March In Like a Lion Rides

[Crankin]

We didn't have the sun that you had, NY, but, the wind has died down to just about normal for late winter/early spring. In fact it felt and looked pretty raw, though the thermometer said it was 41. We suited up in winter gear, sans the heavier winter jacket, just the regular wind jacket, and went out for a little 13 mile ride. We had a plan, and somehow, DH turned back toward home earlier than the plan. He doesn't remember things like this well (I said "let's do the ride that goes up X, turn at X, and then back to X," which we did last fall and was about 22 miles). We turned before the 2nd X and that brought us to the 3d X... I was not complaining because just about then, DH mentioned his GPS was saying it was 36 out! I was dressed correctly, I didn't overheat, although my feet were a bit cold, despite wearing my winter shoes. However, it just wasn't nice out. As we got onto a long downhill and short climb which brings us back to our area, we saw another couple, coming from the other direction. They had come from the wrong way, down a one way street, making a left on a busy road, to connect to the downhill street. That move was the reason I didn't go on the group ride 2 weeks ago; we let them get ahead of us, we were moving along and I actually felt pretty good when I got home, after a night of a bit too much wine with friends. We set out to go slowly, like last weekend, but we ended up going not fast, but faster, fine for this time of year, and faster than my group ride last Wednesday.
There's a lot of snow in far NW MA and southern VT, as well as the White Mountains of NH. We are looking at doing a weekend near Bennington VT next weekend, at a x country ski place, that is at elevation and we just discovered it's existence earlier this winter. It's too far for a day trip, but not a long drive, about 2.5 hours. They are getting 5-8 inches of snow Wednesday, while we have another horrible rainy nor'easter.

[north woods gal]

Have to hand it to you folks that are out riding, despite the less than ideal weather, especially with all that wind. I'm not the only tough cookie around here in that respect! Wind is seldom an issue for trail riding in our woods, but as soon as I go out on an open road, even up here in forest country, it does become a factor. Wind makes a huge difference in how I have to dress in cold weather if I'm out on a road.

More snow coming, tonight, just when some of my trails were down to dirt in some spots. Oh, well.

[emily_in_nc]

Agree re. the wind! We don't face the cold temperatures that many of you do since we're in central Florida, but this time of year, wind is almost always a factor on our rides. Today it's to be 10-20 mph SSW, meaning that we'll have a rip-roaring tailwind on our way "out", but a headwind on the way back. I prefer the other way around, but we're due some chilly mornings later in the week, so I'll take the southwest winds over that. Should be upper 60s to low 70s on our ride today, not bad.

I have great respect for those of you who ride in cold weather. It's just not for me. I have to muster all my motivation even to go out when it's in the 50s.

[north woods gal]

I'm with you on playing the wind. When planning a route, I'll do my best to make sure I get a tailwind on the way back home. Of course, Nature can play tricks on you and switch wind directions when you're on your ride.

A litte snow, today, only about an inch, but that's better than 3-5 inches they had forecast. An inch of snow on my icy trails is actually a good thing. It's just enough to leave a hard packed track of snow on the ice as I ride over it. Makes for better traction and safer, too.

Speaking of ice, I call this time of year our icicle season. Gets just above freezing by day and then re-freezes at night. That creates huge icicles on the house. It also turns my snow packed trails into ice packed trails, too. Not good. Oh, I can still ride the ice with studded fat bike tires, but I still have to get very conservative and careful on my riding. Studded tires are still not 100% safe. Not my preferred way to ride, but it sure beats not riding at all.

We saw a flock of 15 turkeys in the yard, yesterday afternoon. They were picking up left overs under our bird feed stations. Took down the bird feeders, this week, because this time of year bears come out of their winter sleep and are looking for food. Unless you like bears in your yard, up here, you learn quick not to give them something to eat.

Spotted our resident pair of eagles, flying overhead, as I write this. Life is good in my north woods.

[ny biker]

Although I did not plan it with wind in mind, I had thought that the ride I was going to lead on Sunday was protected from the wind in some areas. I would have expected a headwind in the beginning, then some tailwinds, and maybe some crosswinds near the end, but with enough direction changes and time on tree-line roads to give people a break from time to time. However based on the post-ride report from the person who led it my place, it was a hard slog the whole time. Nonetheless he went out again yesterday to ride and again reported wind the entire time. Some folks are willing to put up with it more than others...in particular I find that people who commute by bike (or did for many years before retiring) are more willing to ride for fun in cold, wind or even rain. For me, those conditions are far less fun, though.

[Crankin]

Rain, no unless it starts without warning when I am out.
Wind, I don't like it, but I can tolerate it a bit more than DH. I just decide to forget about speed. Wind+rain, no. Wind+ a raw, cloudy day, no. I will hike on those days, though.
Cold has different levels for me. Cold (30 degrees) with sun and no or little wind is fine. I have the gear to go lower, but if there's snow, I'll be skiing, or at the gym, or snow shoeing. It's cold with clouds and/or wind that might be a tipping point. My ride Sunday was 36 degrees, cloudy, a little wind, and a few spritzes and a flurry. It was raw. But, about halfway through the 13 miles, I forgot about it and was fine. I wear my heated gloves when it's 40 or below, which takes care of my main issue. Anything else, I have clothing for. Truth is, once December 15th comes, I am ready to take a rest from cycling, but if there's a slightly warmer day and the roads are good, I will go. March is a fun month for me, because I often x country ski and ride because of the changeable weather.

[north woods gal]

Have to say that, as for me, I've been bitten by this snow biking bug. Have done more biking, this winter, than the previous ten winters combined, maybe more. It's catching on, up here, in snow country. We now have some fat bike races in the snow over some of the same courses used for XC ski races. Don't know if snow biking will ever become an Olympic event and I doubt it will become a major bicycle sport in this country, given that, like XC skiing, it's limited to snow country. It is fun and a great workout, though, and even in sub zero weather, doesn't take me long to warm up. It's actually very practical, too. It's not just a stunt. On hard pack snow/ice, you can really fly. Have had days when I logged the same average speed over my trails as what I do in the summer. Nowhere near as fussy about snow conditions as with XC skiing. For sure, my XC skiing has taken a big hit since I've been bitten by the snow biking bug.