Winter ain’t all bad…
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#52
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No, winter ain't all bad, only 2 weeks until our ski trip to Niseko. Hopefully we'll be able to get up there a few times this winter.
Hanazono Ski Resort Live Camera
Hanazono Ski Resort Live Camera
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#54
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Man, it was almost 50ºF and sunny yesterday, on December 2nd, in Michigan! Yeah, it was pretty windy, but with weather like that, winter really ain’t all bad. Aside from some dried mud dust from dirt road crossings, there is no particular post-ride maintenance which needs done, and the bike is ready to go for its next outing this weekend as-is.
Despite the relatively gorgeous weather, the only other cyclist I saw out on my 21 mile, midday run was Annabell, who put up a 69 mile ride that day! Beast!
Despite the relatively gorgeous weather, the only other cyclist I saw out on my 21 mile, midday run was Annabell, who put up a 69 mile ride that day! Beast!
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…it at least provides a good opportunity to get a turbo trainer-mounted bike polished and waxed up! Specifically, I hit the Breezer Venturi, which comes off the road during winter, with a Gyeon Q2M polish and Mother’s Ultimate Hybrid Ceramic wax, some automotive products I keep around. They make the lux paint on the Venturi look great, but also provide some protection against salty sweat marring that paint.
Is winter a time you do anything in particular to the bike? Is it a time for prepping a bike for winter duty, maybe, or a time for catching up on deferred maintenance while the bike’s off duty?
My basement is quite an unflattering setting to show off the bike, but threads are better with pics, so here’s a go at it:
Freshly polished and waxed Breezer Venturi on trainer for winter
Is winter a time you do anything in particular to the bike? Is it a time for prepping a bike for winter duty, maybe, or a time for catching up on deferred maintenance while the bike’s off duty?
My basement is quite an unflattering setting to show off the bike, but threads are better with pics, so here’s a go at it:
Freshly polished and waxed Breezer Venturi on trainer for winter
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#57
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if you ride in cold conditions in winter, you will kick butt on couch people in summer. they never ctch up,
cold builds big muscles, no power lifters in Mexico, good power lifters from USSR.
they lift Ford pickup while you chnge tire
& you listen to coyotes during night rides like lst night,
cold builds big muscles, no power lifters in Mexico, good power lifters from USSR.
they lift Ford pickup while you chnge tire
& you listen to coyotes during night rides like lst night,
Last edited by cjenrick; 12-04-21 at 12:44 AM.
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December is just a hint. January & February test our souls
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Oh, you should come out in January for Wheels in Motion’s Worst Day of the Year ride! It’s an annual thing, and a lot of fun with good turnout. This is the ‘20 page; I guess this year hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m sure it’ll be back:
https://www.wheelsinmotion.us/articl...page-pg208.htm
I ride this in the winter and on WDOY:
aluminum Kinesis Racelight 4S
https://www.wheelsinmotion.us/articl...page-pg208.htm
I ride this in the winter and on WDOY:
aluminum Kinesis Racelight 4S
#60
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the cold is generating lots of animal activity. coyotes howling last night, this morning it was a humming bird trapped between the curtains and window which sounds really weird when you first wake up, kind of like a giant wasp.
tonight it was an owl who swooped over my head to snag a poor unfortunate rabbit who ran in front of my headlamp, the wise owl using me as a way to beat the cold with a hot meal.
tonight it was an owl who swooped over my head to snag a poor unfortunate rabbit who ran in front of my headlamp, the wise owl using me as a way to beat the cold with a hot meal.
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…it at least provides a good opportunity to get a turbo trainer-mounted bike polished and waxed up! Specifically, I hit the Breezer Venturi, which comes off the road during winter, with a Gyeon Q2M polish and Mother’s Ultimate Hybrid Ceramic wax, some automotive products I keep around. They make the lux paint on the Venturi look great, but also provide some protection against salty sweat marring that paint.
Is winter a time you do anything in particular to the bike? Is it a time for prepping a bike for winter duty, maybe, or a time for catching up on deferred maintenance while the bike’s off duty?
My basement is quite an unflattering setting to show off the bike, but threads are better with pics, so here’s a go at it:
Freshly polished and waxed Breezer Venturi on trainer for winter
Is winter a time you do anything in particular to the bike? Is it a time for prepping a bike for winter duty, maybe, or a time for catching up on deferred maintenance while the bike’s off duty?
