Thursday, October 26, 2023

Day 52...My Morning Ride

 


Full on woolies this morning for the first time this fall.

Frost on car windows and the leaves but not, luckily, on the pavement.

Only 42 days to go.


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10 comments:

Evil Eye said...

Be well my friend, be well. Far too many of my "cohort" are suffering from the same sort of thing and are receiving the same sort of treatment.

I sometimes stay awake at night thinking "there but for the grace of god, go I".

Just had our 50 year high-school reunion and a good quarter of our graduating class had taken the Stairway to Heaven or on the waiting list.

Again, be well!

Keith said...

After the initial shock to the system of winter riding, when you are numb it’s all good.

RossK said...

Thanks EE--

My 50th is coming...

You be well as well

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Keith--

Agreed! Kind of like swimming in the ocean now that I think about it.

Except for one thing not quite going numb, which is the tips of the ears in the windscream (today I wore a toque under the helmet...I have become my Dad, which isn't necessarily a bad thing).


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e.a.f. said...

went out on the deck last evening to check on the almost full moon. Noticed there was ice, then noticed the dirt on the plants was frozen. Then I noticed I was getting frozen. Took plants and self into house. Biking riding on on the agenda. If I fall, it won't be pretty. Walking works for me and of course my vehicles.
It is lovely though outside here in Nanaimo, especially behind the glass. Sunny, blue sky, gree trees, life is good. Enjoy your bike rides. Bikes are one of the world's best inventions. They can take us greater distances, at lower cost, less impact on the enviornment,can be stored at home easily compared to horses and vehicles. Bikes are a great invention, its just all those hills we have around here..

RossK said...

eaf--

I hear you eat - I had a sliding fall on a bit of black ice a couple of winters ago...luckily no big damage but I'm a chicken now at the first sign of a real freeze which is a good thing...As for walking on the solid form of water - after C. had her knee replaced, I got her some strap-on spikes things that are easy to put on and take off - you can get them from MEC.

Saw that moon last night when out with the W-II before the fireworks started in earnest - it was, indeed, impressive.


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Keith said...

“Except for one thing not quite going numb, which is the tips of the ears in the windscream (today I wore a toque under the helmet...I have become my Dad, which isn't necessarily a bad thing).”

Take a trip to the local bike shop which should have a cycling specific “skull cap” made of thin but warm material worn under the helmet, they come in various forms, some that cover the ears, some don’t. In colder temperatures they work like a charm. I also have a specific helmet for winter with the worse venting rating I can find.

If cold air on the frontal area whilst riding is a problem, a quick fix is to put some newspaper underneath the jacket if you don’t have to ride too far as it can get sweaty. I use a synthetic chammy leather made for car washing on longer winter rides.

RossK said...

Keith--

You need to start up an 'all weather biking' blog and/or podcast!

Thanks for the tips!

Next up...studded tires in winter...yes or no?

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Keith said...

Next up...studded tires in winter...yes or no?


If the commuter roads are at the point where you think you need studded tires I wouldn’t, you may have control but the problem is everyone else. I’m of the opinion the safety aspect of staying off the roads for the short time we get those conditions outweighs the the risks.

Usually the roads are brined or salted wet and bare, if so a decent winter tire would be just the ticket. Take care over white lines and manhole covers, give the bike a good clean from time to time as the grit, salt and wet mixed with oil is a grinding paste that will wear the chain, rear cogs and chainrings out, wash it off with soapy water as the salt will corrode stuff especially the wheel spokes, a drop of wd40 down the spoke nipples at the rim will help stop them corroding.

Rule of thumb; If Gordon Lightfoot was still with us, would he write a song about the weather, if the answer is yes, stay off the roads, if the answer is no, out you go.

RossK said...

Thanks for the sound advice Keith.

And, as for the rule of thumb, the last line is gold Jerry, gold!

Gord's Gold that is.


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NVG said...

'Dad wonders why we don't call it Armistice Day anymore.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day#


This article is about the memorial day to honour the war dead following the Armistice at the end of World War I.



For memorials on 11 November after World War II, associated traditions in Commonwealth countries and more details of related memorials in other countries, see Remembrance Day. For other uses, see Armistice Day (disambiguation ......