OK, w/ the exception of Thanksgiving and a few weeks in the Summer I've been away from home for work since March! Austin, TX wasn't too bad until about May when it became swamp ass hot & humid, bugs flying everywhere (i.e., in my eyes and mouth) with Ford F350s running me off the road. The last 2 months in Chicago "Southland" (about 20 miles south of the city) have been worse: strip malls, 4 lane roads crowded w/ honking cars, cold & cloudy days, and -zero- elevation gain/ hills and -zero- natural beauty. Let me guess, during that time (March thru now) the weather in Colorado has been great. :mad::(:mad:
I moved to Denver last Winter (snow and ice from Hell) and kept hearing, "Oh man, Denver winters are NEVER like this, it's usually 50 degrees and when it does snow, the sun melts everything in a day or 2 BLAH...BLAH...BLAH...BLAH.".
So... someone please promise me that when I'm home that the sun will be shining, temps will be in the mid-50's and the riding will be great. If you lie to me or disappoint me, you'll get coal in your stocking. :D
And yes, I'll be looking for work closer to home ASAP.
jbmadtown
12-20-07, 03:19 PM
Whereas Denver winters have lots of sun and clear blue sky with those days in the 50's and even 60's you should realize that you did move to a city with a definite winter. Sometimes it's snowy there, but be patient, things will usually clear up in a day or two. Oh, and do me a favor, walk out your front door. Now look West- see those mountains? Go SKI if the roads are snowy!
I grew up in Denver and SOooo want to move back. For now I'm stuck in Madison, which ain't half bad if you ignore 4 solid months of cold.
RobertHurst
12-20-07, 03:22 PM
I don't know. I worry that we may be going through a climate change and last winter was just the preview of coming attractions. Recent snowstorms have been disturbingly non-melting and there are still some glaciers on the streets, for instance. That said, the weather has been pretty decent this week; you could definitely get a good ride in today. Tomorrow, could be bad conditions.
Robert
celticfrost
12-20-07, 03:28 PM
Whereas Denver winters have lots of sun and clear blue sky with those days in the 50's and even 60's you should realize that you did move to a city with a definite winter. Sometimes it's snowy there, but be patient, things will usually clear up in a day or two. Oh, and do me a favor, walk out your front door. Now look West- see those mountains? Go SKI if the roads are snowy!
I grew up in Denver and SOooo want to move back. For now I'm stuck in Madison, which ain't half bad if you ignore 4 solid months of cold.
You've disappointed me. Coal in your stocking I say!
I lived in upstate NY or New England 36 of my previous 37 years before Denver, so even last Winter (horrible by Denver standards) was pretty much average for me. I guess I was disappointed because those sunny winter days in the 50's were pretty much non-existent.
But it'll be 50 and sunny when I'm home for the holidays... right? right? :o:o
I'll try skiing in March when there's more time, less crowds and (hopefully) more $$ in my bank account. I'd rather stay in the city and drink than drive 4-8 hours roundtrip through bumper to bumber traffic on I70 while freezing my rear off and spending a ton of $$. :beer:
celticfrost
12-20-07, 03:36 PM
I don't know. I worry that we may be going through a climate change and last winter was just the preview of coming attractions.
I hope I didn't bring the crappy weather with me from New England to Denver...
Recent snowstorms have been disturbingly non-melting and there are still some glaciers on the streets, for instance. That said, the weather has been pretty decent this week; you could definitely get a good ride in today. Tomorrow, could be bad conditions.
Robert
That's what killed me last year -- about 5 hard falls on ice formed from semi-melted snow as well as moving furniture messed up my back fairly well and kept me off the bike for a few months.
head_wind
12-20-07, 05:30 PM
When I moved here I had the same stories. 470 sunny days a year etc.etc.
The snow sublimes and is gone in a day. My 400 foot driveway faces north
south and is ice all winter. They said that we'd never see bears and cougars.
We live in town in Colorado Springs. Yes, we see bears and (occasionally)
cougars.
I don't think that Coloradoons lie more than anyone else. My theory is that
they are all hypoxic and their minds are gone. For that same reason you
probably shouldn't listen to me.
valygrl
12-20-07, 06:51 PM
Coal please.
My driveway still hasn't melted from last week's storm and it's supposed to snow again tonight.
I believed those stories too... this is my first winter in colorado, and it's rather cold and unrideable out.
DataJunkie
12-20-07, 07:11 PM
I swear those stories where true. :p
I moved here in 2000. 2000-2005 were fine then last winter happened.
I do not know what is with this one. It is not terribly cold with not a heck of a lot of snow but the dang stuff will not melt. My street is still an ice rink. However, I can see pavement now.
Anyhow, I am giving up and picking up a MTB. I plan to throw on a set of studded tires and get outside. My trainer is annoying me and I do not have a desire to ski. That and I miss commuting.
stevesurf
12-20-07, 07:43 PM
And yes, I'll be looking for work closer to home ASAP.
Time to visit the Dumb Friends League and adopt one of these guys...
