Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

[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. (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....