Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Winter is upon us

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Winter is upon us

Old 11-06-19, 12:51 PM
  #1  
berner
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340

Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times in 299 Posts
Winter is upon us

People are beginning to hunker down for winter. A few days ago I rode past the harbor here in Bristol and noticed that boats moored out were thinning out. Today on the same ride, just 2-3 boats are left in the water. But just as telling for the approach of cold weather is that women are now wearing tall boots. I'm a mere 5' 61/2 " and some of those boots are taller than I am.
berner is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 03:00 PM
  #2  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
A few years ago, fall was so late that trees didn't turn until the end of November. This year I brought the bikes inside a month early.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 03:58 PM
  #3  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Originally Posted by berner
People are beginning to hunker down for winter. A few days ago I rode past the harbor here in Bristol and noticed that boats moored out were thinning out. Today on the same ride, just 2-3 boats are left in the water. But just as telling for the approach of cold weather is that women are now wearing tall boots. I'm a mere 5' 61/2 " and some of those boots are taller than I am.
That's fashion for you and those women have probably been waiting for months to wear those tall boots.
FiftySix is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 03:58 PM
  #4  
Hondo Gravel
Life Feeds On Life
 
Hondo Gravel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hondo,Texas
Posts: 2,143

Bikes: Too many Motobecanes

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4389 Post(s)
Liked 4,501 Times in 3,013 Posts
It is 82 right now just turned on the ac to get rid of the humidity. But a cold front is on the way.
Hondo Gravel is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 04:52 PM
  #5  
berner
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340

Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times in 299 Posts
Temps were in the low 50s F this morning. I was expecting to be a bit cold but ended up over dressed.
berner is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 04:59 PM
  #6  
Biker395 
Seat Sniffer
 
Biker395's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,617

Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 938 Post(s)
Liked 1,967 Times in 562 Posts
Mornings, it's been in the mid 40s to low 50s. Definitely a chill in the air.

But it's not so much the chill that does it to me ... its that time change and riding home in the dark. I'd soooo much prefer starting my ride in darkness to ending it that way.
__________________
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...

Biker395 is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 05:10 PM
  #7  
OldsCOOL
Senior Member
 
OldsCOOL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 313 Posts
Our Lake Michigan will be hitting us over the next 2 weeks with lake effect snow. Some places up here have nearly 6” since Monday. The inner child is coming out so I will be riding in it tonight.
OldsCOOL is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 07:40 PM
  #8  
scott967
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oahu, HI
Posts: 1,396

Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 285 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 74 Times in 54 Posts
In Hawai'i if it gets down to 70 folks will pull put winter coats.

scott s.
.
scott967 is offline  
Likes For scott967:
Old 11-06-19, 07:54 PM
  #9  
CyclingBK
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 249
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times in 57 Posts
My first year riding winter so very curious about this. In NY and temps in the hi 40s. I’m thinking down to 40 is doable but wondering...what temp is just too low to make it too miserable to enjoy a descent ride, say an hour to an hour and a half?
CyclingBK is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 07:55 PM
  #10  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Originally Posted by scott967
In Hawai'i if it gets down to 70 folks will pull put winter coats.

scott s.
.
Reminds me of this old meme.

FiftySix is offline  
Likes For FiftySix:
Old 11-06-19, 08:03 PM
  #11  
bobwysiwyg
Senior Member
 
bobwysiwyg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344

Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by FiftySix
Reminds me of this old meme.

How true.
bobwysiwyg is offline  
Likes For bobwysiwyg:
Old 11-06-19, 08:11 PM
  #12  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,107
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,851 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by CyclingBK
My first year riding winter so very curious about this. In NY and temps in the hi 40s. I’m thinking down to 40 is doable but wondering...what temp is just too low to make it too miserable to enjoy a descent ride, say an hour to an hour and a half?
It's all about the clothes. It's hot here most of the year but I have ridden in cold temps before. In the 20s and 30s I like layers with a wind blocking shell, Gore-tex gloves, and I've put chemical warmers inside my toe covers. If my feet get cold I'm no longer having fun.
The other thing to consider is ice. I know some of the members use studded tires but I have only used them on cars.

Last edited by big john; 11-06-19 at 08:15 PM.
big john is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 09:22 PM
  #13  
nesdog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
Posts: 2,690

Bikes: Domane SLR7 Disc

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Liked 63 Times in 38 Posts
Our group of five did a thirty mile Calabasas loop today, with temps in the low 80's. It's not that I mind the summer like weather, but we need some rain around here in a hurry! Not a drop for months and yet another brush fire broke out today.
__________________
[insert clever quote here]
nesdog is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 10:35 PM
  #14  
zjrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times in 207 Posts
Originally Posted by scott967
In Hawai'i if it gets down to 70 folks will pull put winter coats.

scott s.
.
Winter coats, shorts and flip flops... Lived on Oahu from 89 to 94.
zjrog is offline  
Old 11-06-19, 11:31 PM
  #15  
Retro Grouch 
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Before I developed my good sense I used to mountain bike with a group of guys every single Saturday morning. There were no excused absences for weather. We tended to like cold weather rides because the ground was frozen and we wouldn't get big globs of mud building up around the forks and stays. In my opinion the most miserable riding weather is rain and temperatures in the 30's. You can always put on another layer but water will run uphill to get inside your clothes.

