Nope, still too cold

[Lise]

Enticed by Nanci's amazing ride report, and lured by the beautiful sunshine, I layered up, pulled on my toe covers, running gloves under biking gloves, headband, etc, pumped up the tires of my beautiful new bike, and took off for...1.46 miles.

I meant to ride over to the lake and ride north, let the wind carry me back home, get in a good 10 miles, but...within blocks my fingers were 10 little popsicles, my nose was running uncontrollably, and it just wasn't worth it.

It's 41 degrees out. I guess that's still too cold. Frustration on the prairie. :(

[DrBee]

How frustrating! At least you tried :) It will warm up eventually.

[Nanci]

You could always move! People have babies down here, too, you know!

I really don't like riding in 40F weather. I hope to be better prepared next winter. All I really have to sort out is my feet.

Nanci

[janetsplanet]

It looks so beautiful out here in Winconsin but on the bike....bruuuuuu
Next week the low is 50 so hang in there--It has to be 10 degrees warmer in Chicago than way up here:eek:

[Lise]

Thanks guys. I must say the toe covers really help. I need to sort out the hands. And, it could be worse. It could be Wisconsin :eek: sorry, Janet. The weather thing's saying 60 by the end of the week. It's just been a tough day.

[yellow]

Lise...It was nice riding weather here in Salt Lake today but did I ride? Noooooooooo....my excuse was getting all prepped for my mtn bike trip next week, but, really... I am not used to this urban riding bit and, frankly, it makes me NOT want to ride (I had a lovely rural mountain paradise where I was before I moved here 6 months ago...*sigh*). The trails are too muddy/snowy still to ride my mtn bike, so either I have to get my but out there or just give it up.

We'll break through our barriers soon, I hope (you: weather, me: city livin').

I did get a lot of yard work done today after I did all my errands! :)

[Lise]

Yeah, Yellow, you know normally I can handle the city traffic just fine. Today I was off; instead of navigating intersections, I was making turns I didn't want to make, I couldn't clip into my new pedals right, I felt afraid of the cars...I almost never feel really afraid of the cars. Alert to them, annoyed by them, but not afraid.

My mind is spinning about this guy I've been dating, and it showed up on the bike. If it hadn't been cold and windy, I probably would've settled into a rhythm on the bike like I almost always do, gotten over to the lakefront path, and ridden fine. I just couldn't get it together today.

I think mtn biking is scary cuz I haven't done it. I'm scared of rutted dirt paths cuz I did an endo on one back in '79 and have the scars on my face to prove it. I think tree roots and rocks are more unpredictable than cars (maybe, maybe not, but they're a lot less powerful!) So, there you have it. Hope it gets dry and sunny and bikeable soon for you. In the meantime, I'll bet your yard looks great! I can tell you my kitchen floor is gleaming--I washed and waxed it. Ah, mental anguish. So productive. :rolleyes: L.

[Barb, USA]

Has anyone in the Seattle area tried biking yet? There's a convention in March of 2007 I'd like to go to, but I don't want to go unless I can also cycle.

I'm a little off the beaten path here in Frankfurt, Germany. We've been biking for 3 consecutive week-ends. The wind has been the killer here, too. That's why I declined to go out last Sunday. On Saturday we were caught in a lightening-and-thunder-above-our-heads storm. Thrilling experience, but let's not do it again. :eek:

I've just kissed my husband good-bye: he's off on a fast (not my style)and long ride, with his son. It's below 50 and they are headed to the mountains. Besides at 8am, it's too early to be too cold.

[LauraPaura]

I too made the mistake of going out too early. Did my first ride of the spring on Friday, the weather was pretty ok, 0 degrees celsius and the roads were dry. Although I only rode for like 8 km, I now have a runny nose and fever to go with it :( I wish I had dressed better or something.

The riding part was great though, I can't wait for the weather to warm up just a little more.

