Winter Riding Thread (December-February) Outside and Inside

[Crankin]

You sound just like me.
I did not do any other spin classes this week, as my knees are feeling it. I use harder gears than on the road. But, I did a hike yesterday, Power class Wednesday, circuit training class Thursday, and an intense Tabata class today. DH is leaving for his company's annual meeting in Boston tomorrow morning. He stays downtown until Thursday, so tomorrow I am going on a longer hike with friends. I also need the down time from riding, so I am ready in March, with a good attitude.

[emily_in_nc]

Blueberry, I have a fleece headband that covers my forehead and is very warm -- Pearl Izumi brand, I believe, but I am sure there are others. Perhaps that would help?

I had a great ride yesterday! We are back from Mexico, bought a motorhome, and are in a campground in Winter Garden, Florida. There is a lovely paved bike path here that connects to another in the next county west, Lake County, and yesterday after getting the Bike Fridays set back up after our travel back from Mexico, we rode over to the trail (about 2 miles from the campground) and rode it west, for a total of around 23 miles round-trip. It's dead flat here, but the farther north and west you go, the hillier it gets. I never knew Florida had hills! But it's true. The subdivisions we could see from the trail there had names like "Bla Bla Hills" and "XYZ Ridge". Very cool. It was a wonderfully warm day with a high of 79.

A cold front came through last night so it may be awhile until our next ride, since all our cool-weather cycling gear is up in NC. But the next warm day, we'll be out there again. Just lovely! It's gonna take me awhile to build up my strength on the hills again, since I've been riding the flats since the end of July and since 2015 was a very low-mileage year for me. Hoping for much more cycling in the new year!

A couple photos from the trail:

Attachment 17927 Attachment 17928 Attachment 17929

[Crankin]

Congrats on the purchase. Guess you will be wandering now!
There are hills in northern Florida, for sure. I don't know much about the area you are in, though. But, any ride is a good ride.

[ny biker]

Welcome back!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks Crankin and NY! Playa just got to be way too noisy for us. Way too much of a concrete jungle. We're in a campground now, and our site is right by a pond with wonderful bird life, gorgeous trees dripping with Spanish moss, and plenty of peace and quiet. And much, much better cycling. Life is good again!

[Crankin]

I've always said that lifestyle is one of the most important things when determining where you will live; anytime, not just in retirement. Happy riding!

[shootingstar]

sigh, I haven't cycled since Jan.4 in Vancouver. Since back where I live there has been snow off and on. Some clear days..

These are 3 local women who cycled in packed snow for 25 km. to scout out opportunities to improve bike commuting routes in our city.
What I liked were 3 women that made effort to grind their through the snow: http://bikecalgary.org/winter-bike-c...r-commute-ride

I believe at least 1 of them, has studded bike tires.