Hey I am out here too, drove all the way from Virginia. I'm going skiing tomorrow but would like to ride in the Boulder area this week end. Let me know if there are any rides going on...
snowy
12-20-07, 08:09 PM
LET IT SNOW!!! ITS WINTER :) HEE HEE. Snowboarding all weekend. I've lived here all MY LIFE. Wouldn't change the weather for ANYTHING!! Give me COAL! OH I even did a Duathlon race a two weeks ago in the snow. I think the high temp was 23 for the day! SUCK IT UP. Your in COLORADO BABY :)
DataJunkie
12-21-07, 04:19 AM
Never! The snow should stay in the mountains. That is until I get my winter commuting rig setup. At that time... bring it on! I am currently looking at an older stumpjumper in decent condition. Hopefully I can try a bit of mountain biking with it next summer.
What I really need is a promotion to VP. :p Whereupon I would purchase a summer home in Arizona. Is that going to happen? Hell no.
Pwnt
12-21-07, 10:36 AM
There's your problem......all of you guys are transplants. Then you come here and whine about the weather. Did you Google "Colorado" before you made your decision????? Go back where you came from. Snowy...you can stay! :D:D:D
Just teasing you guys. But seriously "embrace the cold!'". Once you except the fact that it here everyday then its not such a big deal. There a miillion and one things to do in it. Skiing, snowboarding, iceskating, icefishing, tubing, snowmobiling...........the list goes on and on. And if you're "HARDCORE" you can even ride in it.
<----not hardcore :D
Happy Holidays to everyone btw. Be safe.;)
DataJunkie
12-21-07, 11:33 AM
You wussies here have nothing on bad weather. My hometown in SE WA state is prone to freezing rain and dense fog. Oh and freezing fog. :p
j/k about the wussy part. Don't hurt DJ. lol :)
bvfrompc
12-21-07, 12:30 PM
Luckily this warm front that has been with us all week whilest I while away the hours at 'work" will be gone in time for my four day holiday.
I am going to fight this, I just ordered some neoprene booties and that will be it for excuses, if its dry on the pavement I will be out there no matter what the temps.
um, it's been gorgeous the past couple weeks. Yeah it snowed, but the majority of streets cleared up quickly. Sure, the less traveled streets don't thaw as quickly, but that doesn't mean they're unrideable. Forecast for the next week:
Forecast Conditions
High/Low °F
Precip.
Chance
Tonight
Dec 21
Snow Shower
33°/12° 60%
Sat
Dec 22
Partly Cloudy
29°/16° 20%
Sun
Dec 23
Mostly Cloudy
40°/19° 10%
Mon
Dec 24
Mostly Sunny
37°/21° 10%
Tue
Dec 25
Few Snow Showers
33°/18° 30%
Wed
Dec 26
Partly Cloudy
36°/15° 20%
Thu
Dec 27
Few Snow Showers
33°/13° 30%
Fri
Dec 28
Partly Cloudy
36°/21° 10%
Sat
Dec 29
Sunny
44°/25° 10%
Sun
Dec 30
Sunny
45°/27° 20%
I dunno, but compared to Winter elsewhere in the country, this is pretty mild, and you can still get some riding in here and there.
DataJunkie
12-21-07, 02:40 PM
After reading this blog
http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/
....
I need to move to alaska. The problem is that our winter is too wimpy.
I think I have a multiple personality disorder.
snowy
12-21-07, 04:11 PM
Let It Snow!!! :) Let It Snow :)
In Absentia
12-21-07, 08:06 PM
In the actual city of Denver, it's not bad at all. Even after snowing all day, the roads here are pretty clear. I've been riding almost every day, even while it was snowing and in the aftermath. The less-traveled roads were a bit crunchy, but not too bad to ride and, except for a couple of days, it hasn't really even been that cold. All I have is some 700x32c cyclocross tires on my Volpe and it gets along fine if I don't try to ride too fast. I wouldn't want to be riding in the suburbs, though; there's too much snow and ice out there.
Pwnt
12-21-07, 08:18 PM
Let It Snowy!!! :) Let It Snowy :)
Fixed!:)
celticfrost
12-22-07, 05:24 PM
Yes, I'm a transplant, but from places colder than Denver.
The average high temp in Denver (not 10k ft in the mountains) in mid-late December is about 48 degrees. I'm just hoping for average when I'm home. Is that too much to ask? :eek:
celticfrost
12-22-07, 05:29 PM
....
Sat
Dec 29
Sunny
44°/25° 10%
Sun
Dec 30
Sunny
45°/27° 20%
I dunno, but compared to Winter elsewhere in the country, this is pretty mild, and you can still get some riding in here and there.
Woo hoo!! Finally someone who doesn't deserve a lump of coal!! :D
RobertHurst
12-28-07, 06:22 PM
I hope I didn't bring the crappy weather with me from New England to Denver...
Seriously. Tell me yesterday's wasn't lake effect snow from Buffalo.
That's what killed me last year -- about 5 hard falls on ice formed from semi-melted snow as well as moving furniture messed up my back fairly well and kept me off the bike for a few months.
