Spring is here!
#1
Spring is here!
All the signs are here. I commuted in shirt sleeves, in daylight and got hot enough that I had to wash when I arrived at work.
The mockingbirds have started singing, and from how green the buds on the trees have become, it should be a riot of flowers within the week.
The mockingbirds have started singing, and from how green the buds on the trees have become, it should be a riot of flowers within the week.
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"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#3
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...
Yeah, same here in NJ; the last couple days have been spectacular (and I've been at work). But isn't it always like this-- you get a week of lovely Spring weather in March, and then another five weeks of cold and rain, often with a goodish snowfall or two. You really can't count on glorious warm spring weather until May.
#4
Except for one brief week in early December, winter didn't arrive this year.
Spring blossoms came out during the Winter Olympics, and (except for that one week) I haven't worn any cold weather gear.
Spring blossoms came out during the Winter Olympics, and (except for that one week) I haven't worn any cold weather gear.
#5
the best thing about spring is that all the roadies come out for their maiden voyage after a full season of inactivity with their winter-wizened lungs and scrawny-white legs. after riding all winter, its the one time i'm more fit than those twenty-something racer types.
little is more satisfying than blowing right past some cat-3 dude on a madone in full kit on my 25 year-old fixed gear conversion wearing a pair of levi's 516's and a hoodie.
little is more satisfying than blowing right past some cat-3 dude on a madone in full kit on my 25 year-old fixed gear conversion wearing a pair of levi's 516's and a hoodie.
#6
I'm guessing a cat-3 dude was at least on a trainer or skiing during the winter or he/she would have a tough time remaining a cat-3.
Something I observed this winter was that the ratio of road bikes to other types was actually higher than the rest of year. Not that road bikes were in the majority. Only that instead of being 25% of what I'd see during most of the year, it was more like 35%.
Something I observed this winter was that the ratio of road bikes to other types was actually higher than the rest of year. Not that road bikes were in the majority. Only that instead of being 25% of what I'd see during most of the year, it was more like 35%.
#7
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 2010 Kona Dr. Dew, Moose Bicycle XXL (fat bike), Yuba Mundo V3
Around here spring is still slowly clawing it's way out of the hole it's been buried in for the last 3 months. Highs mostly in the 40s and low 50s. We're still waiting for all the snow to melt.
Still, it's warm enough I don't need my insulated jacket liner!
Still, it's warm enough I don't need my insulated jacket liner!
#11
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
Spring showed up here for 2 weeks, realized it was too early, then promptly left. Winter has come back with a vengeance and treated us to sub-freezing weather with high wind all week. Oh, joy! I generally don't mind winter, but I'm getting really sick of it now. I'd love to have a few 60F days.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
We had a blast of spring last week, and now it's winter again. Raining, low 30s in the morning, grey in the afternoon and drizzling low 40s.
Migratory fauna will give you the indication of season changes. It's not officially spring here until the Pale-Chested Beer-Bellied MUP Plodder returns to the Sammamish River Trail.
Migratory fauna will give you the indication of season changes. It's not officially spring here until the Pale-Chested Beer-Bellied MUP Plodder returns to the Sammamish River Trail.
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"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
#13
When I lived in Palm Springs, I was amazed that the Canadian Geese arrived at exactly the same time as the Canadian Snowbird.
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"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#14
Well the evening commute was even more spring-like.
I saw a Redbud tree in full bloom.
And as I rode home there was a huge thunderstorm on 3 sides of me, with enormous bolts arcing across my full range of vision. And almost immediately followed by thunder. Fortunately, not much rain for all that fury.
And, for the last 1/3 of the journey, the tornado sirens were wailing at full volume. The sound echoing off of buildings and riding between one siren and then another made for a truly surreal audio journey.
I saw a Redbud tree in full bloom.
And as I rode home there was a huge thunderstorm on 3 sides of me, with enormous bolts arcing across my full range of vision. And almost immediately followed by thunder. Fortunately, not much rain for all that fury.
And, for the last 1/3 of the journey, the tornado sirens were wailing at full volume. The sound echoing off of buildings and riding between one siren and then another made for a truly surreal audio journey.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 2010 Kona Dr. Dew, Moose Bicycle XXL (fat bike), Yuba Mundo V3
And as I rode home there was a huge thunderstorm on 3 sides of me, with enormous bolts arcing across my full range of vision. And almost immediately followed by thunder. Fortunately, not much rain for all that fury.
And, for the last 1/3 of the journey, the tornado sirens were wailing at full volume. The sound echoing off of buildings and riding between one siren and then another made for a truly surreal audio journey.
And, for the last 1/3 of the journey, the tornado sirens were wailing at full volume. The sound echoing off of buildings and riding between one siren and then another made for a truly surreal audio journey.
#18
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
the best thing about spring is that all the roadies come out for their maiden voyage after a full season of inactivity with their winter-wizened lungs and scrawny-white legs. after riding all winter, its the one time i'm more fit than those twenty-something racer types.
little is more satisfying than blowing right past some cat-3 dude on a madone in full kit on my 25 year-old fixed gear conversion wearing a pair of levi's 516's and a hoodie.
little is more satisfying than blowing right past some cat-3 dude on a madone in full kit on my 25 year-old fixed gear conversion wearing a pair of levi's 516's and a hoodie.
I'm guessing a cat-3 dude was at least on a trainer or skiing during the winter or he/she would have a tough time remaining a cat-3.
Something I observed this winter was that the ratio of road bikes to other types was actually higher than the rest of year. Not that road bikes were in the majority. Only that instead of being 25% of what I'd see during most of the year, it was more like 35%.
Something I observed this winter was that the ratio of road bikes to other types was actually higher than the rest of year. Not that road bikes were in the majority. Only that instead of being 25% of what I'd see during most of the year, it was more like 35%.








