Extreme cold and blizzards and floods
#26
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It has been warm and sunny here, almost summertime weather, and trees and flowers are blooming. This is actually very bad, because it means the drought is becoming even more severe. And since 75% of the state's water goes to agriculture, and we supply a good portion of the nation's produce, everybody's going to feel the effects of that.
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Crappy winter here. Not much snow to speak of, we've barely been able to XC ski on maybe 5-6 occasions. Temps are alternating on both sides of 0C, mostly on the warm side though. Sea isn't properly frozen yet and likely will not freeze over during this winter. I miss the 4 real seasons!
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#30
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It has been warm and sunny here, almost summertime weather, and trees and flowers are blooming. This is actually very bad, because it means the drought is becoming even more severe. And since 75% of the state's water goes to agriculture, and we supply a good portion of the nation's produce, everybody's going to feel the effects of that.
#31
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Crappy winter here. Not much snow to speak of, we've barely been able to XC ski on maybe 5-6 occasions. Temps are alternating on both sides of 0C, mostly on the warm side though. Sea isn't properly frozen yet and likely will not freeze over during this winter. I miss the 4 real seasons!
--J
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We've got incoming cyclones ... two big ones. They should make landfall in a few hours.
Cyclones Marcia and Lam approach QLD and NT
We won't be directly impacted this far south, but depending on how big they are, we could catch the edge of one or both. In 2011, the big cyclone was Yasi ... it was so big, it didn't just make landfall, it made it almost to the middle of the country, and it's tail cut across Victoria giving us tropical conditions (high temps, high humidity, and huge tropical downpours) for a few days.
Cyclones Marcia and Lam approach QLD and NT
We won't be directly impacted this far south, but depending on how big they are, we could catch the edge of one or both. In 2011, the big cyclone was Yasi ... it was so big, it didn't just make landfall, it made it almost to the middle of the country, and it's tail cut across Victoria giving us tropical conditions (high temps, high humidity, and huge tropical downpours) for a few days.
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#33
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
In warmer weather I could hose the bikes outside, when they need less washing. Now I hang them on hooks and get a better view of salt and dirt, so I finally gave one a shower in the bathroom, then cleaned the bathroom.
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As I left work today, I didn't see many cyclist on the street. However, the one guy I did notice looked miserable. I can see why people would go out and buy a car if you didn't have access to transit. To be bicycle dependant in this weather would be very hard on the body.
#35
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That is a helluva messy job, especially with all of the sand and salt they put on the roads here in Michigan. One winter I didn't wash my bike at all, with about 2,000 miles of riding over the winter. In spring, I had to replace the bottom bracket and the chain. It cost me about $80, IIRC. But I figured it was worthwhile, considering all the time I saved by not washing the damn bike.
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Not as much snow here as in Boston, but we've had enough that streets are way more narrow than usual. Springfield has a relatively poor system for snow removal, so a lot of the streets I normally bike have been pretty bad. Drivers are incredibly frustrated, so therefore stupid driving abounds (more than our normal high level of stupid driving). As a result, I gave up biking about a month ago, where normally I would bike commute nearly every day. The bus has been really slow as well, so commuting is frustrating. I've been driving myself more during this period, as it turns out that it's so much faster than taking the bus.
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I guess you already know the report from my area since looks like we live in the same town. I got a nice layer of frost on my legs this morning. We had -25 school got canceled but I still had to go to work.
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As I left work today, I didn't see many cyclist on the street. However, the one guy I did notice looked miserable. I can see why people would go out and buy a car if you didn't have access to transit. To be bicycle dependent in this weather would be very hard on the body.
The local buses and the fact that I'm on one of the best routes in my city make living without a car very do-able.
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It was a balmy 23 degrees F when I rode to work this morning. 33 degrees riding home.
But I'm more concerned about tomorrow. Tonight we have rain, freezing rain and sleet on the menu, this should turn to snow after 1 pm on Monday. I'm now kicking myself for not buying studded tires a few weeks ago. But I thought that the worst of winter was past and I need to conserve my money. I guess I goofed.
But I'm more concerned about tomorrow. Tonight we have rain, freezing rain and sleet on the menu, this should turn to snow after 1 pm on Monday. I'm now kicking myself for not buying studded tires a few weeks ago. But I thought that the worst of winter was past and I need to conserve my money. I guess I goofed.
Or, as I say above, get the bus
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I bought a pesticide sprayer for hosing down the bike somewhat if it's covered in caked-on stuff that will just melt all over the bike room. Don't know why I never thought of it before!
@Dahon.Steve - I've got to disagree there. Winters in Boston always make me appreciate the fact that I don't own a car and don't have to rely on buses or trains. But I've never appreciated it more than I do right now. People are getting into fights over dug-out parking spaces. I have friends who have replaced *multiple* side mirrors that got broken off while their cars were parked, due to the streets being so narrow. I know people who drive 8 mi to work and this month it consistently takes 1.5-2 hours EACH WAY. The transit system has been brought to its knees; lots of people are standing around outside waiting for buses and trains every day for longer than the total time than it takes me to ride to work. Pretty much the only people I know who have been able to go about their normal routines with minimal disruption are the ones who bike to work.
It's not that many people, but they're out there. I'm sort of surprised that the current situation hasn't driven more of them to it out of plain desperation.
@Dahon.Steve - I've got to disagree there. Winters in Boston always make me appreciate the fact that I don't own a car and don't have to rely on buses or trains. But I've never appreciated it more than I do right now. People are getting into fights over dug-out parking spaces. I have friends who have replaced *multiple* side mirrors that got broken off while their cars were parked, due to the streets being so narrow. I know people who drive 8 mi to work and this month it consistently takes 1.5-2 hours EACH WAY. The transit system has been brought to its knees; lots of people are standing around outside waiting for buses and trains every day for longer than the total time than it takes me to ride to work. Pretty much the only people I know who have been able to go about their normal routines with minimal disruption are the ones who bike to work.
