Now starts the winter of our discontent

3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Andre Jute
A rowing machine just isn't the same as bike

"Andre Jute" wrote in message
...
3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Heh! I'm paying now for the few days of (unseasonal, the news weather folks
are eager to continuous remind us) 60's and finally reaching 70^F today,
with more like it on the way. I screamed and cried like a schoolgirl when
the quads cramped, feeling like they would shred bone if I didn't twist and
squirm them into positions to relieve their agony. Damn near spilled my
beer, too. It's simply stunning how quickly the body reverts to its normal
slack self without constant vigilance.

On Nov 10, 6:11*am, "MikeWhy" wrote:
"Andre Jute" wrote in message

...





3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Heh! I'm paying now for the few days of (unseasonal, the news weather folks
are eager to continuous remind us) 60's and finally reaching 70^F today,
with more like it on the way. I screamed and cried like a schoolgirl when
the quads cramped, feeling like they would shred bone if I didn't twist and
squirm them into positions to relieve their agony. Damn near spilled my
beer, too. It's simply stunning how quickly the body reverts to its normal
slack self without constant vigilance.

You're telling it like it is, Mike. I find I work better after a spot
of fresh air and forced induction cycling up a long hill. -- AJ

Andre Jute wrote:

3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Andre Jute
A rowing machine just isn't the same as bike

What keeping you inside? Here in DK we have this sort of weather for
about 4 months, and I just use wider tyres during that time. What I
can't cycle on is slick ice after one of those mild rainfalls on
frozen ground. I tried that once and after the third slide gave up.
But dry ice is OK. I was in Norway once and saw a bloke ride on that
slick ice. I asked him how he did it, and he showed me the spiked
tyres he had. They cost more, and here they are not needed, but if
you're really keen on riding, you can no doubt get them where you are.
--
Dieter Britz (dieterhansbritzatgmail.com)

On 11/10/2010 3:08 AM, Dieter Britz wrote:
Andre Jute wrote:

3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Andre Jute
A rowing machine just isn't the same as bike

What keeping you inside? Here in DK we have this sort of weather for
about 4 months, and I just use wider tyres during that time. What I
can't cycle on is slick ice after one of those mild rainfalls on
frozen ground. I tried that once and after the third slide gave up.
But dry ice is OK. I was in Norway once and saw a bloke ride on that
slick ice. I asked him how he did it, and he showed me the spiked
tyres he had. They cost more, and here they are not needed, but if
you're really keen on riding, you can no doubt get them where you are.

I keep a set of studs on one bike all winter -- well, two bikes, one for
my wife, too. I get cabin fever too bad if I don't get out at least
weekly even in the dead of winter (Boston). After one bad experience
with "black ice", my wife wouldn't ride in those conditions, but I
finally convinced her that studs were the complete solution. Yes,
they're heavy and expensive, but they beat the alternative of staying
indoors. Given the low mileage under those conditions, these last
forever, I think mine are 10 years old or so and still going strong.

Given its coastal location and oscillating weather patterns, Boston is
famous for freeze/thaw cycles, the kind of thing that generates black
ice. Every once in a great while, we get just the right conditions where
the snow cover gets coated with a thick enough layer of ice to support a
bike. Then it's like the whole countryside has been paved. Riding on
that is some of the most fun I've ever had on a bike. Riding on frozen
lakes & rivers is lots of fun, too.

Cold rain is the hardest thing to ride in, especially with lots of wind.
That can make spring and fall some of the worst riding here. Getting
pelted with horizontal rain at just above freezing is unpleasant no
matter how you dress for it.

On 11/10/2010 12:48 AM, Andre Jute wrote:
3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Did the first off season spinning class last night. Winters are long
here. Up 2-3-4 Down 2-3-4 ... What fun.

In article
,
Andre Jute wrote:

3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

There are chores and projects about the homestead
you have been putting off.

--
Michael Press

On Nov 10, 2:21*pm, Duane Hébert wrote:
On 11/10/2010 12:48 AM, Andre Jute wrote:





3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Did the first off season spinning class last night. *Winters are long
here. *Up 2-3-4 Down 2-3-4 ... *What fun.

Sounds like you absolutely relish the cold, Duane. -- AJ

On Nov 10, 8:08*am, Dieter Britz wrote:
Andre Jute wrote:
3 degrees Celsius outside, ice on cars, road with little icy buttons.

****!

My cycling target isn't high: 50km a week, 2000km for the year or at
least as far as I rode the previous year.

Last year I rode 2127km. This year so far 1906km but it has stood
there for weeks with constant heavy rain, and now, when the rain
passes, freezing weather.

When I was a young professional sportsman, I would take every
opportunity to sit on my ass in intellectual or at least elegant
company, and I thought nothing of lecturing jocks whose sole sense was
kinesthetic on the pleasures of repose, the dangers of becoming an
exercise junkie. I apologize to all the meatheads who heard that story
from me. I know now how it feels to NEED the exercise.

Andre Jute
A rowing machine just isn't the same as bike

What keeping you inside? Here in DK we have this sort of weather for
about 4 months, and I just use wider tyres during that time. What I
can't cycle on is slick ice after one of those mild rainfalls on
frozen ground. I tried that once and after the third slide gave up.
But dry ice is OK. I was in Norway once and saw a bloke ride on that
slick ice. I asked him how he did it, and he showed me the spiked
tyres he had. They cost more, and here they are not needed, but if
you're really keen on riding, you can no doubt get them where you are.
--
Dieter Britz (dieterhansbritzatgmail.com)

Not enough depth of ice here, and no consistent coverage. The one time
I even rode onto a stretch of black long enough to qualify as 'cover',
it was no longer than thirty feet. Studded tires would have been
destroyed just getting there...

I should perhaps add that I'm a nightowl. I like to ride in the middle
of the night, which doubles the misery when it is cold and the roads
have spots of ice. I ride on Big Apple 60x622mm year round, among
other reasons because they're good in the slippery conditions I
sometimes meet on slippery, narrow downhills where cows or slurry
tanks have passed.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/Andre%20Jute's%20Utopia%20Kranich.pdf

"Andre Jute" wrote in message
...
On Nov 10, 2:21 pm, Duane Hébert wrote:

Did the first off season spinning class last night. Winters are long
here. Up 2-3-4 Down 2-3-4 ... What fun.

Sounds like you absolutely relish the cold, Duane. -- AJ

Just until the ski slopes open.
Winter is long here though. The snow is starting and the last
of it will go away in April if we're lucky.