a beautiful day in Monterey
 

Wow. I got up this morning to work out. Usually this involves walking down to the weight room in the cold morning air. But something was different this morning. It seemed like the sun was shining more brightly. And the air was warmer. I put on my sweat shirt as usual for my ride to work, but when I hit the street I realized that I was already warm, so I took it off.

What a ride. The first time I have ridden to work without my sweatshirt in over 6 months (granted for a good part of that time I was driving due to an injury). It felt so good. The sun and the wind on my arms. The feeling of being more in touch with the world around me. And it was such a nice day. I remember now how absolutely enjoyable it was to ride my bike to work for the first time last summer. Not that I hadn't been enjoying the rides lately, but today was just so great.

Anyway, I hope it starts to warm up soon for the rest of you out there. And for you folks in the southern part of the world, well, grab those jackets.

andy

I know exactly what you're saying. The last three days have been stunning by Pacific NW standards. The morning air has been just warm enough to ride in short sleeves as long as one is riding vigorously. The scent of spring in the air and the slightly different edge to the morning chill is more bracing than any cup of coffee (though that still ranks highly on my pleasure scale). Can't wait for summer!

Over in the UK its been dry, bright and sunny all week. The temp is 12C which is fine by me and the perfect riding conditions are going to last throuout the easter hols. Wehey

The weather is so good, a group of us in Pacific Grove and Monterey are riding out tonight for pizza at Mountain Mikes in Marina. We gather at the Maritime Museum at 5:00 pm. Come along if you can.

Eddie

There's been a little cloud but generally bright and sunny. Hard frost this morning but quite warm now.

Richard

This forum is great isn't it? Chatting about the weather has a real international flavour to it.

Anyway, I'd just like to say thankyou to you all. I always like these conversations that remind me what it's like to live in a place that has seasons. An endless stream of warm (hot) sunny days can get a little boring. No tales of braving freezing weather. No anticipation of the coming of Spring. No Summertime frenzy of outdoor activity whilst the weather lasts, and no fun of the first snowfight of the year. There's just the subtle shifting between warm and dry days and hot and humid days. I don't even get the long summer evenings - sheesh.

Then again, I do get year-round riding weather. In fact, the wusses tend to avoid riding in the summer over here. How's that for a turn-around?

I’m as delightful as all of you. Sweden has had wonderful days and every morning ride to work is a happiness rush. Around 5-7 degrees centigrade when I leave home, but sunny and dry. Easter is gonna be like 12 degrees. :cool:

I've heard from people that live in year-around warm weather that is it boring. The sameness gets to them. I can't fully understand that when I look outside and see 6 inches of snow on the ground. We got an early spring snowfall a couple of days ago and it is finally safe to drive on the roadways. Still pretty cold to ride a bike except for a short distance and there are still patches of black ice on some of the side roads and suburban streets.

We've had it easy this winter compared to winters past. It has only snowed a couple of times, but the lack of sun, grey skies, cold temperatures, sleet, rain and general misery is hard to take. I'd give a lot to be able to have a couple of days of warmth and sun and gentle breezes.:p

i had the same great feeling on my morning rides -- warm sunny weather and no snowboard gloves and no neoprene overshoes and then i take off my jacket and my thick windproof jersey...

as a person who grew it in a basically 2-season place (Texas - normal with occaisonal short heat and cold waves and then super/hot/humid summer --- December can be 20F one week and then 80F the following) i must say i love having actual seasons - Portland OR was better although it was still basically 3 seasons - dry and sunny (summer), mild and rainy (spring/fall) and rainy and cold but no snow (winter)...

then i was in Massachusetts and now Munich Germany - both with 4 real seasons... i like it - although i don't think i would like the extreme where we still had snow in April like northern US/central Canada/northern Scandanavia, but...

we had a really warm end to Winter with sunny warm temps and all the snow melted and it was 60F(20C) quite a few days in March and late Feb - then we had a brief revisit of winter with 1m+ snow in the mountains (great snowboarding/skiing last weekend with 90cm+ (3-4ft)) and now i think the spring is almost here - sunny with highs in the 15-20C range (50Fs).

it makes the coming of spring so exciting after the cold winter as does also the coming of winter and the first snow in late fall...

there's something to be said for year round warm cycling places, but i prefer the variety and there's always winter cycling and lots of winter snow sports to fill the cold times...

Actually, the wind at the southern end of the Gold Coast was anything but gentle earlier this week. At least it provided a bit of interest though. Normally, the only redeeming feature that the evil and disgusting concept of summer has around here is the occasional tropical downpour, and those have been sadly lacking over the last couple of summers. :cry:

I thought I was the only one who cared about the weather...

To me, weather is a major part of my thought process. What temp in the morning? Evening? Wind speed and direction? Precipitation? Trend over the coming week?

When I drove, I was "protected" from the weather. Now, I'm bored without feeling the out-of-doors in it's pure nakedness.

(Thanks, Andy!)