Papa Tom

Damn. We hardly had a spring or summer; then I was sick for about six weeks during the prime autumn riding season. Now, I've been off the bike for so long that I can't even get up the steam for a short ride, let alone one in sub-60 degree weather. It looks like my cycling season is a bust for 2009.

Although I've already put away my wife's bike - as well as my half-dozen "novelty bikes" (none of which were ridden this year) - I've still got my main ride in the garage, with hopes that we'll have another weekend like 11/7-11/8 and I won't have any other obligations but to pedal out to Jones Beach or another of my favorite destinations. So far, Saturday 11/14 looks rainy.

I guess I have no real mission in submitting this post except to whine like a sissy. As I've gotten into my forties, my tolerance for cool-weather riding has diminished significantly and I've been packing away the bike earlier and earlier each year. The day I unload my panniers, remove the batteries from my flashers and bike-mounted mp3 speakers, and carry my last bike into the basement is always the saddest day of the year. Keep me in your thoughts, my friends, as I believe that day is coming soon!

xtrajack

I just put the studded tires on for the start of my second winter commuting season in the western mountain area of Maine.

roadiejorge 

You just have to get out and do it, otherwise you'll talk your way out of not riding. My tolerance level for the cold has diminished as well but I just dress warmer and I'm good to go. Sometimes you have to HTFU and ride.

Papa Tom

>>>Sometimes you have to HTFU and ride.<<<<

Where can I get some of this "HTFU" you describe?

roadiejorge 

jeebusaurousrex

This is my mantra for all seasons.

Besides, the spit freezing cold weather is great motivation to pedal faster (keeps you warm) to get home sooner (keep hot chocolate in the house).

Papa Tom

Given my current underemployed status and my need to be frugal, I think I may opt for some "STFU" instead.

FrankieV

You know what you need Papa John...you need someone to ride with.
I see you're in Sysosset...join the Long Island Bike Club.
They ride every Saturday and Sunday and have different levels of rides.
I'm from Brooklyn and normally ride 9W, but some of the people I regularly ride with are members.
Last week I did a ride with them from Westbury to Lake Ronkonkoma.
Great ride, nice people and a reason to get out and DO IT.

Papa Tom

>>>You know what you need Papa John...you need someone to ride with.<<<

Not really. As sociable as I am and much as I enjoy good company, one thing I prefer to do ALONE is ride.

At 47, I'm in much better shape than just about all of my friends, but not in as good shape as the average roadie. I ride a souped-up mountain bike with an mp3 player and speakers on the handlebars and, while I've got the chops to burn some rubber, I typically cruise along at 15mph or less.

So the underlying problem is that I'm too fast for most of my casual-rider friends and probably too laid back to join a club. But the main problem is that I'm starting to really despise the cold Long Island winters.

zoste

Pass the bottle and let me share some of that whine with you. I also had a pretty horrible riding season: rainy, cooler than normal. Topping my season was the day I got home from the Seagull Century my apartment caught fire. My bikes are still in storage at the apartment house and I'm in temporary living quarters several miles away. Makes it difficult (not impossible) to get in a ride during the week.

I'm also with you on the cold. As I get older I just don't want to be out in it. No use suggesting HTFU, either. I've reached a point in my life where if it ain't fun I'm just not going to do it unless I'm being paid.

zoste

I kinda like this response.

lukasz

The temperature sucks and in addition it has been windy the past few days. There are only a few things worse than stepping outside in the morning, getting on the bike, and having cold wind off the East River hit you in the face for the first 5 minutes of your ride.

I've been out every day so far this week, including over 30 miles of commuting around town on Tuesday, but I have absolutely no motivation to do some fast loops around Central Park today in order to get some real exercise. It is going to be wet tomorrow and Saturday, so today is pretty much the only option until Sunday for a relatively comfortable ride. I would not even mind the rain, but having to clean up the bike in cold rain post-ride is just one step too far.

The biggest factor pushing me to go out for a ride after work is the desire to punish myself for not wanting to go out for exercise after work. I think that it is working. I should have just ridden my road bike over here. I work half a block from the park, and live 5 miles away. My girlfriend told me that I have "problems."

Not the Slowest

Okay Kid, I'm 51 and I commute 23 miles each way to work. I ride faster than some and slower than others, SO WHAT????. You don't need no stinkin excuse NOT TO RIDE, You need to simply RIDE. Now charge up the mp3 and go go go.

Like u said, maybe you enjoy riding alone, do it
Hmm, Maybe it keeps you healthy, do it
Maybe it lets you mellow from other things in your life, do it

Don't be a "whiney pants", shut up and ride. Besides 15mph on a Mt bike is fine, swap on some slicks and you'll be 1.5-2mph faster.

