Winter Ride

[Trekhawk]

Well I did it! Today I ventured out for what I would call my first ever Winter ride. It was 38 (or 3.3 degrees celsius) and raining. I did feel tempted to stay inside it was so warm and cosy in the house but I was the one who boasted to my husband that I was going to ride right thru winter so out I went.

Mondays and Wednesdays are the days my youngest is at Preschool and I have decided unless there is some disaster of cataclysmic proportions I need to ride on these days especially when my husband is away or I wont be getting in a ride at all.

I would like to thank everyone at TE that gave me tips on dressing for winter riding. I felt warm and stayed pretty dry. Who ever gave the tip about wearing a baseball cap under your helmet. Thanks for that as it kept the rain and even a small down pour of small sized hail out of my eyes.

I cant say I looked very trendy (cap under helmet and cover over helmet makes your head look alien size) and I didnt set any speed records (I was on my flying Pumpkin mountain bike) but I had fun and kept those legs spinning.

Happy winter riding everyone.
Trekhawk

[bikerchick68]

very cool... no pun intended!!! good for you for getting out there... I'd have been inside reading with a hot chocolate! LOL

glad it was a good ride... gonna have to remember that ball cap trick too! We don't get rain often, but there have been times when knowing that would've been helpful!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Wow - you deserve double congrats for that ride! I can handle the high-30s temps, but put rain on top of the cool temperature and I think I might have been convinced to stay inside! I rode yesterday too, same temperature as yours, but there was no precipitation coming from the sky. I'll admit that I did almost skid out on some salt patches though - nasty stuff!

Happy winter riding to all.
--- Denise

[Veronica]

That's terrific. Is your honey away again? We gotta get him to stay home so you can come visit us.

V.

[latelatebloomer]

Do I respect you? Hail, yes!!

And you told ME to stay inside and write. You sneak!

[KSH]

It was 38 (or 3.3 degrees celsius) and raining.

You are more hardcore than I will ever be. I can't imagine actually getting on my bike in weather like that!

[Trekhawk]

Hey thanks everyone.

Denise - yikes - I was trying not to think about that while I was riding but I did take those corners and descents real slow.

Veronica - Yep he is away again I told him I will start thinking I have a body odour problem if he doesnt start spending some more time at home.

LateLate - yep its a training tactic get all other riders in the world to stay inside so I can be the fastest around. Actually mate I suprised myself, it was easy for me to talk about riding in Winter when it was Summer and warm but this morning I did have to give myself a firm talking to to get out that door.

KSH - WOW hardcore - thats not a word thats ever been associated with me but hey you said it so Im telling everyone h*ll yeh Im a hardcore cyclist. Just have to try not to laugh while saying it and keep face straight.

[KSH]

KSH - WOW hardcore - thats not a word thats ever been associated with me but hey you said it so Im telling everyone h*ll yeh Im a hardcore cyclist. Just have to try not to laugh while saying it and keep face straight.

There is no way I will ride when it's raining and HOT... much less 30F... and I haven't ridden in temperatures below 60F.

So... you are hardcore in my book lady!

[Lise]

Good for you for getting out there! I'll agree with the others--the rain would've kept me in. The baseball cap under the helmet is a fabulous idea. You're a great motivator! Keep it up, we may just join you. Then again, I can appreciate your evil plan for world (biking) domination...you train while we get fat?!
Eeeexxxcelllent plan.....heeehehehhheeeeeheeee (evil laugh) L.

[bikerz]

Well done TH - now I see where all those "winter clothing" posts were leading!

Did you fell a lot more secure/stable on the mountain bike than you would have on a road bike?

[Trekhawk]

Well done TH - now I see where all those "winter clothing" posts were leading!

Did you fell a lot more secure/stable on the mountain bike than you would have on a road bike?

Hey bikerz - how are you feeling now? I hope all the aches and pains etc are getting better.

I did feel more secure on those big knobbly tyres. When I mentioned to the LBS that I would be using my new MTB on the road as well when it rained they said hey you can ride your road bike you just need to be careful on corners etc and when braking but hey Im such a newbie it sounded a bit too scary to me. So unless its dry I will keep using the pumpkin (although its hard work riding it on the road) until the warmer months are here again.

[TrekJeni]

I too went riding yesterday and it was 36 but no rain but the sun had set an hour earlier than the ride started so it was pitch black. I did have rain on Sunday though. So far it's my coldest ride. Our local club has rides all year, weather permitting (meaning not wet). They ride at all temps. If it hadn't been for the club sponsered ride I would have stayed home or gone to spinning. My riding partner started to wuss out earlier in the day saying we would freeze and I believed her. We eventually agreed to ride. It was a blast and we broke out into a really decent sweat!

[Trekhawk]

I too went riding yesterday and it was 36 but no rain but the sun had set an hour earlier than the ride started so it was pitch black. I did have rain on Sunday though. So far it's my coldest ride. Our local club has rides all year, weather permitting (meaning not wet). They ride at all temps. If it hadn't been for the club sponsered ride I would have stayed home or gone to spinning. My riding partner started to wuss out earlier in the day saying we would freeze and I believed her. We eventually agreed to ride. It was a blast and we broke out into a really decent sweat!

Hey well done. I will be thinking of you when Im out on my next chilly ride.