We eventually turned ecology conscious and realized we were tearing up muddy trails during certain seasons of the year so we stopped.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 05:24 AM
  #16  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
highs Saturday for my weekly ride will only make the high 30s but sunny. I’ve been adjusting to colder temps the past few weeks so I’m not worried but it’s a significant drop this week
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 09:58 AM
  #17  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,060
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by FiftySix
That's fashion for you and those women have probably been waiting for months to wear those tall boots.
A few weeks ago I was shopping in Whole Foods. Struck up a conversation about the merits of pompano with a woman who appeared to be a tad taller than myself. I am 6' 2". Looked down to see if she was wearing heels. Nope. Flat shoes all the way.

Windchills in the 20s here in Philly tomorrow. Sub-freezing temperatures tomorrow night. Don't think I will be riding on Saturday. I don't like riding all wrapped up like a mummy.
indyfabz is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 11:24 AM
  #18  
Ogsarg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,724

Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 636 Post(s)
Liked 1,490 Times in 543 Posts
I can pretty much ride year round but it does require some layering if you want to get out reasonably early. On Sunday it was 58 at 9 AM and 83 when I got home around 2PM. It can be difficult sometimes to figure out what layers to wear to stay comfortable.
Ogsarg is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 12:12 PM
  #19  
berner
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340

Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times in 299 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
A few weeks ago I was shopping in Whole Foods. Struck up a conversation about the merits of pompano with a woman who appeared to be a tad taller than myself. I am 6' 2". Looked down to see if she was wearing heels. Nope. Flat shoes all the way.
I have a friend like that, a woman I've known for 35 years or so. We've worked together and sailed from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands to NY together. No romance, just good friends. She is 6' to 6' 2". Hard to tell because she slouches some. She spends a good part of most winters sailing in the Caribbean and comes back with a spectacular golden tan.
berner is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 12:57 PM
  #20  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
A few weeks ago I was shopping in Whole Foods. Struck up a conversation about the merits of pompano with a woman who appeared to be a tad taller than myself. I am 6' 2". Looked down to see if she was wearing heels. Nope. Flat shoes all the way.

Windchills in the 20s here in Philly tomorrow. Sub-freezing temperatures tomorrow night. Don't think I will be riding on Saturday. I don't like riding all wrapped up like a mummy.
No short heel tall boots? She could have made a fashion statement.

FiftySix is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 08:05 PM
  #21  
CyclingBK
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 249
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times in 57 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
It's all about the clothes. It's hot here most of the year but I have ridden in cold temps before. In the 20s and 30s I like layers with a wind blocking shell, Gore-tex gloves, and I've put chemical warmers inside my toe covers. If my feet get cold I'm no longer having fun.
The other thing to consider is ice. I know some of the members use studded tires but I have only used them on cars.
Thanks! So, what the consensus on temperature for

Ok, it’s cold but let’s do this

vs.

Nahhhhhhh

35* or so?

Or, if the wind isn’t too bad, is below 32 something you guys take on?
CyclingBK is offline  
Old 11-07-19, 10:58 PM
  #22  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,107
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,851 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by CyclingBK
Thanks! So, what the consensus on temperature for

Ok, it’s cold but let’s do this

vs.

Nahhhhhhh

35* or so?

Or, if the wind isn’t too bad, is below 32 something you guys take on?
I would say wind and rain factor into it. Cold and raining is miserable but colder and light snow is fun. I have done rides in the high 20s so I wouldn't rule that out. When I lived in the mountains I would just shorten the ride if it got that cold.
big john is offline  
Old 11-08-19, 05:39 AM
  #23  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,060
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
June 16, 1999 atop Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. It was actually a nice day.

indyfabz is offline  
Old 11-08-19, 06:53 AM
  #24  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
June 16, 1999 atop Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. It was actually a nice day.

Great pic.

So 20th century, the time before color photography was common.
FiftySix is offline  
Old 11-08-19, 07:51 AM
  #25  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,060
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,299 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by FiftySix
Great pic.

So 20th century, the time before color photography was common.
Someone in our group of 13 took that with one of my cameras while we were riding across the country. I carried a 35mm with one lens and a Mamiya 645 with 120 back, metered view finder, power winder and three lenses. Quite a bit of weight. I would mail exposed film home to my mom and she would send me fresh rolls by General Delivery mail.
indyfabz is offline  
Likes For indyfabz:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.