April Rides

[north woods gal]

Rumor has it that we may get a few days in the 50s, not this week, but next week. The rest of this week is our usual 30s stuff. That's okay, as long as we don't get hit with another snowstorm. Have been doing daily rides out on the roads with my hubby joining me for part of the rides. Yeah, it's cold, but it's doable. Looks like mostly road riding for awhile.

Or not. After a long hard day of shoveling, my snow trails are back to being in shape to ride, so I rode them like crazy, today. I am such a trail riding addict. Can't help, myself. Did 7 miles of road work, though, just to round things, out.

Saw an otter running though the woods, down by the lake, the other day, sliding though the snow in places. Cool.

Heard and saw a pair of Trumpeter Swans flying overhead. They think it's spring anyway, even if it doesn't look like spring.

No signs of bears, yet and this is the time for them to be coming out of their winter sleep. We are having a very late spring, though. Not much for them to eat with all this heavy snow cover. That could be a problem if they hang around houses, more, to find something to eat.

[emily_in_nc]

Have not ridden since Friday. We don't normally ride on weekends due to the bike trail being too clogged. Yesterday I had an orthodontist appointment, and today is going to be off and on rain & t-storms all day (mostly on). Bah humbug!

[Crankin]

As DH is saying, it is now January 127th.
Raw and drizzly today; I left work early as my last 2 people cancelled; normally I'd be out riding or taking a walk, at the least.
Tomorrow is the group ride. We are on a warming trend, but the ride starts at 10, usually over around 1:00.I've done this ride before, it's good. So, it will be 38 at the start and about 42 near the end. Of course it will be close to 50 and sunnier in the late afternoon.
I know I will make myself go, andI probably will feel like I am dying, since it's 35 miles and I have not ridden more than 20 at a time the last few weeks. There's only one real climb and one small one. Hoping some of the regulars are there, since if it's only the hard core riders who ride through the winter, they will already be fast. There's always slower people than me in this group, but with the weather so far, I am venturing some have not even been out on their bikes yet.

[north woods gal]

I'm still riding, but, okay, I'm sure that's no big surprise to anyone. I'm hurting, though, same as some of you with this lack of spring weather. Our snow cover is still so deep that our area high schools have had to travel a couple hundred miles, south, just to practice spring sports. On top of all that, we're expecting another big snowstorm, possibly the biggest of all, over the weekend. I'm now riding when and where I can as much to combat depression as for fun.

Good time to tweak some bikes, so have been changing out handlebars, grips and tires on the summer some bikes to take my mind off things. Oh, well.

[Crankin]

Right now it's foggy and 30 degrees. The weather people are saying "be careful of black ice." Now, it's going to be 39, in 2 hours, when the ride starts, but these conditions are what got my friend a broken hip. And, the ride starts very close to where his crash happened (I know, just coincidence). It will be much nicer, after lunch, close to 50. Am I crazy to be worried?

[emily_in_nc]

How did it go, Crankin? I can't imagine riding in those conditions and am very glad I don't have to contemplate it.

We had t-storms with heavy rain on and off the night before last, yesterday, and last night. Roads are wet. It is finally sunny this am but cool, with a north wind. I am feeling wimpy so am not sure I want to ride on wet roads, even. Trying to motivate myself but may stay off the roads one more day and do much-needed laundry. Could not do it yesterday as planned as all the washers in the RV park were on the fritz due to a water issue. They are fine now, and I have a lot of laundry to do. Tomorrow and Friday are going to be warm again and sunny, so I'll definitely ride then but just not sure about today.

Even in Florida, it seems that this winter goes on and on...I really feel for you gals up north.

[Crankin]

I decided not to go; it is just starting to not be foggy and I know when the dew point is high and the temperature just above freezing, that's when black ice happens. It will be 40 at 11, so I am planning to do the ride DH and I are going to lead on the 28th. If I ride from home, do the ride, and go home, it's about 30 miles. It's all in the local area, so I can bail if I get wimpy or hungry. There's also food options near the end of the ride, in case I can't make it home without lunch. I ate a big breakfast,in anticipation of riding, so I probably an get by with just eating my Lara Bar.
Weather is going to be wacky over the next few days. I may commute tomorrow, but I could get wet on the way home. I am hoping for Friday to be a car free day, except for grocery store, which I can't do with the bikes I have now, or until they build the bike bridge over the highway, to get to my preferred store. I plan to ride to the gym early AM, ride home, and then ride to work for my group, then do a ride in the afternoon with DH. DH and I will ride early Saturday, as a front is coming through and my granddaughter is getting dropped off here at 12:30 for a few hours.