Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

[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?

(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.