No, I'm in Australia* ... and it is autumn ... and we're heading into winter. The winter rains should start soon. The last few years they've started by the end of the first week of April, but not this year.

So my comment wasn't meant to be funny at all. It's just an observation that winter is not over ... it's just about to begin.


(*see the location under my avatar)

*yawn*

when's the last time you rode in the snow? or "commuted in winter riding conditions"?

The last time I rode in an area with snow on the ground was January. But as we know, winter doesn't necessarily mean snow ... it can mean heavy rain, thick fog, cold frosts, and freezing temperatures.

The last time I commuted by bicycle was ... probably 2008 (not that this is the commuting forum ... I could have sworn this was the winter cycling forum). It would be rather pointless for me to commute by bicycle.

yes, it is the winter cycling forum. and a thread titled 'winter is over', which, at least to the geographically astute, refers to winter in the northern hemisphere.

In some places, bicyclists are wondering why they took the studded tires off the mountain bike already. (That would be me BTW)

here's this morning...... the requisite april flowers pics ooh, so balmy.
can't wait to kick my boots off and dig my bare feet into this muck!

Enjoy australia!

My winter bike has seized rear breaks that need replacing. I didn't bother trying to loosen them up enough to try and ride today. I took the bus. I would have had one heck of a tail wind into work though.

In a pig's ear. Snow levels dropping to 1500' on Sunday. Riding in the rain between 40° and 45° two days in a row. But that's what makes the SIR crew such good finishers at PBP. Rain? Did it rain? I think I'll go snowshoeing on Monday.

Except for the weather...it ain't a bad day!!!

You'd think that people in snowy regions would have learned not to use flat rooves on buildings, but I guess not.

heard some sleet hitting my office window a little while ago, but ummm, yeah whatever

We're told to enjoy Saturday because Sunday we are getting blizzard conditions with 6-12" of heavy wet snow followed by another week of WAY below average temperatures.

egads, the roads are in even worse condition than yesterday.

i've said it once, i'll say it again - Polar Vortex Collapse. The wild swings of climate change, no longer a vague notion in the minds of futurists.

We dodged the snow bullet here. The forecast went from lots of snow to zero accumulation.

I've thought winter was over about 3 times now.
2 days ago I was skiing 5" of fresh powder.
Yesterday I rode 30 miles.
The forecast indicates I might be skiing powder again tomorrow.

Polar Vortex, eh? Does that let more ghosts into this realm too?

0F today...

We are supposed to get another ten inches of snow today.

Now you're just bragging.

And for those who are interested in why the weather has been a bit odd, here are some good explanations:
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/0...rtex-Collapsed

Very interesting, but what I really want to know is when I can put away my snow shovel and start cycling with less than three layers of clothing. Snowing and blowing like crazy here right now and forecast is the same for the next 24 hours. Snuck in a short ride with a friend yesterday and glad I did, it could be days before I get out again.

I just skied 11" of new powder at Loveland Ski Area today.
The forecast for the next week is more snow every day.

Doing my part to whisk away winter by blowing the deep snow near the house to the end of the yard where it will melt quicker (and not into the house). Also moved my car forward and broke up the ice under it.

Absolutely refused to put the studded tires back on and drove in by bike at the beginnings of that storm. Left the bike at the shop and took the bus home only because too many cars had no winter tires, the streets hadn't been cleared, and the combination looked pretty risky - with or without studded tires. Thats only the second day all winter I didn't commute by bike.

Yeah, i'm still hesitating to take the studs off the last bike just for that very reason. I think the precipitation is finally, maybe, about ready to slop out. The weather service is calling for another storm, but likely slop. probably further north than this it will be snow. but it's bound to stop snowing eventually.

Saw quite a few bikers out when i went skiing on Sunday. Hopefully I'm going to find time to ride to the ski hill this weekend with the skis.

Well, here's the road conditions where i'm at this morning -simply stellar for april 20th.

The road bike season has had numerous false starts this year around these parts. Glad i left the studs on one bike.

Light snow and high winds today. Nothing above 1C all last week. Its been almost 2 weeks since I've done any riding at all. I don't have the best leg gear for this near freezing temperatures. My thermal tights would work if I could find a way to keep them from rubbing the skin off one part of my leg just below the knee. Next week looks ok so I need to start riding again.

I took my studs off last week just in time for a 6" snowfall and more ice on the roads but now there are enough local roads clear of ice that I did a decent short ride yesterday without studs and this week will see my road bike come out of hiding.