Northern California - I hate this time of year.

It never fails to rain on the weekend.

Joel

Try living over here. We got 10" of snow last week, lows as low as -11 and highs in the single digits for several days. It is snowing again right now and unlike rain, when it stops it won't just go away and it is still cold. So what we do is come over your way and ride in the rain if necessary. :( Hoping for a few dry days in the 40's or 50's next week to ride in Sacto/Folsom/Auburn/Foothils. :)

Cabin Fever

It never fails to rain on the weekend.

Add to that the holidays and accompanying feasting, plus i don't know about anyone else, but cold weather seems to trigger an overwhelming craving for starchy foods in me.

Oh, yeah - and there's like 2 hours of daylight, it feels like.

On the plus side, I love looking at the Christmas lights.

'Tis the season...

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs228.snc1/7516_140162764764_630899764_2463717_6958510_n.jpg

I looked outside, and it's not raining. Then I looked at the radar map and saw the massive blob of green, orange and red moving in. No matter which option I choose it is going to suck. At least with trainer I can catch up on all the programs accumulated on my DVR.

'Tis the season...

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs228.snc1/7516_140162764764_630899764_2463717_6958510_n.jpg

My wife is on the trainer right now. My turn comes later.

If I may be so bold to ask, how does one maintain balance while on a set of rollers? I understand with a trainer it's easy since it's holding you up, but the rollers don't seem to show any signs of holding your bike up...?

And yes I also hate this time of the year, was planning on going on my group ride today and Joel's training ride tomorrow... but today the weather is looking too iffy (Weather.com says 100% chance of rain, but it isn't raining, but there's still a considerable amount of gloomy clouds above and the pavement is still quite wet...)

Oh well :(

I'm fortunate to have a bike with fenders. I'll layer on the wool, throw on a rain jacket and be good to go.

Er, once I get my motivation up. :o

I'm fortunate to have a bike with fenders. I'll layer on the wool, throw on a rain jacket and be good to go.

Er, once I get my motivation up. :o


Do you have studs for it too? I mean aside from Leebob. :)

wizeazz. :rolleyes: Nope, no studs on Pokey's tires. Unless goathead thorns count. :p

If I may be so bold to ask, how does one maintain balance while on a set of rollers? I understand with a trainer it's easy since it's holding you up, but the rollers don't seem to show any signs of holding your bike up...?(

Magic? I'm not sure. I think you're basically just constantly falling over one way or the other, but correcting the fall by steering/leaning (hips). The higher the cadence, the easier it is. It takes a few minutes to get it, then a few sessions to be totally comfortable. I like to ride mine when I'm watching football or something on TV. When it goes to commercial, I hammer as hard as I can and then recover and repeat next commercial break!

I looked outside, and it's not raining. Then I looked at the radar map and saw the massive blob of green, orange and red moving in. No matter which option I choose it is going to suck. At least with trainer I can catch up on all the programs accumulated on my DVR.

Yup, I thought there was going to be a break in the rain this morning and I could at least get a short ride in... but NOPE, its already sprinkling... bummer. I hate the trainer but maybe I can do 30 minutes... ugh!

Californians are so spoiled. This is one of the few states where most cyclists do not own rain jackets.

I just need to get some fenders.

I'm willing to bike commute in the rain and cold, all bundled up in the pre-dawn cold. I even sort of enjoy it. But for some reason i just can't get motivated to ride for fun in the rain.
Maybe the trainer later today... Maybe a nap..

Dark
Endless
Cold
Ennui
Malaise
Blues
Eternal
Relentless

Does
Endless
Cold
Ever
Make
Better
Endurance
Riders
?

I'm willing to bike commute in the rain and cold, all bundled up in the pre-dawn cold. I even sort of enjoy it. But for some reason i just can't get motivated to ride for fun in the rain.
Maybe the trainer later today... Maybe a nap..

Well said. I'm toying with the idea of taking the commuter out and just tooling around in puddles for fun, but forget a full ride.

I just need to get some fenders.

I think you saw them on my bike during Mt. Hamilton ride, but can't say enough good things about crud racers. If they fit. I wish the rear one could fit, the front one is damn awesome! The best part they go under the brakes so no crud accumulating on them.

P.S. If anyone is handy with tools and molding plastic etc, do let me know.

Californians are so spoiled. This is one of the few states where most cyclists do not own rain jackets.

I own one. Have for years. I've just never used it. :D

Unfortunately, they've been out of stock for a month now! I might have to break down and get the SKS ones.

Have checked PBK?

Joel, I think you should post this thread on the Pacific Northwest discussion group. Should get a lot of laughs. I posted on one PNW thread asking how could they ride in the rain all the time. Someone shot back an answer, " same way that you ride in the heat. Don't know how you do that". Gotta feel sorry for the PNW guys. If they have three consecutive days of clear, weather in June, July, or August, they consider that their entire summer. It it gets over 85º they are dying.
However, having said all that, I'm with you. I hate to ride in the rain.

Have checked PBK?

They're out too.

wow they are really popular. If you were in the area I could have given my rear one since it doesn't fit my bike. :(
Oh and I recommend against SKS, what a POS fenders. The Planet Bike are somewhat better.

I'd rather fatten up than ride indoors on a trainer :\

I like mountain biking in the rain quite a bit, just have to find the trails that can take it. Granite Bay trails are pretty much the only trails that can deal with riding on the wet dirt.

I enjoy riding in the rain, and my Riv Romulus takes fenders very easily.

