the new year!

[out_spokin']

Reasons to love a winter commute part 67....So last night was a treat....a relatively balmy 33 degrees, and after getting to see a beautiful sunset on the bus I rode towards the pitch black silhouette of the mountains, watching first Jupiter and then the gorgeous crescent moon set behind them. If you don't happen to have mountains in the way, you'll get even more of a show, since Venus, the moon, Jupiter and even little Mercury are all getting closer together after sundown the next couple of nights in the southwest sky.

Oh and the other evening I crossed paths with a pair of foxes in their winter finery...life is good!

[Eden]

I'd forgotten about this thread... We've had some real winter weather around here for a change. I did a few snow rides on my cross bike. So long as is was packed snow it was OK.... the day it started to melt it was pretty hard going. That day I rode in, but ended up taking a shuttle bus downtown and riding up mostly on the sidewalk (thank you to all those who shoveled!).

[kfergos]

Anybody still commuting by bike? I was out of the saddle for a couple weeks on vacation -- who'd've thought Seattle would be as snowy as Boston? -- but I rode to work on Friday and I'm back to it as usual on Monday, snow, sleet, ice, or rain be darned! I trust I'm not the only crazy commuter still pushing pedals in January... :D

[Grog]

I wish I was, but all the side streets are covered in deep snow. (The snow is not picked up in Vancouver and we've had over 3 feet in the last few weeks, with no melting opportunities).

So for at least another week, no. I hate to write this, but I really hope it will rain. Hard.

[Eden]

Our snow is all gone now, so I'm back on the commuter (was riding the cross bike in the snow). The time off the commuter gave me the chance to give it some new parts. Feels like a new bike with a new rear wheel, bottom bracket, and chain.

[ms pepperpot]

I'm still going (apart from 10 days off over the Christmas break) but the weather's not nearly as bad here. The first snow was this morning, but only a tiny smattering which was already melting by the time i was riding. There hasn't even been much rain this year - at least not at the times I've actually been riding - which is a bit of a blessing.

[Biciclista]

oh, darn. i bike commute? I forgot. I'll watch the weather this week.

[kfergos]

I had an icicle on my helmet when I got to work today! Also my entire upper body was encased in thin ice (it was kind of fun to move my arms and have it crinkle and break), the water droplets on my glasses froze (scary), and my bike had an icy coating. Fortunately the road didn't have a similar icy coating, that I could tell. I *heart* my studded tires. :D

Forecast for the rest of the day: Freezing rain and sleet before 1pm, then rain, possibly mixed with sleet between 1pm and 3pm, then rain after 3pm. The freezing rain could be heavy at times. High near 35. Northeast wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Mmmmmm.

[keepclimbing]

I haven't been a part of the challenge, but it's been fun reading your posts. I commute year-end with few exceptions. Yesterday went like this:

It was 28 degrees when I rode the 3 miles to my office, but at least there wasn't ice like the day before. I had put on one too many layers and was too warm by the time I got there.

I had a 3 p.m. meeting about 12 miles away, so I'd planned my route carefully to get there promptly. I left my office at 1:45, rode to the bank to make a deposit, and then headed to the Metrolink station to catch a train part of the way. But after just a couple of blocks I ran over something sharp in an intersection and my front tire lost all its air. I pulled my bike onto the sidewalk and sat down on the cold concrete steps of the Basilica and began changing the tire. The temperature had warmed to 31 degrees with wind gusts at about 20 mph. I was able to change the tire quickly enough keeping one glove on. My pump wasn't getting a tight seal so I wasn't able to fill the tire as full as I would have liked. But I got back on my way and made it to the train station--just in time to see my train pull away. I waited 15 minutes for the next one.

The train ride took about 20 minutes. A man on the train wanted to know all of the details of my commuting patterns and made me feel proud of what I do--a feeling I needed given the difficulties I was having. Once off the train I got onto a trail for a brief mile. Then onto a busy westward road with a strong headwind for the last 4 miles. I arrived at my meeting 18 minutes late. My colleagues seemed to feel some mixture of irritation, admiration, and puzzlement. One clearly thinks I'm eccentric.

After the meeting, I rode 8 miles home on a very hilly road. It was dark and my toes were cold. I used plenty of lights and the cars were very respectful of my presence. The total commute of the day was just 16 miles, but I felt like I'd had a serious workout. I wouldn't want it any other way.

[Grog]

I hereby commit to getting back on the commuting bandwagon on Monday, as long as there is no frost/ice on the road.

The snow should be all gone by then.

Youppi!

[Biciclista]

Made it! first commute of the year! I couldn't find my glove liners so i put gloves OVER gloves and it didn't work too well, but i rode in anyway.

