A Vermont Bike Commuter's Journal

2009-07-07T14:35:00.004-04:00

Three years since ditching the second car!

In July 2006, our family of four sold our second car (my car for commuting to and from work) and I committed to commuting year-round by bike or carpooling. Three years later... no regrets!

Financially, it was a great decision, even though we owned the second car outright. We sold it for $2,000 (a great deal for a family member who needed a second car), so we immediately had $2,000 cash that we didn't have before. Combine that with annual savings (conservative estimates) from lower insurance ($500/year), no registration/inspection ($100), no gas ($500/year), and no repairs/maintenance ($700/year)... and we are ahead by over $7,000 at the three-year mark.

Physically, it has been mostly good for me. Initially, I lost a bunch of weight (which I have kept off), and got very aerobically fit. However, I found that biking to and from work without a variety of other physical activity has caused some problems. I have overdeveloped muscles in my lower legs, and underdeveloped muscles in a lot of other places. Apparently, this has thrown my body out of whack a bit, leading to calf tightness and some knee and hip pain. I feel like I've figured a lot of this out in a few Physical Therapy sessions, so it is just a matter of keeping physically fit outside of my biking routine.

Environmentally, I feel really good about it. I'm on my way to replacing the demand for 1 car to be built and used. Imagine this impact multiplied by the millions of families like ours with an extra car (or cars) used almost entirely for commuting 5 miles or less. Such a simple way to simultaneously attack the obesity epidemic and global warming.

At this point, it is natural that we make different daily decisions (subconsciously) based on our 1-car status. I find myself putting the girls in the bike trailer and taking them for trips to town when my wife has the car. We walk more. We have chosen doctors, dentists, stores, restaurants, etc. based on convenience/proximity. I think most of these decisions are really positive in terms of community and the "buy local" movement. Interestingly, we put fewer miles on our 1 car now than we used to when we had 2 cars!

One of the outcomes of bike commuting becoming second nature to me is that it feels like a chore to blog about it. Imagine blogging about your daily commute in a car? As much as I enjoy my bike ride to and from work each day, that's all it really is... another commute.

2009-01-16T10:52:00.004-05:00

Autofocus Doesn't Work at 15 Below!

This morning was my coldest ride ever. I carried a temperature datalogger with me, and it recorded a temperature of -14.8 degrees F (-26 degrees C) near the mid-way point of my commute. Traveling at a sluggish 10 miles per hour created a wind chill factor of -35 degrees F (-37 degrees C). I was as prepared as I could be for those conditions, and I arrived at work warm... but exhausted. A co-worker took this picture of me with my cell phone camera that I carried in my backpack, but the cold seemed to kill the autofocus! What I wanted to show was that NO skin was exposed - because it would have meant frostbite within minutes. I wore a full face mask with ski googles, with an insulated bike helmet on top. I wore a windproof jacket and pants over 3 layers of fleece/polypro on my body. I wore "Thinsulate" ski gloves on my hands, and Sorel boots with two pairs of heavy socks on my feet.

What I learned is that I can dress up for the extreme low temps... but I wasn't prepared for the impact on the performance of my bike. It seemed like the grease in the axles and my 8-speed internal hub turned to mollases and it made it significantly harder to pedal. On flat, straight sections where I would ordinarily be easily cruising in the 8th gear, I was instead alternating between the 5th and 6th gear. To add even more difficulty, my nice warm Sorel boots are HEAVY. Lifting them up with each pedal stroke seemed to get more and more difficult through the ride.

The only real concern I had during my ride was when my goggles started to fog up with about 2 miles to go. It happened quickly. For the first 3-4 miles of my ride, the goggles performed perfectly. Then, the fog started creeping in - from the top down. By the end of the ride, I could only see clearly through the bottom edge of the lens. At these temps, taking the goggles off really wasn't an option, so I had to continue on - even with limited visibility. I'm going to see if applying an anti-fog treatment makes a difference on the ride home.

Anyway, it was an interesting challenge - but I won't be sad if I don't have to ride in temps this cold again this winter!

2009-01-07T21:09:00.002-05:00

Finally.

I finally accumulated the parts I needed to put together my perfect Vermont winter commuter bike. I picked up the two crucial pieces from the Denver craigslist. It seems that there is a lot of honesty in the biking world, and I was able to get exactly what the sellers promised. I ended up with a used Surly 1x1 frame (completely built up as a nice single-speed) and a used Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub, built into a 26-inch wheel. Combine this with the studded Nokians I already owned, and my new MiNewt Mini-USB headlight (and tail lights, of course)... and I now have a dependable, safe commuter bike that will take me through all but the worst of conditions. I've been riding it all this week and LOVE it. Bring on the snow and ice. I'm ready.

2008-12-22T16:26:00.005-05:00

Swapped the bike for my skis.

I've wanted to try this for years - and finally pulled the trigger. We've had almost two feet of new snow in the past several days, so I thought it would be cool to ski in to work. The only problems: my skis are pretty crappy, I'm a pretty crappy skier, and my route is pretty crappy. It took my about an hour and a half to ski the 5 miles to work. I was either on plowed bike path/road (sometimes plowed down to asphalt... with some sand/gravel thrown in) or breaking trail through 2 feet of snow (exhausting). I didn't wear double socks, and I ended up getting really bad blisters on the backs of both feet. I also plunged knee-deep in an ice-cold stream near the end of my trip. At least that made my blisters feel better. Anyway, it was cool to try it once - but I think that a bike is the best vehicle for my commute!

2008-12-17T09:51:00.002-05:00

First Tracks.

One of my favorite times to ride is right after (or during) a fresh snow. Everything is so quiet, and the ride is super-soft. It is kinda surreal. I'm really fortunate that I can stay off the road for most of my commute, because it was not a day to be sharing the road with cars. The roads were really slick, and the shoulder/bike lane was a mess. I took a route that kept me off the main road entirely (on bike path and condo roads) for the first 5 of my 6 miles, and I walked the last mile in the snow off the side of the road. It took me 50+ minutes to get to work (compared with 18 minutes on my old ten-speed in the summer), but I didn't risk my life or make life more difficult for motorized traffic.

2008-12-09T22:37:00.006-05:00

Trip Pics.

These are pictures from today's commute. The top one is from my morning cruise to work, and the bottom one is from my ride home this evening. Most of my ride is paved bike path or bike lane on the side of the road. This is just a little "shortcut" that keeps me off the side of a pretty busy road for more than a mile. The city eventually plans to build a bike path near here, but until then, this path through a marshy field will work just fine.

2008-12-08T09:09:00.004-05:00

Zero.

This morning was my first really cold winter ride of the year. Really cold. It was hovering around zero when I rode in - and windy. The wind chill factor was between -15° F and -20°F.

The road conditions were worse than the temperature. Just a few days ago, temps were around 50°, so the roads were pretty warm. Yesterday, it got cold quickly and snowed - and it turned to a layer of glaze ice on the roads. Lots of accidents last night, and it wasn't much better this morning.

I took a route that keeps me off the main roads for all but the last mile of my ride, so at least I didn't have to deal with a couple of tons of steel sliding at me. I just had to worry about keeping myself upright, because I still haven't put the studded snows on. Another evening project for this week...

2008-10-29T08:56:00.001-04:00

First Snow.

I passed a neighbor walking his dog on my way in this morning, and he yelled after me, "Time for the studded snow tires!".

I'm not ready for this yet!

2008-10-24T13:33:00.004-04:00

From shorts to hat & gloves in less than a month.

Man... it happens fast. All through September I was riding in shorts. Now, I'm wearing long underwear, windproof/waterproof pants and jacket, hat & gloves. It was about 30 degrees this morning, with a heavy frost covering the grass and fields. It is hard to make out in my crappy cell phone pic, but this field was full of Canadian geese on their way south.

