Winter Riding Thread (December-February) Outside and Inside

[emily_in_nc]

Wow! That last photo is particularly stunning, Rebecca, but all are amazing, as always.

[Crankin]

OK, I went to spin class today, first exercise in recovering from the crud I've been dealing with. Well, I guess the 2 hikes in sub zero temperatures in Vermont should count, but no cycling, indoors or out in 2 weeks.
Class was empty, as it's school vacation week here and the "drama queens" were not there. I made sure I moderated my intensity (don't want to faint and get in the police log) and it went pretty well. Since the disease was not in my lungs, it's more the increased effort I am concerned about, as I still feel tired when I get up and earlier in the evening. Anyway, I have felt much worse after doing a class, and I did pace myself, which is hard for me. Had half a banana on the way home.
It is going to be about 50 on Saturday and Sunday, so I will ride outside. Feels like winter never happened.

[ny biker]

Hi all, it's been a while since i posted... I've been reading the forum though. I've been pretty envious of all you folks who are riding in warm sun. It seems that here in the UK we have been locked into dangerous gales and horrendous rain for months! There's a lot of standing water on the roads, the local streams are using the roads as a short cut! Some areas have been badly flooded.

So I've been forced to use the indoor trainer, it's better than nothing but soooo boring! I put the TV on to try and keep my brain going but a half an hour is more than enough. But today was sunny and dry and I needed to go and get some eggs from the farm up the hill, so I needed no urging. There was a headwind of course, isn't there always; and always a headwind whichever direction you cycle LOL! And the air temp was freezing but it was wonderful to be out in the fresh air again!

I'd been hit by an infection recently and boy my fitness had slumped; that was evident as soon as I started pedalling up the hill, but I made it to the farm ...only to find they had run out of eggs! Rats, I thought...oh well, lets make this ride count so I pedalled another 7 mile loop to get home. It was all narrow country lanes with fab views across to the coast and through the tin-mining world heritage area with it's ruined engine houses looking like crumbling castles. It's my favourite short route and even though I had to negotiate a couple of flooded sections I was so grateful to be out on my bike. Roll on the better weather!Attachment 17961

Thanks for checking in! I'm glad you finally were able to get outside.

[ny biker]

OK, I went to spin class today, first exercise in recovering from the crud I've been dealing with. Well, I guess the 2 hikes in sub zero temperatures in Vermont should count, but no cycling, indoors or out in 2 weeks.
Class was empty, as it's school vacation week here and the "drama queens" were not there. I made sure I moderated my intensity (don't want to faint and get in the police log) and it went pretty well. Since the disease was not in my lungs, it's more the increased effort I am concerned about, as I still feel tired when I get up and earlier in the evening. Anyway, I have felt much worse after doing a class, and I did pace myself, which is hard for me. Had half a banana on the way home.
It is going to be about 50 on Saturday and Sunday, so I will ride outside. Feels like winter never happened.

I'm glad you're on the mend. I wish I could say that it feels like winter never happened ... I've been finding the bad weather to be downright depressing. Like literally I spent this past Monday in my pajamas watching TV, unable to work up the energy to do anything else, while outside the snow turned to freezing rain that coated everything in ice. I'm mostly okay if it's cold and sunny but I just can no longer handle the feeling of being trapped indoors by winter storms. I think it's actually a combination of things -- when you add snow on top of stress at work and these damn perimenopausal mood swings, it just becomes overwhelming.

They've been saying that tomorrow will be sunny and warm with highs in the 60s. I planned a club ride with a stop at a bike-friendly deli that has outdoor tables. Now the Weatherbug app on my phone is saying it will be cloudy all day. Unfortunately when Weatherbug says the weather will be worse than every other local forecast, they are usually right. Meanwhile someone else has posted a ride at the same time as mine in an area where everyone but me loves to ride. The upshot of all this being that I suspect no one will come to my ride.

I hate feeling like this, I hope spring gets here soon.

(Sorry to be such a downer. I'm going to go look at photos of flowers and blue skies now.)

