Mars

Things that make you go Mmmm! We are still in the dismal months fellow XCCers. I have certainly spent a lot of time complaining about the weather and associated problems of riding this time of year. What about th ings that make you happy? Here are mine:

Big things:
- getting something new to wear
- getting someting new for the bike
- getting something fixed on the bike
- my wife commenting on my "buns of steel and ripped quads and calves."

Little things:
- arriving at work with ice all over my beard and having one of my colleagues or students seeing it. I like the look of horror and amazement on their faces.
- a sunny day
- a day with light or, even better, no wind
- temps over 20 F
- getting to put slicks back on the bike after weeks of studded tires.
- riding up to a stuck car on your bike and stipping to help them. After they are free, ride off on your bike
- a tailwind
- seeing a wild animal or interesting bird
- riding through fresh powdery snow as it falls in big fat flakes
- Knowing that I didn't pump a few more pounds of greenhouse gasses into the air that day.

What are the things that make YOU go Mmmm?

CliftonGK1

- Days when I don't need my overshoes because it hasn't been raining.
- Mornings when there isn't frost or freezing fog.
- Afternoons without a headwind.

crtreedude 

Fruit smoothies!
Managing to get through a herd of cows without getting anything on me
A smooth line through a rock road.

Gusboh

Beer.


(distant second)
Ebay specials (all four bikes i own are ebay deals)
Bikes that i've tuned *just so* or that i've completely re-built. Nothing like getting to work under your own steam using a machine that you built.

I don't think i mentioned beer enough...

I like that i don't have to worry about getting home because of traffic or because i had that extra beer. That is a major bonus.

CigTech

Any time I get to ride the bike is happy time.
Fast Long rides with no flats.
Any new stuff.
Passing all the cars stuck in triffic.
Make it to work way before my boss when I pass him stuck in traffic.
When people come into my work place and say "I seen you riding down the road the other day, and/or, you was flying down the road the other day."
When people see the bike at work and tell me how nice it is.
After a long fast ride eating all the food in the house.

WriteABike

I did my 15 mile ride in -6 to 0F temps this morning. I haven't ridden regularly this winter, and I'm out of shape. But the comments about my mental health that I got when I walked in covered in frost were priceless. My toes got pretty cold, but not painfully so. It wasn't bad.

But I felt like a turtle. It took forever to get to work. I guess the main reason I ride on studded fat tires in temps like this is the knowledge that any fun I'm not having right now will come once it warms up. (Man, I can't wait to get on my fast bike and wear one layer of clothing.)

Plus, it feels good when I stop.

And hot baths feel even better.

CliftonGK1

36*F and barely spitting rain this morning at 5:30am.
Cold enough to be snowing pretty heavy now (10:30am)

I'm having a blast listening to everyone talk about leaving at lunch so they don't get trapped/stuck/etc. driving home in the snow.

Mars

Looks like we are in for another spanking weather wise. Another storm is nearly here, and they are forecasting about a foot and a half of snow. Hang on, boys, this winter isn't over yet!

Gusboh

Well, we've got 3 months until its cold, and i'm really looking forward to it - i get to ride my miyata monster that i'm building at the moment, i get to show off my neon lights again, i get to *really* enjoy that warm shower at the end of the ride. Not looking forward to having cold wet feet though. I might get me some booties.

Next week we have the XCC/VLC facial hair/tatoos poll? I'm sure it's not just the fixie boys that don't bother shaving in winter and i'm sure that we are all hardarse enough to get a few tats.

BILLB58

I go by an Osprey nest every day....located on the top of a field light pole for a Little League Ballpark here......last night as I was approaching the field, one of the Ospreys flew over me with a fish that looked to be 4-5 lbs....certainly bigger than the Osprey, and the bird was struggling to gain altitude to get up to the nest with it.....On the nest, it's mate was screeching and jumping 2-3 ft in the air as the other Osprey approached, obviously excited and congratulating it's mate!!!!

I just stopped and watched them both for a few minutes.....I think I saw a very small third head moving, but I couldn't be sure, but I am assuming they have a hatchling now....

tibikefor2

Ouch.

splytz1

Hey CigTech what's going on with the upgrades to the Denali? Inquiring minds want to know!

crtreedude 

Absolutely! The ability to eat food like you were a teenager again. The joy of refueling.

