mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
17 miles today. On the morning commute, I went clear out to the Home Depot in the valley and picked up two 4-tube 4ft fluorescent shoplights and tubes, which I strapped to my rear rack crosswise and brought back to work. Talk about some aerodynamic drag! 
It was dry in the morning, raining after work, and then a cold front will be coming in tomorrow, with significant chances of snow and lows dipping to about 20F by Saturday.
Total: 21,392
It was dry in the morning, raining after work, and then a cold front will be coming in tomorrow, with significant chances of snow and lows dipping to about 20F by Saturday.
Total: 21,392
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
3 miles to work and 22 miles home today. I battled for a 15mph average on both, but couldn't pull it off in the morning, what with the stop-&-go through downtown (plus a net elevation gain, studded tires and two panniers plus a trunk bag). 15.2mph on the highway ride home, though. It's a start
Total: 21,425
Total: 21,425
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Did the direct 7-mile commute today.
I received my new Shimano DH-3N80 dynohub at work today and built it into a new front wheel for my commuter, so now I have a dynamo-powered baseline headlight (B&M Cyo N), which I can boost with my rechargeable battery-powered headlights as needed. DH-3N80s are one of Shimano's best:
Total: 21,432
I received my new Shimano DH-3N80 dynohub at work today and built it into a new front wheel for my commuter, so now I have a dynamo-powered baseline headlight (B&M Cyo N), which I can boost with my rechargeable battery-powered headlights as needed. DH-3N80s are one of Shimano's best:
Total: 21,432
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
31 miles today (short AM commute, long PM commute). It was drizzling a little, but around 36F so it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been. I finally replaced one of my studded tires, which had a lot of studs missing in one area, not very safe if/when we get some serious compact snow or ice.
Total: 21,542
Total: 21,542
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Short route to work, long route home. This time I did both the Jamieson climb (about 630ft ascent) and the Windmill/Sagewood climb, which is over 800ft ascent but not continuously ascending.
Jack The Super-Friendly Border Collie lives up at the top of Sagewood, so I took along some beef sausage bites in case he heard me slowly grinding up the climb in the snow. And sure enough, it took him a while but he did pop up and got his reward
This is a pic from last year of Mr. FriendlyDog:
It was also the inaugural ride for my new Hotronic E4 rechargeable foot warmers. Sorry to report they're not as powerful as I hoped. I'm sure they helped some, but... In all fairness, my shoes were getting wet at 34F in moving air... next time I'll put plastic bags over my shoes to address those two problems, and try the maximum heat setting now that I know how to lock it onto max.
So anyway, +35 miles.
Total: 21577
Jack The Super-Friendly Border Collie lives up at the top of Sagewood, so I took along some beef sausage bites in case he heard me slowly grinding up the climb in the snow. And sure enough, it took him a while but he did pop up and got his reward
This is a pic from last year of Mr. FriendlyDog:
It was also the inaugural ride for my new Hotronic E4 rechargeable foot warmers. Sorry to report they're not as powerful as I hoped. I'm sure they helped some, but...
In all fairness, my shoes were getting wet at 34F in moving air... next time I'll put plastic bags over my shoes to address those two problems, and try the maximum heat setting now that I know how to lock it onto max.So anyway, +35 miles.
Total: 21577
Last edited:
I'm really impressed by all of you who keep your riding going through the fall/winter months! I certainly never thought when I started this log 10 months ago, we would get this far so fast. January 1 is the annual start date for my cycling season, so I'll be back and posting from the stationary trainer in a couple of weeks.
_Rick_
Diamond Member
- Apr 20, 2012
- 3,987
- 74
- 91
Re: shoes and cold feet (got some myself this summer, just riding in the rain on a downhill part - worrisome when you can't feel your toes anymore), do you use clips and cleats?
If so, I suppose you tried those neoprene (?) shoe-covers? They look quite effective, especially combined with multiple layers of socks.
Keeping the shoes dry is the prime directive though - especially if using road-shoes, with their awesome ventilation.
Also, can anyone recommend a set of 0-degree(C)-proof cycling gloves? Once the cold takes over I do stop feeling the bite, but it might help on longer rides in the early season.
I tried some cycling gloves towards the end of the season, but none were a comfortable fit, so I shied back. Don't want any additional discomfort during the last 4 hours of a 5 hour ride
If so, I suppose you tried those neoprene (?) shoe-covers? They look quite effective, especially combined with multiple layers of socks.
Keeping the shoes dry is the prime directive though - especially if using road-shoes, with their awesome ventilation.
Also, can anyone recommend a set of 0-degree(C)-proof cycling gloves? Once the cold takes over I do stop feeling the bite, but it might help on longer rides in the early season.
I tried some cycling gloves towards the end of the season, but none were a comfortable fit, so I shied back. Don't want any additional discomfort during the last 4 hours of a 5 hour ride
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
The shoe covers can help. Some are waterproof, some are insulative. But I've had both fall short... water gets in through the cleat hole or (in severe conditions) at the ankle, and insulating types can turn into a cold wet sponge when wet.
