My Morning Commute

[peterw_diy]

@dkel 103175 wrote:

Speaking of which, my feet got super cold in those new shoes this morning; much colder than they used to in my sandals (really!). I’m stopping by the shop this afternoon to get some shoe covers!

Try plastic bags (the ends of newspaper bags are perfect) in your shoes, over your sock toes. Good for adding about 15deg F to your range.

[dkel]

@dplasters 103179 wrote:

And so it continues, the circle of cycling purchasing.

As it turns out, it’s hard to come by winter gear in my size this late in the season. So, circle broken! Doesn’t help my cold feet any.

[dplasters]

@dkel 103218 wrote:

As it turns out, it’s hard to come by winter gear in my size this late in the season. So, circle broken! Doesn’t help my cold feet any.

Fret not, my quest for bar mitts has now resulted in the most ridiculous purchasing chain in quite some time.

The logic chain is essentially:
I do not like wearing really big gloves.
I like warm hands.
Bar mitts rock.
Bar mitts do not secure well to bullhorn bars (even the style specifically made for bullhorn bars).
Buy all new handle bars, stem, brake levers, brake cables.
Buy bar mitts that secure well to drop bars.
You now have warm hands and can wear light gloves.

Wait – you just changed all those things because you don’t like wearing your snowboarding gloves while you ride?
Yes.

[hozn]

The Pearl Izumi pro lobster gloves are really warm. They were very comfortable around 20F and a little below (according to Garmin) yesterday AM. They were too warm, honestly.

We shall see how it goes, but I am hoping to get through winter without needing to put on the bar mitts at all! (Bar mitts are warm, but I like being able to move between drops and hoods.)

[lordofthemark]

This morning was my first commute of 2015, and my first commute in January, ever.

Went without incident. Traffic was light so I took the lane on Maine Avenue and made a vehicular left on to 7th.

[mstone]

It was a pretty quiet morning. Brisk, with no wind or water to spoil the mood.

[worktheweb]

Great morning with only a few other riders on the MVT. Quiet and pleasant with the coffee club at the end of the ride. A great start to the new year.

[Crickey7]

One in a string of pleasant commutes. It’s been fairly easy this year to adapt to lows in the upper 20’s and low ’30’s. So far, we’ve not had the lower 20’s–at least in my neck of the woods–or teens. When those days arrive, my current setup is likely to prove inadequate, and I’ll move into the final level. That’s adding another layer of tights and chemical handwarmers. I totally believe y’all with the bar mitts, I just cannot bring myself to do that.

[Orestes Munn]

Lovely, quiet morning. I hardly ever feel the cold in the a.m. and I’m always freezing in the evening. Took the racing bike and as soon as I get my little clinical crisis settled here, I’m going to get me a brisk little tempo workout on the park roads, hit the climb to Ft. Reno medium-hard, and coast home to a hot shower and a martini.

[ronwalf]

First commute of the year, and first ride ever in ‘kit’ (bib tights, jersey and jacket, but clunky boots since my cycling shoes are too vented for this weather). Ride was good, clothing was… OK? It both kept me warm and from being arrested for indecent exposure, so I guess it did its job.

[ronwalf]

@ronwalf 103385 wrote:

First commute of the year, and first ride ever in ‘kit’ (bib tights, jersey and jacket, but clunky boots since my cycling shoes are too vented for this weather). Ride was good, clothing was… OK? It both kept me warm and from being arrested for indecent exposure, so I guess it did its job.

Brrr. Kit failed to do its job on the way home (by which I mean it didn’t keep me warm, not that I was arrested for flashing). Aggravating factors: 12 degrees cooler, a lack of sunlight, and a bit of tiredness. Bulking up on my core layers will probably fix it.

[Greenbelt]

It’s OK to double chamois, you know — keep your man parts warm…

[ronwalf]

@Greenbelt 103455 wrote:

It’s OK to double chamois, you know — keep your man parts warm…

Heh – those were my only warm parts last night. Less time outside will help to. Between being out of shape and JBAB closing the Firth-Sterling exit, I was in the saddle for 2 1/2 hours. You started an hour later and still beat me home!

[dplasters]

This morning was lovely. Heavier than normal car traffic though. Everyone has to show up today to remind the boss they still work there after almost two weeks of slacking I guess.

The rest of the week….. well….. it might get a little cool. Wishing my drop bars/bar mitts were showing up today or tomorrow and not wednesday afternoon right about now.

[Vicegrip]

Crisp clear air in contrast to Sunday’s damp along with the full moon illuminating the clouds was nice today.

[Author]

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