Ride or slide?

BlazingPedals · 12-26-2009, 11:47PM

New to the list, but not to recumbents. I started my recumbent career almost 13 years ago with a V-Rex. I've still got it, but the lowracers and highracer get a lot more ride time these days.

I live in Michigan, and winter... sucks for riding. I'd take the V-Rex out, except that when it's not icy it's salty! I went out today, but there was ice on all the roads, so no choice - I had to take my upright. My butt and hands were crying, and I only did 10 miles! So, the question is, how many of you are able to ride your 'bents through the winter?

dragnfly · 12-27-2009, 08:06PM

Ya I know I live in Ohio. It totally sucks to live here during the winter you can't do anything but dream about next season and come on the and gripe about the bad weather we've got here.
Cheers
Shawn

B-Savage · 12-28-2009, 01:00PM

Welcome to the forum John. Whereabouts in MI are you? And what bike is that in your avatar?

I do not ride the bike outdoors in the winter. Simply put, I don't enjoy riding when it is cold. Besides that, fall is hunting time and winter is wood cutting. I do get on the trainer indoors though through the winter. Oh I'd love to see a warm day so I could even go 10 miles outdoors, but I won't count on that much before, maybe, March; usually April.

BlazingPedals · 12-28-2009, 09:47PM

I'm in the 'greater Lansing' area. I hate riding in cold, too; even when I go out I never do more than about ten miles because that's all the further I can stand to ride my upright and I refuse to take my nice 'bents out in the ice, slush, and salt. I feel gypped that all the recent snow missed me; if we get a bit more, I can get the x-c skis out. There's some nice trails a few miles from my house.

The bike in my avatar is an M5 carbon highracer.

B-Savage · 12-28-2009, 10:19PM

John, I've noticed a lot of recumbents like to ride out to Sleepy Hollow State Park. Is this one of your regular routes?

I ask that because I have a niece who lives near Laingsburg and I ride down there to visit from time to time and many times see others. So far just waving as they are usually headed in the opposite direction. I did meet one young man last summer, I believe in August. I was heading back but stopped to get something out of my pack to eat. As I was finishing, I noticed him coming on strong so waited, then we rode together to Ovid where I broke off to visit an Uncle.

btw, I live near Marion Springs but our address is Chesaning. It seems to me like it is around 30 miles to my niece's place but I get there a few times during the summer. The last time was on a century ride (solo). Her husband thinks I'm crazy; she knows I am. lol

I like the looks of that M5. I'm betting it rides nice.

dragnfly · 12-29-2009, 12:17AM

John count yourself bless we have snow here in Springfield and I hate it.
I'd rather be down around where dedeye is or any where warm.
cheers
shawn

BlazingPedals · 12-29-2009, 09:39PM

Many years ago, we used to have a Sunday ride every week that went to Sleepy Hollow. That was always my 'recovery' day - an easy ride with an easier-going group. And it was about half recumbents. But when the ride leader passed away, nobody else took his place. Now the club goes through Laingsburg a lot, and past Sleepy Hollow quite a bit, but we rarely stop there. There are plenty of recumbents in the area, though. Probably just doing their own rides.

I've been on lowracers for 8 years, and got the M5 with the idea that it would fit better with the pacelines; but I was surprised by how much I like it just for itself. I think that next year it'll be my 'normal' bike and my lowracers will be held in reserve for when I'm riding with the lowracer group.

Dragonfly, we've had 10 inches of snow so far this year, but never enough on the ground to go skiing. Besides, I have a new snow blower to test out!

B-Savage · 12-30-2009, 04:20PM

John, I have to ride down that way to get any hills. There just aren't many hills to climb in mid-MI.

dragnfly · 12-30-2009, 06:07PM

I wish I had the money for that Greenspeed that had skies on it. Do they still make it.
cheers
shawn.
Oh and not dragonfly that's a totally different person. I'm what we do up hill and down. drag up and fly down or dragnfly for short.

aenlaasu · 01-01-2010, 04:58AM

Sadly, I'm way too sensative to the cold and don't enjoy shivering with hypothermia for 4 hours after a 30 min ride. I've tried every combination of layers, wool, synthetics, so forth, that I can think of and all the same result.

Other than that, I doubt I could ride once the snow and ice have hit. Snow chokes my chain and locks it. The ice ruts on the cycle paths can smash my deraillure. So.. I'm keeping in something close to condition by pedalling my trainer in front of the TV. Yay.. go me.

Still better than starting off at pitiful 10 mile rides when spring comes. I WILL hit the ground running with rides of a min of 30 miles. Loke will just have to catch up with me for a change.