Why is Winter Riding is so Difficult....in Los Angeles
01-28-12, 01:47 PM
#1
Spin Meister
Thread Starter
Why is Winter Riding is so Difficult....in Los Angeles?
My late afternoon ride on a typical winter's day –January 27th – was a big bust.
There I was, initially gliding in bliss along the coast. The mountains above Malibu to the north, and the mountain that was the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, formed the wide open jaws of Santa Monica Bay. The island of Santa Catalina, 27 miles across the sea, floated like a serene, purple leviathan.
Then I noticed pale puffs and stringy tangles of fog, just beginning to muster for a silent invasion of the shore in the evening, which slightly marred my otherwise clear views out over the Pacific. With a shock, I noted that the temperature had dipped to about 65 degrees, and I had to pedal hard just to stay warm. Why, oh, why, did I leave arm and leg warmers at home?
True, this late in the afternoon, most people were somewhere else, so the bike path was like my private, closed-circuit training course. Even so, I soon realized the occasional cyclist, jogger, surfer, volleyballer – whomever – were intent on blocking my private views. That really frosted me on what should have been a perfect winter ride.
Like rider above - he just barged into my photograph!
These surfers blocked my potential sighting of gray and blue whales, and this year even a pod of orcas, which are frolicking in the bay, remained out of sight thanks to these bozos.
When I tried to take a photo of the shadow-dappled sand, out-of-shape zombies got in the way.
Two more surfers passed unthinkingly in front of me, wrecking another photo.
This rude dude wasn't aware I was there.
Junk cluttered up the beach scene.
All-in-all, it was such a miserable winter's day at the beach that I feel compelled to use this emoticon:
There I was, initially gliding in bliss along the coast. The mountains above Malibu to the north, and the mountain that was the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, formed the wide open jaws of Santa Monica Bay. The island of Santa Catalina, 27 miles across the sea, floated like a serene, purple leviathan.
Then I noticed pale puffs and stringy tangles of fog, just beginning to muster for a silent invasion of the shore in the evening, which slightly marred my otherwise clear views out over the Pacific. With a shock, I noted that the temperature had dipped to about 65 degrees, and I had to pedal hard just to stay warm. Why, oh, why, did I leave arm and leg warmers at home?
True, this late in the afternoon, most people were somewhere else, so the bike path was like my private, closed-circuit training course. Even so, I soon realized the occasional cyclist, jogger, surfer, volleyballer – whomever – were intent on blocking my private views. That really frosted me on what should have been a perfect winter ride.
Like rider above - he just barged into my photograph!
These surfers blocked my potential sighting of gray and blue whales, and this year even a pod of orcas, which are frolicking in the bay, remained out of sight thanks to these bozos.
When I tried to take a photo of the shadow-dappled sand, out-of-shape zombies got in the way.
Two more surfers passed unthinkingly in front of me, wrecking another photo.
This rude dude wasn't aware I was there.
Junk cluttered up the beach scene.
All-in-all, it was such a miserable winter's day at the beach that I feel compelled to use this emoticon:
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This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
Last edited by icyclist; 01-29-12 at 11:23 AM.
01-28-12, 01:50 PM
#2
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Nice.You ride along the coast up here during the "winter", you can get blown off the road. Especially in the afternoon.
01-28-12, 01:50 PM
#3
Throw the stick!!!!
Nice. Had an awesome day riding in West Virginia today. Temp in the 40's, drizzle, windy. I couldn't have been happier.
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01-28-12, 01:56 PM
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01-28-12, 01:58 PM
#5
Throw the stick!!!!
That or just htfu. It's a character builder.
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01-28-12, 02:20 PM
#6
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I only saw 2 zombies but they didn't look out of shape!
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01-28-12, 02:34 PM
#7
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I'm really hoping this is joke *****ing...
01-28-12, 03:32 PM
#8
Senior Member
Just went for my 27 mile winter ride here in eastern Pa. 48 degrees, sunny with a bit of wind. WTF it's January.
I now have over 6000 miles on my 07 Tomasso Aggrizato with no problems ever. My computer just told me this.
