Crazy Weather
#2
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,898
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From: Bronx, NYC
Bikes: '19 Fuji Gran Fondo 1.5, '72 Peugeot PX10, '71ish Gitane Super Corsa, '78 Fuji Newest, '89 Fuji Ace, '94 Cannondale R600, early '70s LeJeune Pro project
It was 68 overnight here in NYC. The temperature has dropped during the day but it is probably still in the upper 50's. Just... Plain... Weird.
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,667
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Here in Colorado Springs, only 2-3 inches on the south end, 5-6 up north. Tuesdays I have to drive, and it was icy all the way...ice rink icy. I kept wishing I had studded snow tires like on my bike. And then my evening meeting was cancelled so I could have rode the bike. They're predicting 17F during my morning ride tomorrow and upper 20s just after sunset for the ride home. I don't know if I could have rode in 11-inches of snow, I did 6 inches on knobbies 20+ years ago, and I remembered walking more than riding.
#5
Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Bikes: Surly LHT 2012, Jamis Citizen 1 2015
#6
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Crazy weather indeed! It was in the low 70's on Sunday. Last year it was in the 60's on Christmas day, then we got walloped with the coldest February I can remember. Was it the year before, we had snow before Halloween? So yeah, crazy weather this year... just like every year.
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www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
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From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
Normally, the local ski hills (bumps) would be anticipating a pre-Christmas opening for the first week of the Christmas school holidays but not a flake of snow on the ground. It was coldish last night, -6C/21F but it is going up to +3C/37F in middle of tonight. Seasonal norms are -5C daytime highs, -15C overnight lows, we're not even close at the moment.
The hardest part for me, with regard to bike commuting, is whether or not I put on the studded tires and whether or not I want to brave cold rain.
The hardest part for me, with regard to bike commuting, is whether or not I put on the studded tires and whether or not I want to brave cold rain.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 22
From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
Here in Colorado Springs, only 2-3 inches on the south end, 5-6 up north. Tuesdays I have to drive, and it was icy all the way...ice rink icy. I kept wishing I had studded snow tires like on my bike. And then my evening meeting was cancelled so I could have rode the bike. They're predicting 17F during my morning ride tomorrow and upper 20s just after sunset for the ride home. I don't know if I could have rode in 11-inches of snow, I did 6 inches on knobbies 20+ years ago, and I remembered walking more than riding.
(Is it in bad taste to do that?)
#9
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 105
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
Bikes: 2017 Salsa Carbon Mukluk frame built with XT, 2018 Kona Rove NRB build with Sram Apex 1,2008 Salsa El Mariachi, 1986 Centurion Ironman
It's been low 30s and raining here in the Twin Cities in the morning, high 30s to low 40s in the afternoon. I've never seen the ground so saturated in the fall. We are finally supposed to get a few days of cold weather over the weekend, then warming up again into the 30s. I've been tracking the weather in International Falls, as I'm doing the Arrowhead Ultra late January. A soggy, warm mess with no snow would be horrible.
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Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
#10
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
What's "crazy" about Colorado weather is that it's going to be 40°F by Friday and nearly 60°F by Saturday and all of that 11" of snow will be a distant memory.
What's even "crazier" is that I started my commute this morning at 13°F and that the temperature 9 miles west of me and 1000' higher was 26°F. That's nutz and is extremely difficult to dress for.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#11
Banned.
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 195
Likes: 1
From: south of the Great Lakes
Bikes: The Kona
A couple weeks before T'giving, we had a dusting of snow. It melted inside of two days. Friday night (12/18) is forecast to be below freezing, the first time SINCE then.
Today, the projected high is in the low 50's.
My town does a sponsored public ride on Jan 1; looks like this year will be the warmest in almost a decade. I've missed the last 7-8 because of the snow/surface conditions.
Today, the projected high is in the low 50's.
My town does a sponsored public ride on Jan 1; looks like this year will be the warmest in almost a decade. I've missed the last 7-8 because of the snow/surface conditions.
