Happy confession

I finally got back on my bike today...yes, I've been a poseur on this cycling forum lately! Between wet/cold/fear-of-wiping-out-on-ice, I hadn't been in the saddle for 2 months. I come here and read posts, and think, "so-and-so is out riding in the wet and cold, come ON, Lise!" I've been running--I don't mind running in the cold and wet, but not biking.

Today I came home from working a night shift, slept a bit, got up all groggy and cranky. I had about 45 min to do something physical, and I noticed the 'puter said it was 52 degrees out! Wow! When did that happen? It was in the 20s yesterday! So I pulled on too many clothes (couldn't believe it was really that warm), and went out for a quick 6 mile spin around two parks. Remembered how much I love riding my bike. Whoo hoo!

Next bit of free time I'll be in the basement, cleaning the chain, etc. Giving my sweet bike some love.

:D :D :D L.

Good for you! I went to college in Chicago, and I would never be able to muster the courage to get on a bike in the winter there!

Glad you were able to get out for a ride, Lise! I've barely been on my bike, too, what with rain and kids and everything.

I certainly don't envy you riding in Chicago. My husband moved out here to sunny CA from Chicago just so he could train in the winters back when he was trying to make the Olympic team (MANY moons ago!) Love Chicago, though. Neat town.

Here's hoping for many more warm, dry days!! :)

Go LISE GO!!!! I have to hand it to you.. I'm a WEENIE and could never live in the cold like that!
Oh that reminds me... and you will laugh!
Ok, so yesterday I go to the pool at our residents club. It's an outdoor pool but it's heated year round. So I swipe my card at the desk and the lady looks at me and says "you aren't going to SWIM are you? It's freezing out and soo windy!". so I reply "well yeah, I'm training for a race so I kind of have to". So then I mention that I hope the pool is a bit warmer than it seemed Monday when I was in. So she replies "Ohhh yeah the heater was broke monday. You didn't know that? Oh yeah the pool got down to 77 degrees! They had to cancel the water aerobics class"....I almost died laughing! 77 degrees is "cold"... Ohhh us spoiled Arizonians!! LOL
Oh and the weather yesterday was cold. mid 50's w/ 20-30 mph winds. Sure made it feel colder. Brrrrr....
Sorry to hijak your thread, but thinking of the cold reminded me.;) Doesn't actually getting on the road feel so much better? It's like all the cells in your body just come alive. Have faith, spring will be here soon!
Denise

WOOHOOOOOO!!!!! Glad you got to get out for a ride! Soon cold weather will be an afterthought to go out in...

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Originally Posted by Running Mommy

So then I mention that I hope the pool is a bit warmer than it seemed Monday when I was in. So she replies "Ohhh yeah the heater was broke monday. You didn't know that? Oh yeah the pool got down to 77 degrees! They had to cancel the water aerobics class"....I almost died laughing! 77 degrees is "cold"... Ohhh us spoiled Arizonians!! LOL

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What's that? 25 Celsius? Heck, if I'm going for an actual swim swim I reckon anything above about 28/82.5 is too hot. LMAO.

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Originally Posted by Lise

I finally got back on my bike today...yes, I've been a poseur on this cycling forum lately!
:D :D :D L.

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wow - you mean I gotta RIDE to post here?? :p :p ;) ;)

Who knew? ;)

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

wow - you mean I gotta RIDE to post here?? :p :p ;) ;)

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YOU! Ms. All-Time-Personal-Low! You're the one I use to motivate myself! "C'mon, Lise", I say, "CorsairMac is out there when it's -23 with the windchill, and she rides uphill both ways!" :p Notice that scolding myself hasn't actually gotten me on the bike! And today it's in the 30s, and flinging wet snow everywhere, so it'll be awhile before I get back out there. I'm mostly freaked out about the possibility of wiping out on a city street and getting run over by a car. A reasonable fear in Chicago.

As Denise said, though, all my cells feel alive when I'm on the bike. I feel like a superhero. The trails some of you write about sound really fun. But there's also great adventure in managing traffic and city parks with dogs and kids and whatnot... My biggest complaint is roller bladers, but they're not out right now! (Don't they know, they don't own the path, we do! :rolleyes: )

My burning triathlon question, Denise, is: How early in the season I can get into Lake Michigan with my new, full-body wet suit? As in, how much protection from hypothermia will I really have? It doesn't warm up to bathing suit swimming until July, in my opinion. Even then, it's cold. But I'm going to give it a try end of May in my wet suit, and maybe even neoprene booties. I'm glad you got in the pool when the heater was off. Makes you strong like bull! Iron strong! Although...77 degrees is laughably warm to those of us in northern climes! :cool:

Today was Ride Your Bike to Work Day in Chicago (no, I did not ride my bike to work), in commemoration of the coldest day in recorded history; in '85 it was something like -76 with windchill. Only in Chicago would we think it was a good day to commemorate with a bike ride! :eek:

L.

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Originally Posted by Lise

Today was Ride Your Bike to Work Day in Chicago (no, I did not ride my bike to work), in commemoration of the coldest day in recorded history; in '85 it was something like -76 with windchill. Only in Chicago would we think it was a good day to commemorate with a bike ride! :eek:

L.

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And I didn't ride either, I'm afraid! Now our lovely 50s have turned into 4 inches of snow! I was really glad I wasn't riding yesterday - driving home from work in freezing rain. :eek:

Lise you're a better person than I am :D I just managed to get back into spin classes this week after 2-3 months off the bike. It just glares at me whenever I go into the garage. Now that there are about 7-8" of snow on the ground by me, it's going to have to continue to glare at me for a bit. I need to clean him up to go in the trainer to balance out the spin class days.

