Last week, Jan 21-25, it was really cold around here (central NJ). I got out for a short, 4-6 miles, ride every weekday. The temps were 14-18 F and I had on many layers including a ski mask! With lined full fingered gloves, my hands would hurt before the end of the ride.

When the weekend came, I was just so tired of the cold, I didn't go out on Saturday and we had other plans for Sunday, so I missed my usual long ride.

This Wednesday, Jan 30, the temps got into the 60s! I went out for a ride with bike shorts, jersey and a jacket. Also, open fingered bike gloves and a sweat band under the helmet instead of the ski mask!. Got 31 miles of which half were without the jacket! Just like spring.

Thursday, it cooled off to the low 40s, but I thought it was still warm enough to get a nice long ride in. No, it was really really windy, 25-30 mph. I started out, but aborted right away.

Today, Friday, the wind was down to 15-20 mph. The temp was also down - around 28 F. But I gave it a shot. 26 miles, but with fighting the winds, only averaged about 9 mph.

There was a point where I was riding in the tailwind direction, but didn't feel the tailwind since I was between two small hills. As I crested the top of the hill, I was suddenly in the wind again. It felt as though someone put their hands on my back and gave me a push!

There might be snow this weekend, so the long ride may again be missed.

Oh well.

-Ed

It's been high and low around here, too. We actually had all of the snow melt for a few days last week. Bliss!

Today, though, back to a foot of snow, 10 degrees and icy, salty roads. I'll work on the bike today (again).

Wet and wind are our problems. Mostly too wet to ride but for the last week the temp has been above 40f but with wind in the 25 mph+ range and gusting higher. Today and no rain- wind a constant 15 to 20 but wind chill factor will bring it down to around 25f. Looks as though this will be the same for the next week or so--But it is getting dryer,

It sounds like you are here in NW Florida with me. This week we had highs in the low 70's and days with highs in the mid 50's, cold fronts twice with one Friday morning. If we don't like the weather here, we wait 5 minutes, it will change. Frost this morning here in the North end of the county, probably get up in the 50's today but the sun is out, wind is down and I am going riding.

Bill

We've had a cold front heading south for the past few days. Our highs went from 84º on Tuesday's ride to upper 60's on Thursday's ride to upper 70's on yesterday's ride. The afternoon's are nice, but the early mornings have been dipping into the low 40's. We've also been getting some pretty strong northerly winds for the past few days. Today's high is expected to be 70º around 3:00 PM. Can you guys up there please stop sending this cold stuff our way? It would be greatly appreciated by us Native Floridian, cold weenies.

No, we like to share.

We hit 80 on Tuesday and had a heavy frost last night. Supposed to get up to 65 tomorrow, but with the cold nights it warms very slowly so it will be mid 50s with a cold north wind when I start tomorrow. Not too bad compared to northern weather, but it's been so mild this winter I'm not really acclimated to riding in the 50s with wind chill.