Comments on: How Hard Core Are You? http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/ 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: jdc http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-162061 jdc Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:47:05 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-162061 Agreed. Winter riding is easy once you get your head around it...and then it can actually become fun. Picking your lines through rutted snow is sort of like riding rough singletrack. I'm looking out the window and we had a huge dump of snow last night...but it's VERY mild temp-wise this morning and the road looks like a deep slushfest. Should be "fun" lol. My sister lives in Kentucky. Agreed. Winter riding is easy once you get your head around it…and then it can actually become fun. Picking your lines through rutted snow is sort of like riding rough singletrack. I’m looking out the window and we had a huge dump of snow last night…but it’s VERY mild temp-wise this morning and the road looks like a deep slushfest. Should be “fun” lol. My sister lives in Kentucky.

]]> By: Asher http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-160584 Asher Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:28:35 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-160584 As the proverbial 'they' say, "There's no bad weather, only bad clothing."* (*Okay, biking in driving rain when your bat-blind without glasses can be a challenge. I do it anyway ... slooooooooooowly.) I love winter riding (especially on my roomie's sproingy, fat-tired mountain bike :D) -- I enjoy the challenges of navigating ice and snow (it's probably worth noting that I also enjoy icy downhill ski runs and moguls -- yes, I'm that guy, the one who doesn't like fresh powder). It's the summer riding that's miserable for me! Of course, I live in Louisville, KY, where the air in summer is hot, swampy, and heavy-laden with ground-level ozone that sets off my asthma. We have some of the worst air quality in the U.S. in summer: it's not the heat, it's the pollution :::sigh::: Admittedly, I'm always a little shocked at how chilly the first 20 F or lower ride of the year is -- but, then, I'm also always shocked at how quickly I acclimate. Now, if I can just rustle up one of those Korean anti-pollution bike ninja masks, I'll be set for summer, too ^-^ As the proverbial ‘they’ say, “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.”*

(*Okay, biking in driving rain when your bat-blind without glasses can be a challenge. I do it anyway … slooooooooooowly.)

I love winter riding (especially on my roomie’s sproingy, fat-tired mountain bike :D ) — I enjoy the challenges of navigating ice and snow (it’s probably worth noting that I also enjoy icy downhill ski runs and moguls — yes, I’m that guy, the one who doesn’t like fresh powder).

It’s the summer riding that’s miserable for me! Of course, I live in Louisville, KY, where the air in summer is hot, swampy, and heavy-laden with ground-level ozone that sets off my asthma. We have some of the worst air quality in the U.S. in summer: it’s not the heat, it’s the pollution :::sigh:::

Admittedly, I’m always a little shocked at how chilly the first 20 F or lower ride of the year is — but, then, I’m also always shocked at how quickly I acclimate.

Now, if I can just rustle up one of those Korean anti-pollution bike ninja masks, I’ll be set for summer, too ^-^

]]> By: Andy Bach http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-155443 Andy Bach Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:16:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-155443 @welshcyclist - no problem. I ride on snow and ice nearly every day late Nov through early March - I've had my falls too. But it doesn't stop me - the worst (as in slipperiest) snow is the plowed/packed stuff *on top* of ice. Yes, the bike does go down fast and there's not much you can do about it. On plain ice (as where the snows melted during the day and the track has become a skating rink at night) you can get over it by just going straight until, you hope, the pavement returns. A slight turn and boom, so dropping both feet (braking is bad too) and skidding to stop is a valid approach too. I'm lucky enough my current commute is only 5 miles and very limited traffic. Just saying it's doable. "Bach" appears to be a Welsh adjective "little" too ("bachgen bach", "ty bach"), in German, it's 'stream'. @welshcyclist – no problem. I ride on snow and ice nearly every day late Nov through early March – I’ve had my falls too. But it doesn’t stop me – the worst (as in slipperiest) snow is the plowed/packed stuff *on top* of ice. Yes, the bike does go down fast and there’s not much you can do about it. On plain ice (as where the snows melted during the day and the track has become a skating rink at night) you can get over it by just going straight until, you hope, the pavement returns. A slight turn and boom, so dropping both feet (braking is bad too) and skidding to stop is a valid approach too. I’m lucky enough my current commute is only 5 miles and very limited traffic. Just saying it’s doable. “Bach” appears to be a Welsh adjective “little” too (“bachgen bach”, “ty bach”), in German, it’s ‘stream’.