Keepclimbing, where do you live??

[keepclimbing]

Keepclimbing, where do you live??


St. Louis :D

[Geonz]

The new semester is starting... so I'm riding in again. There was one day I even rode without studs - but we got what the weather guy called a "nuisance mist" which, alas, was frozen. Fortunately it wasn't too bad... but I decided that when in doubt *at all,* go wiht studs (and there was doubt - I went in a little late waiting for the morning snow flurries to fade).
Next week the students come back, and I'm sitting in on a class, so I have to be ON TIME. Note to self: it really does take an extra 10-15 minutes on a 45 pound bike with studded tyres. More importantly, you just **can't** get it up to 20 mph if you're running late... at least not for long! (Ohter note: go ahead, get a speedo for it... see if you can :P )
My goal is to ride enough on them to wear 'em out so I can replace them with tires with more studs... tho' I'm thinking again of studding my Dahon instead just because they would be so much easier to take off and put on (the Gazelle's a Dutch commuting bicycle and I have to go through chain guard and internal hub and internal brake stuff to take the wheel off). On the other hand, that internal ness is NICE when it's nasty.

Oh, and you folks in the North West - hang on! We at least have the gear to deal with this stuff as in snowplows and tons of salt(and we haven't had it anything like you have this year!)

[Blueberry]

I had an icicle on my helmet when I got to work today! Also my entire upper body was encased in thin ice (it was kind of fun to move my arms and have it crinkle and break), the water droplets on my glasses froze (scary), and my bike had an icy coating. Fortunately the road didn't have a similar icy coating, that I could tell. I *heart* my studded tires. :D

Forecast for the rest of the day: Freezing rain and sleet before 1pm, then rain, possibly mixed with sleet between 1pm and 3pm, then rain after 3pm. The freezing rain could be heavy at times. High near 35. Northeast wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Mmmmmm.

Egads! I can't commute to work (no good way right now). But....I think you get the tough award! What rain gear keeps you (relatively) dry and comfy in that??

[uforgot]

Keepclimbing, I'm just a little over an hour away from St. Louis. How do you like this weather? 60 one day and high of 20 the next. I find I have to watch the weather every morning this winter because you never know! I've wanted to ride the Metrolink with my bike, and I've read their website, but do you stand in the front with your bike like it says? I always kind of wondered what bikers do. I'd love any insight.

Somehow I missed this challenge. I commute every day unless it rains. I used to ride in the rain, too, but it's just not worth it and I decided that it would be okay if I didn't. I do ride in snow though. I get out my mountain bike, and especially love it while it's snowing. So pretty and peaceful. If I have any errands at all in town I take the bike, unless of course I'm going after lumber. That was my goal for the school year and interestingly enough, my students think it's kind of cool that I ride. A couple of them who ride bikes to school always stop in when the weather is weird to discuss our rides. I also only purchase about one tank of gas a month. I'm not even aware of what gas prices are doing.

[ms pepperpot]

I'm going to be off commuting for a few days now, maybe a week. I was on my way into work on friday and a pedestrian stepped right in front of me looking the other way. I had to break really hard, skidded and came off.

I was more shaken than anything, but one of my knees is baddly scraped and bruised and hurts a lot when I bend it or put too much pressure on that leg, so I think it's best not to cycle until it's a bit mended.

[keepclimbing]

Keepclimbing, I'm just a little over an hour away from St. Louis. How do you like this weather? 60 one day and high of 20 the next. I find I have to watch the weather every morning this winter because you never know! I've wanted to ride the Metrolink with my bike, and I've read their website, but do you stand in the front with your bike like it says? I always kind of wondered what bikers do. I'd love any insight.

Metrolink is easy with a bike! There is a large open area by each door and you just stand there with your bike. You're allowed on with a bike anytime unless it's just too crowded. That only happens if you hit a crowd going to a ballgame. Sometimes I'll take the train downtown and then grab the Riverfront Trail, crossover into Illinois, and enjoy the great trails on the east side.

All of the buses in STL now have bike racks as well, although our bus system is rather complicated unless you're going straight down a major thoroughfare. With interstate 64 closed, traffic is awful everywhere and it's just so much easier (and often faster) to ride my bike.

Also, there are a lot of marked bike lanes and routes all over the city and county. It's improved a lot in the last couple of years.

Do you ride with local clubs?

[kfergos]

Egads! I can't commute to work (no good way right now). But....I think you get the tough award! What rain gear keeps you (relatively) dry and comfy in that??