Marylandnewbie

Well I finally got back on the ride Tues after 2 weeks off. First it was all the ice and then I had a killer head/chest cold. Contrary to my worst fears I didn't have to learn to ride all over again. I did find an on road/sidewalk route for the first couple of days when the MUP was still ice covered. While it was a little more anxiety provoking than the MUP, it was not too bad and it beat riding on rutted crusty ice.

It did take me a little while to get my stuff organized again and switch into riding mode. It probably didn't help that I spent much of the week playing bachelor father while my wife is travelling on business. Its amazing how much stuff you have to haul to school for your kids -- musical instruments, food bank donations, bake sale items -- I'm about half a step away from hooking up the trailer to take him to school. Anyway, today is turning out to be a great day to ride with morning temps in the 50s. Now the rain has cleared out and this afternoon it should get into the 60s.

I finally have a funny commuting story. This morning I was hit by a dog!! No I did not run over a dog, it ran into me. I passed a group of women walking their dogs and this one unleashed beast came charging over. I don't think to bite me, I think it was simply running around and banged into my left pannier. Fortunately, with studded tires and more weight on the bike than I care to think about it was not enough to knock me over, but I felt the push. Chalk one up for the dumbest dog in the pack.

I should be back to the commute as usual next week. I think I need to look at the long range forecast to see if its time to take off the studs. Here's hoping.

CliftonGK1

Just for the winter? Pffft. A beard is the ultimate in year 'round "green gear." Totally organic, rapidly replenishes, infinitely variable in style, always fits right, it's a face warmer in cold weather, and chemical-free sunblock in the summer.

-=(8)=-

My week was extreme.
I an unfortunate family emergency that I flew into West Palm Beach, FLA for.
It was a balmy 80 degrees ! Get back into Vt. and its like Siberia
From sand to snow in one day......
My relatives encouraged me to ride a bike to maintain sanity but told me to watch
for the hill on the bridge 'cuz its pretty steep... The hill couldnt have been
more than a 1.5 degree rise
I guess what was extreme for me is that I have never seen a state that is soooo
flat, everywhere !! No hills !!! It got me thinking....would you miss hills if you didnt
have them ?? I think I would. A love/hate thing. I hate them but I would miss them
if they werent around. Go figure !

robtown

Joy:

hitting a short steep hill fast and topping it without shifting into first and without gasping for air
making it to work on studded snow tires despite the huge energy drain
the first week commuting in warm weather in shorts and short sleeve jersey - I can fly!
having a cardinal fly alongside
the crisp morning air
getting a 50% or better discount on a new tire/part/whatever plus free shipping and coupon code
blowing past an elite runner who put the hammer down as I overtook
not blowing past the healthy lady rider
getting encouragement from fellow commuting BF members (and 50+)
getting (not quite unsolicited) praise when I post pictures of my latest acquisition or build

Mars

Pretty wild day of riding. The storm hit as predicted. I was able to find a freshly plowed road for the first 3 miles, then faced the last 5 in rutted semi pack. A good workout, and I didn't fall!

In the pm, a combo of rain and sleet turned the fresh snow into saturated slush. Very messy. Worse, a plow truck went by me and hit a huge pile of sluch, sending a juge sheet of it on me. That crap is HEAVY! It really smacked me a good one! Didn't go down, but I did do a pretty dramatic wobble and skid. More snow forecast over the weekend, I guess we'll see what Monday brings!

bigpedaler

ok, i'm new here... what' the xcc? looks like something like what i do; fill me in!

-=(8)=-

People here throw themselves at the mercy of an angry Mother Nature and
beg for her to torture them mercilessly with slush, snow, ice, wild animals etc,
and lots of miles of it and then we come back here and brag about it, write
little poems and wonder aloud why we do this to ourselves !!!
If you came here, you probably know you should be here and that is the only
requirement for entrance into this elite klub !!!
Now lets here some good stories, whats the hold-up !?!?!?

Mars

There is no one, and I mean no one, who is as cool as Lem!

bigpedaler

OK -- now i know, and i'm in. yesterday...(no, not the beatles' song).

instead of the forecast day of snow, it was party sunny, and blustery, about 27F, and 27mph out of the wsw. went out to cash the chump-change the gov't left me, saw the old crew, and came back home...28F, and 28mph out of the wnw. hopped the snowdrifts without springing a wheel this time, cool.