Let us know how the ride goes SUNDAY.

Papa Tom

>>>Let us know how the ride goes SUNDAY.<<<<

By Sunday, I will not have taken a decent ride in about eight weeks. If I DO get on the bike and the ride goes as well as LAST Sunday's attempt, I'll be home in five to seven minutes. Do you want a minute-by-minute report, or just an overall summary?

exRunner

Yesterday I did a club ride out of Huntington. Temp at the start was 48 and overcast. It was about 53 and overcast when we got home. A balmy spring day where I grew up.

I wore my bib shorts, short sleeve shirt, and full finger summer gloves, along with my photocromatic glasses (just in case the sun came out).

Oh yea, I'm 48 and ride with the A group, so we average, on a hilly course, about 18 mph. On a flat hard run (109 miles to Orient and back) we average well over 20 mph.

Your body will do it if your brain demands it.

roadiejorge 

If you're ever on the Greenway from 181st down to 54th street and see a guy on a blue/black/white BMC and a black Capo top feel free to say hi.

It takes extra motivation for me to ride in the winter which is why I opted to commute to work this Fall/Winter because the 5:45am rides I do in the Spring/Summer just aren't as hospitable in the winter; right now it's not so bad since the sun is up a bit after 6am but by mid December and on it may as well be 2am. I've done the early winter rides for years and I must say there were more than a fair share of times when I would be standing on Boulevard East getting ready to ride north (Blvd East gets the full wind effect since it's on top of the Palisades) wondering what the heck I was doing out there. The commuting at least gives me the option of riding under sunlight for one half of the ride. Would it be better to be lying in bed? Sure, but I think of the few times I didn't ride in the winter and remember how bad spring training would be and that gets my motivation going. Oh and Papa Tom, I'm not picking on you just trying to give you a little tough love motivation.

lukasz

Well, it started raining before I even got out of work but I went out anyway. It better be pouring tomorrow.



I HATE cleaning my bicycle. It was even dirtier than it looks. I only got one hasty (overexposed) picture off before my camera ran out of juice.

zacster

At the time when I was just beginning to feel good on the bike again after our crappy spring and my busy summer, I'm coming home from a ride in Prospect Park when I fall over and break my pelvis. I was off the bike for 7 weeks but couldn't wait to get back on. I'm out of shape, I gained weight, I'm still very busy, but I still ride every chance I get. As long as it isn't raining, I'll go ride.

mr,grumpy 

Dude, given your current underemployment stats you should be MORE able to fit in rides and stuff. I sympathize with you totally though. I was laid up with pneumonia for almost two months. Just last week was I able to get out and ride again. Hell, it was only the week before that I could walk up the stairs all in a row without stopping. I only really started riding this year and was so disappointed to loose most of what I had worked all summer to gain. I can go about half the distance at about 2/3 the pace as I could before I got sick. Even with that I loved being out on the bike though. Yea, it was a little cold but I sucked it up and by the third ride I was banging it out. I'm going to try the bigger loop next week and see how that goes. Try riding "around" for errands or even just to explore some of the back roads and trails near your house. It can be a LOT of fun finding new things close to home, or even just looking at things from a different angle and slower pace than normal. Fall is the best time of the year to ride. You can smell the fireplaces and feel the changes in temperature as you go in and out of valleys and shaded areas. Of course, you can always slip on wet leaves too.

DON'T GIVE UP!
Get your arse out on the bike and ride!

FrankieV

You're putting that bike away prematurely Papa John.

I'm going to be 62 in January but ride with some younger riders.
Tomorrow it's going to be 65 degrees and cloudy here in NY.
My friends and I will be dragging each other up and down 9W.

Stacy

Even with the long cold winter we had last year we still had a few days in January and February that were warm enough to wear shorts

Not the Slowest

Thanks But I take broadway to 168th then St Nicholas to CP and then Quennsboro bridge.

BUTTT, if I do take the Greenway I'll say hi

Papa Tom

The forecast for Sunday 11/15 looks pretty good here on Long Island. Best of all, my wife and I have absolutely NOTHING to do all day.

Perhaps? Maybe?....

roadiejorge 

There is no try, only do or do not do.

SourDieseL

you can't pass up today, beautiful out. full kit no warmers sweating like no tomorrow. just got back from a 30miler and seriously wanted to stay out there but priorities call - sunday football, sofa, wings, beer...it's my recovery training for the NY Tri. Gmen are off this week so I gotta support the green. Cmon Jets Cmon!