General Cycling Discussion - Annual unlimited "I hate summer" thread

OK, I do this every October (the start of the Queensland summer) and I'm going to do it again now. I would just like to say:

Summer Sucks!

Glad to get that off my chest. I usually judge how hot it is by how hot the water in my bottles gets. On that basis, the Gold Coast hasn't had a day this hot since December '99 (and that day is remembered for the fact that four people actually DIED from heat related causes). I reckon I'm sitting on about 5 litres of water consumed so far today. I think I'll try and make 10.

Then of course, there's all the bushfire smoke hanging around, because some lunatic who should have been culled at birth (another symptom of small penis syndrome?) decides to rub two sticks together or something.

Oh yeah, and I crashed too (at least my pannier took most of the force of that one). Summer is evil and should be banned. Would anyone complain if I went over to the US for six months (I'm thinking Alaska)?

:mad: :irritated :thumbdn:

Hi Chris!

Dunno about regreting the onset of summer , here in the northern hemesphere our season seems to have slipped by so quickly.

Autumn lately though has been exceptainly beautifull this year
masses of fruit on all the trees , autumn colors starting to show
even the gales forecast have not materialised . and very few wasps to avoid (where are they this year?)

They have been great riding days

I have a great idea! .

We should start a swap locations for B.F members . that way we could avoid the winters in our locality`s
Just think of it all year round summer cycling.

Oops sorry! forgot you hate your summer!
:D :D

Chris L - Follow this link for pictures of what you'll miss as you go through your long, hot summer.

http://www.enteract.com/~icebike/Gallery97/winners97.htm

These are pictures from an old "Essence of Icebiking" photo contest.

Originally posted by Chris L
OK, I do this every October (the start of the Queensland summer) and I'm going to do it again now. I would just like to say:

Summer Sucks!

Ummm... Chris...

I live in Montreal. That's in Canada. It's 6C outside and pissing rain, with 40 km/h winds... and it isn't going to get any better -- in fact, it's going to get far worse -- for six months. Soon, with snow, ice and salt on the roads, I won't be able to ride at all.

Summer sucks? You'll get no sympathy from me.

It's hailing now. I miss summer.

The thing that really got me yesterday was the bushfire smoke. In fact, it was the first time I have EVER felt short of breath on the bike. Whoever was responsible for that should have their hands cut off.

The only real redeeming feature about summer is the occasional tropical downpours we get (I do love riding in the rain, the heavier the better) but they won't start for a couple of months yet. :cry:

Chris, you'll get no sympathy from me. I've seen the pictures of your daily "winter" rides.

You got it good, man.

Originally posted by Chris L
Summer is evil and should be banned. Would anyone complain if I went over to the US for six months (I'm thinking Alaska)?

:mad: :irritated :thumbdn:
Wouldn't Adelaide be closer? :D

Originally posted by Pete Clark

Wouldn't Adelaide be closer? :D

I was hoping for a few weeks in Tasmania around November/December of this year, but I won't have the money :cry:

Well, I live about 100km up the road from Chris, and I don't mind riding in the Queensland summer, and we don't get the nice sea breezes that the Gold Coast gets. Mind you, I don't go for rides of the sort of length Chris does.

Sunday was unusually hot for this time of year - 34°C. I took the family down to the 7-11 for a slurpee which we enjoyed down by the foreshore under a shadey tree, and then we rode the massive 3km home again. That was a nice 'ride'.

Winters are excellent here, but Summer ain't so bad. I for one am looking forward to riding home in daylight again, and going for a midnight ride in 22°C is pretty sweet too.

I said riding in the summer is ok - the movement of air keeps you relatively cool - it's doing anything else that requires any more physical activity than lifting a beer glass that sucks. You know it's hot when you break into a sweat just sitting still, in the shade. That's when it's time to go for a ride. :)

I do miss riding in the snow sometimes, but now that I think about it, I don't miss it that much.

