txvintage

Did you guys have the wind from hell too? This hammering on the big ring to hit 18 mph on a down hill I normally coast at 25+ is getting old.

Warm doesn't suck though.

waterrockets 

I was commuting to work on Monday when it was 34 and raining, in the dark. My fingers got cold... had to pull them back into my wet gloves at a light while some kids were staring at me from their warm SUV while Mom took them to school.

Then I broke out the fan at work and got my gear dried out completely so I could go out at lunch in the cold rain again without the clammy chamois to start off.

It's all good. I'm just in this for the soul crushing. If it's my own soul, then so be it

Yeah, pretty windy here too. The beauty of the power meter is that there's no wind, just Watts. Four laps at the local Master Planned Community dodging moms and strollers, trying to ride my training partners off my wheel without attacking. A heavy tailwind with a short climb will help out a lot with that effort

ILUVUK

I stuck with the trainer today.

brendon_ak

Thanks!

OP, looks like you've got the right kit for winter riding. I had some serious teething issues, but was fortunate enough to avoid frost bite. My mountain shoes are pretty junk, the lowest shimano shoe from like 03, anyways the metal that the cleat mounted to was transferring the temperature directly through my footliner right into my foot. The solution I found, short of buying proper winter shoes, was making cork liners, and using adhesive toe warmers top and bottom of my toes. No problems since!

In Oregon, so long as my gear is windproof thats plenty for me.

JollyMon

P-Caddy, How do you manage a 3.5 hour ride on a work day? If I'm going to ride outside during the week, it's got to be at night.

Nate552

+1 You and me both, the morning commutes next week should be even more fun. 20's here predicted for the mornings next week.

txvintage

I seem to have an unhealthy fascination with riding into the wind these days. It's like self flogging, only without the whips and chains.

I've been seeking out inclines as well. It's really bizarre stuff.

johnybutts

I also did the 30's commute in the rain monday morning.. i just got a new GF single speed 29er, my first mountain bike, i've been commuting on it, sooo much fun.

For the last few days though, i've had to throw my stuff in the drier at work because i sweat so much coming in. Summer's going to be killer.

waterrockets 

Yeah, we're looking a bit warmer than that here. Down to 32 at night (probably just when I'm commuting to work).

I know the feeling. Endorphin addiction. You should make sure to light your mouth on fire a couple times a day with habanero sauce too -- that will feed the addiction nicely. If you OD, your knee caps will blow off and your tongue will be paralyzed.

txvintage

I would Lol, but I can't feel my tongue.

txvintage

In early March, I'm doing a pleasant 85 miles from South Dallas to Waco, straight into the predominant Southern head wind. Here's hoping the pace line holds up, lol.

patentcad

Sometimes I think I may actually be getting through to some of you Road Nazis.

Terex

https://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html

I've been skiing, two different trips, at -32F. One at Stowe. One at Mont Sante Anne. You are wussy.

patentcad

I've skiied in -20ºF. Standing outside my hotel room in Jackson Hole Wyoming, it was -25ºF or so, the coldest temps I've ever experienced. I was hocking loogies and they were freezing before they hit the ground. True story. They were debating whether to even open the lifts @ Jackson that morning, but it warmed up a bit, the sun came out, the wind abated, and we skiied in temps that hovered around zero all day.

Anybody who skis in Quebec is an idiot by the way.

hammy56

anyone who is outdoors in neg. temps is an idiot.

waterrockets 

When I lived in SLC, my wife had transferable season passes to several ski areas that were 30 minutes from our house. On weekdays, we used to wait until it snowed at night, was clear in the morning, and a comfy 15F or more to ski. I probably got 60 days in, making fresh tracks in perfect weather. We'd hit it really hard in the morning, blow the legs on the moguls and powder, catch lunch, and go to work while the masses dealt with lesser conditions. Cost $3 in gas.

Those years made me a mountain snob for sure. I can't stand skiing like a normal person any more. I may never get on a lift again, and just stick to nordic.

RoadToNowhere

Papa Pcad? You win.

Beth

patentcad

Who can argue with this?

bostongarden

I had a similar experience today in the Boston area. I wore a decent pair of gloves, but, on the way back from my two hour ride, my fingers were getting cold and my left thumb was really cold. It was about 20-25F near the end of the day and that was no big deal. The killer on the way back was the strong wind in my face, and no sunshine on me (wind chill was around 10F or so). Had the snot rolling down the entire way back with an occasional tear drop; glad I put carmex on before I took off. I was using breathing techniques near the end to get my self in. Once I got inside, it took me 15 minutes or so to get the thumb feeling decent. Now I know that this route at this time of the year and time of day offers little sunshine; I'll be better prepared tomorrow. Fortunately, I'll be in the sunshine tomorrow and then onto Copperas Cove next Saturday for my first race of the year (thanks again WR for helping me see that I definitely wanted to do it).

palesaint

He's self-employed, that's how.

What I want to know is why the hel1 it took you 3.5 hours to ride 49 miles. That's barely 14mph. Where you riding in a parade??

patentcad

This isn't New Mexico. This is NY, it's mid winter, the roads are icy, and I spent the first 25 miles riding into a 20 mph headwind @ 12-14 mph with air temps (without the wind chill) of <25ºF. Cold air slows you down, which may not be an issue in New Mexico, but it is here. The second half was faster, but lots of grinding little hills that also slowed things down.

I don't worry about my average speed on solo training rides in January. I rarely worry about average speeds at all, I only pay attention to them on certain TT bike training rides. I worry about whether I have the snot to be useful to my team in vets races in April that have average speeds of 25+ mph for 35-50 miles.

I've been self employed for 18 years. I started my business so I could live a lifestyle like this. It's working so far.

JaRow

More specifically, move to Florida. Once you get over the huge concentration of retirees and the lack of challenging terrain it's a lovely place.

Basil Moss

Toe warmers? You big girls blouse! Just shake some cayenne powder into your socks, works a treat.

patentcad

Cayenne? Basil? What are you the friggin Spice Bandit? Besides, what the hell does some limey know about riding in sub freezing temps?

randym95

Riding in 19 degree weather? Mercy. Here in Texas, we don't know how to act when it drops below 50.