Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Today has been fun so far!

I called in to work today with a terrible case of nice warm weather. My boss laughed and thanked me for not faking an illness to get out of work. We gotta save hours anyway. I did stop by to get everyone coffee, and to rub in their faces that I'm out and about in the nice warm weather.

It's about 16 out right now with some strong winds. People are out there walking around in their winter jackets and hats and I'm biking around in my shorts and t-shirt. I'm loving it! The only problem is the debris from the wind we've been having lately. A lot of trees have broken branches or have simply fallen over completely.

So far I've done about 13k, taking it slow for the first day, and I plan to do a bit more before the day is over. I might not be breaking any speed records but I'm riding in to strong winds, so that helps. I've gone out only a handful of times in the last couple months, so best not to push myself too hard and pull something.


Anyway, just thought I'd nip on and post this quickly. I gotta get back out before I lose the light!

Right on, I feel that I may have the same sickness soon!

man, must be contagious. I am having it now!!!! 70 degree weather and 30 mph wind. I am still riding!

Yup, I had it too.

I woke up and was planning to go for a AM run. Turned on the weather and decided to skip the run. I jumped in the shower and went into work an hour early. I got home an hour earlier and that left me just about enough time for a quick ride. I haven't been on the bike in this warm weather, since September. GREAT RIDE...wind and all! I can't wait to change the clocks so I can have more rides like this.

skipping work today to take a nice long, hard ride.

I played hookie in the middle of the day to take a ride down to the Cathedral in Newark. I just bought an early '70s Raleigh Record, which was their bottom-of-the-line drop bar bike back in the day. (I wanted a bike that was lighter and more nimble than my 43 lb errand bike, but that I wouldn't be nervous about riding around in Newark, locking up on the street, etc.) This was its maiden voyage, and boy, did riding a steel 10-speed bring back memories! (Good memories...)

It was windy! I felt like I was pedaling uphill on the downhills. (It was nice to have the wind at my back on the way home, though!)

I learned something: I put a bunch of effort into turning my old Specialized Hardrock into an upright-riding errand bike, with a sprung saddle, a stem extender, trekking bars, etc. This old 10-speed has a rock hard leather saddle on it, but I'm stretched out pretty well, and not at all upright ... and it's more comfortable than the springy saddle (except for the soreness around the sit-bones). I think being stretched out and forward takes a bunch of weight off the "taint" and puts it squarely on the sit-bones, which eliminates the need to stand up and let the blood circulate once every minute or so.

I like the upright ride of the errand bike in downtown traffic - I can keep track of what's going on much better than on either road bike. But I'm thinking of switching to a hard (maybe still sprung) saddle...

man, today the riding was incredible. Despite the 30 mph winds. Well worth taking the day away from work.

man, today the riding was incredible. Despite the 30 mph winds. Well worth taking the day away from work.

You call that wind? Up here it was reaching 60 mph. At times it felt like I was pedaling while trying to push a brick wall.

@ sinster at which point you should just go home.... serious enough is enough there is a line between dedicated cyclist and crazy person.

*cough cough* It's going around!

@ sinster at which point you should just go home.... serious enough is enough there is a line between dedicated cyclist and crazy person.

I agree 100%. Problem was I was already out when the winds really picked up.

I cut my ride short and only did 30 miles. I wanted to get in either 40 or 50. Problem with this area is the winds swirl around, and it feels like you're always going into the winds.

I agree 100%. Problem was I was already out when the winds really picked up.

I cut my ride short and only did 30 miles. I wanted to get in either 40 or 50. Problem with this area is the winds swirl around, and it feels like you're always going into the winds.


yep know the feeling, Head winds don't bother me to much what gets to me is when you get a head wind and a hard climb:notamused:

cross winds can be brutal when you are trying to steer, especially in traffic.

cross winds can be brutal when you are trying to steer, especially in traffic.

I had one the other day, that almost ripped my helmet off my head. The only thing that kept it on was the strap across my chin. I thought helmets with all their holes were supposed to let the wind pass though them. Not take the away, like a regular hat.