Fifty Plus (50+) - This is just too much....

We've had several "winter storm warnings" this winter, all last week it rained and we simply switched to "flood warnings". But today is the last straw....they've replaced the winter storm warning flashing on my television screen to that "B" word. I now see "Blizzard warning" running along the bottom of my screen.

Mother nature doesn't seem to understand that I picked my bike up from the LBS yesterday. It's had a 4000 mile check up and I'm ready for riding. The poor thing is sitting in the back of my van and may not see riding for another week:(

I knew it. All those new bikes and new bike talk going around. No wonder Old Man Winter has unleashed his fury. I'm gonna buy a Footbike with ski's fitted.:o

I stopped watching TV and started chanting for you Beverly. Hope it helps.

Rant mode ON

This has been the most depressing winter that I can ever remember. It's been so long since it was even somewhat warm. We're 16" above the all-time recorded record in snowfall. We still have about 12"-15" in our yards. Haven't been able to even take walks, as the streets and sidewalks have been covered in ice for about 3 weeks.

Tonight it will be dropping down to -5 again. Goodness gracious, we're a week into March! Looking at a high of 22 on Saturday.

Next week is going to be warmer, with a couple of days hitting 40. But over the next 10 days, only one is predicted to have an average temp (high + low / 2) of greater than 32. Next Sat is predicted hi-33, lo-15. It's March 15th for crying out loud! The average is 44/21. What about a nice above avg 50 degrees ?? Is that too much to ask for?

All of the bike paths and bike lanes are ice covered. The roads finally cleared up in the last couple of days.

Since Nov 27th, I've seen the grass in my yard a grand total of 2 days. We had a two-day warm (45'ish) in early Jan that melted the snow.

I've been waiting for some above average weather. Statistically about 50% of one's days are at or above average. We've had a handful of those. But the weather patterns have stayed cold.

I've always told my wife that I can deal with the cold of Wisconsin's winters, but I don't like it when they are extraordinarily long. Give me a mild November and a mild March and I'll live with whatever it throws at me in Dec-Jan-Feb. But November was cold and dreary, now March is snowy and below-average. It feels like it is never going to end.

Thank goodness I got out of it for a week in Jan and now will be out again for a few days next week. Maybe I'll stay in NC until it warms up in Wisconsin.

Rant mode OFF

Beverly:
I am interested how your experience on the Trainer went?
I must stay in shape, regardless of the weather you are mentioning. So I put in 36 to 50 miles per day on the trainer at speed 17 MPH. That is very good exercise.

This post is written while on route to Florida. We are going to augment above training with three weeks of daily centuries in order to get our act together for a high speed CC bike ride. I will report the results.

Meanwhile, those of us who live in the DC area and crave snow are also bummed out. We have had only about one fifth of our normal amount.

Paul

I did do three things today to help usher in Spring.

1) Picked up my new bike
2) Drove my Integra to get it, the first time it's been out of the driveway in several weeks. Felt good to be working that 5-speed stick again.
3) Purchased my 2008 Wisconsin bike trail pass

Now I'm looking forward to eating some authentic Piedmont BBQ next week, that vinegary stuff they make in NC. Not my very favorite BBQ but a nice change of pace.

I did do three things today to help usher in Spring.

1) Picked up my new bike
2) Drove my Integra to get it, the first time it's been out of the driveway in several weeks. Felt good to be working that 5-speed stick again.
3) Purchased my 2008 Wisconsin bike trail pass

Now I'm looking forward to eating some authentic Piedmont BBQ next week, that vinegary stuff they make in NC. Not my very favorite BBQ but a nice change of pace.

All of your 3 actions above will only delay spring by another month!

Be careful with your taunts. There is a direct flight every day from Madison to Denver. I can arrange to delay your spring too.

Beverly:
I am interested how your experience on the Trainer went?
I must stay in shape, regardless of the weather you are mentioning. So I put in 36 to 50 miles per day on the trainer at speed 17 MPH. That is very good exercise.

This post is written while on route to Florida. We are going to augment above training with three weeks of daily centuries in order to get our act together for a high speed CC bike ride. I will report the results.

My limit on the trainer is about 30-45 minutes. I simply shortened the time between standing/sitting to 5 minute increments. I've also been doing interval training on my treadmill and hitting the weights.

