Winter Cycling - I miss -30F to -40F Below zero

I've had only four days around -20F Three down -27F with few days in between thats it. It's a warm day here about 32F. This really bites! I love these rides at sub zero temps.

Bring on the sub zero temps and high winds. Please

Feel free to call me a nut case. :D

This is something I look forward to come winter. The challenge to experience what so many people will never experience.

Does anybody feel the same as me?

Its exciting only to a point. I really just like to ride, the warmer the better. However, I'll turn into a fatty if I don't ride over the winter.

Heck, its just like any other winter sport. Just dress for the weather, have good equipment and you will be fine.

Feel free to call me a nut case. :D


gladly...ya nutcase. ;)

Feel free to call me a nut case. :D



you are a nutcase

Ha! :) Well, Champlain is freezing up nicely. I may go riding on ice soon. This weekend, maybe?

We're having a little warm-up. I'm hoping it clears the rail trail so I can continue riding. I'm substituting a 2.5-mile (one-way) hike to a city bus stop for commuting.

Heck, its just like any other winter sport. Just dress for the weather, have good equipment and you will be fine.

Believe me, I got more cold weather gear then most outdoor retailers do.

Bring on the sub zero temps before spring hits.

Ha! :) Well, Champlain is freezing up nicely. I may go riding on ice soon. This weekend, maybe?.

It's about 7" to 14" in Cumberland head bay, Near Plattsburgh, NY. I'm still not going to ride out there. Maybe south of Plattsburgh in the Valour Island area.

Stay safe on the ICE!

You can have those temps. Winter cycling has it's merits but I for one am ready for Spring. I too have quite a bit of winter gear and am ready to put it to bed. It is sooooooooooo nice to just throw on some shorts and a jersey and go ride. In the winter it is a major project to get dressed and undressed. Having done it nearly every day this winter, it is growing OLD.

That is the part i detest the most- all of the garb. Other than that, temperature is really pretty irrelevant if you dress correctly and cover everything up.

Ranger, You can't tell me you don't like the challenge of riding in sub zero temps? As for winter gear I got boxes full. I really need to take them down to salvation army, I have no need for them. Better put it to good use.


Remember for us spring is along ways off. You have to keep a positive attitude. :)

1/6/05(give or take a day) I did get to ride with shorts. It was like close to 50F.

Does anybody feel the same as me?

I'm with you, in the winter I like the roads nice and frozen.

The temperature has been around zero C here all week and the roads are a disaster. Our drivers favorite rush hour game is splash the bike commuter with road slurpee. Many actually go out their way to veer into the center of the road where the sludge has built up - then they speed up to ensure they get an nice big wave.

I don't find the temperature that big a deal compared to the lack of sunlight. I find myself forgetting about the cold and all the mucus that got accumulated on my scarf when the sun shines brightly. Otherwise, I just wish I was in bed sleeping.

I don't find the temperature that big a deal compared to the lack of sunlight. I find myself forgetting about the cold and all the mucus that got accumulated on my scarf when the sun shines brightly. Otherwise, I just wish I was in bed sleeping.

yeah, the sun makes all the difference.

Does anybody feel the same as me?

Meeeeeeeeeee! It was about 38-40F degrees today, but I rode despite the warm temps. The really cold rides are simply fantastic. They are just special to me for some reason. Sometimes, I enjoy the look on the faces of motorists as much as I enjoy the ride! There's nothing like zipping by a car stuck in traffic while watching the bundled up driver do a double-take. :D

[QUOTE Feel free to call me a nut case. :D

I also feel you are a nut case.... but in some strange way identify with you!!!!

There was a minute or two when I was thinking I was on the edge of going off the deep end. It's good hear I'm not alone in loving sub zero temps.

Thanks,
Johnny AKA Nut case :D

I too enjoy the cold rides.
The temp has been just above the freezing point for a few days. Everyone that knows I've been riding this winter comments how I must be enjoying the warmer weather. I definately preferred the -20c & even the -30c days to what we have now - the bike stays nice & clean, I have good traction on the packed snow & I can laugh at people who's cars don't start :)

I've got a long season of grungy roads ahead of me. Once all the snow/ice melts, we're left with tonnes of sand/gravel/salt on the roads... dusty when dry, muddy/grungy when wet. It always takes the city till well into June to get it all cleaned up.

I've had only four days around -20F Three down -27F with few days in between thats it. It's a warm day here about 32F. This really bites! I love these rides at sub zero temps.


From your neighbor on the other side of the Dacks............blah !! Last year was just to dang depressing, never ending sub zero days and god-awful -40°F nites.

Got my new winter fixie all ready to rumble, I rather have it around 0° with nice hardpack on the seconday and backroads.

http://home.twcny.rr.com/dobber/surly.jpg

Grey Candy-C pedals on the way, Monday will be the maiden commute

From your neighbor on the other side of the Dacks............blah !! Last year was just to dang depressing, never ending sub zero days and god-awful -40°F nites.

Got my new winter fixie all ready to rumble, I rather have it around 0° with nice hardpack on the seconday and backroads.


Nice pic. I've been interested in a fixie for winter commuting for some time now. Maybe next year.

I wish we had those temps for at least the weekend. We're supposed to have a high of 48F on Saturday for the Stupor Bowl! It's not even supposed to snow or rain! Where's the homefield advantage in that? I'm not going to know how to dress for it.

Meeeeeeeeeee! It was about 38-40F degrees today, but I rode despite the warm temps. The really cold rides are simply fantastic. They are just special to me for some reason. Sometimes, I enjoy the look on the faces of motorists as much as I enjoy the ride! There's nothing like zipping by a car stuck in traffic while watching the bundled up driver do a double-take. :D


This guy here (bac) talked it up so good he has me hooked on winter riding, winter night riding at that. I've been out all but a couple days since he posted his ride picks a few weeks ago. I've never felt this healthy in the dead of winter before. Thanks for the inspiration. And any of you who have not even tried extreme winter riding, give it a shot. It is not cold at all.

