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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    1,973
    I am in awe of those of you (like NWG) who get out in the cold weather. That's why I live in Arizona. But still, I complain when it's hot and the hot weather is around the corner. It was around 90 (F) on my ride home yesterday.

    Helene, I may have asked before, but where are you located? I'm not really happy about that kind of wind either.

    Still mainly doing commutes- I finished #50 for 2017 yesterday.
    2016 Specialized Ruby Comp disc - Ruby Expert ti 155
    2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker - Jett 143

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Montreal, QC
    Posts
    764
    I am in Montreal (QC) area. It's in my profile location.
    Helene
    Riding a 2014 Specialized Amira LS4 Expert - aka The Zebra!
    2015 Specialized Crux e5 - aka Bora Bora bike

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    I ditched the group ride today, as there was a chance of rain (it hasn't rained yet) near the end of the ride and it was being led by a woman I cannot stand.
    So, I rode to Ferns' Country Store in Carlisle, which is about 21 miles round trip, sat on the porch and had coffee, and then was glad I went the way where the second half of the ride is pretty flat. I saw several cyclists on my ride, it was a pleasant 68 degrees, and no blazing sun. I also was dressed correctly, with short sleeved jersey and shorts, and a sleeveless base layer.
    I am trying to increase my ability to maintain a faster speed on flats. I am happy with my climbing (for me) and my descending, well, has actually gotten a teeny bit faster in the past 2 years, but it's never going to be fast. But, I can improve my endurance on the flats. It seems my ability to ride at 15-20 on a flat is pretty good, but I often give up and rest, instead of maintaining that speed. Part of it, is that there's not a lot of places I can practice this around here. It's either rolling, hilly, or false flats, which I also dislike. I did pretty well today for being alone. Most of this loop was a go to ride when I lived in my house, and I know every bump in the road, as well as how fast I usually go in each spot. I was very sick of this loop after 11 years of doing it a lot, but now it is more miles and I am not sick of it anymore!
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    north woods of Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,110
    The cold thing is mostly a matter of acclimation with a little psychology to get me motivated. Would have a hard time to going into this kind of cold, directly from hot weather, but after months of riding in the cold, the cold really ceases to be a factor.

    As to how many bikes, I have two drop bar road bikes, one strictly for pavement and one a gravel bike. The pavement road bike is a Domane WSD with 105, but I don't ride it much, because I can't resist the temptation to go off pavement and explore. Great bike, though. The gravel road bike, as in mostly hard surface gravel road, is the Salsa Warbird with 700x40 tires. Very versatile bike. Ride it a lot. Not a bike for any softer surface riding, though I often push the limit just for kicks.

    The other five bikes are 4 fat bikes and one 29+MTB. These are all setup with various types of trail riding in mind, though I actually use them on pavement, quite a bit, since I sometimes have to ride pavement to get to some of the trails and sandy roads I like.

    For me and my riding, if I had to pick just one type of bike that could be used all year long, up here, even for commuting or utility work, it would be a fat bike. A lot of folks in the area are now doing all their trail work on fat bikes. Just the nature of our trails.

    Right now, my Surly Pugsley is set up for utility work with low rolling resistance tires and a Jones Loop bar handlebar for more comfort over long rides. Can ride it anywhere, anytime. Not super fast, of course, but fast enough and plenty comfy even for long distance rides. Would have no hesitation to load up the Pugs and go bike packing across the country. A lot of folks have done just such a thing on a Pugs or other fat bike. Setup right, they're actually not as slow and cumbersome as they look.
    Last edited by north woods gal; 04-12-2017 at 10:16 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Quote Originally Posted by Helene2013 View Post
    I am in Montreal (QC) area. It's in my profile location.
    Also, everyone's location is in the upper right hand of every post they make, if they've entered a home location.
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    northern Virginia
    Posts
    5,897
    Catching up... I rode on Sunday (3 days ago). The Garmin battery died mid-ride but I think it was about 30 miles. Totally flat. There was a longer club ride on the schedule that included this long flat section in the middle, around various communities on the western shore of the Chesapeake. I drove to a school that was about 10 miles into their ride and met the group there, then after the long flat part was done I peeled off and went back to my car while they all continued back to their starting point.

    This was my first real bike ride since I hurt my ankle in January. Overall it went well. My sit bones hurt and my neck and shoulders were tight but my ankle was okay -- in fact it felt better than it has on most other days in the last week. Next I will try a short ride with hills to see if the added stress of pedaling uphill causes any problems.

    (Off the bike, the ankle is sometimes okay but sometimes not. Overall it's worse than it was before spending a month wearing an ankle boot. I will see the doctor next week and am afraid he will put me back in the boot even though I really think it made things worse. But that is a story for another thread.)

    - Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
    - Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
    - Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle

    Gone but not forgotten:
    - Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
    - Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    I am glad you got to ride, NY! Yep, sit bones, neck, etc. are all early-season issues that you'll overcome. Glad the ankle behaved on the bike at least! I have found that most of my various aging-related aches and pains are actually better on the bike than when walking. Sorry you are still having problems with that. I'm not sure I'm on board with that boot, especially if it made things worse for you.
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    37.5 miles today, and was I ever a happy cyclist, as my DH (very very very D!) replaced my snapped shifter cable yesterday (not an easy job, as the end got stuck in the shifter and did not want to come out), and my bike (Trek) shifted better than it has in months! Felt like a new bike! It almost is, considering I've got a new chain, cogset, middle ring in front, and saddle since the year started. I felt strong and good today, despite the wind. Fun fun!

    I was thinking, riding along today, how lucky I was that my shifter didn't snap on Tuesday's ride in Lake County. There are quite a few more hills there than our usual ride east, and if it had, I would have been in my 12-tooth cog in back and probably had to walk the hills. Lucky me!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Yup, I had mine snap on a commute home, as I was climbing the hill to my house, about 9 years ago. I was already in my granny, so I could make it part of the way, but I did walk a little bit on the street and definitely up my driveway. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had occurred earlier in the ride, which was 14 miles. It would have been a long walk home.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Did another Friday commute today. It was 41 when I left at 9 and just about 60 when I got home, just before 12. Beautiful, cool, but with the feel of spring. I am exploring which clothes I can wear on the bike, that aren't bike clothes and still look sort of like I am at work. Since I usually dress more casually for this Friday group, it's a perfect time to experiment.
    Many years ago, I bought a pair of Zoic "jeans." They are black lycra and look like leggings, but have jeans styling in the back and front pockets. I have worn them just a few times. So, today, I wore my Giro boy short liner, which is the thinest liner I have under the pants, and just a regular camisole with a built in bra and a cotton sweater. All I had to do was take the liner off and change out of my cycling shoes when I got there. I did wear my heavier commuting jacket, which was probably unnecessary, but I dealt with it by unzipping it on the way home.
    It is going to be cycling weekend, with awesome weather, and Monday off, as it is a holiday here (Patriots' Day). I didn't want to be tired from a longer ride today, so it was perfect and I am still wearing the same thing for my afternoon errands, sans the cycling liner.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

 

 

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