[Crankin]

You are right, NY, the way you feel is not just the weather. I was away last weekend, during the really freezing weather (-21 in Vermont, where I was), so despite being sick, I did get out for the 2 hikes, when it was between 0 and 20 degrees. We haven't had more than 4 days where I had to stay inside when I had planned to go outside. In fact, I rode 3-4 times in January outside, which I haven't done in 2-3 years. I feel like there's been no winter, because i haven't been able to enjoy the winter sports I love. Even when we went to the Mt. Washington area last month and than last weekend, the conditions for nordic skiing were either barely acceptable, or non-existent. My normal cold weather season is to keep riding until about the middle of December, with more hiking and gym in November and December, and then snow sports in January and February, maybe the first 2 weeks in March. The season here is very short and I just can't go up north every weekend. I feel like this weather is neither good for skiing or cycling and I have been at the gym too much. Can't get excited about my first ride of the season in March, because I haven't stopped riding outside.
I couldn't live somewhere where it was warm all year because of this. I like the change in activities.

[emily_in_nc]

Here ya go, NY! It has even been a little below normal here in Central Florida, but I did get these photos (unfortunately no blue sky) on today's bike ride. I love love love Redbuds as they are such a harbinger of spring in North Carolina. Here in Florida, spring comes a little earlier!

Attachment 17962 Attachment 17963

31.5 miles in fairly windy, mostly overcast conditions. Temps in the upper 60s.

[Crankin]

NY, you had that big storm, like we had last year. Because of the poor response to clearing the roads, etc., no wonder you are edgy! I was very isolated from the horrific mess in the city last year, in terms of plowing, parking, and the public transportation not running. We had some minor damage from ice dams, but we had a new roof done a couple of years ago, which saved us. My work closed for 3 of the days. So, I got to just enjoy the 3 feet of snow and we did 3-4 ski weekends.
I just don't remember winters like this one, when I was a kid. Itseemed like it snowed a lot, every year.

[Crankin]

I did a small 13.5 mile ride; the same one I usually do at 5:30 AM. It's warm (55), but very windy. It felt very hard, especialy when some guy got on my wheel on a flat and I felt compelled to stay ahead of him. Then, he passed me like I was standing still.
The main road right outside my neighborhood is in terrible shape. After tomorrow, I almost hope the weather is wintry enough that I don't ride until I move. In fact, tomorrow, I am thinking about starting from the condo. Now I have to go clean my bike.

[Crankin]

I ended up doing another ride of 13.5 miles today, although I thought I would do more. DH is still not feeling well, so he did not ride, and I am trying to keep these winter rides "fun." So, to avoid the horrible road conditions I described yesterday, I headed out up Strawberry Hill. Not fun for a warm up and I did get dropped by a guy, but it was the right choice. When I got to the turn off for going home, I rode to Concord Center instead, and then came right back. I dropped 2 people who proceeded to get on my wheel, making me work more than I like! Today's ride was hillier, but I felt better, rode faster, and I am glad I cut it short.
Back to my regular gym schedule this week.

[kernowcyclist]

We'll done crankin, on keeping up the rides in that vile weather. I hope your DH feels better soon though.

I'm looking forward to next week, some better weather's coming apparently so I shall get out!

I had a saddle fit at my local bike shop today and a selle italia is on order.....my bottie can't wait lol ��

[Geonzy]

I got in 21 miles yesterday -- 67 degrees in Illinois!!! and only 12 mph winds!!

I spent 20 minutes mucking about with this stupid forum software (I was *so* pleased that I remembered my login stuff yesterday, so I can't understand why the same stuff didn't work today -- and it wouldn't let me reset and kept telling me I was an evil bot-woman unless I could come up with a brand teamEstrogen carries beginnign with K, which there isn't). So I don't know if I'll get a real ride in besides the commute... last week it was plummeting temps and 25 mph winds and 3 inches of snow ...

[azfiddle]

Ridiculously warm weather for February in Tucson- mid to high 80s continue. i got out for rides Saturday (37miles) and Sunday (21 miles). Wildflowers are starting to show up more and more... it's just SO early....

[rebeccaC]

thanks emily!!!!

Ridiculously warm weather for February in Tucson- mid to high 80s continue.

in the mojave in the afternoon too but that's normal here....cool in the nights and mornings here though..

Death valley is a nice place to ride this time of year. Temps started in the 60’s and ended in the 80’s for our ride. We did the climb up to dante’s view when it was cooler and then rode badwater rd to death valley junction. Stopped for water, carbs and relaxing at the eclectic marta becket’s amargosa opera house (a must see ballet performance ) and headed back. Did a short hike into golden canyon on the way back. 113 miles. Only two more days of work and the desert and it’s back to my urban life.

A few photos from the ride


















from rhyolite earlier in the week…

[Catrin]

Beautiful!

[azfiddle]

Wow, beautiful photos. Death Valley has such a stark beauty