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oh how I miss Winter commuting...

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oh how I miss Winter commuting...

Old 05-03-10, 08:33 AM
  #26  
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I have light to ride in so I can see the glass on the road, and my feet don't take an hour in a heating pad to return to something resembling normal temperatures, no icebergs in the only place I can ride and you expect me to be nostalgic for winter riding?

No hipsters where I ride, mostly blue collar guys on Walmart bikes.
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Old 05-03-10, 09:14 AM
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I can get home in 25 minutes now instead of 45. That doesn't even take into account the fact that I can get dressed in half the time. Winter riding has it's plusses but not enough to make it my preferred season.
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Old 05-03-10, 11:28 AM
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I prefer the 40 - 60 range. I like those temperatures best for riding and the MUP I usually use is pretty deserted then.
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Old 05-03-10, 11:36 AM
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Hell is other people.

This is why I roll my eyes when I hear cycle advocates trying to get more people to ride. Yep, more people clogging the MUP!
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Old 05-03-10, 01:59 PM
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That is unfortunately the way it is when:

- no set rules when it comes to cycling (atleast not as comprehensive as motorised vehicles)
- nice weather brings out all kinds of people
- when you use MUPs.

I personally dislike dogs... mostly due to lack of owner's control. I don't like winter.
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Old 05-03-10, 02:24 PM
  #31  
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ahh we are two peas from the same pod my friend....winter is the bomb! I hate hate hate hate sweating. There are more cars on the road and the drivers suck worse than winter. I won't even go down the hipster/suck at common sense riders, Darwin's on top of that. But yea, f*ck sweating and f*ck the road rash potential that comes with exposed skin, and thin layers. Yet I wouldn't get rid of summer, it is too much fun, I just have to move where the temp never raises above 80, ever.
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Old 05-03-10, 08:24 PM
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Yikes no...

I would gladly get rid of winter forever if I could. Winters are miserable in New England. I hate snow, short days and bitter cold temps. Personally I love seeing people out and having fun even if they are getting in my way . I'm not sure why anyone would enjoy biking in the darkness in bitter cold without another soul in sight. The year should start in May and end in October .
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Old 05-03-10, 08:36 PM
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I'm in FL and in the past 2 days it was 90 and it just reminded me that winter is the cycling season for me. So yes, I wish I could go and live in Alaska during summer.
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Old 05-03-10, 08:44 PM
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haven't done a "work" commute since Monday 2/22/10 so I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
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Old 05-04-10, 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by bmt074
Yikes no...

I would gladly get rid of winter forever if I could. Winters are miserable in New England. I hate snow, short days and bitter cold temps. Personally I love seeing people out and having fun even if they are getting in my way . I'm not sure why anyone would enjoy biking in the darkness in bitter cold without another soul in sight. The year should start in May and end in October .
I LOVE winter. It is my favorite season. Telemark/backcountry skiing is my real passion. I love overcoming the obstacles to commuting in winter here in Maine. And winter here is way more forbidding than it was for me in MA:colder and more snow. I love to say that there is no bad weather just bad gear. This all said, I cannot say I prefer winter commuting. I tend, like an earlier poster, to try to appreciate all seasons. What I don't miss from winter are the narrower, snow filled roads which make me more nervous commuting. There is just less room for me and the cars and though I take a deep breath and do the commute I do prefer having a wide shoulder to be out of their way.........I do agree however that the key to cold weather climes is to embrace winter..........

to each his/her own...........YMMV
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Old 05-04-10, 05:06 AM
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Originally Posted by bmt074
Yikes no...

I would gladly get rid of winter forever if I could. Winters are miserable in New England. I hate snow, short days and bitter cold temps. Personally I love seeing people out and having fun even if they are getting in my way . I'm not sure why anyone would enjoy biking in the darkness in bitter cold without another soul in sight. The year should start in May and end in October .
I LOVE winter. It is my favorite season. Telemark/backcountry skiing is my real passion. I love overcoming the obstacles to commuting in winter here in Maine. And winter here is way more forbidding than it was for me in MA:colder and more snow. I love to say that there is no bad weather just bad gear. This all said, I cannot say I prefer winter commuting. I tend, like an earlier poster, to try to appreciate all seasons. What I don't miss from winter are the narrower, snow filled roads which make me more nervous commuting. There is just less room for me and the cars and though I take a deep breath and do the commute I do prefer having a wide shoulder to be out of their way.........I do agree however that the key to cold weather climes is to embrace winter..........

to each his/her own...........YMMV
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Old 05-04-10, 05:47 AM
  #37  
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I miss my winter commute as well ... that is when I get to see the humpback whales blowing and breaching just offshore ... I really miss them but I did see some spinner dolphins today.
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Old 05-04-10, 06:06 AM
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Just symptoms of the 'coming out' of spring -- stupid drivers, stupid MUP-walkers, etc.; it's part of the season.