I've been there man. In fact I was on my back in the middle of the street twice in the past two days, managed to escape injury. Every other messenger I talked to today had wrecked on the ice at least once. No bueno. Riding on truly icy streets is certainly one of the most dangerous (stupid and ridiculous?) things a person can do on a bike. Studded tires will only take you so far.
The weather was not bad today, a little cold but sunny. A classic Denver winter day. But the streets were hideous, bumpy glaciers and sheer ice rinks everywhere. I saw five pedestrians laid out on the sidewalk strapped to back boards after a bus slid through a crosswalk; they had to wait for enough ambulances to arrive on the ice. For whatever reason, the city is completely failing to clear the streets of ice after these storms the past two seasons, in fact, whatever they are doing often seems to make the problem worse.
I'm hoping for a stretch of unseasonably warm and dry weather, I admit it. And I'm hoping the city can figure it out, remove these street glaciers and stop producing new ones.
Robert
RobertHurst
12-28-07, 06:28 PM
um, it's been gorgeous the past couple weeks. Yeah it snowed, but the majority of streets cleared up quickly. Sure, the less traveled streets don't thaw as quickly, but that doesn't mean they're unrideable. Forecast for the next week:
Forecast Conditions
High/Low °F
Precip.
Chance
Tonight
Dec 21
Snow Shower
33°/12° 60%
Sat
Dec 22
Partly Cloudy
29°/16° 20%
Sun
Dec 23
Mostly Cloudy
40°/19° 10%
Mon
Dec 24
Mostly Sunny
37°/21° 10%
Tue
Dec 25
Few Snow Showers
33°/18° 30%
Wed
Dec 26
Partly Cloudy
36°/15° 20%
Thu
Dec 27
Few Snow Showers
33°/13° 30%
Fri
Dec 28
Partly Cloudy
36°/21° 10%
Sat
Dec 29
Sunny
44°/25° 10%
Sun
Dec 30
Sunny
45°/27° 20%
.
Sure would have been nice if that forecast was right.
jfmckenna
12-28-07, 07:25 PM
Sure would have been nice if that forecast was right.
Ha Ha no joke! Well I admit I had a whole lot of fun playing in the white stuff but I was supposed to leave Thursday and finally will be able to head east tomorrow. I managed to get on my bike twice in two weeks :( but the skiing and sled riding was fun :)
celticfrost
12-29-07, 02:07 PM
I've been there man. In fact I was on my back in the middle of the street twice in the past two days, managed to escape injury. Every other messenger I talked to today had wrecked on the ice at least once. No bueno. Riding on truly icy streets is certainly one of the most dangerous (stupid and ridiculous?) things a person can do on a bike. Studded tires will only take you so far.
The weather was not bad today, a little cold but sunny. A classic Denver winter day. But the streets were hideous, bumpy glaciers and sheer ice rinks everywhere. I saw five pedestrians laid out on the sidewalk strapped to back boards after a bus slid through a crosswalk; they had to wait for enough ambulances to arrive on the ice. For whatever reason, the city is completely failing to clear the streets of ice after these storms the past two seasons, in fact, whatever they are doing often seems to make the problem worse.
I'm hoping for a stretch of unseasonably warm and dry weather, I admit it. And I'm hoping the city can figure it out, remove these street glaciers and stop producing new ones.
Robert
Damn, it's funny (in an odd way, not a ha-ha way) that you mention messengers wrecking on the ice and buses sliding into intersections and taking out pedestrians because those were the EXACT things me and a friend were talking about while sliding around downtown yesterday.
I drove to Salida (where the cold, snow, etc is supposed ;) to be) for Xmas via rt. 285 and besides a few nasty snow drifts across the roads I was fine in my front wheel drive car. Kind of funny that in those snowy mountain passes the roads were safer and better tended to than the roads in the capitol of Colorado. I wonder if the city is saving its snow removal budget for the bigger storms that were bound to get. I've been doing most of my errands on foot and it's actually been kind of fun.
Here's to 2008 (and an accurate forecast)!!!:
"Wed
Jan 2 Sunny
44°/30°
Thu
Jan 3 Partly Cloudy
48°/34°
Fri
Jan 4 Partly Cloudy
47°/34°
Sat
Jan 5 Sunny
46°/30°
Sun
Jan 6 Partly Cloudy
43°/32°
Mon
Jan 7 Mostly Sunny
45°/28°"
In the meantime I've been doing some early Spring cleaning, tinkering on the bikes and dragging the rollers out of the closet. :D
DataJunkie
12-29-07, 07:39 PM
I have been sticking to the trails as of late. I would rather not play with cars with snow and ice. That and only our main arterials are clear. One can do without riding for fun on Colorado Blvd, 120th, 104th, etc.
Anyhow, the trails are mainly compacted snow with a tad bit of ice thrown in. Not too bad. That and there are usually snow drifts off to the sides to bail into.
On a 20 mile RT ride today I encountered clear pavement, ice, snow, compacted snow, snow drifts, slush, and multiple combos of the above. I am afraid the conditions would make commuting miserable but they do make a recreational ride more amusing.