Bike Commuting: Really Flippin' Cold

[syntaxjunkie]

I'm starting this thread because I periodically need a place to state the obvious. And because I imagine that a few other folks out there might also feel this.

Today's commute:
Five miles
9° F
-1 Wind Chill

I was OK up top, but I needed another layer on the bottom. And the ability to make facial expressions has returned after a brief absence.

Anybody else want to brag/bitch about their ride?

[Lezgo Cycling]

sure ill bitch about my ride.....im not doing it right now!!! Torn minucus in my right knee has kept me grounded from the bike for the last 2 weeks (other than the turkey day ride) I hope to get reluts from the MRI today and get back on the bike soon, but I have heard that others who have had the same surgery were in a braced for months....:banghead: this sucks

[syntaxjunkie]

Yikes. Sorry to hear that. Seems like a few folks hereabouts have gone down with bum knees lately.

I no longer celebrate birthdays – I prefer to think of them as annual celebrations of intact knees.

Hope you can get back in the saddle soon. Bike-free is no way to be.

[MisterClaw]

Anybody else want to brag/bitch about their ride?

I'll join in. I commute from south minneapolis to roseville and I swear that this week the wind is changing directions mid-day so that I have a headwind both ways.

That and my toes, *just* my toes have been freezing on the ride in. I need to stop complaining about the BOA lacing system and get a pair of the Lake Winter bike shoes. And the zipper on my back pocket on my winter bike jacket is busted completely.

Also my homebrew light system based on the optronics driving lights has more or less spontaneously disassembled this week- frayed wiring, shorted batteries, cracked lightbulbs mounts, loose rivets and bolts. I'm now using a cygo-lite 6V system wired up to a 7.2V NiMH battery back. Only ~12W but it works ok.

I will say that after commuting all summer with a backpack I'm very happy to have a rack and panniers.

Still beats driving to work! :crazy:

[Bikefreak]

Had surgery on both my knees for torn miniscus cartilage. Its not that bad. Home the same day as surgery. Do nothing for 2 days after surgery. Walk very slowly for the first week. Back on the bike after 2 weeks. Riding bike is not hard on your knees. Running and other impact sports is what wears on them. Downhill skiing did mine in. You will be back on the bike before you know it. I wouldn't plan on running any marathons or skiing moguls though.

[Lezgo Cycling]

Had surgery on both my knees for torn miniscus cartilage. Its not that bad. Home the same day as surgery. Do nothing for 2 days after surgery. Walk very slowly for the first week. Back on the bike after 2 weeks. Riding bike is not hard on your knees. Running and other impact sports is what wears on them. Downhill skiing did mine in. You will be back on the bike before you know it. I wouldn't plan on running any marathons or skiing moguls though.

Thanks tony, I ahve heard so many different things, I really hope it is short process to get back on the bike. I dont ski but I board

[sam]

I have to say I was really under dressed on tuesday,never warmed up and the feet were the worst, I wear Lake boots with smartwool socks but tuesday should have had covers over those, yesterday it was pretty good coming in at least it was a warm wind,but the wind out of the west in the afternoon was bitter ,Its pretty humbling pedaling your ass off frostbiting your face and being pushed backwards, Matthew is right its been changing mid day Had to drive today because of meetings, felt bad having to miss the fun

[Nita]

And the ability to make facial expressions has returned after a brief absence.

Anybody else want to brag/bitch about their ride?


Oh you have to try this product then... Dermatone Face Protectant. Its in this little blue tin the size of a half-dollar and you can get it at REI. Smear it on your face, smells like coconuts and it works pretty darn good.

[mn_ultra_guy]

My commute from North Minneapolis to Hopkins everyday along the MT or the CLP. Today was 7F at the start with 15-20 MPH headwinds all the way. Seems to have calmed down now. I was toasty once my beard froze over.

[Nickel]

I didn't think it was that bad, just windy. I'm about to go to the library so we'll see how warm my setup really is.