My basement is quite an unflattering setting to show off the bike, but threads are better with pics, so here’s a go at it:
Freshly polished and waxed Breezer Venturi on trainer for winter
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In fact, my last ride was along Pontiac Trail road, which started as a Native American footpath and became, by 1828, a territorial road which provided access for the European settlement of the area. Some of Ann Arbor’s oldest houses are on this road, including that of noted Abolitionist William Perry, one of those people who made Ann Arbor an important part of the Underground Railroad. I ride by that 1836 house often, and have been in others along the street and seen the hidden dugouts, disguised cellar doors, and covered over tunnels where people like me once had to hide to escape slavery.
It’s pretty amazing, so much change in just 200 years or so… I don’t think about that stuff when I’m whipping along in the summer, chasing Strava segments or focused on holding a clubmate’s wheel. In winter, though, things slow down and my mind wanders, which I think is pretty fun!
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I don't shovel very often. Only when it's light fluffy snow and it's limited to shoveling my deck. I have snowblower.
I don't like road riding in winter. You never work at it hard enough to stay warm and the wind chill riding at 15 - 18 mph also adds to the discomfort. The other added factor about trying to road ride in winter is road salt...it destroys bike components. At least on the fat bike when riding trails you actually have to work at it and you stay warm the whole time.
I don't think about any of that type of stuff when I'm riding ever. And I don't chase strava segments.
I don't like road riding in winter. You never work at it hard enough to stay warm and the wind chill riding at 15 - 18 mph also adds to the discomfort. The other added factor about trying to road ride in winter is road salt...it destroys bike components. At least on the fat bike when riding trails you actually have to work at it and you stay warm the whole time.
I don't think about any of that type of stuff when I'm riding ever. And I don't chase strava segments.
#65
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#66
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Winter ain’t bad at all, just about ready to make the switch, also have the indoor trainer set up, but consider that drudgery, rather go skiing.
Tim
Tim
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Trust me...I've done it enough to know these things. It literally kinda sucks.
I've done all day 6-8 hours on the fat bike and haven't got cold.
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I don't like road riding in winter. You never work at it hard enough to stay warm and the wind chill riding at 15 - 18 mph also adds to the discomfort. The other added factor about trying to road ride in winter is road salt...it destroys bike components. At least on the fat bike when riding trails you actually have to work at it and you stay warm the whole time.
OTOH, at least in our climate, dressing for winter riding can be handled. Lately, I aim more for “not freezing” than “warm”. It helps to have a base layer shirt that doesn’t feel clammy if it gets damp.
Last winter I usually wore a windbreaker which tends to get me a bit warm but then it also blocks the wind so there isn’t that much chill. If I can manage with several layers and no wind block, that seems even better.
In winter, there are fewer people on the trails and a different look with the leaves down. Very contemplative in the winter cold. Around here it mostly seems to be overcast, low 30s, windy and about to mist, rain or lightly snow.
Oh yeah, and eventually the trails start to have soft muddy patches that are fun to slog through.
I also like that at the end of a ride, I have to warm up about as much as cool down and in ten minutes I’m pretty much back to whatever passes for normal.
Otto
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Winter is a necessary evil! There. I said it.
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trees in the forest provide some wind block
I agree dressing is a delicate balancing act
the other night, I wound up w/ a good garment combo for approx. 2 hrs of (slow) trail riding at approx. 30 degrees
thin running tights under quality cycling pants
thick quilted long sleeve running shirt, fleece shirt, thick fleece jacket w/ pit zips opened, thin cycling vest. just enough thermal & wind protection w/ some ventilation to stay dry
by time I got back to the car, I was done with being outside
don't mind the road bike in frigid temps but the conditions need to be good. have to eliminate all exposed skin, or really limit what is exposed. breathing road salt dust is no fun. dodging ice on the shoulder is looking for trouble w/ regular road tires. if the roads are clean & dry & the wind isn't terrible, I will consider it
paved trails take some of the complication out of it, if you're lucky enough to have a nice long one nearby, that is maintained year 'round
I agree dressing is a delicate balancing act
the other night, I wound up w/ a good garment combo for approx. 2 hrs of (slow) trail riding at approx. 30 degrees
thin running tights under quality cycling pants
thick quilted long sleeve running shirt, fleece shirt, thick fleece jacket w/ pit zips opened, thin cycling vest. just enough thermal & wind protection w/ some ventilation to stay dry
by time I got back to the car, I was done with being outside
don't mind the road bike in frigid temps but the conditions need to be good. have to eliminate all exposed skin, or really limit what is exposed. breathing road salt dust is no fun. dodging ice on the shoulder is looking for trouble w/ regular road tires. if the roads are clean & dry & the wind isn't terrible, I will consider it
paved trails take some of the complication out of it, if you're lucky enough to have a nice long one nearby, that is maintained year 'round
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the cold is tolerable. It's the getting dark so early I do not like and yes I have good lights
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