How Was Your Commute Today?

**ginny** · 01-19-2010, 06:56 PM

Tri: AWESOME find! Was it fun to ride? ...even through fog. Sometimes I love the quiet of the fog and how things look so different; sometimes I too am completely creeped out by it!

**blackhillsbiker** · 01-19-2010, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Tri Girl

I'm back in the saddle! Commuted today for the first time since early December- and on my new commuter I found at a pawn shop this weekend (it's a Giant touring bike from the 90's with a generator and everything).

What an awesome find!! I had a Schwinn Varsity with generator lights. I never should have sold that bike! I hope you have many happy miles on it! I know the step-through frame isn't popular right now, but think how cool you'll look this summer when you can run errands wearing a sundress.

Deb

**7rider** · 01-20-2010, 05:29 AM

I also got my first ride in today of the new year. My first commute since "The Blizzard of '09" dumped 20 inches (51 cm) of snow on the area. Today was supposed to be decent - highs around 40 (4 C) and the icebergs that block the route out of my neighborhood have receded enough to let me pass - I decided to go.
I look out the window this a.m. "Hey....the roads are wet. It wasn't supposed to rain."

I turn on the computer. Check doppler. Looks okay....scattered and light and ending soon. I'll go.
So, I load up all my stuff. Get the bike ready. Open the garage door and walk outside.
"Whoa! This isn't rain!!"
My acute powers of observation noted that the grass and cars were covered in ice!

I think my comment was echoed by just about everybody else who walked outside their home this morning.

I went anyway. Other than throwing my chain on the first hill (I think b/c of the ice...I've never thrown a chain there), it was fine. I was the only set of bike tracks - or any tracks - through the icy slush on the bike path. It was actually pretty cool.

**pfunk12** · 01-20-2010, 05:50 AM

Okay, 7...my reaction was a bit different from your reaction.

What was up with the weatherman this morning?!!!

He was talking about light rain passing through the area. Did he not realize that there was sleet coming down?? When I walked the dog at 5:45, light sleet was falling. And I thought - oh, what the heck...this isn't bad. About 20 minutes into my commute, the sleet was coming down so hard and so fast - it was accumlating on the trail. And the visibility was zero!

I couldn't see where I was going and my face and eyes were being pelted by the sleet. It hurt!

My co-workers think that I was crying because my eyes are still red. But okay...it was kind of fun.

I was checking out rain gear last night on TE. Time to buy some rain pants for days like this!

**7rider** · 01-20-2010, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by pfunk12

Okay, 7...my reaction was a bit different from your reaction.

I think it was a bit worse south of me and into the District.....right where you were!

**pfunk12** · 01-20-2010, 06:19 AM

Exactly! It was really bad when I was crossing over the MD-DC border. I was considering putting my sunglasses on at 6:30 a.m. but decided that it was probably better NOT to see because of ice in my eyes rather than complete darkness.

They still hurt...

Originally Posted by 7rider

I think it was a bit worse south of me and into the District.....right where you were!

**Melalvai** · 01-20-2010, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by pfunk12

I was checking out rain gear last night on TE. Time to buy some rain pants for days like this!

And some goggles! Then you can have the fun of iced-over goggles. I had one memorable ride, where I was peering out of the bottom quarter of the right side of my goggles. The rest had iced over. Maybe I should have stopped and wiped them clear!

**pfunk12** · 01-20-2010, 09:09 AM

Are you trying to further complicate my commute, Melavai?

My eyes are still stinging and I really do feel as if I've been crying for a few hours.

Originally Posted by Melalvai

And some goggles! Then you can have the fun of iced-over goggles. I had one memorable ride, where I was peering out of the bottom quarter of the right side of my goggles. The rest had iced over. Maybe I should have stopped and wiped them clear!

**Biciclista** · 01-20-2010, 10:25 AM

you two are inspirational. I rode home last night in near 60 degrees on dry pavement.

**HillSlugger** · 01-20-2010, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by pfunk12

Exactly! It was really bad when I was crossing over the MD-DC border. I was considering putting my sunglasses on at 6:30 a.m. but decided that it was probably better NOT to see because of ice in my eyes rather than complete darkness.

They still hurt...

Up by me it was just wet roads when I left at 7am. My bike got a bit messy but it was an uneventful ride in. I left work a bit early in the afternoon so I was able to get home while it was still dusk.

So, why did I feel colder on the way home even though the temp was 5F warmer?

btw, on the ride in my glasses kept fogging up whenever I had to stop for a light.

**7rider** · 01-20-2010, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

So, why did I feel colder on the way home even though the temp was 5F warmer?

I felt the same way! It was a damp, raw, ride home.

**blackhillsbiker** · 01-20-2010, 09:17 PM

More freezing fog. That seems to be this winter's theme song. I'd rather be on a bike on the path than in the car in the fog!

Deb

**pfunk12** · 01-21-2010, 06:51 AM

I shouldn't even try to respond to this since I'm clueless about weather.

But apparently the local forecasters are as clueless as me since they didn't predict the sleet that was falling yesterday morning when they were talking about the current weather!!!

But does it have something to do with the air and the dryness in the air? Or is it the opposite and the air is damp? See...I don't know what I'm talking about. Did the group ride on Saturday and everyone was complaining about how cold it felt even though the temp wasn't that bad.

Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

So, why did I feel colder on the way home even though the temp was 5F warmer?(

**pfunk12** · 01-21-2010, 06:52 AM

Sounds like you had a really enjoyable ride, Mimi.

Originally Posted by Biciclista

you two are inspirational. I rode home last night in near 60 degrees on dry pavement.

**Melalvai** · 01-21-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

So, why did I feel colder on the way home even though the temp was 5F warmer?

The sun, the wind, and the hills.

Even though I'm wearing a neon yellow jacket and a white helmet, riding in sunshine is noticeably warmer. I guess my pants are all black, both the goretex and the polartec, whichever I'm wearing on the outer layer. Somehow I soak up enough sun to make a difference.

It is more uphill going home, so I tend to be warmer on my ride home, the opposite of you.

Wind against me is colder.

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