My Morning Commute

[Terpfan]

@TwoWheelsDC 38583 wrote:

Ugh…I drove today, for the first time in about 6 weeks, because I thought I needed to wear a suit because I’d be spending the day at my new office working with the woman I’m replacing (it’s a rotational position). Looking like that isn’t going to happen, so I drove for nothing. However, it did give me my first opportunity to time how long the drive takes on what I judge to be the optimal route in good traffic conditions. It should surprise no one that driving saved me zero minutes. I did get to crank up the tunes though, so I guess there’s that?

Really? Traffic looked really really light today. I noticed only 4 cars waiting at Slaters and GWP. Then again, I was only passed once and I only passed three people making it a light day on the trails too. I guess everyone was able to take off but me and the few of you guys posting here. I do a suit four days a week .

[ShawnoftheDread]

@bobco85 38580 wrote:

Don’t forget including the occasional “R” in saying words like Washington, washing machine, and gosh.

On the other hand, since you left DC you can resume saying “you’re welcome” like a normal person instead of “you welcome.”

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Terpfan 38585 wrote:

Really? Traffic looked really really light today. I noticed only 4 cars waiting at Slaters and GWP. Then again, I was only passed once and I only passed three people making it a light day on the trails too. I guess everyone was able to take off but me and the few of you guys posting here. I do a suit four days a week .

My driving route has about a million potential variations, but the most direct route requires going through at least two chokepoints that aren’t terrible, but are enough to add a couple of minutes. If I take the less direct routes, I avoid the chokepoints but take slower roads with more stops. On my bike, I can just ride right past the cars stuck at the chokepoints. On 123 for example, I ride on the shoulder and most days the line of cars is a mile long (no exaggeration), so I dial up my smugness to 11 and my watts to 400 and zoom by at 25mph.

[5555624]

@Certifried 38581 wrote:

beautiful pic, Dirt! Thanks for sharing! I, again, did not ride today LOL. I’ve always had the “constitution” of a crocodile (look it up!), but this year I’ve been hit with various ailments 3+ times. The + time was a few hours where I thought I was coming down with something, went to bed, and woke up feeling fine. So, even though I whine and complain like a little girl about not riding in (I always whine when I’m sick, because my mom actually is awesome and would baby me haha) so I love seeing these awesome pictures.

In other words, your next new jersey should simply say: “Rule #5”?

[crysb]

Commute was dark, Strava Android app didn’t pick up a GPS signal, and rode a big red Bikeshare bike, but was happy to be riding even a little bit. Winter cycling beats summer cycling because you don’t always end up drenched in sweat (sometimes you still do, though).

[consularrider]

@TwoWheelsDC 38583 wrote:

Ugh…I drove today, … I did get to crank up the tunes though, so I guess there’s that?

Just get a speaker designed for the bottle cage and you’re all set. Or better yet, a construction site boombox on your rear rack, or get a trailer and pull an oversized boombox like we get to enjoy on BikeDC.

[Certifried]

Not really a “commute”, but had an awesome day biking down to Hains Point. Got to see a few of the forum folks, and a huge thanks to Vicegrip for a trailer!

[Greenbelt]

I had the new bike prepped for a snowy morning commute, but I’m looking at the forecast for this afternoon (moderate to heavy rain with E winds at 20-25 and temps in the upper 30s?) and I think I’m going to wimp out and work from home! Besides, most of my office is on vacation — I’m going to sit by the fireplace instead…

[Rootchopper]

Dang, that was fun. I had ice on my brakes front and rear and a buildup of slush on top of my handlebar bag. The snow was mixed with sleet and the wind off the river sprayed my face with stinging bb’s for about 20 minutes. I could feel my bike sliding every so often but it stayed upright. I stood to climb up the steep bit on the hill to Rosslyn and my rear wheel started to go sideways. I sat down and it stopped. I topped it off watching a car make a right turn on red without stopping from the I66 ramp. If I had followed the traffic light I’d be typing this from the ER.

My feet are frozen. I tried putting my feet in plastic bags to keep them wet but this caused my feet to sweat and learned that cold sweat feels surprisingly similar to cold rain and snow.

Other than that it was just another ride on the MVT.

[Tim Kelley]

I find bad weather commutes to be a bit of an adventure, although the baby didn’t enjoy the freezing rain in her eyes on the way to daycare.

Don’t lock the brakes on the downhills, and pedal smooth circles on the uphill!

[consularrider]

Not commuting this morning. White out and blizzard in southern Indiana with 8 inches of snow since about 4 am this morning. All United flights up until 4 pm have been cancelled, but mine at 2:32 pm still shows “on time.” No way I can get to the airport. Stay safe in the DC Metro area!

[jabberwocky]

I had a nice slushy commute in. Debated putting the studs on the touring bike, but elected to just run the road bike. It was a little slippy through Reston and Great Falls, but manageable (I only had to put a foot out 2-3 times on corners). I was hoping that it would warm up and my commute home would be merely wet, but the sleet switched to snow and its starting to build up, so my commute home might be interesting. 😮

[TwoWheelsDC]

Ugh, of all the days to forget my riding glasses…barely perceptible sleet turned into sleet turned into light snow turned into heavy snow over the course of 8 miles. The heavy snow came with wind, so it felt legit wintry. I just kept repeating in my head “rule #9, rule #9, rule #9, rule #9…”

[dbb]

Coming up the MVT about 0630 it was light snow and the trail was largely empty but in good shape. From Crystal City to the 14th St Bridge I only saw one other cyclist.

My 174th bicycle commute of the year.

[DaveK]

Between bringing in goodies for the office (that some of you left at the Hains Point 100, shhh) and nearly breaking my face walking down the stairs with the dog this morning, my ride this morning was in a malodorous silver tube. Looking at the forecast for the rest of the day, I regret nothing.

[Author]

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