How Was Your Commute Today?

[Melalvai]

I took the cats to the vet today. It's warmed up a lot, it's right at freezing. I put blankets in the cat carriers with them, a blanket over each cat carrier, and a larger blanket over both of them, and strapped them to the trailer. The blankets were open at the bottoms so they'd get some air, while hopefully not subjecting them to a cold breeze.

They also have fur, and are warm blooded. And it was only 20 minutes each way. I was certainly warm, but they weren't pedaling, lazy things.

They weren't shivering, and appeared only as disturbed as they normally are about visiting the vet.

They both need their teeth cleaned, so we'll go back next week.

[hoffsquared]

I took the cats to the vet today. It's warmed up a lot, it's right at freezing. I put blankets in the cat carriers with them, a blanket over each cat carrier, and a larger blanket over both of them, and strapped them to the trailer. The blankets were open at the bottoms so they'd get some air, while hopefully not subjecting them to a cold breeze.

They also have fur, and are warm blooded. And it was only 20 minutes each way. I was certainly warm, but they weren't pedaling, lazy things.

They weren't shivering, and appeared only as disturbed as they normally are about visiting the vet.

They both need their teeth cleaned, so we'll go back next week.

It's neat you trailered your cats to the vet.

[Tri Girl]

It's neat you trailered your cats to the vet.

ditto!

[Ambikes]

This morning was a balmy 0F when I left the house. It was actually quite a nice ride in. By the time I left the university, the temperature had dropped to about -15F with a -31F wind chill. Burrrrr. Wind chills are supposed to drop into the minus 40s this weekend, so I don't think I'll be venturing out on the bike (or probably much at all!).

I totally agree that temperature tolerance is a function of what you are used to. I'm much more acclimated to cold weather living in Saskatoon than I ever was when I lived in Michigan. I find that the dryness here also makes it feel less cold at the same temperature. The lack of humidity also makes summer heat much more bearable.

[Chicken Little]

Did a quick 30 mile commute today. It was 34 when I left. It counts as a commute because I stopped on the way back and grabbed red food coloring for Christmas candy cane cookies. I was miserable. The whole ride seemed uphill. I am now soothing myself with cookie dough.
Tomorrow is another day.

[Shara]

I commuted yesterday. Twice! Short trips. Maybe 10km total but the second time I had my daughter on her weeride and a load of groceries in my basket. Felt like work! ha ha

[7rider]

Whew!!!
First bike commute since December 1st! Sheesh.
Foggy but warm(ish) this morning, so no worries about black ice. Strong headwind riding home this evening but I donated blood today, so I used that as my reason/excuse for riding sloooooowly.
Tomorrow, I'll be wishing I had DivingBiker's Xtra-cycle, as I'm bringing a crock pot filled with meatballs to the office for our holiday luncheon. Since I don't have anything to carry it on with the bike, I'll be on Metro (the subway) instead. Bummer.

[pfunk12]

Good for you, 7! Glad to hear you got back out there. I had a weird morning commute. I forgot to recharge my headlight last night. My dog was sick so I left a message for the vet, talked to the vet, helped my daughter with French homework, etc. Was too busy so I completely forgot about the light. So this morning, after riding only 15 minutes, the light went out. I stopped to put a back-up light on but it was so dark and a little foggy so the back-up light didn't help much. There were times when I honestly could not see the trail and I had no idea if I was still riding on it. The ride home was interesting. I almost got knocked off the bike when a gust of wind coming off the Potomac River almost blew me over. I lost control for a few seconds! Another There was a fierce headwind for most of the ride. No fun at all. But I ended up riding with a young guy who commented that he needed an electric assist bike. The two of us commented about how we got passed last evening by a guy riding one of those. I was doing 19 going uphill and when he blew by, I felt like I was standing still. Very demoralizing.

[divingbiker]

You should have said something. We could have gotten the Xtracycle up to your house somehow, 7.

I fought the headwind today, too, but I really enjoyed my ride. It's been a long time since I've done a roundtrip commute. I've been wimping out and hitching rides home.

[blackhillsbiker]

About 9 below this morning. About 9 above this evening. It's amazing how much warmer that felt.

Deb

P.S. I LOVE my new goggles!

[lph]

Oh fardling barbling @$£€!"#¤%

The rear wheel on my poor ancient Kona has been wobbling and clunking and groaning and complaining since a snow storm last winter. So I took it off AGAIN, took out the axle and bearings AGAIN - I've done this at least 4 times now - and carefully pieced it all together again with the correct spacers according to an "exploded" diagram I found on the Shimano site. It's still worn, but miraculously, has now shut up and is scarcely wobbling.

But today the right shifter lever gave up the ghost. It hasn't sprung back on it's own for a while so I've had to tap it back every time I shift, but still usable. Now it's dead and I had to get by with the 3 front gears for the hilliest 10 km of my commute

Yeah, I have another mtb, but it has disk brakes so the wheels aren't interchangeable, so I'll have to spend time switching the studded tires. I hate that. They're full of snow and filthy and it's cold out and my hands will get sore and I want to go lie on the couch and watch tv


Boy, don't I sound a real grouch

[blackhillsbiker]

Now that it's finally warmer (around 30), I got sick so I didn't ride today. I'm hoping to tomorrow.

Deb

[Ambikes]

Today was a good commute for me. Temperatures have warmed up to above 0F (I think it was about 5 today) and the wind went away. That's pretty nice for here this time of year.

Monday, however, was the worst commute ever. The temperature was around -30F with windchill in the -40s. The wind was blowing so hard and it was so cold that I got a brain-freeze headache from the outside in! Plus, the lube on my bike was not doing it's job, so it felt like I was pedaling a dump truck. And my toes and fingers froze. It was the longest 2km I have ever ridden. At least I know now not to try that again

[pfunk12]

Wow. Just wow.

Monday, however, was the worst commute ever. The temperature was around -30F with windchill in the -40s. The wind was blowing so hard and it was so cold that I got a brain-freeze headache from the outside in! Plus, the lube on my bike was not doing it's job, so it felt like I was pedaling a dump truck. And my toes and fingers froze. It was the longest 2km I have ever ridden. At least I know now not to try that again

[mizzbananie]

Today was a good commute for me. Temperatures have warmed up to above 0F (I think it was about 5 today) and the wind went away. That's pretty nice for here this time of year.

Monday, however, was the worst commute ever. The temperature was around -30F with windchill in the -40s. The wind was blowing so hard and it was so cold that I got a brain-freeze headache from the outside in! Plus, the lube on my bike was not doing it's job, so it felt like I was pedaling a dump truck. And my toes and fingers froze. It was the longest 2km I have ever ridden. At least I know now not to try that again

oh man.. i'm in calgary, and i just couldn't ride last week. couldn't. my commute is 15km, and i figured i'd be dead before i made it. tho.. sure as heck i saw 3 people on the path who did their commute despite everything.

congratulations for giving it your best. i'm glad you lived to tell the tale.