Winter Riding Thread (December-February) Outside and Inside

[ny biker]

Good grief Laura, what a terrible experience. I'm glad your husband's injury wasn't worse.

Glad things are looking up for you, az.

[emily_in_nc]

Ah, how great that you have a trike. That would be the only bike your DH would be able to ride earlier than usual from this injury, I'd think, since he can't risk another fall until totally healed, and besides, putting any weight on the arm on that side is gonna be difficult for some time.

I should add that my DH is fine now too. His break was in a place that surgery was not recommended nor required, though he does have a bump on that shoulder now (it was way down on the shoulder end), and it bothered him for throwing (he played baseball back then) for quite some time. But he was super good about doing his PT and gradually brought it back to full functioning and range of motion.

[ny biker]

I did 45 minutes with the indoor trainer tonight -- I watched a TV show that I'd recorded, a British police show called Luther. I think I got a better workout when I was watching Sonic Highways, but all I really wanted to do was pedal for a while. So mission accomplished!

[Crankin]

Did my first outdoor ride of 2016 today. It's the first time in 3 years I've ridden in either January or February. Rode 3.6 miles to the start, where our group has been sort of highjacked by the really fast riders. Since most of the moderate or slower riders don't ride in the winter, I was thinking I would do the hike they had today, or just ride the ride at my own pace. But, early this morning, another email went out, saying there would be a moderately paced group for those who wanted it, since it was 40 out and the roads are clear. My friend Jack, who is also very active in this club and AMC said he would lead the slower group. So, only he and I said we wanted to go more slowly, but we were right behind the sweep for part of the ride, and eventually passed him, as there was one guy much slower than us. So, we were in the group, after all. At one point we came to a light, on a little hill, where you have to turn right and then a quick left. I hate this spot, so I got to the front, where it's flat and took off when the light turned green. Somehow, I got behind the leaders.... I stayed for awhile (2 miles?), but it did me in. I fell back and waited for Jack. But after this, a few others were back with us.
We rode on familiar roads, in Concord, Acton, Boxborough, and Stow, coming back through west Concord. It was windy today, so it didn't feel 40, but I was mostly dressed correctly. I used my heated gloves, but my winter road shoes just feel a tad cool, even with woolie bullies. I contemplated using chemical heaters, but I lived. Had a nice quinoa salad at the end, at a restaurant I frequent a lot, and then rode the painful 3.6 miles home. Glad I went, and it looks like I will be able to ride outside on Sunday. My total was 40 miles.

[emily_in_nc]

Good job, Crankin! That's a long ride anytime, but especially in January in 40 degrees.

We had another fine ride on Tuesday afternoon over to and on the bike path from Winter Garden (FL) west to Clermont (where it's hilly) and back. 22 miles and change, 65-69 degrees. Here's a beautiful tree I stopped to take a photo of along the way, and an interesting sculpture (I commented on Facebook that I thought it looked like a bike and a corkscrew got together and had a child!)

Attachment 17951 Attachment 17950

Since then we've had a lot of rain so not sure when we'll get out again.

[azfiddle]

Crankin I am impressed. I hate riding in the cold!

I did about 10 miles after work on the Surly LHT. I stopped to try to help a mom on the bike path with a one speed cruiser get her back chain on. We ended up getting more help from a couple of guys but they fixed it. I don't have a replacement light yet and tried unsuccessfully to get home by sundown- but it wasn't quite dark. A couple more days of beautiful weather are coming - just in time to try my new bike this weekend! Then next week the temps are dropping down to a high of 50 or so for a few days so I'll be less enthusiastic.

[Catrin]

Good for you Crankin! I never could/wanted to ride much under 38 or so - and that on a day with sunshine and no wind

Azfiddle, glad you're having fun with the LHT! I remember mine well.

[rebeccaC]

that West Orange Trail looks like a really nice ride emily!!!!

Working on a proposal for a national science foundation grant this weekend I was looking at the wind blowing through the palm trees and the rain out my window today and decided I wanted to challenge the weather gods. 30+ mph wet winds were a tough challenge but just what I needed to clear my mind from working, for being in the moment of a hard ride and for getting out of my comfort zone. I rode the beach bike path south to be away from the roads and associated water and wind debris. Pounding high tide surf, very few other people and the feelings of just rolling with and through what the weather was doing made for a great 38 mile ride. When riding in this kind of weather on the beach bike paths there is more sand being blown onto the path so I had my zen time of cleaning the bike when I got home too. So now I’m revived from working all weekend, ready to start up again and thankful Mother Nature gave me a good mental break and worked as a catalyst for more productive work tonight.

…..plus I’m not going to be deterred by the Hyades sisterhood of rain nymphs this winter!!!!!

[azfiddle]

We had great riding weather this weekend, in advance of some chilly, wet and super windy weather starting tonight. Saturday was the maiden voyage for my new bike and I really wanted to get a feel for the disc brakes. My husband and I included a couple of steep hills at Saguaro NP and up to milepost 3 on the Mt. Lemmon Highway (total 48 miles). Except for the saddle (which seems to fit okay but felt noticeably harder under the sit bones) everything was great. Since they used the measurements for my previous bike, based on a Retul fit I won a few years ago, there was an instant feeling of familiarity in the everything about the way I felt on the bike.

Today I stuck to a pretty flat route on part of the multi use paths which are continuing to expand through and around the city of Tucson, and got in about 40 miles. I planned the route to take advantage of a tail wind on the way home.

[emily_in_nc]

Did another ride on the West Orange Trail today with some wonderful temps -- about 68 starting out and 78 upon our return. Me likie! We stopped for Baskin Robbins on the way back (yum), a guy tried to beg money off us, and I got stung by a bee on the arm right at the end of the ride, so it wasn't a perfect ride, but a pretty darn good one. 37 miles and some wind meant my quads were pretty much gone when we got back. That's my longest ride in well over a year.

[Aromig]

Weather in the Midwest was pretty nice this weekend so I took the bike off of the trainer, changed the tire and got in 10 miles on Saturday (lack of time), a 30 mile brunch ride on Sunday, and even managed a 15 mile lunch ride yesterday. Storms are coming in today so the nice tire is coming off of the bike tonight and back on the trainer it goes.

[ny biker]

Aromig, are you expecting snow? I follow the weather in Nebraska (I have a nephew in school there) and I know they've got a blizzard today. I think it will be rain when it reaches the east coast. I hope whatever you get is not too bad.

I also am putting my bike back on the trainer, but am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to get out for a ride this weekend.