[Selkie]

I've ridden all winter, with the exception of the days where there was snow/ice on my favorite trail. In my experience, you get used to the cold. The secret is layering and using toe/hand warmers (thanks Denise G. for that tip!!). My first really cold (below 35 degrees) rides were the worst, but after awhile, I found myself really enjoying winter riding. Few folks out on the trial so I could really hammer!!!
The wind is something else altogether. Riding in wind will make you stronger but unless it's a tail wind, I hate it. Not fighting it is the way to deal with it---I used to try to plow through it, but now I just gear down and ride at an easy pace. Then, when it's at my back, all bets are off!! :-)
This time of year is tough. Let's see, on Friday it was 75 and sunny when I rode after work. I could wear shorts and a sleeveless jersey. This morning, it's 35 degrees, so I'll be wearing leg warmers, my bolero, a jacket, lobster gloves, wool socks, toe warmers, shoe covers, etc.

[nuthatch]

Lise, yesterday was a bad juju day here in Chicagoland (except for the Cubs). I rode Friday in the wind and cold and when I stuck my nose out the door on Saturday, I said "no way!". It's that north wind, cutting right through every layer and seeking out any sweat you've got on you so it can chill it right down to ice! :p

Of course, it's going to be in the 60's and at least partly sunny all week!

[JLD]

Ottawa was flippin' Chill yesterday--with a strong west wind. Needed mitts and an earband. The wind cut thru the coat so it was difficult to self-generate the heat to get warm in the first place! Will go out again today--where we might get to 8C--and for here--that'll seem balmy!

[Barb, USA]

I admire you girls who just do it in the cold. My husband calls me a tropical flower (that's code for wimp).

I'm sorry you caught a cold, LauraPaura. You are so far north. You must have a short but intense biking season. We were in the Chicago area last September. The mid-west is seductively beautiful when it's warm. But after reading what Lise and JanetsPlanet have to stay. I think we'll just visit.

[Nanci]

I am so happy I live in a place where I can ride/run/whatever year-'round. I hope I never have to move. It was very scary moving down here, a whole country away from all my friends and family, but I am much happier, even though I miss them.

Nanci

[Bad JuJu]

Umm, I don't remember being in Chicago yesterday, Nuthatch. ;) :D

NW Florida can be miserable for a few weeks in the summer when the heat and the humidity combine to create near-tropical conditions and nothing moves except an occasional mosquito who works up the energy to whine a little bit. HOWEVER, there are also days like today when it's dry and sunny, mid-50s (if a bit windy), and the sky's so blue it could break your heart. Just on my way out the door for a ride....

[yellow]

Yeah, Yellow, you know normally I can handle the city traffic just fine. Today I was off; instead of navigating intersections, I was making turns I didn't want to make, I couldn't clip into my new pedals right, I felt afraid of the cars...I almost never feel really afraid of the cars. Alert to them, annoyed by them, but not afraid.
Sounds like my ride a couple of weekends ago. I think a lot of what I am having a hard time with is the loss of quiet and the introduction of, well, chaos. I used to ride down my driveway make 2 rights, and I was on a quiet, 2-lane country road with very light traffic (sometimes none at all) and fabulous hills to conquer. Riding was peaceful and allowed me to clean the junk out of my head. I need to relearn the process all over, I think, with this introduction of background static. Unfortunately I can see myself not riding my road bike AT ALL with my head the way it is.

(Oh, and my yard doesn't look that great yet! Just trying to take control over it at this point. Since it's a new-to-me yard, I have no idea what it's going to do. I did announce to my neighbors yesterday that I was going to nuke the lawn and xeriscape the area...and then the dog was out there last night laying in it and oh so happy. :rolleyes: I did have to buy a lawn mower, but I got a manual reel-type mower that works on human power.)

[Crankin]

Even though I actually rode at least one time each month this warm winter, I have hardly ridden at all in the last couple of weeks. We had a warm week 2 weeks ago where I did 2 mtb and 2 road rides. Then it started raining and it's been damp, cloudy, and raw. Like yesterday, I intended to go out for a short 15 mile ride in the later afternoon, as it was clearing and supposed to get warmer. But when i was ready, I went outside and thought, it's just too raw and breezy. I went to the health club and lifted. Am I a wimp? I have all of the winter gear, but it seems like it's not fun when it's cold. If the sun is out, 42 degrees is fine. Take away the sun and I'm not that happy.

