mcours2006

For me I try not to look too far ahead, because it can get depressing. Granted, we've had pretty decent weather for commuting the past month, especially compared to last year. There are no signs of the two big snowfalls we've had this year.

I just try to look forward to the next day and whether it okay to ride to work. If the answer is yes, then it's already a small victory.

takenreasy

This is my view of it, as well. After December 21st, my outlook changes because every day becomes a lighter ride home. No matter what season, it's all in the attitude!

Fizzaly

I'll give ya the staying light longer, but like someone else said winter doesn't start in the northwest til mid to late January and sometimes sticks around til late March. Two weeks ago it was in the 60s two weeks before that we got 8" of snow and below 0 temps, so basically SW idaho is a shot in the dark when it comes to winter conditions.

modernjess

Wait, we live in the same town right? Brother your glass is half full.

nkfrench 

February is when the winds are at their worst. Rides are cold, dark, and windy. Only the die-hard commuters persist.
Bad roads - most of our ice days are in January. Usually it melts off in a day or two unless we get another Icemaggedon. It looks like a game of bumper cars out there. No thanks.

ftimw

Hats off to you guys. I can do heat, humidity, rain, and dark. I try not to complain about the half dozen or so below freezing days we might have during the season. But snow? No. Simply, no. We still talk about the "snow storm" of '89 where 2 inches shut the city down for two days.

BTW...the other day it got up to 80. Looking at mid 60s today

tjspiel

So it's been a month since I made the bold statement that winter is practically over. Due to some time off I anticipated about 5 weeks of actual winter riding before mid February when winter starts to lose its grip in these parts.

Now I know lots of locals will disagree with me about mid February being "the beginning of the end" but after 25 years of playing broomball, I can tell you that it gets very hard to keep outdoor ice rinks in good shape much past Valentines Day. All it takes is a few warm days and/or rain to destroy the ice. And while we get plenty of cold days in February, we do get enough warm ones to ruin the rinks.

As it is, there's almost no snow on the ground and the days are getting noticeably longer. I could be riding my summer bike. At this point any cold streak or problems with bad roads are bound to be short lived. This winter has been a piece of cake compared to the last two.

So I stand by my statement, though I imagine those in the NE will beg to differ.

I will keep posting to this thread at the end of each month until it is clear that I'm right. Even if takes until May.

modernjess

Dude! You need to make these sorts of bold statements every year. After the last 2 years, I'll admit I doubted you, but it's working.

I'm really enjoying riding this winter. The commuting has been a breeze, but as of late the off road fat biking situation has deteriorated badly. Too much warm, not enough snow. Lots of ice now. I'm doing a race next weekend up north and it might be cancelled due to lack of snow. In February! I am actually praying for some snow at this point and I am not a religious man.

Are there any bold statements you can make that could help us in that regard?

katsrevenge

...Thank god. Soon. Soon I will be able to ride sans gloves. And sans three layers... and sans pacboots....


....and maybe even get a comb through my hair... (not that it has anything to do with biking but it is driving me nuts.)

loky1179

You were right!

In the 40's on Monday, and was considering taking off the studs. And tonight, leaving work on time, with a tail wind and taking the shortcut, I got home and there was still a hint of twilight.

5 more weeks and it will be light past 7. Winter, we hardly knew ye!

PennyTheDog

Last winter in 'The Cities' was crazy! This year HAD to be better than that! But it's been amazingly nice this winter-- warm AND not much snow or ice. I have two bikes with studded tires in my garage, and I haven't needed either one in two weeks.

tjspiel

"There will be snow somewhere up North next weekend."

Sorry. That's the best I can do.

I was skiing at Lutsen last weekend and Sunday was the one cool day sandwiched between two warm weeks. They had all their snow guns running and didn't care that people were on the slopes at the same time.

rumrunn6

and so starts 5 weeks of hell for us ... :-)

TransitBiker

Ya, winter is definitely over.....



Looking forward to some cold rides.

- Andy

tjspiel

Different perspective. For me any day it gets above freezing is Spring-like weather.

Last year we had 50+ days of below 0 weather. So far this year there's only been a handful.

TransitBiker

Spring-like weather here is 50 to 65 mid-day high. We also get over 100 here in the summer. Last 4 years in a row have seen over 100 degree swings over the course of the year. It was not always like this.... typically we maxed out in the mid 90's..... but climate change has tossed our old weather out the window entirely. Last january we had a day go from 55 to -1 in the span of 6 hours. Scary stuff.

- Andy

Buffalo Buff

I'm still waiting to see snow. currently 50 and sunny

velocity

I am seeing up to 50 degree days this last week. Still Feb is the month that we see some amount of preciept whether rain or snow. bet its rain...
V

katsrevenge

Man... there is at least one day of nearly 40 and a bunch over 32F there. I'll take it!

We aren't supposed to get that here.

katsrevenge

Hate to double post you but I'm near-ish to you. I remember that day. We had one like it.

I grew up in Upstate NY, near the Finger Lakes. I'm not that old but I remember when getting over 85F was 'hot'. Now we hit 95F and that's nearly normal. My gardening maps now let me grow stuff that used to just thrive in places like Virginia. Climate change has certainly changed things.

RaleighSport

And over in my neck of the woods... there has been no winter.

Hypno Toad

CHEERS to the longer days and more sunshine. In fact, I'm getting out the office early today to get some of that beautiful blue skies and sunshine!

I'm sorry, but do you remember the last two Aprils??? The last two springs in Minneapolis were sole-crushing with all the late snow.

But on the other side we had a great time last April, we went to Welch Village to snowboard/ski on April 5. In MN, most resorts are closed the second week of March, and many mountain resorts are closed or closing in early April, so there's that going for you.

tjspiel

For us temps in the 30s and 40s are typical for March. Even though it's often the snowiest month of the year for us, the snow doesn't last as long on the ground. Both March and April are transition months. Once we get to April, I'll get pickier about what I consider Spring-like.

Triple digit temps aren't common here but not that unusual either. We had none last year, but a few in the couple years prior. 100+ degree swing from summer to winter is very normal. Part of the joy of living in the middle of the continent.

tjspiel

As soul crushing as the last two Aprils were, in between the snow storms we had some pretty easy commuting days. Besides, I just don't see it working out that way this year. Winter just hasn't been able to get much of a foothold.

I have a friend who's a ski instructor at Welch. It's very rare that they'll stay open into April even if there's still snow. Lots of their employees can't stick around. Many plan ski trips out West.

Hypno Toad

I hope you're right! I'll be biking to work with or without snow. Just smiling a little more with less snow in April.

Snowboarding in April in MN was a real treat, Welch went out of their way for that late weekend. Fun day.