My Morning Commute

[Arlingtonrider]

Don’t forget the possibility of taking bikeshare bikes out for a spin in snow. They may not be the ultimate snow bike, but they’re pretty good and a lot of fun if you’re reasonably careful. Also, someone else cleans them up afterwards.

[americancyclo]

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I had to stop and take a picture of the traffic while I was giggling down the bike path
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Before I caught the plow
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After I caught the plow
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Sure. Just park the plows in the bike lane
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No really when it snows. Bike lanes are convenient parking spots for White House deliveries.

[Phatboing]

That was a lovely commute.

On my fixie, on the third time I’ve ever ridden it. Only almost wiped out once, at the slight downhill at the Providence St & Oak St intersection in Vienna.

My wife will be obtaining an “I’m with stupid” t-shirt soon, I’m sure.

[Steve O]

@KelOnWheels 103780 wrote:

I need to get new tires and platform pedals for my mountain bike so it can be the snow bike.

Consider 2-sided pedals: SPD on one side, flat on the other. I find them very useful.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I eventually just had to call it quits. Buses going to my office were eventually put on WMATA’s “no service” snow plan. Tried to then take the bus home from EFC, only to have to abandon it because it couldn’t get up the hill because cars that were stuck were blocking the road. So I had to walk the mile home (uphill both ways)…and the bus never did end up passing me. Given the route I have to take to bike in, which is 100% busy, hilly suburban roads, I’d have even been hesitant to ride with studs, mainly due to the terrible car traffic. Now sitting on the couch with my dog.

Dismal will be happy to know that Longfellow street remains just as unplowed as the seedier portions of western Westover.

[jrenaut]

Columbia Heights was not bikeable on the longtail with the kids, so I had to take the bus to school then Metro to work. It was not fun. I’m hoping I can at least CaBi to school this afternoon for pickup.

I will note, however, that both bus drivers were very slow and deliberate and aware of the snow, exactly how a bus should be driven in the snow. Well done, WMATA.

[notlost]

Not a terrible ride in this morning, It was slow going on George Mason past the Hospital with a couple minor slides…and Custis was plowed somewhat recently and quite pleasant!

Unfortunately my rear disc keeps gumming up when the temp drops. Need to figure out how to get around that issue.

[bobco85]

Riding this morning was genuinely fun. Sadly, of course, one does have to finish their fun ride in the snow and go inside to actually do some work, but I’m not complaining

I live less than a mile from work, and my coworkers live at least a 30-45 minute drive (on a clear day) away, so they were all somewhat snowbound. Btw, yes, I will rub it in that my 2 wheel hybrid made it through the snow when their 4 wheel drive vehicles couldn’t 😎

@TwoWheelsDC 103795 wrote:

So I had to walk the mile home (uphill both ways)…and the bus never did end up passing me.

Well, when you become an old man you’ll at least have the “In my day, we had to…” story to tell

@notlost 103802 wrote:

Unfortunately my rear disc keeps gumming up when the temp drops. Need to figure out how to get around that issue.

I wonder, could you attach something like a brush that would help keep snow/dirt/debris/etc. off the disc?

[vern]

@KelOnWheels 103780 wrote:

I need to get new tires and platform pedals for my mountain bike so it can be the snow bike. (I wanna get new wheels and turn it into a 1×9 too, but that costs money and stuff.)

I’ve got an old Trek that needs an overhaul, but I wonder if for snow I could put some 30mm mudders on it, fix the brakes and give it a whirl…?

[KayakCyndi]

I’m with the “that was a fun commute crowd” today. Snow is a BLAST!

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Look trail maintenance!

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Such fun before it all turns to ice.

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The few, the brave, the stupid!

[jabberwocky]

I picked a fun day to get back on the bike after my bout with the flu. The roads out in Fairfax were genuinely awful; even major highways were basically unplowed and untreated at 9am. I passed several lines of cars on uphills because I was the only one with traction. 😮 Slow going, but definitely an adventure.

[Greenbelt]

Best commute ever, I think
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[notlost]

@bobco85 103805 wrote:

I wonder, could you attach something like a brush that would help keep snow/dirt/debris/etc. off the disc?

It’s not the caliper or disc that is giving me issues…pretty sure it’s the cable itself that has some moisture in it that freezes up when the temp drops.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@ShawnoftheDread 103679 wrote:

I’m temporarily down to one bike. My Raleigh fixie is going to look cool with studs, though my legs are going to protest.

I think I was right.

[Crickey7]

Great, now WTOP will conclude it didn’t sow panic enough.

[Author]

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