Aloyzius

It gets dark so early here, and it hasn't been really nice. I have been riding but just barely. And half the time in street clothes because I don't have any really warm cycling gear. I went up city creek the other day, and it was a great ride up to the water treatment plant. After that it wasn't plowed. I nearly froze to death on the way down though, and it took two days for my face to thaw.
I have to stay active during these bleak winter months though. I'm thinking of taking up jogging and cross country skiing. That way I've got something to do when it's all blizzardy.

Okay, so what about you guys???

bmclaughlin807

Riding as usual.

Don't let the cold scare ya! It's not so bad. Just need a few more layers is all!

DataJunkie

I'm too freaking busy but that is calming down.
It is more the fact that both of my bikes have skinny tires. I spent 5 too many times testing the density of the asphalt and concrete last year.
A hint of snow or ice = no riding.

That is until I either build up a decent winter commuter or give up and purchase a mountain bike.
4 sprained wrists last year has me worried.

waldowales

Aloyzius:
I've been riding a bit. When it is snowy and icy, I ride the hardtail, with knobbies and fenders. I have a pair of thermal tights, poly longies top and bottom, and a thermal jersey. I wear them under a jwindbreaker and jeans, which I can shed if it gets too warm. Gloves are a must. If it is below about 40, I wear a ski mask, too. Can't hit it too hard, as the cold air hurts the lungs. Not nearly as much fun as when the weather is warmer, but beats the trainer! Give a holler when you want to ride, I'll go with you.

valygrl

Riding.... my snowboard.

bvfrompc

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

waldowales

Lonely out there today. Either people have to work, or they are wimps! Ain't sayin' where I fit.

valygrl

I might try to ride tomorrow. There I said it. Now if it s nows it's all my fault.

waldowales

Wish I could ride tomorrow! I am forced to work! Wasn't it Oscar Wilde who said that work is the curse of the drinking class? I'm supposed to be retired, but I've go one customer I can't shake.
Don't let a little snow stop you. It won't make you melt or anything.

Portis

I'm riding but it has been rough lately. I've ridden the least in the last 3 weeks as in any other time frame in the last 5 years. Ice, snow, cold, dark and life has been tough on my riding. But I'm still riding every chance i get, this morning I got 21 miles in on ice with studs. Only averaged 11.5 mph, but hey i was riding.

DataJunkie

Only if by tomorrow you mean Friday. Looks good otherwise.
I would ride but I scratched my left eye. I can barely see in sunlight and it hurts like heck.
*sigh* If it isn't one thing it is another. Maybe it will heal before Friday.

In the meantime I am hunting for a mountain bike online. I think I may try a bit of actual mountain biking next spring and start riding again in snow. Snow riding is a blast. Especially at night.

Aloyzius

I've only been out on the roadie twice since october. I've been using my mountain bike exclusively. Wider tires, a rack, and panniers to stash extra layers in. Also some really cheesy lights. And that IS my trainer. two or three dopey little rides around town is kind of keeping me sane for now. But I desperately need to go south for a weekend of real riding as soon as I can afford to.

After Christmas, when things settle back down a little, we'll ride again, Mr. Wales. Most of my rides, right now are spontaneous jaunts that occur at obscene hours when I can't sleep.

I think it was saturday...my water bottle froze solid. It was so cold, I kept forgetting to drink it, anyway.

Aloyzius

Oh and yes, snow rides are best at night. It's bright, there's no cars, and it's so quiet. The crunch under your tires is almost deafening. It reminds me of being a kid. I like riding in a blizzard, looking at christmas lights, and stopping for decaf somewhere. I like going to the park, downtown, and it's all abandoned, and I'm singing some crappy eighties song at the top of my lungs. The only thing I hate is the way my cheap bike glasses fog up.

waldowales

Al, today was a beautiful day for a ride, and I wasted it working! I thought being retired meant I didn't have to work any more. Tied up tomorrow, hope Friday is a decent day.
If we ride together, I'll handle the singing, thanks!
I haven't seen many mosquitoes lately, have you?

JF1

Sounds about like me. I got on the bathroom scale this morning and found out I am 10 lbs heavier than I was back in September when I did lotoja. Gotta make some changes. I started running last week since it's so much easier to do when the weather is bad. Gotta drop those pounds and then some before spring gets here.

ax0n

There's no stopping me, but we don't really have much of a winter here in Kansas (compared to SLC, Denver, etc)

colorider

Definitely hibernating. Haven't ridden since before Thanksgiving. Would like to on Xmas if the weather cooperates.

TheAnalogKid

I have only been spinning and running. My MTB has slicks and I don't want to take my road bike out in this as many of the streets around my house remain snowpacked.

I do start a new commute in January of 3 blocks. Could be time to get those slicks off the MTB and put some good knobbies on.

waldowales

Rode the Jordan Parkway Trail a few miles today. Don't know how far, because the cyclocomputer sensor battery quit when it got cold. And it did get cold! 26 degrees, with a slight breeze. A hoody and leather gloves weren't enough, I needed a ski mask or balaclava and insulated gloves. Plenty of layers on the bod, so that was comfortable, if a little awkward. Saw one other bike. (Damn fool.)

ken cummings

Enough cash to be able to retire to a life of riding.

ummbnb

Haven't been riding. Haven't been running outside either because my running path is still ice/snow packed and if I run too much on the road my knees hate me. I've been going to the gym daily and it SUCKS! Yesterday my ipod decided to peter out on for some reason and I had to do my hour on the dreadmill and elliptical with no distraction. Kill. me. now.

Oh, the ipod started working again when I got home. Today I have a new eposide of This American Life ready to go and it better work!

DataJunkie

I picked up a mountain bike this weekend and hit the platte yesterday.
Every quarter of a mile was a 5 foot (or so) sheet of compact snow and ice. The new bike worked wonderfully. Took it briefly off road and had a blast. Anyhow, now that I have a better tool I will be riding again. Time to stop making excuses and get off my lazy rear. Riding inside in front of the tv is driving me nuts. Now if it will snow.....

ax0n

Awesome, DJ! What'd you get? I loves me some road bike, but this time of year the MTB is the equalizer: That which makes previously impassable terrain seem like a whole lot of fun.

The added bonus is that you'll probably be stronger and your roadie will feel like it's got a rocket-pack strapped to it once the roads clear up.

DataJunkie

I seem to be addicted to specialized. To go with my langster and tarmac I picked up a hardrock comp disk. Sure it is a lower end mountain bike but I want something that I can trash in winter. That and I can try a bit of mountain biking next year and if I like it I will purchase a higher end mountain bike. At the most I will be out a small amount of cash but will have a pretty good winter bike.
Holy cow, 26X2.1 tires give you a workout.

I tried ebay. I tried craigslist. Nothing seemed to work for me. Too busy. Too expensive. Blah blah blah
Instead I went to my lbs and picked up a new bike on sale.

bmclaughlin807

I hit the Platte and Cherry Creek trails last week on my Randonee. Was fun!

Certainly nothing too challenging.