Icy Work Commute into Downtown Denver

Woke before my alarm clock and peered outside, about 1-2 inches of snow on the ground.  The weather guessers had predicted it, and this time, they delivered.

As I was up and wanted to give myself some extra time, I got ready for work and geared up to include raingear as it was still snowing very lightly.

I left the house perhaps 25 minutes earlier than normal and slowly made my way through the neighborhood roads, my tracks being some of the few carved into the snow at this early hour.  It was 17°F and dark and I immediately saw it would be a "slick conditions" kind of a commute.

All the roads were snow/ice covered with slight evidence of previous vehicles in the form slight ruts in the snow/ice.  Trouble is, I think there was ice on what looked like clear portions as well.

Followed my regular route, Himalaya Road north to where it becomes Tower Road and then turn west onto 6th Avenue and take that across the I-225 exchange (this is the scariest part of the commute due to cars).  Stayed on 6th all the way to Monaco which I took North to 17th street.

The 17th street neighborhood, with its tree-lined roads was very slick and dark.  Fortunately, the cagers out and about along with me (well most of them anyways) were proceeding nice and slow.  I was actually quite pleased with the careful driving I saw all around me each time I either caught up or was caught up to by a cluster of cagers.

A couple of times, from a standing stop at a light, I could feel the pusher tire spinning a bit as it fought to gain traction but other than that, no worries in terms of Valencia's ability to grip the road surface.  I didn't even have to put her in 2WD!

Got to the parking garage and was the only motorcycle there, as expected.  The only other motorcycle I really expected to see would have been Spat's URAL rig.  The parking attendant came by to chat and we both agreed it didn't seem like the city had spread ANY magnesium chloride on the rides, leading to the really icy conditions.

Oh well, safe and sound for my first work commute in snow/ice to Downtown Denver.  I must remember to keep my heavy gloves with me as I walk to the building where I work; though only about 1 block away, the temperatures were cold enough to hurt my bare hands as I walked there.

No pictures till dawn breaks, then I hope to get some of the city from the building's 40th floor.

Update: 8:30AM

Some pictures of the surrounding buildings, the lighting was really poor due to the snow conditions.

 The TIAA-CREF Building under which I park.

I had to really tweak things with this last picture

of the Four Seasons Hotel (I think that's what it is)

Update: 5:17PM:

The roads were much better on the way home, I did take off 30 minutes earlier than usual though as I was a bit anxious about Valencia starting after sitting in a cold parking garage all day.  She did start, though it was a slight struggle.  The commute home was uneventful, roads were pretty clear in the metro area, getting more ice/snow covered as I neared the home neighborhoods.  Temperatures had dropped throughout the day and it was a brisk 12.4°F on the ride home.

Valencia in one of the parking lots belonging to the local high school.

It's supposed to be the coldest night of the season tonight, with temperatures in the single digits.  Nothing to hardy riders like RichardM in Alaska but pretty cold for the Front Range area.  I'm just hoping there's no melting on the roads which will re-freeze overnight, it would make the morning commute too interesting, and today's riding was challenging enough!