I also have cold-weather cycling shoes with a loose fit so there's more circulation and more room for my thick socks.
Feet sweat a lot, and that's another issue for me: after a while, my socks get damp and don't insulate as well, even wool socks.
But the biggest problem for me is that my feet don't seem to have much circulation. Insulation is only useful when there's some heat to retain in the first place, and my feet just don't have it. Hence the electric heating inserts, providing more heat. What I may try next, is to buy one of those silver Mylar survival blankets and put a couple layers of that material under the insole.
Regarding gloves, my recommendation is to get military surplus wool glove liners, and then buy a size of Manzella Windstopper shell gloves that fit over the wool liners. This is awesome for a couple reasons:
1. you can swap to dry liners mid-ride, since they're light and you can carry extras.
2. unlike the typical waterproof cycling glove, you can disassemble them for easy drying and washing.
3. wool doesn't get stinky like synthetics.
4. wool retains some insulating properties when wet.
In bad conditions, I also use cheap bar covers designed for ATVs and motor scooters: http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Tek-Scoot...dp/B0022ZJJSK/
Last edited:
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
On the morning commute, I went out to Home Depot, trying to go slow enough not to work up a sweat.
On the evening commute, I detoured to the supermarket, again trying to go at a minimal-perspiration pace.
So that's +25 miles at a dismal pace Oh well, I needed an easy day anyway. I signed up for the Rapha Festive 500 on Strava.com, which requires riding 500km (311 miles) between Dec. 24th and New Year's, so I've begun adding some riding hours in order to get ready.
Total: 21,602
On the evening commute, I detoured to the supermarket, again trying to go at a minimal-perspiration pace.
So that's +25 miles at a dismal pace
Oh well, I needed an easy day anyway. I signed up for the Rapha Festive 500 on Strava.com, which requires riding 500km (311 miles) between Dec. 24th and New Year's, so I've begun adding some riding hours in order to get ready.Total: 21,602
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Short commute in the morning, longer commute on the way home, so 3 + 29 = 32 miles.
Hotronic E4 shoe warmers, Episode 2: tonight was around freezing, with some ice, some snow and some slushy snow. I rubber-banded a plastic bag over the front of each shoe for wind protection and some water protection, and locked the Hotronics onto setting #4 (ordinarily they drop back to #3 after 3 minutes, but can be forced to stay on 4 by holding the button 5 seconds).
That combination did the trick, my toes weren't toasty but they didn't get painfully cold. In wetter conditions, I'm sure that still wouldn't be enough, but I'll take what I can get.
Total: 21,634
Hotronic E4 shoe warmers, Episode 2: tonight was around freezing, with some ice, some snow and some slushy snow. I rubber-banded a plastic bag over the front of each shoe for wind protection and some water protection, and locked the Hotronics onto setting #4 (ordinarily they drop back to #3 after 3 minutes, but can be forced to stay on 4 by holding the button 5 seconds).
That combination did the trick, my toes weren't toasty but they didn't get painfully cold. In wetter conditions, I'm sure that still wouldn't be enough, but I'll take what I can get.
Total: 21,634
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
4 miles to work, 35 miles home including some extra climbs and one VERY tough slog through 3-5 inches of corn snow on a dirt road. My HR went over 180 for a while and I nearly threw in the towel several times, but then Rule #5. So I accidentally about 330 watts, and made it through 2 miles of that stuff.
Total: 21,684
Total: 21,684
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
4 miles to work, 34 miles home. It was 27F / -3C on the way home. The weather is going to be Seriously Messed Up over the next few days: it's supposed to snow tomorrow, snow tomorrow night, but the temperature will begin rising during the night and snow will change to rain, with a high of 38F. Sounds messy. The rest of the week has various chances of preciptation in various formats.
Anyway... Total: 21,722
Anyway... Total: 21,722
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
4 miles to work, 24 miles home. The snowstorm had been at work for hours before I left work. Predictably, the worst part was getting clear of the city... the rural 2-lane roads weren't bad. On the highway segment, I had to keep my eyes and ears sharp for overtaking snowplows.
The first half of the ride was into the wind. Out in the farmland, it's eerie to see the snow streaming across the road like a hundred ghostly snakes in your headlights. Then you brace yourself as you see the wind-driven snow gathering into a little tornado and headed right for you... WHAM.
Total: 21,750
The first half of the ride was into the wind. Out in the farmland, it's eerie to see the snow streaming across the road like a hundred ghostly snakes in your headlights. Then you brace yourself as you see the wind-driven snow gathering into a little tornado and headed right for you... WHAM.
Total: 21,750
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
4 miles in the morning, 27 on the way home from work. I had both panniers stuffed, mostly with laundry I was hauling home for the weekend, so the bike came to about 50 pounds loaded and serious air drag as well. Good workout ()
Total: 21,788
Total: 21,788
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter