Winter Cycling - I'm sick of this

Here in PA we've been having an absolutely horrible winter. I have not been out riding since December (and then it was a whole 1 day's worth of riding. It was a light rain then, too). Seriously. The average temperature has been in the 0s, 10s, or 20s. The couple days that it got above the 20s it was raining, snowing, or we had 40mph+ winds.

The local criterium training series is suppossed to start the first week of March, but the way we're going, we won't be able to ride outside until April!

Did I mention currently, we have 20 inches of snow on the ground from the big weekend blizzard? I haven't even been out of my house for 2 days now to even get to the gym! This is horrible! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Okay, I'm done ranting for now.

Bummer!

Move south. I'm pretty sure most everyone else has.

Blake

I think you are getting most of the stuff we are suppose to get.... sorry. We are about 20 inches short of where we are suppose to be at, althought we sure have had the cold the last three weeks or so.

Buy some xc skis.

Originally posted by Rotifer
Buy some xc skis.

Yeah, I always wanted to try that. I don't think it would mesh with my training schedule though....darn trainers! :rolleyes:

Try to think of the good upper body work out you are getting as you dig your way out of the snow. After I dug my way out to the street, I got to go to work and dig out there too. And then go next door to dig out my boss's house (who is on vacation in Australia). Yeah, we are all officially sick of winter. One day closer to spring, that is my mantra for now.

I am sick of this snow! Normally we don't have but one or two snows, but this year, we have had so many that if the kids miss 6 more days of school, there are rumors of the gov. declaring an emergency and they won't have to make them up. They have already missed 10 or so! I want my cold only BACK!!! At least I could ride in that.
weather update!! Today we have only 2 inches of ice on everything.

Rick

Serious cabin fever here!!!! I'm jumping on an airplane tomorrow and going out to Southern California. Heck with this white stuff!! Only wish I could take old paint with me (Raleigh R700). I guess I'll have to get along with the Tommy Armours! :D Shucks!!!!!!! :beer:

Feel free to send any and all snow to Utah and Colorado... Our water level is 45% of normal :(

I don't mind the snow - it is fun to bike and ski in. What really sucks is the terrible cold.

It has been between -3 F to 9 F degrees here for 2.5 weeks. On top of that, we have had powerful winds. The schools aren't letting the kids go outside to play at recess.

The worst thing of all is when you start to get relatively good weather (summer seems to have cooled off here the last week or so), but you're too sick to ride in it. At least if we had 20 metres of snow or whatever on the ground, being sick would be a little more bearable.

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
Feel free to send any and all snow to Utah and Colorado... Our water level is 45% of normal :(

We haven't been above 30% in 2003! :cry:

well, i think we've had similar conditions here in Munich to the Northeast. it hasn't been above freezing in about 3 weeks and we had a bunch of big snows and it's styed on the ground -- the roads are cleared as they plow and salt, but the bike paths are all ice with gravel and the trails kind of hard-packed rough ice and snow.

anyway, it's not so bad. i mean i ride less than in the summer, but i've still been getting about 120-150km/week on the bike. plus, the ski touring, snowboarding and skiing has been great.

and riding in new snow is really pleasant and fun - ice is only ok.

in the Northeast the winter just won't last that long (OK, maybe Maine)... just get out and ride!

Originally posted by RHNiles
I am sick of this snow! Normally we don't have but one or two snows, but this year, we have had so many that if the kids miss 6 more days of school, there are rumors of the gov. declaring an emergency and they won't have to make them up. They have already missed 10 or so! I want my cold only BACK!!! At least I could ride in that.
weather update!! Today we have only 2 inches of ice on everything.

Rick

You've been getting hit with all the snow and ice that has missed Missouri. We had sleet Saturday, snow Sunday. Last night and today we have rain.

Just think of how much more we mid-Atlantic folks will all appreciate spring this year. Think it is scheduled to arrive sometime in July!

We will have to earmark this thread so we can return to it in July when we are crying about global warming.

Hey Velo, cheer up-

all this bad weather means you get to spend more time with us :-)

Yesterday was the worst winter ride - and it was not the coldest. The big snow fall was melting and temps were about 39 F when I started out.

The wind really picked up and was 20 to 40 mph. There was lots of water on the road that would splash up onto me. Then the temps started to drop. Soon I had ice hanging from my feet; then the derailleurs froze and I was stuck in a low gear. Finally the brakes started to freeze up, but that was ok because (between the wind and the low gear) I was not going very fast anyway. I planned to do 30 miles but cut it short. That was the least enjoyable 14 miles I ever cycled.

It’s odd - when the temps are very low (way below freezing) I have no problem with the gears or chain. When the ground temp is above freezing and the air is below freezing, there are a lot of problems with everything getting water on it and freezing up.

I'm here in PA with ya. I have been itching to ride since december too and the winter weather just wont let up. I'm hoping it will just make spring that much more enjoyable, which i am sure it will.

I am so happy! We picked up 6" of snow today, the first real snow of the year, YAY! :D

Missouri just got dumped on AGAIN. 6 inches of snow with another 1 to 2 inches coming tonight and 3 or 4 more over the next few days. Maybe I should forget biking and take up skiing?

I keep goin but i've had enough cold weather, I'm ready for summer, my nokians are just about worn and my bike need some serious rehab, the salt they put on the roads really does a job on things. I must say though, I'v got the clothes thing figured out, I've been able to stay warm all winter and most of my riding has been under 15 degrees F. I am ready for summer, my bike is ready for summer, I'm looking forward to riding into work on the touring bike instead of the commuter and riding in shorts and a jersey, without the lights.

Greetings from RI. I hear ya. We are in the SAME BOAT!!! SUCKS To SAY THE LEAST!!! More snow tomorrow. I am going stir crazy. Today, my daughter and I finally got out to the bike path and rode!!! We took our mountain bikes!!! We had to ride the path about 2 miles of ICE!!! Neither of us have ever done that and I MUST SAY WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS a challenge but SO FUN!!! It was not hard ice more like frozen slush!!! We had plans of going out again tomorrow and MORE SNOW IN THE FORECAST!!!! FIGURES!!! But hey, how many more weeks can we get of this??? 5 or 6 the MOST!!! I am READY FOR SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE ARE THE DAFFODILS AND TULIPS??? HEY I NEVER EVEN SAW THE CROCUS bloom yet!!!




:mad:

I feel bad for you guys. It's been sunny except for a couple weeks of rain. Today was inn the 70's and sunny... actually a little too hot!
Glad the sun is out longer now so I can get more riding in.

shoulda gone skiing...its the greatest