It's not that many people, but they're out there. I'm sort of surprised that the current situation hasn't driven more of them to it out of plain desperation.
#41
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Well.. just keep in mind that studded tires are really great on ice, but not much help if there's snow on the ice. I have studded tires, but the studs themselves aren't always beneficial. For the road surface you are describing a really knobby MTB tire with low air pressure is about as good as it gets. Go slow, get ready to dismount if hit a snow drift and don't attempt any fancy maneuvers like trackstands or standing on the peddles.
Or, as I say above, get the bus
Or, as I say above, get the bus
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#42
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Well.. just keep in mind that studded tires are really great on ice, but not much help if there's snow on the ice. I have studded tires, but the studs themselves aren't always beneficial. For the road surface you are describing a really knobby MTB tire with low air pressure is about as good as it gets. Go slow, get ready to dismount if hit a snow drift and don't attempt any fancy maneuvers like trackstands or standing on the peddles.
Or, as I say above, get the bus
Or, as I say above, get the bus
A couple times I've been out riding just after a moderate snowfall (5-6 inches) and I've followed the tracks of somebody around here who rides on skinny tires. the tracks were straight and steady so he or she was riding without skidding.
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I've never tried it, but some people swear by skinny road bike tires for snow without ice. they say the tires cut through the snow and grip on the pavement underneath.
A couple times I've been out riding just after a moderate snowfall (5-6 inches) and I've followed the tracks of somebody around here who rides on skinny tires. the tracks were straight and steady so he or she was riding without skidding.
A couple times I've been out riding just after a moderate snowfall (5-6 inches) and I've followed the tracks of somebody around here who rides on skinny tires. the tracks were straight and steady so he or she was riding without skidding.
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I've never tried it, but some people swear by skinny road bike tires for snow without ice. they say the tires cut through the snow and grip on the pavement underneath.
A couple times I've been out riding just after a moderate snowfall (5-6 inches) and I've followed the tracks of somebody around here who rides on skinny tires. the tracks were straight and steady so he or she was riding without skidding.
A couple times I've been out riding just after a moderate snowfall (5-6 inches) and I've followed the tracks of somebody around here who rides on skinny tires. the tracks were straight and steady so he or she was riding without skidding.
You've got me interested though, so I'm going to give this a shot with my Fuji road bike and some 28mm summer tires.
Next time it snows... any day now
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If you do decide studded tires might be useful, remember that many just put them on the front...
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I can see that you'd ride a little faster, but when you are riding in snow, it's sometimes impossible to know what's under it.
You've got me interested though, so I'm going to give this a shot with my Fuji road bike and some 28mm summer tires.
Next time it snows... any day now
You've got me interested though, so I'm going to give this a shot with my Fuji road bike and some 28mm summer tires.
Next time it snows... any day now
#47
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I've never gotten studded tires because here I might see 3 days of use per year, all when traffic is snarled anyway. So I usually hike or stay home...
Just this morning I was riding on well-cleared and salted dry roads, and the only slick, hard-packed (unavoidable) snow I encountered was on a fast downhill run, two such patches across the road, both about 20 feet wide. I crossed them with no trepidation at all.
I leave both my Marathon Winters on all winter, from December through March and though almost always my tires are in contact with bare pavement, the carbide steel studs are still intact after about eight seasons. IMO for winter riding, studs are not to be skimped on.
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Icebike.org is what inspired me to buy studded tires and start winter riding ...When I started commuting in 2007 I didn't even know about bikeforums...
#49
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I bought a pesticide sprayer for hosing down the bike somewhat if it's covered in caked-on stuff that will just melt all over the bike room. Don't know why I never thought of it before!
@<a href="https://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=1775" target="_blank">Dahon.Steve</a> - I've got to disagree there. Winters in Boston always make me appreciate the fact that I don't own a car and don't have to rely on buses or trains. But I've never appreciated it more than I do right now. People are getting into fights over dug-out parking spaces. I have friends who have replaced *multiple* side mirrors that got broken off while their cars were parked, due to the streets being so narrow. I know people who drive 8 mi to work and this month it consistently takes 1.5-2 hours EACH WAY. The transit system has been brought to its knees; lots of people are standing around outside waiting for buses and trains every day for longer than the total time than it takes me to ride to work. Pretty much the only people I know who have been able to go about their normal routines with minimal disruption are the ones who bike to work.
It's not that many people, but they're out there. I'm sort of surprised that the current situation hasn't driven more of them to it out of plain desperation.
@<a href="https://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=1775" target="_blank">Dahon.Steve</a> - I've got to disagree there. Winters in Boston always make me appreciate the fact that I don't own a car and don't have to rely on buses or trains. But I've never appreciated it more than I do right now. People are getting into fights over dug-out parking spaces. I have friends who have replaced *multiple* side mirrors that got broken off while their cars were parked, due to the streets being so narrow. I know people who drive 8 mi to work and this month it consistently takes 1.5-2 hours EACH WAY. The transit system has been brought to its knees; lots of people are standing around outside waiting for buses and trains every day for longer than the total time than it takes me to ride to work. Pretty much the only people I know who have been able to go about their normal routines with minimal disruption are the ones who bike to work.
It's not that many people, but they're out there. I'm sort of surprised that the current situation hasn't driven more of them to it out of plain desperation.
#50
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A sprayer sounds like the best of both worlds. And I literally have a sprayer sitting in front of my laundy tub, which I've been tripping over.
Thanks!!