winter riding
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I live in Michigan, am about to turn 60 and I just love riding my bike in the winter.
Makes me feel young and tough lol. I rode today, sun was out and it was about 36f , I ride a Cruiser 5 about 5 times a week 16 to 25 miles at a time. Today I did 25. |
The sun makes a difference to how the ride goes and above freezing would be a blessing for me right now. Still tomorrow it warms up to around 45F but no sun due to the clouds and the rain they are about to drop. Couple that with a 20mph wind and I won't be riding for a little while yet.
Must be the age factor creeping up on me as only a few years ago I would have been out on the bike doing something. That's what changing over to road riding has done for me. |
It is more rare, but even in winter below freezing there are days when I think "What a beautiful day for a bike ride.
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I live in SW Ohio near Dayton. Weather is very changeable here. It can be in the low 20s (f) one day and like today it is supposed to reach the mid 50s. So far we have had many sunny days, which make riding much more pleasurable.
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I ride all yr long. Cold Winter riding is not much different than Hot Summer. Less miles and slower pace. Changing seasons keeps it interesting.
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My relationship with winter riding is a bit different. As some of my friends might suggest, I rage against the winter. I refuse to let it dominate my life. So, for me it's a personal battle. Winter will NOT keep off my bike. (Of course the proper clothing and studded tires help a great deal.)
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Frigid temps alone (no snow or ice) is just not a good enough of a reason for me not to ride. It's a great sense of accomplishment to conquer cold temps on the bike. I just don't have a good reason not to do it, so I do. It also goes a long way to maintain my membership in the "flat stomach club.":thumb:
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too cold to ride today. i'll be spinning indoors. maybe when it warms up and gets close to 0F...
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Originally Posted by digibud
(Post 15060197)
too cold to ride today. i'll be spinning indoors. maybe when it warms up and gets close to 0F...
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hey! you're right!
Originally Posted by HawkOwl
(Post 15060453)
Oh...don't be a wuss...its' only -46 :eek:
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--46ºF or ºC!?! At either, ºC being the colder, I'd turn into a mikecicle at those temps!!!
The coldest I've ridden so far was last year at 22ºF with a 12ºF wind chill. |
I'm so glad I live In Florida XD
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and the current temp is...
Originally Posted by Bikey Mikey
(Post 15060728)
--46ºF or ºC!?! At either, ºC being the colder, I'd turn into a mikecicle at those temps!!!
The coldest I've ridden so far was last year at 22ºF with a 12ºF wind chill. |
well, I don't have to deal with the super-cold that some of you are talking about, Merely the cold. It's about 22 °F just now, and I'm slowly preparing to go out for my evening ride. I kind of drag my feet, avoiding the bracing feeling of the start of the ride, but I'll be very happy once I'm riding.
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Originally Posted by osco53
(Post 15060861)
I'm so glad I live In Florida XD
Actually, having lived both places, both have their challenges. I've lived "off the grid" for extended periods in -30F and colder. It is very manageable and once you get your head around the temperature actually enjoyable. Without air conditioning the same can't be said about high 90's and humidity to match. Summer in Florida with its' high temperatures and humidity to match is not only very uncomfortable, it is dangerous. It is rare to hear of someone dying in the cold. Every power outage in hot season seems to bring news reports of people dying. Separately, I know people who commute on a bicycle year around and the "Fat Tire" people seem to enjoy winter camping with some pretty low cutoff temperatures. Last night I met a professional woman who was telling how she and her family moved their cutoff temperature for travel to their remote cabin from -20F to -40F/C. And this was with toddler age children. |
Save for snow/ice/rain, I ride all year. Winter riding is not my favorite endeavor, but I do it to maintain fitness, physical and psychological, and work on my annual mileage. Fortunately, I don't have to face the temperature faced by digibud and those who live in the northern climes. We get some sub-zero temperatures occasionally, but that's the exception rather than the rule.
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Originally Posted by MinnMan
(Post 15061149)
well, I don't have to deal with the super-cold that some of you are talking about, Merely the cold. It's about 22 °F just now, and I'm slowly preparing to go out for my evening ride. I kind of drag my feet, avoiding the bracing feeling of the start of the ride, but I'll be very happy once I'm riding.
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Originally Posted by howeeee
(Post 15044806)
I live in Michigan, am about to turn 60 and I just love riding my bike in the winter.
Makes me feel young and tough lol. I rode today, sun was out and it was about 36f , I ride a Cruiser 5 about 5 times a week 16 to 25 miles at a time. Today I did 25. It's a nice change to ride without sweating. I'm looking forward to some snow, I've already put studs on one of my bikes, and will be adding to another in a day or so. Oh, yeah, the skis are waxed and ready also. Marc |
Originally Posted by irwin7638
(Post 15062198)
It's a nice change to ride without sweating. I'm looking forward to some snow, I've already put studs on one of my bikes, and will be adding to another in a day or so. Oh, yeah, the skis are waxed and ready also.
Marc |
Even the ride home into rain and storm front headwind, was a short adventure,
coming home from town center. |
Did a ride today in 36F temp but no rain and only a slight breeze. Sealskinz Gloves and socks and they did not get cold. Base layer- short sleeve jersey and the ultimate top coat-----An ASSOS winter coat. Wind-proof and warm to start but it is that keeping the wind out that works. Also Put on the cyclight tights but the Ski Mask stayed in the back pocket. The sun only came out for a little while and it was at that stage that I had to unzip.
It is the layering that keeps out the cold providing the layers are of the right material. The base layer is a thermal wicking long sleeve vest and Assos clothing is top of the range. Prices are top of the range too but Sales do occur but if you can afford it- Assos clothing is worth it. |
Today was the season's first commute in the snow. About five centimeters of new snow, but falling over roads wet from yesterday's rain and major hailstorm, so I had to be a bit careful on the descents and corners, but it wasn't too bad, even the curving 10% grade off the part of the hill I live on. Fresh snow is soft enough to ride on; you can even apply some front brake. Had to get used to the bike feeling "loose" in spots, and a little bit of front wheel deflection where the snow gets compressed and rutted by car tracks, but riding in snow really improves your general bike-handling skills, especially when you do it on 23mm racing tires with no tread or studs.
But the usual 20-km commute, which takes about 55 minutes (by the computer) on a slow day, turned into a 1h 8-minute commute, even though the snow turned to slush as I neared downtown Vancouver. But what surprised me the most was the large number of bike tracks on the greenway bike route/path. Must have been a couple of dozen. Usually in new snow, I see a couple of tracks by the time I get there. But today, the path was being heavily used. There were also a few riders cautiously walking their bikes down some of the descents, although they are by no means steep. You have to get used to riding with the rear wheel locking up every now and then. Luis |
Originally Posted by NOS88
(Post 15062389)
I would LOVE to know how to pull that off. Even on the coldest days with heavy winds, being "under-dressed" and shivering, I perspire when riding.
Marc |
Year rounder here too. I chuckle at how few bikes are at the train station on snowy or sub-zero days --just a couple of us loons.
My coldest day was below -25F. Those days are more about mastering the elements than actually enjoying the ride (full neoprene mask, ski goggles, toe covers, padded underwear junk warmers, etc). It also reminds of of those tough windy days on our supported long ride trips --where the youngsters give up and call for a pickup. The older guys just plod along respectfully defying the elements. |
awww, this reminded me of that feeling when I first became independant and could ride my bike whereever I wanted, and it was fast!
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