BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

If I was working until 12 as originally scheduled and not 2:30 now, I would totally be there.

I started out the winter as a non-wuss but have since deteriorated to somewhat of a wuss.

I once ran a cross country race where we warmed up in parlty sunny 50 degree weather, and when we were called to the line, a front moved in. By the end of the race it was around 30 and sleeting- we walked straight into the hot showers to thaw out enough to untie our shoes.

Not that I am saying that should hapeen to you....... but one can ride when it is below 50. The hardest part is sometimes getting out the door, but if you are already there.....

Careful out there tomorrow. People and their pets will be out en masse loafing.

For me it's the lungs - no mask or scarf can diffuse the pain of inhaling 40 degrees or below. I'll be eating a burrito at 1:30 in case anyone wants to ride around.

The sunshine will smell good.

Sounds like fun but i will be at work still. Also be careful about the drivers. For some reason when is warm, people drive worse.

Have to agree with Stefb. It's as if the first warm day people drive fast as if it's their way of expressing spring feaver.

It's taken all winter, but I think I'm finally figuring out the cold fingers and toes problem. The balaclava solved the ears, chin and cheeks problem. One big-ass thick leather glove that goes halfway up my wrist solved the finger problem for both hands, oddly enough.

40 miles on the bike today -- round trip McCandless-Downtown in the a.m., and McCandless-Oakland-Downtown in the 4-8pm timeframe.

I think the short answer is, if you get cold on one ride, keep trying different things on the next one.

Enjoy the ride, I saw triple the number of bikes I usually see on my morning commute, so I imagine you'll have some company.

I used to have that lungs/breath issue as well in the cold. When I would run or bike for exercise, I think I never really warmed my core properly and that just caused everything to go downhill as soon as I started exerting myself. Now that I'm commuting in the cold and don't feel the need to push myself to go fast (and also dress in layers and get warm inside before I ride) I've not run into the issue at all, even when it was below 20. Not sayin, just sayin.

Well that was great - doing it again tomorrow. Same route, same time, same stopping at Warhol. If anybody wants to join me let me know. Cheers!

Overdressed for the ride home from work. Very sweaty. Great weather! Lots of cyclists out

I took a nice ~10 mile ride after work today. T-shirt and a shell with the vents open = perfect temperature.

tonight'll be warm enough for my first midnight ride of the year. psyched. clocked 30miles yesterday, and the exertion seriously triggered an incredible amount of energy. i've been strictly wired ever since.

i really let myself go throughout this past(ongoing) cold season, and am definitely in the worst shape i've been in in quite some time... can't let this happen again next Fall/Winter, for shame!

It was too warm for me today, I didn't ride at all. I took a walk up to Sq. Hill for lunch which was a nice change of pace.

Just tuned up the crosscheck for tomorrow; I haven't ridden it in ~3 months so that will be fun. Maybe I'll go collect on that 40mph down Liberty thing - I do have to go to Polish Hill.

This gives me an idea...

i think there were a total of three days this winter that i didn't bike on, and walked instead. so i'm feeling remarkably spry for this time of year, and i'm excited to throw in an actual ride tomorrow. i haven't done more than about 10 miles but a few times this winter (my commute is probably about 6 round trip), so i'm seriously looking forward to a good few hours in the saddle after work tomorrow.

unfortunately for this ride (i know, i will be missed terribly), i won't get out of work until probably around 4. though friday looks rainy and the weekend looks cold, so maybe i'll sneak out around 3 and put in a few more miles. yay 50s!

It's beautiful out this morning, was just out with the dog. One of those days you can smell the earth again.

Punxy Phil was right.

(Hate to be a doomsayer, but was it Mid-March 1994 that we got clobbered with like 30"? I'll believe it when its April.)

(Hate to be a doomsayer, but was it Mid-March 1994 that we got clobbered with like 30"? I'll believe it when its April.)

This is why I haven't yet pulled the studded tires off yet. If I leave them on, we're practically guaranteed decent weather.

So, should I plant the garlic I forgot to stick in the ground in October?

I took the Panther Hollow Trail to the Hot Metal Bridge across to the South Side yesterday and passed like 12 cyclists! Then, later, there were FOUR of us at the intersection of Ellsworth and Morewood. Have people been riding all winter and I'm just not out to see them at the right times, or what?

pseudacris - yes, plant the garlic. I'm going to go ahead and plant half the peas I've got. Unfortunately I have to wait until this weekend. Even if it's freezing, I will be out there, weeding with gloves on. I didn't put the garden to bed, and am seriously suffering for it (both with weeds and psychological freak out). I've gardened by floodlight in the past, I suppose I could do it again this spring.

Must... plant... something....

ALMKLM - You're right, I don't look for the end of snow until mid-April. But don't forget 4/30/2008, the ONLY snow we got that month.

ejwme, Pseudacris - Start stuff in the house?

Well, I'm glad to be back on my summer bike. It was like riding a rocket to work.

Nick and I went for a ride last night around 10. Gloveless, sleeves rolled up...It was nice. I got a good bit of leisure riding in yesterday.

I might toss in some cold-ish crops: mixed greens that you can snip away at for salads.

I got to wear shorts on my ride to work this morning for the first time since like November. A crossing guard on Reynolds said "Looks like you left the tights home today!".

Looking forward to the Flock ride tonight. First I've been to in months since I sissied out on account of cold.

Made it out for first time this year today. Highland Park Bridge to Hulton Bridge via Freeport Road, and back. I thought the headwind was stiff on the way out, until I made the turn to come back, and I realized what I thought was the headwind was the tail wind. Coming back was BRUTAL. Holy sh*t. What a slog.

It was awesome.

Gah, I wanted to join the Flock tonight, but didn't get home from work (on the bus) until 6. Did you guys stop at Hough's afterwords? I rode by just before 10 (holy cow the wind!) and saw an inordinate number of bikes outside.

Yah they went there but i came home

I wasn't cold until we stood outside Whole Foods. When that 500 passed us on Fifth, I was almost shivering, so dashed off after it, from like St. James all the way to Bellefield. I was able to warm up OK then.

Just being in the cold I can handle. Getting cold standing outside after perspiring a good bit...um, no.