My Morning Commute

[americancyclo]

I think it was 10 for most of my ride on the Custis, but with the proper layering, i was fine. Slow moving though, only 10mph average. the slow speed helped me notice all the snow still on tree branches, though. great fun! although I think I’ll be taking surface streets home.

[aguy7]

Whoa! Serious cold this morning and the road surface changed every few feet: ice, packed snow, slush, dry. I used gear I haven’t needed in a long time: the battery powered heated gloves, face mask, shoe covers, two jackets, and the wind blocking overpants. I was glad the ride wasn’t any longer than the 3 miles that is was and that it was sunny.

[KayakCyndi]

was COLD. I hope this wind isn’t with us for the duration of Freezing Saddles!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4389[/ATTACH]

[aguy7]

@dbb 73336 wrote:

Cold!

The wind coming downriver as I crossed the 14th Street Bridge was brutal. I recall muttering something about the wisdom of Rules 5 and 9.

Studded tires kept me upright so the wind could have greater opportunities to abuse me.

Chapeau to you dude. I don’t even like to think what it must have been like on the 14th St. bridge this morning. I’ve commuted across there on mornings when I had to hold on to my hat or the wind would have blown it off of my head, but I’ve never ridden there when it was as cold and windy as it was this morning.

[jabberwocky]

Pretty much all the back roads I ride were in various stages between maybe-plowed-once-last-night to not-plowed-at-all. Lots of ice, lots of packed snow. I was glad for the studded tires, but even with them my 7 mile commute took almost 40 minutes. Kinda seems like the snow clearing people got caught a bit off guard.

[Subby]

There were moguls on the WOD. MOGULS. It was a black diamond run.

Do not go on the trails today unless you have studded tires or big ol’ fatties and even if you do, stay away from the ruts. They almost wiped me out a few times.

The cold was actually okay, but I was ridiculously layered.

Feet: two pairs of socks (compression + smartwool), foot warmers, shoes, shoe covers
Bottom half: running tights, winter biking tights
Upper half: UA coldgear base layer, long sleeve shirt, bike jacket, heart rate monitor!
Head: Balaclava, helmet
Hands: glove liners, lobster gloves

dbb wasn’t kidding about 14th street bridge. My eyelashes are still frozen.

[Jason B]

It was fun taking the mountain bike out for the first time in a long time. Felt like a teenager zooming around smashing stuff with my fat tires. If I didn’t have a bad back, bad knees, was twenty years younger, no sore shoulder, twenty pounds lighter and didn’t have a fear of getting ouchies, I would so get back into mountain biking!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4390[/ATTACH]
Thank you lonely dog walker for graciously taking the shot
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4391[/ATTACH]
Ah, nothing like fresh powder! Actually for you roadies who are looking outside saying the roads don’t look bad, the only place I fell was on the streets. More ice than you think!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4392[/ATTACH]

[Subby]

Heh I passed you on 4MR going east – you looked like you were having a blast. I yelled something enthusiastic. Not sure what.

[cyclingfool]

@KayakCyndi 73357 wrote:

was COLD. I hope this wind isn’t with us for the duration of Freezing Saddles!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4389[/ATTACH]

Nice looking rig, teammate!

[sethpo]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4396[/ATTACH]

That was kinda fun. This old beast tore right through the snow and muck. We got a solid 4 inches in R-ville. Only rode 1.5 miles to metro so really not enough time to get cold. I might just need to take this thing out on Saturday and find some woods or something.

[Steve]

I got to try my new studded tires today! It was slow but upright, so that’s a win. I didn’t actually think it was as cold as I expected. I was a bit overdressed on top, but my legs/feet felt good. I wore skiing gloves which kept my hands really warm, much warmer than my winter riding gloves (the benefit of bar-end shifters not really necessitating much dexterity). Things I learned from my first ever snow ride:

1. Powedered snow makes me work harder, my legs are sore (Rt. 110 trail).
2. Footprints and tire tracks are rough. I don’t like them.
3. I love riding my bike.

Stay safe this afternoon all.

[DaveK]

That was a most enjoyable morning of bicycling.

[dbb]

@Subby 73365 wrote:

Feet: two pairs of socks (compression + smartwool), foot warmers, shoes, shoe covers
Bottom half: running tights, winter biking tights
Upper half: UA coldgear base layer, long sleeve shirt, bike jacket, heart rate monitor!
Head: Balaclava, helmet
Hands: glove liners, lobster gloves

I may have underdressed

Feet – normal Wrightsock ankle high running socks, no shoe covers
Bottom – Shorts and winter biking tights
Upper – Cotton tee shirt (yeah I know), UA long sleeve shirt and Gore (love it) jacket
Head – thin balaclava and Gore beanie
Hands – Performance gloves

I suppose it might have been prudent to get the MooseMitts mounted on my bike before this morning.

This is the only time during the year where those of us that are, well, big-boned have an advantage on Mr Kelley!

[Subby]

@dbb 73392 wrote:

This is the only time during the year where those of us that are, well, big-boned have an advantage on Mr Kelley!

You cannot deny evolution. Thousands of years and we fat people are still here. IT’S SCIENCE.

[Tim Kelley]

@dbb 73392 wrote:

This is the only time during the year where those of us that are, well, big-boned have an advantage on Mr Kelley!

I wore jeans this morning. I did put on a heavier coat though…

[Author]

Posts