Northern California - How do you cope?

I recently moved to San Francisco and was warned about the weather, but I can't take this anymore! Granted I chose to live in the city to keep my commuting time low, but I just can't take this weather anymore. As I am writing this the wind is howling outside and it is a balmy 58 degrees. How do you people do any kind of training in this weather? I come from the midwest, and yes, it does get hot there, but at least you can ride in the morning or the evening and enjoy it. Here I have to put my arm warmers on, leg warmers, and layers of clothes just to go for a ride and then there is the fog. I went out twice last week after work and it felt like I was riding in the rain I got so wet from the fog. I need sunshine! I tried to go our on Sunday morning but couldn't take the fog and it never did get warm. I consider warm to be at least 70. Does it ever get warm? Everyone keeps telling me to hold out until September because September and October are so nice. Well, guess what its the middle of September and the weather still sucks.

So now that I am done complaining, seriously how do you cope with the weather in the city? I am open to any suggestions.

Move to Seattle! Then this weather will seem nice.

Wind is a fact of life around here - you learn to deal with it - and you learn that it is less likely to be real strong in the morning. Here in the East Bay, we don't get as much fog, so the peninsula-ites will have to chime in. Personally, I hate hot weather, so I'd much rather deal with your conditions than the 80 +, no clouds in the sky conditions out here today.

JB

I recently moved to San Francisco and was warned about the weather, but I can't take this anymore! Granted I chose to live in the city to keep my commuting time low, but I just can't take this weather anymore. As I am writing this the wind is howling outside and it is a balmy 58 degrees. How do you people do any kind of training in this weather? I come from the midwest, and yes, it does get hot there, but at least you can ride in the morning or the evening and enjoy it. Here I have to put my arm warmers on, leg warmers, and layers of clothes just to go for a ride and then there is the fog. I went out twice last week after work and it felt like I was riding in the rain I got so wet from the fog. I need sunshine! I tried to go our on Sunday morning but couldn't take the fog and it never did get warm. I consider warm to be at least 70. Does it ever get warm? Everyone keeps telling me to hold out until September because September and October are so nice. Well, guess what its the middle of September and the weather still sucks.

So now that I am done complaining, seriously how do you cope with the weather in the city? I am open to any suggestions.

Hang in there! I used to hate it, but I cherish it now. If all else fails hop on the Bart and get off in Orinda. Do the Bears and you'll get plenty of Vitamin D for the next week...That's what I do!:)

Easy..... go ride in Marin ..... btw summer in SF IS Sept/Oct/ Nov.... AND still riding is still pretty darn good (between rain storms) until the fog returns June/July.... try doin' that in the midwest....

I love the city weather. Everytime I drive to the city, the fog rolls in as I pass DC on 280, it puts a smile on my face.

You get used to it and you love it.

what part of the city do you live in? My rides starts and ends at ocean beach.

The weather is in the peninsula (like Palo Alto) and neighborhoods south of there.

You should come East a little. It was mid 80's here today.

I live in twin peaks and ride a lot in GG park and along the ocean. I will admit, I can't ride by the ocean in Ohio. The problem with getting out of the city after work, is by the time I would get anywhere it would be dark. I have ventured out on the weekends to the east bay, but don't have the time during the week. I would like to get out a least three times a week. My endurance has really suffered since moving here because I can't bring myself to get out after work with the wind and fog. Thanks for the help. It is really depressing when you are use to "summer" in the traditional sense.

After a ride in 90+ deg. Marin, I can't wait to get back to 60 deg. cool SF. Besides, no matter how you bundle up in SF, your taking it off again when you warm up. I just got back from Pacifica with short sleeves and knee warmers but just keep hammering to stay warm.

You should come West a little. It was mid 80's here today.

I hope he can swim! A little west of the City is the ocean. ;)

Never fear, it will warm up and the fog will go away. September/October/November in SF is pure bliss.

i've been to SF a few times, and every time i went it was like crystal clear warm and sunny. i guess i just got lucky, but i was expecting to see some of this (in)famous SF weather everyone keeps talking about.

You should come West a little...

Your geography is a little off.

Ugh, you're right. I meant East.

That's what I get for living most of my life on the East coast. Everything was West!

I prefer cooler weather to hotter weather, myself. It's always easier to bundle up than it is to cool off.

To the OP, I feel for you! When I use to live in the outer Sunset, I hated biking or even going out in the wet, cold fog. Worst yet was watching the nightly news saying it's 105 in Concord and yet it was a cold wet 55 degrees in SF. :wtf:

You're going to look back at this post next year and laugh.

