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#1
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
Hey guys -
Our local (Ventura County, California) recumbent cycling group has regular rides on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, usually with about 15 to 30 cyclists showing up. I was caught a little off-guard last Saturday when one of the guys called to tell me he was going to go for a short jaunt the next day (on Sunday). He thought that I might be up for it, since I had missed the ride last weekend, with a cold that had me gasping for breath. I was, and I thought of another couple who were just bouncing back from losing her aging mother right after Christmas. They were in, and then our numbers quickly doubled, until we had a nice little group showing up for an impromptu ride. On a REALLY chilly morning in SoCal, as local records for low temps were dropping like low racers hitting a slick ice patch, ten of us got together for about a 25 mile cruise from northeast Oxnard to Channel Islands Marina. I know that most of the folks in the central US would have been happy to trade places with us, but for us (spoiled!) SoCal sissies, it was COLD! The day was clear and bone dry, with crisp deep blue skies, and just enough wind gusting to get to you. As usual in this part of the world, some of us were a bit underdressed, expecting (or hoping) it would warm up as the sun got higher. My wife Kay and I brought coffee and donuts to the start, which helped warm our little bellies and brains, but it was too late for the biker who had driven the farthrest. He (or she - which and who will remain nameless, as long as the payment schedule is met) had loaded the bike on a roof rack, but drove off without the front wheel. A wheel off one of my MTBs worked, however, and away we all went. This was an interesting group - one of the few rides, or maybe the only ride, where we've had as many women as men. No speed records were set or even attempted. We just bumbled along chatting and enjoying a great crisp winter day out on the road. We had lunch at the Pirates restaurant, starting on the patio as usual, close to the bikes and trikes, but as the sun dropped below the main building west of the patio, we unanimously agreed to move inside. Fortunately, we didn't have to watch the entire episode of the Chargers being humbled. Anyway, bottom line, this was just another one of those happy little surprises that make me really appreciate where we live and the other cyclists that we are blessed to spend time with. Ten cyclists getting together for a spur-of-the-moment, pickup recumbent ride on the coldest weekend of the year? Can't happen too often in too many other places in the world... Regards, Wayne |
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#2
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
32GO wrote: snip On a REALLY chilly morning in SoCal, as local records for low temps were dropping like low racers hitting a slick ice patch, ten of us got together for about a 25 mile cruise from northeast Oxnard to Channel Islands Marina. snip So, how cold was it? I've been riding (mostly solo, unfortunately) in temps ranging from mid 20s F to low 40s F. (Of course, from a southwestern Pennsylvania perspective, this is practically shorts weather, as far as our typical January goes...) Biggest problem I've encountered has been poor core temperature control...specifically, overheating just enough to work up a good sweat, which then produces bone-chilling evaporative cold on the next descent. I've been working on my layering, but haven't found the right combination of garments that can be unzipped enough while exerting myself to prevent the sweat from building up. Wicking garments help a lot, but it's still a challenge. Best, Dan |
#3
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
I don't know, but I have a hard time with "Record Low Temp" when talking
about southern California! Joao "world's tallest midget" de Souza |
#4
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
Joao wrote:
I don't know, but I have a hard time with "Record Low Temp" when talking about southern California! Joao "world's tallest midget" de Souza Agree .... not that I was riding but the other morning -12F 'warmed' right up to 9F it did..... Don |
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
Joao wrote:
I have a hard time with "Record Low Temp" when talking about southern California! while Dan B wanted specifics: So, how cold was it? Okay, okay... the temp was in the 40s (F) for most of our ride... but hey, it was a DRY cold... and there was the wind chill... okay, okay, I told you we're spoiled sissies. But I was a little 'pinged' to see folks show up with no advance notice even, about half as many as we usually get for a ride, even though we had rides scheduled for the (nicer) weekends just before and just after. Temps should be in the 60s for this Saturday. Regards, Wayne |
#6
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
On 17 Jan 2007 22:39:35 -0800, "32GO" wrote:
Okay, okay... the temp was in the 40s (F) for most of our ride... but hey, it was a DRY cold... and there was the wind chill... Ah, so you had to don the long sleeve shirts and windbreakers. Brave folks! :-) -- Robert, in the teens and twenties here the past couple of weeks |
#7
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
Robert Stevahn wrote:
Ah, so you had to don the long sleeve shirts... Yep, it was an excruciating experience! ;-) Yesterday's ride was scheduled rather than a last minute quicky, but I think the fact that it was about 20 to 25 degrees warmer might have had more to do with the fact that we had almost 30 folks show up, including a couple from Korea on brand new Greenspeeds. Nice ride, but it did get a little chilly zooming down the Ventura River Trail from Ojai when we went under some high cloud cover. I'll have pix posted later this week at: http://www.vcrr.org/news.htm If any of you folks from colder climes are going to be in SoCal this winter, come ride with us if you get the chance. We can usually even scrounge up a loaner bike or trike for out-of-towners. Regards, Wayne |
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Recumbent Ride in Record Low Temp
On 2007-01-22 04:48:56 +0000, "32GO" said:
If any of you folks from colder climes are going to be in SoCal this winter, come ride with us if you get the chance. We can usually even scrounge up a loaner bike or trike for out-of-towners. Regards, Wayne I get over to L.A. and San Diego from time to time so may take you up on that. -- Three wheels good, two wheels ok www.catrike.co.uk |
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