Spring - when do you get back outside?

[Kathi]

Living in Houston we don't really have a winter stoppage to our biking unless the wind and the rain get viscious. I have been off of my bike since Feb. 1 when a passing car kicked up a rock at me and I dodged into a deep Texas rumble strip and crashed. Nothing for me but a road rash all along the right side of my face and a totaled helmet with panel peeling back and lots of cracks. Lost consciousness but didn't spend any time in the Hospital. Since then it has been in the rapair shop. Fortunately, the frame is ok, as are the gear stack, pedals and cranks but it's taken them this long to get all the replacement bits, so I have new wheels, new aerobars, new chain, new brakes, new cables, new bar wrap etc. Got it back last week so my winter break is over, now if it only would stop raining.

My Bebe looks beautiful and almost like new, so now I'm back to seriously training for the Little Red Riding Hood in Utah in June which all four of us biking sisters will be riding in celebration of my 65th, wne and if it stops raining and blowing.

Happy 65th! I'll be celebrating mine in June, too. Possibly on Bike Nebraska. Sorry about your accident, glad your bike and you are ok.

[Dogmama]

Feeling like a wimp. It's 40 degrees outside and I'm considering that it might be too cold...

Reference to those of us living in a blast furnace summer - you just go out in the early mornings. Generally it's 7- to 80 degrees and very nice for cycling. Just get inside before 8-9AM. Commuting isn't too bad since you're going from air conditioning to air conditioning.

[Crankin]

I would not like riding all year round. It would burn me out. I so look forward to x country skiing for 2 months. This year, I have a much more positive attitude toward riding and starting the season, because I took 2 whole months off from riding outside.
If I still lived in Tempe, I don't think I would ride from mid May to mid September, even at 5 AM. I used to walk then and it was like 90-95 degrees. My season would be the winter.

[SheFly]

I haven't stopped riding, and live in New England. I've ridden my cross bike in the snow, my MTB in the deeper snow, and spent a considerable amount of time on the road bike already. i think I've only ridden on the rollers a handful of times, and am still riding about 5 days a week (or more). Yesterday was my longest ride so far this year - just under 75 miles in 4 hours. It's been raining through the night here, and now it has switched to snow, but I'll probably at least get out on the bike path a bit later.

I was nervous on a road ride last week. We left the house around 5:30 pm, and while it had been sunny and warm during the day, the temp started to drop, creating black ice where the melt had hit the road. Fortunately we all stayed upright, but I'm not sure I'll be too eager to repeat that one anytime soon.

SheFly

[Eden]

We don't quit riding up here in the PNW either. We don't have really harsh winters - rare snow/ice in the lowlands, so you just have to tough out (and dress for) the rain and chill.

[marni]

of course some of us here in the south ride all through the summer as well, heat, humidity and sweat puddles all over the place.

[WindingRoad]

I'm enjoying my gym workouts and mixing things up right now BUT... today was an awesome ride in almost 50 degree weather. I will probably start doing more regular outdoor rides when we have 45-50 degree days in March if we are lucky. I am gradually getting used to adjustments I made to my bike before I get too crazy out there. I want to make sure I don't cause myself some serious pain trying to work out some kinks.

[SheFly]

It's been raining through the night here, and now it has switched to snow, but I'll probably at least get out on the bike path a bit later.

Well, the bike path was a slushy, wet, miserable mess, so we ditched out onto the roads. On our SSCX bikes. With no fenders. On snow covered roads. In a snow/rain/ice downpour. I don't think I have been this wet on the bike in a LONG time. It was definitely miserable, but still better than riding on the rollers.



SheFly

[redrhodie]

I'm back out there! I usually ride all winter, but ended up taking about 6 weeks off. Getting back in the saddle hurt a lot last Thursday and a bit less today. After Thursday's ride, which ended up being several miles longer than intended due to a wrong turn on a detour road, I almost couldn't carry my bike up the stairs. Today was better. I think I'll get my fitness back pretty fast. My advice to anyone who has taken the winter off, make the first ride short.

[climbergirl]

Here in the Great White North (aka Minnesota), cycling can be tough in the winter. Sure, I see folks out commuting on those awesome super-fat-tire winter bikes, and mountain bikes, but when it's 6 F and the roads are a rutty mess, I'll drive or walk or stay home, thanks. Or take the bus. If there's an accident, the bus will win!

Anyway, my partner and I committed to riding every month this year. January we got two good rides in, but February was looking like a no go. It's been SO cold and snowy! But the last few days have hit above freezing and the main roads (with bike lanes) looked pretty good, at least on the north side. We got in a 17 mile ride, but it included some NASTY patches of deep puddle, slush, and mixed ice/slush. Came home muddy, soaked and cold, but very happy! Neither of us went down, so life is good.

We took the mountain bikes out. I can not WAIT for the roads to clear and dry a bit more so I can get back on the road bike. I miss it! Also, in late December I got a new steel-frame light touring bike (Cinelli Gazzetta della Strada, OMG) and I'm SO EXCITED to get out on it! I haven't even really had it on a test ride yet. But she's too pretty and too new to take out in the slop. Here's hoping things dry out in March!

[tulip]

I got out for a two hour ride yesterday. It was in the 50s and sunny, finally. It's not the cold that keeps me in during the winter, it's the dark and gloom and the rain. It's been a very gloomy and rainy winter, and I don't ride in the gloom and the rain.

[indysteel]

I got out for a two hour ride yesterday. It was in the 50s and sunny, finally. It's not the cold that keeps me in during the winter, it's the dark and gloom and the rain. It's been a very gloomy and rainy winter, and I don't ride in the gloom and the rain.

That's what gets me. I don't mind running on a grey day and, in fact, I quite like it. But for some reason, it feels really depressing on my bike. So, I use the winter to pursue other activities, and I enjoy the diversity that brings. Given that I've had some muscle imbalances develop over the past few years, which I think cycling has either caused or worsened, I think my body does, too. I'd love to include things like x-country skiing and snow shoeing, but we don't get enough snow and whatever snow we do get doesn't tend to stick around long enough to pursue such things.

[Owlie]

I've barely ridden this winter. I've taken the new cross bike out twice since I got it. I don't ride much below 35, and while the CX bike is okay on the bike path, it's the roads on the way to the path that worry me. I've also been working at least one day each weekend, and with the short days, I haven't been able to get out even if it is nice.

I'm hoping for some nice weather soon. It's 40 degrees, sunny, and I'm done with my lab work for the day. Hmm...

I'll be trying to finish my thesis before April (or July). How much riding will get done this spring is up for debate.

[nscrbug]

Well cruddy weather combined with recovering from my carpal tunnel surgery that I had on both hands earlier this month, had me confined to the gym for the whole month of February. My target date (if the weather and my hands cooperate) to get back on the bike is St. Patrick's Day. I did a spin class this morning (no standing) and my hands were mildly protesting. I still don't have full functionality in my right hand and my left one is still bandaged up (stitches come out tomorrow...yay!). Given the discomfort I was in during the spin class, I'm not sure if my target date is a tad bit too ambitious...we shall see.

Linda

[redrhodie]

Well cruddy weather combined with recovering from my carpal tunnel surgery that I had on both hands earlier this month, had me confined to the gym for the whole month of February. My target date (if the weather and my hands cooperate) to get back on the bike is St. Patrick's Day. I did a spin class this morning (no standing) and my hands were mildly protesting. I still don't have full functionality in my right hand and my left one is still bandaged up (stitches come out tomorrow...yay!). Given the discomfort I was in during the spin class, I'm not sure if my target date is a tad bit too ambitious...we shall see.

Linda

I hope you're feeling better, Linda!