This week was my first week using lights again in the evening. I have two LED headlights mounted on my handlebars (one flashing, one solid) and two flashing LED tail lights (one on my helmet, one on my seatpost). I feel pretty good about my visibility to cars. I'm scouting out a new winter bike, and my plan is to wrap the frame in reflective tape so I'm more visible to cars from the side (when I'm crossing roads).

I was bummed a couple of weeks ago about the approach of colder weather and darker rides... but now I'm excited to change it up a little and try new gear.

2008-10-17T10:30:00.007-04:00

Rugged Cycles.

I just got back from a business trip to the ISA Expo in Houston. The ISA Expo is a trade show and conference for users/buyers/sellers of industrial instruments and automation products. It was pretty much the last place I would expect to find a company selling bicycles.

Rugged Cycles (http://www.ruggedcycles.com/) builds and sells bicycles for use around large industrial facilities, but also markets them for rental fleets or personal use. They have created a bike that is virtually maintenance-free in most applications. All of the parts of the bike are stainless, polycarbonate, or otherwise corrosion-resistant. Instead of exposed chain drive with deraileurs, it uses an enclosed shaft drive with internal hub shifting. The tires are made of solid polyurethane, so flats are thing of the past. This thing is bulletproof!

If I had a shorter, less hilly commute - I would definitely consider this as a commuter bike. They offer a single speed or 3-speed option, so it is ideal for level to slightly hilly conditions. They have a comfort bike configuration, so the rider sits up straight for excellent visibility. It is not the lightest thing on the road, but I didn't think it was excessively heavy considering the airless tires and heavy-duty shaft drive.

The list price for the single-speed model is $745... but they were offering a 10% discount during the Expo. I think it was less than $100 to upgrade to the 3-speed (internal hub) model.

Check them out. It's great to see expanding applications for bicycles... even if it is not the bike for me.

2008-10-01T13:23:00.002-04:00

Fall is perfect for bike commuting.

I find it funny that I see so many bike commuters in the summer - and then they disappear as soon as a bit of chill hits the air. This is the best time of year to commute by bike! In the summer, it takes me an hour to cool down when I get to work. In the fall, I can sometimes wear my casual work clothes and barely break a sweat.

The tricky part is the increasingly early sunset. In the next week or so, I'll have to set up my headlights and tail lights so I'm as visible as possible on my ride home. In another month or so, it will be DARK on my ride home. I'm guessing that is one of the biggest fears of new bike commuters... riding in the dark. It definitely takes some getting used to - especially on busy roads - but I sometimes think that I am more visible to cars in the dark when I'm lit up like a Christmas tree!

2008-08-29T16:33:00.009-04:00

My Mountain Bike... which happens to be my Commuter Bike this week.

I had an explosive flat on the rear tire of my old ten-speed, so I took my mountain bike off the rack for this week. It has been a reminder that even really nice mountain bikes are not very good commuter bikes. It is slow and loud on the road (even with the tires inflated to max), and there is no such thing as "coasting". I'm definitely getting a workout! This weekend, I'll fix the flat on my Panasonic Sport 500, and save this bike for the trails.

Today is the last day of Earl's (LBS) Bike Commuter Challenge. I finished with 616 miles this summer... on track for another 2000+ mile year. I'm at about 5000 miles so far in the past two and half years of commuting by bike to work.

2008-08-26T12:46:00.004-04:00

Bike Commuter Racing

During the warmer months, my cycling co-workers and I see many other bike commuters during our morning and late afternoon rides. To keep things interesting, we have invented a simple game of "Bike Commuter Racing". A while ago, I read a great comment from another bike commuter - I wish I could find it so I could appropriately give credit. It went something like this...

"If two bike commuters are riding on the same piece of road, at the same time, and going in the same direction - they are racing".

This is strangely true. How many times have you seen someone riding ahead of you, then noticed that you were pedaling faster? How many times have you realized that someone was gaining on you from behind, and you instinctively turned it up a notch to stay ahead?

So, since we are all racing anyway, we decided to make it official by creating a point system. Here's how it works:

+1 point - You pass a cyclist going in the same direction.
+1 bonus point - If that cyclist "turns it up a notch" and makes you earn it!
+1 bonus point - If that cyclist is decked out in multi-colored spandex.
-1 point - A cyclist passes you.
-2 points - You pass a cyclist, and he/she passes you back!

This is all in good fun, and standard passing etiquette applies.

2008-08-20T16:38:00.003-04:00

$100 for biking to work!

A quick thank-you to Earl's Cyclery (http://earlsbikes.com/) for hosting "Earl's Commuter Challenge". 50 of us are logging our commuting miles each week this summer, and Earl's is giving gift cards at various mileage levels. I just passed 500 commuting miles last week, which means I get a $100 gift card! Thanks Earl's!

2008-08-04T09:48:00.002-04:00

Free Airport Parking

I finally had an opportunity to bike 'n fly the other day. Thursday afternoon, I flew out of Burlington (BTV) on a 2-day trip. My only luggage was my backpack, so it was the perfect opportunity to bike to and from the airport rather than drive, bum a ride, or take a cab. I biked from work to the airport (about 2 miles... an easy sub-10-minute ride) and locked up my bike and helmet at the bike rack in the airport's parking garage. Easy. When I returned Saturday around noon, I unlocked my bike and headed home. 4 miles and 15 minutes later, my trip was over.

For Burlington-area residents, this is such a great option. We are lucky to have an airport so close to downtown (about 3 miles from Church Street). The airport is within easy biking distance of Burlington, Winooski, South Burlington, Essex Junction and Williston... with a combined population of about 75,000 people. However, mine was the only bike on the rack when I left on Thursday and when I returned on Sunday - while the car parking lot was full to capacity.

I think it is just a lack of awareness of this option. I didn't think about biking to the airport until just recently, and my bike is my primary transportation. I hope that options like this will become more and more popular as access gets better (bike paths/lanes), and gas/parking/taxis become more expensive.

2008-07-02T14:46:00.003-04:00

10-Speed Love.

My dad picked up this old 10-speed - a 1987 Panasonic Sport-500 - at a yard sale last fall... for FREE! The chain was busted and the chrome was rusty, but it was otherwise in good repair. After 6 hours of elbow grease and a new chain ($18 total investment) I had a shiny "new" retro ride. I've been riding it for about a month now and I love it! It is not the lightest bike on the road (all steel), but it is fast enough that I can keep up with (or pass) most of the commuters on road bikes now.

After being the sole bike commuter at my workplace for most of the past two years, I've been joined by several co-workers this summer. Two of them commute by bike almost full-time, and another three or four ride in occasionally. It is definitely more fun to be able to share stories of our rides. A recurring theme is our "races" with other commuters... folks who typically don't know they are racing!

I'm right around a pretty big milestone... TWO YEARS since I sold my commuter car and committed to biking to work each day. After about 4,500 miles of riding, I am healthier and wealthier. In fact, we saved enough by ditching the second car (imagine no registration, insurance, repairs, car payment, gas, etc.) to complete a pretty major kitchen renovation.

As painful as it is to fill up our remaining vehicle (gas-guzzling minivan) - I'm not complaining about the cost of gas. It is pushing people to make better decisions, and hopefully it will spur some new technologies so we will be off fossil fuels forever. Time will tell...

2008-04-11T11:05:00.002-04:00

I survived winter.

Not by much either. This was my second winter of bike commuting, and it was a long one. We had full or partial snow cover for about 4 months... with scatterings of snow and ice for another month. Riding on snow or ice with the right gear is a fun game here and there, but it just makes you tired and angry when you are faced with it every day for months on end.