]]> By: welshcyclist http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-155396 welshcyclist Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:07:39 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-155396 Sorry Andy Bach, but I just don't get this.... "..ice isn't so bad, slow down, don't make any sudden turns and practice your shoulder rolls." I've had 3 major falls on ice, I think it's dreadful stuff, each time I didn't have time to react at all, so no matter how much I may have practiced my shoulder rolls etc., it wouldn't have made a jot of a difference. There's no way I'm hardcore enough to risk cycling when ice is about. By the way, your surname means boy in Welsh. Sorry Andy Bach, but I just don’t get this….
“..ice isn’t so bad, slow down, don’t make any sudden turns and practice your shoulder rolls.”
I’ve had 3 major falls on ice, I think it’s dreadful stuff, each time I didn’t have time to react at all, so no matter how much I may have practiced my shoulder rolls etc., it wouldn’t have made a jot of a difference. There’s no way I’m hardcore enough to risk cycling when ice is about.
By the way, your surname means boy in Welsh.

]]> By: Andy Bach http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-155260 Andy Bach Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:56:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-155260 Ride all year round here in WI and while we get some extremeness, now and then: http://www.flickr.com/photos/afbach/3208863564/in/set-72157612622472954/ it usually no worse than single digits. A few layers is more than enough (a hooded sweatshirt and almost anything) for the trunk, a pair of long johns and jeans (snow pants for single digits) - the hard part is fingers and toes. A decent pair of boots and a couple layers of socks and 5 dollar "Farm and Fleet" leather-ish mittens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/afbach/3208017917/in/set-72157612622472954/ and, if only for 5 miles, it's more than doable. But in the 20s, it's nowhere as hard as you might think and even the snow and ice isn't too bad; slow down, don't make any sudden turns and ... practice your shoulder rolls. Ride all year round here in WI and while we get some extremeness, now and then:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/afbach/3208863564/in/set-72157612622472954/

it usually no worse than single digits. A few layers is more than enough (a hooded sweatshirt and almost anything) for the trunk, a pair of long johns and jeans (snow pants for single digits) – the hard part is fingers and toes. A decent pair of boots and a couple layers of socks and 5 dollar “Farm and Fleet” leather-ish mittens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/afbach/3208017917/in/set-72157612622472954/

and, if only for 5 miles, it’s more than doable. But in the 20s, it’s nowhere as hard as you might think and even the snow and ice isn’t too bad; slow down, don’t make any sudden turns and … practice your shoulder rolls.

]]> By: jp http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-154448 jp Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:21:57 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-154448 hard to say that riding a bike is hardcore at all, compared to some of the other horrible things people endure. I abandon my 20-mile r/t commute in New Hampshire when the mercury dips below zero (fahrenheit). Fenders, 32c cyclocross tires, much-too-expensive lights, and heaps of warm but breathable clothing make it rather enjoyable the rest of the time. sometimes its the most fun i'll have all day. hard to say that riding a bike is hardcore at all, compared to some of the other horrible things people endure. I abandon my 20-mile r/t commute in New Hampshire when the mercury dips below zero (fahrenheit). Fenders, 32c cyclocross tires, much-too-expensive lights, and heaps of warm but breathable clothing make it rather enjoyable the rest of the time. sometimes its the most fun i’ll have all day.

]]> By: Eric http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-153463 Eric Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:09:36 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-153463 I will ride to work no matter how cold or raining or snowing, I have the gear to handle most conditions. As long as it isnt icy on the roads,I will ride. I dont have studded tires, but the biggest concern I have is drivers sliding around uncontrollably. Eric http://www.thebikesaddle.com I will ride to work no matter how cold or raining or snowing, I have the gear to handle most conditions. As long as it isnt icy on the roads,I will ride. I dont have studded tires, but the biggest concern I have is drivers sliding around uncontrollably.

Eric
http://www.thebikesaddle.com

]]> By: Hugh Lester http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-152926 Hugh Lester Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:14:10 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-152926 Hardcore is... Getting on the bike day in, day out, when its nice, when its not, when you feel like it, when you don't year in and year out. Consistency is hardcore. By that definition, I am pretty softcore but I'm trying. Hardcore is…

Getting on the bike day in, day out, when its nice, when its not, when you feel like it, when you don’t year in and year out. Consistency is hardcore.

By that definition, I am pretty softcore but I’m trying.

]]> By: Bike Shop Girl http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-152249 Bike Shop Girl Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:07:58 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-152249 Pintsized Hmm.. I haven't deleted or spammed any comments from this post. When did you leave a comment that went missing? Pintsized

Hmm.. I haven’t deleted or spammed any comments from this post. When did you leave a comment that went missing?

]]> By: pintsized http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/01/15/how-hard-core-are-you/comment-page-1/#comment-152228 pintsized Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:38:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4095#comment-152228 And why was my response delete? And why was my response delete?

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