We did the 30 mile Sunday breakfast ride last week for the first time in several weeks. I was expecting to see an average speed about 2 mph less than usual but was pleasantly surprised to see it was a little above last years average. The route has a lot of the long gradual grades of 2-4 % with a few short steep climbs. For once I wasn't the last one up the final hill at mile 28 on the ride:)

As soon as the weather decides to act like spring and the roads are clear I'll be doing a 8 mile loop near home that takes in some of the biggest hills in this area. I'm hoping the hill route and a few metric centuries will be enough to get me in shape for TOSRV in May.

Enjoy the Florida weather.

I did do three things today to help usher in Spring.

1) Picked up my new bike
2) Drove my Integra to get it, the first time it's been out of the driveway in several weeks. Felt good to be working that 5-speed stick again.
3) Purchased my 2008 Wisconsin bike trail pass

.

I hope these things work. Here's my list of things I've done today to help hasten the arrival of spring.

1. Ordered a red Limar helmet to wear with my red wind breaker:o
2. Fed-ex delivered my bib shorts I ordered a few days ago. Reminder to myself....never try something
on that has just spent several hours in a truck during a winter storm:eek:

After sneaking in two rides this week I was looking forward to a Saturday ride tomorrow. But it's snowing like a blizzard here and we're expecting 4-6 inches overnight -- a lot for this part of the world, where the populace freaks at forecasts for a thick frost. Hopefully the white stuff will be gone by Sunday, when it's supposed to be in the mid-50s. I sure don't miss those Ohio winters!

I did do three things today to help usher in Spring.

1) Picked up my new bike
2) Drove my Integra to get it, the first time it's been out of the driveway in several weeks. Felt good to be working that 5-speed stick again.
3) Purchased my 2008 Wisconsin bike trail pass

Now I'm looking forward to eating some authentic Piedmont BBQ next week, that vinegary stuff they make in NC. Not my very favorite BBQ but a nice change of pace.

I listened to the Twins Game on the radio and bought a DQ blizzard. Sat in my car and looked at a lake. It was 4 above.

I listened to the Twins Game on the radio and bought a DQ blizzard. Sat in my car and looked at a lake. It was 4 above.
Are you in MN or KS these days?

Are you in MN or KS these days?

Minnesota. I have grandma duty. I'll probably not get out of here until after the 18th.

Minnesota. I have grandma duty. I'll probably not get out of here until after the 18th.

Did I ever mention that #4 son goes to school in Sterling, KS ?

Also, Oklahoma Freewheel (my planned summer ride) ends in Caldwell this year.

Did I ever mention that #4 son goes to school in Sterling, KS ?

Also, Oklahoma Freewheel (my planned summer ride) ends in Caldwell this year.

Oh, man! Caldwell is not far from me at all! I'd offer to be your bike butler (:D), but unfortunately, I'll be in MN for the summer. When is your summer ride?

Actually sterling isn't too far away either, by Kansas standards...

Oh, man! Caldwell is not far from me at all! I'd offer to be your bike butler (:D), but unfortunately, I'll be in MN for the summer. When is your summer ride?

Actually sterling isn't too far away either, by Kansas standards...

Freewheel is the second week in June. This will be my first OK Freewheel.

http://www.okfreewheel.com/default.asp

Just got off the phone with my best friend in Memphis, TN. on his way to work as a policeman. 4" of slush and snow and he was dreading the continued drop in the temperature.

I hate to even say it, but it was a balmy 70 degrees this afternoon. Sweater in the morning and shorts and short sleeves in the afternoon.

How about you guys come down and visit DG and me!

Just got off the phone with my best friend in Memphis, TN. on his way to work as a policeman. 4" of slush and snow and he was dreading the continued drop in the temperature.

I hate to even say it, but it was a balmy 70 degrees this afternoon. Sweater in the morning and shorts and short sleeves in the afternoon.

How about you guys come down and visit DG and me!

I'd do it in a minute if DG's bike butler didn't scare me.

Have I mentioned that I'm liking your avatar a lot*? Is that a Superman logo I see there??? Very cool.