I got back on my bike today for the first time in nearly two weeks - the longest bike commuting break that I can remember. Before I left for vacation (followed by a conference), there was snow and ice on the path and I still had to wear my winter shell. Today, I wore a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a spring jacket - along with a hat and gloves. That seemingly insignificant difference made my ride so much more enjoyable.

So I think I am going to use part of George Bush's gift to buy a new commuter bike. I'm going to test drive two bikes in particular in the next few weeks - and I'll try to write a post about them. The one I'm really excited about is the Breezer Uptown 8 (Joe Breeze design). I also like the Bianchi Milano Cafe Racer. I hope to be riding one of them to work by the time summer rolls around.

Happy Spring!

2008-03-24T15:55:00.002-04:00

4 Days as a New York City Commuter.

I love my little city of Burlington and all that Vermont has to offer, but for big cities - you just can't beat New York.

I traveled down to NYC last Monday (St. Patrick's Day) for a conference, and stayed through Thursday. While there, I decided that I would stick with mass transit (subway, bus, train) and avoid the less efficient and more expensive cabs.

An unexpected flight change almost ruined that plan from the start. My Continental flight from Burlington to Newark was delayed by 3 hours, and I was able to beg my way onto a US Airways flight to LaGuardia. The problem is that Newark is connected to Manhattan by rail - while LaGuardia is the only one of the three major NYC airports (JFK being the third) that is not connected to Manhattan by rail. For most LaGuardia travelers, this means taking a cab or shared shuttle bus to Manhattan. Since I arrived during late rush hour on Monday - a cab would have been 40 minutes or more - and $30-$40 including tolls and tip. A shuttle bus or van service would be cheaper ($10 + tip), but they only run every 30 minutes or so and can take up to an hour to get to midtown.

Since I was traveling light (just a backpack), I decided to do some "urban hiking" and I walked across northern Queens to the #7 train (subway) in Jackson Heights. It was an easy and enjoyable walk... about 2 miles, followed by an equally easy 20-minute ride to Grand Central Station. All for $2!!! The whole trip took me about an hour... comparable to a cab or shuttle on a Monday morning. Definitely a fun way to start my trip.

For the rest of the week, I hoofed it or took a subway wherever I went. I spent most of my non-conference time in mid-town, but I took a subway to the Greenwich Village area for dinner Tuesday night... and back to Jackson Heights (Queens) for dinner on Wednesday night. Thursday, I walked to Penn Station and took the train to Newark Airport station... and then the monorail to Newark Airport, thus completing my mass transit adventure.

I was back on my bike last Friday to wrap up my week back in Vermont. What a great week of commuting variety... Planes, Trains/Subways, Automobiles (I did take a cab from my house in South Burlington to the airport on Monday morning), Walking, and Biking!

2008-03-10T17:24:00.003-04:00

ICE STORM.

It has been a long winter. We've had snow or ice on the ground (with a brief reprieve in January) since late November... over 3 months. I'm definitely weary of the extra effort to commute in winter conditions. All the layers, the slow studded tires, the slogging through snow, ice and slush. Enough already! This morning was beautiful, but felt like an early February day rather than mid-March. We had an ice storm this past weekend, which soaked the remaining snow before freezing it into a hard-as-rock biking surface. Parts of the path (like the one pictured above) were actually pretty fast. Other parts were frozen into random chunks of ice - very hard to ride. I am going to SO appreciate warm weather!

2008-02-26T13:28:00.002-05:00

Winter, blah blah, snow, blah blah, ice, blah blah.

After three months of winter riding conditions, it feels like I'm repeating the same stuff - so I'm taking a little break from posting several times each week. I just had my bikes tuned up last Monday, which rejuvenated me a bit for my daily rides. I'm on my sixth work day in a row of riding, although I will probably have to catch a ride home tonight (big winter storm coming).

I'm going to try to post a quick note about some fun stuff... upcoming bike safety legislation and maybe a bike review.

2008-02-14T09:11:00.004-05:00

BIKING THROUGH WET CONCRETE.

Brutal ride this morning. We got an inch or two of wet snow yesterday, which was plowed into the bike path and froze into chunks the size of billiard balls. I left home fifteen minutes early this morning... only to arrive right on time. I'm wiped.

It was, however, a beautiful morning. Bright sun, no wind, and about 15-20 degrees F. Perfect winter riding weather if the road/path conditions weren't so tough.

2008-02-13T11:30:00.003-05:00

DON'T BLINK...

...or your eyelashes will freeze shut! Monday and Tuesday were very cold (single digits F). In this kind of weather, the moist air from my exhaled breath funnels up my face mask and freezes on my eyelashes. Since I bike in an easterly direction on my way to work, I'm looking right into the rising morning sun. So, I have to squint to cut the glare. If I squint long enough - my eyelashes actually freeze together!

I'm back in the saddle this week after biking only 1 and 1/2 days last week. My saddle broke off my seat post on the way to work on Tuesday (bolt snapped), and I never got the chance to get a replacement part. I am SO lucky to have so many carpool options with my co-workers, so it was not a problem to catch rides for the rest of last week.

This week, I needed to get back in the saddle for my own sanity. I'm fighting the winter blahs (aka winter blues, cabin fever, seasonal affective disorder), and my ride is my salvation. Although I had some chilly rides on Monday and Tuesday, and a messy ride today (an inch of new snow over icy roads), it felt good to be back on the program. I'm hoping to put in a full week of riding this week... it will really lift my spirits. I enjoy winter riding - but I'm ready for less clothing, less gear, and a faster ride!

2008-02-05T19:59:00.000-05:00

LIGHTS OUT.

For me, the toughest thing about winter in Vermont isn't the cold or the snow... it is the darkness. Since late November, I've been biking home in the dark - and frankly - I'm sick of it. Yesterday, however, marked a turning point. I was able to make it home without needing my headlight. To be honest, I left it on for safety (it was dusk by the time I got to the house), but I didn't NEED it. It is reminding me of the 8+ months each year when I don't need lights to get home... when riding my bike feels more like fun and a little less like a chore. I needed that.

2008-02-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

"DON'T FALL, DON'T FALL, DON'T FALL..."

This is what I say under my breath when I find myself out of control on ice. The bike path has been scary the past few days. We had freezing rain followed by a couple of freeze-thaw cycles - and it made some stretches of the path virtually unrideable. This was my view yesterday morning on a particularly slick stretch.

I have a really good pair of studded snow tires - which I thought would make me immune to icy conditions. Not true. This particular ice is virtually frictionless, and it is so hard that the studs don't seem to get a grip at all. Sharp turns are impossible... you literally have to come to a slow stop, dismount, physically aim your bike in the new direction, and start riding again. I've had a few close calls where I've been barely able to get a foot down before my bike slipped out from under me. The scariest episode was when I touched the rear brakes at the top of a steep hill, only to have the bike accelerate. I put my foot down to stop the bike, but my boot slid just as fast as the bike! I was lucky to be able to guide the bike off the path into some crunchier snow while still on my feet.

Riding while being constantly vigilant for an impending fall is exhausting. I'm looking forward to being off my bike for a couple of days... and hoping the ice clears by Monday.

2008-01-30T13:32:00.000-05:00

ROAD FRECKLES.

It was an ugly morning to ride. Freezing rain last night and this morning made the bike path treacherous. The icy spots looked wet. The wet spots looked icy. The dry spots were icy! My ride was very slow on the way to swim practice this morning at 5:15am, and I did a lot of brake checks.

Unlike the bike path, the roads were salted and wet. There is a winter's accumulation of oily dirt on the roads, and every time we get a thaw my front tire sprays these road freckles on my face. This is mostly my fault for not having fenders on my winter bike, but I've been struggling to find fenders that fit. I need to visit the bike shop WITH MY BIKE next time so I don't have to make another return.