Nothing that works yet. I have a Novara Stratos jacket from 2006 that breathes like a shower curtain but keeps most water out. For pants I have a pair of Bellwether Windfront pants that are slightly water-resistant (they are fairly wind-resistant and quite warm on their own; I wear them by themselves with just a pair of shorts down to about 20 degrees F or so). Mostly I suck it up and get soaked, then get a huge fan and blow it on my clothes all day while I work (I have my own room for my bike and bike clothes -- I know! I'm as amazed as you are) and hope things'll dry out. Not the best system, but I stay warm enough so I don't worry too much about getting wet.

[keepclimbing]

The Midwest got an arctic blast last night and I rode to work this morning with a windchill of 2 degrees. Fortunately, the sky was clear and the roads were dry. It was my first time to use my new toe warmers and they definitely helped. I had on 3 layers of clothing: long underwear, heavy bike shirt and pants, and light sweats over those. Plus my wind jacket, gloves, and balaclava. I had to make two stops on the way to work--the first at the bank. I was sure to remove the balaclava before walking into the bank!

I was happy to see other cyclists braving the cold and the wind. My only complaint is how wet the balaclava gets from my breath. It was pretty uncomfortable by the time I was able to remove it.

[Biciclista]

wow, you guys in the midwest/east freeze are sure brave to continue riding!

I rode today because it was above freezing and not raining. Honestly, i didn't want to, but i did it anyway.
yay!

[Grog]

I had two great rides this week (apart from being hit by a car). I noticed today that my back wheel IS wobbly (not a lot, but certainly needs to be trued) and I won't ride today to 1) give myself a break physically and 2) avoid riding on the wobbly wheel until I show it to the adjuster on Thursday.

But I will enjoy commuting the other days this week: it's almost going to be sunny (note the "almost").

[kfergos]

I guess that's it for my riding this week. I got up this morning and it was 6°F and I just couldn't think why I'd do that to myself. Maybe it'll warm up (that being, of course, a relative term) on Saturday so I can go for a bit of a ride then. So:

This week
M: 2/2
T: 1/1
W: 2/2
T: 0/2
F: 0/2 (anticipating, since it's supposed to be colder tomorrow)

Last week
M: 2/2
T: 1/1
W: 2/2
T: 2/2
F: 2/2

[Biciclista]

I guess that's it for my riding this week. I got up this morning and it was 6°F and I just couldn't think why I'd do that to myself. Maybe it'll warm up (that being, of course, a relative term) on Saturday so I can go for a bit of a ride then. So:

This week
M: 2/2
T: 1/1
W: 2/2
T: 0/2
F: 0/2 (anticipating, since it's supposed to be colder tomorrow)

Last week
M: 2/2
T: 1/1
W: 2/2
T: 2/2
F: 2/2

what does this mean? you rode 2 miles each way on monday, one mile each way on tuesday???



I rode in today again, to discover that they removed all the sand that had piled up in the bike lanes!!!

[kfergos]

what does this mean? you rode 2 miles each way on monday, one mile each way on tuesday???

I rode in today again, to discover that they removed all the sand that had piled up in the bike lanes!!!

Nope, sorry that was totally unclear... I was counting the number of rides/day, at 13 to 14 miles/ride. So this week it was about 65 miles for the week, I guess. Normally I commute about 120 miles/week.

Yay for no sand! Another plus of winter: Not so much glass and sharp junk on the roads, thanks to plows moving stuff all the time.

[keepclimbing]

Anyone have any winter tips for protective eyewear? Do you wear your regular sunglasses? What do you do to keep them clear? Does anyone use goggles?

[Grog]

Anyone have any winter tips for protective eyewear? Do you wear your regular sunglasses? What do you do to keep them clear? Does anyone use goggles?

I wear clear lenses most of the time. Most of my commute is either at the very early hours of the morning or in total darkness. It's never very cold. So it works well. They are these: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302882530&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586453 but I have clear lenses for them. I also have yellow but don't wear the yellow much anymore. Can't beat the price, and they are UV proof.

I had to take them off once recently because it was so terribly foggy. Otherwise they are fine. I wouldn't do without. Too much flying grit and stuff on the road.

[keepclimbing]

I agree about needing protection, but my regular glasses fog up constantly in the winter. I haven't tried defogger wipes on them because I assume those only work on goggles where the outside air can't get to the inside of the lens. But I might be wrong.

[kfergos]

I have a lot of trouble with my glasses fogging up, too. I don't have a solution for you, but I can tell you what I haven't tried: Things like Cat Crap that you have to smear on your lenses. I'm very leery about that. But if you find something that works, let me know!

[Geonz]

When it's really cold I wear ski goggles, tho' I ended up foregoing them the last couple times because they cut back on visibility, even with my mirror.

