My Morning Commute

[dkel]

@ShawnoftheDread 103827 wrote:

Is that rust on your chain?!? 😮

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dkel 103832 wrote:

Is that rust on your chain?!? 😮

Good lord no. That’s reflection. It’s a clean, well-lubed chain with only 700 dry miles on it. Until today.

[KelOnWheels]

@Steve O 103794 wrote:

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

Then I could get these

[cyclingfool]

I was surprised to see as many riders out as I did, especially given the relatively late time that I left home – around 9 AM. I counted 7 others. I was surprised how much snow there was, too. Drivers were calm and sane. In fact, along Commonwealth they weren’t going much faster than me. I was rolling at 10-12 mph, cars were maybe doing 15, so all passes were as if in slo-mo.

The ride in was a blast. I was happy to go slow and easy and just enjoy. Took a couple pictures. Soaked in the winter beauty. Sadly, one picture had to be of a National Park Police cruiser parked AGAIN in their favorite spot in a crosswalk by the Jefferson Memorial. I will gladly send it along and be the squeaky wheel again. At least it had icicles on the front bumper, so it kind of looked pretty, even as it angered me.

[worktheweb]

I had a lot of fun this morning. I put on the studded tires last night and they gave an admirable amount of traction. I slowed everything down and ended up taking almost twice as long as usual, but enjoyed the trip. I have a picture of the beard icicles that formed along the way over on the ride pictures thread. I only lost control once, while making the hairpin turn North of the 14th Street Bridge up the hill and somehow managed to land on my feet.

The only two equipment issues: Speedplay frogs don’t clear ice and snow well, so that was a challenge, and next time I’ll wear my wind pants — snow melted on my quads and then refroze, which got a bit cold. Thankfully the rest of me was warm, so it all worked out. Saw 5 cyclists on the VA side and another one in DC who rode along with me for a while and seemed to have a lot of the same gear that I did. Was nice to have a chat. Saw even more tracks – about 4 South of 4MR, 5-6 South of Crystal City, and many more north of Crystal City. I remember riding in the 00’s and not seeing anyone, nice to see how things have changed.

I am definitely worried about the ice situation tonight, some of the tracks were already getting rutted. Hopefully things don’t get too nasty.

[worktheweb]

@KelOnWheels 103835 wrote:

Then I could get these

I have the 302s (the previous version) and they’re great. In the 20s and below toe warmers are a nice addition for 30+ minute rides, but they do well at keeping you dry and warm. They are also very walkable off the bike, handling muck nicely.

[SilverSpring]

Well, I envy the generally sunny attitudes folks have about their morning commutes. Mine…well, it was too cold to be Hell, but it sure scared the heck outta me (and confirmed my Bride’s “you’re a dumba$$” appellation as I headed out the door). Where it was just snow, it was lovely and serene. That, sadly, was only up the block. The next seven miles (3rd/Kansas/11th) was a mix of sliding around on the ice packed down by cars or trying to get a good bead through the slush in the bike lanes. I’m glad I’ve tried it, but I think I’ll limit future Winter precipitation rides to light dustings only.

[Greenbelt]

@SilverSpring 103843 wrote:

Well, I envy the generally sunny attitudes folks have about their morning commutes. Mine…well, it was too cold to be Hell, but it sure scared the heck outta me (and confirmed my Bride’s “you’re a dumba$$” appellation as I headed out the door). Where it was just snow, it was lovely and serene. That, sadly, was only up the block. The next seven miles (3rd/Kansas/11th) was a mix of sliding around on the ice packed down by cars or trying to get a good bead through the slush in the bike lanes. I’m glad I’ve tried it, but I think I’ll limit future Winter precipitation rides to light dustings only.

Yeah, the salted and packed down neighborhood streets between the trails were treacherous this morning. I just creeped along. Untouched areas on the trails and sides of roads were much better, and I could go a near-normal speed with a bit more effort than usual though.

[hozn]

Not exactly a commute, but what a blast. Riding in this powder is so much fun. Again tomorrow!

[bobco85]

@notlost 103822 wrote:

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.

Hmm, maybe there’s a gap between the cable and sheath where moisture is entering.

[mstone]

@bobco85 103873 wrote:

Hmm, maybe there’s a gap between the cable and sheath where moisture is entering.

There’s always going to be a gap, or else a bowden cable isn’t going to work. It’s possible to put in a light moisture-displacing synthetic oil. Be very careful not to oil the brakes, and if you overdo it with the oil you’ll end up with a different problem (gunk stuck to the cable).

[dasgeh]

@SilverSpring 103843 wrote:

Well, I envy the generally sunny attitudes folks have about their morning commutes. Mine…well, it was too cold to be Hell, but it sure scared the heck outta me (and confirmed my Bride’s “you’re a dumba$$” appellation as I headed out the door). Where it was just snow, it was lovely and serene. That, sadly, was only up the block. The next seven miles (3rd/Kansas/11th) was a mix of sliding around on the ice packed down by cars or trying to get a good bead through the slush in the bike lanes. I’m glad I’ve tried it, but I think I’ll limit future Winter precipitation rides to light dustings only.

Last year, I found that snow led to one of three situations: 1) work delay/closing (YAY – sleeze ride, which I could time to be either on fresh snow or after the plow had come through); 2) snow started during the commute, leading to a light dusting of fresh snow (easy enough to bike through with wide tires); or 3) snow started early enough that roads had been plowed (I just rode on the plowed roads). Today was the worst possible scenario — unplowed roads and no delay. Hopefully it won’t scare you away from biking on saner days.

[dasgeh]

BTW, at the end of ARLNow’s Armageddon Article, there’s a nice little shout out to bike commuting, featuring a tweet from BikeArlington/americancyclo. Nice job.

[notlost]

@mstone 103880 wrote:

There’s always going to be a gap, or else a bowden cable isn’t going to work. It’s possible to put in a light moisture-displacing synthetic oil. Be very careful not to oil the brakes, and if you overdo it with the oil you’ll end up with a different problem (gunk stuck to the cable).

The real issue is the design, with the cable housing running along the downtube with the caliper inside the rear triangle…leaving water an easy path for entry (and then freezing). I’ve used a little lube in the past, but the problem is recurring.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dasgeh 103950 wrote:

BTW, at the end of ARLNow’s Armageddon Article, there’s a nice little shout out to bike commuting, featuring a tweet from BikeArlington/americancyclo. Nice job.

Risk reading the other comments to find it? Ehhhh, no thanks.

[Author]

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