Rode my age
08-18-14 | 09:28 AM
#1
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: In Preble county Ohio
Bikes: 1975 motobecane Grand jubilee, and a rescued 1984 Raliegh Marathon, that my daughter is using at college
Rode my age
Turned 56 on Saturday. So as stated, rode that many, and some change.
Over half of it was in the rain.
I really need a new weather app for my phone.
Over half of it was in the rain.
I really need a new weather app for my phone.
08-18-14 | 09:59 AM
#4
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 11,239
Likes: 35
From: SE MN
Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro & Quintana Roo Kilo
I use Radar Express to check the radar before and during rides. It's allowed me to sneak below a weather front that moved in mid ride. I still got wet, but I didn't get soaked.
08-18-14 | 10:33 AM
#5
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 28
From: North Idaho
Bikes: n + 1
What is "rain"? (Asks the guy from the deserts of California)
Well done. Feels good, doesn't it? How many "you rode how many miles" questions did you get from people who haven't ridden a bicycle since childhood?
Well done. Feels good, doesn't it? How many "you rode how many miles" questions did you get from people who haven't ridden a bicycle since childhood?
08-18-14 | 01:40 PM
#7
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 28
From: North Idaho
Bikes: n + 1
Tip of the day:
Usually, before going out on a ride, I check the WX forecast at the Air Sports Net - News and Weather for Aviation Pilots web site. It is a site geared for RC pilots, ultralights, paragliders etc. Go to "Weather", "Aviation Weather", "Select a Region" (which is your state), "Go", "Select a Location" (which is your city), "Go". Scroll down to the graphic. What it shows is a two and a half day forecast in three-hour chunks that show everything that a cyclist will want to know.
The temperature (so I know how much water to take along, or to even nix the ride that afternoon if it's close to 100) and wind direction along with wind speed (determines which direction to head out so that I fight the wind when fresh and get an assist on the way home). For example, tomorrow afternoon it will be in the mid to high 80's, so not too hot to ride. But the wind! It will be coming from the southwest, (normal for my area), but blowing at 25 mph between about 2:00 and 7:00. That means that I'll definitely be heading west. Not even north because I'd have a wind hitting me at about a four points off the starboard bow. Yup, due west if I ride tomorrow afternoon.
Other stuff the graphic shows is chance of rain (I live in the desert, so not much) and humidity (it's the desert, it's always low). Other stuff doesn't directly relate to cycling, such as cloud base and visibility miles.
It's a great site that I almost always check before an afternoon ride. On morning rides, maybe not so much because the wind usually isn't so intense.
- - - - -
Only negative thing I've found is that the WX stations seem to be located at airports. If you don't have an airport nearby, then the site is probably useless to you.
Usually, before going out on a ride, I check the WX forecast at the Air Sports Net - News and Weather for Aviation Pilots web site. It is a site geared for RC pilots, ultralights, paragliders etc. Go to "Weather", "Aviation Weather", "Select a Region" (which is your state), "Go", "Select a Location" (which is your city), "Go". Scroll down to the graphic. What it shows is a two and a half day forecast in three-hour chunks that show everything that a cyclist will want to know.
The temperature (so I know how much water to take along, or to even nix the ride that afternoon if it's close to 100) and wind direction along with wind speed (determines which direction to head out so that I fight the wind when fresh and get an assist on the way home). For example, tomorrow afternoon it will be in the mid to high 80's, so not too hot to ride. But the wind! It will be coming from the southwest, (normal for my area), but blowing at 25 mph between about 2:00 and 7:00. That means that I'll definitely be heading west. Not even north because I'd have a wind hitting me at about a four points off the starboard bow. Yup, due west if I ride tomorrow afternoon.
Other stuff the graphic shows is chance of rain (I live in the desert, so not much) and humidity (it's the desert, it's always low). Other stuff doesn't directly relate to cycling, such as cloud base and visibility miles.
It's a great site that I almost always check before an afternoon ride. On morning rides, maybe not so much because the wind usually isn't so intense.
- - - - -
Only negative thing I've found is that the WX stations seem to be located at airports. If you don't have an airport nearby, then the site is probably useless to you.
08-18-14 | 02:56 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,973
Likes: 1,397
From: SW Fl.
Bikes: 1999 DAHON Mariner, Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Belated Happy Birthday and well done with the bicycle ride plus extra mile points for riding in the rain. 
08-18-14 | 08:07 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 8
From: Central Louisiana
Congratulations on the age ride and happy birthday.
I'm thinking that if we ride extra miles on our birthday rides, we should be able to "bank" those miles for future age rides as the need manifests itself.
I'm thinking that if we ride extra miles on our birthday rides, we should be able to "bank" those miles for future age rides as the need manifests itself.
08-18-14 | 09:02 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Congrats!
08-19-14 | 06:08 AM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,869
Likes: 1,108
From: Tallahassee, FL
Congratulations. Don't think I'd finish the route once the rain started. Always sends me back home.
With the pop up thunderstorms we have in the summer, weather aps are of limited value. In 30 minutes, everything can change completely.
With the pop up thunderstorms we have in the summer, weather aps are of limited value. In 30 minutes, everything can change completely.
08-19-14 | 09:22 AM
#13
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: In Preble county Ohio
Bikes: 1975 motobecane Grand jubilee, and a rescued 1984 Raliegh Marathon, that my daughter is using at college
Might have been the pool of water at my feet as I stood debating on a Milky way or snickers.
08-19-14 | 02:35 PM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Onalaska, WI / Clearwater, FL
Bikes: Trek Madone 5.2, Kona Dew, Centurion Dave Scott Ironman
Congrats to the OP and to VACaver. Way to go guys! I was just thinking today that I might ride a local Metric Century next month. Just turned 60 a month ago. Haven't ridden a metric in 26 years. Since pulling myself and road bike out of moth balls a couple of months ago I am really enjoying the road again . . .
08-20-14 | 09:50 AM
#18
Good job. I didn't know a weather app could change your birthday 
Mine's in the middle of the winter and the weather is never good. Glad you hung in there with the wet weather. It makes you stronger.
Mine's in the middle of the winter and the weather is never good. Glad you hung in there with the wet weather. It makes you stronger.
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
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