I broke a personal record THursday and Friday - 11 below zero. Friday, had my digestive tract and/or my will cooperated, I could have gone in at 17 below... but I made the tactical error of not wearing warm enough clothes to bed and when it's that cold outside, it just isn't warm inside, either... and the previous night's dinner was rather demanding that I spend extra time in the loo. So I called in and said I'd be in an hour late.

I then decided that since it really doesn't look like it will get better, that I need to, as the bracelet says, HTFU. (Hopefully harden the bowels up, too :cool: ) So I made sure to leave *early* today... fact is, that with enough layers, I don't get cold. I did yoga stretches and crunches for 10 minutes before swaddling myself, and then some running-in-place and centrifugal arm swinging before actually leaving, and my hands didn't even get cold. At nine degrees, I could even leave exposed skin so I didn't have the wet balaclava problem.

However, last Wednesday I took the bus home because truth be told, I'm not a mountain biker - I'm a weenie with roads that aren't smooth. Adn... they're forecasting snow for next week, again. Cold I can handle... but I don't wanna fall into traffic.

It occurs to me that I *could* order Bigger Studs... that is my plan as soon as these have put in WorthWhile Mileage... and I don't even know what that would be. 1000 miles? I have the "106 stud for plowed roads" tyres... but on the other hand, more studs would have been a bunbite this a.m. on the *mostly* clear and dry roads.... *and* getting the back wheel off my bike wtih chain guard and internal hub and brakes is a bunbite of its own.

Third option: get Monster Studs for the folding bike, which is much easier to operate on.

[keepclimbing]

Wow. 11 below. I'm not sure if I would go that far. But I've stuck it out pretty well this January. I've only used my car two days all month and that was because of some mechanical problems I had to get fixed. There was only one day that it plunged below zero here, and I was out of town on a business trip. Mostly it's been in the teens. A couple of days ago the temps rose into the upper 20s and it felt like a heat wave. Riding felt easy and caused me to wonder why I haven't ridden through every winter. My friends ask how I can ride in such cold weather and I keep assuring them it is just a matter of having the right gear.

Yesterday it was 27 when I rode to the office. By the time I left to go to an evening event about 7 miles away, the temperature was 57! I had to stop to remove layers and stuff them into my bag, but I was a sweaty mess when I arrived. What a grand entrance I made! The best part was that my doctor was at the event. When he realized it was me, he gave me a big hug and said that he was impressed, proud, and envious! He said that he had been driving behind me on the way there but had no idea it was me. He was impressed with how well lit my bike was at night. (That was good to hear, especially from my doctor!) When I left the event at 9:30, the temps were still in the 40s and I had a very comfortable ride home. I really like riding late at night when there are fewer cars.

But how quickly I got spoiled. This morning the temp was in the 20s again, but I didn't want to be overdressed in the afternoon so I used fewer layers. BIG mistake! The weather channel got it wrong and the temperature plunged. I thought I was going to freeze on my short little 3-mile ride home. I really do not like being cold.

Tomorrow I'm going to a friend's house 19 miles across town for an afternoon get-together. It's going to be cold again. I have to look decent once I get there, but she won't mind if I head straight into the bathroom for a quick change and freshening up. But I'm a little nervous about the return trip. It will be dark and some of the roads are not well lit.

What I'm learning this winter about bicycle commuting is that it requires daily planning. Mapping out my destination, figuring out how much time to allow, watching the weather reports, fussing over exactly which balaclava and gloves are the right weight for the day, deciding what to wear and if/how to change clothes at my destination--it does consume extra time. I suppose the more I do it, the more of those details will become second-nature.

It's all worth it knowing that when spring arrives and everyone else is dusting off their bikes, I'm going to be in good form already!

[indigoiis]

First time back on the bike since early December.

Today: 11 miles.

[kfergos]

First time back on the bike since early December.

Today: 11 miles.Woo! I'm sure your bike was very happy to see you again. :D

Last week I rode ~26 mi/day M, W, Th, and F; Tues I rode 13.

Today it was so frickin' cold, but I did it anyway. My face-covering (now a complicated two-part Gore/Turtle Fur combo) got completely covered in a thick layer of frost from my breath, as did my fuzzy outer gloves. ...Is winter over yet?

[lph]

What a grand entrance I made! The best part was that my doctor was at the event. When he realized it was me, he gave me a big hug and said that he was impressed, proud, and envious!