Wait till the Winter when you're on the top of Mt. Tam and your buddies in the Midwest have resorted to riding on rollers in the basement. Maybe then a little fog in the Summer won't seem so bad. :)

I lived in the bay area for a few years and recently moved back to the valley. I'll take a 45 degree morning for a hard hill climb over this 105 degree stuff. In the valley I have to leave the house before 9am or else it's just too damn hot. In the bay area I can leave at any time of the day and never worry about overheating.

You'll learn to love it and before you know it you'll never wanna ride in any other weather.

"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." - Not Mark Twain

A fond childhood memory was going to a Giants game. Loading up the Datsun station wagon with blankets and parkas while it was 100 degrees in the Valley.

I live in twin peaks and ride a lot in GG park and along the ocean.

The good news: You are picking the windiest, foggiest place in the city to ride, so if you start riding anywhere else, it will probably be better.

The bad news: This has actually been a fairly non-windy, non-foggy summer, at least in my opinion. Maybe it's just that I've gotten used to it, but I live six blocks from the ocean and it seems to me that the weather has been pretty good this year.

Have you tried riding in the Presidio? You might like that better than the Great Highway.

Another vote for out east to the Oakland/Berkeley hills, but then again I am biased.

I can't fukcing stand our summer coastal weather either. It's so hard to motivate when it's 44 degrees and 100% humidity and you haven't seen the sun all week. Be glad you're at least in San Fran and not up here in Arcata where it really sucks balls all summer. We've had the cloudiest, wettest, foggiest summer I've ever seen. Besides maybe two weeks of nice weather, it's been in the 40's in the morning, wet all day, then sunny for five minutes as the sun sets, then it's in the 40's again. I've found the winters to be sunnier than the summers. I can't wait till November - this blows.

Scattante, We're almost neighbors. I am in Diamond Heights by the Safeway. I grew up in SF and a cold weather person, so I comfortable here. I usually wear t-shirts and shorts until the raining season. If you live here long enough (40 years or so), you'll get use to it too. The fog doesn't bothers me but the wind can be nasty. Hey, don't complain, people pay top dollars for a house with the view from Twin Peaks, even only for about 5 days a year....:lol::roflmao2: I love it when I see tour buses going up to the top of Twin Peaks when I can't even see across the street.

Hang in there! I used to hate it, but I cherish it now. If all else fails hop on the Bart and get off in Orinda. Do the Bears and you'll get plenty of Vitamin D for the next week...That's what I do!:)

One does not cope...we evolve. :D "In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment." Charles Darwin

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/IMG_1957.jpg

I recently moved to San Francisco and was warned about the weather, but I can't take this anymore! Granted I chose to live in the city to keep my commuting time low, but I just can't take this weather anymore. As I am writing this the wind is howling outside and it is a balmy 58 degrees. How do you people do any kind of training in this weather?

???? How can you not train when it's 58 degrees?
I'll take 58 degrees 365 days a year over 90-100 in the summer and 32 or lower in the winter in a heartbeat.

One does not cope...we evolve. :D "In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment." Charles Darwin

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/IMG_1957.jpg


Where'd you find that picture of a "White Ape" Very rare...well done...or is that a DoDo birdy:roflmao2:

Obviously you haven't done any rides in Marin. Once you get to Saucalito you may see the sun, but usually are guaranteed sun once you hit the Richardson Bay bike path.

After a few months you will be used to the weather and you will be thankful for it. IMO it is the perfect riding weather (minus the wind) because you can ride all year and not be drenched in sweat. Now stop complaining and go ride, just take some layers.

I recently moved to San Francisco and was warned about the weather, but I can't take this anymore!

Me too - I really miss those Iowa winters when you can feel the skin on your face freeze as soon as you open the door... and slipping on ice, and cars that won't start because the gasoline has solidified.

Oh and the summers where you can sweat like a pig while sleeping and the mosquitoes that suck your blood and then drown in your perspiration before they can fly away, and the smell of manure that permeates your clothes... I'm getting homesick.

I recently moved to San Francisco and was warned about the weather, but I can't take this anymore! Granted I chose to live in the city to keep my commuting time low, but I just can't take this weather anymore. As I am writing this the wind is howling outside and it is a balmy 58 degrees. How do you people do any kind of training in this weather? I come from the midwest, and yes, it does get hot there, but at least you can ride in the morning or the evening and enjoy it. Here I have to put my arm warmers on, leg warmers, and layers of clothes just to go for a ride and then there is the fog. I went out twice last week after work and it felt like I was riding in the rain I got so wet from the fog. I need sunshine! I tried to go our on Sunday morning but couldn't take the fog and it never did get warm. I consider warm to be at least 70. Does it ever get warm? Everyone keeps telling me to hold out until September because September and October are so nice. Well, guess what its the middle of September and the weather still sucks.

