winter touring
 

do you folk tour in winter.
In my part of the world Ireland we usually don't get extremes of winter weather :thumb:
but you guys get serious weather changes is anyone brave enough to tour in winter ,
and how do you cope with such harsh conditions;)
I'm just curious on this one.

I do shorter tours in the winter in the Pacific Northwest. Don't have extreme weather here though. It's rare to see snow but not so rare to see rain. I enjoy the quite campgrounds and lower traffic.

Polypropilene long underwear is WONDERFUL. So are neoprene ski masks. Anyone tried these for a hoot?
http://www.bikermask.com/

Winter storms out of the south can be quite a blow, on the US NW coast
but as I spoke to people I met in western Co Kerry, was there in march ..

the storms off the north Atlantic are pretty strong in the winter too ..

Seems Airfare cures the winter blahs , by going to the southern hemisphere ..

I do the most of my touring in the winter. You just need to suck it up and brave the elements. Then again I spend my winters in Florida. Once in a while I actually need a jacket

Within the US, I've gone to slightly warmer parts for a winter tour. I've tried the following in the US:
- HI-AYH Christmas ride in San Diego (four times)
- Gator Hell week supported ride in Florida (twice)
- Brownsville, TX to Dallas, TX
- Big Island of HI
I've also done Vietnam, Australia (Tasmania), South India and New Zealand in winter months.
Current thoughts this year are to start in San Jose, CA and then cycle south along the coast for a week or so.

When I lived in Colorado, I would ride and commute all year long (didn't own a car). That was quite comfortable for a surprising amount of winter months, though with the occasional storms coming through I wouldn't plan on a more extended tour on the plains, let alone the mountains.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XU5JtjJdEF...0/iditarod.jpg
http://ncrandonneur.blogspot.com/200...s-anymore.html

Or how about
http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1137483321
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...highlight=knik

wow that is unbelievable hard to imagine the body could survive conditions like that.
emm great and all as those photos are, im sticking to fair weather touring.

Not quite touring...

a 135 mile winter race in northern Minnesota

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/sp...ltra.html?_r=1

Hey, maybe someone want to get on the Guinness Book of World Records. This guy in Antarctica seems to have gotten the "ball"/bike rolling:

http://www.grizzlypeakcyclists.org/trips/SP-211X.JPG
http://www.grizzlypeakcyclists.org/trips/SouthPole.html

and this one has plans...
http://www.wired.com/news/images/full/ice_bike_f2.jpg
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifesty.../2003/01/57212
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifesty.../2003/01/57212
http://www.iceaxe.tv/doug-stoup/

the bike was made by Fortune Hanebrink in California. You too can get one and tell us about your tour ;)
http://www.fortunehanebrink.com/gallery/gallery/
not me though... :innocent:

More to the original question antokelly, in this part of the world the cool months are lovely. We usually have mild days and sunny days. The only problem is increased rain and the occasional snowfall which usually melts quickly except in high altitude areas like Boone, NC. See http://www.cyclocamping.com/proddeta...SA-FL-NC-TN-WV for an example of touring routes. It's common to see people out and about in winter and the mild-weather tourists are gone so you have most camping facilities easily accessible. The only catch is that roads like the Blue Ridge Parkway get closed in bad weather for lack of equipment to clear the snow or ice.
http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

"Dude, here comes a car, stick your thumb out !!!!! "

the event's web site http://www.arrowheadultra.com/

Being from NC I do touring year round...including the winter. As a general rule I shorten the distances due to needing a bit more time in camp for cooking and getting comfortable as well as the reduced length of the day. But outside of the occasional ice or snow storm we carry on as normal. FWIW I have been camping year round in the Carolinas for close to 40 years and can only recall one time that I have canceled a camping trip due to a March ice storm that hit right before we were supposed to leave for a 3 day canoe trip. My daughter was definitely PO'd at the time.

Aaron :)

yes.



Tips and tricks from many years winter camping,

Puffy insulated clothes for off the bike, candlelantern for tent, stove board, mukluks for around camp, white gas stove to melt water, sit pad, two sleeping pads, full double wall (no mesh, or closeable mesh) tent. Leather gloves over thin liners, shell pants and jacket for riding, lots of wool layers, bandanas for face, windproof hats for under helmet. Keep shoes in sleeping bag, melt lots of water, always be drinking a hot beverage around camp, hot water bottle in sleeping bag at night, eat lots of fats for calorie needs.

there's a few major upsides to winter camping -no bugs, no crowds, no problems finding water, lots of tent time - bring a book!

Here's a video from a late spring trip bike riding to go ski camping at Chinook Pass in Mount Rainier National Park, it was cold and i camped on snow, but there was lots of daylight. Hung out for four days of skiing, a great trip, absolutely fantastic.