Fifty Plus (50+) - Looks like winter

I am sad. Looks like winter has started here in southwest Montana. Yesterday i rode about 32 miles, and I was cold. IT was in the upper 40's and I wore a Pearl Izumi jacket I picked up last year. (Well, also shorts, tights, a jersey and light polyproylene tee). I was cold! Today, we had snow this morning, howling winds and a winter-like gloom of clouds. I fear the outdoor riding season may be near over for the year. I am sad.

Still great weather here in the Northeast...currently 76 degrees and just perfect for riding.

The weather's been so nice that the LBS's don't even have any winter gear out yet. Can't have everything I guess.

Have to admit that winter riding will probably have more cafe stops in it but that is all- I will be winter riding till the temp gets near freezing and it rains- Then sense takes over. Don't seem to have as much Snow over here as we used to but last winter we had about 3 months of near freezing weather that just made us dress appropriately. Leggings are a must and an extra layer for when you start is a good idea. The big problem though is the extremities- Hands and feet. Winter gloves- may not be cycling specific- do help on the hands. The feet though do cause me a problem. Best solution I have found is two pairs of socks with a plastic bag sandwiched between the two seem to work- but perhaps overshoes would work just aswell.

For those of you that cannot ride because there is 3' of snow or 2" of ice about- then I have no suggestions but for the majority of us- dressing appropriately will get us through the winter. That might even mean a long sleeve T for DG.

Not good news . . . we're watching this front moving down from your neck of the woods.

We've had a wonderful Indian Summer in western Colorado but this system is supposed to knock 10 degrees off the highs. Still, looking at mid-50s is a whole lot better than shoveling snow! :(

Have you tried mountain biking?

Cold weather mountain biking is great! The trees block the worst of the wind and once the ground is frozen you don't have mud to contend with. The only really hard part is keeping your feet warm.

I hope you don't suffer from seasonal affective disorder. When I lived in colder climes I would go into a terrible funk in the winter.

Not good news . . . we're watching this front moving down from your neck of the woods.

We've had a wonderful Indian Summer in western Colorado but this system is supposed to knock 10 degrees off the highs. Still, looking at mid-50s is a whole lot better than shoveling snow! :(

Check the forecast for the front range - SNOW!

Puget Sound area, Seattle/Tacoma, still nice, this morning was 45 degrees. This afternoon its in the upper 60's looks like it may be a bit colder tomorrow.

I feel guilty about whining to myself about the low 60's we're experiencing here in Paradise. Why, I had to wear both short sleeved, and a long-sleeved t-shirt for yesterday's ride.

I feel guilty about whining to myself about the low 60's we're experiencing here in Paradise. Why, I had to wear both short sleeved, and a long-sleeved t-shirt for yesterday's ride.

Did you get caught in any brush fires or smoke? Santa Ana's drying out your skin? :D

Did you get caught in any brush fires or smoke? Santa Ana's drying out your skin? :D

Nope! And no earthquake damage, either!

Nope! And no earthquake damage, either!

And the Tsunami? From the earthquake in Japan? Are you ready for it? It's on its way.

And the Tsunami? From the earthquake in Japan? Are you ready for it? It's on its way.

That's why I kept the mountain bike. No problem.

That's why I kept the mountain bike. No problem.

I thought you would need a surfboard!

I feel guilty about whining to myself about the low 60's we're experiencing here in Paradise. Why, I had to wear both short sleeved, and a long-sleeved t-shirt for yesterday's ride.
Hope you've got a guest room...... :D

For this winter I'm preparing my "Snow Cycle" to ride on snow mobile trails. I found it at the church yard sale in May, it's a custom made MTB from the mid '80s, no suspension, top of the line Suntour components, Shimano biopace triple crankset. I added fenders over the weekend, studded snow tires came yesterday. It will have a handlebar bag and a rear rack trunk for survival gear! :eek: I'll post pictures when it is trail ready.

I am determined not to stay exclusively indoors on a trainer this winter. Besides, by the time I finish, I'll have spent less than the cost of two lift tickets at the local ski mountain! Skiing has become boring, and other than a leg work out, there's not a great deal exercise involved.

Winter is one of the best times to ride the hills in our area. During the summer it is too hot. Right now we are enjoying some nice weather with daytime temps in the upper 70s but later during the week we expect "hamsin" sort of like the hot Santa Ana winds in So. CA. only worse. I think I would prefer some cold weather for a change - even if it meant taking a break from the bike.

I am not ready for winter either, here in Texas temps have been low 80's, but usually by the end of Oct. the cold fronts come in and it always drops the temp.down to low 50's and 40's. Yesterday was a high of 85, great day, and great ride.

Low 40's and 50's? Wow! Guess you really cook in the summer to make up for it, though.
Predicting snow for the next couple of days up here in ND! Better get the bike out this morning before it starts!

Well, I am really looking forward to winter. Finally get nice cool dry air and the winds die down a bit. Also get the advantage of moving up a few hundred places on Bike Journal:) I have put my winter time in during my first 30 years in Chicago, now if I want to see snow I can take a vacation to play in it

I added fenders over the weekend, studded snow tires came yesterday. It will have a handlebar bag and a rear rack trunk for survival gear! :eek: I'll post pictures when it is trail ready.

