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thinking about Early Spring Rides

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thinking about Early Spring Rides

Old 03-21-22, 09:08 AM
  #26  
Hypno Toad
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Originally Posted by gecho
One annoying thing about early spring rides is having to clean the drive train and disc brakes after every ride. Now that I'll be back on the mtb and encountering more "clear roads" ie: wet and full of residual mud / sand I'll have to use a chemical sprayer full of water after each ride to wash off the gunk.
I keep an old commuter bike for shoulder seasons, it's not great, but I just let is get covered in road spray for a few weeks and add lube a couple times a week. Once the snow pack is 95% melted, I give the old commuter a deep clean and start riding the summer road bikes.

Last edited by Hypno Toad; 03-22-22 at 07:13 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 03-22-22, 05:50 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Hypno Toad
I keep an old commuter bike for shoulder seasons, it's not great, but I just let is get covered in road spray for a few weeks and add lube a couple times a week. Once the snow pack is 95% melted, I give the old commuter a deep clean and start riding the summer road bikes.
Apparently around here "shoulder season" = Zwift Season. I only see around 3 outdoor rides on the local Strava clubs per day.
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Old 03-23-22, 06:08 AM
  #28  
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Yesterday, I took your advice and went for a "fun ride" after work, to enjoy the nice weather and extra daylight.

When cycling on Route 38 area, I came across a small "rafter" (flock) of 4 female wild turkeys - the first wild turkeys I've seen this season!

3 of the 4 turkeys crossed the road safely to the other side.

the 4th turkey crossed the road. And then oddly the 4th turkey 1) left the rafter 2) turned back into the road 3) stopped just shy of the yellow median strip. And just stopped moving.

I turned around scared because I thought the turkey was about to advance at me.

But, traffic started to back up waiting for the turkey to move it. People started honking. And then I had pulled out of the area so IDK what happened next.

I just hope the turkey made it across safely. They are protected up here, you know.
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Old 03-24-22, 01:58 PM
  #29  
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I hope that the rain today will wash away the last of the salt. I also hope the street sweepers will clean up all the left over crap on the sides of the roads.
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Old 03-26-22, 04:39 AM
  #30  
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I was out for another "fun ride" last night and I noticed that some baby trees and shrubs are already sprouting green leaves up here in NW Boston. Not to brag or anything. March 25th. Early Spring!
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Old 03-26-22, 10:49 AM
  #31  
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3rd fun ride of the week, trying to lose some weight so I thought I'd grab some exercise.

At a straightway in a rural area, an area in which I clearly had right-of-way, car #1 comes accelerating toward a stop sign in my direction. I thought he was going to run the stop sign. So I freeze. He rolls down his window to say something. Before he got the chance I asked him "did you plan on taking me out this morning?" He said, "I always stop at this stop sign." Sure you do, buddy.

About 10 miles later, I come to one of those notorious wishbone forks in the road. Same deal. Youthful male in a large pickup truck comes toward me accelerating through the wishbone. It looked like a logical place for a stop sign. Any way, as he passes me out, he gives me the finger! LOL. Another self-entitled future member of our society out celebrating having the truck for the weekend. Hurray for you!
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Old 03-27-22, 04:41 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by parkbrav
Any way, as he passes me out, he gives me the finger
but why the finger. I don't get it. what are they so angry about or mean for? how awful to live with such dread inside them
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Old 03-28-22, 06:51 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by parkbrav
3rd fun ride of the week, trying to lose some weight so I thought I'd grab some exercise.

At a straightway in a rural area, an area in which I clearly had right-of-way, car #1 comes accelerating toward a stop sign in my direction. I thought he was going to run the stop sign. So I freeze. He rolls down his window to say something. Before he got the chance I asked him "did you plan on taking me out this morning?" He said, "I always stop at this stop sign." Sure you do, buddy.

About 10 miles later, I come to one of those notorious wishbone forks in the road. Same deal. Youthful male in a large pickup truck comes toward me accelerating through the wishbone. It looked like a logical place for a stop sign. Any way, as he passes me out, he gives me the finger! LOL. Another self-entitled future member of our society out celebrating having the truck for the weekend. Hurray for you!
I see the same aggressive and hateful people driving around here. It seems that us early spring riders piss off the overly-entitled people in 3-ton death traps.

