So good to be back to roadie season!
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So good to be back to roadie season!
My club opened up the summer season last Wednesday, and we knocked out another ride that Saturday, and man, it feels so good to be back to speed!
During the cold Michigan winter, though I mostly ride gravel, the road rides, too, are just slower and more often solo, so none of the go-fast dynamics are there for me 5 months of the year for me. The weather is now pushing 60ºF, so the thick, thermal layers are gone, the fast road bike is dusted and tuned up, and the gang is gettin’ after it…it’s just the dream for me!
While I envy those who live in nice climates all year round, I think those folks miss out on the unique, deep-down, full body joy of spring re-emergence. That’s what we Northerners tell ourselves, anyway, and the past few days, I’ve been believing it whole-heartedly! Sunny, bright blue skies, warming air, spring buds and blooms, adrenaline pumping…I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a great summer of riding!
Anyone else absolutely stoked by their first rides of the season?
During the cold Michigan winter, though I mostly ride gravel, the road rides, too, are just slower and more often solo, so none of the go-fast dynamics are there for me 5 months of the year for me. The weather is now pushing 60ºF, so the thick, thermal layers are gone, the fast road bike is dusted and tuned up, and the gang is gettin’ after it…it’s just the dream for me!
While I envy those who live in nice climates all year round, I think those folks miss out on the unique, deep-down, full body joy of spring re-emergence. That’s what we Northerners tell ourselves, anyway, and the past few days, I’ve been believing it whole-heartedly! Sunny, bright blue skies, warming air, spring buds and blooms, adrenaline pumping…I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a great summer of riding!
Anyone else absolutely stoked by their first rides of the season?
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Amen to that! Still waring long tights, or at least 3/4 length tights, but maybe this weekend could be shorts.
We are in training mode for a double century at the end of June. So pretty much every weekend is a long road ride. We've done two centuries already, and have a 220-km ride this coming weekend. Then 250 two weeks later, and perhaps another 250 the week after that.
I'm hoping the heat and humidity staves off for the big ride this year. Last year's double century was brutal with humidex 40*C and windy.
We are in training mode for a double century at the end of June. So pretty much every weekend is a long road ride. We've done two centuries already, and have a 220-km ride this coming weekend. Then 250 two weeks later, and perhaps another 250 the week after that.
I'm hoping the heat and humidity staves off for the big ride this year. Last year's double century was brutal with humidex 40*C and windy.
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My club opened up the summer season last Wednesday, and we knocked out another ride that Saturday, and man, it feels so good to be back to speed!
During the cold Michigan winter, though I mostly ride gravel, the road rides, too, are just slower and more often solo, so none of the go-fast dynamics are there for me 5 months of the year for me. The weather is now pushing 60ºF, so the thick, thermal layers are gone, the fast road bike is dusted and tuned up, and the gang is gettin’ after it…it’s just the dream for me!
While I envy those who live in nice climates all year round, I think those folks miss out on the unique, deep-down, full body joy of spring re-emergence. That’s what we Northerners tell ourselves, anyway, and the past few days, I’ve been believing it whole-heartedly! Sunny, bright blue skies, warming air, spring buds and blooms, adrenaline pumping…I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a great summer of riding!
Anyone else absolutely stoked by their first rides of the season?
During the cold Michigan winter, though I mostly ride gravel, the road rides, too, are just slower and more often solo, so none of the go-fast dynamics are there for me 5 months of the year for me. The weather is now pushing 60ºF, so the thick, thermal layers are gone, the fast road bike is dusted and tuned up, and the gang is gettin’ after it…it’s just the dream for me!
While I envy those who live in nice climates all year round, I think those folks miss out on the unique, deep-down, full body joy of spring re-emergence. That’s what we Northerners tell ourselves, anyway, and the past few days, I’ve been believing it whole-heartedly! Sunny, bright blue skies, warming air, spring buds and blooms, adrenaline pumping…I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a great summer of riding!
Anyone else absolutely stoked by their first rides of the season?
So, as another Michigander, I can relate that "warm" weather feeling!
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Yes!
I'm very happy to be out riding on dry roads with no arm or leg warmers. This spring has been very cool and wet in Chicago, but the last few days and upcoming week seem to be trending in the right direction. I'm hoping the last few weeks of spring continue like this.
I'm very happy to be out riding on dry roads with no arm or leg warmers. This spring has been very cool and wet in Chicago, but the last few days and upcoming week seem to be trending in the right direction. I'm hoping the last few weeks of spring continue like this.
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Amen to that! Still waring long tights, or at least 3/4 length tights, but maybe this weekend could be shorts.
We are in training mode for a double century at the end of June. So pretty much every weekend is a long road ride. We've done two centuries already, and have a 220-km ride this coming weekend. Then 250 two weeks later, and perhaps another 250 the week after that.