You have a really cool dr. :D

[Geonz]

Welp, I rode in today feeling like I was getting on a bus with no ticket back home. The forecast is for a "winter advisory" starting at 6:00 p.m. ... I'm generally here 'til 9:30. Forecasts are amazingly vague ("chance of many snow showers or flurries," or words to that effect!) ...
... but I'm thinkin' I will skip out on my class (it's chorus, not for credit... I'll be sorry if I don't look at the music between now and next week but...) and beat the nasties home and then tell them to just stay away.
I looked at big studs for the Dahon but at $70 + each, well...

[indigoiis]

I did it again. I rode to the bus and will have to ride home again.
I forgot my helmet. I was in a rush this morning. I didn't even know til I was a mile down the hill from my house. So I am going to be riding extra carefully tonight going home.

(Back in the day, I rode helmetless for years. But I also didn't wear seatbelts, and smoked a pack a day. So yeah. I feel naked without it!)

[Geonz]

I rode the bus today, too. I think I could haev made it in... but we have a perfectly good bus system, I really can afford two bucks, and it would have been a car out of control that would be the problem. (five or six inches of snow over night, trailing off this a.m.)
Plus, I'd kinda forgotten how warm and fuzzy bus trips can be. Everybody called the bus driver "Linda" and the guy at my stop made sure I got the right transfer... he said " the bus will be packed!" and yea, looked like about half the seats *were* taken - such is the Midwest :)

[Biciclista]

i am off the wagon. between having a cold and crummy weather, I haven't ridden to work last week or this week :(

[bikerHen]

Same story here. I'm off the bike for a few days with a cold. And our temps took a dip into the single digits and teens. Got to stay well for our coming trip to So. California. I'll be able to bike on snow free roads and in nice weather for a week! :D bikerHen

[Grog]

If all goes well, tomorrow will be my first day on the bike in a long time. The frost on the roads is just a no-no for me now. I'm thinking about converting one bike to a winter machine (with studded tires) but it might not happen until next year. :(

[indigoiis]

Today it was so frickin' cold, but I did it anyway. My face-covering (now a complicated two-part Gore/Turtle Fur combo) got completely covered in a thick layer of frost from my breath, as did my fuzzy outer gloves. ...Is winter over yet?

I get the complicated face covering thing! I use an old cut off turtleneck, a polarfleece head band (and instead of putting it over my ears and head, I put it over my nose) and a polar fleece cap with ear flaps.

Can only commute 2 days a week as the darling dotta won't go near her bike in the cold... DARN!

Using my old steel frame mountain bike with tractor-style tires.

[keepclimbing]

It's going to be in the 40s this weekend! Woohoo! A respite from the snow and ice. (Hello, potholes!)

[out_spokin']

So January was all over the place - winter thaw, winter's revenge, a vacation, a head cold, and a new foster dog...phew!!!

It was my worst month so far, but I got back on the wagon for some frigid-y but getting lighter every day commutes, and just barely got to the 66% mark...I'm counting it as hitting the goal for the 4th full month of our challenge!

Off to the weekend bike projects...

[kfergos]

Yesterday night we got more snow. Snow on snow on snow. This morning I took my usual back roads route to work, knowing there was a good chance of at least some snow remaining on the lesser-traveled roads.

Mostly it was OK; I averaged about 11 or 12 miles an hour, perhaps. The killer roads come with 3 miles of work: Tiny neighborhood roads that I swear never see a plow, are heavily shaded by dense trees, and to whom the touch of salt or sand are complete anathemas. They had a inch-thick covering of packed-down snow, which the Ice Bike website (http://www.icebike.org/Articles/TechniquesDeepSnow.htm) describes thus:
Heavy snow that has been traveled upon by automobiles is one of the most difficult of surfaces ICEBIKERS have to deal with.

Not only do you have the wheel diversions caused by the ruts, but also the polished smooth surface underneath where cars have spun tires trying to get going.

The best technique is to avoid this stuff, riding in the undisturbed snow at the side of the road. While a lot of work, undisturbed snow is always easier to deal with than trafficked snow.

If your balance good you can sometimes make progress following the tire track, but don't count on it for very long, and certainly don't expect to make good time. Also, there is a thin layer of highly compacted snow at the bottom of the track, that tends to squirt out from under your tire throwing you slightly left or right.
Getting through heavily trafficked snow is seldom elegant, often a lot of work, and always a nerve wracking experience, especially if there is automobile traffic nearby.

Frequently, the falls that seem inevitable from second to second can be avoided by continuing to apply power and steering as best you can. Your side slipping front wheel often bites when it hits a slightly more solid ridge, and if you can delay the fall for half a second or so you may find that you can recover. Don't be in a hurry to dab, stay on the pedals and apply power. This is a lot like riding in loose sand.

