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Not many winter riders here.

Old 01-15-11, 01:21 PM
  #26  
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Ugh... did a 40-miler this morning, and I was wishing there were shoulders or bike lanes, there were huge deisel trucks everywhere.

And no, if they put in bike lanes, I would die from riding them too much! Man, I don't think they realize just how bad the infrastructure here is. Totally myopic, I will do my best to work with the city to petition for real bike lanes, or something.
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Old 01-24-11, 03:02 PM
  #27  
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I went to Chicago yesterday and was shocked at the lack of cyclists. The streets get enough traffic that they are just wet and Lakeshore trail was completely clear.
https://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com...culptures.html

I really expected to see more cyclists on the trail but didn't.

Marc
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Old 01-24-11, 03:16 PM
  #28  
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I see tracks in the snow from a couple of other bicycles, especially the closer you get to downtown. I don't think they have studded tires like I do, but somebody's got some pretty wide tires with agressive tread so, judging from the tracks, they don't seem to have any trouble.

I know I am the only one at my company who commutes year round by bike.
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Old 01-24-11, 04:00 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by irwin7638
I went to Chicago yesterday and was shocked at the lack of cyclists.
probably glued to the TV or at a bar/party for the bears game. I was riding in the burbs Several driveways/streets were overloaded with cars.
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Old 01-24-11, 05:28 PM
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I ride more in the winter than I do in the summer since I have the gear to keep me warm in the winter and it's not fun riding when it hits 90°+ and humid in the summer.
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Old 01-25-11, 10:16 PM
  #31  
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^ Joe, I like your setup. What kind of helmet are you wearing?

Around here (Detroit area), there are winter riders. Many of the riders I see are the indigent citizens of the Detroit inner city who are carless, not by choice.

I took a short bike ride immediately after cross-country skiing around my neighborhood park, and I was a little surprised to find that the light clothing I wore skiing was not enough to keep the cold wind off my legs while bicycling.
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Old 01-26-11, 10:27 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by DavidW56
^ Joe, I like your setup. What kind of helmet are you wearing?

Around here (Detroit area), there are winter riders. Many of the riders I see are the indigent citizens of the Detroit inner city who are carless, not by choice.

I took a short bike ride immediately after cross-country skiing around my neighborhood park, and I was a little surprised to find that the light clothing I wore skiing was not enough to keep the cold wind off my legs while bicycling.
That would be surprising to me as well--I wear about the same gear for both (generally don't bother with the bib shorts or helmet for skiing, of course).

I wonder how many winter riders there have been in the last week or so--I know *I* wussed out and took the bus during that crazy cold snap.

edited to add: Edmontonians, feel free to laugh while reading that previous sentence--I think -25 C was about as cold as it ever got.
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Old 01-29-11, 02:54 PM
  #33  
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A year ago, I commuted round trip ninety kilometers, or thirty miles each way, but then I moved. Now I commute about half of that. I haven't had that much of a problem with riding in winter regarding my bicycle holdup and bike parts. There is a lake effect where I live, so I have had days when I am completely unable to bike to work and other places, but it is hazardous for persons in cars as well. But my bicycle holds up pretty well. It is steel though.

Do people with bicycles made of other materials have significantly more of a problem when winter comes around? Maybe with wind on lighter bicycles? Or would that not matter? I don't know.

When winter comes around, where I live now, honestly the only people I see on bicycles are homeless people ... and then there is me ... at least, it seems like I am the only person biking. At my school I'm infamous, and I have even been gifted with the name "bicycle guy", haha. I guess it is because I am the only person still riding.

Last edited by zbikema; 01-29-11 at 03:02 PM.
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Old 01-31-11, 05:40 PM
  #34  
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I have not met another cyclist out on the road yet this winter. I'm out where the suburbs of NYC end in new york. The only times I see ANYONE else on a bike is when I go for winter rides with my cycle club. And they only ride once every two weeks....

In the winter I commute and still ride for recreation, I just turn into a super-fred and slow down. Riding hard is for the summer
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Old 02-02-11, 01:10 PM
  #35  
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I have a blog that I take photos of other commuters that I see, in the winter, the number of photographs I take is definitely much less....or maybe I just don't want to take my hands out of my gloves when it's -10F!

https://www.alternativecommutepueblo.com/
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Old 02-03-11, 10:39 AM
  #36  
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traction

I usually just ride around the neighborhood when there's snow. So far this year, temperature hasn't been so much of an issue as the amount of snow. It definitely takes skill to steer in a straight line when there's instant mashed potatoes on the ground. But, you can't beat the workout from just half an hour of riding.
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Old 02-05-11, 08:56 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by jefferee
That would be surprising to me as well--I wear about the same gear for both (generally don't bother with the bib shorts or helmet for skiing, of course).

