My Morning Commute

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ejwillis62 124810 wrote:

well I WAS cold this morning guys, and I had my pants on. I didn’t wear a full jacket but did have a light windbreaker on. It was cold guys. I even thought about ear muffs but didn’t put them on. I did wish I had gloves that covered my fingers. they were cold. so don’t laugh at me when you pass me. Grin. I want the 90’s to come back but I am determined to keep riding. I love those 15 miles in the morning and in the afternoon. Best part of my day. As long as it doesn’t get to icy.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate being cold and I tend to overdress simply because I don’t want to deal with the “warming up” portion of my ride. So there’s a huge gap between what I want to wear when it’s cold (all the clothes) and what I know is best to wear for the majority of the ride that comes after I’ve warmed up.

[GovernorSilver]

I grew up in San Diego, where 63F, which was the temperature at both start and finish of my morning commute, is considered cold I used to put on my heavy jacket when it fell to 50F.

I felt a bit of chill in the wind descending the hill from my neighborhood down to Huntington Ave. Didn’t take long though to start sweating.

[Terpfan]

Maybe I’m conditioned from BAFS, but I didn’t think it was cold at all today. In fact, due to my lack of doing laundry, I was left with an UnderArmour tank top to wear. I wasn’t the least bit cold. I probably won’t be in longer clothes for another 2-3 weeks unless it starts droping to high 40s in morning. Even then, I may do shorts along with something longer for shirt.

[GovernorSilver]

What’s been warming me up quickly is the almost-immediate climb up Huntington Ave (after turning right onto it from my neighborhood), followed by the descent to the Rt. 1 intersection, where I either coast or sprint, depending on left lane availability and traffic light color, to get to the left turn lane. This leg in itself doesn’t make me sweat but it does get rid of the chill.

I feel warm by the time I climb up to Washington Blvd on the Rt.1 to Washington pedestrian bridge.

[Steve O]

@Terpfan 124823 wrote:

Maybe I’m conditioned from BAFS, but I didn’t think it was cold at all today.

Yeah, what is it with everyone? I went to HDCC this morning, and everyone else had long sleeves or arm warmers…tights even. I just wore my short-sleeve jersey and regular bike shorts–pretty much exactly what I wore for Kill Bill.
Rule 5.

[CaseyKane50]

@komorebi 124752 wrote:

In Old Town this morning, another rider swung onto the MVT behind me and proceeded to ride behind me all the way across the 14th Street bridge. I was impressed with his trail etiquette — he left a reasonable amount of space between us, rang his bell to signal all of his passes, and waited patiently when there wasn’t enough space for two bikes to pass in a row. While we were waiting for the light at Jefferson and 14th, we had a nice chat about using the Case Bridge as an alternative route tomorrow and about the fact that he was on his way to help with the DCPS bike-building program.

Strava flyby suggests that the rider might have been forum member CaseyKane50. If so, it was a pleasure riding with you this morning and kudos on your volunteer work!

Yes, that was me. You made it easy to follow with your warm greetings of “Good morning” to each cyclist, jogger and pedestrian we passed.

Using the Case Street bridge this morning was a breeze, I encountered one runner on the bridge and no other cyclists.

Regarding the volunteer work, I was part of a group of volunteers brought together by Revolution Cycles to build bikes for DC Public School students. In August we built over 400 bikes, this week, we built an additional 875 bikes, including 400 Burley Mykicks.

[DismalScientist]

@Steve O 124835 wrote:

I just wore my short-sleeve jersey and regular bike shorts–pretty much exactly what I wore for Kill Bill.

I can’t believe you pansy asses even need bike-specific clothing.:rolleyes:

[ShawnoftheDread]

The flip side of wondering how the long sleeve crowd handles winter is wondering how you shorts and tshirt at 50 deg people handle summer.

[Steve O]

@ShawnoftheDread 124850 wrote:

The flip side of wondering how the long sleeve crowd handles winter is wondering how you shorts and tshirt at 50 deg people handle summer.

Rule 5 applies in all seasons.

[GovernorSilver]

@ShawnoftheDread 124850 wrote:

you shorts and tshirt at 50 deg people handle summer.

This will be my first time riding a bike in 50 degree weather when it comes, so I have no idea yet if I’m one of “you people”. Maybe 60F will turn out to be my limit for t-shirt + shorts.

When I start seeing a forecast for 50F I’ll probably start carrying my arm and leg warmers, plus cycling jacket just in case. For all I know, all I’ll need to do is step outside once in my shorts/t-shirt, decide it’s too cold, and run back into the house to change.

[dbb]

As I rode down Jefferson, a Papal vendor caught my eye.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9699[/ATTACH]

[hozn]

Yeah, it is too hard to remember and too much work to think about in the morning so I just have rules now that I follow. (E.g. below 60° knees get covered, mid 50s arms & ears, 40s feet, etc.). I am delicate and not really looking to make my commute an exercise in masochism.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Rule V doesn’t really apply here, since the people in question are out riding. Rule 21 is probably what you’re looking for, although that is somewhat open to interpretation. Thus, while I may be puzzled by others’ weather-related clothing choices, I cannot claim Rule V superiority just for wearing less clothing.

[Emm]

Lots of extra road closures, especially along Independence ave today. They had Independence closed off starting at 7th heading east, instead of at 2nd like the map said. Even so, I made it to the office in record time. Since I got in early (7:15ish) it was empty, so the police let me ride my bike on the sidewalk around most of the barriers. They even let me go into the gated area in front of my building to park my bike so I didn’t have to use the unsecured bike racks across the street. It’s nice when everything works out perfectly.

My colleagues are all telling me that their metro rides took 3-4 times the normal length–I’m hearing of 20 min commutes taking over 90 min . I’ve been keeping my mouth shut about my gorgeous, empty, calm ride in.

[Tania]

Orange line wasn’t too bad, considering that I got to the station at 6am and there was a switch problem outside West Falls Church (but really when isn’t there an issue?).

I miss having a bike. Hopefully this time next week my new bike will be here.

[Author]

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