It's That Time Of Year. Again. Yuck.
10-07-14 | 09:43 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,340
Likes: 496
From: Bristol, R. I.
Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot
Last Sunday, as I loaded my bike in the car for the short trip home, a man in a fat tire bike stopped by to say helllo. He had been riding on the nearby beach through sand an there was considerable sea weed hanging from his spokes. So fat tire bikes are capable in a wide variety of situations.
As a sailor, we live by the idea that although we can't control the wind, we can always adjust sails. Or if you have some broken eggs, beat up an omelet. If you have lots of snow, take up snowshoeing or, as I have done for snowy periods in recent years, cross country skiing. Whet ever gets one out into fresh air and gets the heart beat up, will make for a happier day.
As a sailor, we live by the idea that although we can't control the wind, we can always adjust sails. Or if you have some broken eggs, beat up an omelet. If you have lots of snow, take up snowshoeing or, as I have done for snowy periods in recent years, cross country skiing. Whet ever gets one out into fresh air and gets the heart beat up, will make for a happier day.
10-07-14 | 09:44 AM
#27
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 375
Likes: 5
From: WI
Bikes: Salsa Beargrease Carbon, Sette Razzo Carbon 29er
That's what thrift shops/ OP shops are for. Go to your local thrift shop ... look for merino wool tops to use as an extra layer over or under your cycling jersey. Also look for tights and the old-fashioned stirrup pants in the women's section. And thicker wool or fleece tops work well as warmer layers for colder days.
As for gloves, balaclavas, neck gaiters, etc ... you can find those for $1 each in your local Dollar Store. I've also picked up ski gloves and mitts for the really cold days for less than $10 at Walmart.
While you're in Walmart, you'll want to go to the sock section and get some decent, thick, long wool socks. And if you didn't find any tights or stirrup pants that fit you at the OP shop, go to the Women's fitness clothing section and pick up a pair or two there.
If you'd prefer wool tights, you might check Target. They often have merino wool tights/leggings in the women's undergarments section. They've also got merino wool base layer tops. These are slightly more expensive ... maybe $25-$30 each.
Don't forget to check other sports outlets like Anaconda, Decathlon, MEC, and REI (depending on where you live). Check their cycling sections, but also check their general clothing sections. Sometimes you can pick up polypro base layers for a good price.
I've done some cold rides quite comfortably wearing a cycling jersey, with a polypro base layer over it, and a merino wool top over that, and then my jacket.
And a tip ... if you want to pick up additional bits and pieces relatively inexpensively, do it in February/March when all the winter stuff goes on sale.
The Winter Cycling Forum I linked to above will provide you with additional tips.
As for gloves, balaclavas, neck gaiters, etc ... you can find those for $1 each in your local Dollar Store. I've also picked up ski gloves and mitts for the really cold days for less than $10 at Walmart.
While you're in Walmart, you'll want to go to the sock section and get some decent, thick, long wool socks. And if you didn't find any tights or stirrup pants that fit you at the OP shop, go to the Women's fitness clothing section and pick up a pair or two there.
If you'd prefer wool tights, you might check Target. They often have merino wool tights/leggings in the women's undergarments section. They've also got merino wool base layer tops. These are slightly more expensive ... maybe $25-$30 each.
Don't forget to check other sports outlets like Anaconda, Decathlon, MEC, and REI (depending on where you live). Check their cycling sections, but also check their general clothing sections. Sometimes you can pick up polypro base layers for a good price.
I've done some cold rides quite comfortably wearing a cycling jersey, with a polypro base layer over it, and a merino wool top over that, and then my jacket.
And a tip ... if you want to pick up additional bits and pieces relatively inexpensively, do it in February/March when all the winter stuff goes on sale.
The Winter Cycling Forum I linked to above will provide you with additional tips.
The biggest problem I've found when shopping online is the sizing of clothing. That's certainly the case on Amazon where I've had 2 purchases and 2 returns. I always go a size up, but someone out there has a pretty loose idea of the dimensions of an XL male - at least one raised on beer and bratwurst.
10-07-14 | 11:34 AM
#28
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
Last Sunday, as I loaded my bike in the car for the short trip home, a man in a fat tire bike stopped by to say helllo. He had been riding on the nearby beach through sand an there was considerable sea weed hanging from his spokes. So fat tire bikes are capable in a wide variety of situations.