Sweat? Hell, I sweat riding to work in 33F! I NEVER get off the bike dry! Extra clothes? Come on, you want some cheeze with that whine?

Have yet to see a hipster... period. Ever. In life. Immigrant commuters salmoning, sure; minority teens on BMX's salmoning and/or ninja-riding? Absolutely! But they're so slow, my non-jogging self could outpace them, they're no problem.

Personally enjoy the oblivious MUPpers; when my normal signals don't rouse them, I get about four feet behind them and give them the drill-sgt. voice; they move then! Have yet to have to do that to the same person twice.
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Old 05-04-10, 06:43 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by mtalinm
...I may move there...
With old age comes crudmudgenhood...enjoy it while you can, next stop is dotage
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Old 05-04-10, 11:23 AM
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I complained about this few weeks ago. The initial shock wears off after few weeks and you get used to those nutjobs. And as far as peds with headphones walking in the middle ignoring your bell: get a whistle or AirZound, they can possibly ignore that.
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Old 05-04-10, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by AdamDZ
I complained about this few weeks ago. The initial shock wears off after few weeks and you get used to those nutjobs. And as far as peds with headphones walking in the middle ignoring your bell: get a whistle or AirZound, they can possibly ignore that.
An interesting typo!

At least the peds can't claim they didn't hear you coming.
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Old 05-04-10, 12:16 PM
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Stop by my house, and you can experience winter all over again. That'll cure your nostalgia quickly.
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Old 05-04-10, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by mtalinm
All the things we hate about biking in the winter - cold, dark, snow, etc - I think I would trade for the unexpected annoyances of my first season commuting in warm weather:

* scores of unhelmeted, uninformed hipsters who seem perfectly content to ride the wrong way in bike lanes, to blow past you at a red light and through intersections

* sweat, sweat, and more sweat. especially on my brow, which briefly makes me want to join the ranks of those who refuse to wear helmets (only briefly). carrying a change of cycling clothes for the way home is no treat either

* joggers, walkers, dogs on the leash, and parents with strollers who feel it is their Divine Right to place themselves smack dab in the middle of the multi-use path and who are impervious to both my bell and my yell because of their earbuds. or maybe they just pretend not to hear me...

I can't wait until the chill is in the air again. in what parts of the country does it never get above 50 degrees? I may move there...
Chill out & calm down.
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Old 05-04-10, 02:11 PM
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Shut up.

Just took this.



Was thinking I needed to mow the lawn a few days ago...
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Old 05-04-10, 02:12 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by electrik
An interesting typo!

At least the peds can't claim they didn't hear you coming.
LOL, yeah
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Old 05-04-10, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Shut up.

Just took this.



Was thinking I needed to mow the lawn a few days ago...
But.... it's May!
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Old 05-04-10, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by AdamDZ
I complained about this few weeks ago. The initial shock wears off after few weeks and you get used to those nutjobs. And as far as peds with headphones walking in the middle ignoring your bell: get a whistle or AirZound, they can possibly ignore that.
Airzound in the mail...
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Old 05-04-10, 02:15 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by neil
Stop by my house, and you can experience winter all over again. That'll cure your nostalgia quickly.
Hey Neil... I still have my studded tyres mounted to extra rims.

How about you ?
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Old 05-04-10, 02:22 PM
  #49  
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I'll wait for some consistency in the warmth first, before I start wishing it was cold once more, I still have the heat on .
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Old 05-04-10, 02:38 PM
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Appreciating the central heating but figure I need to go for a snow ride... was tuning up and polishing the winter bike yesterday so perhaps that had something to do with it.

A more likely cause was my morning build project... am sure there something about Celeste Bianchis and Campagnolo that causes it to snow.
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