It's wind that I can't stand. Eh, it's always something. ;)

Ya this is my first winter back in norcal in 5 years and my first winter here since I started cycling. The rain wasn't a big deal up until this latest storm, now I'm starting to get kind of annoyed. The biggest thing we had to deal with in vegas was the wind (constant relentless year-around wind) but at least with wind I could just HTFU and deal with it. Rain is something that I just can't get motivated to deal with. Oh well, on the trainer I go!

btw- Weather reports show monday being clear. Hopefully I can get in a good ride then before the NEXT storm hits.

Forecast is showing showers tomorrow afternoon. I might go out and ride in the mess.

I was thinking this when driving home from an appointment today.

We have a lot of trees here. Beautiful trees. However, when the storms come, the leaves come off, clog the drains, and the streets flood. Bike lanes are either under an inch of leaves, with who knows what ready to destroy your tires hidden under them, or flooded with water that is high enough to also cover the sidewalk.

Sucks.

On that note, I bought a skewer today so I can put my road bike on the trainer (I used to have my mountain bike on there, but the knobbly tires were far too loud).

Nancys

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SyRqEMko6ZI/AAAAAAAAIjA/2tmJJcctKgs/s800/PC120585.JPGhttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SyRqESTTR-I/AAAAAAAAIjI/RDkDtiJTplw/s800/PC120592.JPG

Riding a steel Merckx in the rain? I thought that was what CF bikes were invented for!

I was so wimpy yesterday. I did the most lay 50 minutes on the trainer. No spinervals, just ... of all things... Nick and Nora's Endless Playlist on the laptoip via NetFlix watch now. Yep, teen romantic comedy while spinning. Still, that's marginally more healthy than drinking beer and watching football.

I was so wimpy yesterday. I did the most lay 50 minutes on the trainer. No spinervals, just ... of all things... Nick and Nora's Endless Playlist on the laptoip via NetFlix watch now. Yep, teen romantic comedy while spinning. Still, that's marginally more healthy than drinking beer and watching football.



Don't feel too bad... I watched that while on rollers the other day.

As for the question about riding on rollers. It's just like riding on the road in how it feels. The main difference is that you have only 20 inches to move side to side. It does take some getting used to! But it will make you ride straighter and smoother on the road. Here's a link to a video of a friend on rollers. He's much better than I am! I can barely take one hand off the bars to wipe the sweat from my brow... :twitchy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APDy5sNSlDQ

I can't use rollers. Nerve damage in my right shoulder leaves me a little twitchy.

I've got some Performance points saved up and may use them to get some SKS Raceblades. I think it will bring the price to about $40. Really need the front fender to help keep my feet sorta drier.

Nothing like a little sunshine to make life good again. I can now officially ride up and down my drive way. :thumb:


http://www.sagebum.com/BikeForums/Cervelo12131BF.JPG


Late next week looks very good for riding in the Sacto area.

40 minutes on the trainer. That sucked.

40 minutes on the trainer. That sucked.

I'm fixing to do that shortly.

I rode today. Looked at the map and saw just green patches. Good enough for me. I couldn't bring myself to hop on a trainer again. It wasn't too bad, only really rained near Woodside. My craft booties and front fenders kept my feet relatively dry and couple Voler base layers kept the core warm. Although getting a flat really really sucked. I really small piece of glass worked it's way through and punctured the tube. I think this is because of the trainer. Maybe I should get another set of wheels, but I am so damn cheap. lol

40 minutes on the trainer. That sucked.

I did 30 minutes yesterday and it made me crazy! ICK!

I rode in the wet. Sometimes it was raining, sometimes it wasn't. I got covered in road grit, my bike got filthy, when I got home I was cold, wet, hungry, and dirty.

WAY better than riding on the trainer.

I don't mind riding in the rain, but I hate getting water thrown up on me from the wheels/tires. I want to get some CrudUSA fenders for my road bike. I have them for my mountain bike and they're awesome.

For now though, I left my bike attached to the trainer in the garage, and my wagon sleeps outside in the cold tonight.

I have lights and fenders installed on the Cinelli, and a big pile o' wool waiting for me. I'm riding in the morning, dammit.


I rode in the wet. Sometimes it was raining, sometimes it wasn't. I got covered in road grit, my bike got filthy, when I got home I was cold, wet, hungry, and dirty.After WCC this year, that's nothing. :)

HTFU: Check!

I have lights and fenders installed on the Cinelli, and a big pile o' wool waiting for me. I'm riding in the morning, dammit.

After WCC this year, that's nothing. :)

HTFU: Check!

Oh, MA-A-AN! You mean I don't get any Hardcoreness Points?

I rode in the wet. Sometimes it was raining, sometimes it wasn't. I got covered in road grit, my bike got filthy, when I got home I was cold, wet, hungry, and dirty.

WAY better than riding on the trainer.

OTOH, I hate cleaning all the crap off my bike. So as long as it's wet and miserable, the trainer is better than the road.

OTOH, I hate cleaning all the crap off my bike. So as long as it's wet and miserable, the trainer is better than the road.

There is that. When I got home I hosed off most of the sand and grit, but I'll still have to give it a serious washing and re-lube everything. But I was able to ride for 1 1/2 hours, whereas the longest I've ever managed on the trainer is about 40 minutes, AND I have difficulty keeping my HR in a useful range.

I love my sonic cleaner. Drop the chain and gears in, run it through few cycles while doing other stuff, and it comes out all nice and clean.

What's a sonic cleaner?

What's a sonic cleaner?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_cleaning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_cleaning

Thanks, BBM. I kinda suspected that's what a sonic cleaner is, but wasn't prepared to envision chains and gears going into that thing. That's pretty...convenient?