10-07-14 | 04:46 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 1
No, it's not colonoscopy time. I'm talking about the other distasteful time of year. Any ride I take right now could well be the last of the season. Last night I put a new tire on the back of my '80 Centurion Elite with bar-end shifters and getting it ready for the ***SIGH*** trainer. I sure hope I dont get a flat and be stranded. Oh, that's right....
Not at all distasteful for some, including me. Pre-trauma I absolutely loved winter and the freedom it gave. I spent many days and weeks mainly outside enjoying. As a matter of fact there have been a couple movies about us northerners. Now it isn't so much fun. Wisdom prevails most of the time so I don't often put myself in a position where life depends on that kind of physical and mental capability.
I sure do like visits to Arizona and Hawaii. Riding and enjoying the Front Range of Colorado ranks high on my list. But, the Arctic Seductress has done me in. Why, I even shoveled an 8" snowfall off my 3x3 drive; and enjoyed it.
10-07-14 | 04:56 PM
#31
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
Not at all distasteful for some, including me. Pre-trauma I absolutely loved winter and the freedom it gave. I spent many days and weeks mainly outside enjoying. As a matter of fact there have been a couple movies about us northerners. Now it isn't so much fun. Wisdom prevails most of the time so I don't often put myself in a position where life depends on that kind of physical and mental capability.
I sure do like visits to Arizona and Hawaii. Riding and enjoying the Front Range of Colorado ranks high on my list. But, the Arctic Seductress has done me in. Why, I even shoveled an 8" snowfall off my 3x3 drive; and enjoyed it.
I sure do like visits to Arizona and Hawaii. Riding and enjoying the Front Range of Colorado ranks high on my list. But, the Arctic Seductress has done me in. Why, I even shoveled an 8" snowfall off my 3x3 drive; and enjoyed it.
10-07-14 | 05:10 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 1
I hunt deer until Christmas, hunt coyotes on moonlit subzero February nights, icefishing a little bit and enjoy snowblowing with the John Deere....I'm country boy all the way. As a road cyclist I refuse to ride in the snowy/frigid months. Give me a fast snowmobile for that.
10-07-14 | 05:36 PM
#33
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
Never owned a snowblower. Tried one once. Went back to the shovel. Agree whole heartedly about not riding a bike in the snow. That is what spin bikes and trips to dry country are for. Instead there are snow shoes and cross country skis. I never did like those noisy, smelly snowmachines. But, they are a necessary evil to get out in the country. Once there it is on to snow shoes and skis. Absolutely nothing like a good hike on clear -40 night with the aurora and uncountable stars and the nearest other human well over 20 miles away.
10-07-14 | 06:25 PM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,158
Likes: 1,743
From: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Bikes: Canyon Aeroad, CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX, Guru steel & Guru Photon
Just made plans for a rail/trail ride and am getting the rollers ready for winter. I don't mind the break. But, come Feb/Mar I will be whining again and waiting for good weather.
10-07-14 | 06:37 PM
#35
In Real Life
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52,159
Likes: 773
From: Down under down under
Bikes: Lots
When I lived in Alberta (the land of the neverending winter), a number of people I knew picked up part-time jobs for 3 months or so over the Christmas season, put the money they earned from that into savings, and then in late-Feb/early-March they jetted off to Hawaii, Mexico, San Diego, or wherever.
Less expensively, in several years, I travelled to lower mainland BC and/or Vancouver Island for a week or so in April. In Alberta or Manitoba (where I lived), there were often late season blizzards ... just when you were really hoping for some nice weather you'd get dumped on with 2 feet of snow and freezing cold again. Those April trips helped me maintain my sanity. For a week or so, I'd go from the black & white world of snow and ice and trees with no leaves ... to a world of above-freezing temps, greenery and spring flowers where I could cycle or go for long walks every day without having to deal with layers, snow boots, etc..
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10-08-14 | 03:58 AM
#36
Beicwyr Hapus
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 43
From: Caerdydd
Bikes: Genesis Equilibrium, Genesis Datum, Whyte 901, Dawes 701,1973 Harry Hall, 1989 Orbit America
Last edited by Gerryattrick; 10-08-14 at 04:53 AM.
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