waiting for the end of April?
03-03-15 | 10:46 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,465
Likes: 4,547
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
waiting for the end of April?
ugh, looks like I didn't get back on the bike until the end of April last year. feels like a long way away but I guess it's only about 60 days.
03-03-15 | 12:19 PM
#4
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'm on the road when the 35deg weather clears the banks back enough to ride on the side. Not much longer. I'm usually in decent shape by then. Hopefully. 
03-03-15 | 12:42 PM
#5
aka Phil Jungels
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,234
Likes: 91
From: North Aurora, IL
Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp
There have been winters where I have been out on the bike every single month. This ain't one of 'em!
The end of April is a long way off, and winter has sure been disgusting this year. Three months off the bike, so far, and March sure doesn't look promising......
I feel your pain .
The end of April is a long way off, and winter has sure been disgusting this year. Three months off the bike, so far, and March sure doesn't look promising......
I feel your pain .
03-03-15 | 03:05 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 348
Likes: 3
From: central ohio
Bikes: better than I deserve
Next week the temps in the Midwest look warmer. Check accuweather. Of course what temperature is warm enough to ride is a personal choice.
03-03-15 | 04:48 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
waiting for the end of April?
Rumrunn, I'm afraid you might be right, at least for my superfine CF 
ugh, looks like I didn't get back on the bike until the end of April last year. feels like a long way away but I guess it's only about 60 days.
If I lived in New England, I would be worried more about flooding than potholes. When all of that snow melts, the runoff will be tremendous -- particularly if it is a fast melt from warm temperatures and rain.
03-03-15 | 08:01 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,465
Likes: 4,547
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
you have mad quotation skills
interesting sh*tstorm expected tonight. good luck tomorrow
interesting sh*tstorm expected tonight. good luck tomorrow
03-03-15 | 09:10 PM
#10
just another gosling
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Back in the day when I rode my singles, I rode my CF bike all winter. Perfect bike for that. Doesn't corrode, stronger, smoother. I used winter wheels with inexpensive rims and just re-rimmed them when they wore through. Every bike should have at least 2 wheelsets anyway. Now we ride the steel CoMo all winter with nice rims and just spend a tiny bit more replacing them. It's holding up fine, but we don't salt our roads here. The only thing different about winter riding really is that you need nice hubs with sealed bearings including in the freehub.
03-03-15 | 09:59 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
...my alternative to the beater is a 700x23 carbon fiber bike that is never exposed to wet, much less salty roads. Thoughts of riding it are keeping my spirits bouyed (though I am admittedly in denial about the snowmelt).
Back in the day when I rode my singles, I rode my CF bike all winter. Perfect bike for that. Doesn't corrode, stronger, smoother. I used winter wheels with inexpensive rims and just re-rimmed them when they wore through. Every bike should have at least 2 wheelsets anyway. Now we ride the steel CoMo all winter with nice rims and just spend a tiny bit more replacing them. It's holding up fine, but we don't salt our roads here. The only thing different about winter riding really is that you need nice hubs with sealed bearings including in the freehub.
I have a variant question about riding my pristine carbon fiber bike in winter. Obviously if riding on wet roads with salt, it will be flung into the drive train. But what about on dry roads with caked salt? Would “salt dust” contaminate the drive train significantly? If I were to ride, I would avoid visible salt patches. I realize there may well not be a definitive answer, but "whaddya tink"?
This winter I have ridden my CF bike up to January 1, and it looks like it may be relatively mild (for precipitation), with increased dry road days.
This winter I have ridden my CF bike up to January 1, and it looks like it may be relatively mild (for precipitation), with increased dry road days.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-03-15 at 10:04 PM.
03-03-15 | 10:02 PM
#12
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Bikes: 1990 Schwinn Moab, 2010 Specialized Crosstrail, 2012 Co-Motion Tandem, & 2011 Kent Tandem
We're not going to wait for April. Heading south around Orlando to ride some trails in a week. It has to wamer than St. Louis has been.
03-04-15 | 09:43 AM
#13
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,465
Likes: 4,547
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
did I hear right? last night they were saying Louisville, KY right near St Louis, MO was gonna get a foot of snow?
03-04-15 | 10:50 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 10
From: Southern Ontario
Looking at my previous stats, I usually start training outside on the 2nd week of March. And looking at the long range forecast, daytime temps will run around freezing starting this weekend. Lots more snow on the ground than usual but I guess it's not as late as it seems this year compared to the last couple.
03-04-15 | 08:40 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,940
Likes: 363
We are supposed to have a 20°F drop
between dawn and noon tomorrow, here in NW Florida. This cold air mass is real strong and the jet stream has a big southward curve this weekend. Lot of moist air off of the Gulf has saturated the air across the south, east and mid west from this warm few days we had. Now we get to pay the piper
for riding in shorts and ss jerseys the last few days. Snow and ice are forecast, as you heard for that area, and further south, too Rumrunn, meteorological spring my ass.
Bill
between dawn and noon tomorrow, here in NW Florida. This cold air mass is real strong and the jet stream has a big southward curve this weekend. Lot of moist air off of the Gulf has saturated the air across the south, east and mid west from this warm few days we had. Now we get to pay the piper for riding in shorts and ss jerseys the last few days. Snow and ice are forecast, as you heard for that area, and further south, too Rumrunn, meteorological spring my ass.Bill
03-04-15 | 08:46 PM
#16
Saved by Grace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 740
Likes: 1
From: The slow guy in the back
Bikes: Only one at a time; currently a 2012 Specialized Tricross Sport
From the unusually warm high this afternoon (83F) to the pre-dawn low tomorrow morning (28F) is a 55 degree drop. It's been a while since I've seen that happen, whether in 18 hours or not. Right at 70F now (8:45 PM CT), but they're saying it will get underway around midnight.
03-04-15 | 09:02 PM
#18
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Next day or two are to be cold but...........may be dry and hit 40! this weekend............
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
03-04-15 | 10:39 PM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 870
Likes: 3
Can't wait until the 12th of March when I get these pins removed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyJSR_6bzZg) and back on the bike after 6 weeks and beautiful weather in the high 60s low 70s--we had 3 weeks and 2 days of winter rains and that is it! (we sure need a lot more)
03-05-15 | 03:14 PM
#22
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Can't wait until the 12th of March when I get these pins removed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyJSR_6bzZg) and back on the bike after 6 weeks and beautiful weather in the high 60s low 70s--we had 3 weeks and 2 days of winter rains and that is it! (we sure need a lot more)
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
03-05-15 | 08:55 PM
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,940
Likes: 363
Not as bad as forecast here, the initial drop was about 30°, then it stabilized for most of the day at 43°F. Supposed to be around 30°F tonight/tomorrow morning. Winds were very gusty all day, they have abated this evening. Good weather is forecast for the weekend.
Everyone up in the Louisville area has my prayers for their safety. News showed all the roads being closed, and the huge number of trucks and cars stranded on the interstate highway.
Bill
Everyone up in the Louisville area has my prayers for their safety. News showed all the roads being closed, and the huge number of trucks and cars stranded on the interstate highway.
Bill
03-08-15 | 10:09 AM
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 420
From: Tucson Az
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
The end of April means the days of riding after work are numbered for me. I'll ride after work up to around 95 degrees, and I'm sure I'll be seeing that by the first of May.
My indoor trainer days are coming.
My indoor trainer days are coming.