As you power through this stuff, you will have to make rather large steering corrections to compensate for impending falls. This preserves your balance. You will, however, find yourself going in a direction slightly (or not so slightly) different than you intended, and this can not always be permitted if motor traffic is in the adjacent lane.This pretty accurately describes the conditions I rode in. I actually got off and jogged with my bike for a while and made faster progress than I did on two wheels. That warmed my feet up, at least. :rolleyes: Part of the way while I was on my bike, as my wheels went sliding in separate directions, I suddenly realized that this was more like sledding or skiing than biking.

Total distance this morning: 13 miles
Total time this morning: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Typical for a snowy day. I'm getting really, really tired of snow.

On the bright side, somewhere on those snowy back roads I passed 10,000 miles ridden since September 2007, so all was not in vain.

[Geonz]

I got back on the wagon after that one day - especially because snow is definitely not ice. The plows had pushed the five inches out of the way.

Three weeks ago I decided I wasn't going to say "enough already!" This will be a hard winter... gonna shoulder it up. So Tuesday, when we'd gottn another inch of snow and the guy said it was 5 degrees - we were only supposed to dip into the teens, I'm pretty sure - I just did 50 jumping jacks to get blood circulating to my hands. When it went down to four and three (zero at the airport) I yelled at the radio and did more jumping jacks.

Tuesday we had also gotten another inch before I went in and I figured I'd leave early and that worked well, 'cause I was between the hourly traffic bulges and yes, the snow was pretty undisturbed. Alas, the elastics that hold stuff together that lost their elastic really lost it and wrapped themselves around my hub and broke off a chunk of chain guard. Fortunately, the jumping jacks did their thing (or it was a miracle ;) ) because I could take my gloves off and unwrap and - another miracle - had my pocketknife handy to snippy snippy ... and my hands didn't get cold. No, they weren't frostbitten :)

I wore my butt completely out riding in because I was plowing through snow and there was an 18 mph headwind and based on today's effort level, I think there's still crap wrapped around the hub. It took over an hour of hard pedaling and high heart rate ... fortunately that same wind kept the ride home a fit and proper "cool down" (and the temp was a balmy 14). Fortuantely on Wednesday I go at 5 and the LBS on the way home is open 'til 6 and they love me, and fortuantely I still have enough layers so that today it was 3 but I was warm. (And fortunately when you put a million layers on you can do jumping jacks without giving yourself a black eye or having your boobs bang your knees.)

This Saturday is the "Illini Chill" ride so I really wanted to be getting in shape for it... yesterday helped :) Since it's supposed to be 47 (with wind and rain of course ;) ) I'll take the folding bike...

[tulip]

It's too durn cold. I just can't do it! Normally down here we have days of cold mixed with days in the 50s during the winter. Not this year-it's solid cold (except for last weekend, and I did ride then). If I wanted to have really cold winters I would have moved north. I'm ready for spring.

[kfergos]

Geonz, you're such a stud! Stud-ette, I guess I should say. Good for you. I'd have wimped out.

[Biciclista]

rode to work 2x this week. But that's probably it for this week. :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another great forecast for tomorrow in my town:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as -12. Northwest wind between 10 and 16 mph

Ugh. and we got another 2" of slushy snow yesterday.
What a winter this is! :(

[Crankin]

It's 3.9 F out as I sit here. Yesterday was actually beautiful... 25 and 3 inches of new fresh powder. Then tomorrow it will start warming up to about 50 by Sunday.
But, I am afraid the streets will be too slushy to ride. They are in the worst condition I have ever seen since I moved here.

[shootingstar]

Well, lazy me finally tested my work security card several days ago which had to be reprogrammed to allow me access into the locked bike room near the underground parking garage in our workplace building. Now it's working.

So hopefully later this month, at some point when I know there won't be alot of cold rain or black ice... where black ice is ok if the route is flat, but this commuting route is not. Where I work is several degrees colder compared to home ..and it's only a 13 kms. away from home but the work building sits on top of a ridge.

[keepclimbing]

Yesterday was amazing. I was able to wear capris and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt! I left early for work so that I could take a long way and enjoy the morning. It felt so good! But overnight we had a storm. The sewers are still overworked from all the recent melted snow, so the storm caused some serious flash-flooding. The streets around my home were just too dangerous with high waters so I drove today. It seems to have subsided tonight. The temp has dropped again now to remind us that it's still winter, but I'll be back on my bike tomorrow.

[Eden]

Some crazy black ice around here this morning.... I didn't realize it until it was too late to take the bus in so ride I did. Pretty much everything was covered with a very, very thin layer of ice. I made it all the way with no incidents, but it was definitely hairy.