My favorite response to the one-finger salute is blowing kisses with a big smile.
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Old 03-28-22, 02:49 PM
  #34  
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vroom vroom thump thump crunch crunch

I saw that guy coming about 300 feet away and just knew he was going to blow past that stop sign.

I also pulled up that intersection on Google Maps - yep, that very pickup truck was saved in the image!
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Old 03-28-22, 07:54 PM
  #35  
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A little snow in the forecast for tomorrow, but it will probably be too windy to bother going out. I already had my fill of high winds today.
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Old 03-29-22, 01:43 AM
  #36  
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Hey man, everything is get ready, just pull out the damn beast, to take us fly.
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Old 04-06-22, 07:21 AM
  #37  
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I keep hearing people use this term 'spring' ... what is this 'spring' you speak of?!?

Another inch of snow this morning with temps just above freezing. blarg
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Old 04-06-22, 07:26 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Hypno Toad
I keep hearing people use this term 'spring' ... what is this 'spring' you speak of?!?Another inch of snow this morning with temps just above freezing. blarg
oh man you have my sympathies. I got out for my 1st ride in 2 months & dressed for the weather from 2 months ago. luckily it was a cloudy chilly day. was nice to hear the birds. hang in there
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Old 04-06-22, 01:32 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by Hypno Toad
I keep hearing people use this term 'spring' ... what is this 'spring' you speak of?!?

Another inch of snow this morning with temps just above freezing. blarg
we had spring last year. You didn't expect to get it twice in a row, did you?
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Old 04-07-22, 06:35 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by MinnMan
we had spring last year. You didn't expect to get it twice in a row, did you?
LOL! I keep getting reminders of last spring ... it was wonderful. And this morning, there's more snow in my backyard.
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Old 04-07-22, 07:26 AM
  #41  
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We are slowly getting there up here. Actually wore shorts about a week ago, and swallowed my first bug. But back to the heavier clothing since then. Close to 70F forecast for next week!

Mark
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Old 04-07-22, 02:34 PM
  #42  
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The weather just tries to beat me down this time of year. Temperature is ok, but a good day is when the wind is only gusting to 40 km/h. If I'm lucky the hourly forecast will show the wind not picking up until noon so I can avoid riding in 60 km/h gusts by going early.
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Old 04-10-22, 06:42 PM
  #43  
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we are making progress. haven't swapped tires on the MTB yet, so took the old hybrid out of some easy dirt. gloomy day before some rain, thunder & hail

a dusting of snow would be pretty, but I'll take bird sounds in exchange for now. when I got to the the water, it sounded like a zoo enclosure sound track

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Old 04-13-22, 12:57 PM
  #44  
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Still waiting on this thing called "spring" ....

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Old 04-17-22, 01:33 PM
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2 pictures from today's ride. Side roads all snow packed, arterial roads bone dry. The Sun is very intense now, once the snow is gone from an unshaded road, it will dry out in a few hours.

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Old 04-17-22, 07:04 PM
  #46  
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Got about an inch of snow on Easter which probably ruined some kids egg hunt but I still saw some families with their kids outdoor digging through the snow. Guess Mother Nature isn't done being wicked just yet lol.
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Old 04-29-22, 02:57 PM
  #47  
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I think spring is almost here in the Twin Cities, the glaciers are receding. We might get over 60F today!

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Old 04-30-22, 05:53 AM
  #48  
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I went from studded tires last week to planting the early season seeds in the garden yesterday. Next Friday is forecast to get up to 27C. Last May we had a 2 week cold spell, looking through my photos I have one on May 20th with a light snow on the garden.

The spring flooding and subsequent cold period has made a mess of the underpasses on the MUP. They developed a 4" layer of ice which remained after the water got pumped out. Being in constant shade it is very slow to melt.
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Old 04-30-22, 06:02 AM
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around here they are talking about pollen problems
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Old 04-30-22, 01:47 PM
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nice day here. 56F degrees & no dog attacks


& saw the 1st ice cream truck of the year

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