Roody

I think it's largely a matter of planning ahead. The "wicking" fabrics and even polyester fleece will dry overnight in front of a register or radiator. Just remember to set it out to dry as soon as you get home. I have two pairs of pants that I wear only on the bike. These are dark-colored to hide the road dirt. I change out of them when I get to work or a friend's house, etc. This year I'm going to look for some kind of synthetic-fiber pants that will dry faster than the khaki or wool pants I now wear. If you have fenders on your bike, everything will stay dryer and cleaner.

urban rider

I have started buying small things, socks and stuff. The hardest part for me is waking up in the dark. I am not looking forward to it. I can't afford to stop riding in the winter. Too much trouble in getting back into shape plus I got rid of my car. Motorcity, in their great wisdom decided to discontinue some of their bus routes so once again I have no choose but to ride a bike. Fortunately, I love riding my bike.





Gas, the price of a can of beans.

2manybikes

Riding on a lake !! Riding on a lake !! Yahoo !!

Did I already ask if you have access to a digicam for ice ridng photos?

yuhoo

Should be: Freezing rain sucks, expecially in winter.

TRaffic Jammer

hell's yea bring on the snow riding!!!!

Roody

I'll try to take pics this year. My friend tony rides with unstudded tires and videos of him slip-slidin on the lake would be about as comical as the Three stooges. Unfortunately, with global warming lake riding time is rarer than it used to be. Last year I only got out a couple times all winter. In colder years I've even gone on frozen rivers--miles and miles of isolated splendor.

2manybikes

I never had a chance to ride on a river like that, it sounds great !

Have you seen the Lucas Brunell video of the two guys riding on the river in Boston? They get going as fast as they can and then get off the bike, to see how far they can slide.

If Tony falls a lot he might think it's pretty funny.

TRaffic Jammer

that video is great!

Roody

I've seen some of Brunell's other videos but not that one.

Besides falling and sliding, another funny thing Tony does is pedal real fast on slick ice. The ice under his tire melts from the friction, and he just stays spinning in one spot. He looks like he's riding on rollers at 120 rpm. the faster he pedals, the less foreward movement he has.

I guess the point is, people dread the winter coming, but the real strategy is to learn to enjoy it. Having the right gear is important, but even more important is having the right mental attitude and always stay fun-loving.

2manybikes

That's right, you have to look for something you like and have fun with it once in a while. It lowers the stress of everything else.

Of course now you need a video camera.

chephy

I'm not ready... but I'm sure it'll be interesting.

TRaffic Jammer

thinks about the screw pattern for this years' ice racers'

mcadam

In Farmington, NM here. Yeah the hot and sunny southwest. But this little city is at 5500' elevation, and Jan. and Feb. are cold and usually windy. Occasional rain and snow, but mostly cold bitter wind.
And no, I am not ready yet. But working on it. And thanks for all of the posts to give me some good leads.

subframe

SF and the Peninsula doesn't get all that cold, but it'll be cold enough. This is my first biked (?) car-free winter; i've been a ped for 30 years. I have a feeling I'm not ready at all for winter biking. I do know that I'm looking forward to it, though

TRaffic Jammer

was 5 degrees C this morning

Roody

Of course, Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever lived through was a summer in San Fransisco. The price you pay for nice winters, I guess. My friend in San Diego whines about the "cold" winters there. "Boo-hoo, I had to wear my parka. It went down to 55 last night." I'm thinking I'd be a happy rider if it went up to 55 this side of next May. ! We had a "frost advisory" already a few nights ago. But Monday it's supposed to be 75, and that's my next day off. Life can be sweet!

tempest

Living in northern colorado sure is great - as much sun as southern california, they say. The only thing they don't say is that the wind is a near constant in the winter and the humidity hovers around 15%. Getting dehydrated in the cold sure isn't cool.

I plan on wearing shorts most of this winter. The california transplants to the state think the natives are nuts.

Roody

Anybody else get snow yet?

We had the shortest autumn I can remember. Less than a week ago I was wearing shorts, today I dug out the long johns. The wind chill now (midday) is 22 deg F, we're geting lake effect snow squalls all over Michigan. It's cool to see the snow on the orange and yellow leaves, and even on some of the trees that still have their green leaves. I Took a nice ride this morning, but the 25 mph winds were fierce.

TRaffic Jammer

hear it comes lads!!!!!!

2manybikes

You must be more north than Rhode Island?

r8ingbull

Not much farther north only about 1 degree. More to do with lake effect snows in MI and the way the air moves out of canada in the midwest. Closer to Lake Michigan here we have over 8" of snow, with more coming today.

Yesterday's ride was great. snow everywhere except on the roads.

2manybikes

Wow. I saw pictures of your snow on the TV this morning. It was in the 60's last night here.
Time test ride the bike with studded tires and make sure everything is working, it has not moved in a long time.

Roody

Where you at? Here in Lansing we usually get about 2 inches of snow for every foot you get at the lakeshore. The tradeoff is that it's usually a few degrees colder here in the winter and a little warmer in the summer.

I had a lovely ride last night. It's so freaky seing all that snow on the tree leaves and the green grass. the wind has been killer--30 mph today. My commute home last night averaged 3 mph slower bike speed than usual, bucking the winds.

The forecast is for temps in the 60s by next week. Now I have to remember where I put my riding shorts!