I'm sorry for those of you stuck in that awful weather. I had a very, very, VERY mild taste of that (remotely, barely visible even under a microscope) a few years ago when Los Angeles had one of its rainiest winters ever - almost 100 inches. When it finally let up around March and the sun stayed out for more than a day, I thought "This must be how they feel in the midwest when it finally warms up in March......"

That claim of 100" of rain in LA sent me scurrying to my climate data pages. I follow climate data as a minor hobby and didn't remember them getting anywhere near that number. I looked it up and found that in 2005, LA had 37.96" of rain, their highest year since 1884.

http://www.laalmanac.com/weather/we13.htm

38" is a little over our annual average. It is below where I grew up in West Virginia, which has an annual average of close to 48".

It probably only seemed like 100" to LA area residents, who are used to around 15".

However:

In the past few years Los Angeles has experienced a number of weather extremes. The driest water year on record for Los Angeles was just set in 2001-2002, when 4.42 inches were recorded. Then in 2004-2005, Los Angeles was deluged with 37.25 inches of rain -- the second wettest on record. During that period, Opids Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains recorded over 100 inches of precipitation!

2004/2005 30-YEAR NORM %NORMAL
---------- ------------ --------

***SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY***

PASO ROBLES (AIRPORT) 22.38 13.09 171%
SAN LUIS OBISPO (CAL POLY) 40.03 24.36 164%

***SANTA BARBARA COUNTY***

SANTA MARIA 19.52 14.01 139%
SANTA BARBARA (AIRPORT) 31.17 16.93 184%
JUNCAL DAM 75.09 31.15 241%

***VENTURA COUNTY***

CAMARILLO 28.45 15.56 183%

***LOS ANGELES COUNTY***

LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN (USC) 37.25 15.14 246%
LOS ANGELES AIRPORT 26.51 13.15 202%
LONG BEACH 29.37 12.94 227%
BURBANK 35.48 17.49 203%
PALMDALE (AIRPORT) 16.39 7.36 223%
SANDBERG 31.27 12.60 248%


IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME UNOFFICIAL REPORTING STATIONS IN
THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES REPORTED
OVER 100 INCHES OF RAIN FOR THE SEASON.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME UNOFFICIAL REPORTING STATIONS IN
THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES REPORTED
OVER 100 INCHES OF RAIN FOR THE SEASON.

This would not surprise me. The western upsweep of the mountains would have certainly received much more rain than L.A. proper.

This would not surprise me. The western upsweep of the mountains would have certainly received much more rain than L.A. proper.

Yeh, that's what I meant. I am certain that I heard "100 inches" numerous times that winter... that figure is stuck in my head.

At work we have developed a subterfuge known as the "Creative use of Murphy's Law". This involves performing an act which would under the normal operation of Murphy's law be bad for the result you actually want.

You folks must go out and buy ski's to make spring arrive quickly.

One must not get caught up in too much thinking or planning when doing this or Murphy's Law will recognize what it is you are attempting to accomplish. Try instead to believe that skining is what you really want to do so that you can truely be disappointed when the snow melts..........:)

This is typical "science" when dealing with government contracts and explains how we can do so much with so little of your tax dollars.

I do envy you lot. At least you know what the weather is going to do. With us -It might rain, might be windy or might be cold.Or all 3 at once if it want to confuse us. We have to get up in the morning to find out what it is going to do. At least you can stay in bed for a couple of hours as you know the weather is going to be bad.

maddmax-I all ready own 4 sets of skis!

No blizzard warnings here. Thunderstorms and tornado warnings yesterday, partly cloudy, 63F, 18-25mph winds, gusts to 40mph today. Shortly I will go out and climb Florida "hills" (headwind). The thing about it is that the weather changes so quick, you can have headwinds going and coming back on the same ride.
How ever your weather, find something pleasurable to do, and enjoy.

JOHN

I listened to the Twins Game on the radio and bought a DQ blizzard. Sat in my car and looked at a lake. It was 4 above.

This is pretty close to a fine haiku.

maddmax-I all ready own 4 sets of skis!

Winter past is a different ghost from winter present.

Besides if you buy a 5th set because you really need them, Murphy might have reason to believe you of all people.

This is pretty close to a fine haiku.
Ah, yes. Found poetry, always a treat. Dunno how I missed it.:rolleyes:

Good catch.

