Winter Cycling - Finished!! WooHoo!!

Today I completed my December century!! That's one century for each month of 2005! :D

Starting temperature: -16C/3F
Wind: 20 km/h
Windchill factor: -24C/-11.2F

Warmest temperature: -8C/17.6F
Wind: approx. the same all day
Warmest windchill factor: -16C/3F

Ride [total] time: 10:30
Ride [on bicycle] time: 9:00
Ride distance: 161.2 kms (100.2 miles)


I started the ride at 8:30 am after spending almost an hour getting dressed ... layer after layer after layer!!

A few comments about clothing ... I wore a polypropylene base layer for the first time ever, an idea recommended to me by Rowan. I was skeptical. However, I have to say that my upper body remained warm through out the whole ride AND that polypro top was as dry as can be when I finished. My legs, however, were a different story, and I finally put handwarmers in my pockets to warm my thighs. My hands were toasty warm with my skigloves on ... in fact they were sweating in them which made my fingertips all wrinkly, like I'd been the water a long time. My feet were frozen. The hand warmers I got were only good for about half the ride.

I did a series of 4 loops, with a break at the end of each loop to warm up. That worked quite well.


And some highlights:
- clear blue sky and sunshine, not that it did much for the temperature.
- a brilliant view of the mountains in the distance.
- Chickadees calling all over the place.
- A whole field full of misplaced and confused Canadian Geese (they should have flown south by now!!)
- a helicopter that followed me for a while.
- a little remote control airplane that followed me for a while. That was funny!! I rode past the place where they fly these things and a few were buzzing around in the sky. I guess someone spotted me, and next thing I knew ... I was being followed!!


AND ... in other news ...

On Friday afternoon at 4 pm ... I finished my first year of University!! :D :D :D

Wow - sounds like a lot of fun! Congrats on the ride and finishing your first year at the U!

And I have to ask - pics?

Thanks!!

I didn't take any pics, but here are a couple that sort of depict what the conditions are like here. The snowy one is from my February century here earlier this year, and the non-snowy one is from a 200K in November ... the terrrain here is quite similar to that, and we don't have much snow yet this year, so that's a lot like what it looks like.

Thanks!!

I didn't take any pics, but here are a couple that sort of depict what the conditions are like here. The snowy one is from my February century here earlier this year, and the non-snowy one is from a 200K in November ... the terrrain here is quite similar to that, and we don't have much snow yet this year, so that's a lot like what it looks like.

Do you typically take photos on your century rides? Do you put them up on your site?

What is your total centuries for 2005 ? I thought you were doing more than one a month?

Do you typically take photos on your century rides? Do you put them up on your site?

What is your total centuries for 2005 ? I thought you were doing more than one a month?

Sometimes I take pictures ... sometimes I don't. And yes, they are on my Yahoo pictures site ... somewhere. Some are under Alberta or Manitoba scenery, if they are mainly of scenery. Some are under brevets. I've got pictures of the longer rides I do under their own categories.

My total centuries for 2005 is now ... 31.

I was doing that 25 centuries in 2005 challenge AND the Century-A-Month challenge, so this December one was my qualifying ride for the CAM challenge, and will likely be the only December one I do.

Right on! :)

Sometimes I take pictures ... sometimes I don't. And yes, they are on my Yahoo pictures site ... somewhere. Some are under Alberta or Manitoba scenery, if they are mainly of scenery. Some are under brevets. I've got pictures of the longer rides I do under their own categories.

My total centuries for 2005 is now ... 31.

I was doing that 25 centuries in 2005 challenge AND the Century-A-Month challenge, so this December one was my qualifying ride for the CAM challenge, and will likely be the only December one I do.

I just found your schedule and explored your site a little more. Now I get it. Nice ride reports. The bridge at Brest must be nice to ride over, is there a bike lane?

So many nice rides in so many nice places WOW!

Wow! Fantastic! Congrats on finishing your first year, and your Dec. century!

You're such a winner. I'd hire you in a second if I were the boss.

You're amazing.
RGC

You're amazing.
RGC


No.....she's ~ "The Amazing Master Mogul Century Rider Machka" ~ to us ordinary humans. :)

"TAMMCRM"

That's a great accomplishment, Machka. And somehow you have found time to send us a lot of nice posts in that time. Thanks!

Yay! Congrats on two great accomplishments. I wish I had that much drive, and conviction.

What tires are you running on these icy winter centuries?

Machka, congratulations!! You are not only consistent throughout the year but consistent year after year. Good job.

What tires are you running on these icy winter centuries?

I was using the same 700x25 Continental 1000s I used all year long. :D

It wasn't actually all that icy out there. There isn't much snow and the roads have been fairly well cleared. In fact, most of the routes I chose weren't much different from summer riding conditions.

However, I did slow down and ride with my heart in my mouth over several frosty sections. You just never know with them ... they could be fine ... or they could be really slick.

In snowier, icyier conditions though I use my mountain bike with 26x2" tires flattened to about 30 psi. So far that has worked for me.

I just found your schedule and explored your site a little more. Now I get it. Nice ride reports. The bridge at Brest must be nice to ride over, is there a bike lane?

So many nice rides in so many nice places WOW!

Thanks! :) Getting into cycling has taken me to some wonderful places!

There was a wide sidewalk across the bridge at Brest, and I think that's what I rode across on. I've got this little "thing" about bridges so I try not to linger on them very long. :D But it was an amazing bridge to look at ... from a distance.

Congrats! That's quite a feat, especially considering where you're located. :beer:

Congratulations on making so many of your goals this year. Your deligence, pursuit, and never give up attitude is one to be proud of.

Is there a classification on this forum for a superbiker?

Wow...too cool! Way to go!

Thanks! :) Getting into cycling has taken me to some wonderful places!

There was a wide sidewalk across the bridge at Brest, and I think that's what I rode across on. I've got this little "thing" about bridges so I try not to linger on them very long. :D But it was an amazing bridge to look at ... from a distance.

I know what you mean.

I happen to love " My" bridges. I like the view. I think I read that the Brest bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world.