OK, the bike experiment continues. I’ve had 2 operations on the foot and I think there’s one more in the offing but I’m continuing. The operations are unrelated to biking and are not serious. It doesn’t hurt much to ride but walking sucks.
It is getting cold but I refuse to give up just yet. The one change I did make was to spend some bucks on a windproof fleece. My other fleece that seemed pretty stout turned out to be not so stout on the bike. The wind came through it like a screen door. I was freezing my butt off.
I swallowed hard and ordered an expensive new patagonia fleece. I was pretty excited on the day it arrived – it is windy and cold! However, when I opened it up and looked it over, the thing seemed like an absolute overpriced joke. Kinda thin and cut a bit short for a fat guy like me. After a couple of days riding with it though, I can tell you that it is absolutely wind proof. Combine that with full-fingered riding gloves and it isn’t so bad on the bike. The only remaining problem is that the cold air burns up my face but I don’t ride very far so it isn’t so bad. I guess the lesson is that Gear is important!!
December 18, 2009 at 8:53 am
Andy, I offer words of encouragement and big kudos for your experiment. When I was assigned to Fort Monmouth, NJ years ago, I used to ride my bike in all kinds of weather from our quarters to the Army Service School were I was an instructor. 4 miles a day kept me quite in shape!
I had standard issue rain gear, so wore that in rain or snow…just skipped riding the bike when Jersey got its famous ice storms. So keep it up, my friend!
December 18, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Andy, your patagonia fleece may come in handy
this weekend. Manassas has declared a Snow
Emergency starting at midnight which means, in part,
that any vehicle parked on a designated
Snow Emergency Route will be towed. This
includes Snow Push zones in GTS.
This is predicted to be larger than anything we have
experienced in recent years, lasting most of tomorrow.
We have city equipment lined up and dedicated
trained people plus outside contractors, but, if
history is a guide, it will take some time to get to all
the residential streets (cul-de-sacs are a challenge)
so try and do any shopping or errands today if possible.
December 18, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I hear it’s a zoo out there…everyone stocking up on beer, TP and Milk….I mean Bread, TP and Milk…geez, what was I thinking!
December 18, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Andy, perhaps you or some other
computer whiz can pull up the Snow Removal article from
the 2007 Town Hall newsletter and post it.
It contains some interesting information.
December 18, 2009 at 4:33 pm
The January 2007 Town Hall newsletter.
December 18, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Steve, here’s what was in the January 2009 Town Hall newsletter:
The City’s Street Department has set a goal to plow all 253-lane miles of City roadways for “normal” storms – one foot or less of snow – within 24 hours after the storm has ended. The Street Department’s aim is to plow and maintain snow emergency, primary, secondary and school bus routes so residents have access to salt- or sand-treated streets within four blocks of their residence.
Chemical treatment of the roads begins when snow or ice begins to accumulate. Primary and snow emergency routes will be treated first, followed by residential roads. Salt and sand are not spread on all residential streets; but the Street Department may salt and sand hills and busy intersections where needed.
Plowing will commence when snow gets to a depth of about two or three inches. If the storm is ongoing, crews will return to the primary roads to make sure they are passable. Residential plowing will begin as soon as the first and second run priority routes are completed. (The Street Department uses the same 12 sections for snow removal as show on the leaf collection map to achieve a systematic and prioritized approach to performing snow removal.) First and second run routes are top priorities for keeping the arterial and collector roads passable in the City. Once this is achieved, residential plowing begins, if needed.
What is the City code requirement about cleaning sidewalks?
Citizens are required to remove all snow, sleet and ice from the public sidewalks in front of their residence or business within 12 hours after the storm has ended, or by 5 p.m. the next day if the storm occurs during the night. If the sidewalk is not cleared in a timely manner, the Street Department may elect to clean the sidewalk, but will bill you for the service. The City will monitor sidewalk conditions for the safety of its citizens.
What is a snow emergency route?
The City has designated 20 roadways as snow emergency routes – roadways in the City which need to be plowed as a priority. Because of that need, the roads need to be cleared of all parked vehicles that can obstruct the street for plowing. These streets are posted. You may be ticketed and towed for parking on a snow emergency roadway during a storm. If you live on a street that has snow emergency route signs, make sure you have an alternative location to park your vehicle(s) if and when it snows.
How do I know when there is a snow emergency in effect?
The City Manager determines when there is a snow emergency either by obtaining reports from the Street Department, the National Weather Service, or when the snow and ice has accumulated four or more inches. He may use radio, cable and newspapers to make his announcement. The emergency parking ban will not go into effect until four hours after he has made this announcement.
Contact the Street Department at 703-257-8378, the Public Works emergency line at 703-257-8353, or the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 703-257-8000 if you have any questions. The City cable TV channel and Web site will also carry information.
What if I live on a private street?
You should contact your Homeowner’s Association about your neighborhood’s snow removal plan.
December 18, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Thank you Cindy.
Steve
December 19, 2009 at 12:16 am
Good luck with this storm. It’s shaping up to be a history maker.
December 19, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Check out the blizzard on the live Web cam in Old Town Manassas. http://www.visitmanassas.org/camera/
December 19, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Riding in the cold, sure. rain, maybe. Blizzard, no.
December 19, 2009 at 12:41 pm
It’s days like this that I just love having a gas guzzling 4 wheel SUV.
December 19, 2009 at 1:05 pm
They are fun. My expedition is in need of repair but the jeep will still go in the snow!
December 19, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I just got back in and the roads are no better then this morning. It’s like driving on poorly maintained dirt road that has too many ruts.