Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

[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.

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

[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.

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!