The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)
Discussion
I've started wearing a hat this week, definitely getting a bit nippy out.
On the plus side though my wife is sticking with her e-bike commute having taken the car the other day because it was raining and then moaned that it took longer than cycling
Both on upright hybrid/city bikes though rather than you lot with your road/gravel bikes (Gazelle Chamonix C8 and a Stella Livorno)
On the plus side though my wife is sticking with her e-bike commute having taken the car the other day because it was raining and then moaned that it took longer than cycling
Both on upright hybrid/city bikes though rather than you lot with your road/gravel bikes (Gazelle Chamonix C8 and a Stella Livorno)
First ebike commute today. Was definitely 1 degree, wind was definitely not only 4mph, was gusting a lot harder coming over the top of the hill!
Probably ended up just about as sweaty as on a normal commute but worked a little less hard. Can’t hit the same top speeds on the downhill withe more upright position and more draggy tyres.
Probably ended up just about as sweaty as on a normal commute but worked a little less hard. Can’t hit the same top speeds on the downhill withe more upright position and more draggy tyres.
emicen said:
First ebike commute today. Was definitely 1 degree, wind was definitely not only 4mph, was gusting a lot harder coming over the top of the hill!
Probably ended up just about as sweaty as on a normal commute but worked a little less hard. Can’t hit the same top speeds on the downhill withe more upright position and more draggy tyres.
Your average HR is way too high for an eBike commute, if the aim of the eBike is to make things easier/less sweaty.....Probably ended up just about as sweaty as on a normal commute but worked a little less hard. Can’t hit the same top speeds on the downhill withe more upright position and more draggy tyres.
I'm normally zone 2/3 on my eBike commute, nowhere near the effort needed for a normal bike/indoor bike.....some minor 'adaptions' though might be needed on your bike to allow for similar results.
gangzoom said:
Your average HR is way too high for an eBike commute, if the aim of the eBike is to make things easier/less sweaty.....
I'm normally zone 2/3 on my eBike commute, nowhere near the effort needed for a normal bike/indoor bike.....some minor 'adaptions' though might be needed on your bike to allow for similar results.
Depends how you're doing it surely? The beauty of an e-bike is you have the option to get there in the same time for less effort, or put the same effort as on a normal bike but get there faster.I'm normally zone 2/3 on my eBike commute, nowhere near the effort needed for a normal bike/indoor bike.....some minor 'adaptions' though might be needed on your bike to allow for similar results.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MkD6LZxV.png[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/rLAbbyES" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rLAbbyES.jpg)
RizzoTheRat said:
-3 this morning apparently. My nose got cold! Looked lovely with a heavy frost over everything though.
Chapeau.I left for work at 6am and was back home by quarter past. Thought I had shaken off whatever ailment the wife struck the household down with, but clearly I haven’t. Mild coughing fit in minus 8 and I decided to double back and take the car.
I love riding in this weather normally, but I really don’t need a relapse or the lurgy settling in to my muscles.
Rode in yesturday, god it was treacherous.
First half a mile or so on ungritted roads, downhill, was sheet ice. Ended up sitting on the top tube, one foot unclipped and creeping down without locking up. Overall 7mile commute in was bitter, wore a cotton rugby top, work polo and thin coat. Thin ski balaclava and ski gloves, still in shorts though but was bearable. Those who drove to work said it was minus 6.
Snow forcast tomorrow could be interesting...
I did have to drive in last week though...knew my rims were on the way out, rode over a stick, got a puncture and cracked the rim....Good old rim brakes, threw a new tube in to get back home. Ordered a new wheelset for £85 next day delivery and I was going again the day after!
First half a mile or so on ungritted roads, downhill, was sheet ice. Ended up sitting on the top tube, one foot unclipped and creeping down without locking up. Overall 7mile commute in was bitter, wore a cotton rugby top, work polo and thin coat. Thin ski balaclava and ski gloves, still in shorts though but was bearable. Those who drove to work said it was minus 6.
Snow forcast tomorrow could be interesting...
I did have to drive in last week though...knew my rims were on the way out, rode over a stick, got a puncture and cracked the rim....Good old rim brakes, threw a new tube in to get back home. Ordered a new wheelset for £85 next day delivery and I was going again the day after!
Edited by Rob_125 on Tuesday 13th December 19:48
Rob_125 said:
Rode in yesterday, god it was treacherous.
I'm lucky that my commute's fairly short and almost all on brick paved roads and cycle paths, which are bone dry and as grippy as sandpaper. No snow here yet but I've ridden the same route in snow in the past, on normal road tyres, with no problems.My wife has wisely chickened out of her 45 minute e-bike commute and started driving to work.