So now that I am done complaining, seriously how do you cope with the weather in the city? I am open to any suggestions.

I've lived in California all my life (52 years) I ride almost everyday unless it rains or forecast of rain. I've ridden when the temp has hit 26 degrees and have ridden in the 90's + Quit whinning! This is the best kind of weather to ride. Or, buy the right gear.

Where'd you find that picture of a "White Ape" Very rare...well done...or is that a DoDo birdy:roflmao2:

That kit started out all blue, then Pete spent a week on Seal Rock.


I grew up in SF so I was used to the different climates depending on where I was in the city. Out in the Sunset or Richmond it can be fog central but ride over to the Mission and it's sunny. Over time you will fine tune your warm clothes to know what to expect. A vest and decent arm & knee or leg warmers to start with since you'll be shedding them once you make it across the bridge. It's a trade off vs other parts of the country but yeah, what exactly is this stuff I hear about called snow?

Low here the next few days is 4c. 58f cold? wtf?

I'll take a 45 degree morning for a hard hill climb over this 105 degree stuff. In the valley I have to leave the house before 9am or else it's just too damn hot. In the bay area I can leave at any time of the day and never worry about overheating.

You'll learn to love it and before you know it you'll never wanna ride in any other weather.

+1 . When your descending at 35mph and not cooling down because the wind is so hot and the pavement has some much heat to it, its not very nice.

I've only been in CA for 2 years though, after 27 in Michigan. I've only been to the bay half a dozen times, but only once was their no fog! Of course it was about 40 degrees warmer here in Sac when I got home though...

Riding in the winter more than makes up for it.

Probably takes a few weeks to get used to the temperature here. 58F is a very nice temperature to ride in (once you're warmed up).

The real solution is to come on one of our group rides, the great company (despite all the teasing here) will make you forget about the fog. :D

How do I deal? Oh, you mean with the stifling heat of summer? Why, I drive to the Bay area on a regular basis so I can ride where the weather and scenery are pleasant. Yes, cool and foggy is pleasant!

:)

It takes about a year to adjust. After moving here from LA in the summer, I expected to freeze to death; now it's all good.

.....After moving here from LA in the summer, I expected to freeze to death....

:roflmao2:

For some reason, that's killing me....hahah...

Move to Seattle! Then this weather will seem nice.

I was gonna say the same. I could never live in SF because I escaped the Northwest to have the beautiful Peninsula/South Bay weather (as far as I'm concerned there is no better climate!).

That said, at least when it's not raining in SF, it's sunny. Seattle is drabsville year-round.

If you already hate the weather in SF, you'll be moving down to the Peninsula in no time. Start scoping out your favorite areas. Do your commute a favor and find a place convenient to a train station :)

The real solution is to come on one of our group rides, the great company (despite all the teasing here) will make you forget about the fog. :D

I want to thank everyone for the advice and comments. I know I should just get out and ride. The weather has actually gotten a little better the last couple days. Too bad, I am going back to Ohio for a few days. Maybe after spending time in the humidity and heat, SF weather won't seem so bad. Ms. Incredible, I am looking for others to ride with, too. I think it would help me find more places to ride in the city and beyond. Let me know when the next one is.

With the BART/Caltrain infrastructure at your disposal, you can pretty much ride anywhere you want. Not that there's nowhere to ride in SF itself, but you needn't limit yourself, either. :)

Keep your eye out for rides (posted in this forum) that you think are doable for you, and go for it. It's fun.

When I stepped off the plane into San Jose's beautiful 70 degree weather at sunset yesterday, I couldn't have been happier to have escaped the 98 degree Vegas furnace :)

When I stepped off the plane into San Jose's beautiful 70 degree weather at sunset yesterday, I couldn't have been happier to have escaped the 98 degree Vegas furnace :)

Ahmmm....I thought people go to Vegas to stay indoors? What healthy fun could you possibly have outdoors in Vegas?!? :lol:

When I stepped off the plane into San Jose's beautiful 70 degree weather at sunset yesterday, I couldn't have been happier to have escaped the 98 degree Vegas furnace :)

Could be worse - friday I was up in Lakeport and got rained on! It was something like 57F.

Got back into the valley and it was a wonderful ~78F though :D