2008-01-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

WIND CHILL - A FACTOR OF HOW FAST YOU RIDE.

One of the interesting things about commuting by bike through the winter is the influence of wind chill factor. Even on a dead-calm day, bike riders have to consider the wind chill factor that is a direct result of how fast they ride.

For example, I have biked to work several times in the past couple of weeks when the temperature hovered around the 0 degree F mark. My average speed in the winter is about 15 mph, which creates the same wind chill effect as standing still in a 15 mph wind. The wind chill factor at 0 degrees F with a 15 mph wind is -19 degrees F!

Check the chart above or go to the NOAA windchill information page at: http://www.weather.gov/os/windchill/index.shtml

This is why it is so important to wear a "shell" in the winter. Without it, the "wind" created by your bike ride would pull the heat off of you faster than your body could replace it.

Yesterday and Today's Rides: I think I have officially hit the "winter blahs". I'm getting weary of all the extra clothing I have to wear, the gray days, and the slow winter rides on my studded tires. I don't dread getting on my bike every day to go to work, but I'm not excited about it either. It's not a big deal, just a natural part of living in a northern climate with long winters.

2008-01-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

NICE RACK.

I'm getting ready to meet tonight with someone from Burlington International Airport to talk about bike parking in their covered garage. (see previous post)

I've been checking out commercial bike rack options, and there are some pretty cool racks out there! I think my favorite is this one from Dero Bike Rack Company (http://www.dero.com/). They also have simple but elegant "bollard" designs. I found other cool commercial bike rack ideas at http://www.belson.com/ and http://www.theparkcatalog.com/.

I'm sure that the airport does not want to give up any paid parking spaces, so we're going to try to identify unused space throughout the garage where they can locate secure bike rack systems.

Today's Ride: Another chilly day for a bike ride - just above 0 degrees F for my morning ride and in the teens for my evening ride. I was comfortable though... even a little warm on the way home. The inside of my waterproof pants was sopping wet with sweat.

2008-01-24T21:19:00.000-05:00

BIKE 'N FLY AT BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?

I just got back from a quick work trip to New York City to check out an industry trade show on Tuesday. When I was working out the final details of my trip on Monday afternoon, I decided I would ride my bike to the airport. It's only about 4.5 miles from my house, and it's bike path the entire way. Easy! Taking the family car and leaving it parked at the airport was not an option - that would strand my wife and kids without a vehicle. I needed to leave the house before 5am, so it was too early for my wife to load the kids in the car and give me a ride. I could call a cab, but they are really expensive around here and I knew it would be a $20 ride each way. So, riding my bike seemed like a really good solution.

I decided to call the airport to make sure it was OK to leave a bike there. I was surprised when the woman at the airport parking office told me that I could not park a bike there! I called airport general information, and got the same answer. I even called a private long-term parking location (run by Thrifty), and they turned me down too! I couldn't believe that my simple plan was falling apart!

At this point, it was Monday evening and the airport administrative offices were closed. I left a message expressing my disappointment that I couldn't leave a bike at the airport, and called a cab for the next morning. The cab pulled into our driveway just before 5am. 9 minutes later and $20 poorer, I was at the airport and on my way. While I was in New York, a woman from the airport called back and left a message. I returned her call when I got back into town yesterday. She was very apologetic and explained that they actually DID have a bike rack at the airport. It was outside (rather than in the garage) - but it would have worked just fine. Apparently, the folks in the parking garage and at the information desk didn't realize it was there. Anyway, she told me that my message started a conversation about a better solution for bike parking at the airport, and that they were now planning to install bike racks indoors in the covered garage! I volunteered to provide a bike commuter's perspective for their bike parking plan, and she graciously accepted. An hour later, a man from the airport called and asked when I could meet him to do a walk-though of the parking garage! We'll be getting together in the next couple of days to do a survey of the airport garage and choose a location for indoor secure bike parking.

I want to thank the folks at Burlington International Airport for doing their part to make the facility more bike friendly. I can't wait for my next flight so I can Bike 'n Fly!

Today's Ride: A chilly (single digits F) return to my daily bike commute this morning - but it felt good to be back in the saddle after too much time in airplane and subway seats.

2008-01-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

TOASTY WARM AT 1°F!

After a couple of rides this winter resulted in painfully cold fingers and toes, I was determined last night to come up with a solution for this morning's commute - forecasted to be my coldest this season.

Warm feet... no problem. It was as simple as finding my insulated duck boots in the basement and re-lacing them. I was more concerned about my fingers. I've had this concept stuck in my head since I began riding in cold weather that I NEED to wear 5-finger gloves or lobster gloves (two fingers, two fingers, thumb) rather than mitts (four fingers snugly together, thumb separated) so that I can effectively shift and brake. This morning, I decided that I would wear mitts anyway - and I would just deal with the awkward shifting and braking I was sure would ensue.

I was surprised to find that it was no problem at all to shift and brake wearing mitts, and my hands were WARM! I can't believe I'm halfway through my second Vermont winter on a bike, and I'm just figuring this out now.

Several of my co-workers expressed surprise that I biked in today, but with my current set-up, I feel like I could ride in much colder weather. I'm actually wishing for one really cold morning (i.e. -10°F or colder) so that I can truly test the reasonable boundaries of my winter commute.

2008-01-18T12:35:00.000-05:00

SCHADENFREUDE ON THE BIKE PATH.

(from Wikipedia) Schadenfreude is a German word meaning 'pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune'. I admit a rare, guilty moment of schadenfreude on the bike path this morning.

I woke up to an inch or two of fresh snow this morning, and I couldn't wait to lay the first track at 5:15am. It really is fun to ride through this kind of fresh, dry snow. It was deep enough to make for a soft and super-quiet ride on my way to swim practice - but not so deep that it felt like extra work. My studded tires had no problem making contact with the asphalt below, so I wasn't sliding at all. Conditions were similar when I left practice and started biking to work around 7am. As I headed up a hill on the bike path, I noticed that I was following a fresh mountain bike track. It was snowing, and there was virtually no snow in the tire impressions, so I knew the other bike had come through just moments before me. As I followed the track, I noticed a number of places where it looked like the tire had lost traction and "spun out", leaving icy black asphalt exposed. After a few hundred yards, I noticed a set of footprints walking next to the tire track. Whoever was riding the bike had apparently given up and decided to hoof it.

As I cruised up the hill comfortably on my studded tires, I felt a glimmer of satisfaction at the expense of this stranger. It wasn't mean or sadistic - it was just a feeling that I was finally figuring out my winter bike commute - and this person's inexperience was a reminder of how far I had come. That feeling lasted about 30 seconds. I came upon the biker I had been tracking, slowly walking her bike up the path to an unknown destination. She was young, fit, and wearing a big smile - and seemed quite content to walk her bike rather than risk falling on the icy path (she had regular knobbies... no studs). We exchanged pleasantries as I passed and I continued on my way.

My moment of schadenfreude had passed, but it was replaced by the satisfaction of a perfect winter ride.

2008-01-17T13:56:00.000-05:00

Carpooling - The Secret Weapon of the One-Car-Family.

Today I didn't feel like riding my bike to work. I was tired, running late, and simply didn't feel like riding in. So what do you do if you are part of a one-car family, and you "just don't feel like" riding your bike to work?

When my wife and I made the decision to sell our second car over 18 months ago, we really thought through all of the "what ifs". "What if the weather is too bad to bike to work"? "What if you get hurt and can't ride your bike"? "What if you just don't feel like riding your bike"? "What if one of us needs to travel out of the area with the car - leaving the other person stranded at home"? Clearly, the modern American lifestyle is built around a car for every adult, so you need to be able to answer these questions and more to change that formula.

