How Was Your Commute Today?

[pfunk12]

Not sure if any of you have been experiencing the same things as I have been this week. As I mentioned the other day, this is my first day commuting since before the holidays so it's much colder than it was a few weeks ago and there is also (still) quite a bit of ice out there. Because of the possibility of hitting patches of ice, I am forced to be more alert than usual. I also feel as if my body is more tense. After my roundtrip commute on Tuesday, my biceps were actually sore. Believe me when I say that I am not complaining about the commute......but when I get to the office in the morning and when I return home in the evening, I am physically and mentally drained and I am also very, very hungry. It's also been very windy so I feel like I am working twice as hard as I did a few weeks ago. Again, no complaints though.

[lph]

Oh yeah, I'm expending much more energy. And eating a lot more chocolate to compensate

[pfunk12]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one indulging in chocolate!

Oh yeah, I'm expending much more energy. And eating a lot more chocolate to compensate

[Melalvai]

I didn't really have anywhere to go today, but we don't often get this much snow and I wanted to try it out. So I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things that we could probably live without.

I could do left turns ok, but not right turns. The road was just too messy, so I walked through the right turns. The bike lanes actually did get plowed but I stuck to the tire track which was clear all the way to pavement.

Last time I biked in snow I learned that it is important not to look down. I see all these chunks of snow and I start trying to avoid them. It works much better to keep my attention off the road immediately in front of me, because mostly I just go through it easily if I don't let it intimidate me.

It wasn't the most pleasant ride. The wind was pretty stiff. I didn't get awfully cold but I didn't stay too warm either. When I got home, I was feeling pretty negative about it. Then I realized I was feeling negative about everything, so I got some food. That helped briefly. Then the negativity came back, so more food. I might be eating all night long. I guess I burned a lot of calories in 6 miles!

[pfunk12]

Join me and lph and have some chocolate, Melalvai! In fact, I'm eating Ghiradelli semi sweet chocolate chips in her honor right now!

It wasn't the most pleasant ride. The wind was pretty stiff. I didn't get awfully cold but I didn't stay too warm either. When I got home, I was feeling pretty negative about it. Then I realized I was feeling negative about everything, so I got some food. That helped briefly. Then the negativity came back, so more food. I might be eating all night long. I guess I burned a lot of calories in 6 miles!

[lph]

Join me and lph and have some chocolate, Melalvai! In fact, I'm eating Ghiradelli semi sweet chocolate chips in her honor right now!

Oooh, that sounds good! I have a small stash of most excellent Valrhona chocolate at work (3 kinds, Abinao, Guanaja and Caraïbe, my favourite), very good with white tea, and at home something filled with banana puree and passion fruit, which is a lot better than it sounds. Cheers!

I took the metro today. Wrapped up in down jacket and pants and my rabbit fur hat, and walked the final stretch. When it's this cold I'm satisfied with biking 2 or 3 times a week. The metro or bus gives me the chance to go skiing or swimming or something as well.

[ginny]

it was -21F today on the way in! BBbbbrrrrr! I have also noticed that I am spending so much time and effort watching exactly where to ride on the snow/ice that my shoulders are all hunched up and my hamstrings actually sore from tensely riding while standing over snow and ice... funny. I won't say it's fun to ride in this weather, but I feel as though I have accomplished something every time I ride.

[blackhillsbiker]

Last time I biked in snow I learned that it is important not to look down. I see all these chunks of snow and I start trying to avoid them. It works much better to keep my attention off the road immediately in front of me, because mostly I just go through it easily if I don't let it intimidate me.

That's where the goggles come in handy for me. I can't really see directly down so I have to focus further down the path. I'm learning a whole new way of riding. I think it will help my riding when the weather is good.

Deb

[blackhillsbiker]

-10° this morning and -5° this evening. I've had about enough of this cold snap. I overheated on the way to work. I sent some layers home with DH for the commute home. I'm on the MTB which is much more work than my Kona. Smaller fat tires. It stretches me out more, too. My shoulders are sore. But I rode. Take that, winter!

Deb

[pfunk12]

Love your attitude!

[QUOTE=blackhillsbiker;485914 Take that, winter![/QUOTE]

[kmehrzad]

-10° this morning and -5° this evening. I've had about enough of this cold snap. I overheated on the way to work. I sent some layers home with DH for the commute home. I'm on the MTB which is much more work than my Kona. Smaller fat tires. It stretches me out more, too. My shoulders are sore. But I rode. Take that, winter!

Deb

You go girl!