March Rides: In Like a Lion or a Lamb?

[north woods gal]

Still riding, almost every day, even though the weather has been VERY gloomy. Have had four straight days of temps in the 30s to almost 40, with rain, drizzle, freezing rain and some snow. Right about now I would pay big bucks for a little sunshine.

As to where I can ride, it's been good news and bad news. Our paved local roads are now mostly clean pavement with a little slush and ice, here and there. Could actually ride one of the road bikes, safely, being careful to avoid all the sand still on the road (fortunately, we treat our rural roads with sand in the winter, not salt) and the seasonal outbreak of potholes, but am riding the Pugsley, which is immune to those hazards and, besides, just enjoy the Pugs, anyway. What a pal that bike has been for me! That's the good news.

The bad news is that the MTB trails in the area are mucho treacherous. What was packed snow has gone through the thaw and freeze cycle enough to convert to super slick ice. Can't even walk on the stuff. Could actually ride on the stuff with the studded fat bike tires, but even those can slip on turns and hills (ask me how I know). The one good thing I'm seeing is that more and more of the trails are now down to dirt and completely free of snow and ice. All in all, as much as I love trail work with the fat bike, I'm going to play it safe and stay with road work, for now. No need to risk breaking my neck. Just need to be patient. Winter won't last forever.

Did 15 miles on the road with the Pugs, today, despite the gloom. Someone please send some sunshine my way before I go nuts.

[emily_in_nc]

Wish I could send some sunshine to you, Northwoods!

We got back from Ohio late yesterday. It was very chilly there. The day of my FIL's funeral, the high temp was in the low 30s with windchill far below that, but bright sunshine. The following morning, we woke up to 18F. After spending the entire winter in Florida, that was tough! But we got in the car and started heading south, and by the time we got to Columbia, SC, it was 64! Yesterday we drove from Columbia to Orlando and ended up at 77 when we got "home" to the campground. Low humidity too, so it felt so nice!

Today we had too much to do to ride, plus we hate riding on Saturday because the bike path is a zoo, so we did chores, and we will ride tomorrow. Weather is perfect now but supposed to get gradually warmer as the week wears on, and I suspect humidity will come back too. They're predicting 90F by Thurs., and I am not ready for that! Wish it could stay in the 70s. Ah well, it is what it is, and at least I don't have to worry about slush, snow, or ice like some of you. And I am much happier here than in Ohio!

[Pax]

Glad you're home safe and sound, Emily. I'm so glad this will be our last winter in Illinois, the cold makes me ache and I limp so much more here. Might not like a lot of things about Florida, but if I can keep my head in a positive place, my carcass will be happier.

[north woods gal]

Thanks, Emily. It's the sunshine I miss the most with our north woods winters. Still no break in the gloom. Raining, today, still in the 30s. Crazy me will ride, anyway.

90 degrees, already, down there! Can't imagine that. Some summers, up here, we never break 90 degrees.

Pax, I may sound like some kind of cold freak, but I'm really not. I do understand and commiserate about the cold. It does make me uncomfortable unless I attack it on a daily basis with heavy aerobic activities like skiing and my fat biking. if I couldn't do those things, I'd have a hard time surviving, up here. Best wishes to you on finding a warmer place.

[Pax]

NWG - I'd have chosen the UP in a heartbeat when I was younger and more fit. To this day I am hot all the time, I mean like existing in a permanent hot flash hot. But after 10 surgeries, my joints are just done with this game, I barely go outside the entire winter, and when I do I resemble quasimodo... so, for me, I'll weather the heat and humidity but do it upright, by golly!

[emily_in_nc]

I can't handle cold weather at all, but since I am post-menopausal now, I also can't handle it as hot as I used to be able to. It is just so much more uncomfortable to me now. I do best in spring and fall now. Fortunately, the winter in Florida is kinda like spring most other places, so it's been very good overall. Only a few too hot or too cold days for me. This week is hot, but the mornings are still pleasantly cool. After a week in chilly Ohio, though, the heat is bothering me more than usual.

35 miles Sunday and today, same route.

[north woods gal]

Now that I'm in my late 60s, I am more sensitive to cold and drafts in the house, so I usually bundle up in the house more than I used to do. Going out in the cold requires me to be very active, as in bicycling or skiing. That's the key. Still very doable for me to do really bitter cold as long as I am moving and working. Soon as I stop, though ...

As for my current biking status, I'm right in the middle of mud season on the trail work. Most of the snow is gone, except for short isolated stretches of trails, but the rest is gooey mud. Once, again, I am so thankful for fat bikes. Ordinary mountain bikes, even my 29+ with 3" tires, are still not doable, not to mention they cut up the trail too much. Thinking of going with fat bikes for all my trail riding, 365 days a year. They truly are 4 season trail bikes.