During these discussions, we came up with several backup plans so that I was not 100% obligated to ride my bike to work every day. The easiest backup plan has turned out to be carpooling with co-workers. I work in an office of thirty people, and I am very fortunate that six of them live within 2 miles of my house. Three of them live less than a mile away. In my 18+ months of riding to work since we sold our second car, I have NEVER been "stuck" home because I couldn't get a ride with a co-worker. Today's victim was Shane. I called him up at the last minute, and he immediately agreed to pick me up on his way to work. It's a mild inconvenience for him, but for me, access to occasional rides is the difference between my family needing one car or two.

We checked into other backup options too. Some have worked out, others have not:

Bus: Unfortunately, the bus is really not an answer for my commute. Although we have a decent bus system in the Burlington area, it is intended to get people in and out of Burlington rather than between Burlington suburbs. Although I only work 6 miles from home, I would have to take a series of three buses, one heading into Burlington - and two heading back out to Williston where I work. This would add up to a 45-minute to 1 hour commute each way.

Taxi: In a pinch, I could call a cab, but it would cost approximately $15-$20 each way. So, this is not a solution I would want to use very often! However, it is certainly good to have this as an emergency backup plan.

Rental Cars: This has turned out to be our second car solution on the rare occasions that one of us travels out of town without the other. We just happen to live within walking distance of three rental car companies. The closest one, Enterprise, has weekend rates under $20/day with unlimited mileage. So, for about $50 for a 3-day weekend (Friday noon - Sunday noon), we can have the second car we need, when we need it. It also keeps the miles off our one car - so the person leaving town usually ends up traveling with the rental car, leaving our own car at home.

Walk: We've found that a natural result of having one car is that we walk rather than drive when it is reasonable to do so. We walk to the local bagel/coffee shop (about a mile), we walk to local restaurants, and in good weather, I will even walk into Burlington with my girls (3 miles each way). Even though we have just one vehicle now, I think we put fewer miles on it now than either of our cars when we had two!

My advice to those families considering dumping car #2: Work out a detailed back-up plan before committing to one-car solution. It worked for us.

2008-01-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

BOOGER FREEZIN' COLD (BFC).

When I was growing up in northern New York, we used this term to describe the kind of cold, dry weather that flash-freezes the boogers inside your nose when you take a deep breath. It has to be pretty cold... usually single digits (F) or colder. This morning was BFC.

I realized this morning that my gloves are just not cutting it for cold rides. It was 9 degrees F this morning, and I will probably have a couple dozen mornings colder than that before winter is over. Yet, my fingertips got really cold. I actually stopped twice along the way so I could ball up my hands inside the palms of my gloves to warm them up. Being cold just sucks, and I don't want to deal with that kind of discomfort for the rest of the winter. So, I will probably be making a gear purchase today.

The lesson I'm learning from this is that it is not worth it to go cheap on gloves. Your hands are probably the most difficult thing to keep warm when biking in extreme cold because you need to have enough flexibility to allow you to shift, brake, etc. I've been really happy with my "lobster" style gloves for moderately cold weather (Manzella Micromesh Windstopper), but they have minimal insulation and don't really do the job when temps drop below 25 degrees F. I need to bite the bullet and spend about $50 on a good pair of winter biking gloves. I'm deciding between the Louis Garneau Magma Glove and the Pearl Izumi Amfib. Both are lobster-style gloves that keep your fingers together in twos for warmth, rather than individual fingers like a regular gloves. It really makes a difference!

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the layers of clothing that I have put together to get me through the winter. It's not rocket science... just layer after layer of fleeces and other non-cotton stuff with a windproof/waterproof shell as the top layer. Add a balaclava for the head, and winter boots for the feet, and I can bike in weather well below 0 degrees F. Well, except for those damned gloves...

(I biked in yesterday, but forgot to post...)

2008-01-14T09:10:00.000-05:00

GEAR ENVY.

In general, I'm pretty content to continue riding the bikes that I have owned since before I started commuting regularly almost 2 years ago. I have a $40 church sale bike that is my primary ride (a mid 1990s Schwinn High Plains mountain/trail bike with city tires), and I have a pretty sweet mountain bike that I use whenever there is snow or ice on the ground (2001 Schwinn Homegrown with studded snow tires).

However, familiarity breeds contempt, and I'm beginning to detest the derailleur system that comes with most modern bikes. This is, essentially, my "transmission", and it's completely exposed to the elements. Exposure to Vermont weather is tough on any equipment, and bikes are no exception. My gears were skipping like crazy this morning, so it really got me thinking about a solution.

I was thinking about getting a brand-new bike with an 8-speed internal gear hub, but now I'm thinking about just replacing my rear wheel and a few other parts with the Shimano 8-speed internal gear hub... keeping my trusty church sale bike frame, front wheel, and other parts. Seems like a less wasteful solution.

Time will tell if this is just idle gear envy, or if I actually pull the trigger and buy something.

Easy ride in this morning. I'm heading out now to some black ice. Won't be a problem for me on my studded tires - I just hope the folks driving thousands of pounds of steel past me have as much control.

2008-01-11T09:27:00.000-05:00

WHAT BIKE DO I RIDE TODAY?

This is what I asked myself this morning when I looked out the window to see a coating of wet snow on the ground and road. I have two bikes set up for commuting: my winter bike with studded snow tires and my summer bike with relatively fast city tires. My summer bike is fine in wet snow/slush like this as long as the temperatures are above freezing... and I have full fenders so I stay pretty dry. However, if this stuff freezes to the asphalt, I will be riding on miles of black ice. That is when I want my winter bike outfitted with studded tires... it is awesome on ice.

I chose my summer bike - which turned out to be a good decision for this morning's ride. The tires cut right through the light covering of wet snow to the asphalt, and I didn't slip once. It was an easy ride. I'll find out later if I made the right choice for tonight. If it continues to rain/snow during the day, and drops below freezing before my ride home, it will be treacherous. I may have to hitch a ride home with a co-worker. On the other hand, if it stays above freezing, it will be just another wet but easy ride.

The picture above was my view this morning riding up a steep section on my ride to work in the morning. I have about 350 feet of ascent and 250 feet of descent on my way to work, and the opposite on my way home. Quite hilly for a 6-mile ride!

(Temps stayed in the mid 30s, so my evening ride was a breeze)

2008-01-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

SO LONG, JANUARY THAW.

It literally was SO long this year. Instead of 2-3 days of 40-something degree weather (normal), we are wrapping up an entire week of temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 degrees F. The picture above, taken in my front yard, is deceiving - virtually all of our snow is gone except in shady areas and where the snow plows left huge snow banks from all our December snow. Tomorrow, temps will stay in the mid-30s, and by the weekend - we will be back to freezing temps or below.

With clear bike paths and roads, I was able to ride my trusty summer bike to work yesterday and today. While I enjoy the challenge of riding my studded tires through snow and ice, it is a nice break to ride slick city tires on pavement for a couple of days. Tomorrow is back to snow and rain - so this will probably be my last ride on this bike for a while.

About this bike... It is a Schwinn High Plains that I picked up at a church sale a few years back. It was in like-new condition when I picked it up for $40 - I doubt it had any more than 20 miles on it. It still had plastic film over the Schwinn logo on the front, and the tires still had those little rubber thingies sticking out all over. This bike has been bulletproof for the past 18 months - I definitely got my money's worth.