I had to shovel my way out to the newspaper box this morning through about 11 inches of snow to find the road wasn't plowed and no newspaper delivery.

The weather guy on TV says the storm is about half over. Looks like we're snowed in again. Oh well, time for my nap.:rolleyes:

I had to shovel my way out to the newspaper box this morning through about 11 inches of snow to find the road wasn't plowed and no newspaper delivery.

The weather guy on TV says the storm is about half over. Looks like we're snowed in again. Oh well, time for my nap.:rolleyes:

My snow removal crew is out there digging out the cars and driveway as I sit here all warm and snug working on the keyboard:p They even delivered the mail to the front door for me.

Well, something that someone did appears to have worked!!!

The forecasts for next week have been upgraded. They are showing several days in the 40s here, with one day approaching 50.

Also just read an article that all of this snow is great news for the water levels in the Great Lakes. This past year two of them hit all-time low water levels. Which translates into big problems with docks, beaches, and even inland rivers. When all of this snow melts off, they are expecting 8"-12" rises on the lakes. They will still be lower than average, but this is more improvement in one winter than anyone had hoped for.

The primary reason for the rising levels is that this winter's snow contained a lot of moisture that was picked up off of the Gulf of Mexico. The classic "lake effect" snow along the east sides of the lakes does no good at all, as that moisture is lifted from the Great Lakes and only brings them back to where they were once it melts.

My son's soccer game in Macon, GA was cancelled today because of snow flurries. :eek:
I'm not sure why since they had already made the 30 mile bus trip and the snow was not sticking to the ground or roadways. Oh well.

We cancelled our club's beginner ride this afternoon because of temps in the high 40s and winds in the mid 20s. But it will be calm and in the 60s and 70s most of the coming week.

Sympathize with you riders with cabin fever.
Used to live in Michigan; moved to southern Arizona 30 years ago . . . smart move!!!

I had to shovel my way out to the newspaper box this morning through about 11 inches of snow to find the road wasn't plowed and no newspaper delivery.

The weather guy on TV says the storm is about half over. Looks like we're snowed in again. Oh well, time for my nap.:rolleyes:

So the wifes new Shovel didn't work then?


I do not relish your weather at all. I could put up with the temperature- but the NO-Riding would get through to me. No wonder a lot of you have trainers set up. I could not ride one of those for longer than 30 minutes with out losing the will to live so it would have to be Gym Membership in that nasty warm Room with all those other unfit people around me. Give me wet and windy UK anytime.

So the wifes new Shovel didn't work then?


I do not relish your weather at all. I could put up with the temperature- but the NO-Riding would get through to me. No wonder a lot of you have trainers set up. I could not ride one of those for longer than 30 minutes with out losing the will to live so it would have to be Gym Membership in that nasty warm Room with all those other unfit people around me. Give me wet and windy UK anytime.
Heh, she read the other post...now I have to go to the emergency room at the local hospital to have it removed.:cry::lol:
Yeah, trainers aren't much fun. In a sick sort of way, I like this heavy snow because I view the shoveling as cross training. Aerobic snow removal=no trainer riding.:o Although I'd be glad to try that UK weather for a while. :)

Beverly and Louis,
How much snow did you finally wind up with? Here in Cincinnati, we're supposed to have gotten 13"+ inches of snow. I don't know, since I had knee surgery last Monday and I'm not about to take a chance on screwing it up slipping and sliding in snow! They were really harping on the "B" word, but it doesn't look like it was anywhere near as bad as the weather we got in '78.
- Bob

Beverly and Louis,
How much snow did you finally wind up with? Here in Cincinnati, we're supposed to have gotten 13"+ inches of snow. I don't know, since I had knee surgery last Monday and I'm not about to take a chance on screwing it up slipping and sliding in snow! They were really harping on the "B" word, but it doesn't look like it was anywhere near as bad as the weather we got in '78.
- Bob
I live in Norton, about 10 miles west of Akron. The TV guy said Akron got 16 inches. The spot I measured in my driveway was 15 inches - but due to drifting, some places are almost hip high, so the accuracy of that measurement is questionable at best.

'78 probably was worse because of the 100mph wind gusts and drifting. Of course '78 was before I retired so I actually had to deal with it then, too.:p

And I thought I had it bad when I couldn't ride for a MONTH due to winter and a business trip.

