Cold Weather Gear

Before we leave the cold weather commuting behind (hooray!), I thought I would do a quick post about what to wear when it is chilly out. If you have never tried winter commuting I think the best thing you can do is to not set limits for yourself. If I had decided that I wouldn't ride if it were below a certain temperature, I would have missed out on many great rides this winter. I loathe to spend money, so rather than buying a bunch of fancy winter gear, I mostly re-purposed my cold weather hiking gear. Here are a few tips if you want to stay toasty without breaking the bank:

1. Layers! I find it useful to wear a breathable 'tech-t' to start and then pile on some layers. I usually make due with fleeces and hoodies. Anytime it is below freezing I always layer a pair of tights under my hiking pants.(You will win no fashion awards for this ensemble, but in the dead of winter it is too dark for anyone to notice anyways!)
2. Gloves! You've got to keep your digits from freezing. Most days I can get away with one pair, but on super chilly days I wear a pair of cheap one size fits all gloves underneath my regular gloves.
3. Don't neglect your toes! I have regular old platform style pedals on my bike, so when the temps dip I opt for wool hiking socks and my hiking boots.
4. Invest in a 'Polar Buff'. They can be worn in numerous configurations and fit nicely under your helmet.
5. Avoid the temptation of wearing too much. As you finish your morning coffee and look out at the icy darkness it can be tempting to try out your own impersonation of that kid from The Christmas Story. You'll probably need less than you think you do, but it really takes a bit of trial and error to know what works for you.

Just a few things to think of when commuting

So I finally dropped all the excuses and kicked off my season of commuting to work. I have a little over 14 miles each way. So it turns in to 28 miles for me each day. Perfect!!  Really this commute only takes an extra 45 minutes out of my day due to having to sit in traffic most of the time. So I'm getting 2 hrs of exercise, 28 miles, and burning 2200 calories. Love it!!!  

Historically I take the C470 trail to the DTC but I decided I'd rather take Dry Creek all the way across and I liked it. Not sure if it was the hills or the mental engagement (watching traffic etc) vs just following the path. But I enjoyed it a lot.  So as I was riding I was thinking of the key things I find to be most important when riding with traffic. 

1)  Always, always assume that the cars don't see you. You are completely exposed and the drivers of those cars are protected by a bunch of metal. Keeping this mindset I think creates a more cautious and attentive rider. 

2)  If you can, make eye contact with the people who have potential to cut you off. Driving can sometimes be mindless and people zone out not really thinking of a bike approaching.  I make eye contact with people turning left in front of me or those that are coming in from a cross street. People love to do "rolling stops". I for one am guilty of that!!

3)  Hold your line. Don't react.  Cars sometimes are nervous to leave their lane  so they leave very little space between you and their car. So be ready for that close encounter but don't be jumpy.  Jumpiness could cause you to swerve in front of them.

4)  Keep #3 in mind when approaching potholes and manhole covers!  Your bike tires are the same diameter as a car tire and you will likely be fine going over them, but swerving around could startle a driver and cause an accident!!  

Really, if you put all this together it's about being a predictable and respectful cyclist. On our bikes we have just as much right to be on the road as cars, but being a more cautious rider means you'll get to and from your destinations safely!

Slow Rides

I've been enjoying taking some commutes a little slow this year. Today was one of the last days of my easy 4.5 mile commute before my school moves downtown and I begin my never-an-excuse-for-exercise 1.8 mile commute. I'll miss riding through town and past the trains every morning so I took a few detours and cruised some different parts of this neighborhood. Got a friendly wave from someone sleeping in the Cuernavaca underpass and found a giant tumbleweed. Time to find new places to explore and ways to extend my ridiculously short new ride. 

The answer to any bike question.

Wise Words from Surly

Click that link right up there!

Really, this post should just make everyone happy. I hope it makes you feel good about yourself, good about your bikes, good about other people's bikes, and good about however you choose to ride. Hope you all are looking forward to another sunny spring day tomorrow. Or to another wet and chilly day on Thursday. Whatever floats your boat. And hey, I actually remembered to Strava most of my ride two days in a row!

#30daysofbiking pledge

Turn your goals to commute more often into a specific goal to ride 30 days in a row in April ... and for every pledge taken, more kids get free new bikes!!  WIN WIN!!

http://30daysofbiking.com/

Stop the excuses!!

All last summer I rode my bike on average three days per week. I love the days when I would ride in or ride home and I passed all the traffic on the way. The days that I didn't ride my bike to work I always regretted sitting in traffic and watching other bikes go by and thinking it was taking me just as long sitting in traffic to get home as it would take me on my bike. 

Ultimately, I can't wait to get on my bike twice a day start riding to and from work. But so far I've managed make every excuse in the book why I can't. I don't really have any cold-weather gear. That's been my first excuse. Now as the weather's been getting warmer, I don't have that much of an excuse anymore.  The other excuse, it's too dark and I don't have a headlamp. Well, 6:45, the time I'd leave, is just now getting to be plenty light out.  