I'm hoping the heat and humidity staves off for the big ride this year. Last year's double century was brutal with humidex 40*C and windy.
We are in training mode for a double century at the end of June. So pretty much every weekend is a long road ride. We've done two centuries already, and have a 220-km ride this coming weekend. Then 250 two weeks later, and perhaps another 250 the week after that.
I'm hoping the heat and humidity staves off for the big ride this year. Last year's double century was brutal with humidex 40*C and windy.
I did summer bibs down here on Saturday, which was a little marginal, and I’d probably have been happier had I added knee warmers, particularly because we had 14mph wind blowing kinda chilly. But yeah, I’ll be in heaven when I’m sweating buckets in just summerweight jersey and bibs!
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I’ve not had the fitness the past several winters to emerge in spring a road hungry animal, but this season I’m right there with you feeling that, and it’s awesome! We were sprinting to the Chelsea village limit sign on Dexter-Chelsea road last Wednesday, and although I was hurting, I was practically giggling the whole time!
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I’ve not had the fitness the past several winters to emerge in spring a road hungry animal, but this season I’m right there with you feeling that, and it’s awesome! We were sprinting to the Chelsea village limit sign on Dexter-Chelsea road last Wednesday, and although I was hurting, I was practically giggling the whole time!
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It's been a miserable spring in MN - I've only had a few rides with just bibs and jersey - but it looks like we'll be jumping headlong in to summer this week. While I look forward to the warmer weather, it'll probably be a slog the next couple of weeks - my weekend ride in 70° and sun tells me that I'm approximately 0.13% acclimated to riding in hot weather at this point.
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Living in Buffalo, NY I know that exact feeling! Starting my lunch rides today and I'm so excited. Got the road bike in washed and tuned up this weekend, and I'm good to go.
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Rain, 50 mph gusts and temperatures down into the 40s in Philly was our weekend. Of course, it gets nice for the work week.
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I did 46mi on Saturday morning in 70deg sun with wind and was useless for a few hours after. Today is 88 and wind, but a much shorter ride.
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But I just got back to New York this past week and have done two rides so far, and I will admit there is something invigorating about kitting up in the weather-appropriate attire for a damp, cloudy, 50°F day and knocking out a 50 mile ride, something that just doesn't resemble the Oh Look, It's Another Beautiful Day approach to riding in AZ.
For those of you who literally did not ride all winter, I sympathize.
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Haha…yeah, and there’s that! I think it bothers me more at home, though; when it hits 75ºF in the house, I start getting ornery. I’m philosophically opposed to turning on the A/C in April or May, though! Well, maybe by late May…
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Hey, if you’re ever riding out by Gasport, stop in, try the wine and say hi to my buddy Patrick at Liten Buffel Winery!
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I spend winter with a bike on an old Minoura Mag Trainer in the basement watching old TV shows on an iPad... so yes, not only happy that the first few weekends with 60F weather are starting to appear, but also weekdays where it's still above 60F after 5:30pm AND there's still enough sun to get a good 90mins-2hrs on a bike.
That said, having spent all of October and part of November in California last year, winter wasn't quite as long as it typically is in the NE, but still eager to get back out there!
That said, having spent all of October and part of November in California last year, winter wasn't quite as long as it typically is in the NE, but still eager to get back out there!
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One thing I learned while riding in The Bay Area last fall is that 55-60F weather isn't all the same. Cloudy, dreary, or blustery 55F on the east coast is for some reason much less pleasant than sunny and dry 55F in CA.
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yeah, getting the light road bike, out of the basement, is way easier that the heavier MTB, that I mostly use during the winter months
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Miserable spring in my part of the PacNorthWest too. Lots of and lots of rain. My only hope is that all this rain now means for a) very few forest forest lowering air quality and b) a summer of great days for riding.
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Best luck to you!
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I’m one of those that gets to ride year round, there are a few months where if riding at 6:30 like I mostly do I have to wear a light jacket and tights or knee warmers (this year I had to break out the toe warmers a bunch but never the boots).
We’re starting to hit our hot season, 72 deg low today so need to be done riding before it gets to 100.
Although I’m happy to have sold all my indoor riding equipment when we moved here almost 7 years ago, this thread made me smile intensely. I absolutely remember the joy I would feel getting out for my first “real” ride of the season. Where I could go out for over 25 miles in clear and crisp air without freezing my tush off and only freezing the grin on my face.
Great to hear that so many still let themselves feel that most wonderful feeling!
We’re starting to hit our hot season, 72 deg low today so need to be done riding before it gets to 100.
Although I’m happy to have sold all my indoor riding equipment when we moved here almost 7 years ago, this thread made me smile intensely. I absolutely remember the joy I would feel getting out for my first “real” ride of the season. Where I could go out for over 25 miles in clear and crisp air without freezing my tush off and only freezing the grin on my face.
Great to hear that so many still let themselves feel that most wonderful feeling!
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