Things That Make Winter Riding Almost Worth It...
TheBigYin
Posts: 5,686 Member
Well, we sometimes spend too much time dwelling on the downsides of riding in truly "Flandrian" weather... so I thought I'd Start a more Positive thread...
What are the Upsides of going out in Miserable cold / wet / otherwise horrible conditions...
I'll start with a couple...
1) The pleasurable pain of circulation returning to your toes as you stand in the shower post-ride...
2) The thought of the big Pan of "Clear the Veg Tray Soup" that's waiting for you on your return from the ride...
3) The occasional blue-sky day with the air as crisp and clear as a good Gin and Tonic.
4) The Nip of Sloe-Gin from the hip-flask handed round at the pauses in the sociable night-rides on the MTB in the local woods.
5) going out for a couple of hours on Christmas morning, knowing that you'll have a decent appetite for the Christmas Dinner, and be able to still be enjoying the meal when it comes to the Port and Stilton around the 8th course or so...
Now - over to the rest of you... no negative nellies please
What are the Upsides of going out in Miserable cold / wet / otherwise horrible conditions...
I'll start with a couple...
1) The pleasurable pain of circulation returning to your toes as you stand in the shower post-ride...
2) The thought of the big Pan of "Clear the Veg Tray Soup" that's waiting for you on your return from the ride...
3) The occasional blue-sky day with the air as crisp and clear as a good Gin and Tonic.
4) The Nip of Sloe-Gin from the hip-flask handed round at the pauses in the sociable night-rides on the MTB in the local woods.
5) going out for a couple of hours on Christmas morning, knowing that you'll have a decent appetite for the Christmas Dinner, and be able to still be enjoying the meal when it comes to the Port and Stilton around the 8th course or so...
Now - over to the rest of you... no negative nellies please
0
Replies
-
Something about riding in the crisp Winter weather that is very satisfying and I much prefer it to sweltering heat that can sap your energy, Sunday had that feel, it was cold but looked like this:
![10831955_828827900493120_819228824_n.jpg](http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/10831955_828827900493120_819228824_n.jpg"]photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/10831955_828827900493120_819228824_n.jpg)
However just be careful when it looks a bit like this as black ice is about:![10809706_601150963341424_11832397_n.jpg](http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xpf1/10809706_601150963341424_11832397_n.jpg"]photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xpf1/10809706_601150963341424_11832397_n.jpg)
Very satisfying feeling coming back in from the cold and getting a cracking workout in the process.
0 -
The beer & pizza afterwards.0
-
Winter weather ?? There is winter weather about ?? Not around here...and that is a positive !!0
-
Winter weather has taken a break here, it will be 68F today :-)0
-
-
Great thread idea!
Here's mine:
1. Tires on fresh powder, the only sound around since it is so still and quiet you can actually hear it.
2. Bright blue skies on cold mornings, so crisp and cold it's like it was cut with a diamond.
3. The incredulous looks from your co-workers when they realize you rode to work "in this weather?!"
4. Kindness of a stranger who stops and gives you a ride when the snow is coming down and you're far from home.0 -
Spatialized wrote: »Great thread idea!
Here's mine:
1. Tires on fresh powder, the only sound around since it is so still and quiet you can actually hear it.
2. Bright blue skies on cold mornings, so crisp and cold it's like it was cut with a diamond.
3. The incredulous looks from your co-workers when they realize you rode to work "in this weather?!"
4. Kindness of a stranger who stops and gives you a ride when the snow is coming down and you're far from home.
Love it... we don't (often) get long sustained periods of snow here - benefits of being a small island with the gulf stream warming the waters around it. But when we do get proper snow, I must admit the feeling of walking/riding through proper hardpack stuff with the squeak like styrofoam cups is something special.
And harking back to my bike commuting times, it's not only the looks of disbelief from the co-workers, it's the fact that you arrive fresh and fully awake (if occasionally a little spaced out from the journey) whereas they drag their *kitten* from the heated cocoon of the car, still half asleep and only properly wake up around 11am after the fourth coffee...
0 -
This discussion has been closed.