Winter
09-29-17, 06:06 AM
#51
Full Member
This has actually been one of my better seasons yet. I've only really been serious about cycling for the last 5 years or so, and each year I try to do something new or different than the previous season.
I really crave novelty with regards to bike routes, so each year I try to come up with a few new places to ride. This year was a camping trip from La Crosse, WI to Chicago, a Door County ride, some back-roads in Iowa, a gravel metric in rural Illinois, and multiple new routes in Southern Wisconsin.
WRT bikes themselves, I have a great new Gugie bike to ride, a new-to-me '83 620 which is receiving a low-key 650B treatment, and I'm building up a mid-80's Schwinn Cimarron drop-bar commuter for the upcoming winter.
Funny how by the end of a riding season, you find yourself cruising regularly in gears you struggled with early in the season. Wish I could keep that fitness level up throughout winter....
I really crave novelty with regards to bike routes, so each year I try to come up with a few new places to ride. This year was a camping trip from La Crosse, WI to Chicago, a Door County ride, some back-roads in Iowa, a gravel metric in rural Illinois, and multiple new routes in Southern Wisconsin.
WRT bikes themselves, I have a great new Gugie bike to ride, a new-to-me '83 620 which is receiving a low-key 650B treatment, and I'm building up a mid-80's Schwinn Cimarron drop-bar commuter for the upcoming winter.
Funny how by the end of a riding season, you find yourself cruising regularly in gears you struggled with early in the season. Wish I could keep that fitness level up throughout winter....
09-29-17, 06:18 AM
#52
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,344
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 2,378 Times
in
891 Posts
Yeah, same here. That's what I hate about living in Chicago. By September/October, I'm flying, then winter hits. Might try doing a weekly spin class again. I seem to get bronchial issues if I ride in temps below 40.
09-29-17, 09:28 AM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Schwenksville, Pa
Posts: 2,772
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Liked 339 Times
in
179 Posts
I had an excellent riding year and logged the most mile ever for me. Free time is a little more available now that the kids are in their latter teens.
I ride for fun\fitness and anything under 35 degrees is just not fun for me (I know, wuss). It gets that cold and I would prefer putting the bike on the trainer and watching old Soprano episodes in my shorts than bundling up. So mid December to February outdoor riding is only on nicer days.
I ride for fun\fitness and anything under 35 degrees is just not fun for me (I know, wuss). It gets that cold and I would prefer putting the bike on the trainer and watching old Soprano episodes in my shorts than bundling up. So mid December to February outdoor riding is only on nicer days.
__________________
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
09-29-17, 10:37 AM
#54
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,635
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,796 Times
in
2,282 Posts
We sometimes complain about all the rain we get in the PNW, but in reality, it's a reasonably mild climate, especially when one compares it to the heat and humidity of the south, and the bitter cold of the northern part of the country.
Fenders, good rain gear, and you're good to go here pretty much year round.
Fenders, good rain gear, and you're good to go here pretty much year round.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
09-29-17, 12:14 PM
#55
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,344
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 2,378 Times
in
891 Posts
When I get holiday pics from my sister, I'm always surprised how green it is in PDX over Dec/Jan.
09-30-17, 09:08 AM
#56
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,328
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 990 Times
in
522 Posts
I am at 1250 km for the year sofar, had a poor hot season(Mar-jun) and a poor mid rainy season (Aug-mid sept), next few months look like a good time to ride as it will get cooler and stop raining mid Oct until beginning of Feb.
__________________
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
09-30-17, 06:36 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,528
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1507 Post(s)
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,132 Posts
