Hipcycler

November is here, and for me the clock is ticking on the season...before that time I bring the Klein into the house and hang it on the wall of my cycling room for the long, cold winter.

Our forecast shows three great days for riding left, then the bottom falls out over the weekend. I can almost tell exactly when the season will end, and it could be this Friday.

Wed: Sun and low 50's
Thur: Ptly. sunny and up to 68!
Fri: Ptly sunny and 60

Then cold and rain, and this time of year it may never get back up to where I need it in the morning when I ride.

It's like a last meal...what should I do for the rest of this week...that final ride on Friday? Only three days left perhaps to encounter The Knave? Oh sure, there may be a decent day left for an outdoor ride a couple of times yet before Christmas, but they're cold and not really like a normal ride....more of a novelty ride just to say you made it outside.

The regular ride....the regular route....not many left now. It would be splendid if indeed the stars came into allignment and the battle royale took place yet this year. If not.....bring on spring '06!

rule

LOL...Hip, you seriously need to get out, find the Knave and drop his sorry arse before calling it a season. Then and only then will you be whole.

55/Rad

Hip - you also need to think about embracing the idea of riding in cold weather as opposed to hanging it up. I can assure you these are more than just novelty rides.

Granted, I don't want to get out when it's icy or snowy. But cold and light rain can certainly be overcome. And while it isn't the same experience you get in the spring, summer and early fall, it definitely is one worth trying. Physically, it's a bit harder as the body and the bike tend to be heavier with gear and clothes.

But mentally, it's a whole new game. Think about it.

55/Rad

slvoid

I don't think you've been on deathrow before. I can tell you, it's a really bad feeling of hopelessness, very different.

Doggus

you need to fly south for the winter. Riding season year 'round in Texas!

cydewaze

Usually I break out the mountain bike in the cold weather, but Jessica doesn't seem to keen on that idea. So, we've bought some running shoes. We'll see how that pans out.

EURO

Let me get this straight, you stop riding your bike when it gets 'mild'?

steve_wmn

Now is the time to adjust yourself to winter riding. Last year I rode into December and temperatures as low as 10 degrees F, then I crashed on some ice, got discouraged and hung it up for the season. This year I'm determined to go all winter, somehow. I converted an old bike to a fixie and plan to use that when the snow starts flying, even if I only get out every other day or so. I have all the winter clothes that I need, except maybe for those extreme sub-zero days in January.

MichaelW

60F means that you can ride without sweating. It is quite a comfortable temp for the suitably dressed rider.
Think about getting a winter training bike with more clearance for wider tyres and fenders, something that you wont worry if it gets dirty or damaged.

galen_52657

Hip... you gotta tuffen up dude!

Your winter may be longer than mine..but no colder! Last year I finally ponied up for some Assos tights mmmMMMmm toasty! Some good glove, fast mask and booties and I am good-to-go to down around freezing. If your water bottle freezes, just put it in a back pocket to warm up!

When it is real cold, I just ride my mountain bike on the trails. It's warmer in the woods!

BarconsOrBust

Hip, if you want to get into winter riding, I'd suggest you get a beater MTB and as many layers of cheap, baggy, longsleeve, non-cycling specific clothing as you can.

EURO

If you ride without sweating at 60f (15 celcius) you aren't riding hard enough. That's about what the temparature is here, and I'm sweating like a pig.

gcasillo

I admit it: I love riding in Winter. Any ride when my bottles freeze over gives me double the satisfaction. On average, considerably less cars on the road too. People think twice about driving somewhere if they've got to freeze their ass off the first fifteen minutes.

*does a dance to appease the weather gods for a dry winter*
*preemptively throws down salt on roads nearby*
*looks for a retractable dome on eBay for his 30-mile loop*
*lays out everything that's fleece*

First, I probably should replace my craptacular water heater if I want a decent shower this Winter though.

craign04

i think you should go out and occupy your full lane of traffic on blue mound rd that the laws entitle you to or maybe HWY 100 would be even better, then hop over to 76th and go cruising up by northridge in the ghetto... dont forget to get off the bike outside the crack houses and pose showing off your OCPness that would be going out in style.

fawelsh

I don't think the knave is thinking about his last ride. As certain as death and taxes, he will be out on the bike path, thorugh rain and sleet and snow. Come spring, he'll be as implacable as ever, and you'll have to spend all season getting dropped by him.

CyLowe97

Hip's tough enough to ride in colder weather, but you gotta look at his avatar! Is that bionic ball-and-socket combo going to handle the elements? Will TMJ's health program smile kindly on a replacement joint for the replacement joint? These are the things we need to understand....

Besides, I'm not sure if it was the bottom bracket creaking when we rode last weekend, or if that was Hip's hip protesting his high-wattage output....

2manybikes

With the right equipment you can ride in any kind of weather. If you have a place to ride away from traffic, ice and snow are lots of fun. Ice is more fun than snow away from cars. It can be like starting a new sport all over again, an oportunity to buy another bike and more gear. There really is no reason to stop riding all winter. There are days when you might not want to ride, but not weeks. It is different, It's more like cross country skiing in snow. You get to the spring in great shape. Especially good leg power. You will be a better rider for it.

AngryRooster

I don't like many things about SoCal, but I loooove the weather.

substructure

Here in NC the winter weather is always uncertain. One week the temps may not get out of the 30s. The next week it may stay in the mid 50s. Snow one day. Melted the next.

I'll be the eager dog in front of the door wagging its tail to be let out. When the weather says, "Ride!" The door opens and I charge.

I really look forward to the winter rides. This will be a new experience for me.

2manybikes

Thanks buddy...........

Can you help me replace the studs in my tires this weekend?

Hipcycler

Let me clarify something before heading out on my ride this morning....

I've written about this before after taking 'heat' about not riding in the cold.
It has nothing to do with the cold temps...I have the gear and don't mind the riding, but this is where I fall short of many of you because of my hip situation.

I am limited by what I can do on the bike because of this situation. Two years ago I was riding along on a cold, dry morning....about 30 degrees....when suddenly I crashed hard onto the replacement hip. No warning. No visual. Afterward I determined it must have been some black ice on an asphalt patch. I dodged a bullet when the hip was OK.

One slip...one wrong fall...the ceramic ball in the joint cracks meaning:

--I'm in the hospital for emergency surgery....
--Off work for a month....
--Three months rehab.....

Not a place I want to be just because I wanted to risk riding deeper into the cold season. It's not worth the chance.

So please hold off on ripping me when I write about having to hang it up soon for the season. I wish I didn't have to, but you play with the cards that are dealt to you in life.

Now...I need to go select what to wear today....and pack the digital camera in case THIS is the day I see the little devil going the same direction as me.

Remember:
If you chose not to decide you still have made a choice.

Michigan

I'm planning on some cross country skiing to get my sunshine and endorphin fix for the winter over here hip. Is that do-able for you? Gotta adapt you know. I think it'd be pretty hip-friendly if you stay way from the steeper hills.

substructure

I totally understand, Hip, because of the plastic plate in my head.

"See the plate runs right underneath the part here. See, over here, nothing. But, here if this gets dented, then my hair just ain't going to look right."

Stay safe, Hip.

Mentor58

On the plus side hipster, maybe they could upgrade to a Campy Record hipset? I say get the 'spinervals' hill climbing dvd, and the first nice day of spring, just motor past that Knave whistling a happy tune, maybe even circle back to see if he's ok.

Steve W.

CPcyclist

Sorry, to say but life is no fun with out RISK. DANGER is what keep thing interesting. If I stopped doing thing out of fear I would probably end up doing nothing for the rest of my life as I wasted away from not eating for fear of food poisoning.