Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Come on winter

Maybe it's me but I am looking foward to snow riding and cooler tempps. I love it. The trails empty out and the rides are always awsome!!! Anyone else the same?

yes, but I'm torn. When it gets into the deeper snow storms It takes me an 1.5 hours each way on my commute to a 12 hour shift. That starts to wear...
The YES! part is making first track in/during snow storms and last year I was riding at the start and thru most of the Christmas blizzard. About 515am the lights started to come on in some houses and I realised it was the houses with kids! I heard a couple of squeals that morning, too.

Okay.

I AM looking forward to cooler weather and snow! Need to replace the cheap-o studs with Nokians this year...

Not me, thanks. I don't mind sweating, but I just hate shivering.

yes, but I'm torn. When it gets into the deeper snow storms It takes me an 1.5 hours each way on my commute to a 12 hour shift. That starts to wear...
The YES! part is making first track in/during snow storms and last year I was riding at the start and thru most of the Christmas blizzard. About 515am the lights started to come on in some houses and I realised it was the houses with kids! I heard a couple of squeals that morning, too.

Okay.

I AM looking forward to cooler weather and snow! Need to replace the cheap-o studs with Nokians this year...

Maybe they thought you were Santa on a bike..LOL.... That would be fun to do...hmmmmmmmm

I am looking forward to taking a very grim, New-Englandy satisfaction in slooowly pedaling my way through the snow past yet another non-working MBTA trolley or bus.

Nope. I only do Winter because it occurs every year. I'd prefer to live in perpetual Spring...

The thing I despise most about Winter is the winds.

I sortof do reverse hybernation... summer drives me indoors but Fall and winter puts me back out. Thankfully I live in a place were winter riding is awesome. I rode my mountain bike sunday...it started out overcast and cool and by the time the sun came out it was still a nice pleasant 78 (and I was on my downhill). perfect day. Today - ugh - back to summer, low 90's! :( When Fall finally kicks in temps will be between 60 - 75 degrees. Perfect riding weather!!!

ah yes, the fun solitude of winter riding and snow. alleady working on my winter commuter bike and can't wait to try it out on the snowy roads on my way to work. since i ride to work at 4am in a very rural area, down a long country road, i can't wait to blaze trail in the white stuff.

Winter in the PNW means 8 hour daylight (if you can call a dull grey that's just a little brighter than night time "daylight") and 20 day stretches of constant drizzle at a temperature just far enough above freezing that it isn't quite sleet, but it's not really rain, either.
At least there's less people on the MUP.

not looking forward to it since I have to ride regardless of the weather and road conditions - slushy roads and strong winds suck. I do enjoy the quiet, the cold, and if I'm lucky the smell of wood burning.
I also lost most of my weight during the winter because everything is that much harder.

Maybe it's me but I am looking foward to snow riding and cooler tempps. I love it. The trails empty out and the rides are always awsome!!! Anyone else the same?

For some reason, I am also ready for some winter riding already this year. It is like another sport sometimes.

... Brad

I bought some cyclocross tires for my hybrid. I used a MTB last year but sold it to make room for a couple road bikes I found.

Maybe it's me but I am looking foward to snow riding and cooler tempps. I love it. The trails empty out and the rides are always awsome!!! Anyone else the same?

Winter? Heck after the wettest June-JUly-August period on record, I'm still waiting for summer...... Snow, cold, salt all over everything, naw, I do want a trainer though......

Fall is the best. It's pretty and cool and not too many people around.

Yes, I'm ready. Winter in Florida is delightful riding weather. Summer can be quite oppressive sometimes.

Not me, thanks. I don't mind sweating, but I just hate shivering.

It's not the shivering I mind, but the ice. The Historian don't play that! :)

Winter? Heck after the wettest June-JUly-August period on record, I'm still waiting for summer...... Snow, cold, salt all over everything, naw, I do want a trainer though......

Summer in Ontario is the time of bad sledding:)

What is this snow of which you speak?

I'm looking forward to days not in the 100's. July and August in Texas is an inferno, and so far September has been outstanding, with the exception of the hurricane thingy.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_kona/vinterskog.sized.jpg

I'm split on the issue too, but it does feel good to make the first tracks in a scene like that :-)

(cellphone pic, forgive the quality)

winter means no road riding and alot of night MTB riding. must say im not that excited. but its freaking awesome that the trails stay much clearer. but when your blasting down the trails and hit the ice, the ground is about the same consistency as asphalt. :injured:

Winter = bleccch!

If the winter is dry and cold then I'll dress warmly and keep on pedaling. But if winter is as snowy, icy, and snowy and icy like last winter, forget it. I couldn't believe it when my favourite bike paths were snowed under until May! Hideous.

Not me, thanks. I don't mind sweating, but I just hate shivering.


Move to South Florida where I am and you'll change your mind. August and September are brutal!!! Cannot wait for that first cold front to sweep the humidity away!!!

Winter = bleccch!

If the winter is dry and cold then I'll dress warmly and keep on pedaling. But if winter is as snowy, icy, and snowy and icy like last winter, forget it. I couldn't believe it when my favourite bike paths were snowed under until May! Hideous.