[kfergos]

I wore SHORTS yesterday! I can't remember the last time I didn't wear long pants -- it must be three months at least. It was 58 when I left work in the evening, with stuff melting all over the place. I flew home; made the 13.25 miles in 54 minutes, a winter personal record. This morning was 48 and I hardly knew what to wear. But as keepclimbing mentioned, we had a big storm overnight here too, and the roads are covered in water from rain and melting snow. I can even see grass, some of which is green (how does it do that after a straight month being covered in a foot of snow?).

I sure wish spring would come and stay; the warmer temperatures remind of why, exactly, I'm still doing this. Sometimes it's hard to stay positive when it's the fourth day in a row in the teens, with more snow predicted.

Random factoid: Each of my hiking boots, which I've worn every day since November, weighs about 1.5 lbs. I should be super buff from lifting those while pedaling all winter!

[Geonz]

So nice to be able to ride the regular bikes and leave at the regular time and only wear two or three layers :)

20 degrees this morning... my poor skin is getting desiccated but hey, it's only a month or three more :)

[kfergos]

Hey all you intrepid commuters! Is everybody still kicking? Winter's almost over; soon we will be riding summer bikes with zippy slicks at speeds greater than 10 mph (at least for me, winter riding is 3 or 4 mph slower on average than summer riding) over nice clear roads, wearing shorts and jerseys, feeling the wind and sun, seeing other cyclists and not worrying about frostbite, ice, snow/rain, windchill, salt and sand, or any other wintry issues.

Spring is coming, even if we did get more snow/ice/sleet last night here in MA. The weather's been much more rideable the last week or two; highs above freezing and lows above 20 (usually) mean I haven't had to cancel a commute for a couple weeks now. Soon it'll also be time to start training rides for the STP and the Cape Cod Getaway -- I can hardly wait, even if I do end up riding alone most of the time.

So start thinking springy thoughts! It's only a matter of time.

[out_spokin']

Thanks for the encouragement! Just since Friday there's a major difference in my commute - the sun rose before I got to the bus stop today, and I don't need my headlamp to undo the lock to the shed or to get my battery pack attached. Really don't need the headlight for me except for the last bit of my night commutes, though still use it for visibility both ways.

I got on the road bike both days this weekend, and had the funny experience of wondering if I still knew how to dress for temps in the 40s and 50s. Full daylight rides are a joy, but man there's a lot more people on the roads! ;)

[Biciclista]

I have managed to meet my goals every week so far, for February, it was 2 commute rides a week. I also commuted to my painting sessions half the time, which doesn't "count" as a commute, but still involved going somewhere on my bike and getting back home that way too. So it's all good.

[Grog]

Well the Winter has faded around here but I've been working from home every single day and trying to finish my Ph.D. dissertation. I've cycled about 10km in the last 2 weeks. :(

[Geonz]

When I was free-lance writing from home, I made a point to commute to work every morning. Sometimes I commuted home, too. Starting the day with a 7-9 mile ride meant I was *much* more focused on the writing, and the commute could be any distance I wanted since the destination was the same as the starting point.

The sun is starting to be up when I get up, which is a big help. It's going down later, too :D :D :D Now, I'd be happier if it were warmer than 25 degrees, but you can't ask for everything...

[tulip]

When I was free-lance writing from home, I made a point to commute to work every morning. Sometimes I commuted home, too. Starting the day with a 7-9 mile ride meant I was *much* more focused on the writing, and the commute could be any distance I wanted since the destination was the same as the starting point.

The sun is starting to be up when I get up, which is a big help. It's going down later, too :D :D :D Now, I'd be happier if it were warmer than 25 degrees, but you can't ask for everything...

*Sigh* that's what I intended to do--go to the post office every day to get may business mail. But the cold just beat me this winter. That and my new dog that insists on walks three times a day. At least I'm getting outside!

[keepclimbing]

I've managed to drive a car only 5 days per month. On President's Day I did a 50 mile ride recreational ride and it felt easy (although still very cold). My bike has taken a beating this winter and needed a good overhaul. My LBS was begging me to go ahead and bring it in before the spring rush, so that's where it's been while I've been away on a business trip. I can't wait to get back home and pick it up! I'm so ready for more long rides. I have new shoes, new pedals, and new cleats that are calling my name.

[kfergos]

We're having another snowstorm. When I left the house this morning, the snow was well over my boot-tops, perhaps six or eight inches deep. I struggled through our parking lot, which had just been plowed and only had maybe an inch of freshly-fallen snow on it. But when I got to the road, it hadn't been plowed at all; it was all deep rutted car tracks through untouched snow.

