Where as the formerly held popular belief that Inuit have thirty seven thousand different words for snow, has been debunked, it is recoginized by all of us in northern climes that there are several kinds of snow, snow pack, layers of one frozen or semifrozen layer on top of another. Each configuration of frozen and liquid water presents the winter cyclist with its own nuanced experience: pleasures, chalenges, and tribulations.
I think that we know and appreciate many common conditions, but have to laboriously spell out each one, every time that we want to tell about it. This can be fun, as a good description is close to being poetry. But other times, the chronicler will refer to something like "rutts". No further description given. We all sort of know the surface condition to which the writer is refering. But how closely?
Rutts can be made from snow, that displaces easily or erratically as a bike tire cuts through it. Some are ice. Some are straight pathways in which we can easily ride. Others are treacherous because they criss-cross in a jumble or because they are covered with one or more layers of snow or slush. Then there are the inverted rutts, or casts of tire tracks which have almost as many variations.
I don't think we need our own language, exactly, but I would like to read other exteem season cyclists' favorite words to describe what they have come across in their adventures. Possibly a few favorites could enter our day to day lexicon.
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I got one "slop" a word that describes melting snow,water,sand,salt and oil all mixed into one.Some say "road slop".
EXAMPLE
I was riding to work one day and I came upon a huge section of slop,It was flying all over me and the bike. YUK!!
I would like see a few more to make interesting.But not to many then it would become stupid.
PLEASE NO AOL SLOP!!!
Chi
Just stay dry. nuf sed.
Guest
BRRRRRR! When a cold wind gust hits.
Does that count?
Koffee
Zin
KRACKLE...
The snow and yuck that has been tossed onto the edge of the road by pasing snow plows and cars when slushy and has refrozen. :)
Msngr
Snotcicles
the icicles that hang from one's mustache
Mtn Mike
Here are two the come to mind:
1)
"Buy a tree", as was demonstrated by one member of the mountain bike ride crew the other night.
Def: To navigate uncontrollably into a tree
usage: It was so icy that I couldn't stay on the trail. I bought a tree before hitting the ice
2)
"Winey B#tch"
Def: The rider on a group ride who is having the worst go of it on that particular ride. Pertains more to winter biking because times are tougher.
usage: Joe is the official winey b#tch tonight; he has been complaining about this ride ever since he bought that tree
iceratt
1)
"Buy a tree", as was demonstrated by one member of the mountain bike ride crew the other night.
Def: To navigate uncontrollably into a tree
usage: [I]It was so icy that I couldn't stay on the trail. I bought a tree before hitting the ice
I like "buy a tree" but if it ever applied to us city slickers, we would have an awful lot of trouble before we got to that tree! Most likely we would have bought a parked car or two, a curb, and a snow bank along the way. Thats more pain than I've ever experienced!
iceratt
So far, I like slop and krackle too. I might even start refering to frozen slop that has been pushed to the sideof the road as krackle slop. I personly refer to less solid krackle that I'm forced to ride through in blizzard conditions as "hay stacks", as that is what it reminds me of from white water canoeing.
Zin
OH almost forgot to post this one:
SNIZZLE:
Snow and drizzle precip.
naisme
I suppose this is something I'll have to think about over the next few rides, to get an idea of what words I can come up with for winter riding. I know that the Native Americans often thought of the wind as their brother, and I have noticed, if not imagined that the wind has moods. The other day it did seem light and playful, but it turned rough and angry as it changed direction. Today it was down right spiteful. I suppose I will come up with terms for the wind.
Mtn Mike
I like "buy a tree" but if it ever applied to us city slickers, we would have an awful lot of trouble before we got to that tree! Most likely we would have bought a parked car or two, a curb, and a snow bank along the way. Thats more pain than I've ever experienced!
I guess we winter riders are more likely to "buy" just about anything, if conditions are just right. Ride on.
Zin
I guess we winter riders are more likely to "buy" just about anything, if conditions are just right. Ride on.
So true.. so true! :D
Gojohnnygo.
OH almost forgot to post this one:
SNIZZLE:
Snow and drizzle precip.
When all mixed together it could be called "SLOP-KRACKLE-SNIZZLE" ;)
Thats something I could use for the freeze and refreeze conditions here.
Zin
When all mixed together it could be called "SLOP-KRACKLE-SNIZZLE" ;)
Thats something I could use for the freeze and refreeze conditions here.