I now have over 6000 miles on my 07 Tomasso Aggrizato with no problems ever. My computer just told me this.
01-28-12, 04:14 PM
#9
I'm doing it wrong.
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STFU Op!!!
Just kidding, great photos, I'm jealous.
No really, stfu!
Just kidding, great photos, I'm jealous.
No really, stfu!
01-28-12, 04:47 PM
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I am pretty sure I hate you..........
01-28-12, 06:17 PM
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Hey, for once the East Coasters don't need to just take the West coast gloating lying down. It's apparently one of the warmest and driest winters ever over there. Eminently rideable conditions in a lot of places for most of the time thus far.
And even in LA, although it seemed to be a glorius warm day this time, it does get really dang cold in some areas, particularly the bike-friendly Santa Monica mountains. I've had to bail on rides despite wearing thermal everything because I forgot to put on full booties and ended up freezing my toes up descending into canyons that were subfreezing in Santa Monica mts versus the 55F in the sunny areas. A far cry from frigid east coast winters, but something that definitely required serious cold weather gear if you're out before noon on a brisk day.
And even in LA, although it seemed to be a glorius warm day this time, it does get really dang cold in some areas, particularly the bike-friendly Santa Monica mountains. I've had to bail on rides despite wearing thermal everything because I forgot to put on full booties and ended up freezing my toes up descending into canyons that were subfreezing in Santa Monica mts versus the 55F in the sunny areas. A far cry from frigid east coast winters, but something that definitely required serious cold weather gear if you're out before noon on a brisk day.
01-28-12, 08:51 PM
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Mostly Harmless
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I hate when that happens. Way to HTFU and make the best of it. Your perseverance is inspirational.
01-28-12, 09:42 PM
#16
well hello there
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Life's a *****.
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01-28-12, 10:36 PM
#18
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It was super nice today in SoCal. Wore shorts and a jersey and still worked up a good sweat, didn't feel cold at all. The swing is something to watch out for - it's toasty midday but drops off quickly in the late afternoon.
01-28-12, 11:15 PM
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01-28-12, 11:15 PM
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Especially since Newcomb Ranch is on highway 2. You must mean Crystal Lake. Did you see vertical bob, biker 395, and valleygirl? How about the upside down Mustang?
01-29-12, 12:35 AM
#21
Spin Meister
Thread Starter
hhnngg wrote:
"Hey, for once the East Coasters don't need to just take the West coast gloating lying down. It's apparently one of the warmest and driest winters ever over there."
Yes - a balmy 46 degrees in Manhattan today, and a chilly 80 in Los Angeles.
"Hey, for once the East Coasters don't need to just take the West coast gloating lying down. It's apparently one of the warmest and driest winters ever over there."
Yes - a balmy 46 degrees in Manhattan today, and a chilly 80 in Los Angeles.
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This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
01-29-12, 08:45 AM
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Unseasonably warm weather due to the high pressure system which is leaving us now.
There are disadvantages to the Santa Ana winds. All that wind brings about particulates in the air and that rider has to breathe it. Chances are most So Californians have been breathing bad air for a long time, maybe not as bad as Beijing or Mexico City, but still bad. Depending on how strong the wind blows, the smog layer is either on the mainland or hovers over Catalina Island.
But still, riding along the coast is fun and if you can get to the Central Coast, its really nice. Less smog.
There are disadvantages to the Santa Ana winds. All that wind brings about particulates in the air and that rider has to breathe it. Chances are most So Californians have been breathing bad air for a long time, maybe not as bad as Beijing or Mexico City, but still bad. Depending on how strong the wind blows, the smog layer is either on the mainland or hovers over Catalina Island.
But still, riding along the coast is fun and if you can get to the Central Coast, its really nice. Less smog.
01-29-12, 09:03 AM
#25
Senior Member
I dunno. If I had to choose between beaches, sun, spectacular views, 80F, and the Santa Ana's "bad air", versus riding on an overcast day with wet roads and snow covering the ground, I think I'd go with So Cal.