2008-01-09T20:46:00.000-05:00

"I THINK WE BROKE THE PLANET"

This was a quote from one of my co-workers in December of 2006 when temperatures regularly climbed into the 50s and 60s... WAY above early winter norms for northern Vermont. I was reminded of her comment today while riding to work wearing just wind pants, a t-shirt and a medium-weight long-sleeved shirt. In January. In Vermont.

This is a picture of the bike path about a mile from my house. When I left for vacation just 5 days earlier, there was about 18" of snow blanketing the ground with even deeper drifts. Just 5 days of weather ranging from the 40s to 60 degrees wiped it out. January thaws are a pretty normal occurrence, but a warm stretch like this is out of the ordinary. And these out-of-the-ordinary events are becoming more and more ordinary...

Aside from the unsettling reminder of unnaturally warmer days to come, it was a nice way to transition back from 5 days in the Florida Keys and get back to my daily routine. My only complaint was the wind. It was brutal today. It was strong and gusty and blew me all over the bike path. It also seemed to shift between my morning and afternoon rides so that I was heading into it both ways.

2008-01-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

KEY WEST - BIKE COMMUTER HEAVEN

I just returned from a 5-day visit to the Florida Keys with my family. My folks live in Marathon, about 50 miles north of Key West. EVERYONE down there has bikes... and they use them for much of their daily transportation. The combination of good weather, easy riding (FLAT), and compact geography (everything is close) adds up to an ideal bike commuting situation.

Key West in particular seems to have adopted bikes as a primary means of transportation. The island is less than 4 miles long and just 1 to 2 miles wide. There are no real "hills"; the highest point on Key West is just 18 feet above sea level. Anything more than a 3-speed bike is overkill, and most bikes that I saw were 1-speed beach cruisers. It was inspiring to see so many people carting groceries, snorkeling gear, fishing poles/tackle boxes, and more as they went about their daily activities.

Now back to my reality of commuting by bike here in Vermont. Temperatures vary by over 100 degrees F over the course of a year. If traveling for more than a few miles in any direction, it is very likely that you will encounter well over a hundred feet of elevation change. And, it seems that nothing is close. Yet, I've found that it is quite manageable to have the same kind of Key West biking lifestyle just south of the Canadian border. Sure, it requires more in terms of equipment, clothing, and effort - but I think the rewards are greater too. (i.e. fitness, sense of accomplishment, etc.).

2008-01-03T16:35:00.000-05:00

BIKE ENVY - BIANCHI MILANO CAFE RACER

I'm off to the airport for a quick vacation in the Florida Keys. It will be quite a shock to my system since we are in the middle of Vermont's coldest weather of the season. It was single digits yesterday, and plunged into single digits below zero last night. Right now it is... ONE degree. Since my wife is picking me up at work to head to the airport, I left the bike at home this morning and got a ride to work (thanks Shane!). I sure picked a good day to accept a ride in a toasty-warm vehicle!

So here I am in my last few minutes of work before vacation... daydreaming of palm trees, ocean breezes, margaritas, and really cool bikes. If I ever pull the trigger on a new commuter bike, it just might be the one pictured above - the Bianchi Milano. It is a sweet-looking bike, and perfect for commuters like me (5-10 mile trips). It has an 8-speed internal shifter, so no more deraileurs and no more frozen gears. I kinda like the color pictured... but you can get black too.

Check it out at http://bianchiusa.com/06_milano.html

2008-01-02T08:13:00.000-05:00

TODAY'S WEATHER... NICE DAY FOR A BIKE RIDE?

from the Burlington Free Press online:
Current Conditions (8:10am): 10°F, Snow
Real Feel: -13°F (-25°C)
Relative Humidity: 85%
Barometer: 29.91"Hg (F)
Wind: N at 16 mph (26 kph)
Visibility: 1 miles (2 km)
Sunrise: 7:29am
Sunset: 4:24pm

This was definitely one of my toughest rides. It's been snowing on and off for a few days. Yesterday, we got several inches of wet snow (it was about 30 degrees F). Overnight, the temperature plummeted into the single digits - and we got a few inches more of fluffy snow on top. This kind of mix is BRUTAL to ride in. The snow keeps the studs on my tires from reaching the asphalt, so the tires spin, kick out to the side, or bog down on unplowed roads/paths.

Fortunately, I was on the road early this morning for swim practice, so there wasn't a lot of motorized traffic. That meant that I was able to ride on the right side of the travel lane (the bike paths/bike lane weren't plowed yet) where car tires had beaten a path down to ice/pavement.

I was so focused on the difficult road conditions that it kept my mind off the first signs of frostbite on my fingers and toes. Usually, I'm able to wiggle my fingers and alternately make fists inside my gloves to warm up, but this morning - I had a death grip on the handlebars. I'm sure that reduced circulation, and the result was some pretty painful fingertips. I have no excuse for my feet/toes. I wore my day hikers (little or no insulation) instead of wearing my toasty warm/dry duck boots. I won't repeat that mistake.

Tommorow, we head off to the Florida Keys for a much-needed vacation, so today will be my last day of riding for a week.

2007-12-30T22:42:00.000-05:00

WINTER BIKE COMMUTING - WHAT TO WEAR.

Another long holiday weekend, so it's a good time to write about a subject I deal with all winter long.

Before my first winter of commuting by bike, I remember that my biggest hesitation about giving up my car was "what if it's just too cold to ride?". I have learned that with the right winter clothing, cold weather is almost never an excuse not to ride... even in northern Vermont.

My descriptions of my clothing/gear below are all generic - I haven't called out any of the brands or models I use. Don't worry about brand or models - if you outfit yourself with stuff that matches the basics descriptions below, you will be fine.

From top to bottom...

Bicycle Helmet: I have a bike helmet with a quick-adjust headband and rain cover. I bought a complete kit that included "plugs" to fill in the ventilation holes - but I have never found the need to use those. The rain cover keeps the wind out, and I wear a hat underneath (see below) when the temps are 40 degrees F or below. I HIGHLY recommend getting a helmet with a rain cover. I also recommend finding a helmet that has an easily adjustable headband, so that you can quickly adjust for no hat, thin hat, or thick hat.

Hat: I have three in rotation. One is a regular thin-medium-weight winter hat. The other two are balaclava style hats (one thin/silky, one medium-weight) that cover the entire head except my eyes (and nose if I choose). None of them are cotton. You shouldn't be wearing ANY cotton.

Glasses/Goggles: I wear sunglasses in warmer weather, but I don't wear anything over my eyes once the cold weather sets in. Everything just fogs up immediately. I keep thinking about trying ski goggles, but haven't tried that yet - they may resist fogging better than regular sunglasses. They would also provide complete protection for my face (in combo with the balaclava) on extremely cold days.

Upper Body - Under Layers: NO COTTON! Everything I wear is synthetic or wool blends that are designed to wick moisture from my skin and keep me dry. One of the tricky things about biking in extreme cold is the delicate balance between too hot (from exertion combined with overbundling) and too cold (from being wet and/or underdressed). It can happen so quickly, and it can be a matter of just one layer too much or too little. So, dress in layers, and always have an extra layer with you in case you get chilled. I typically wear a polypro t-shirt, followed by a medium-weight long-sleeved polypro thermal underwear with a zip-up collar. Depending on the weather, I add a fleece vest, and then another one or two long-sleeved fleece shirts. If it's a really cold day, and I'm wearing ALL of this, I have to get it on quickly and get outside before I roast!

Upper Body - Outer Layer: To be comfortable in the winter, you must have a breathable, waterproof shell. This will probably be the most expensive part of your wardrobe. Don't get anything too complicated... your warmth is coming from the layers underneath. You just need something to protect you from the wind and water... while allowing at least some of the moisture to escape.

