Simply Cycle
The daily joys and challenges of an incurable cyclist.
Friday, March 8, 2024
The latest in the stable
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Growing pains.
Remember how growing up seemed really exciting, then you got a job, mortgage, kids and everything kinda sucked? When you pass all that there's a new phase. At 71, after reading for a couple hours, I've found it harder to get out a chair then it is to ride a bike 35 miles.
This time of year is especially interesting. When the snow has fallen along with the temperatures, I shuffle across the parking lot to the garage telling myself how stupid I am until I've ridden a few blocks and need to loosen my cuffs and pull the hood back to cool off.
It's not a 35 mile ride this time of year, the roads are barely cleared for cars let alone bikes so it's a unique challenge to get around town, but the sense of smug superiority it provides is well worth it.
On the other hand our city does a responsible job of clearing, or at least trying to clear the trailways. The result is an icy mtb track protected from traffic where we can enjoy overheating under our parka for 25 miles or so. It's a limited pleasure and a change of pace for a few weeks.
Sunday, January 14, 2024
So winter finally arrived in Michigan. We got what looks like a foot or more overnight but I might be exaggerating. It will take a couple of days for the roads to be useful
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Turned what corner?
It's that time of year, but it's nearly January and "freezing" still feels cold. Normally, we (those of us who don't Zwift) have become calloused to cold temps and forty degrees feels warm by now. We've had only 24 hours with snow on the ground and rainy 45 degree temps to live with most of the time. The winter solstice has come and gone, the days are getting longer by about 30 seconds a day and we are coasting towards spring already. Nearly a month of winter has passed us with barely a blink of cold or snow. Even though the spandex hamsters have retreated to their pretend cycling games, outdoor rides are demanding nothing more than a layer beneath a hoody.
The outdoor season is normally limited to a daily commute or trip to the store on these days, but now I find myself taking a couple 25-30 mile rides a week. The smugness level enjoyed by riding ice encrusted trails on studded tires is not there this year and spring is slowly marching toward us. At least we can hope, we still do have January and February to face.