It's that time of year again : (

[CycleChic06]

Well it's that time of year again when I have to move my exercizing in doors and today I go to my first spinning class since March. It is now almost dark when I get home from work, and I can't stand not exercising during the week. So it's that sad time of year when I have to get my fix by going to spinning classes a few days a week. No more fresh air, sunshine and wind in my hair...now it's to the dark windowless, basement-level gym and the tiny SMELLY room with no venitilation for spinning classes. My sad bike will have to wait for the occasional free weekend to be ridden...and even then it's almost time for it to be stored in the basement for the winter.

I envy all of you who live in areas where you can ride year round!

Emily

[eclectic]

hey cyclechic06

If it is any consolation I too will be moving the cycling indoors probably this weekend Last year we got to ride into November but this year it has been dang cold out

My bike will go to the LBS for a tune up then move into my living room on the trainer. (I live alone so I can put it anywhere I want to)

One of the cycle club guys wants to get the regulars together in his basement on Wed nite w/ bikes and trainers and do some group spinning - that would be great AND I wouldn't get DROPPED ! ! !

Hopefully the cyclists will get together to do a little x-country skiing when the snow flies

November is the worst - too cold to bike and no snow to ski

[Bikingmomof3]

I am sorry. You are welcome to come visit me. Cycling can be done almost year round here.

[DeniseGoldberg]

While I agree with you that there isn't enough daylight left to ride after work (without leaving early, that is...), my bikes insist that we should still have many weekends of very rideable (and even comfortable) weather this year.

I also switch to alternate forms of week-day exercise for the our shorter days and upcoming colder weather, but I try to get in weekend bike rides through the fall and even in the winter if the roads are dry. I managed to ride in temperatures to the low 30s last winter, and I'm hoping to continue that habit this year. Here's hoping that the weather wizard gives us a reasonable number of days with dry roads through the winter!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm in NY state (upstate), and the riding weather is still wonderful!
Starts out about 30-40 in the morning, it's been sunny and windy and highs around 50-60 ....perfect!
We sometimes go out on our bikes early at about 35-40 degreesF and it's quite invigorating in a good way. You have to have some good layers on (we use several thin merino wool layers mostly, and good tights). They need to be easy to add or remove a bit at a time to regulate your temperature comfort zone.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm in NY state (upstate), and the riding weather is still wonderful!
Starts out about 30-40 in the morning, it's been sunny and windy and highs around 50-60 ....perfect!

That's what we're seeing here in the Boston area too. I hope it sticks around for a while because you're right - it is good riding weather. My only complaint is the shorter days!

[crazycanuck]

Hey you're more than welcome to come & visit us ladies down here in Australia...

We have some very nice bike paths here in Perth...We have a couple of spare bedrooms too...


I love reading the wintery posts...All the summer posts are def helping too!

c

[chickwhorips]

I have a spare bedroom just waiting for guests.

i'll be down next month for a couple days. though i need to be on the opposite side of town working on my storage in gilbert. i maybe staying smack in the middle of phoenix with a friend, but if i get kicked out i'll be sure to look you up!

Hey you're more than welcome to come & visit us ladies down here in Australia...

i'm trying to get there, but can only make it to PI this december. i'll wave to you though.

i forgot till last night how hard it is to change out my back tire on my mtb to put it on the trainer. i almost forgot how to do it! its been that long. also, last night BF decided i needed my own trainer instead of sharing the one.... guess what i'm shopping for today.

[HappyAnika]

It just started snowing outside about 30 minutes ago.

I like the snow, but I'm already so sad about what the change in seasons is doing to my riding. Its not really even the weather yet, today is the first cold day, but the lack of daylight. Its just getting light when I leave for work, and by the time I get home its starting to get dark. By the middle of December its pitch dark when I leave work at 5 pm. My plan is to try and ride one day a week at lunch. The problem is a shower after riding is mandatory, which then means hair drying and makeup re-application, unless I'm having a day where I just don't care what I look like . . .

Usually in the winter I hit the gym a lot, I used to do aerobics 3 x a week plus one or two days of weights. But lately my knees have been protesting even aerobics, which is likely due to my feeble attempts at running. I'm determined to run my first 5K in a couple weeks, then I can ditch the running. I've never been to a spin class, but I'm thinking I'm going to try it soon. I've always been intimidated by the spin crowd at the gym, they seem to have this superior attitude. But hey, I'm a real cyclist now, so there's no reason for me to be intimidated. Then there's just the whole cold factor. I have asthma, and I don't know if that makes my lungs extra sensitive to cold or what, but any form of exercise outside in the winter just burns. Yet I seem to deal with it for snowshoeing, because I love it so much I guess it distracts me from the freezing air, so why should cycling be different? I went for my first chilly ride this weekend, it was about 55 out, no sun, a little windy, and even then I could feel the cool air tormenting my lungs. I figure this is good practice because it will likely be cold that morning I go out to run my 5K. I just hope that my lungs will get used to it and stop protesting.

For today I'm happy that I rode on Sat. and ran yesterday because there's already about an inch of snow on the grass.
(Lucky for me snow melts fast here, I'll be out on my bike this weekend).

[Dogmama]

I've never been to a spin class, but I'm thinking I'm going to try it soon. I've always been intimidated by the spin crowd at the gym, they seem to have this superior attitude. (Lucky for me snow melts fast here, I'll be out on my bike this weekend).

Just go in there, get on a bike & start to complain loudly about the weather at Tour de France this year.

Seriously, I think people are too wrapped up in themselves to notice newbies. Other than a couple of regular people, I couldn't tell you who comes & goes in the morning spin classes. During the class, I'm too busy listening to the committee inside of my head to notice other people.

[HappyAnika]

Just go in there, get on a bike & start to complain loudly about the weather at Tour de France this year.

LOL! The sad thing is I know people at the gym who would do something like that. My gym is weird, the classes are very clique-y. When I was in grad school I tried yoga in the mornings, there was a group of women who were just downright rude to newbies. I belong to the step-class clique, but I always make a point to talk to newbies and encourage them to keep coming to class. Anyway, I'll be making a spinning appearance soon, likely next week. I hope its something I like to help get me through the winter. Its so funny here, everyone else can't wait for winter for skiing and snowboarding, but I love the summers best for hiking and cycling.