Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Ugh

The forecast high temps in the mid 30's never arrived today, leaving the roads covered in ice and snow yet again. Early Monday morning we received 1/2 inch of glare ice over everything, then we got 6 inches of snow on top of that. The high temps have been in the teens to low 20's the last two days, so although the snow is mostly scraped off the roads, the ice remains on my rural commute roads.

So, I've been burning expensive petrol the last two days to get my gluteus maximi to work. Looks like the ice will be here through tomorrow, then more freezing rain Thursday night and more snow on Friday.

I shouldn't complain after the nice weather we had last weekend. But I'm starting to get cabin fever. Got to get out for a run now.

I know, I know, I'll be complaining about the heat soon enough. But I promise not to complain about hot weather until after August 1st this year.

I hope it's warm where you are and you can get out to ride.

Oh, yes, the Nokians, you ask? Well, they won't fit my Trek (chain stay's too close for those wide tires). They won't fit on the Tricross right now either because I mounted the fenders too close to the narrower tires I have on that bike now, and the Nokians won't fit inside the fenders (I already cut the fender stays). And my Kuwahara has some issues right now that I won't go into.

So if you want to feel sorry for me now, go ahead, it's OK. I will appreciate it.

If you think I'm whining and don't feel sorry for me, you probably live some place much colder and snowier than where I live. In which case I ought to feel sorry for you. You poor sucker!

I've wasted enough of your precious lives today with my drivel.

Happy riding!

16 comments:

adventure! said...

Here in Portland, we're actually supposed to get snow today into next, so I'll be experience the same weather everyone else east of the Rockies has for the last month, albeit for a couple days.

Do you have any studded bike tires? I found a front one to be good for getting around here when it actually does ice up.

Oldfool said...

It is still 68 degrees with light rain at 1730. I had to drive to renew my drivers license today and I noticed that my air conditioning needs to be touched up a bit.
Yesterday. I rode this weekend in shorts and Aloha shirt. I worked outside yesterday in a summer weight kilt in the shade no shirt. It was 83 degrees. This is why I live in the south.
You can hate me if you want if it will help.

Big Oak said...

adventure! Yes, I have some Nokian Hakkapalitta studded tires that I've used on my Tricross, but I mounted the fenders too close (I had smaller tires when I fitted the fenders) to use the Nokians. I have another bike to mount them on, but I need a rear brake and some other parts - by the time I save up the money to buy what I need for that bike it'll be time to pick tomatoes.

Oldfool - the 68 degrees at 5:30 doesn't bother me, nor does the 83 degrees. What bothers me is you can wear a summer kilt with no shirt and be comfortable in the shade. You know how to hurt a guy. Do you have any ripe tomatoes yet?

Rat Trap Press said...

I was going stir-crazy with the 2 or 3 snow days that we had here, I can't imagine what you're going through.

We've had the a/c on for past couple of days, it's been warm and muggy.

rlove2bike said...

OK...since no one else has stepped up to the plate, I will be the poor sucker. Where I live being a bicycle commuter just isn't going to work and it sounds like the petro is going to get even more expensive, so I think in a couple weeks I'll just quit going to work. :-)

Big Oak said...

RTP - Thanks for rubbing it in!

rlove - well for now you're a poor sucker, but after you retire you'll be a lucky sucker! When I lived in
Wausau, I only lived 1 mile from work, so I could ride for much of the winter, at least when the temps weren't too cold.

Pondero said...

Whoa...sounds like cabin fever for sure. I think if I lived in conditions like that, I'd have to take up some kind of new outdoor hobby, and discover some new way to dress myself.

Apertome said...

Ouch. It hasn't been as warm this week as it was last week, but we only got a tiny bit of snow. I feel your pain, though, I'm definitely tired of winter, too! Hope you figure out where to mount those studded tires ...

Big Oak said...

Pondero - thank you, that's the kind of pity I was thinking of. It's not as bad as it sounds, I'm just whiny lately.

Michael - I'm hatching a new plan for the fenders that involves a completely different bike. Then I can put the studded tires back on the Tricross. We'll see...

Jon said...

What's up with the Kuwahara? Is it the one you need brakes for?

I have two boxes full of derelict brakes in my shop building....

Might be one there that you could use.

Steve A said...

It's -5C out right now, whatever that means, with some light flurries. You Yanks needed some toughening up anyway.

Big Oak said...

Jon - I'm looking for a rear caliper brake, plus I need another bolt/female-sleeve assembly for the seat post.

Steve, where are you? I know it's warmer than -5C in DFW right now. We're supposed to get another 6 - 10" snow tonight.

Steve A said...

We're just getting light flurries in Montreal.

Big Oak said...

Steve, oh yeah, have a good trip. Je ne parle Francaise.

TrevorW�� said...

I know what it's like to start to go 'stir-crazy'.
I do feel sorry for you though..!!

Big Oak said...

Thanks Trevor! Yes, I'm sure you do, not being able to ride for several weeks. But I'm glad you're back on the bike!