Are you keeping your core warm enough? I'm cycling relatively slowly not because I'm worried about ice but because in my down jacket I get to hot if I put too much effort in On my motorbike I have an electric waistcoat and it's amazing how much better your fingers and toes fare if your core is still nice and warm.
My wife's been looking at electric heated gloves for her cycle commute.
On my motorbike I have an electric waistcoat and it's amazing how much better your fingers and toes fare if your core is still nice and warm.My wife's been looking at electric heated gloves for her cycle commute.
Drezza said:
My commute is only 2 miles each way, my hands were so cold this morning to the extent I couldn't unclip my helmet. I've bought some "winter" gloves but might have to look into some thin liners too.
Yeah, good waterproof outers with liners for the really cold dry days is a must. Some years you'll only use them both at the same time a few times but they're a must imoRizzoTheRat said:
Rob_125 said:
Rode in yesterday, god it was treacherous.
I'm lucky that my commute's fairly short and almost all on brick paved roads and cycle paths, which are bone dry and as grippy as sandpaper. No snow here yet but I've ridden the same route in snow in the past, on normal road tyres, with no problems.My wife has wisely chickened out of her 45 minute e-bike commute and started driving to work.
I cycled last Thursday and totally regretted it. My hands were painfully cold. I usually get really hot cycling even when it is zero, so just wear a t shirt and a waterproof (plus gloves) normally.
I need to rethink the gloves if these temperatures continue....
Forecast here is up to 11 degrees and rain next week, we'll ask be complaining we're getting too sweaty in our waterproofs
Had to collect something so took a different route to work this morning, and now see what some of you mean about road conditions. We only had a very light dusting of snow but the roads are slushy, and when I got off my bike the pavement was sheet ice. Rejoined my usual cycle path half way to work and it was a pristine crunchy white surface, with loads of grip, and wasn't even showing tyre marks from other bikes. Way warmer today than the last couple of days though.
Had to collect something so took a different route to work this morning, and now see what some of you mean about road conditions. We only had a very light dusting of snow but the roads are slushy, and when I got off my bike the pavement was sheet ice. Rejoined my usual cycle path half way to work and it was a pristine crunchy white surface, with loads of grip, and wasn't even showing tyre marks from other bikes. Way warmer today than the last couple of days though.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 15th December 08:21
Any advice for gucci autumn/winter kit?
Gone down to a single car household, but now returning to the office three days a week. Main challenge is I really felt the cold with just a long sleeve base and windproof torso mid layer last time I went out (around 8C with decent wind) - mainly as I have my ride interrupted by 90 minutes on station platform and train.
So, C2W voucher for £750. Breaking that down, happy to spend a £2-300 on a jacket, £100ish on pukka winter base layer, etc.
Already planning Spatz thermal overshoes, have decent altura bib tights.
Gutted that the shakedry insulated jacket seems to be extinct now. That seemed like a great solution.
The new insulation options seem to talk the talk - designed for military where intense activity is interspersed in periods of sitting around waiting.
Thoughts?
Gone down to a single car household, but now returning to the office three days a week. Main challenge is I really felt the cold with just a long sleeve base and windproof torso mid layer last time I went out (around 8C with decent wind) - mainly as I have my ride interrupted by 90 minutes on station platform and train.
So, C2W voucher for £750. Breaking that down, happy to spend a £2-300 on a jacket, £100ish on pukka winter base layer, etc.
Already planning Spatz thermal overshoes, have decent altura bib tights.
Gutted that the shakedry insulated jacket seems to be extinct now. That seemed like a great solution.
The new insulation options seem to talk the talk - designed for military where intense activity is interspersed in periods of sitting around waiting.
Thoughts?
-8 on my commute across the cheshire plain yesterday morning, went through a trough and it felt several degrees cooler.
The key for me in this weather is layers, not necessarily expensive gear, just layers.
I really like and rate base layers from galibier, this one in particular on very cold days is incredible and reasonable money
https://www.galibier.cc/product/barrier-base-layer...
I also wear the mistral winter bib tights.
Ski gloves at the moment as they seem to keep my hands warmer than anything else.
The key for me in this weather is layers, not necessarily expensive gear, just layers.
I really like and rate base layers from galibier, this one in particular on very cold days is incredible and reasonable money
https://www.galibier.cc/product/barrier-base-layer...
I also wear the mistral winter bib tights.
Ski gloves at the moment as they seem to keep my hands warmer than anything else.
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