It's up around 50 to 55 here today and I'm out in the sun washing a couple of bikes and have a new set of handlebars to install.....:D

Errrr... they can't ban my account for being pompous and rubbing in the weather can they?:eek:

I live in Norton, about 10 miles west of Akron. The TV guy said Akron got 16 inches. The spot I measured in my driveway was 15 inches - but due to drifting, some places are almost hip high, so the accuracy of that measurement is questionable at best.

'78 probably was worse because of the 100mph wind gusts and drifting. Of course '78 was before I retired so I actually had to deal with it then, too.:p

I'll agree on '78 being worse. I was out on a date with my now-wife that night; her parents lived about an hour away from mine on a normal night. That night, it took me over 6 hours to get home; I spent almost 3 hours crossing a 1/2 mile overpass, running as far into the snow as I could go, digging out and repeating. It's amazing what being young and in love will lead you to do! :D I'm a lot wiser now; instead of fighting a blizzard in a Mustang II, this time I stayed home and just watched the snow cover my 4WD pickup instead. Tomorrow, though, I guess I have to face the snow - my daughter's got an indoor soccer game at noon.
- Bob

And I thought I had it bad when I couldn't ride for a MONTH due to winter and a business trip.


Here's a couple pictures to give you an idea of what you missed:rolleyes: I took this one out my front door last night around 8:00pm. It didn't quit snowing until this afternoon.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c30/uowenba/DSC01332.jpg


This is part of the "snow removal crew":D We parked the six cars in the driveway yesterday when it started snowing to help keep the driveway clear but we still had plenty to shovel.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c30/uowenba/DSC01333.jpg

Hi, Beverly.
I took a different approach to snow removal - I'm going to let Mother Nature clean up her own mess! I'll have one of my sons clear off the porch and steps, but after that, all I'm going to do is clean off my hood, windows and lights, put the truck in 4WD and go. It's supposed to get into the 40's Tuesday and Wednesday; that should take care of most of it. My wife and son shouldn't need to go anywhere until then anyway, which is good since the snow's too deep for either a ZX2 or a Mustang.
- Bob

My daughter in Canton is getting this one. We've already had three similar to it this year, didn't need a fourth.

Time for this stuff to stop.

My daughter in Canton is getting this one. We've already had three similar to it this year, didn't need a fourth.

Time for this stuff to stop.

Hey, it's supposed to be in the 50's by Thursday:) That will probably cause some major flooding around here since the rivers were already overflowing when this storm hit. It will be some time before the river bike trail is dry:(

I'll second the time to stop part - although in all honesty, here in SW Ohio we rarely get anything even close to this. Usually we wind up with maybe two or three inches of snow and the whole area goes into panic mode - 20 minute commutes turn into hours-long endurance trials, people rush to the grocery stores to buy enough food for a month, etc. I don't understand why they don't just look at it and figure that in a couple of days (at the most!) the roads will be fine again; while I'm sure they're not up to Paoli's standards, the road crews here do a pretty good job clearing away the snow.
- Bob

Hi, Beverly.
I took a different approach to snow removal - I'm going to let Mother Nature clean up her own mess! I'll have one of my sons clear off the porch and steps, but after that, all I'm going to do is clean off my hood, windows and lights, put the truck in 4WD and go. It's supposed to get into the 40's Tuesday and Wednesday; that should take care of most of it. My wife and son shouldn't need to go anywhere until then anyway, which is good since the snow's too deep for either a ZX2 or a Mustang.
- Bob

That sounds like a good plan. I wouldn't have any problems getting my van out of the driveway but the granddaughters all own small cars and they couldn't make it. They had a tough time getting them out of the drive so we could clear it today. The city hasn't been around to clear our street yet:(

The city came through Thursday night and salted our street. We're on a cul-de-sac off of a secondary street; I'll be surprised if they come back through before Sunday night. It's a minor inconvenience for us; we've got three grocery stores within walking distance, so supplies aren't a problem. In the worst case scenario, I can just call in to the office and tell them I'm working from home. I'm more concerned about facing the wrath of a teenage daughter not making it to a soccer game tomorrow! :o
- Bob