50 Shades of Gray- A celebration of 2012/13 winter riding

[mjbabcock]

Well, winter returned today to the PNW, and with it came the rain and clouds rolling in off the Pacific. Not one to stay inside, I threw some fenders and flashing lights onto the fixed gear and set out for a super wet and windy ride. As I was spinning along hitting the occasional pothole hidden under the water and getting sprayed by passing cars, I started to think about how riding in the winter is such a different experience than the rest of the year. There's a little bit of sadism and masochism involved, but there's also something cool about putting your head down to avoid the stinging rain on your face and seeing your reflection in the road.

This thread isn't a spot for pretty fall colors or scenes from Florida or San Diego. Instead, this should be a collection of images and experiences unique to the next five or six months.

[TMB]

I do NOT miss living down there in that weather.

That said, we are now getting your crappy rain, thanks, I put fenders on the bike last night. Didn't get a chance to go out today but Cathy Pendrells' CX series is in town tomorrow so will ride to the race. I hope it's raining.

[Bkat]

Actually looking forward to the cold & wet weather ahead. I think my best ride all year was late winter, 40 degrees, overcast, raining, and windy. Granted, I had lost most of the feeling in my hands and feet and after three hours had a nice Belgian tan on my exposed ankles and face, but it sure was nice riding on relatively uncrowded roads devoid of the normal summer chaos. I know. Come April, I'll be griping about the weather, but that's the nice thing about living somewhere there are real seasons. Everything changes.

[TMB]

You know the best thing about this time of year??

Homemade soup!!

[Matthew Strongin]

Well, winter returned today to the PNW, and with it came the rain and clouds rolling in off the Pacific. Not one to stay inside, I threw some fenders and flashing lights onto the fixed gear and set out for a super wet and windy ride. As I was spinning along hitting the occasional pothole hidden under the water and getting sprayed by passing cars, I started to think about how riding in the winter is such a different experience than the rest of the year. There's a little bit of sadism and masochism involved, but there's also something cool about putting your head down to avoid the stinging rain on your face and seeing your reflection in the road.

This thread isn't a spot for pretty fall colors or scenes from Florida or San Diego. Instead, this should be a collection of images and experiences unique to the next five or six months.

We're in that transitional weather time of year where even in Florida we get this kind of weather, less cold, but still stinging rain and howling wind. A couple months from now it'll be a different story.

[Matthew J]

While Chicago saw a lot of rain yesterday with a lot more to come today, this weekend is more the exception to the drought that started last November than the rule.

My commuter is a fender equipped single speed. I usually expect it will be the only bike I ride from mid-November through March. Last winter the fenders were more decorations than useful. The only real hazard was the sun so low in the sky made south facing rides difficult.

If this winter is a repeat of last, I should get a lot of great rides. On the other hand, the pernicious drought may make other aspects of life less beneficial.

[fletcher]

I'll throw in a couple from last year. Haven't yet been out to ride the last couple days of wet weather in the PNW. I'm sort of looking forward to it, though. I'll post more from this fall/winter once I get out there. I like where this thread is heading.

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[4Serottas]

Cross posted in the weekend ride report so I thought I'd spam the forum with a duplicate here. Did 40 miles, wind chill below the mileage ridden with intermittent heavy rain. Here was the tool of choice:

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[joosttx]

Making miss the east coast.......

[j44ke]

I raced this back to my house. Then it stalled and I had to water the plants. Now it's raining. Weather near the ocean is a minute by minute thing. Highly changeable. No radar can save you, it can only make suggestions.

[Fourflys]

well, we have certainly started winter here in Kodiak, AK... snow flurries today and in the teens tonight...

[mjbabcock]

Waves of insane rain and wind with periods of tranquility inbetween

[Saab2000]

Lots of darkness tonight and wet leaves. A hour of fairly intense riding on the ss tonight. Not much gray. But lots of brilliant white from the LED lights. Winter riding with tights and lights is here.
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[Z3c]

I had to find my armwarmers the other day.. My character grew because of the experience.

Having spent 15+ years living in the midworst, I certainly had my share of experience building rides. I miss them like I miss being in Iraq..

[vertical_doug]

mwo-snowman.jpg

As posted on the Mount Washington Observatory page from last week. As they say in the Game of Thrones: Winter is coming.

[jimbo]

Bumping this thread. Lots of winter to come here in the PNW.
Despite intermitent breaks, it was wet today. I tried to take a pic of a row of maples in fall splendor, but my cell phone couldn't capture it.
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[fletcher]

The rain is back. Bring it on!

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[mjbabcock]

Looking up the Fraser Valley to the Coast Range mountains and down towards Bellingham BayIMG_2121.jpgIMG_2122.jpg

[mjbabcock]

This weekend brought lots of rain and the kind of wind that keeps your hands on the bars despite the snot running down your nose onto your upper lip.

[jamesand]

Grabbing some winter singletrack:

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