Papa Tom

Let the record show that Wednesday, November 13 was, in all likelihood, my last bona fide ride of 2014. I commuted to and from work and it was exhilarating, as always. Here on Long Island, NY, the roads are covered with slippery leaves now and the morning chill is just a little too much to inspire these old bones to get on the saddle at 7am.

It's been a great season and I cannot wait to start all over again in the spring. Fortunately, the weather was mild through almost mid-November this year, so the wait for fair weather won't be as long as the past few winters.

OK, now, I know that many of you are itching to brag about how you're going to bundle up and ride all winter, if just to make me feel like a whiny old sissy, so let's hear it...

zacster

Ah, c'mon. It isn't THAT cold yet. I rode on Tuesday, didn't yesterday or today, but will probably ride in to work tomorrow. And you never know, it may still get warm again.

GlennR

I'm hoping for one more ride.

TallTravel

Soon, the wet leaves will be gone, so some warner clothing may fix your problem. You sound very sad about not riding, maybe you can change a few things around and keep riding?

GlennR

Easy to say when you live in La Jolla, California.

Riding in 30*, and colder, weather burns the lungs. But there are people that do it.

I might tuneup my son's old mountain bike and go for some short ride.

indyfabz

Or you could simply take it day by day. It could be 75 degrees on Christmas. One December I went for a ride in shorts and a short sleeve jersey.

likebike23

I wouldn't give up yet, Sunday is forecast to be 47 degrees. I'm going to ride even if I have to go after dark.

kaos joe

I've heard this attributed to both Eskimos and Norwegians, but somebody somewhere supposedly says "there is no such thing as bad weather, there is only inappropriate clothing".

Road bike just went down the stairs, and MTB came up. Winter is coming. But dat is most definitely NOT dat.

TallTravel

Oldnslow2,

I said that based on decades of living in and riding in many places across the globe, including winter in Moscow, winter in Denver, fall in Alaska, and many other places in the 60 countries over visited and ridden. I've ridden the bike in many conditions, and my living in a warm climate at present does not remove my personal experiences from having lived 50+ years in colder climates.

Also, I was trying to encourage you because you seem genuinely sad about that loss. Others have posted similarly encouraging messages, but we are all trying to help.

kaos joe

Did first "real' MTB ride of the year this morning. Only a couple of hours on the trails of Bethpage, but not a bad start. We met one of our local icons out there, looking good and pedaling smooth on the trail at age 89 if I'm not mistaken. Still some color in the woods and frost on the fallen leaves. A lovely morning to ride.

GlennR

Sunday is going to be in the mid 50, Monday the low 60's and Tuesday the mid 50s again. So i'm taking a vacation day and going for a long ride.

It ain't over yet.

zacster

Today was definitely an off day for me.

How many of you want to join me for a ride in Buffalo?

krobinson103

In a week I fly from South Korea to New Zealand. There its just coming into summer and, even in the winter it never gets cold enough to get ice on the roads for any real length of time unlike here.

GlennR

You'll need snow shoes.

FBinNY 

It ain't over until it's over. I remember one fall a few years back where I did at least 10 "last ride"s of the season. and temps dropped and recovered.

As far as I'm concerned the only reliable thing about fall/winter "weather" is that it gets colder, and darker earlier.

Papa Tom

I hope to resume my long-standing New Year's Day tradition of riding the boardwalk at Jones Beach this year, but that's about all the riding I see in the near future.

indyfabz

It's supposed to be balmy on Monday. 72 here in Philly.

GlennR

Perfect weather today and Tuesday look good also.

It ain't over yet.