I think it's finally starting to dry out a little, only one day in the next 14 where it looks like rain, of course it would be the Saturday..... :notamused:

Was going to do a nice long ride today, but someone gave us a pair of Jays Tickets, when they couldn't go, so we went and saw the game (vs The Red Sox ) instead, was a game worth seeing, they won 6-3.... I can never understand people who walk out of a game before the end, not only can you miss something important, but it's disrespectful of the teams on the field..... In This case BJ did a fine job, and there were no ninth inning surprises, but still..... I like the Jays as entertainment, because it's still affordable, as long as you don't eat too much junk, and stay away from the beer.

I did get in a short ride, noticed some of the trees changing already, and some dried leaves blowing around in the streets, been cold at night a few times as well. I think the days are numbered on this season,. were soon going to have to pick between this :winter: and this :winter2:

For some reason, I am also ready for some winter riding already this year. It is like another sport sometimes.

... Brad

Funny how that works, but yes it is like a whole new spot at times!

I can ride so much farther and faster in cool weather. Heat kills me.

I'm going to ride as long as I feel comfortable and can brake safely. That said, they don't plow the MUPs around here, so once there's a lot of snow and ice my routes will be severely cut back.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_kona/vinterskog.sized.jpg

I'm split on the issue too, but it does feel good to make the first tracks in a scene like that :-)

(cellphone pic, forgive the quality)
Pictures like that bring back fond memories of growing up in the northeast and playing in the snow. But then I come back to my senses and remember the reality of day after day of dealing with snow. Moved South 26 years ago and haven't regretted it at all.

I had to use my tights on Saturday for the first time since spring, but only because I was riding on roads that were several thousand feet higher than home.

This will be my first winter doing the bicycle thing. What advice do you vetrans have for us beginers. I live in the upper south, so we do get snow and cold blowing winds. The bad part is that when we get snow it usually melts during the day and then freezes as ice at night. What kind of tires should I use on my hybrid? What bicycle clothing do you recommend? Any issues that I should be aware of?

Wade

I can ride so much farther and faster in cool weather. Heat kills me.

I'm going to ride as long as I feel comfortable and can brake safely. That said, they don't plow the MUPs around here, so once there's a lot of snow and ice my routes will be severely cut back.

What is also an issue is that they often don't clear bike lanes :notamused:, and curb lanes end up much narrower then normal, if you get a good dumping, like we got about weekly last winter, they get even narrower. I quit road riding after the first chemical snow remover (salt) is applied, typically after about 3 flakes have fallen on major routes, both steel and aluminum bike frames/components can be severely damaged by this material -- not sure about Ti, but CF should be okay -- as my bike has an AL frame, I opt out.

As for the MUPs perhaps you should consider winter tires for winter riding, MEC has the Schwalbe Snow Stud tire in both 26" and 700x38mm sizes for $48 a tire. For a long time, studded tires were illegal in Ontario, but this has been changed, if you live North of Parry Sound, you can get and use studded tires, for cars, not sure if the Northern Ontario thing applies to bicycles or not. Really I don't think most police officers or the legislators even thought of bicycles when it comes to studded tires, I can't find a reference in the HTA so, I can't tell how it's worded (whether it's vehicle or motor vehicle) and whether the language is inclusive or exclusive.

Considering there are no limits as to where Northern residents can drive with their studded tires, I'm guessing that it probably simply prohibits the sale of studded tires to Southerners, and when they can be used. Personally I think we would be better off to allow drivers to use studded tires, and get rid of the idea that we must eliminate every last bit of snow from the roads at all times of the year,

Winter can hold off a while, thanks. Today was my first commute, and I am not ready for winter riding (yet).

Yea I just moved into a new house in a different part of town and I am curious how the MUP will be. I figure as long as it's no more than 3 inches I will just take the winter commuter.... after that I will see what it's like... I love MTB riding in deep snow/drifts but commuting 13-14 miles in it before class could be bad! Either way I am excited and am looking forward to the snow!

Yea I just moved into a new house in a different part of town and I am curious how the MUP will be. I figure as long as it's no more than 3 inches I will just take the winter commuter.... after that I will see what it's like... I love MTB riding in deep snow/drifts but commuting 13-14 miles in it before class could be bad! Either way I am excited and am looking forward to the snow!


If it helps, my summer commuting times of anywhere from 24 to 40 minutes for 10miles go up to about 1 1/2 for wid-winter and 4-5 inches of fresh stuff. I run studded so piles of fresh contribute alot to slower times. Well, that and the big ol' puffy studded tires! Quite the difference from slicks on MTB/Fixed skinnies to 2" studded knobbies. Oh well. Makes for a better/faster spring for me compared to others it seems. Not as much ground lost over the winter to make up come Spring.

*edit*
not sure where your at but they plow the MUP. Its really nice but with the ice its wise to run studs. Last year I almost made it to Thanksgiving before mounting them.

I've never run studs in the past, I guess I will find out shortly if I need it! Thanks for the ETA quotes