worst weather conditions you have been caught in?

[bigringer]

hello fellow adventure cyclist.  I have been a daily commuter to work for about the last eight years.  For all but the last six months I lived in northwest lower michigan.  during that time I commuted a minimum of eighteen miles, and a  max of sixty daily. I have been exposed to pretty much everything mother nature has to offer.  I have been in torrential rains with lightening, fourteen inches of wet snow,  -20 deg, to fifty mph headwinds.  probably the worst was the fifty mph headwinds on roads that went from rain to freezing rain to ice and then snow all in the same afternoon.  
     I guess my real message here is that I am considering a trip from where I live now back to michigan.  when I tell my non cycling friends they think I am crazy because of the weather I might encounter.  My response is it can only get so bad.

[ptaylor]

Hi BigRing.

Sounds like Travers City area. You're bolder than me. I don't commute when the roads are icy. (South Bend, IN)

Admit to your "non cycling friends" that you're crazy...they "just don't get it".

Paul

[centrider]

Well, I grew up at Hudson Lake/New Carlisle.  Fortunately I live in SoCal.

Right.  Agree with them and than go about doing whatever you want to
do.  For sure, they will never understand.  

[RoadWimp]

I commute by bike as well. But I haven't figured out how to deal with bad weather. It's one thing to ride in it, but what about when you get to school or work? In rain, one tends to get there all wet. In slush, one tends to arrive not only wet, but filthy from mud. In heat, one usually gets there....wet, but of a different nature. Ewwww...


So what do you do about these problems? If your job or school is anything like mine, they don't look kindly on people coming in dripping with sweat or covered with mud.

[ptaylor]

Hi road.

On the warm summer mornings, I just ride slowly, and make a beeline for the restroom where I waste some time cooling down and splashing water on my face.

For rainy weather, fenders and a rain cape from Campmor works for me. If it's windy, and raining hard, my lower legs get wet, but the cape works well, is easy to get on and off, and is not hot.

Paul

[bigringer]

hey road,

one thing that I do is try to get to work about a half hour early so I have a time to cool/dry off.  I usually take that time to eat something since I have a hard time eatimg before I ride.  I do use fenders, but I find them most benificial after a recent rain.  I think when it is really raining you just have to embrace your wetness and change clothes when you get to work.  rain gear only seems to make me sweat more.  commuting in the snow and slush can be quite challenging.  luckily I have had places of work that accepted me coming in dripping with slush.  one thing about riding in the winter, get a beater bike.  I don't care how diligent you are about cleaning your drivetrain it will get trashed.  
    has anyone found a way to keep their feet dry?  cold wet feet is probably the worst thing I have had to deal with.  I have tried a couple types of "waterproof" shoes as well as sealskin socks and if it is really raining I still seem to get wet feet after about a half hour.  

[boonebikeguy]

I live in Boone NC...two years ago I worked with a landscaper in DEAD winter. I had no car just my racing bike...it was 12 degrees -5 with wind chill... I had to ride ten miles to work that day.. I had days like this for over a month. Now..I HATE WINTER AND SNOW !
I commuted 52 miles a day five days a week last summer in rain and wind but this was all cake compared to those hellish 20's in sub zero assy wind chills.

"Love is a river where crazy people drown"--Kyrgyz proverb

[ptaylor]

Boon! How can you hate snow?

It's so pretty as it is falling, and so nice when it's melted?

Paul

[boonebikeguy]

My name is Paul!!! I live in Boone. Snow is great unless you have to ride in it my good fellow =-)

"Love is a river where crazy people drown"--Kyrgyz proverb

[bigringer]

one good thing about riding in snow and ice is it definately improves your bike handling skills.  you need to improve your balance, smooth out your spin, and even learn how to fall without hurting yourself.  I even got rid of my studded tires one year just for the challenge!