My Morning Commute

[KayakCyndi]

@rcannon100 104282 wrote:

To anyone riding today and claiming #BAFS, pictures or it didnt happen! And to those who have already posted pictures, Rule #9. We are not worthy!

Oh great. Now you tell me after I just docked the CABI! How about Strava evidence?

[rcannon100]

@KayakCyndi 104287 wrote:

Oh great. Now you tell me after I just docked the CABI! How about Strava evidence?

Just re use those photos from two days ago. Those are MASSIVE!

[dasgeh]

@rcannon100 104282 wrote:

To anyone riding today and claiming #BAFS, pictures or it didnt happen! And to those who have already posted pictures, Rule #9. We are not worthy!

It wasn’t really that bad, so I didn’t even think to get pics (as opposed to Tuesday). It was a nice ride in, helped immeasurably by cleared roads (finally) and trails. It was even close to normal speed. And I saw a few others out there with me.

FWIW, I had 3 layers on my legs (icebreaker 260 weight tights, Novara windbreaker winter tights, sweatpants), 5 on my torso (wool, some other performance material, wool, fleece, ski jacket), 2 on my feet (+boots), 2 on my head (+helmet, one of which covered my face), infinity scarf and ski gloves. I ride an ebike, so don’t get as warm from pedaling as most. The most important part is tucking layers into each other so you don’t end up with exposed skin at the “seems”. Also, I find that my hands get cold when my torso is in the “fine but not warm” range – last night my hands were chilly on a short ride to a meeting, so for the long ride home, I added a layer to my top and my hands were fine.

[Riley Casey]

I was warm and toasty for my three mile commute this morning from my head to my ankles. Despite wearing my heavy Blundstone boots however my feet are STILL cold more than an hour after getting to work.
:confused:
Still, it was more fun than driving aside from the fuel oil truck forcing me off the road.

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 104302 wrote:

It wasn’t really that bad, so I didn’t even think to get pics (as opposed to Tuesday). It was a nice ride in, helped immeasurably by cleared roads (finally) and trails. It was even close to normal speed. And I saw a few others out there with me.

FWIW, I had 3 layers on my legs, 5 on my torso (wool, some other performance material, wool, fleece, ski jacket) …

Agreed not so bad–especially with the Custis so nicely cleared. Rode the road bike.
All I wore was my street clothes–cotton undershirt and dress shirt–under my Novarra rain jacket (yesterday I packed my blazer in my bag rather than wear it, because I get too hot). Also a BA scarf around my neck but no face covering. That seems to be enough for my upper body. One pair of bike tights under my dress pants for legs–also fine.

Now hands and feet: that’s a different story.

[TwoWheelsDC]

The bus was nice and toasty this morning…but the roads around my office are still in bad shape. The salt is melting the shoulders a bit, but on a busy 45mph quasi-freeway, I need more than a few inches of clear shoulder to feel safe. So tomorrow I plan on leading a BAFS convoy on the the 23A bus…

[DismalScientist]

Riding the fixie on 25 slicks. Great to get rid of the studs. I only had to walk two blocks to get to the nearest arterial in my neighborhood. The bike lane on Fairfax and Clarendon is not yet particularly useful.

[FeltZ85]

I’ll be taking a Bikeshare home today. I’d rather freeze than have another 2+ hour metro ‘experience’ like I did this morning.

[dkel]

@DismalScientist 104317 wrote:

Riding the fixie on 25 slicks. Great to get rid of the studs. I only had to walk two blocks to get to the nearest arterial in my neighborhood.

I don’t think a route out to Vienna exists that is clear enough for me to stop pushing my studded tires around.

[cyclingfool]

Studs still definitely needed since so much of my commute is on the MVT and 14th St Bridge, though it’s getting better. Solar plowing FTW!

Kept plenty warm this AM, even my feet. Shoe covers were great, combined with double socks w/ a plastic shopping bag in between on each foot. Double gloves. Double fleece. Balaclava. Despite the fifty minutes of exposure to the elements caused largely by the slow going on studs on ice and snow, the only thing that got really cold was my thighs. Guess I could have used one more layer between the waist and the knees.

[dplasters]

@DismalScientist 104317 wrote:

Riding the fixie on 25 slicks. Great to get rid of the studs. I only had to walk two blocks to get to the nearest arterial in my neighborhood. The bike lane on Fairfax and Clarendon is not yet particularly useful.

this inspires me to believe that I can bike commute tomorrow. I will be driving home along my bike route this evening and scoping it out.

[DismalScientist]

I’ll be riding the studs tomorrow. After all, I have to get to Shirlington in deep, dark South Arlington. Once you ride slicks, the only accessible bridge is the Key. (Actually, I have to deal with the WOD and another bridge farther south.)

[americancyclo]

@DismalScientist 104317 wrote:

Riding the fixie on 25 slicks. Great to get rid of the studs. I only had to walk two blocks to get to the nearest arterial in my neighborhood. The bike lane on Fairfax and Clarendon is not yet particularly useful.

It’s much better westbound

[ShawnoftheDread]

Still on studs, but at least today they were on my CX instead of my fixie. I only needed them for 10 or 15 percent of my ride, but I’ve fallen twice on ice and I hate it very much.

[dasgeh]

@DismalScientist 104334 wrote:

I’ll be riding the studs tomorrow. After all, I have to get to Shirlington in deep, dark South Arlington. Once you ride slicks, the only accessible bridge is the Key. (Actually, I have to deal with the WOD and another bridge farther south.)

Memorial Bridge is accessible on slicks. From South Arlington, you’d have to head up the hill to Fort Myer (probably on Southgate Road), and back down through ANC, but aside from adding the elevation, it doesn’t add a ton of distance.

[Author]

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