I am determined not to stay exclusively indoors on a trainer this winter. Besides, by the time I finish, I'll have spent less than the cost of two lift tickets at the local ski mountain! Skiing has become boring, and other than a leg work out, there's not a great deal exercise involved.

Hope these are not ordinary bike fenders. Snow collects under them and friction turns the snow to Ice- that does get very heavy. MTB type are better so posting pics of the Bianchi for the rear fender and the Tandem for the front- That front on the Tandem may seem over the top but it stops mud flying off the tyre and into the face. Although if you have a rear rack fitted as the Tandem does- Fitted to the seat post- then a rear fender is superfluous

I do accept that it is snowing in any part of the USA.

Light snow here tonight too they say. But, leaving for three weeks in Portland Oregon. Hoping that we don't have too much rain as am taking the trusty Merlin. Looks like Thur/Fri will be good riding weather there (but not here).

OK - the temp this am was 36F, with a weather forecast promise of about 50 with some sundhine in the PM.

So, I got all bundled up in many layers, and did my 22 mile ride. It was fun EXCEPT - why is everything (that is, me) so slow when it is colder. It was like pedaling through molasses!

Tires seemed more resistant
I had extra layers of clothing, so I had to work harder to pedal
etc., ?

OK - the temp this am was 36F, with a weather forecast promise of about 50 with some sundhine in the PM.

So, I got all bundled up in many layers, and did my 22 mile ride. It was fun EXCEPT - why is everything (that is, me) so slow when it is colder. It was like pedaling through molasses!

Tires seemed more resistant
I had extra layers of clothing, so I had to work harder to pedal
etc., ?

Did you check the pressure in your tires?

Did you check the pressure in your tires?

Always do - 120 psi.

Never ride without checking first.

OK - the temp this am was 36F, with a weather forecast promise of about 50 with some sundhine in the PM.

So, I got all bundled up in many layers, and did my 22 mile ride. It was fun EXCEPT - why is everything (that is, me) so slow when it is colder. It was like pedaling through molasses!

Tires seemed more resistant
I had extra layers of clothing, so I had to work harder to pedal
etc., ?
There are a few reasons. Colder air is denser, which increases wind resistance. Colder tires have more rolling resistance. All the lubricants in hubs, BB etc are less pliable. Finally, extra clothes mean more weight and less flexibility of limbs and joints. Taken together they add up. Even if they add up to only 10% less efficiency (which is probably on the low side comparing 36 degrees to 76 degrees), it would be noticable.

Have you tried mountain biking?

Cold weather mountain biking is great! The trees block the worst of the wind and once the ground is frozen you don't have mud to contend with. The only really hard part is keeping your feet warm.

+1 to this! Mountain biking is a great workout when not able to ride our road bikes. Some of my favorite ride memories are being on a hardtail very late at night over a snow covered street riding toward a full moon that's lighting the way reflecting off the snow. Just the soft sound of the snow under the tires and moon light, so still and quiet. Priceless....

I feel guilty about whining to myself about the low 60's we're experiencing here in Paradise. Why, I had to wear both short sleeved, and a long-sleeved t-shirt for yesterday's ride.

Low 60s are my favorite temps. I don't like anything over 80.

Unfortunately, our average high is below 60 for nearly 7 months out of the year. With a couple of months where the morning temps are in the single digits. Don't see many bikes out then, except for a few crazy college students.

Hope these are not ordinary bike fenders. Snow collects under them and friction turns the snow to Ice- that does get very heavy. MTB type are better so posting pics of the Bianchi for the rear fender and the Tandem for the front- That front on the Tandem may seem over the top but it stops mud flying off the tyre and into the face. Although if you have a rear rack fitted as the Tandem does- Fitted to the seat post- then a rear fender is superfluous
stapfam, thanks for your thoughts and by all means you are the MTB/off road king on 50+. The fenders I've mounted are the commuter style made by Planet Bike for 26" wheels. They fit close to the tires. I decided to go with these based on information from the Winter Cycling side of BF and from research elsewhere on the WWW. Our yearly snow fall is measured in feet, as in 10+ for a given winter. Also our daily high temps average well below freezing from December through March. Dry fluffy snow caking up the wheels will be the problem, but with the fenders close to the tires they will in effect clear the tires as the snow hits the mud guards on the back. I hope this works! I'll post pics of the bike by the weekend.

Also get the advantage of moving up a few hundred places on Bike Journal:)

+1

Back in January and February I had no trouble staying in the top 1,000. With last Saturday's century, I am back under 2,000. The Santa Fe Century next week will put me over the top for my annual mileage goal.

As I'm trying to work myself back into better shape, and I've had a lot of momentum in getting back into biking over the last month, I went out this morning under clear blue, 42 degree skies. A beautiful autumn day with the leaves in high color.

I rode for 50 minutes and it was great. Put on my Packer sweatshirt and used my cut-off gloves. Was sweating a bit by the time I got home. If anything, I was more comfortable than I was 3 weeks ago when it was 75.