The humidity around here is the worst bit. I think it's worth an extra 10-15 C on the temperature. I remeber riding 70-odd km once in 37 C temperatures out at Inverell. I barely broke sweat that day.

Have they got the same fire-tosser problems around Brisbane?

Originally posted by Chris L


I was hoping for a few weeks in Tasmania around November/December of this year, but I won't have the money :cry:

It's a good thing you like riding in the rain then. Are you prepared for cold rain though? Tasmanian rain is nothing like Queensland rain.

It is a shame you can't go though. Have you been there before? I'd love to cycle tour there myself one day - it is probably the best state for cycle touring in the country. One thing though: you'll probably get better weather in Feb/March than in Nov/Dec. That might give you more time to save up.

Originally posted by Chris L
The humidity around here is the worst bit. I think it's worth an extra 10-15 C on the temperature. I remeber riding 70-odd km once in 37 C temperatures out at Inverell. I barely broke sweat that day.

Have they got the same fire-tosser problems around Brisbane?

It was pretty bad last year, but I've haven't heard of or seen any so far this year. The season is still young though.

They also do some controlled burn-offs this time of year, especially after a dry winter, so it isn't always down to vandalism. This winter was pretty dry, so I expect well see a similar situation to last year as the season progresses.

We're probably about due for a good storm or two, no? When was the last time it rained?

Originally posted by Allister
It's a good thing you like riding in the rain then. Are you prepared for cold rain though? Tasmanian rain is nothing like Queensland rain.

Last June I did a pre-dawn ride in the rain to Binna Burra (yes, a mountain climb :rolleyes: ), does that count?


Originally posted by Allister

It is a shame you can't go though. Have you been there before? I'd love to cycle tour there myself one day - it is probably the best state for cycle touring in the country. One thing though: you'll probably get better weather in Feb/March than in Nov/Dec. That might give you more time to save up.

I've never been there. I officially finish forever at university on November 16, and start my new job in mid February. The problem is I can't afford four weeks away from my current job (heck, I'm already on a lower income than the dole :eek: ).

I guess I'll have a few months to really explore S. E. Qld!

Originally posted by Allister
We're probably about due for a good storm or two, no? When was the last time it rained?

I like storms. I can't remeber the last time it rained.

I hate the hay-fever I get around May from the ****-seed flowers. I hate it when your dripping with sewat and you can't take any more clothes off.

I like Summer as a concept, but I do find it very impractical from a sporting point of view. :confused:

Stew

I'm with you Chris, summer is bad. Here in Israel though summer is coming to a close and the best riding is ahead. Fall and spring are great here.
I spent a week in august in Alaska, your right that's the place to be in the summer.

I'm about 450 km from where Velocipedio lives, and yesterday we saw snow!! Of course, I had to ride, since my dynohub came last week, and with getting the truck and all I didn't have time until yesterday to actually hook it up. It was a day fit for nether man nor beast.
I have lived near deserts before, and in hot climates, too. You just have to do your riding either early or late!

Alex, I like your style. I eventually went out for a ride yesterday, too. I was climbing wall, so I took tje MTB.

Temp had dropped to 2C, the winds had risen to 50 km/h and, while I was out, it did indeed snow.

I'm trying to decide if I went for the ride because (a) I really needed it, (b) I had something to prove (c) I'm a stupid git.

Hey all, I've ridden in less than 2C before. Springbrook mountain got down to -4C earlier this year at one point. I did the ride in two layers (!). Maybe I just have some kind of natural ultra-spanky internal heating device or something :eek:

oh, whoopppeee.
Try riding in -35c, and then you will know what cold is!

I have to disagree with Chris.
I'll take a hot day anytime.

If I'm cold like I was this morning, I can't put much more clothing on. If I'm bundled up too much I can't move.

If I'm hot I can take something off or ride faster for a stronger breeze. :D

Plus in the summer I can wear my favorite T-shirt. The front says, Bike Naked.
The back says, It adds color to your cheeks

My kinda cycling. :thumbup: