Almost 50F today
#3
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,726
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
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Take off your studded tires and make sure you get a good blizzard with 2 more weeks of winter
I'm gonna get the beater bike ready to go for the mild/melty days and keep the fatbike rolling on studs ... by the time June rolls around, I'm fairly confident I won't need studded tires again for a couple months. MinnesotaLife!
I'm gonna get the beater bike ready to go for the mild/melty days and keep the fatbike rolling on studs ... by the time June rolls around, I'm fairly confident I won't need studded tires again for a couple months. MinnesotaLife!
#4
Senior Member
Some warm weather this week so I'm going to do my first non-fat bike ride since November 7th. Studded mtb tomorrow, and gravel on the non-studded cross bike Friday / Saturday. Main streets are mostly clear, but ice will be around on the side streets / MUP for a while yet. No proper drainage on MUP so water flows across the path and freezes every night.
#5
Junior Member
Take off your studded tires and make sure you get a good blizzard with 2 more weeks of winter
I'm gonna get the beater bike ready to go for the mild/melty days and keep the fatbike rolling on studs ... by the time June rolls around, I'm fairly confident I won't need studded tires again for a couple months. MinnesotaLife!
I'm gonna get the beater bike ready to go for the mild/melty days and keep the fatbike rolling on studs ... by the time June rolls around, I'm fairly confident I won't need studded tires again for a couple months. MinnesotaLife!
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#6
Senior Member
Just 41 here today and it was enough to be very sloppy. The bike gets so dirty and sandy during the melting days that it needs more cleaning after every ride than I care for.
I load a pump up chemical sprayer with hot water and spray off the sand. Then I use some solvent on paper towel to wipe down the chain, chainrings and jockey wheels before relubing with a good amount of wet lube to displace water in the links. Typically the rotors need a wipe down too, though that is much less effort than the cleaning rim braking surfaces and pads.
Maybe another 2 days and the bulk of the road melting will be done and the bike will stay cleaner.
I load a pump up chemical sprayer with hot water and spray off the sand. Then I use some solvent on paper towel to wipe down the chain, chainrings and jockey wheels before relubing with a good amount of wet lube to displace water in the links. Typically the rotors need a wipe down too, though that is much less effort than the cleaning rim braking surfaces and pads.
Maybe another 2 days and the bulk of the road melting will be done and the bike will stay cleaner.
#7
Senior Member
Sudden forecast change. 8C tomorrow, then upwards of 10cm of snow tomorrow night through Tuesday. Will keep things wet for a while. 14 day forecast shows more next week, but that forecast is never accurate.
#8
Senior Member
Most of the snow missed us, which is good because the forecast had bumped the total up to 15 cm. It was the fast melting type of snow, I shoveled the driveway after the first wave, and even though we got another 3-4 cm the remainder melted on the concrete as fast as it was falling. Much of the on street stuff should melt today, a below freezing day tomorrow, then back to warm on Friday.
#9
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Dan
#10
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
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Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
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Minneapolis has been up to the 60s a few times this month, last Wednesday I rode in my summer kit ... and now we have 4+ inches of snow. Glad my fatbike is still good to go and my winter gear isn't packed away. IME snow is going to be possible well into May ... never get too excited for spring when March hits 60.
#11
Senior Member
We had a surprise 70F day yesterday. Back to just above freezing highs most of next week. Took the studded tires off my mtb yesterday since most of the ice is gone. Bought some cheap tires since 26" are hard to come by. I think they weigh as much or more than my Ice Spikers and might even be slower. Makes you appreciate a good quality tire.
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#13
Senior Member
After 18C yesterday we are in for one last blast of winter tonight. Up to 10 cm of snow and 100 km/h winds. Tomorrow looks miserable. Warm Wednesday onwards. Maybe I'll get one more fat bike ride in if it isn't slushy.
#14
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
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Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
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Sounds like the weather in Minneapolis (AKA South Canada) - We were over 70F (21c) yesterday; woke up to freezing temps and high winds .... but no snow [/knocking on wood], and into the weekend we'll be sunny and perfect temps.
#15
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
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Minneapolis 'spring': Today (Thursday) morning 18*F (-8*C) ... forecast high of 78*F (25.5*C) on Monday. LOVE IT!
#16
Senior Member
It got up to 20C twice in the past week, 15C for today. Now there is snow in the forecast for the next 3 days, upwards of 20 cm. After today, below freezing until next Thursday. I may need to pull the fat bike back up out of the basement.
I'm a bit concerned about the fabric cover I put on the gazebo, I hope the snow just blows off it. I really don't want to take it off considering how much effort it is to install. I might need to keep knocking snow off it with a broom.
I'm a bit concerned about the fabric cover I put on the gazebo, I hope the snow just blows off it. I really don't want to take it off considering how much effort it is to install. I might need to keep knocking snow off it with a broom.
#17
Senior Member
We ended up with a fairly good dump of snow. I was going to take the fat bike out, but there would likely have been a lot of slush and there is no point destroying another bottom bracket for one last snow ride. I should finally be able to safely get back to riding tomorrow. Much needed moisture should green up the lawn and put an end to the recent grass fires.
#18
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
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Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
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In Minneapolis, we are slowing getting into the 50s ... We hit 85F a couple weeks ago, then dropped back into March weather.
I'm clearing my schedule to spend Sunday outside, and spend Monday crying in my beer.
I'm clearing my schedule to spend Sunday outside, and spend Monday crying in my beer.
#19
9:15am April 16 here, Boston got .75 inches of rain over night and now my area NW of Boston is getting heavy wet snow showers (that ARE accumulating)!
This is why I keep those winter tires on well in to April!
This is why I keep those winter tires on well in to April!
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#20
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,726
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
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Oh well, I haven't washed and stored the winter cycling kit ... I'll bundle up for today's ride.
#22
Senior Member
Its depressing that the temperature is just above freezing, yet I need to wear sunscreen if I ride during the day. I can't get away without sunscreen very long when the UV index is over 4.
#23
Me too!!! Sunscreen is important since the ozone layer is depleting. We need to keep our skin tone.
#24
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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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
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Late in the winter, I finally spent some real money on winter cycling shoes. They're excellent. They're so comfy that I regret having to put them away, but they will be too hot. Yesterday, I rode with shorts and a short jersey. I think I'll be mostly in short clothes until the weather changes to colder again. Yay.
Riding in cold weather isn't as nice for me as in warm weather, but it's better than not riding. I tend not to lose much conditioning in winter because I keep riding, though not as much.
Riding in cold weather isn't as nice for me as in warm weather, but it's better than not riding. I tend not to lose much conditioning in winter because I keep riding, though not as much.
__________________
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.
#25
Senior Member
April was a real dud weather-wise, we had more warm days in March. At least the forecast is double digit Celsius going forward with tonight the last below freezing low, with some no-jacket days coming up. I can plant the potatoes in the garden any time now.
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