#12
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
let me put it this way. i've only ridden my studded tire winter beast once so far this season. in chicago!
it's VERY unusual to be halfway through december and only ridden my studded tire bike once.
and the long term forecast looks like i won't need my winter beast until after christmas, at the earliest.
weird, wild, wacky stuff.
it's VERY unusual to be halfway through december and only ridden my studded tire bike once.
and the long term forecast looks like i won't need my winter beast until after christmas, at the earliest.
weird, wild, wacky stuff.
#13
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
let me put it this way. i've only ridden my studded tire winter beast once so far this season. in chicago!
it's VERY unusual to be halfway through december and only ridden my studded tire bike once.
and the long term forecast looks like i won't need my winter beast until after christmas, at the earliest.
weird, wild, wacky stuff.
it's VERY unusual to be halfway through december and only ridden my studded tire bike once.
and the long term forecast looks like i won't need my winter beast until after christmas, at the earliest.
weird, wild, wacky stuff.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#14
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,971
Likes: 5,263
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Here in sunny San Diego, it's been in the 30s the last few nights. I've switched to ski gloves for my morning commutes; it's nice to have toasty warm hands as I ride past parked cars covered in frost!
#15
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Are you sure that was frost and not just extra salt deposits? Being from San Diego, are you sure you even know what frost looks like?
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#16
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,667
Likes: 2,411
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
#17
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,971
Likes: 5,263
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
#18
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
You're closer to a large reservoir of salt and water then I am. Of course, CDOT is attempting to change that.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#19
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,971
Likes: 5,263
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
I don't get your joke about CDOT, are they trying to reduce the salinity of the pacific ocean?
#20
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
CDOT has gone the Michigan route in applying lots and lots of salt to the roads. That increases the salinity of the water here.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#21
www.ocrebels.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles area
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
37 Deg.F this morning when I decided not to commute because it's too cold! When I was a kid (relatively speaking) back in St. Louis I remember riding when it was -6 and here I am, living in SoCal, thinking 37 is too cold.
Makes no sense, but then again I am older (65) and more of a wuss!
Rick / OCR
Makes no sense, but then again I am older (65) and more of a wuss!
Rick / OCR
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
We had 70's over the weekend. Yesterday my commute home from work was in a long-sleeve jersey and shorts.
This week and last week, one year ago, all my commutes were in the 30's and 40's. This year they've been in the 50's and 60's mostly. Last Friday morning at 6 AM it was 60 degrees which is insane!
This week and last week, one year ago, all my commutes were in the 30's and 40's. This year they've been in the 50's and 60's mostly. Last Friday morning at 6 AM it was 60 degrees which is insane!
#23
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,694
Likes: 2,616
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Seems to me that the weather is rarely "normal." Ph.D. climatologists on the weather channel confuse the issue by using "normal" in the statistical sense (meaning average), while most of the audience hears "normal" in the colloquial sense (meaning normal). The weather people (almost said weather man there for a second) talk about temperatures, precipitation, etc. as though they follow "normal" (meaning Gaussian) distributions, neglecting to tell the rest of us that the statistical "normal" temperature occurs only a small percentage of the time in that "normal" distribution.
(What's wrong with "average?"
(What's wrong with "average?"
#24
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 444
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
Kind of an unusual winter so far here in South Dakota. Started with an unusually late hard freeze that didn't hit until the 2nd week of November, which was more than a month later than usual and more than a week later than the previous record.
Then we proceeded to get about 30" of snow during the month of November spread across three or four different events, but about 26" of it falling in two storms.
When December hit, the temps raised back up in the mid 30's for a good chunk of the 1st half of the month, which effectively melted most of the snow. I switched back from my winter bike to my regular commuter.
Today we had more snow, and the forecast has the temps falling back to our normal December single digits in the next few days. So I'm back on my winter bike.
Then we proceeded to get about 30" of snow during the month of November spread across three or four different events, but about 26" of it falling in two storms.
When December hit, the temps raised back up in the mid 30's for a good chunk of the 1st half of the month, which effectively melted most of the snow. I switched back from my winter bike to my regular commuter.
Today we had more snow, and the forecast has the temps falling back to our normal December single digits in the next few days. So I'm back on my winter bike.




