Hardcore tectonic cycling test




Perfect "conditions" guaranteed (3900 [12,795 ft.] metres of elevation gain). Next chance: June 27, 2009

Below 50 degrees and it's just plain ******ed to be on a bike....of course I am spoiled by living in the South. It's below 50 degrees 11 months out of the year in NY isn't it?

I grew up in Maine....and used to be able to take the cold.....not no mo.

Me and my pal Don are rolling out this AM for a 40 miler. Starting temp will be about 20ºF.

That's pretty friggin stupid.

Yes.. yes it is.. Enjoy that

Ditto.

Yep, I'm getting ready to meet a group. It's 23F, overcast, and snow flurries are predicted.

Edited to add: Got 65 miles in. It was 27F at the start and 32F at the finish.

Good answer. Reminds me of "The Right Stuff."

BTW, I rode 14 miles this morning at about 20 degrees and dry, and was even a little too warm by over-preparing for the ride. It was in any case a tolerable and satisfying ride.

I think it gets a little over the top when:

- Your entire life gets engulfed into cycling (i.e. it must be done to even feel remotely good) or
- You ride in conditions that are obviously unsuitable for cycling or even going out (raining hail in -20 deg F temperature).

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Guilty on that one.

I did a fast 65 miler this morning - it was about 60 degrees F, and some of the crew I rode with was bundled up like it was going to snow.

I believe hardcore becomes stupid when you have to ask yourself, "Am I hardcore, or stupid?"

You're young and obviously haven't been presented with any significant and meaningful physical and emotional challenges in your life.

There is an old saying: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Therein lies the key -- experience to make the judgments to handle the conditions.

It surprises me that so many people will take on events that are based on heat that presents an imminent and deadly danger the further they ride, yet recoil from the idea of taking on the environment at the other extreme.

The one event I want to do is Iditabike. THAT is my idea of challenge and fun.

One thing that makes me suffer is climbing into a cold headwind, freezing and sweating at the same time.
Once we rode over the local mountains when I had tonsilitis and was pretty sick. I only had a worn out wool jersey, no hat, no vest. After a 7 mile climb into a strong headwind, they waited for me and they said I didn't look so good and was very white. I finished the ride and actually felt a lot better after that climb was over. I've done stupid.
I used to scout routes for mtb rides by myself. Once I had the route figured out, I would round up the homies and we would do it. One cold windy day I bit off a little more than I should have and was miles from a road or anything and ran out of food and water. A guy came by on an atv and gave me some water and told me how to get out of there.
Once I picked a route from a map that I had only done part of myself. I dragged some friends along and the map didn't mention the trails were washed away and we had to walk a lot of it. It was dark by the time we got out of there and getting pretty cold. The homies were not amused.

One poster to Bike Forums wrote "What doesn't kill you has made a big tactical error" ;-)

+1. If you have to ask, you probably know the answer.

I rode motorcycles off road for 10 years. There is this thing that happened to me and others, too. It gets cold and it's late and we need to get back to camp so we take fire roads. I got so cold that I can't feel the motorcycle. I can hear it, and I know I have to pay attention, but I can't feel it through hands, butt, or feet. Weird.

Ummmm ... it's unlikely the precipitation would be "raining hail" in -20 deg F temperatures. -20 deg F temperatures are definitely rideable. And riding in snow is doable. So is the combination of the two.

+1

And BTW - here's the like to Iditabike if anyone else is interested in taking on that challenge.
https://www.alaskaultrasport.com/

Of all the winter weather, I truly dislike any precipitation between 28°F and 36°F. Its the most likely to freeze over, hurt when its hits your face as it falls and turn into slush later on. It always makes for difficult and uncertain riding conditions during and after.

Written by someone who has obviously never been to the top of anything. Anything worth struggling to the summit of requires a life commitment.

wow. hardcore AND stupid. there's a difference between commitment and obsession.

Oh crap.

"There is an old saying: 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'. Therein lies the key -- experience to make the judgments to handle the conditions."

Heard a commedian once say:
"My dad always said 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.'....That was before the accident."

Heh.

I agree with your interpretation, but I don't get the joke; in fact I would interpret it as the victim though not killed, was really messed up ;-(

Doin some heavy climbs in the morning. I rode today, 39 and windy. I was freaking cold but I have the clothes to do it with.