Even so, I did my best. I downshifted and used all of my bike handling skills to stay upright. This meant that I ended up weaving all over the road in my attempts to stay upright -- my tracks look like a drunk's walk, meandering all over as I rode with the way my wheels wanted to go. Ultimately I failed as, going around a corner, I simply tipped over and fell into a huge snowbank. No harm done. I got up and kept going, but I was simply crawling along, still slipping all over and every second only a heartbeat away from hitting the ground again. It was hard going, scary going, and miserable with snow flying everywhere and 15-mph steady north winds pushing me around.

Finally, after 20 minutes, I reached downtown -- 1.25 miles from home. I'd kept going in the hopes that the main street and Route 20 would be cleared enough for me to make decent time. I was disappointed. The roads weren't much better, and there was more traffic, so I couldn't maneuver as much. All the packed-down car-rutted snow was so slippery, so difficult to ride in, I spent every second just trying to stay upright. Looking at the roads, thinking about the 10 or more miles ahead of me, I had to admit this was foolish.

I gave up.

Not that I couldn't have made it; it's just that at a 4-mph pace, it would've taken me 3 hours to get to work. Once at work, I would've had to leave fairly early to make it home for an appointment I have this evening. I might've gotten in 4 hours of work all day. Frankly, I made my best time when I was walking and pushing my bike. It took me another almost 20 minutes to get home again, trudging and shoving my bike along most of the way. An SUV passed me on my way back; the driver rolled down his window and shouted, "You're nuts!" -- not even in a mad way, just in a matter-of-fact tone. I had to agree with him.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3322745592_b5714f80a1.jpg

I hope winter is almost over. :(

[out_spokin']

Sorry for all those still stuck in winter madness - and that's quite a photo of your commuter in snow kfergos! You get to chalk that one up to learning more about how you, your bike and the weather interact!

Can't quite believe it's DST already, and just 2 full work weeks 'til the official end of our challenge! I'm once again grateful for it, because I'm pretty close to my goal and this group helps me stay motivated to ride when it'd be easier to get in the car -- I've got to hit almost all of my days left to make it, so I better get to sleep now so I'm ready to ride in the morning! ;)

[Selkie]

K - Reading about your experience reminded me of the Iditarod bikers (a combo of riding and pushing). You are a very determined person!
It's a good thing that bike has disc brakes!

[out_spokin']

hi everyone,
Hope you're all having better weather and that signs of spring are on their way. I saw my first daffodils this week. This morning I got to ride in through snow flurries and the moon trying to break through the clouds...made me sorta happy to be back in full darkness for the a.m. ride. Happy weekend!

[ginny]

I saw the tips of leaves poking through the dirt just last weekend :D

I have a funny commuting story: I moved to Wy for a temporary position a few months ago. Since then, I have wondered if that was fool hearty... I have been desparately looking for a job. I actually talked my way into an interview for a great job. The guy called me to set it up. He was telling me about where to park and how to get a parking permit. I timidly asked (because I find people think I'm nuts that I ride my bike everywhere) if I brought my bike, are the racks I could lock it to. He got really excited and told me he rides every day and brings his bike up to the lab. I said, well, I don't want to be any trouble, I'll just park it outside. He said he fully intended on judging me on my bike and it would be great if I brought it upstairs :D I'm thinking I have a pretty good shot at this job :cool:

[Biciclista]

i rode today, it was 33 degrees. TOO COLD.

[7rider]

I rode today in SNOW! :eek:
Okay. So it was just a couple of scattered flakes and it's not like it stuck to anything and it was 38 degrees.
But still.....
(It did look cool, reflecting in my headlight)

[out_spokin']

Ginny that's an awesome story! Good luck with the job interview!!!

[Karma007]

I'm not even remotely a part of this challenge, but I was JUST given a key to the bike locker, and rocked my 3 mile commute today. Whoo, and a Hoo.

[bikerHen]

I'm mostly back to daily commuting. Snow and below zero temps kept me off the bike last week. But the weather is looking better and better. They say we might hit 50 degrees tomorrow. I'll believe it when I'm riding in it. :p But I did wear just my wind vest yesterday and this morning and I haven't had to put the shoe covers on all week.

According to BJ I have 23 commutes for the year. Not real inspiring, but better than sitting on my butt. :rolleyes: bikerHen

[Aggie_Ama]

Well I started commuting again- this week. 54 miles in two days but you ladies deserve praise, fanfare, awe! I waited for the time change, it wasn't the temperature since it is Texas. :o

[Biciclista]

me too. It's finally warm enough that if i get rained on, I know i still will be warm enough. I made two commutes this week and will likely have a wet commute going home today.
(YYIPPPEEE, it's finally warm enough to commute!)