It's so easy to make excuses as to why we can't bike in to work or the store or the coffee shop. However, there's never been a time that I've gotten on my bicycle and haven't been so glad that I did.  Sure, you can find a reason not to ride because maybe you have a lot of meetings that day, or maybe you have an errand you want to run at lunch. But instead, plan ahead and give yourself the reasons why you can do it.  

My goal is to start riding my bike in to work again in April and frankly I'm really getting excited about the thought of it. So I am going to stop making excuses for why I can't and start making excuses for why I can!!!  

"How to Drive your Bike in Traffic"

First Colorado Bike Commute

First post from Steph! I am a 40-ish mom working in Broomfield.  I bike commuted before we moved to Colorado, but have not attempted a commute here yet.

After three unsuccessful Sunday rides to solidify a route to work, I finally mustered up the courage to attempt a "real" commute this week.  And, since temperatures were in the mid-60s, there was really no excuse not to try.

I live about 10 miles from my office on the roads, but my commuting route is approximately 13 miles because half of the ride is on trails.  I use my cyclocross bike to commute because it is happy on trails or roads.  It works very well, though I would be faster on the trails with a mountain bike and on the road with a road bike.  No matter, it is good to do trails and roads.  Here is the view from my office.

On the day I took this photo, I saw a flock of bluebirds and a zillion mountain bikers on my route.  It was a nice ride.  On my first commute (Thursday), I did not see any wildlife other than the prairie dogs, but met a lot of nice runners who commiserated with me about the headwind.

Lessons learned:

1. There is an underpass at the intersection of Eldorado and Interlocken in Broomfield so that you don't have to cross all of the lanes of traffic from the bike lane to turn left.  Score!
2. I will leave toiletries at work so that I don't have to carry them back and forth. This duplicates the set in my swim bag, but as long as I use them all up, it is OK.
3. I will put a bottle cage for my water so that I don't have to stop to get the bottle out of my pack.  Cyclocross racers don't need water cages but they are not riding for over an hour with their computer, bike lock, and shampoo in a pack!
4. When riding on gravel, keep weight on the back tire to maintain traction.
5. I am glad to have a light on my bike.  I think it helps me be more visible to drivers and it is a comfort in case I am late leaving work.

Commuting with a Cat ... yes, it can be done

http://blogs.bicycling.com/blogs/everyday-rider/2014/03/20/tigger%E2%80%99s-big-adventure/

Bike League Tips for Commuting

This is a great read!

http://www.bikeleague.org/content/rules-road-0

No Regrets

When I set out for this morning's commute my first observations were of the chilly temperature, biting winds, and the predawn darkness. These first few minutes on a blustery day can sometimes make me wonder why I thought it would be a good idea to ride today, but then I remember. Today was a good day to ride because despite the wind and cold, it is still fun. Today was a good day to ride because every day that you get to ride is a privilege, an experience not everyone is lucky enough to share in. I didn't have to ride this morning, I got to ride this morning....and it was awesome!

Tumbleweeds

Did anyone else's ride today feel a little like this?? What a crazy windy morning. I had to fight through a tumbleweed and trash vortex as I rode through the Cuernavaca Park bridge. 

Spring Forward....into the Dark!

If your commute starts early like mine (6:00 AM) you are well aware that we are back to commuting in the dark. Riding in the dark brings its own sets of challenges (and some rewards...more on that in a minute). If you are going to ride in the dark, you must get some good lights. I use Light and Motion lights on the front and back of my bike and they are awesome. While they were not cheap, they have been worth every penny. One of my favorite features is that both the front and back light have very bright amber side lights, giving you a lot more visibility. Not only do my lights allow other trail users and motorists to see me, they also allow me to see the trail AND to catch glimpses of wildlife that you don't see as often in the daylight. Just this morning I saw two raccoons and a fox all scurrying along the Platte. Have a great day and don't forget to let your light shine!

GOPro: Brand new mountain bike!!

Yesterday before all the snowy mess moved in I snuck in an off-road "commute" on my brand new Cannondale MTB - taking the scenic route up and around North Table Mountain to get into the office... Enjoy!

 

Skis and Bikes

Well, it's not really a commute, but I went skiing with a friend the other day and this is how I got my ski stuff home. It's pretty fun to be creative with how I fit things on my cargo bike. 

GoPro: Megan's Commute to the bike shop (approx 20mi)

megan's commute to the office

having SO much fun with my new GOPRO camera!!!

GO PRO: at the bank

Megan's commute to the bank

Soak in the warmth this week!

Joyrides indeed! After years of riding by this and thinking I should take a photo, I decided this 60 degree afternoon was as good a time as any. Hope you all enjoy some warm, sunny commutes this week.

Very cool!

http://bicycletimesmag.com/tips-for-conquering-your-icy-bike-commuting-challenge/