[ryno lite]

Mine was warm once the heater warmed up. Not bad after that. Oh, you're talking about bike commuting! :D

Kudos to all you brave souls who commute in the winter! I'm impressed!

[syntaxjunkie]

Kudos to all you brave souls who commute in the winter! I'm impressed!

To paraphrase Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap, it's a fine line between brave and stupid.

[Nickel]

It's not really that bad if you layer correctly. Now ask me about January, and then you're brave!

[MTBgirl]

sure ill bitch about my ride.....im not doing it right now!!! Torn minucus in my right knee has kept me grounded from the bike for the last 2 weeks (other than the turkey day ride) I hope to get reluts from the MRI today and get back on the bike soon, but I have heard that others who have had the same surgery were in a braced for months....:banghead: this sucks


If you have your meniscus repaired then yeah...you'll be in a brace for quite a while. If you have the torn part shaved away (most common - I've had it done 3 times for 3 seperate injuries!!!) then you'll be good to go in no time at all!!! On my last surgery I was up and walking the next day...and get this...one week later biking was the largest part of my rehab at my PTs office. And hey, its been 10 years since my last one and I still bike all the time, and run 30 miles a week with no problems. JUST BE SURE TO FULLY REHAB!! Best of luck to you...I feel your frustration.

P.S. I'm in school to be a Dr...specializing in sports medicine...so I somewhat know what I'm talking about...lol!!! :p

[Lezgo Cycling]

If you have your meniscus repaired then yeah...you'll be in a brace for quite a while. If you have the torn part shaved away (most common - I've had it done 3 times for 3 seperate injuries!!!) then you'll be good to go in no time at all!!! On my last surgery I was up and walking the next day...and get this...one week later biking was the largest part of my rehab at my PTs office. And hey, its been 10 years since my last one and I still bike all the time, and run 30 miles a week with no problems. JUST BE SURE TO FULLY REHAB!! Best of luck to you...I feel your frustration.

P.S. I'm in school to be a Dr...specializing in sports medicine...so I somewhat know what I'm talking about...lol!!! :p

Thanks kristin I get to go in to the clinic for the MRI results today

[mn_ultra_guy]

This morning 3F at the start of my ride with headwinds out of the NW, so WC was -16F according to NOAA (http://www.weather.gov/os/windchill/index.shtml)

[Burke]

4F at the start of mine, rode into a 16mph headwind for an hour seven to get to work.

I wore a gator face shield today instead of the balaclava I wore yesterday. I also used the Mycoal chemical toe warmers.

Big improvement on both fronts. My face was not cold and my toes felt cool when I got here instead of frozen.

[Don Youngdahl]

[quote=syntaxjunkie;256642
Anybody else want to brag/bitch about their ride?[/quote]

This isn't bragging or bitching, but it could be gloating :)- 2 of my ritired buddies in their late '60's and I went for 2-3 hour ride on the River Bottoms today, doing some deadfall clearing east of Lyndale, then down to the raft to check things out for tomorrow. The creek is frozen solid enough to walk across. I appreciate all you folks that are still working to keep the economy going to support my pension.:D:D

[sam]

So does anyone know if the mpls park dept plows the paved trails thru wirth down to the pavement? The trails going into downtown were in great shape the last couple of days but it looks like going thru wirth they got plowed before the snow was over or they purposly left a couple of inches down for the skiers. They were real crap this morning half packed down. Either way have to get on the road and that gets a bit dicey when its dark,even with lights most people arent watching for bikes right now

[Nickel]

I heard that the Greenway was plowed. Send an email to the public works dept if they aren't plowed.

[MisterClaw]

I heard that the Greenway was plowed.

It was plowed on the section I rode this morning between Chicago and Minnehaha.

