Change of tactics for winter?

[steveindenmark]

The best thing about this entire site is the Ignore button....that really matters.

Leonard Rossiters brother used to be a client of mine. He was a miserable bastxxd as well.

I will still be riding my 12km commute as long as possible or until its just too cold. But we can get some gorgeous winter mornings for short rides.

 

[Crackle]

My most common ride is 15 miles on the road bike. I'll go out and do as little as 5 on the mtn bike. If I don't have an aim, an hour suits my temperament.

 

[Mrs M]

I've started my evening rides.
Wrap up and go for a local toddle for 30-40 mins.
Roads reasonably quiet and we have lights on the bikes.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It matters to me; or I wouldn't have posted. But there's always one.... Thanks for farking up what I thought was a reasonable thread.
Never mind, let's get back to useful stuff like..... errrm, well nothing actually. Does any of it REALLY matter?

Slipping into serious mode, you might run out of roads you want to ride because you can't go so far on a short one. Perhaps throwing in a few longer rides when weather allows might bring in more interest.

 

[Brandane]

The best thing about this entire site is the Ignore button....that really matters.

If I put all the self righteous nobbers, barrack room lawyers, fantasists, and trolls on ignore then this forum would make for very disjointed reading (I did try it once).

 

[mjr]

It's difficult staying out long in winter as sweaty clothes will eventually get cold. So rides of 2 hours or less usually make sense.

I wouldn't ride hard enough to sweat in winter for various reasons, including that.

 

[Brandane]

Slipping into serious mode, you might run out of roads you want to ride because you can't go so far on a short one. Perhaps throwing in a few longer rides when weather allows might bring in more interest.

Ahem; *cough*, from the OP....

I'm not ruling out longer winter rides if the weather plays ball, but I like the idea of getting out for a short ride as a minimum.

 

[steve50]

I like long steady winter rides, wrap up well in the thermal gear, steady riding means I don't get too much of a sweat on so staying comfortable throughout the ride, do twenty to thirty miles , back home, hot shower then feet up and relax in the knowledge I have had a good ride.

 

[Andrew_P]

My whole cycling "career" is made up of 15 mile rides, two of them a day 5-6 times a week and I love it. I have to cycle with an aim, to get somewhere and then back. Cycling around in a big massive circle to say I had done a 50 miler never appeals much. Plus it would feck up my twice daily 15 milers.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Nothing really matters. If you want to ride your bicycle, ride it where you like.

Thank you.

 

[steveindenmark]

When I started to run out of roads in my area I started to put the bike on the car and ride out to different areas. I didn't have to go far. I now put it on the train and go into Germany and ride home.

Running out of places to ride just doesn't happen now.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It matters to me; or I wouldn't have posted. But there's always one.... Thanks for farking up what I thought was a reasonable thread.
Never mind, let's get back to useful stuff like..... errrm, well nothing actually. Does any of it REALLY matter?

Farking-up a reasonable thread? I think that's a bit strong.
I posed a very reasonable question, thanks to which @srw and @coffeejo got the gist.

Ride your bike, any bike, wherever, whenever, however you like, you don't need to overthink it or create rules or ideals or plans to please or impress anyone but yourself .... and that doesn't really matter anyway. Bicycling = Smiles not miles.
I think that's a pretty valid answer to your question.

 

[Fab Foodie]

The best thing about this entire site is the Ignore button....that really matters.

Leonard Rossiters brother used to be a client of mine. He was a miserable bastxxd as well.

I will still be riding my 12km commute as long as possible or until its just too cold. But we can get some gorgeous winter mornings for short rides.

Oh dear ....

 

[BrynCP]

As a mostly lone rider, the thought of 60 mile winter rides doesn't appeal: being warm on the bike suddenly turns cold when having to walk or await a lift.

I tend to cut down my winter rides to less than 2 hours / around 35 miles. Even 10 miles is better than nothing; I like to do night rides in this weather as follows: 10 miles fast, all out, as road conditions permit then 10 slower.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

As a mostly lone rider, the thought of 60 mile winter rides doesn't appeal: being warm on the bike suddenly turns cold when having to walk or await a lift.

I tend to cut down my winter rides to less than 2 hours / around 35 miles. Even 10 miles is better than nothing; I like to do night rides in this weather as follows: 10 miles fast, all out, as road conditions permit then 10 slower.

Adding to this as an all year round thing, when on my own I ride pretty much one route or the reverse of(which is mostly B roads). That way if I happen to have a mechanical and require a taxi, the two people who would be picking me up know where they're going and aren't looking for the Ballyhogoshowaddywaddy rd