Not as extreme in Minnesota, but also we're having problems turning the corner towards spring. It was 19 °F this morning and it's supposed to be °9F tomorrow morning. That's late January/early February weather, not mid- March. The snow banks show little evidence of receding and on the few days when they do melt a little, they produce a layer of water on the roads that, after sundown, give us bad glare ice.

I was headed to a group ride this morning and went down on same bad ice. Yes, I have studded tires, but they are Nokian A10s, which aren't as totally sure-footed as the fully studded Kenda Klondikes on my MTB. I wasn't hurt, but one of the cheap platform pedals I use in the winter (with Powergrips) broke off the spindle axle, so I was done for the morning. I fixed the pedal and got in about 30 miles in a solo ride in the afternoon, when much of the ice was gone.

Most years in Minnesota, we've had significant thaws by now and we're riding on dry but dirty potholed roads most days- our typical early spring. Not this year.

I'll be in Houston next week for a business trip. A buddy is supposed to meet me for some early morning rides - on real road bikes! I can't wait.