Counting The Hours
By Mitch Berg
The Problem: While daytime temps are well above freezing, clearing off the streets fairly nicely, the morning temps are still a little chilly; the lows are going to be out of the teens, at least, but still plenty below freezing. It’s not too cold to ride – that’s why we have caps and gloves, of course. But it does mean all that melt-off freezes which, along with the big ridges of never-plowed snow left over from earlier in the season, should make the morning ride kinda treacherous.
But afternoons? Hmmmm.
The Solution: I’m pondering throwing my bike on the bus tomorrow morning and teeing up the season a ride home through the unseasonably warm afternoon rush hour.
Developing, as they say.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Ya little girly man…I’ve got two days under my belt already! :^)
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Studded tires, man, studded tires…..
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:11 am
It’s too early. It’s not safe. The snowbanks still cover the bike lanes that were created by eliminating a driving lane. So this morning, Eastbound on Como between Dale and Rice, some be-mittened fool was riding in the driving lane because his bike lane is still snowcovered. At 7:00 a.m., with no tail-light, as I’m driving into the rising sun. Idiot.
I’d have run his a** over and never noticed the bump (the streets are so potholed this year that’s actually a realistic possibility) but for the other fool on the motorcycle who pulled out in front of me from a side street.
On the bright side, I now know that my anti-lock brakes work fine.
Minnesota. Winter. Bicycles. Which of these does not belong?
.
.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:26 am
Nate,
Yep. Hence the idea of busing in the morning and riding home. Although the potholes are crazy this year.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:34 am
Wait a month. I am. We can’t afford to lose you to a texting driving on snow-narrowed streets. If you want the exercise get on or off the bus a few blocks further away.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
This sucks. The bike lane on Summit is fairly decent now, but getting TO Summit involves some backstreets that may not melt out until June at this rate.
Blah.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Living in low tax land of Waseca, they actually plow the streets. Crazy thought, eh?
Ya still need to watch out for refreeze and trucks, but overall, it’s pretty good.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
I pass a rails to trails in the south western suburbs in the morning. A lone rider was walking down the trail due to the ice.
I have used studded tires, but when the ice is fresh clear ice like you get when it refreezes overnight they do not help enough.