How Was Your Commute Today?

[Grog]

Poor Susan rode to work yesterday, nearly froze over on the way there, got to work, and totally froze over in the shower which was ice cold.

She thankfully survived to email me and warn me before I left home. So I took transit.

Today neither of us cycled.

I think I'll risk it tomorrow, though.

[blackhillsbiker]

Got my snow tires on today. Tomorrow's supposed to warm up to 17°F. I can't wait to get back on my bike. This is the longest I've gone without riding since I had pneumonia last spring.

Deb

[lph]

My commute today was certainly a bit unusual...

It started with my son squealing in delight at the window "Look, look, it's Obama!" at three ominous-looking black military helicopters clackalacking through the fog right past our house, on their way to the airport. Nothing like a bit of war atmosphere to kick-start the day

Then I kit myself up, pull on all my winter gear, turn on my multiple blinkies, turn on my ipod, and roll off down my dark and normally peaceful, silent and deserted bike path. First person I meet is a policeman, standing in the dark with a machine-gun guarding the underpass under the motorway. We rarely see armed police. I stare, he stares. He waves, I nod.

After a while I muse that he sure got the loneliest job. Closer to town there are armed police guarding every single underpass and bridge, but they get to stand 2 or 3 together, and have cars and stuff. They seem nervous. I get eyeballed by every single one of them.

Downtown I give up counting police and police lines, but traffic is still running. Until I finally leave the bike path for my stretch down the main road which is usually full of heavy morning traffic, buses, cars and pedestrians... but I'm suddenly riding down a deserted road lined only with police. Uh-oh. I take out my earbuds, turn down my aggressive try-ignoring-THIS front blinkie, pull my Buff down off my face, and try to slow down and look innocuous. I get at least 3 blocks before I'm finally pulled over. "So where do you think you're... where are you planning on going?" he amends, as I smile innocently. I explain, and he lets me go "but stay on the sidewalk!" So I tootle along as calmly and non-aggressively as I can on the sidewalk, until I'm finally, safely out of Mr. President's official route.

Welcome to Oslo, Barack Obama. Hope you enjoy your Peace Prize. Personally, I hope you'll have more to show for your trip to Copenhagen.

[Tri Girl]

wow, lph- definitely an interesting morning! Can't say I've ever had a commute like THAT before!

[ginny]

lph! Wow! That's funny... this fall semester, they dedicated some building on campus to **** Cheney, and I got stuck in the middle of the secret service stuff (on my bike too) - I was really just annoyed.

Tri, get better soon! Sorry to hear you are off the bike.

It's slick out today, but I made it in without a single mishap. I really feel like I have accomplished something when I get to work in one piece in this nasty cold, slick weather - at least I manage to get one thing done a day

he he he the edited out Mr Cheney's first name... tee hee - that's funny!

[sgtiger]

LPH, if one had a guilty conscious that be one nerve-racking commute. 'Course there's nothing like starting your day with heavily armed people.

[hoffsquared]

Very brisk ride in. 19F (not cold by some of the posts here). Core was nice & warm but I'll have to do better for feet & hands.

But a quite pleasant ride all in all. Hit all my intersections just perfect for once.

[pfunk12]

3 for 4 this week. My daughter thought I was crazy to bike in this morning and although it was cold, it was definitely bearable and I was warming up nicely within a few miles. The hardest part for me this week is getting used to the cold temps after being in West Africa last week. 85-90 degrees every day to this But it sure does feel good to be back on the bike.

[Melalvai]

Very brisk ride in. 19F (not cold by some of the posts here).

For your area, I'd say 19F is quite cold. My uninformed opinion is that cold is relative. If you are used to 20F, it doesn't seem all that bad. If you are used to 40F, 20F is extreme. I'm used to 30F, so 20F is getting pretty cold and 10F is extreme. I say, way to go!