As we all know, many of us at Bike Forums have been suffering through a long, frigid winter with arctic temperatures. However, the vernal equinox is next week and finally, our forecast is predicting warming temperatures in the next few days. Which of course, means melting snow and finally, the real beginning of the bike season. All of this made me think of some of the other signs of spring around here, aside from bikes:

- the Smell of melting dog poop!

- easter and passover stuff in the supermarket- easter chocolates eggs, hot cross buns, Matzo!

-potholes!

-mud!

-baseball

So what are some of the other indications that spring is on the way in your neck of the woods?

Tulips and daffidols coming through the ground;
Very long lines at every car wash in town;
and most inportant me on my bike!!

- The realization that salt is for popcorn, not roads

- The re-emergence of "Race Cars" on the streets

- Bare legs :confused:

Wabbit, we both know that saying stuff like that will jinx it and we will get another foot of snow!

The roads are dry. It feels so weird to wear shorts and T shirts again after winter.

Here in Virginny, we're well on our way (this week... could change again). Crocus blooming, daffodil shoots, buds (no blooms yet) on redbud and forsythia.

it has been in the 80's F, this week, and it sure is nice

right now I can ride during the day in shorts and short sleeve jersey, but when the summer comes I'll be doing a lot more early morning and night riding

Magpies.

(I had my right ear cut open twice last year).

Being able to walk across the yard without wearing boots!

more sand than snow stuck to my tires

and of course re-newing spring puddle jumping skills and worm skidding practice....ewwwwwwwwwwwww...

wait .. that didn't sound right...
worms on the paths...after a good rain...? whewwwwwwww.

The temperature climbs into the nineties and we all try not to think about what summer will bring!

Signs of spring, hmmm lets see..

-- daylight
-- green grass
-- bugs
-- t-storms
-- walkers, joggers, etc

oh yeah..
-- bike races!

Ahhh spring, my favorite time of the year.

"Oh to be in England now that spring is here" "Robert Browning".......

Sorry to be a misery guts, but spring around here is only an extension of Winter.

Speak for yourself, its quite pleasant down here on the South Coast

Red wing black birds and robins.

Thunderstorms.
Tornadoes.
Honeysuckle blooming.
late afternoon rides.
Het Volk
Paris Roubaix
Thunderstorms.
Did I mention Tornadoes?

Marty - where its heatin up in texas.

Well, aside from more daylight (hooray!) I'm still slipping and sliding on the ice between buildings here...should have bought stock in our local oil company. Don't know when I'll be able to shut the heat off. But, OK, there are a few signs of spring:

1. no income (the skiers are gone), therefore I can sleep in

2. The temperature has finally stayed above zero for more than
a few minutes (although the prediction is for 15 below tonight)

3. I think I heard a few birds thawing.

4. That darn red squirrel is sneaking into my kitchen every
morning again.

5. My goldfish are eating again.

6. The sap is running (mmm....mmm, maple syrup!)

7. I can finally see over the snow banks.

I'm still trying to be an optimist!

Yep, I hear those magpies can be deadly!

Around here, you start hearing the squirrels chattering and the crows cawing in the morning- sometimes they make such a racket!

And another sign of spring- the emergence of potholes! I saw a few around my neighbhorhood yesterday, each big enough to bathe a baby in.

As for crocuses it'll be a while before we see those, unless it really warms up. BUt it never fails, it gets warm, the crocuses appear and then we get snow!

I have spread salt around my aprtment Building like 4 tons, and winter is not yet about to go

My favorite thought of spring arriving is Easter Sunday. Easter is opening day at CRESENT PARK CAROUSEL.
It is one of the oldest carousels around. Every year on Easter after church, my parents would take myself and brother to the carousel for opening day which is always on Easter Sunday. I remember Cresent park when it actually was a park. That was the good old days. So sad that RI no longer has Rocky Point or Lincoln Park or Cresent Park. We are fortunate to have the carousel still around. My father's first job as a young adult was "Ring loader" He always tried to catch us the "GOLD RING" Myself and husband have carried on this tradition. My least favorite thought of spring is a dirty four letter word "RAKE" Yard clean ups!!! YUCK!!! I would rather be rinding my bike (or the horse carousel)!!!!!!!

off topic...but
speaking of Browning, I remember reading one of his poems...Love among the ruins or something....really liked that

Hockey playoffs. High water.

Pale tourists from parts North laying out by the pool trying to get a tan, but only burning.

Frogs. I love to hear them sing.

Flocks of Sand Hill Cranes flew over the house on Friday on their migration north. For me, that is a great sign of spring in the midwest. Saw them during both my rides this weekend.

Not only that, but I also rode without winter gloves....