Ok just got about 8" of snow yesterday and I see this section hasn't had much action lately
so my question is, has anybody spent any time on a bike lately that wasn't in the basement?
Never really done much winter riding here but been collecting the necessary clothes and if I get some time and a "little" co-operation from the weather I will be soon.
Please share your experiences.
Ted in Whitby On Canada

Gururider
I am put some finder on my spad this year and I was waiting for better weather.... but yesterday we just received 41cms of snow...
I think that I have to admit that the only way to ride is my Taxc.
But regarding the clother I used the same that I used for Cross-crountry skiing.
Don't forget something, with the wind created with your speed + wind the temperature can drop very fast.
Cheers

We've been riding the last week in Edmonton - plan to go out tomorrow too. It's about -6C these days daytime - but clear on the roads - no snow/sand really.

We can normally count on snow for Halloween so this is definately the exception.

We woke up to ice fog to go with the 30cm of snow on the ground . This is the time of year the skates, sleds and skiis come out and the bikes snuggle up near the fireplace. I ride the exercise bike for the half hour that it takes to watch Jeopardy every night.

Orillia
The snow belt
Rick

Ok just got about 8" of snow yesterday and I see this section hasn't had much action lately
so my question is, has anybody spent any time on a bike lately that wasn't in the basement?
Never really done much winter riding here but been collecting the necessary clothes and if I get some time and a "little" co-operation from the weather I will be soon.
Please share your experiences.
Ted in Whitby On Canada

On Dec 29th I rec'd delivery of a used Waterford cross bike that I bought on ebay. I put fenders on it, a computer, and tweaked the fit. I've been riding around Toronto and put about 150 km's on it in the last three days. Very versatile ride with the 700 x 35c knobbies.

It was cold with a wicked north east wind on the Leslie street spit on New Years eve

Would love to say I had a waterford as a winter bike.

Would love to say I had a waterford as a winter bike.

It is nice. It's not one with the pointed stainless lugs but it is nice work. I have a responsibility to keep it clean and running well. It only weighs 23.5 lbs all loaded with fenders, pedals, spare tube, a few tools etc.

I will post a pic on the RBR cyclocross thread in a few days

riding to uni the past 3 weeks, only on days where i can see the ashphalt. Luckily there are some bicycle lanes around but I've only managed to get fenders on the bike today, so 3 weeks of slush all over my bag/clothes. it wasn't fun. left my beater outside for 2 days and it rusted out overnight, was fine the day before... mother nature is sure powerful.

Just had the sweetest and perhaps coldest ride of my life. it was last Friday January 27, 2006. I rode from my office in Burlington, Ontario home to Vineland...when I left the sun was shining, NO snow and the road was dry. I was really stoked because I had just purchased a Trek Madone 5.2SL and I was jonesing for a ride. Well all was good until I reached the lakeshore in Burlington suddenly the sun went behind a cloud and the wind was right in my face....BrrRRR. I decided to just tough it out but the more I sweat, the more it evaporated and the colder I got...I kept going hoping it would warm up (right warm up in January riding along the Lakeshore).I thought if I made it to Grimsby that I would just stop at Hortons and get a coffee...but then I remembered that I had emptied my wallet to get rid of all the extra bulk and weight...Stupid eh!!
So I continued on past Grimsby to Beamsville and finally home to Vineland, What a rush, I beat my previous best time by 10 minutes!!! Yes 10 minutes, Who says you can't buy time!!! Well the worst part was when I finally arrived home. No one was there and the door was locked. I had also left my keys behind to reduce bulk and weight...
As I sat on my front porch shivering with skin tight cycling pants I could see my neighbours staring. Then I remembered that I had a Hot Tub...the brain cells had retreated with the cold, so I ran around to the back of the house and stripped off and jumped in...it was the perfect January ride and I will probably never again get that opportunity in the middle of winter!!!

Just took delivery of my 2006 Specialized Allez comp (Gerolsteiner edition) and had a great 30 min ride just out side of Moncton, NB last Saturday Temp was hovering around "0" with nice sun and a hell of a wind - anyway first time in my life I have been able to bike outside in January....windy and blowing snow here today - back to reality.

Just had the sweetest and perhaps coldest ride of my life. it was last Friday January 27, 2006. I rode from my office in Burlington, Ontario home to Vineland...when I left the sun was shining, NO snow and the road was dry. I was really stoked because I had just purchased a Trek Madone 5.2SL and I was jonesing for a ride. Well all was good until I reached the lakeshore in Burlington suddenly the sun went behind a cloud and the wind was right in my face....BrrRRR. I decided to just tough it out but the more I sweat, the more it evaporated and the colder I got...I kept going hoping it would warm up (right warm up in January riding along the Lakeshore).I thought if I made it to Grimsby that I would just stop at Hortons and get a coffee...but then I remembered that I had emptied my wallet to get rid of all the extra bulk and weight...Stupid eh!!
So I continued on past Grimsby to Beamsville and finally home to Vineland, What a rush, I beat my previous best time by 10 minutes!!! Yes 10 minutes, Who says you can't buy time!!! Well the worst part was when I finally arrived home. No one was there and the door was locked. I had also left my keys behind to reduce bulk and weight...
As I sat on my front porch shivering with skin tight cycling pants I could see my neighbours staring. Then I remembered that I had a Hot Tub...the brain cells had retreated with the cold, so I ran around to the back of the house and stripped off and jumped in...it was the perfect January ride and I will probably never again get that opportunity in the middle of winter!!!

