Tuesday morning could be coldest day in D.C. in 20 years

[aguy7]

If yesterday morning was a kitty cat this morning was a lambykin. Thank you, higher powers, for no wind this morning. I wore the same gear today as yesterday: Craft base layer top and bottom under the office clothes, a sweater vest, shoe covers, windproof overpants, cycling jacket, balaclava, neck gaiter, a watch cap, a ski cap, and the battery powered heated gloves turned on high. I was comfy with some foot coldness by arrival, but with no cold wind squeezing me like a python I kinda wasn’t hating the ride this morning. Breathing through the nose felt good.

[cyclingfool]

This morning was gorgeous! I wore a couple layers fewer than yesterday on top, since it was a little warmer and the winds were calm. I felt GREAT riding in, and wouldn’t mind it if there were more days like today. Proof positive again that the worst part of winter commuting is wind, not temperature.

[MattAune]

it was certainly less windy, but its not much warmer. Still single digits for me this morning. http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KVAANNAN3&month=1&day=8&year=2014

[Terpfan]

@MattAune 74075 wrote:

it was certainly less windy, but its not much warmer. Still single digits for me this morning. http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KVAANNAN3&month=1&day=8&year=2014

Yah it showed 8 degrees when I left my house with a windchill of -1. Of course the only wind really was for the downhill portions. At least the ride home will be in the 20s.

[hozn]

Yeah, I rode in this AM, figuring it’ll be above 20F for picking up the kid (in the trailer) after school.

I do not have hand or foot gear that makes these temps comfortable. Doable, sure, but not pleasant. I am fine for the first 10 miles or so, but the last 6 require lots of finger and toe moving to keep feeling. It doesn’t help that the temps seem to drop 5F going through the valley between Vienna and Hunter Mill.

I need lobster mitts. And probably warmer winter boots (I have Northwave “regular” winter boots), though I won’t get then until these wear out given how infrequently it is this cold here. Or just need better circulation

I am grateful I wasn’t riding into any significant wind this AM. And the sunrise sure was pretty.

[fongfong]

When I went to the Philly Bike Expo, I bought 2 pairs of these Bar-Mits things – one for my Xtracycle and one for my commuting bike: http://www.amazon.com/Bar-Mitts-Handlebar-Shifters-Internally/dp/B00380H7QE/ref=pd_sim_sg_2 Best things ever in world history. No need for lobster gloves any more. So now I need only worry about other extremities.

For the drop bars this forces you to keep your hands on the hoods for the duration of the ride, so if you like moving your hands around these might not be for you. They are also a bit warmer than those for my straight bars being that they are less airy.

More info here: http://www.pogies.com/install.php

[slowtriguy]

I figured a follow-up is in order. I skipped the ride home last night just in case things went further south, and then rode home tonight. Oddly enough, the derailleur cable seems to have fixed itself. The cable is no longer slack, and I was able to shift completely normally all the way home. I changed nothing between yesterday morning and today; indeed, my bike was hanging untouched in the bike cage at work.

The only thing I’ve changed on my bike in the past few weeks was the addition of electroluminescent wire wrapped around the top, seat, and down tubes. Perhaps the wire had somehow impinged on the shifter cable, but it didn’t seem that way tonight. I’ll check again in the morning to see if the situation has changed again.

[hozn]

@slowtriguy, not sure from original context of your post, but if the failure happened in arctic temps it might be normal. My front derailleur stopped working on my commute yesterday AM but resumed working for the “warm” ride home. My rear derailleur/shifters temporarily stopped working too, but only for a few minutes and then they were ok again. Luckily I had no issues with my [disc] brakes, though I have only had issues there when they get wet and freeze riding through streams in winter (on mountain bike).

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[PotomacCyclist]

2,338 total trips on CaBi on Tuesday (the entire day, not just the morning rush hour).

[jrenaut]

It was really kind of nice to have Tuesday put things in perspective. I like going out when it’s barely above freezing and thinking, “hey, it’s kind of nice out here”.

[PotomacCyclist]

@PotomacCyclist 74184 wrote:

2,338 total trips on CaBi on Tuesday (the entire day, not just the morning rush hour).

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Divvy bikeshare was closed from Sun. afternoon to this morning. Their wind chill was far more severe than what we had.

[consularrider]

@PotomacCyclist 74192 wrote:

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Divvy bikeshare was closed from Sun. afternoon to this morning. Their wind chill was far more severe than what we had.

And don’t forget the snowfall.

[consularrider]

@jrenaut 74185 wrote:

It was really kind of nice to have Tuesday put things in perspective. I like going out when it’s barely above freezing and thinking, “hey, it’s kind of nice out here”.

It was so nice to be on the road bike this morning after a week on the heavyweight.

[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 74192 wrote:

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Divvy bikeshare was closed from Sun. afternoon to this morning. Their wind chill was far more severe than what we had.

Minneapolis’ Nice Ride closes for the winter. I was disappointed when I was there in December. But only a little (because if it had been open I would have had to take one out, and it would have hurt).

[Jason B]

@Tim Kelley 73882 wrote:

ProTip: Hard boiled eggs hold heat extremely well.

I made hardboiled eggs this morning before work. When they were done, I carefully wrapped them in a paper towel and put them in my BA drawstring bag.

I had a nice warm lower back during my entire ride, and a warm breakfast when I got to work!

Sorry to nerd your pro tip up, but i had to ride to school today with bacteria and slime mold cultures and didn’t want them to freeze. Yes, i ate the egg.

I’m cat 6 anyway, so what did you expect me to do with this tip?

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