Snow Riders!
11-05-19 | 03:19 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Snow Riders!
It’s that time of year once again, dreaming of road riding on hot summer days while getting suited up for a ride in the snowy cold night. There is nothing like riding in a snowstorm with a 1000 lumen beaming through the cold night air while Stevie Ray Vaughn jams through the ear buds. Very surreal.
The payoff is in April when I put my leg over the top tube of my Cannondale Criterium Series and with a big grin and holler, head out for the Strava routes.
Here we go!
The payoff is in April when I put my leg over the top tube of my Cannondale Criterium Series and with a big grin and holler, head out for the Strava routes.
Here we go!
11-05-19 | 07:47 PM
#3
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
Apparently we are coming up on 4-5 days when the temps will be below freezing, day and night. No significant precipitation, aka snow. Normal highs are 52F about now. Guess I better check the snowblower. 
11-06-19 | 09:54 AM
#6
11-06-19 | 10:01 PM
#7
Thread Starter
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Snow riding has begun! My 1000 lumen headlight froze a nice 8pt whitetail as I rode within 20 feet before it ran off. City deer, sheesh. Here is a quik pic of the ‘87 Trek 830 Antelope that handles the winter quite well.
11-06-19 | 11:38 PM
#8
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
I can remember mountain biking in the snow. My brakes would melt the snow sticking to my rims which would then re-freeze to form a glaze of ice on the braking surfaces. I'd have to steer into piles of snow when I wanted to slow down. The other thing I remember is how quickly I could go from vertical to horizontal if I hit a patch of ice that I wasn't expecting.
I don't do that anymore.
I don't do that anymore.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
11-07-19 | 08:03 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,358
Likes: 665
From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
I can remember mountain biking in the snow. My brakes would melt the snow sticking to my rims which would then re-freeze to form a glaze of ice on the braking surfaces. I'd have to steer into piles of snow when I wanted to slow down. The other thing I remember is how quickly I could go from vertical to horizontal if I hit a patch of ice that I wasn't expecting.
I don't do that anymore.
I don't do that anymore.
11-08-19 | 02:25 PM
#13
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,358
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
11-08-19 | 06:32 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,344
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From: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
..minor forecast adjustment, expecting 3-6" Sunday night into Monday. Not enough to sweat and less than the possible 12" over along Lake Michigan.
11-08-19 | 08:06 PM
#15
Life Is Good
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,733
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From: Central Massachusetts
Bikes: Zipp2001 Carbon Belt Drive SS, Kestrel RT900SL, Kestrel KM40 Airfoil 1x10, Orbea Occam H30, Trek Stache 5 29 Plus, Giant Yukon 2 Fat Bike
Bring on the snow !
Hey we even like a little ice !
11-11-19 | 08:21 PM
#16
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
It was a brisk, calm and moonlit 18deg ride tonight. Just a hint of things to come.
11-17-19 | 07:53 PM
#18
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Yesterday we had -3deg and for tonight’s ride it was a balmy 30deg. What a difference a day makes. Even saw bugs buzzing around. Peaceful evening, light traffic up through the hills.
11-19-19 | 03:11 PM
#19
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,548
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From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
As you've probably seen, OldsCool, I am finally biting the bullet and using my trainer a few times a week this winter. Starting all over from scratch in the spring was just getting too painful and it was taking all summer to get my conditioning back.
I'll do it inside, though.
I'll do it inside, though.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 11-19-19 at 06:00 PM.
11-19-19 | 07:17 PM
#20
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
As you've probably seen, OldsCool, I am finally biting the bullet and using my trainer a few times a week this winter. Starting all over from scratch in the spring was just getting too painful and it was taking all summer to get my conditioning back.
I'll do it inside, though.
I'll do it inside, though.
11-20-19 | 08:01 PM
#21
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From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
Back when I lived in town and commuted 2 miles to work and back every day, I always had a head start on everyone in the spring. It may have only been 10-15 minutes' workout, but it could be as hard or as easy as I wanted, and that usually meant "hard." Now I have a 10-minute walk to my car, and it's just not the same. Walking isn't fun like cycling is.
12-11-19 | 10:41 AM
#22
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,358
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Back when I lived in town and commuted 2 miles to work and back every day, I always had a head start on everyone in the spring. It may have only been 10-15 minutes' workout, but it could be as hard or as easy as I wanted, and that usually meant "hard." Now I have a 10-minute walk to my car, and it's just not the same. Walking isn't fun like cycling is.
Here is my snowbike, the ‘89 Trek Cantelope wearing the morning weather.
12-17-19 | 09:17 PM
#23
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
We are getting a good hit from lake effect squalls. Snow was coming down so heavy it was all I could do to just put my head down and look at the tire because that’s all I could see in my headlight. Just 2 laps tonight. If one is going to ride just 5 miles, make it a tough one.
12-18-19 | 01:05 PM
#24
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,548
Likes: 797
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
12-18-19 | 01:52 PM
#25
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
was home for errands & chores, same day as a little snow. got excited when the flakes got real big but by time I got out, that squall had changed to tiny flakes & eventually freezing rain. but right after breakfast, this was the right way to start my day. if this video doesn't help me sleep, nothing will ... just a little spin around my house