Fifty Plus (50+) - Personal milestone today

I turned 1000 miles on the new bike today at the end of a 53 miler. I purchased it on 8/29/07 and began riding it on 8/30, about 6.5 weeks ago. Other than a brief jaunt around the cul-de-sac a couple of weeks ago, the ol' Marin Novato has been rather neglected. I probably rode it about 300 miles or so in August before buying the roadie.

My body is thanking me for the effort (continually sore leg muscles). And I'm loving it! I thoroughly enjoy the biking community here too.

Most of my riding is solo and may be anywhere from 15 to 64 (personal best thus far) miles a day. I try to get out 5 days a week and generally aim for 40-50 miles a day. Weather and work schedules have been very cooperative thus far. I know the light work schedule will only last so long... so am taking advantage of most every opportunity to get out and ride.

My immediate challenge is to figure out how to ride in the fall/winter without looking like the Michelin man and spending a fortune on clothes. But as long as the weather stays like this (mid-70s), I can ride with biking shorts and a ss shirt.

Anything below the low 50's is too cold for me. So I need to start thinking about the winter clothes issues pretty soon. I've found some interesting threads about that on the bike forum... so am pondering my options.

Odometer:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5758/img3225um4.th.jpg (http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3225um4.jpg)

Bike:
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5575/img3236ud2.th.jpg (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3236ud2.jpg)

The good news that here in Piedmont NC we can ride year 'round. You just layer up and take off when it's pretty cool. I actually enjoy riding when it's cool enough to make your eyes water-feels very refreshing. I've found that a good wind vest works very well to keep your chest and stomach from getting beet red. You can spend as much or as little as you'd like but I spend what I need to be comfortable. For temps below 50 degrees I like wearing a skull cap, long fingered gloves, either toe warmers or booties, tights or leg warmers, a technical undershirt, a long sleeved jersey and sometimes a wind vest. You generally know you are not overdressed if when you start riding you're a little cool. You'll warm up the first nice hill you climb anyway. Keep up the great riding!!

Cold weather riding requires layers. Nothing bulky. Also, IPPE was correct by advising that you should feel a little cool when you start. If you are warm when you start you are over dressed.

You trying to wear the poor thing out? :D

Good effort.

Richard

The good news that here in Piedmont NC we can ride year 'round. You just layer up and take off when it's pretty cool. I actually enjoy riding when it's cool enough to make your eyes water-feels very refreshing. I've found that a good wind vest works very well to keep your chest and stomach from getting beet red. You can spend as much or as little as you'd like but I spend what I need to be comfortable. For temps below 50 degrees I like wearing a skull cap, long fingered gloves, either toe warmers or booties, tights or leg warmers, a technical undershirt, a long sleeved jersey and sometimes a wind vest. You generally know you are not overdressed if when you start riding you're a little cool. You'll warm up the first nice hill you climb anyway. Keep up the great riding!!

I don't care to ride in the wet, so I just plan to deal with the cold. Thus far, I can ride in my shorts and short sleeve shirts in the early morning when temps are in the low 50's and warming. It is chilly the first 3 miles or so, but then I warm up and am good to go.

I already bought some full fingered riding gloves, but will need to shop for the balance.

Will sweat pants worn over biking shorts work or would that be too warm? I expect I'll need to find some sort of windbreaker like the vest you mentioned as well as the other stuff. I saw someone mention bib knickers recently. I might look into that too.

Cold weather riding requires layers. Nothing bulky. ...

Good. If it's too much trouble to dress, I won't go out. ;)

Here's a thread I found in the Winter Cycling forum:
http://tinyurl.com/2q7k9h

Leg and arm warmers are pretty resonable and good to about 40f with a layer under your shirt. Add a windbreaker and your set until the snow flys.

I turned 1000 miles on the new bike today at the end of a 53 miler. I purchased it on 8/29/07 and began riding it on 8/30, about 6.5 weeks ago. Other than a brief jaunt around the cul-de-sac a couple of weeks ago, the ol' Marin Novato has been rather neglected. I probably rode it about 300 miles or so in August before buying the roadie.

:beer:

That's a lot of miles in a short period. Just think how many you would have if you had bought it earlier in the season:)

Leg and arm warmers are pretty resonable and good to about 40f with a layer under your shirt. Add a windbreaker and your set until the snow flys.

Hmm. That may be a reasonable way to ride in 40*-50* weather. I'll check into that.

I turned 1000 miles on the new bike today at the end of a 53 miler. I purchased it on 8/29/07 and began riding it on 8/30, about 6.5 weeks ago.
...
My immediate challenge is to figure out how to ride in the fall/winter without looking like the Michelin man and spending a fortune on clothes. But as long as the weather stays like this (mid-70s), I can ride with biking shorts and a ss shirt.


Congratulations on your mileage! That's a lot of riding. As for the clothing, you won't look like the Michelin man as long as you are using cycling-specific gear. Arm and leg warmers, tights, long-sleeved jerseys, even light jackets can be used. You can cycle below 50 degrees easily and comfortably by layering. Wicking T-shirts are a good choice. Oh, yeah, gloves also. I have to go through my old gear. I've got a bunch of stuff from when I last cycled 12 years ago. It may be a little out of date but I'll use it this winter if it doesn't have holes in it...

-soma5