Hmm.. SKS... we would really keep the rest of the world wondering what meant.... :p They should be careful, they may catch it and there is no cure... :D
mtessmer
I think the thing that bothers me the most about winter riding is the "brown sugar" (snow, sand, salt mixture made my heavy traffic after a fresh snow fall). It drags you down to almost a stop. No fun.
cerewa
(((I think the thing that bothers me the most about winter riding is the "brown sugar" (snow, sand, salt mixture made my heavy traffic after a fresh snow fall). It drags you down to almost a stop. No fun.)))
my bike doesn't like brown sugar. :p i can't keep my chain greased, and the stuff attaches itself to my fenders. it doesn't make me stop, by any means, but it sure does make me slower.
If i don't clean it off, it freezes solid between frame, fenders, and wheels and has to be forcibly removed (my wrench worked ok) before the wheels will turn.
Ed Holland
When all mixed together it could be called "SLOP-KRACKLE-SNIZZLE"
Thats something I could use for the freeze and refreeze conditions here.
I like it, but rearrange and you have SNIZZLE KRACKLE AND SLOP which as we all know is the favourite breakfast cereal of the winter cyclist :rolleyes:
Sorry...
Ed
Gojohnnygo.
I like it, but rearrange and you have SNIZZLE KRACKLE AND SLOP which as we all know is the favourite breakfast cereal of the winter cyclist :rolleyes:
Sorry...
EdI must be getting old that brings back memories when I was a kid.
Rice Krispies are still my favorite.
Here is link to some fun facts about the Snap! Crackle! Pop! gang. http://www.kelloggs.com/kelloggco/our_company/marketing_characters/snapcracklepop.html
Gojohnnygo.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about winter riding is the "brown sugar" (snow, sand, salt mixture made my heavy traffic after a fresh snow fall). It drags you down to almost a stop. No fun.
Brown sugar is a good one. I like it! I had some Brown sugar on my way into work today and it does drag you down.
Coda1
Snirt - Combination of snow and dirt. Common around here because the farmers all plow their fields in the fall and the dirt blows off onto the snow.
Car Turds - The hard piles of ice and snow that builds up behind the wheels on cars and then falls off.
Zin
I like "SNIRT" :)
MadCat
Slurpee - the different grades of wet slush. "It's all slurpee out there"
I like brown-sugar and car-turds. You just know right away what they are when talking about winter.
Ed Holland
Well, even if the Inuit don't actually have so many words for snow after all, we Brits do have a few words to describe rain:
Rain
drizzle
Mizzle (misty drizzle)
Shower (also April Shower)
Squall
(...its raining...) Cats and dogs
(...its raining...) Stair rods
Bucketing down
(its) siling down
(its) lashing down
(its) P***ing down
A bit off topic really, since this particular atmospheric phenomenon is not exclusive to the winter months here in the UK. It can be cold wet grey and miserable at any time of year :rolleyes:
Cheers,
Ed
LittleBigMan
Where as the formerly held popular belief that Inuit have thirty seven thousand different words for snow, has been debunked...
I don't think we need our own language, exactly, but I would like to read other exteem season cyclists' favorite words to describe what they have come across in their adventures. Possibly a few favorites could enter our day to day lexicon.
I think I follow you. But I have just one question, first: what is, "snow?"
Juha
I don't think we need our own language, exactly, but I would like to read other exteem season cyclists' favorite words to describe what they have come across in their adventures. Possibly a few favorites could enter our day to day lexicon.
"HEY!" *crash*
That's my favorite word when I came across an icy patch round the next corner. I rarely have time to say anything more descriptive (I don't think short expletives can be considered "more descriptive"). But I think combined with the tone of voice and the visual presentation it conveys a lot more than your average, everyday "hey".
--J
mtessmer
Snirt - Combination of snow and dirt. Common around here because the farmers all plow their fields in the fall and the dirt blows off onto the snow.
Car Turds - The hard piles of ice and snow that builds up behind the wheels on cars and then falls off.
Yep, those are good and I'm familiar with them. We also refer to car turds as car poops. That snirt isn't real attractive stuff.
Gojohnnygo.
Car Turds - The hard piles of ice and snow that builds up behind the wheels on cars and then falls off.
Car Turds Thats a good one.
Last year I almost had a football size car turd take me out on my way home. I was approaching a large bump and their was a car coming in the other direction. The car hit the bump and the turd came out from under car heading right at me. It slid passed me just missing my front tire. :eek:
mike
How about "Ice Spice" for the salt slush that sprays up at you. It tastes salty.
Sometimes I mistake the spray for a new snowflake on my face and give it a lick - YaHEEEE. Pickle. :p
carrot
can be something else, once my navy coat got an orange stripe up the back
iceratt
can be something else, once my navy coat got an orange stripe up the back
And ever since, they've called you carrot. Though you look like a mysterious super hero!