Speaking of swimming in the lake, you should have joined the U of Chicago polar bear club a couple of days ago for their annual dip in the lake. :eek:

Congrats!

I'm looking at all your comments on the weather and having awful trouble relating to it. As you will no doubt have to mine when I say that the Tour Down Under finished here yesterday - five days of cycling in the hottest run of days we've had in Adelaide since 1940. Each day the temp was over 40C, (highest about 43C) usually reaching that temp by about 10 am. I think the equivalent is about 104 - 106F? And did I ride 100k in the d'etape on Friday in that heat? You bet I did! Stopped on a couple of hills - DID NOT GET OFF AND WALK - and rode proudly over the finish line with hands in the air! Being a stubborn old lady is a positive thing sometimes...

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Originally Posted by arnaew

I think the equivalent is about 104 - 106F? And did I ride 100k in the d'etape on Friday in that heat? You bet I did! Stopped on a couple of hills - DID NOT GET OFF AND WALK - and rode proudly over the finish line with hands in the air! Being a stubborn old lady is a positive thing sometimes...

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Ahhhhh!!! I can feel the warmth all the way in Chicago!! Thanks ;)

Wow! Reading your post is like snuggling up to the radiator. Warms you through and through! Does it ever get really cold where you area? (ignorant American that I am...:o ) You stay hydrated, and we'll stay warm. L.

I bought some tights yesterday. I've got no excuses for the daylight hours now :eek: (aside from the working thing).

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Originally Posted by tlkiwi

I bought some tights yesterday. I've got no excuses for the daylight hours now :eek: (aside from the working thing).

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yes you do - if you need help just let me know!! :p


Corsair "I can rationalize Anything" Mac!


arnaew: *cigh*....I LOVE the heat! I was trying to figure out what excuse I could use to call in to work today - not that I didn't wanna work, I just didn't feel like putting on a hundred-million-thousand-layers yet Again to ride to work! But then I remembered the saying from the guy that's ridden something like 5,000 days in a row: don't let your Mind talk you out of it! As for finishing the ride - you go girl! You SHOULD throw your hands in the air! Nicely Done Ma'am!

Honest to gawd... I don't know how those of you who live in cold states ride during the winter at all!!! you said it was in the 20's??? Holy moly... if it hits 20 here I'm taking up knitting! :eek: :D

I did a ride yesterday and it was 40 when we left... I had on tights, toe covers, a long sleeve jersey AND jacket, a cap under helmet, and superwarm gloves... I looked like I was ready for snow... but I am so used to 70 degree and up...

I am in awe of anyone who even LOOKS at their bike when it's THAT cold out! I remember the first time a cyclist mentioned snow studded bike tires I honestly thought they were pulling my leg and lying to me!!!! :p

The best is when it's so cold when you ride that you get a brain freeze ala drinking a slurpee from 7-eleven too fast :D

That's livin'....or just being nuts.

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Originally Posted by betagirl

The best is when it's so cold when you ride that you get a brain freeze ala drinking a slurpee from 7-eleven too fast :D

That's livin'....or just being nuts.

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do we get to vote which?

Okay here is Wisconsin it is not quite 50 but arent you afraid of all the salt and crud on the roads with your bike? I am missing my bike so bad this winter, it is hurting and spin at the gym just isnt cutting it. I keep thinking I am going to meet up with a ice patch and that would take care of things. I walked a friends dog the other day on a paved trail I like to use in the summer for my bike and even though it was 45 degrees,there was black ice and the dog almost took me out.:eek:
I just got home from the hospital taking care of a needed surgery and the reason I did it now was so I would so be ready for April and the begining or ride season but now I wonder what I am missing on this winter driving....
How do you protect your hands? That would be my biggest fear.....

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Originally Posted by janetsplanet

Okay here is Wisconsin it is not quite 50 but arent you afraid of all the salt and crud on the roads with your bike? I am missing my bike so bad this winter, it is hurting and spin at the gym just isnt cutting it. I keep thinking I am going to meet up with a ice patch and that would take care of things. I walked a friends dog the other day on a paved trail I like to use in the summer for my bike and even though it was 45 degrees,there was black ice and the dog almost took me out.:eek:
I just got home from the hospital taking care of a needed surgery and the reason I did it now was so I would so be ready for April and the begining or ride season but now I wonder what I am missing on this winter driving....
How do you protect your hands? That would be my biggest fear.....

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First let me say, I hope your recovery from surgery is quick and complete soon. I wear multiple layers of those "magic" gloves under my cycling gloves and recently found a nice set of winter fleece gloves while out on a ride, they're big enough to go over all other layers and quite warm

when I first read your name, I thought of Janet from another planet on All My Children :P

I been asked what planet I am from so Hey--just go with it.
Maybe I will start collecting those gloves for next winter now-on clearence of course.
Winter riding is not going to happen now with surgery but April is cold here too.
Thanks for the advise and the mission:o

I wear PI Lobster Claws with liners for temps under 20, without liners for temps under 35. I also have a pair of mid-weight gloves from Avenir for temps between 35-45ish and another pair of heavy gloves from Canari for 40-55ish. The Canaris aren't as heavy as the Avenirs but they're heavier than the usual long-fingered cycling gloves. I hated the Lobster Claws last year - they felt awkward but this year I don't seem to have any issues and man do they keep my hands warm. I've worn them down to 0 with liners without any problems.

and we don't have salt/slush issues here so I can't help you with that one - but I'll bet Denise can! :)

I will ride in cold weather, but I don't go out on my bike when the main roads are snowy. If I don't have a clear road to go to the MUP or wherever I decide to ride, I don't go out on the bike. Cold I can deal with, MORE dangerous riding conditions, forget it!:eek: