November Rides

[Crankin]

Good luck with the build, Sheila.
So, I did not go on the group ride and my ride Saturday is cancelled (thankful for that). DH worked from home, so we did a little ride at 1:00. Somehow, my front light fell off (not sure how this could happen) and I didn't notice until I got home. I have another light, but, it's the "big boy," and although it has 3 settings the flashing mode only works on the highest, which is *very* bright. Personally, I don't care, I know drivers dislike it, but it is pointed down. I usually use it for all riding through the winter anyway, and for all true dark riding. DH actually went out and drove the route, but nothing. I feel stupid, but...
It's going to be 19 tomorrow morning . Guess I'll be going to spin class. I've been riding every Thursday at 5 am for 2 months, and hopefully, will have a few more times of Thursdays in the 30s or 40s before the roads get sloppy. It didn't take much for my friend to cancel our Saturday ride on the south coast. 25 at the start and wind, by the ocean. His girlfriend was refusing to go. Guess we will hike, or do a short ride around here in the PM.

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin, 19!?!

I gotta admit, with all its faults (and there are many), I do love Florida...yesterday the pool felt awfully good after our ride!

[north woods gal]

Pool? Rub it in. Naughty girl, Emily. We have ice on the lake, already. Going to see single digits this week for temps. Still ride every day, of course, but, yeah, cold is a factor. Wears me out, quicker. All that bundling up is a hassle, too, but what's a girl to do? Can't just sit in the house all winter.

Sheila, what is this bike going to do, if you don't mind me asking? Trail, road, single track? I considered the Surly ECR, but for strictly trail riding, I went with the Krampus. It's more of a dedicated trail bike with better bottom bracket height and more current trail geometry. The ECR is a heavy duty touring bike designed to carry big loads on rough roads, way out yonder. Overkill for riding trails around the house.

[Crankin]

Emily, I misspoke. The 19 is Friday morning... tomorrow will be 28. Don't think I want to dress up like a marshmellow, though, so I will still be going to spin.

[north woods gal]

Two inches of snow, again, last night, so it's definitely that transition season where the snow sits around for a couple days, then melts off. That won't last long, though. By December, those in-between melting periods are gone. Once it snows, it's usually here till spring.

Not sure how much XC skiing I'll get done, this year. The fat biking really cut into it, last year, but mostly because the snow we had was crappy for skiing - crusty, icy or slushy. Had to listen to all my XC pals sing the blues about it, all winter log. Told them to get a fat bike. A fat bike can always go.

For sure, the fat bikes are much less sensitive to snow conditions. Any kind of snow works as long as its not too deep to get though it. No waxing or guessing as to how much glide or kick I'll have on any given day. With the studded tires, I can do almost all the steep climbs and drops on the bike that I can do in the summer and most of those are too steep to do with the skis, anyway. Can even ride out on bare ice on the lake or hard pack snow out on the roads after the plows have been though. That's a no go for the skis. No such thing as too little snow, either.

Even with fat tires that don't have studs, most of the time can do all these things. The studs just add a bit of extra grip and safety when things get super slick. That's why I run a number of fat bikes in the winter, all set up with different types of tires. Can just grab a bike with the right tires and go.

Nothing like riding a bicycle out on the lake in the winter. Just ask my hubby. Star thanks so, too.

[north woods gal]

The Krampus is a nice match for that kind work, Sheila. Hope you get something built.

Now and then, I wonder if I shouldn't have gotten a Karate Monkey with the 27.5 plus wheels. Would make for a lighter bike with those wheels, but I have too many bikes, as it is.

[north woods gal]

Brrr! Yeah, I did get out and ride in that two inch plus fresh snow, but I waited too long. Should have hit it right away, this morning. Temps have been falling all day and by the time I hit the trail our thermometer said 12 degrees and that was 12 degrees with a gusty 20 mph plus wind. What had been fairly soft snow in the morning is now pretty compressed and crunchy. Pedaling effort to get though it was a factor. Definitely slowed me down. Still did 3.4 miles before calling it quits with numb hands and feet. No slipping or fishtailing on the steepest climbs, though. The fat bike can do.

[Crankin]

Well, we are getting that weather tonight. Tomorrow, low of 18, high of 30.
I went to spin. It wasn't bad. There was a sub, who was good (the regular one is kind of crappy). She did some bicep work with weights in the middle, with slow peddling, which normally I would say is dumb, but it broke up the time. The rest was normal intervals and hill climbs. She asked if anyone rode outside... I was the only one .

[ny biker]

Well we will not be as cold as Massachusetts and Wisconsin but temps will be dropping for us tonight too, with NW winds to boot. I had thought maybe I could do a rail-trail ride tomorrow with the bike club, since it will at least be sunny, but I wouldn't ride in these conditions in January so not gonna do it in November either. (If the wind was calm, I'd probably give it a try, with plenty of wool and 2 chemical foot warmers per foot.)

Saturday I will get the cleats put on the new shoes and get a cursory bike fit check to see if anything else might be causing the knee pain. It might rise into the 50s on Sunday, so maybe I'll go out and ride then.

Last night I rode 40 minutes on the stationary bike at the gym. So at least I turned some pedals and worked up a sweat. I might go back and do it again tomorrow.

[north woods gal]

We did officially get down to zero, last night, so I guess it's safe to say winter has arrived. That, and we're forecast to get another 1 to 3 inches of snow, overnight. The NWS predicted there was a 50/50 chance in our location to have a colder and snowier winter than normal, so it's safe to say the money is on the colder and snowier, at least so far.

My ride, yesterday, wore me out faster than I expected. Think I overdid it on bundling up with the leggings. Really hate those things, but have to have them in our winters. Of course, busting through 2 inches of crusty snow takes it's toll, too.

'Tis the season. Oh, well.

Oh, forgot to mention. Saw turkey tracks in the snow, yesterday. Two of them were wandering around on our trails. We do have them in the neighborhood, but they usually hang around up in the highlands. Only see them in our area, now and then. Cool!!