that sounded like a great time, the hot tub finished off the day nicely there. i wish i got a brand new madone and some nice weather! ;) really made me want to get on my beater and go for a ride. :)

here in calgary, most of the snow has been gone for a long time, we've been getting daytime high's usuall around plus 5 or 6 and the roadies are out in full force. I have been restricted to riding my fixie though, because i'm waiting on my new road bike to ship in. can't wait!

Ride's planned for Sat - forcast is sunny and 8 here in Edmonton. Let'r roll!

I usually track Jan-Mar like it was one month. In 2005 I rode 288 km's. This year I have 672 already. Mostly weekends on the Toronto bike path and commuter network.

Urban cycling is OK. There's lots of new places to explore and people to look at.

Fenders and fat tires are fantastic and so are those toe warmer jobbies you buy at Marks Work warehouse.

With regular riding I'm even starting to get a little stronger and reverse some of the winter weight gains.

Whoooooo Hoooo !!!!!

.............has anybody spent any time on a bike lately that wasn't in the basement?

My goal the winter is NOT to ride in the basement. If I accomplish this (and I will!) it will be the first time in 32 years that I haven't rollered all winter. My other goal is not to ride outdoors in the slop and ice either. That one will be even easier to do.

Of course this winter I have a good excuse not to ride in the basement or outdoors - it's called the Forest City Velodrome in London Ontario. We're open 7 days per week and some of the Keeners (roadracers just itching for Good Friday!) are cranking out about 4 sessions per week and 70-90k each session. I'm there 3x per week for about 40-60k each time.

Come on down guys! The g-forces are addictive. Too far you say? Whitby eh? We have one fellow who makes it from Bowmanville most Friday evenings and quite a few from the Toronto area.

If you're from out of town, come on Saturday and do the Trackschool 1 (learn to ride this track) and return on the 4th Saturday of the month to complete Trackschool in my new Trackschool 2&3 Combo session designed just for the out-of-towners. These three sessions are designed to teach you not to kill yourselves, or worse still, us. :D

See ya there!

http://www.forestcityvelodrome.ca/index.html

Hey guru,
What are you trying to do...totally ruin my life?
Don't you know that most of us bike guys are type A personalities with fixations on whatever we are doing at the moment?
If I show up to this velodrome thing...what happens two weeks from now when I am hooked and start taking time off work to ride?
What if I start to crave the smell of a hardwood floor?
I thought the whole point of riding in the basement was, that at the first sign of spring I could actually crawl out of that hated dark space under my house onto a clear sunny stretch of open road.
So how do I get to this place? From the Niagara Area.
How much does it cost? Or like the pusher you are do I get my first one free?
Do I bring my own bike or do I crash one of yours?
I actually get saturdays off once in awhile and this sounds like a pleasant way to spend the afternoon!!!
Later den
Mark

Hey guru,
What are you trying to do...totally ruin my life?
Don't you know that most of us bike guys are type A personalities with fixations on whatever we are doing at the moment?
If I show up to this velodrome thing...what happens two weeks from now when I am hooked and start taking time off work to ride?

We're trying to hook ya like a fish and reel ya in! :D



So how do I get to this place? From the Niagara Area.

Easy! QEW, 403, 401 for two hours. How much easier can it get?



How much does it cost?

For you - $20 for a session, $10 for bike rental.



Or like the pusher you are do I get my first one free?

Oh we're a CHARITY? Get the heck outta here! This ain't the 'done clinic.


What if I start to crave the smell of a hardwood floor?

We can sell you a small bag of sawdust for $5.


Do I bring my own bike or do I crash one of yours?

Well if you've got your own track bike you're ok (as if eh?) otherwise we gouge, errr, rent you one.


I actually get saturdays off once in awhile and this sounds like a pleasant way to spend the afternoon!!!

As they say on Saturday afternoon TV - "FISH ON!!!" See ya there!

Niagara area you say? At this weekend's "N.Am Short Track Championships (Sat & Sun) we have Niagara Falls' own world champion Gord Singleton racing!

Tandembiker eh? Here's Kitch/Waterloo's Chris Wood and his visually impaired stoker Dave Johnson last Friday -

I live in T.O. and rode 5 days last week and it was great. Oh, I should mention that I was on vacation in Florida and it was sunny and 80F.