Commuting to work by bike

I've been doing this grind for 8 years now—basically walking 1.5 miles back and forth to work every single day. 😁

darkraven16 said:Yeah, I even tracked down a photo. 😁

Can you actually see inside the house, or are the curtains closed?

Sean Myers31 said:Can you actually see anything inside the house, or are the curtains drawn tight?

The place is still a work in progress; at least it wasn't finished the last time I rolled by. And just for the record, whenever I head up that way, I'm always driving—I've never been one to tackle that route on a bike.

What kind of job ☕

Ronald Cox96 said:What job ☕

Whether it's the office or the stock exchange, doesn't matter! 😉
I've got my own little routine heading to work—haven't bothered to measure it because, honestly, why bother?
I'm pretty sure it's about half a mile or so. ☕ I make the trip every single day with my dog, just a quick loop back and forth. 😍

Alright, let's see who's out there... anyone actually brave enough to commute to work or campus this morning?

I just took a walk after work with an umbrella.🙂

Sean Myers31 said:Alright, come on you losers, let me see you... anyone actually brave enough to drive to work or college or whatever this morning?

I just walked home after work with an umbrella🙂

We might be crazy, but we aren't stupid.

Dennis Collins38 said:If we’re going to be crazy, let's at least be smart about it.

Preach! 😬

I can't even face the commute to work when the weather is this crappy. Maybe if I actually owned some decent thermal gear, things would be different. 🤷
On days when everything feels this miserable, I usually just end up walking with my headphones on and call it a win. 😍

I spotted someone pedaling east just before Blackman this morning. They were fully geared up with a backpack on, complete with a bright red rain cover over it. Honestly, you have to hand it to them—that kind of grit is impressive. I’m sticking to my car for now; looking at the forecast, it looks like I’ll be doing the same for the next few days 😢

I might consider lugging around a raincoat if I actually lived in the same city where I work, but the idea of 12 miles getting drenched by the rain is simply unappealing... besides, I find that sweating profusely under a heavy jacket is quite an unpleasant alternative.

Perfect morning to ride through NYC
But does anyone know where I can grab one of those exhaust gas masks? It’s a necessity if you're stuck biking along something like Memphis Avenue. Or does anyone have a better idea?

placidfalcon said:The weather was perfect for a morning ride through New York City
but does anyone actually know where to find those exhaust gas masks? You know, for those of us stuck pedaling right next to, say, Broadway in Warsaw. Or maybe someone has a better idea for something else?

That mask you're looking for isn't going to do much against exhaust fumes anyway..🤷

We actually have a shower at the office, but I haven't really given much thought to using it yet 😁

Sean Myers31 said:Alright, let's see who's actually out there today... anyone brave enough to face the morning commute to work or college or whatever it is you do?

Me? I just took a little stroll after work with my umbrella🙂

My cheap raincoat from eBay actually did its job getting me to the office yesterday🙂
But honestly, I need to pick up something better because this thing sucks; the hood is a total disaster, it keeps falling over my eyes, and the second a gust of wind hits, the whole thing just flips backward over my head (you know, those ones that flap all over the steering wheel and everything)

PS
I even hopped on my bike after work to ride over to Hazelwood to grab a jacket😁

Jamie Newman5 said:That mask you're talking about isn't doing squat to protect you from exhaust fumes...🤷

Yeah..
might actually go out and grab a real gas mask.

placidfalcon said:yeah...
thinking about picking up a real gas mask

I don't think you can actually wear one. Plus, I doubt how much air you'd get through that filter. It wouldn't be enough for a heavy workout. It’s basically like an intake restrictor—kills your power and keeps the sweat trapped underneath.

Dropped some cash on a The North Face jacket and some Columbia gear for my legs, then spent basically the whole winter commuting by bike. I dodged most of the rain by checking the weather radar (and just staying late at the office if the storm wouldn't clear out 😁 )

The only times I actually stayed off the bike were when the trails were iced over or buried in heavy snow.

These leg covers look absolutely fantastic! I have to wonder though, do they actually stay in place, or is there a risk of getting splashed right in the backside?

I personally rely on this cycling poncho—it’s sort of like a sleeveless cape that wraps around the handlebars—but even then, when the downpour really starts hitting, I still end up soaking wet regardless of what I'm wearing... 🤷

It sounds like we have similar habits, as I also tend to avoid riding whenever there's heavy snow or ice on the ground. What really concerns me, though, is how they handle the Green Valley bike paths during the winter; they often leave them completely unplowed, which feels incredibly dangerous, doesn't it? 😠

Jamie Newman5 said:That mask you’re talking about probably isn't doing much to shield you from exhaust fumes anyway..🤷

There are actually disposable masks specifically designed to filter out gases. They're a bit more refined than your standard dust masks. I just have my doubts about how practical they really are in the long run....🤷

ruggedtiger66 said:I decided to make a serious investment in a Gore-Tex jacket and some Columbia Sportswear leg protection, which allowed me to spend nearly the entire winter commuting by bike. I managed to dodge most of the downpours by keeping a close eye on the weather radar—essentially staying late at the office if a storm cloud showed no signs of moving along 😁.

The only times I actually stayed off the bike were when the path was buried under thick snow or slicked over with ice.

Does anyone know how much I should expect to pay for those Columbia Sportswear leg covers?