Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I feel for you guys up North.

I live in Florida and usually enjoy year round nice weather for cycling. But this week been highs in the 40s and lows in the upper 20s. As I do 99% of my rides between 10pm and 3am (night owl), I haven't been able to ride in a week and a half. I can't imagine having to take 2-3 months off.

It sucks. Been in the low 20's here in Central PA for a couple of weeks now. Snow showers everyday. Plus the roads are covered with cinders which make road riding in these parts a bit hairy in the winter to begin with. MTB trails are snow covered and the forest roads to get to the trail heads are iced over. I have been relegated to the trainer in the basement and the YMCA. In the past 5 years we usually had a few days or a week in the 40's which is ridable in these parts. Come on spring!!

I can't imagine having to take 2-3 months off.

As stated in other threads, there is no bad riding weather, only bad clothing choices. I commute year round and some of the best commutes are cold weather ones. If you have the proper gear there is no need to take any time off.

The actual temperatures are not too bad (low Teens each day in the morning). What has kept me off the bike the last two days is the nearly non-stop Lake Effect snow. The main parts of the roads are finally clear as of mid day today, but the sides are a mess. The problem is that I can ride on the roads, but I realy prefer to stay enough out of the way that people don't have to go through too much effort to pass me. I know I have the legal right to be on the road, but I get no joy out of slowing everyone down. Not to mention I am on snow tires and get descent grip, there are plenty of fools out there with well worn all season tires whose cars go slipping and sliding all over the place then they have to cross over the snow that is right in the middle of the road. That makes passing me on my biek quite dangerous for them and then also for me. Things are looking better for tomorrow and the day after. I am commited to winter riding, but I am now suicidal. Hopefully the sun will start to come out again in the next few days, that always helps get the roads in good order in only a few hours.

Happy riding,
André

The snow and cold makes even the short rides more fun IMO!!

High 20's doesn't have to keep you in. Get some gloves and sweatpants, wrap an old t-shirt over your ears, under the helmet. I rode this morning and afternoon. Once you bundle up a bit, it isn't bad. It's not like there's snow and ice on the roads--go for it!

Who takes time off the bike? That's silly. I just got my announcement for the Feb 13th iCycle Race.

I find a little time off helps rejuvenate me and keeps me from burning out. Plus it's a good time to hit the weight room and do other activities (indoor sports or snow sports).

it sucks here in Omaha. Just got back from xmas vacation in California and there was 2-4 ft of snow on the driveway. temps in single digits, expecting more snow. I may need to pull out the rollers and burn some time in front of the TV. Power to everyone willing to pedal in these cold temps.

Once you have all the proper clothing, going out at even -40 is fun... Well maybe from 5 minutes after going out is.

I live in central Florida and it has been a lot colder here recently than typical. I decided to go ahead and ride the bike the last couple of days in what I would consider frigid 30-40 degree weather :-). Well, you have to understand that it has been in the 80s here up until about a month ago and the 90s not long before that, and the average high this time of year is like 72. I personally am just not used to the cooler weather and much prefer the heat and humidity. My wife called me crazy and my co-workers called me a fanatic. Oh well, they are all probably right. Anyway, I decided to give it a try. So, I reviewed the forum concerning what everyone wears to ride in the cooler climates and tried to adapt my wardrobe. I put on the sweat pants, layered a couple of long sleeve shirts under a wind breaker, put on gloves over the biking gloves and wore an ear cover headband. I commuted 35 miles each day, and by golly, it was not that bad!

I feel for you guys down south. Biking in the snow is an experience every cyclist should have. :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2646/4242698505_e55db9ceff_m.jpg

You guys riding in the snow. Do you ride clipless? I was thinking of taking the MTB on the road where the cinders wouldn't matter as much and would even give me more traction in the snow covered spots. Clothing is not an issue for me, it is more of a safety issue. I don't trust the people in the vehicles with motors...

I ride clipless exclusively. Winter wise it does get uncomfortable if you can't trust the drivers' around in to drive reasonably in the snow. Areas not generally prone to snow are most affected by this obviously. If you've never been out in the snow, by all means go out and give 'er, even if on your own street or a parking lot somewhere, it's a hoot!!!

I'd ride if it was above 20f. the forties sound good to me!

I feel for you guys down south. Biking in the snow is an experience every cyclist should have. :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2646/4242698505_e55db9ceff_m.jpg


Well put!

You guys riding in the snow. Do you ride clipless? I was thinking of taking the MTB on the road where the cinders wouldn't matter as much and would even give me more traction in the snow covered spots. Clothing is not an issue for me, it is more of a safety issue. I don't trust the people in the vehicles with motors...

I used to use toe clips. It work OK with my winter boots, but not great. This Fall I got a set of cheap Shimano SPD shoes that looked like they had minimal venting (my Summer Shimano SPD shoes are largely made of mesh so they retain no heat at all). I already had the Shimano double sided pedal on for the summer. So far it is working out nicely. My ride is only 5 miles so my feet stay warm enough. So far the coldest weather was about 8F one day (without wind chill). My feet were a bit cold when I got to work, but I took of my cycling shoes immediately and was fine.

The roads were finally good enough yesterday for riding, but I had a lunch time appointment that prevented me from riding. Those three days were one of the longest streaches I was off the bike in about a year. Back to riding today. It was a very pleasant (pratically felt warm) 24 F this morning. The temps are warm enough now that the road salt is nicely clearing the sides of the road. We did get about 2 feet of snow the last 4 days, but the road crews here do a remarkably good job. Back on Monday is was so cold that even with the plowing the snow would get deep and not melt in any way. When walking in the road in front of my house it was like going through sand... thick and slick (definitely not good for riding). Now back to regularly scheduled commuting on the bike!

Happy riding,
André

I feel for you guys down south, those hurricanes scare the crap outta me... I can't imagine having to deal with that year after year. Winter's a cake walk in comparison.

Riding a fixed gear in snow = skids for days!