Comments on: Should I Ride Today? Flip A Coin… http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mike in Florida http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-19170 Mike in Florida Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:44:12 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-19170 I obsess on the weather. My area, being on the Gulf coast, has volatile weather. A morning of gorgeous sunshine can turn into an afternoon of wicked thunderstorms---and does, every summer. I don't mind riding in the rain. I don't even mind riding in heavy downpours, and I have pretty decent rain gear. I use a helmet cover, a rain jacket, Rainlegs, and waterproof booties. My bike is fendered so I actually stay pretty dry where I care to(since I wear shorts I don't care if my shins get wet). I do HATE the filthy bike I end up with afterwards. I've just upgraded to Kool Stop salmon brake pads, so I shouldn't have the gross black brake pad residue anymore. I do end up with a sandy nasty mess when it's done, though. I obsess on the weather. My area, being on the Gulf coast, has volatile weather. A morning of gorgeous sunshine can turn into an afternoon of wicked thunderstorms—and does, every summer. I don’t mind riding in the rain. I don’t even mind riding in heavy downpours, and I have pretty decent rain gear. I use a helmet cover, a rain jacket, Rainlegs, and waterproof booties. My bike is fendered so I actually stay pretty dry where I care to(since I wear shorts I don’t care if my shins get wet). I do HATE the filthy bike I end up with afterwards. I’ve just upgraded to Kool Stop salmon brake pads, so I shouldn’t have the gross black brake pad residue anymore. I do end up with a sandy nasty mess when it’s done, though.

]]> By: Val http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-18830 Val Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:01:01 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-18830 Opening the front door and stepping out to take a deep breath is my best tool. This has no effect on whether I ride or not - I always do - but it does help me choose what clothing to wear at the beginning of the journey, and what clothing to take along, just in case. On days that threaten to snow, I'll even take along the studded tires, so that I can install them for the ride home after it starts. I always try to be prepared for worse weather than anyone thinks will happen, and I've never regretted it. Opening the front door and stepping out to take a deep breath is my best tool. This has no effect on whether I ride or not – I always do – but it does help me choose what clothing to wear at the beginning of the journey, and what clothing to take along, just in case. On days that threaten to snow, I’ll even take along the studded tires, so that I can install them for the ride home after it starts. I always try to be prepared for worse weather than anyone thinks will happen, and I’ve never regretted it.

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-18747 Fritz Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:15:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-18747 I ride daily regardless of weather, but I decide on bike and clothing depending on the forecast from the previous evening. The 5-day is generally good enough for planning, especially in California. For me, reading the forecast is a little more important than just looking out the window; I have a 20 mile bus ride over the Santa Cruz Mountains to get to work, and the weather can be somewhat different between the coast (where I live) and the Bay Area. I ride daily regardless of weather, but I decide on bike and clothing depending on the forecast from the previous evening. The 5-day is generally good enough for planning, especially in California.

For me, reading the forecast is a little more important than just looking out the window; I have a 20 mile bus ride over the Santa Cruz Mountains to get to work, and the weather can be somewhat different between the coast (where I live) and the Bay Area.

]]> By: Dan http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-18743 Dan Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:54:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-18743 I use the 5 day forecast to kind of plan ahead, but I'll check the current conditions several times each day before making the ride/no-ride decision. A day that looks totally useless for riding in the long range forecast may be great when I get to it. I use the 5 day forecast to kind of plan ahead, but I’ll check the current conditions several times each day before making the ride/no-ride decision. A day that looks totally useless for riding in the long range forecast may be great when I get to it.

]]> By: Paul of N.W. GA http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-18740 Paul of N.W. GA Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:25:47 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-18740 Being a full time car-free utility-commuter cyclist weather forecasts are about the same as horoscopes. When it's getting time to go to work, I check the radar and leave a few minutes early if it'll help, other than that, any weather is good biking weather as long as I dress for it... : ) Being a full time car-free utility-commuter cyclist weather forecasts are about the same as horoscopes. When it’s getting time to go to work, I check the radar and leave a few minutes early if it’ll help, other than that, any weather is good biking weather as long as I dress for it… : )

]]> By: Steve http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/comment-page-1/#comment-18727 Steve Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:58:26 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/20/should-i-ride-today-flip-a-coin/#comment-18727 Rain is my biggest issue. If it looks like it might rain on me, I check my area's doppler radar to see if any precipitation is projected along my route. This link provides radars for areas throughout the US: http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/national.html Rain is my biggest issue. If it looks like it might rain on me, I check my area’s doppler radar to see if any precipitation is projected along my route. This link provides radars for areas throughout the US: http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/national.html

]]>