Cycling Thread

[Bigtime]

Anyone else ride in today? Winter is coming (again) this afternoon it sounds like. Enjoy those bare paths while you can.

[Fuzz]

I did. Had to switch from my cold weather gear I've been wearing all week to my really cold weather gear. Looks like Monday and Tuesday could be rough days.

[Bigtime]

I think Monday will be a no go day for me since they'll probably be slow to clear the Nose creek pathway. I'm hoping Tuesday I can ride since it's also Winter Bike to Work day and you can score some hot chocolate and stuff at the Simmon's building in the afternoon.

[Fuzz]

That's the photo booth, Bike to work day is Friday:

[Bigtime]

But everyday is "social engineering the war against cars" day right?

[Bigtime]

War on the car continues, the CMLC will extend the cycle tracks on 9th and 12th avenues SE and add a track on 4th street SE connecting the Bow pathway to Stampede.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...gary-1.3964756

[worth]

I rode in and even though 99% of the paths are bare, I almost managed to biff it behind the zoo. Thank god for my studded front tire, it saved me for sure. Headwind = NG, but maybe it will stay that way for the ride home. Oh who am I kidding.

[Fuzz]

Forecast calls for 20-40 North wind this afternoon. Booo.

[habernac]

I pansied out the last three days. The headwind ride Tuesday sapped my enthusiasm. Might have to punish myself with some indoor miles this weekend.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by worth

I rode in and even though 99% of the paths are bare, I almost managed to biff it behind the zoo. Thank god for my studded front tire, it saved me for sure. Headwind = NG, but maybe it will stay that way for the ride home. Oh who am I kidding.

Was it that section of ice that is right on the turn from the bow river to nose creek? Or further west alongside the river?

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Forecast calls for 20-40 North wind this afternoon. Booo.

Yay!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Yay!

[worth]

Yeah, right on the section from the river turning onto nose creek. I was not really paying attention, I didn't have my hands on the brakes, my palms were resting on the ends of the bars and the front wheel started to come out, but then the studs gripped again and i was able to recover. Good thing because it was asphalt right after that and it would have hurt to bail there.

And I concur, yay for north winds!

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

War on the car continues, the CMLC will extend the cycle tracks on 9th and 12th avenues SE and add a track on 4th street SE connecting the Bow pathway to Stampede.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...gary-1.3964756

Finishing 12 ave to the elbow pathway is such a no brainer. Minimal traffic impact and makes that end of the network much more user friendly.

Just need to connect 5th st all the way south to the elbow river

[worth]

i'm assuming that was a tough ride home for you guys into that headwind. apparently i made it home 13 minutes faster than i did going to work, which is nuts, i don't know if i believe that.

[Fuzz]

Oh man, it has been a rough week at work, then I had an unscheduled 40 minute call 10 minutes before I was going to leave. All I wanted to do was get home. Then bam. Hit the wind. Suffer fest all the way up the 10th st hill, and it got worse until I hit Confederation. I felt like I was pushing through a snow bank for the last km. Looking at the wind record it doesn't seem like it was to bad, so it must have been mental.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Anyone else ride in today? Winter is coming (again) this afternoon it sounds like. Enjoy those bare paths while you can.

I did. I'm still working on my cycling apparel. I added a fleece sweater.....when I got to work, I was boiling from the waist up and my legs were freezing.

[Bigtime]

Tailwind was fantastic yesterday, started riding as the first bit of light snow was falling. Turned west at the bow river and crossed worth's notorious iced section of pathway without incident (slowed right down for it). Heading westbound along the Bow path that north wind always seems to get funneled in a way that has you fighting it, as almost my entire westbound section was into it.

On the drive in this morning saw the plows and bobcats out on the paths already, and one brave soul riding eastbound by the zoo.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by pope04

I did. I'm still working on my cycling apparel. I added a fleece sweater.....when I got to work, I was boiling from the waist up and my legs were freezing.

Fleece, yuk......feels nice to wear, but not practical for biking.

You could go with a fleece lined garment, but not a full on fleece.

As for the bottoms, I have heavier fall type leggings (fleece lined) and I then have a pair of wind proof shells to go over.

When it is really cold, I throw on a pair of Columbia Omani heat long under wear, then the lined tights, a pair of spandex shorts, then the wind shell.

Always want to be cold at start.

[Fuzz]

I have a tight fitting fleece cycling top. On colder days I put a merino wool shirt under it. Bottoms are insulated wind pants, adding long underwear and loose fitting fleece long underwear when necessary.

[Northendzone]

Did 20k today on unpowered pathways. It was a workout for sure....my legs still feel like stone.