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

[PotomacCyclist]

Wind chill as low as -15F, and that’s if you’re standing still, not riding a bike.

A few hardy souls might be cycling on Tuesday, but I seriously doubt I’ll be riding outside that morning. If I do any bike-related activity, it will be on a spin bike, preferably while watching one of the good James Bond movies.

Topic

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@rcannon100 74255 wrote:

Another opportunity to distinguish your stupidity. Freezing Rain forecast for tonite!

Dang! Just when I was getting back into skinny wheels and light frame! Now it’s back to the STUDS and heavy frame! — At least there’ll be coffee en-route. See you Java Shack, Bob?

[Terpfan]

I have a theory for BAFS that bad weather prevents others from scoring points therefore I should ride.

[Jason B]

@Terpfan 74275 wrote:

I have a theory for BAFS that bad weather prevents others from scoring points therefore I should ride.

I have a theory the direct opposite is true and this entire lot of crackpots thinks Rule 9 comes between Thou Shall not Kill, and Thou Shall Not Steal.
The worse the weather, the more loonies come out to play.

[slowtriguy]

@hozn 74167 wrote:

@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).

That sounds pretty similar to my rear derailleur issue. It was fine on Monday, failed Tuesday AM in the deep freeze, was fine again on Wednesday PM in the not-quite-so-deep freeze, and absolutely fine both ways today. I’m genuinely curious how it happened and what about the cold weather made the cable go slack, but then become taut again in normal conditions. It’s bugging me why a cable would apparently get longer in cold conditions. I almost wonder if the derailleur itself got stuck in such a position as to make the cable seem slack, then once the weather warmed, the derailleur moved back into position and took up the slack, but I’m really not sure how that’d happen just because of the cold.

Anyway, at least both our bikes are happy again!

[eminva]

@Jason B 74282 wrote:

I have a theory the direct opposite is true and this entire lot of crackpots thinks Rule 9 comes between Thou Shall not Kill, and Thou Shall Not Steal.
The worse the weather, the more loonies come out to play.

Truer words were never spoken.

Liz

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ShawnoftheDread]

@slowtriguy 74305 wrote:

…I almost wonder if the derailleur itself got stuck in such a position as to make the cable seem slack, then once the weather warmed, the derailleur moved back into position and took up the slack, but I’m really not sure how that’d happen just because of the cold.

Anyway, at least both our bikes are happy again!

Or the cable froze in the housing at some spot, keeping the rest of the cable from tightening all the way.

[Jason B]

A lot of ice be careful

[pfunkallstar]

Ice was terrible on W und OD this morning by West Falls Church.

[Terpfan]

Yah, I went a few feet before skidding some on my own driveway in slush/ice and decided to postpone riding until this evening. I decided attempting the downhill at Beacon Hill or any nearby ways to get downhill seemed like a recipe for disaster.

[Dickie]

Not too bad of a commute at 8:00am. The roads through Rosslyn, Clarendon, and Ballston were salted and not bad at all (although sidewalks looked treacherous). The Custis and WOD out to Gallows had a few slushy areas and the bridges weren’t great, but for not having studded tires I did just fine. Hope everyone arrived safely at their destinations as well. On another note: Love my new Endura Flight jacket, but my Bontrager RXL booties let in tons of water

[DCAKen]

@rcannon100 74216 wrote:

You people are sick!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4447[/ATTACH]

I’d be interested in seeing the average number of miles ridden vs. the average temperature. No doubt there were many more short rides on those cold days.

[Subby]

@Terpfan 74349 wrote:

Yah, I went a few feet before skidding some on my own driveway in slush/ice and decided to postpone riding until this evening. I decided attempting the downhill at Beacon Hill or any nearby ways to get downhill seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Yes – staying healthy so you can ride everyday is rule # something of freezing saddles. Unless, of course, it prevents you from riding at any point in a day. I don’t care if the zombie apocalypse is still raging at 11:51 pm. YOU GET YOUR RIDE IN.

[cyclingfool]

@Terpfan 74349 wrote:

Yah, I went a few feet before skidding some on my own driveway in slush/ice and decided to postpone riding until this evening. I decided attempting the downhill at Beacon Hill or any nearby ways to get downhill seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

I made my way in and rolled the dice with my regular tires instead of remounting my studs, but my commute if pretty darn flat except for over and underpasses, so I just took it easy around them, especially given that bridges freeze first. Roads were fine, but last airport overpass headed north on the MVT had a nasty ice patch about three five wide and forty feet long or so that looked like it was just wet pavement until you were on it. I was taking it slow and easy and have nice fat tires, so it wasn’t an issue, but someone making better time on skinny tires might have been caught unawares. That said, I only saw one other cyclist on my entire commute in between 8:45 and 9:30.

[consularrider]

The Custis ice was pretty much gone by the time I rolled out at 10:15. When we were doing the car shuffle at 7:00, the end of our driveway was slick ice and my wife took a tumble (really, I had salted it last night!). I was at Mr. Tire next to the Java Shack at 7:30, but didn’t get a chance to come over and see if anyone was there for FCCII.

[Arlingtonrider]

Please be careful and safe everyone, especially in icy conditions. I’ve read about a hip injury from a bicycle accident on a slippery surface that could have resulted in a lifetime of incontinence and sterility, among other things.

Usually there is some part of each day (and some place) where things are safer. If you’re determined to ride every day and don’t have appropriate tires, timing and careful route selection can be key.

[Author]

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