Commuting rituals?
Originally Posted by
Phil_gretz
^so I realize that this is mostly written in jest. And we all misplace something from time to time, right?
But what the heck have you been doing for the past month as colder weather approaches? Rotate your storage from warm weather to cool weather gear prominence? Take inventory? Mend worn items?
What do you do 90 days before an important event? 60 days? A month? In the days prior? And what do you do after dinner the night before a ride?
Planning is everything, the plan is nothing. - Dwight Eisenhower
I recenly posted to this Winter Cycling Forum thread,
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
"Winter is right around the corner"
On several threads, I have posted my slogan for winter riding,
“Gear and Gumption,” obviously mostly clothing.
For me, it takes a while to make the transition between warm and cold and vice versa….
As for the bicycle,
the definitive transition to winter is mounting the studded tires, early in December, and removal signals winter is over, usually in late March.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
As a cycle commuter with convenient Commuter Rail alternative, I check Weather.com forecasts starting five days prior.
On the day of a ride, if it looks questionable I check current Doppler to decide, and depending on the conditions if I ride in the rain I use my beater road bike.
I usually don’t have cycling plans beyond the week. Once though I described my preparations for an organized ride months in the future.
Originally Posted by
BluesDawg
I am now registered. No idea yet where I'll stay, how I'll get there or whether my wife will be able to go, but I'm in.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
As a veteran of four Fifty-Plus Annual Rides, I had made up this (updated) Preparation Schedule for myself as a working professional with a family:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
- schedule time off from work: two driving days, 2-3 days for Ride(s) and to hang out [return driving day is Columbus (holiday) Day]
- train with winter commuting, then intensify in mid March, and continue to train
- ask Family permission to go away for one week (they probably would not want to go)
- arrange accommodations [I use the AAA Regional Guidebooks.]
- pre-ride bike check at LBS
- rent car if necessary
- map driving route (~500 miles)
- pack
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Well you should see my packing list…hate to arrive on time, having forgotten my bike (helmet, gloves, shoes, pump, tools, shorts, water bottle, computer, lights, extra valve stem caps…); never happened.
- Register for event [Even for professional conferences, I usually register on-site, in case of exigencies, but I plan to be in. The Pennsylvania Ride does offer a $10 discount before August 1.]