I too enjoy the cold rides.
The temp has been just above the freezing point for a few days. Everyone that knows I've been riding this winter comments how I must be enjoying the warmer weather. I definately preferred the -20c & even the -30c days to what we have now - the bike stays nice & clean, I have good traction on the packed snow & I can laugh at people who's cars don't start :)

I've got a long season of grungy roads ahead of me. Once all the snow/ice melts, we're left with tonnes of sand/gravel/salt on the roads... dusty when dry, muddy/grungy when wet. It always takes the city till well into June to get it all cleaned up.

The "Never to Soon to Start" Is a great pic! I love it. Very Nice. ;)

Thanks,
Johhny

Y

That is the part i detest the most- all of the garb. Other than that, temperature is really pretty irrelevant if you dress correctly and cover everything up.

I concur. The clothes get tiresome. Shorts and a T and I'm good to go. I also gotta wait for a frigging train inbetween bikes. That really sucks in the super cold when sweating. Today I get to wait in a snowstorm.

>Got my new winter fixie all ready to rumble, I rather have it around 0° with nice hardpack on the >seconday and backroads.

Nice rig! Man, that thing is CLEAN. How do you feel about messing it all up? I need to build a fixed gear machine for urban assault.

My winter machine is screwed. I can tell from the sound that all four cones are totally pitted, and the crappy pedal bushings are shot. I'm going to grind it out to spring if I can.

i have not even been bikeing a week but i biked a few miles in 0f weather and came home put bike in grage took off coat gloves bikehelmit hat and fleese pants then headed over to th freezer took out icreem and ate myself a lot righ tout of the cotainer (never did that b4 i think the bikeing made me crave somthing cold and did not want to scoop it) So going from keeping heat in to eating icream WOOT I WANT IT COLDER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

so no u arnt crazy.... you dont go home and eat icream after u just were freezing ure ass off :p

Ranger, You can't tell me you don't like the challenge of riding in sub zero temps? As for winter gear I got boxes full. I really need to take them down to salvation army, I have no need for them. Better put it to good use.


Remember for us spring is along ways off. You have to keep a positive attitude. :)

1/6/05(give or take a day) I did get to ride with shorts. It was like close to 50F.

No, I can't tell you that. As a matter of fact I even enjoy the clothing. At least the study of it and works with what. I am just sick of the drill of getting all of the clothes on every day. As a side note, the temp has been in the 50-60 range here for the last few days. I still try and ride most of my miles in the morning when it is below freezing. that keeps me from getting spoiled.

Supposed to be Snow coming Monday, so i need to keep the antifreeze in the radiator if you know what i mean.

No, I can't tell you that. As a matter of fact I even enjoy the clothing. At least the study of it and works with what. I am just sick of the drill of getting all of the clothes on every day. As a side note, the temp has been in the 50-60 range here for the last few days. I still try and ride most of my miles in the morning when it is below freezing. that keeps me from getting spoiled.

Supposed to be Snow coming Monday, so i need to keep the antifreeze in the radiator if you know what i mean.

I know what your saying. The last 2 years have been horrible sub zero temps, day after day.

The next 7 days are to be in 40F. It will be hell to pay when it dips down to -30 below again. What a shock to the body! You knows it's coming, It's only early February.

I would rather it stay cold and have just one thaw in spring.

John

Please bring on the subzero temps!

The next 7 days are to be in 40F. It will be hell to pay when it dips down to -30 below again. What a shock to the body! You knows it's coming, It's only early February.


Nope, we're thru the danger zone, late January / early February. Already had our caught off guard moment in December.

Screw the groundhog (intercourse the penguin**) we've got an Early Spring brewin!!

Commuting in shorts by early March.........





** Bonus cycling Karma for the one who can identify the television program

Commuting in shorts by early March

I got one ride in today with shorts 13 miles. The looks I got were priceless!

people that love winter are sick.

I think you have to at least like winter to live up here in Fairbanks Alaska.

Ha - Yeah, the only way to survive hard winters is to immerse yourself in them. If you don't like the cold, you should probably stay south. :) There's no such thing as "too cold." There's only "underdressed."

To be fair, while many winter cyclist say winter is no problem and may say they "love" it, it is the attention they get that keeps their spirits alive. The technicalities involved in riding in snow and getting to use Nokians may be fun for a while, but like all fun, it gets boring if you have to do it everyday. No doubt everyone prefers to ride in cool, sunny, dry weather on flat, smooth, flowery roads. I mean, at least you can see voluptuous or muscular people riding in spandex in the summer. In winter, people become asexual. Which do you prefer?

To be fair, while many winter cyclist say winter is no problem and may say they "love" it, it is the attention they get that keeps their spirits alive. The technicalities involved in riding in snow and getting to use Nokians may be fun for a while, but like all fun, it gets boring if you have to do it everyday. No doubt everyone prefers to ride in cool, sunny, dry weather on flat, smooth, flowery roads. I mean, at least you can see voluptuous or muscular people riding in spandex in the summer. In winter, people become asexual. Which do you prefer?

Don't get me wrong I'd be a fool to say I don't enjoy summer. The summer breeze and the lovely ladies walking around. I love summer to.

I will say there is nothing like riding to work at 3:00AM in sub-zero temps. Its not about the attention.( I could careless) It's all about the challenge of riding in those temps. It's an accomplishment to yourself. Knowing you have the will to commute day after day, Should speak for itself.

John
The full time cyclist.