Last weekend I thought I'd try and do a bit of winter cycling, just a small little 3-4 day trip. I had seen some winter touring sites and figured I could roll with the best of 'em.
After checking the weather I hitchiked to my starting destination no problem, and headed for home. It was nearing the end of the day and I had rode only about 10km and called it a day. Plus my feet had gotten wet and I was freezing. It dipped down to -15C that night and my -12C bag just wasn't cutting it.
I made it through the evening - barely - and hit the roads. I made it maybe 45ft and a link on my chain popped. I didn't bring many tools, of course. I ditched the attempt and started to thumb. On the way home I had been continually told there was a storm coming and it was calling for 20-30cm. Hmm, the weather didn't call for that.
The worst thing about hitchhiking with a bike is that your percentage of available rides drops dramatically.
I was about 80km from home but the weather was definatly turning messy and rides weren't happening. I managed to get a ride another 40km. It was with an old man who had offered to take my bike to his house and he would drive it to my town on saturday(today) as he had to come into town. At this point it was nearly dark and getting even worse. I was desperate to get home, so I reluctantly accepted.
I gave him my number and left the bike in the back of his truck. It's now getting late in the afternoon and I still have yet to hear from him. I'm sure he didn't know much about bikes, and probably isn't much interested in stealing a kids bike. Either way, I think it was a dumb move on my part.
Anyway, the whole point of this was for people like me who don't search for tips before trying to cycle in the winter. I just searched the forums here and found some links - which I'll make sure to remember later.
Actually, I never want to tour in the winter again.
here are a couple of links that might serve to benefit those other first timers out there..
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=winter
http://www.bicycletouring101.com/Int...ouringTony.htm
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=83913
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=153960
anyone have anything else useful for anyone out there who just can't seem to wait for summer to roll around..
(edit: got my bike back later that evening)