Gloves/Mittens: I swear by "lobster" style gloves. These gloves keep your fingers together in twos... which I find keeps me much warmer than regular gloves that separate each finger. It still gives me the mobility you need to shift and brake. I find that my hands are warmer in thin lobster gloves than in thick regular gloves.

Lower Body - Under Layers: Again, NO COTTON... including underwear! I wear running shorts (synthetic/polyester) for my first layer, followed by medium-weight long underwear. If it's really cold (single digits F or below), I add a pair of fleece bottoms.

Lower Body - Outer Layer: Same as for the top outer layer, you really need to have waterproof, breathable pants in order to be comfortable all winter. It's not just water from the sky (rain, wet snow)... it's water from the road. You will get splashed by passing cars and trucks, and you will get wet from your own bike - even with fenders.

Socks: Yet again, NO COTTON! Choose a wool blend, or some other synthetic blend that will wick moisture away and keep your feet dry and warm.

Shoes/Boots: In moderate/dry winter weather, I wear a pair of regular low hikers. In colder weather, I wear a pair of waterproof duck boots. They keep my feet dry - which is the key to staying warm.

That's all! None of this stuff is complicated. If you already spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.), you probably already have much of what you need. Don't put this entire package together at a fancy bike or ski shop - you will spend WAY more than necessary!

2007-12-28T09:35:00.000-05:00

BIKING WITH HOLIDAY CHEER... NOT.

'Tis the season for weekday holiday parties, and we had some friends over for dinner and drinks last night. Lots of laughs... and LOTS of wine. Ouch. To add insult to injury, the wet snow from last night was even wetter this morning, and I got SOAKED. I have a waterproof jacket, but my snowpants are apparently made from the same material as sponges. My rear tire threw up a roostertail of water and wet snow for six miles - giving me a cold, wet, and dirty behind.

MORNING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 33 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: 2-3" of wet snow/slush.
Road Conditions: 2-3" of DIRTY wet snow/slush on the shoulder/bike lane.

EVENING RIDE - Getting a ride with John B. instead. Tired, cranky, and my biking clothes are still wet from this morning. Thanks John!

2007-12-27T10:03:00.000-05:00

REVIEW - NOKIAN MOUNT & GROUND W160 (studded bike tires).

Last year around this time, I realized that I would need to get studded tires if I wanted to avoid pain and injury during my daily winter commute. It's not the snow (studs don't help much with snow)... it's the ice. Bike paths in our area are plowed but not salted in the winter, so any remaining snow melts down during warm/sunny days and then freezes into ice at night. Without any sand or salt to provide traction, these paths become a hilly, winding ice skating rink.

I'm thrifty by nature, so I went the cheap route last year when choosing my winter tires. I poked around online and found the Innova Tundra Wolf (110 studs). I was able to pick them up from Bike Tires Direct for about $25 each. My initial excitement upon receiving them was quickly tempered after my first ride around the parking lot. These tires are HEAVY (1060 grams)! To top it off, the aggessive tread pattern made it feel like riding in sand - the rolling resistance was brutal. I literally had to pedal down hills! I tried inflating them to max pressure (around 65 psi), and that helped. Anyway, the tires themselves were effective on ice and snow - so that part was fine. However, I noticed the effectiveness on ice decreasing throughout the winter and into early spring. That is because riding them on the asphalt each day wore the studs down until all that remained were rounded metal nubs. I found out that you can replace the studs, but I couldn't swallow the idea of throwing more money at these tires ($20 for a bag of 100 studs... but the tires have 110!).

This fall, I shopped around for the best winter commuting tire... not the cheapest. I ended up with the Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded tire (160 studs). You can find them online for about $50 each (plus shipping), but I decided to support my local bike shop and paid $65 each (mounted free). I've been riding them for about a month, and I'm pretty satisfied so far. They weigh just 850 grams... about 20% less than my old Innova tires. The tread pattern is not as aggressive as my old Innova tires, but they roll much better on dry road. The only disappointment so far has been the tires' performance in packed snow and slushy road slop - the stuff you have to deal with for a day or two after a snowstorm. As much as I disliked my old Innova tires for being slow and heavy, they really cut through road slop and seemed to be able to find the road through 2-3 inches of packed snow. Not so with my Nokians. I've found them to be very sketchy on packed snow and slush. I'm speculating that I actually chose the wrong Nokian studded tires for my needs. I was going to get the Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 (106 studs), but I thought the W160 would do a better job in snow/slush. However, I think that the tread profile of the W106 would do a better job cutting through road slush and packed snow - allowing the studs to contact the asphalt beneath. The W106 is also a lighter tire (820 grams) and has even better rolling resistance than my W160s.

A big plus for either Nokian tire, which I have yet to confirm from my own experience, is that the Nokian studs last for many seasons. The studs on my Innova tires were toast after less than one season. The bike shop owner I talked to (who has W160s on his winter ride) said that he has SEVEN seasons on his tires, and they still bite into ice! So, overall I can recommend the Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded tires for bike commuters, but I would advise you to check into the Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106. It may be a better choice for commuters who primarily ride on asphalt.

Here is the manufacturer's site for the Nokian tires:

http://www.suomityres.com/winter.html

MORNING RIDE (6 miles)

Temperature: 29 degrees F

Skies: Cloudy

Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, some remaining icy patches.
Road Conditions: Clear roads, and plenty of shoulder to the right of the white fog line.

EVENING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 31 degrees F
Skies: Snowing pretty hard... big wet flakes
Bike Path Conditions: 2-3" of fresh snow - lots of fun! The remaining snow and ice from last week's snows was cleaned up, and riding on fresh snow on top of asphalt is a breeze with these tires.

Road Conditions: A little scary. I was fine and was able to stay in the bike lane, but cars were sliding. I stayed in the painted bike lane for the 2-mile stretch where I have to share the road, but a painted line won't stop a car from sliding into you! It was a relief to get on the bike path.

2007-12-26T08:32:00.000-05:00

THANKS SANTA!

The jolly guy brought me a mixed bag of riding conditions - but even the bad parts were a breeze after last week. Some bike path sections were pretty icy and chunky after several daily rounds of thawing and re-freezing (top picture). It made for a rough ride, but WAY easier than last week when the bike paths were unplowed or badly plowed. My studded tires found plenty to grab on the icy stuff. Most of the bike paths were actually dry with just a few icy spots (bottom picture), and the roads were mostly clear. After slogging through snow and slush all last week, it was nice to get back into the groove of my commute with an easy ride.

The highlight of this morning's ride was seeing a Great Horned Owl fly from the ground near the bike path about 20 yards ahead of me and land in a tree just off the path. He didn't hang around long enough for a picture, but it was a pretty awesome sight.

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)
Temperature: 27 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, except for the section along Kennedy Drive.

Road Conditions: Clear roads, and plenty of shoulder to the right of the white fog line.

AFTERNOON RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 31 degrees F
Skies: Partly Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, some ice. I hit one section less than a mile from home that was about 100 yards of inch-thick glare ice (on a hill!). An older lady, a young man and a dog were VERY carefully making their way down. I zipped right by on my studded snow tires!
Road Conditions: Clear roads, but wet on the side of the road/bike lane where the snow banks are melting. I was completely speckled with road grime by the end of the ride.

2007-12-25T12:41:00.001-05:00

CHRISTMAS VACATION.

Off the bike for the long Christmas weekend (Saturday - Tuesday). Back in the saddle tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T10:49:00.000-05:00

BIKE RAGE.

In general, I've found motorists in the Burlington area to be very respectful of my bike commute - and I try to repay the favor by being respectful of motorists. I obey the traffic laws and I stay on the shoulder or in a bike lane whenever possible. I also have two blinking tail lights, a bright head light, and plenty of reflectors. If you are going to share the road with objects more than 10 times your weight... it's best to be seen!

