This will probably be my only entry this year, as I'm not going to ride just to get a number. I will, however, continue to commute to work and back by bike regardless of temperature. Available traction is my determining factor.
My coldest commute thus far was on
Monday, December 1st. 8°F during my 7:30 to 8am commute, according to Weather Underground.
Got to say, I really enjoy the new lane-split law here in Minnesota. Drivers seem less upset and more surprised when I split through slow/stopped traffic at sub-freezing temps compared to taking advantage of the law during summer rides.
But this is probably my only entry this winter because I now have a new job at a company needing a 30 minute highway commute. After riding in all of November and 1st week of December, my new bosses asked if I planned to do that all winter. I told them I'd rather not buy and store a 3rd 4-wheeled box (after wife's car and son's truck) just for the 10 or 20 days a year I'd need it. If I need to borrow a box for a snow day, I would, but still planned to ride when roads were dry.
They said, "how about you just work from home?" I said, "fine with me. See you in the spring."
The last few commutes did make me uncomfortable with the level of risk assumed. I normally enjoy rush-hour freeway rides--even more now with lane-spitting legal--but a large part of that enjoyment is being in command of a nimble, quick machine. The ability to dodge, sprint and brake is greatly reduced when traction is questionable and I was feeling way too vulnerable on the heavy trafficked cold pavement. I could stay off the freeway for the last job (of 18 years) but backroads would be over an hour to the new offices.
So put me down for 8°F and I'll watch it fade off the leader board over the winter while I code away in my basement until Spring.
Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota
