How Was Your Commute Today?

[Biciclista]

Ai, so Tuesday I was Queen of the Universe, then the temperature dropped even more... It's been -20C (-4F) for the past 2 days, so yesterday I took the bus to work, bringing ski things, then went for a short ski trip right after work instead. Then today I had a couple of errands in town, so decided to bike commute. New temperature record for me, w00t! I went for the same stuff as for -15 C, but added a wind vest underneath my jacket, and my homemade "rain shorts" just to keep the wind off the my butt.

I had no trouble keeping warm, actually, but ohhh. It is a bit of a hassle riding when it's that cold. My bike did NOT want to shift in front at all. I just left it. In back it would just shift slowly and hesitantly. So basically I just coasted down the hills, and stood up and pedalled my *ss off uphill. And they still hadn't scraped the bike paths, so I was still skidding around in a thin layer of grungy potato flour snow, which made everything go even slower. Everybody else was all wrapped up in layers and paying no attention to anything, so I had to squeeze and sidle past any pedestrian, no matter which way they were heading. And the city has most definitely not bothered with plowing the bike lanes, so once on the road you just have to suck it up and get in the way of the cars.

Nothing terrible, I just felt slow, clumsy and in the way. But slightly vindicated hearing how everyone else had either had trouble starting their cars, or froze to death waiting for a delayed train, or whatever. It struck me that biking (or walking briskly), is actually one of the best and most guaranteed way to actually keep warm "during transport", rather than the opposite.

wow. great ride report. BRAVA! you rock!

[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!

[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

[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

[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!

[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.

[Biciclista]

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.

no kidding. you're braver than me.

[Melalvai]

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.

Yes! Yesterday's ride was kind of awful, but if I hadn't gone, I would have felt like a wimp. (My weather is NOT as cold as yours.) Today's was much better. The streets are a lot better so I was riding on pavement much more than on packed snow.

Join me and lph and have some chocolate, Melalvai!

Mmmm. Too bad I gave up sugar recently. I might consider making an exception for strenuous exercise, but I really want to try to get through life without refined sugar & HFCS. Fortunately I have invented some creations that I call Hot Smoothies, like apple-pecan-milk, and nutmeg-sweet potato-milk! I had one of those as soon as I got home yesterday, but maybe just needed something more substantial to follow up.

[Tri Girl]

Deb- you're my ultimate hero. You ladies are serious studs. I haven't ridden in over a month (between my emergency appendectomy, the two weeks of Christmas break and this week of teens and twenties with wind chills at or below zero).
I CAN'T WAIT TO RIDE AGAIN!!!!! Next week will be in the 40's. It should feel like summertime compared to this week. Oh, I'm riding. You bet I am.

[lph]

-21 F! Dang, you rock Love this thread.

[kmehrzad]

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.

What are you wearing to keep your hands and feet warm on cold days such as -21 degrees?