Anyway, as I rode home on Friday afternoon on a section of road with a designated bike lane, someone going in the opposite direction in a pickup truck yelled out the window, "Get off the road!". It wasn't a big deal, but I'll admit it really got under my skin. I was actually riding in the bike lane (choosing to ride in dirty snow slush in the bike lane instead of clear asphalt in the road), and traffic going in my direction was able to pass by me unobstructed. So, it made me wonder - why does someone take the energy to roll down the window and yell something like that?

Now I'm not giving this guy an excuse - because he's clearly an a-hole. But did he have some pent-up anger from another encounter with a bike? Did he follow a group of road bikers riding two abreast in the travel lane on a narrow and windy Vermont road? I've had this experience before, and I've found it irritating when cyclists continue to use the entire travel lane when it is unsafe for cars to pass. Or, was the guy cranky because he almost got clipped by a kid riding his bike on the sidewalk right through the middle of pedestrian traffic?

Whatever the reason, respect goes both ways, and bicyclists as a group need to be respectful of motorists and pedestrians so that we don't give folks a reason to yell out the window (or worse) at cyclists who are actually following the rules.

2007-12-21T13:32:00.000-05:00

BIKING ON THE MOON.

This was my view (looking over my handlebars at my headlight beam) riding to Masters swim practice this morning at 5:15am. The bike path was strewn with little snow boulders - it looked like the moon! It's a little easier to see if you click on the image above for a larger picture.

2007-12-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

WINTER POSTCARD.

This was the view from the bike path this morning around 7:10am - heading from swim practice to work.

2007-12-21T08:16:00.000-05:00

PRODUCT TESTING. This morning, I got to try a fixed-gear and a three-speed bike. Well, actually it was my 24-speed mountain bike. Both of my shifters froze, leaving me in a single gear (1 gear above granny) for the first 2 miles of my ride, before I was finally able to use my front derailleur shifter for the remaining 5 miles. Oh yeah, I also tested "no brakes" - they were frozen too.

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)

Temperature: 15 degrees F

Skies: Cloudy

Bike Path Conditions: Mixed bag. Some paths were plowed pretty well, while others are still a mess. I was able to ride on a crucial "connector" path this morning that got me to work on time, so I was happy.

Road Conditions: Still really mucky, as the picture above illustrates. I was able to find the white fog line (and stay on or to the right of it) most of the way, so it wasn't a bad trip considering all the snow we got this week.

AFTERNOON RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 23 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Slowly improving. As the remaining snow packs down and ices, it is becoming rideable. I'm still taking alternate routes through neighborhoods when possible.

Road Conditions: Pretty clear, although still plenty of gunk in the bike lane/shoulder.

2007-12-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

MORE SNOW... SUPER. Usually I'm excited to see fresh snow in the morning, but the plows never caught up from the last storm. I figured they would plow this snow and the remaining slop from the last storm into the bike lane, so I reluctantly called a co-worker for a ride (thanks Mike!). Turned out to be a good decision. The bike path and bike lanes were mostly unrideable - so I would have been forced into the travel lane. This would mean a line of angry drivers behind me waiting for an opportunity to pass on slippery roads. This is why I don't ride in these conditions. Hopefully, they will clean this mess up today so I can get one more ride in tomorrow before the long Christmas weekend. I took this picture from Mike's truck this morning on Kimball Avenue - my least favorite part of my bike commute. The bike lane is about 6' to the right of the right tire path, buried under plowed road slop and last weekend's storm leftovers.

Thanks to Ken for the ride home! I should be able to bike in tomorrow.

2007-12-19T11:35:00.000-05:00

YUCK. The remnants of last weekend's 16" snow, combined with a (relatively) warm 25-degree day, a big helping of road salt, and lots of road grime have made a sloppy mess. I haven't taken the 10 minutes necessary to put fenders on my new winter bike setup, so I got plenty dirty today. This is the sleeve of my waterproof shell that I wear for 4-5 months each year - now speckled with road puke.

My winter bike is a Schwinn Homegrown with Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded snow tires. I scrubbed most of the slop off with some clean snow this morning. Gotta get fenders on this thing...

MORNING RIDE (7.3 miles)
Temperature: 26 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Still crappy (not plowed down to asphalt)... so I stayed on the road this morning.
Road Conditions: Dirty slushy slop. No problem to ride in, but it's all over my bike and gear. Yuck.
Route Map: www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1504066

EVENING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 25 degrees F
Weather: Overcast
Bike Path Conditions: Range from crappy to unrideable.
Road Conditions: More dirty slushy slop.

2007-12-18T10:20:00.000-05:00

AFTER THE STORM. Over the weekend, a storm dropped 16" of snow on the Burlington area. This pic is view looking up Church Street. I hitched a ride to work with a co-worker (thanks Shane!) on Monday, but the roads were looking pretty good on the way home Monday night. It looked good enough to try biking in on Tuesday...

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)
Temperature: 4 degrees F
Skies: Clear/Sunny
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly snowed in. The bike path that connects my neighborhood with the most direct road route to work was unplowed, so I hiked the bike through the snow in the direction that got me to ANY plowed road the fastest... which was really on the way to work. At least the activity warmed me up. Even though it was my coldest ride this winter season, I had to take my jacket off by the time I reached the road.
Road Conditions: Plowed. Mix of packed snow, ice, and clear road. Not bad.
Route Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1503247

EVENING RIDE (5.5 miles)
Temperature: 20 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy? (Dark)
Bike Path Conditions: Terrible. Plowed, but they left 3-4 inches of packed snow on top of icy asphalt. Some of it has footprints. My tires don't know whether to ride on top, fall through to the ice layer, or do something in-between. The studs are useless on this stuff.
Road Conditions: Plowed. Pretty clear... some muck. I can mostly stay on or to the right of the white painted fog line - which is my happy place when I have to ride on the road.
Route Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1504033

2007-12-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

SOLD MY CAR - COMMUTING BY BIKE NOW.

Fast-forward about a year and a half since my first and only post to this point. We sold our second car (the car I used to commute to work) soon after my first post in July 2006, and I've been commuting by bike full-time since then (about 18 months). Since then, I've biked approximately 300+ work days (about 85% of the time), and between 11-14 miles each day, depending on the route. My total mileage since ditching the second car is over 3,600 miles. I've biked in pretty much all conditions (rain, sleet, snow, heavy winds) and quite a range of temperatures (low of -9 F and high of +96 F). I've learned that, like any outdoor activity, it's all about being prepared and having the right gear. It also helps to have a flexible workplace that allows me to "cool down" in my sweaty bike attire before changing (after a sink clean-up... no shower) into casual work clothes.

Of course, there are days that I don't ride my bike for one reason or another... usually due to dangerous road conditions. I almost never ride when visibility is low (i.e. snowstorm), or the day after a big snowstorm when the roads are a mess and cars are sliding all over the place. On those days, I get a ride from one of several co-workers who live close by. I estimate that I ride my bike 85-90% of the time overall.

From now on, I'm going to use this blog to keep track of my daily rides. We'll see where this goes...

2006-07-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

BIKING TO WORK.

I'm trying to commute by bike to work. It is just under 6 miles each way, which I can cover in under 25 minutes on my mountain bike. The challenge is the weather. In the summer, I work up a good sweat by the time I arrive at work. In the winter, the temperature can dip well below zero. We don't have a shower at work, which makes it tough. So the new plan is to dress for the ride (shorts/t-shirt in the summer) and change at work. I just bring a clean change of clothes and deodorant - which seems to work. I averaged 2-3 days of biking/week since April, and now I'm committing myself to doing it every day. I've biked to work the past 9 days in a row (every work day in July), and I'm going to see how long I can stick to it.