I, too, have felt a little "off." Just when i was starting to get in the groove 2 weeks ago, the weather got cold. I even got back on mountain bike and handled some tricky trails (slowly). Well, we are leaving for a 25-35 mile ride in awhile. It's now 45 out, but it's sunny.... Since we are going on a trip to the White Mountains in NH over Memorial day, with some challenging riding, I hope I can get myself back into gear.

[newfsmith]

My husband had a barbershop contest yesterday and was going to be at that for most of the day, so in order to have a week-end day together I had to do my riding yesterday in the 40-ish rain. Thank heaven it stopped raining about a third of the way to Mendon. I took a break at a very interesting little LBS in Holliston, Grace Bicycles, on rt 16. They carry Moots, Bianchi, Specialized and Raleigh. The manager used to work for Seven, and is interested in fitting bikes. He took the time to talk to me, and actually went out to look at my bike and talk about commuting bike design. It seemed like a nice shop. I guess I'm pretty used to riding in wet weather and have assembled the assortment of gear to ride comfortably in it, as I got in 56 badly needed miles.

[Quillfred]

[QUOTE=Barb, USA]Has anyone in the Seattle area tried biking yet? There's a convention in March of 2007 I'd like to go to, but I don't want to go unless I can also cycle.

Hi Barb

The trick here in Seattle is to expect rain in March (average high temp is 53F) and be happy if it is dry. We still ride but worship Gore-tex. BeautifulSeattle.com will give you some idea. Currently it is drizzling.

[janetsplanet]

Okay it says it is 60 in the sun here in beautiful Wisconsin but....when you start moving and get into the wind...no more like 50 so instead of riding my bike trail I walked it. 6.8 miles and I had to dodge about 4 bikers but they looked cold so I didnt feel so bad.
Next week it will be different..(clicking my ruby slippers 3 times) There is no place like Wisconsin Theres no place like Wisconsin in the summer time......
:p

[Geonz]

When it's really cold it helps me to warm up before I go outside, or jog for 5 minutes first, because about 10 minutes after starting I will get a lot warmer. (We might just be differently engineered, though, because at 41 degrees my fingers wlil not turn into popsicles if I've got any kind of gloves on; it takes below 35 for me to need the thicker gloves, and they are fine down to 3 or 4 for my 40 min. commute and when it's that cold, I don't go extra miles or minutes!)

[tulip]

This year was the first year that I commuted all winter--even in the snow and ice (there wasn't much) with studded tires. It has really paid off now that the weather has warmed up. Last year my best time for my very urban (i.e. stopsigns and stoplights and traffic) 14 mile commute (each way) was 1:10, and already this year I've been below 1:10 three times, the fastest being 1:04.

It's definitely worth a bit of cold! When you've ridden in 19F, 50F is downright balmy.

[Lise]

I think it was the wind + my mental state (new guy is AWOL. :( sigh.) I know that when I am upset about something, I can get deeply chilled on the warmest days.

Sue, you have a good point about the warming up. I wore the thin-ish gloves that I wear when running under my padded/fingerless biking gloves. All winter, I wore those thin gloves to run. I'd be cold for the first mile, and then comfortably warm, even in the '20s, after that.

Tulip--good for you about the commuting all winter. DC is one of my favorite cities, but I've never been there in the winter. 1:10 is a long time to be moving fast on a bike when it's cold out. You're going to love the spring! Are the cherry blossoms out? Enjoy!

[Surlygirl]

I had the same problem last week. The week before I did over a hundred miles and it was gorgeous and then last week it turned cold and raw again and hardley any sun. I just couldn't drag my butt out there. Its suppose to be nice again this week, so back to logging the miles. Hopefully everyone else will get out to ride this week too.