I wonder how many winter riders there have been in the last week or so--I know *I* wussed out and took the bus during that crazy cold snap.

edited to add: Edmontonians, feel free to laugh while reading that previous sentence--I think -25 C was about as cold as it ever got.
I sucked it up... but our work panicked in the face of the supposed snowmageddon and cancelled wednesday's shift, so I missed the worst of the snow, but I was out on the days previous and it was -20 and I found a toque kept enough of my bodyheat in that I was comfortable for 5km and 10km, at midnight to boot.
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Old 02-05-11, 11:18 PM
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year-round is not the same as all-weather

There is a difference between year-round and all-weather.

Here the weather is intermittently nice enough all year that plenty of people ride year round (both commuters and recreational riders)*. On the other hand we do get spells of sub-zero weather and snow. The number of riders certainly is less, but I do see tracks and other riders in even the worse conditions. This is particularly true in Boulder where the bike paths are often cleared before the roads.

Paul

Just last week it was a high of over 60F and a low of -15F within a few days.
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Old 02-06-11, 01:24 AM
  #39  
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Missoula, MT - Checking in.

People love to ride here. Not much will keep the dedicated biker inside all winter. I was out earlier this week in single digit temps clawing my way up forest roads, and passed a bunch of commuters going through town.

That said, this winter has been weird. -10 one day, and then +40 a couple days later. All winter. Ideal conditions are to be had in the middle of these extremes. 10-15 degrees is plenty warm enough to ride, and you don't get coated in slush and mud... bonus!
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Old 02-07-11, 12:43 PM
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Greetings from the cold-ass north, Winnipeg Manitoba


there's a surprising amount of people in Winnipeg that bike all year round, you see a wide range of bike/gear quality but most people that get out know what to expect. Given that temps recently have been in the deep freeze -30c to yes -44c one morning (with the windchill) I've been wearing double layer of long johns/socks/mits, with a handy facemask like Joe1946's , and plenty of other gear. Luckily when it's that cold you stay quite clean.

I've found since I've been on the road that motorists see to give me wider birth than I'd get in the summer (I assume they're scared they'll kill me)

Here's a short article about winter cyclists from our local paper (you can read the comments and get all upsetif you so choose)
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...115464944.html

Last edited by sauze; 02-07-11 at 12:47 PM.
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Old 02-10-11, 03:37 PM
  #41  
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One advantage to few winter-weather bikes around:

Yesterday on the way home from work I got to ride through fresh, unblemished snow on the MUP for a couple of miles. This morning, the only marks on that stretch of the MUP were the tracks I left from the day before.

I like riding on pristine snow.
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Old 02-10-11, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by sunset1123
People love to ride here.
I love your city for this. I was there for a weekend in the summer. I rented a bike and explored, racked up a ton of miles and had a blast. I'd love to live there someday.
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Old 02-12-11, 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by scroca
I like riding on pristine snow.
I crave this! Our MUP is heavily walked all year, so it doesn't stay pristine for long, and it was plowed up until this week for some reason.
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Old 02-12-11, 07:02 PM
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Well, it's good to see that there are places where it's not unusual to see bikers in the winter, or warm weather for that matter. Last weekend it snowed an inch or so and I got a number of "look at this idiot on a bike" looks and gestures from folks in the vehicles. I have learned to take those encounters with a grain of salt. The only thing I don't like is when the trucks with straight pipes goose their engines as they pass you in order to blow out your ear drums.
Other than that kind of stuff I feel blessed to have the hills and scenery to ride through.
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Old 02-18-11, 09:00 AM
  #45  
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We are enjoying spring like temps in February here in Michigan. Yesterday I was the only one I saw on the streets. I expected a couple of spandex hamsters to come out of hybernation.

Marc
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Old 03-09-11, 03:37 PM
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There is a shocking amount of winter riders here considering- a) the sh*tty road conditions/infrastructure b) that we are the coldest city with a population of over 600 000 in the world c) that the local constabulary and auto-motive types HATE cyclists with a murderous passion.
I see at least 25 or more riders a day and there's more all the time. We're not talking the gortex crowed either we're talkn' the peeps. It gives me faith in humanity.
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Old 03-12-11, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by irwin7638
I went to Chicago yesterday and was shocked at the lack of cyclists. The streets get enough traffic that they are just wet and Lakeshore trail was completely clear.
https://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com...culptures.html

I really expected to see more cyclists on the trail but didn't.

Marc
I was riding! I thought the winter would stop me at some point but never really did. OK, I didn't leave my house for a few days after the blizzard but I think it'd be ridiculous to even go out driving in that. I usually am not on the lakefront trail though. There's parts in the winter that don't get maintained that well. But as long as there's not too much snow it's fine. I like riding the trail and do take it even though it usually adds a couple of miles.

Even though there's a lot of riders here most of my friends call me crazy. I think waiting in the cold 20 minutes for a bus is a little crazier, but hey.
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Old 03-12-11, 03:32 PM
  #48  
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I like riding in the winter, the paths are less crowded.
Once spring hits, here come the dog walkers with their
unleashed pooches, parents letting their toddlers run
wild everywhere, other riders cycling 2 or 3 abreast on
the narrow paths.

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