That voice in my head...

[naisme]

As much as I love riding in the cold, taking the week off to go sit at the bedside of a friend in WA, I got spoiled, and came back to MN where it was cold and dry, and not really energizing to get me back on the bike. I have fought sloth to sit in the apartment and watch bad porn.
I finally made it out for a second ride today, and it was a mixed pleasure, one it was a crisp wonderful MN day, the sky that nice blue, and the sun that bright blinding hue, the trails all nice and clear save a couple spots, and the wind out of the SE, no wait the E, no the N (if you doubt me check NOAA's site for 55408, and the two day history for 11:30-1PM). The wind changed directions on me in an hour and half on the bike, staying in my face the whole ride, and I made the mistake of not going back to get a different top. I rode in a polypro shirt under my Nike wind shirt with the breathable sleaves. I froze my toocas off. I kept thinking it would get better and crank harder on the fixed gear, but it didn't. I think for a third of the ride I was actually comfortable.
So, I'm not really wanting to do this again, but have to, I miss my riding. I love riding in the winter, but I've got to remember to listen to that voice in the back of my head that says "go back and get a sweater."
Next year I'm going to the Artic circle or Antartica, some where so cold that when I come home I won't be off the bike for two weeks.

[cdale56]

I hear you.

I love where I live and I generally love riding in the winter, Better put: I love riding anytime and therefore love riding anytime even in the winter. Nothing compares to a snow ride or riding through snow covered landscapes, as anyone can tell by looking at 2manybike's beautiful pictures.

But you reach a point where enough is enough. Time for some fair weather: and it doesn't have to be great temps or for very long, but just a hint. That has been lacking here lately.

We have had what seems to me to be a real winter here, typically, we get just about everything here but the coast generally moderates things a bit, but not this year, with repeated cold spells and snow and more snow, as well as March when thoughts of spring abound, yet it still seems like Jan out there.



Getting up at 5 Am in the dark with cold temps and windchills in March isn't what it in Jan or Feb when you just rode to get what you could get. Tough.

It won't be long, I reckon, 17 days to spring, which might not mean that much meteorologically but means a lot mentally.

[Juha]

I think it's the change that inspires us. Well, me at least. Right now I am more than ready for the nice summer rides. I cannot wait to get the oh so smoothly rolling summer bike out (and my "summer bike" is just a hybrid with semi-slicks, fer crying out loud...). But came October, I will be drooling to get to ride on snow and ice. Go figure.

--J

[iowarose]

It's amazing how much of dealing with the cold is due to familiarity. I hear you on getting back outside, and I definitely hear you regarding wind shifts - too often, a forecast of "light and variable winds" around here translates to "you will have a 10mph headwind no matter which way you turn" - maybe not so bad for a while, but it will wear you down over the long run.

[GreyGoat]

I don't look foreward to spring.. at least in the winter we don't have to deal much with rain up here.. I don't like riding in cold rain... I'll lose more riding days to weather in april then i will in march

[naisme]

Had a new voice in my head from the ride this morning. I got out and did 25 before work. I'm not commuting at the moment, as I no longer have safe place to put the clothes I can wear that day, and haven't decided to carry any with me. Riding for fun allows me to get out there and just ride, and do something like ride 25 miles for fun. This morning that voice was saying go for it, add that ten miles to the ride. So, I did.
When I got home, I had that buzz of a good ride under my belt and the endorphines were busy warming the cuckles of my frontal lobe. I love this stuff, man how I love this stuff!

[Diggy18]

But you reach a point where enough is enough. Time for some fair weather: and it doesn't have to be great temps or for very long, but just a hint.
Dude, that is EXACTLY how I feel. Glad to see this thread and find I'm not the only one. In the last year I can count the number of days weather kept me off my bike.

Yesterday was one. I mean, it's March for crying out loud, but the temp was like 30 with wind gusts of 25mph. It certainly wasn't the worse winter weather, but I just didn't feel like fighting the wind and cold. I really miss how much better the brakes and deraillers work when it's warm. And I'm getting tired of wearing all these clothes all the time, and I'm getting tired of how long it takes to suit up!

Jeeze in the summer I can be ready for a ride in five minutes! But not now!