naisme

It's August, supposedly, here in Minnesota. We have yet to have a 90 degree day. Yesterday's high was 72(?) and it got down to a chilly 48 for my commute home. In northern MN there were already frost warnings posted (I'm suppose to go camping up there next month, there could be snow!).
I luckily prepared for the cold by bringing along my full length gloves, hat, and wind shirt. I've moved my tights to my new place, so my legs were a little chilled. But, in all the packing and repacking of the messenger bag, I forgot one major important item, my head lamp! D'OH. I was a bit miffed, and spent the commute home asking how I could be so stoopid, and checking to make sure I wasn't hypothermic. I still managed a good ride, shortend my normal route due to needing light. The bike paths aren't lit and I tend to have a difficult time discerning the path from the turf that is over growing the sides of the path, especially at full speed, without a light.
Did I mention the wind? Out of the NW 15-17 mph with gusts to a pedal stopping 30, that was on the ride to work. Of course I'm also riding my single speed. I got to the lake that I pass on my route to work, and there were White Caps! I've never seen white caps on Medicine lake before. By the time I got off work the wind had settled down, which meant there wouldn't be a wind chill effect, just a shrinkage effect.
Somtimes I think I need my head examined. But in all it was a really great commute, sweating like a pig on the way to work, no sweat, but a lot of cursing on the way home.
Just a commuter's life in Minnesota. I've started seeing the leaves begin to change as well. This is going to be a long cold winter.

colinm

I have yet to go in the snow, but I'm gonna try. Today was a good shocker to make me get my wardrobe in order.

kf5nd

90 degrees and humid as Hell down here in Houston.

coney

yeah, this cool weather is pretty unseasonal. I'm in NYC, and now it should be 90+ every day, and we've not seen anythin like it. Next week is supposed to be in the upper 70's.

I need to get a head lamp. Can anyone suggest one that I can clamp on so the movement of the tire makes the light work? I want to be "battery free".

neon

Yow, you wanna attach yourself to the bike via cable? Is this a good idea?

Maybe you could put electrodes on the inside of your helmet and run the light off brain electricity....

timmhaan

i agree, it's been a very mild summer in the northeast. the other day i saw some leaves turning already! the summer's going by fast.

ollo_ollo

Naisme: you have my sympathy, sometime you should come out & visit our "EcoTopia" in the Northwest. Even the rainy season isn't all that bad. Coney: I have generator light systems on a couple of my bikes(Soubitez bottom bracket driven byt the rear wheel tread & a Schwinn Union that is driven by the sidewall) plus my Winter rain bike is outfitted with a 40 year old Sturmey Archer DynoHub which drives a modern Lumotec headlight. Even has a capacitor to run a LED light a few minutes while I am at a standstill. The Lumotec can be driven by a rear wheel generator or one of the hub type generators that are available from Schmidt or Shimano. None of these light systems are as bright as most of the battery powered lights but they seem to run trouble free for years. Don

Gonzo Bob

At least we're not up in Tower where it got down to 25F last night

Zin

Hey, I've been riding in the 40's during the morning commute for almost 2 weeks now! Today was finally 55F for the commute in. The winter weight tights are out and have been used!

Sure miss the warm mornings.

bkrownd

Enjoy those changing seasons! Some of us only get one season. I'm flying to New England and Wisconsin this autumn to make sure I don't totally miss out on the cool weather, changing leaves and fresh Minnesota apples. There's a place in LaCrescent that sells huge bags of the best apples I've ever enjoyed.

bkr

Zin

Hey, there is an orchard down US169 just outside of Belle Plain that lets you go out and pick your own! Its been many many years since I've been able to do that! Used to be a family tradition when I lived out there near my brother.

HereNT

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so happy that it looked like winter was coming :

https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cycling/61149-bout-freakin-time.html

It's my fault. Blame me. I still need to find some full finger gloves - I've had numb fingers a couple of times...

ollo_ollo

Ahhh apples picked fresh. Used to be a Gala tree right outside my Greek class & we would pick & eat them in the fall. Helped to ease the pain! (while your up there, parse it) Don

naisme

Can someone please help me with ideas on how to conquer the friggin' wind? Today was just dispicable! A strong WSW wind with those big gusts, and me on a fixed gear. I finally got tired of riding into this wind with a 48x15, so I fliped the hub and rode with the 17, much nicer, but then I broke a spoke. This is the third spoke I've broken on three different wheels on two different bikes in two weeks. Yiii!
So I've got some work ahead of me.
I have had one heck of a day. It's nice to just get home, watch some Jerry Springer, then go to bed.