yea! Commuting by bike finally!

[ginny]

So, I had to share my happiness with everyone... until about 2 weeks ago, I lived 37 miles from work. I lived in the mtns and had to get to work via one of the most dangerous roads in the country... alas, no commuting by bike. I moved to within about 7 blocks of work. I can choose to walk or ride, but I cannot drive because i have not bought a parking pass :D

I knew the move was coming up, so I bought a surly LHT and outfitted it with pink fenders and a pink water bottle cage and one of those cute little Krog Frog lights (in pink) - the bike is grey-blue and black with silver accents - it was screaming for some feminization.

This was my first week or work, and I rode 2.5 days by bike (had one day off already :p), and today it was snowy and icy so I walked. Any suggestions on riding in the snow and ice? I am SO happy to ride! Furthermore, from the lab, I can look out at where I parked my bike and smile when I see it (and make sure no on is messing with it)!

[bikerHen]

This was my first week or work, and I rode 2.5 days by bike (had one day off already :p), and today it was snowy and icy so I walked. Any suggestions on riding in the snow and ice? I am SO happy to ride! Furthermore, from the lab, I can look out at where I parked my bike and smile when I see it (and make sure no on is messing with it)!

Studded tires! They work pretty darn good. I have a LHT that is my winter commuting bike. I LOVE it. :D It's all decked out with fenders, mud flaps, lights and soon I'll be switching to the studded tires.

I found you need good bike handling skills for riding on roads with chunky, rutted ice. Which I discovered I don't have! :o But I did just fine on new snow and just slighty icy roads. There really is nothing that compares to a crisp cold commute. Except a crisp, cold commute in the dark! :D bikerHen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ginny, I was reading the other day about studded tires and I learned an awful lot from this page:
http://peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp
Seems that studs and tread do two entirely different things in regards to riding on snow or on ice. Worth a read! :)
Congratulations on your new commuting life!

[pardes]

Good going Ginny!!!! This is wonderful news.

Did you say LAB??? What kind of lab? I supervise a forensics drug analysis lab.

By the way....you toy with us by describing the decked out bike and DON'T show any photos. That's just plain CRUEL. Please remedy this. :D

[ginny]

I know! I need to take pictures of "the great bluedini"... I have a picture on my phone, but that's it... with the move, I can't find anything at the moment... maybe by spring? ;)

Yes, lab... I'm a biochemist. I got a (temporary) job at a federal lab... I can't seem to buy a permanent position!

Thanks for the links on studded tires - I'm going to go have a look right now!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your new commute, ginny! I envy your proximity to your job. How nice that you can either walk OR ride. Too cool!!!! :D

[ginny]

So, I put studded tires on Bluedini today - how fun! I was cruising along about 3-4" of fresh and tracked snow (not plowed yet), and it was actually fun! I was grinning like a banchee and it was only like 15 F out... tee hee what crazy winter riders we are :D