[MisterClaw]

I got back from Florida http://www.twincities.com/ci_7603965?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1
last night, shoveled for an hour, put fenders, studded tires, platform and a rack back on my singlespeed bike, and rode in at 80 degrees colder than the previous day's high in Florida.

It was actually a nice ride in, although a lot slower and noisier than on the road bike.

bzzbzzzbzzzbbzzzbbzzzbzzzbzbzzzzz - slush - bbzzzbbzzbzzzbbzz

[mn_ultra_guy]

It was clear for the most part all the way Blake Rd in Hopkins, where there was 1-2 inches of snow to surf. The only issue I had was with the crappy way that the intersections were left. I guess it is good cyclo-cross training!

I heard that the Greenway was plowed. Send an email to the public works dept if they aren't plowed.

[funky-funky-chicken]

So does anyone know if the mpls park dept plows the paved trails thru wirth down to the pavement? The trails going into downtown were in great shape the last couple of days but it looks like going thru wirth they got plowed before the snow was over or they purposly left a couple of inches down for the skiers. They were real crap this morning half packed down. Either way have to get on the road and that gets a bit dicey when its dark,even with lights most people arent watching for bikes right now

Last year they had been plowed. I was surprised to find them in the same condition you mention this morning. I took to the road instead which wasn't a big deal at just after 6am.

A woman passed me in her car just south of Highway 55, took time to roll down her window and yell at me: "you're crazy"

To which I responded with a muffled "Thank you" through my balaclava. I felt this was a very nice compliment.

She obviously did not mean it as nicely as I originally interpreted it because she followed up with a streak of profanities including the ever popular advice to "get off the road."

Cold... yeah. Due to a combination of clothing I was both warm and cold. Warm enough to sweat, but then cold enough to freeze the front of my jersey to my chest hair! Gotta love Minnesota!

[sam]

I did email the park operations office and this afternoon it was in great shape,thanks Nicole, was it the email or timing of their staff ? dont know,dont care its ridable now

[Pandl]

Saw a biker riding on the shoulder this am around 6 am on Hwy 61 heading north towards Lower Afton Road. Didn't think riding on 61 was legal. The path that most ride, isn't plowed during the winter, so I am guessing that was why he was on the hwy. Wonder if the trail between the Battle Creek lower parking lot to Shepherd Rd is plowed...

[batjerk]

If it has stoplights, it's legal to ride there. Not necessarily smart, but legal.

The only roadway that bicycles are not legal on are freeways. And there is always a sign on the entrance ramp stating that non-motorized traffic is prohibited.

[Pandl]

If it has stoplights, it's legal to ride there. Not necessarily smart, but legal.
Great to know. Thanks! i thought I have seen the signs getting on, but other years I have seen a few bikes on 61, and this summer, I saw the lady that was riding across the states, with her big trailer behind her.

[Nickel]

Mpls Parks & Rec/Public Works has been stepping up their game on keeping the trails open. Someone must have realized that people here tend to use their bikes for transportation! :D

[Jason]

School got closed early today and traffic was a mess everywhere. The side walks are not rideable so I was forced to split lanes down the road. Slippery roads + lane splitting makes for a very intense ride home.

[MisterClaw]

School got closed early today and traffic was a mess everywhere. The side walks are not rideable so I was forced to split lanes down the road. Slippery roads + lane splitting makes for a very intense ride home.

Lane splitting as in riding between car lanes or taking a lane like a bike can legally do?

I find I pretty much have to take a lane on snowy roads and ride the packed down snow the cars have been driving on.

[sam]

trails were in great shape this morning, your right Nicole I think they are getting the message

[lostboy]

Brave souls. Once it dropped below 30 I quit commuting to work.

Then again my commute is completely road an no trails and all through the burbs.

I am hoping next year to have a commuter bike instead of only my road to commute on.

yeah, I need 3 bikes, my wife doesn't believe me though :nono:

[sam]

Nita
thanks for the info on that dermatone stuff,it was key this morning