Winter wearing me down...
02-05-18, 07:37 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
I watch NYC temps, and you're always a lot warmer than where I'm at. I am hoping to ride in the city at end of Feb. Business trip, and I have one day set aside as vacation. I'm thinking of those mountain bike trails in Queens. Either those, or I might ride the L Train route out and back.
02-05-18, 08:01 AM
#27
Senior Member
We've had a few warm days here and there. One thing for certain I won't complain about mine compared to Canadians.. that takes balls of steel to ride in those temps! The only thing that wears me out is the studs and snow boots, the cold I can manage.
02-05-18, 08:59 AM
#28
Senior Member
I haven't ridden since 11/15/2017. You're tougher than I am for riding in colder weather
02-05-18, 09:02 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,582 Times
in
2,343 Posts
02-12-18, 02:58 PM
#30
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
...and we're just about half way through. The constant threat of snow, extreme cold temperatures, and nasty NW wind is making bike commuting very dreadfully difficult and stressful. I've run out of chemical warmers for my toes. I had to pick up an extra set of studded tires so that I'd have a second set to ride to work the next day if I had to leave the primary one at work due to the weather. And I'm just tired of riding on studs. I just picked up a pair of winter cycling boots to help with the cold toes. The battery on my lights and camera don't last too long because of the extreme cold. I hate having to wear goggles. I'm having to spray down/dry/lube my bike multiple times a week.
This has been a bad winter so far.
Just wanted to rant a bit.
Carry on.
This has been a bad winter so far.
Just wanted to rant a bit.
Carry on.
keep your head up! you can do it. I admire your willingness to ride in these conditions.
02-12-18, 10:33 PM
#31
Senior Member
I've adjusted my tire pressures. Practiced riding through ruts and snow piles. Gotten accustomed to fishtailing without stopping. And to top it off, today rode through the ice that had coated everything over-night.
Bring it on.
Bring it on.
02-13-18, 01:55 AM
#32
Senior Member
I sure know what you mean.. I'm enjoying the luxury of the bus/subway for the next few weeks. I'll bike short trips but i'm not comuting 18km one way in this weather..that's just no fun. March is when i start getting back to normal and for Canada that's pretty good, the rest of the country is snow bound until April, sometimes later...
02-13-18, 07:04 AM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,204
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2012 Post(s)
Liked 409 Times
in
235 Posts
I did the very same thing last weekend, riding over snow-covered roads and walkways but for short periods. I thought it was invaluable practice as well as fish-tailing and sliding was a new sensation for me. No clips, though. Just boots. I am not confident enough in my abilities to do this with my feet clipped in.
02-13-18, 11:50 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 3,209
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 139 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
20 Posts
After two weeks of 70+ weather and commuting in short sleeves, shorts and summer shoes, I'm tired of the return of winter (50ºF) after two days :-)
And there's rain in the forecast for the next 10-14 days. The cost of living in the Bay Area, though, is horrendous.
And there's rain in the forecast for the next 10-14 days. The cost of living in the Bay Area, though, is horrendous.
02-14-18, 12:25 PM
#35
Senior Member
Seriously though...I'm feeling much the same as the OP. I was going strong through the holidays, then started to wear down a bit, took a break with a sickness the first week of January. Rallied, and got 200 commuting miles in the rest of the way in January...then we had a wicked cold spell here to start February that sort of broke my spirit, and I'm just back on the bike again today. We'll see how the rest of the month goes.
The good news is that realistically...we've only got a few weeks of potential for truly nasty weather left. once we get into March...the potential for 10F highs are greatly reduced.
02-19-18, 09:21 PM
#37
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,471 Times
in
1,435 Posts
No matter how bad winter is or how long it is, it always ends.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
02-20-18, 03:07 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 261
Bikes: 2011 Surly LHT, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2004 Giant Cypress, 1990 Simoncini Super Professional
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hear you.
Here in St. Louis, it was 68 degrees this morning, but pounding rain and winds gusting to 30 mph so I took the bus. By tomorrow morning, it will be 30 with freezing rain and more wind.
I have become wind shy this winter, even on my heavy hog of a bike. The wind literally stops me in my tracks sometimes.
On the plus side, we've had almost no snow or ice, so I have missed few days, but it sometimes takes a great mental effort.
Here in St. Louis, it was 68 degrees this morning, but pounding rain and winds gusting to 30 mph so I took the bus. By tomorrow morning, it will be 30 with freezing rain and more wind.
I have become wind shy this winter, even on my heavy hog of a bike. The wind literally stops me in my tracks sometimes.
On the plus side, we've had almost no snow or ice, so I have missed few days, but it sometimes takes a great mental effort.
02-20-18, 05:12 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Queens, NY for now...
Posts: 1,515
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times
in
113 Posts
02-20-18, 07:08 PM
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,204
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2012 Post(s)
Liked 409 Times
in
235 Posts
These past few days here in southern Ontario have been a treat--mild temperature, dry first, then some rain. Heck, I'll take the rain any day. I swapped out the studded tires for a few rides and boy, how sweet it is. I'm not holding out that we're not going to have any more snow, but it's just a treat to have some mild temperatures in the middle of February. This might just be enough to fuel me for the rest of this winter.
