Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
Highlight of the thread
Moon Shadows are Evil
- Thread starter stb222
- Start date
Highlight of the thread
***
As I mentioned in my last post, I thought that Fiddlers Elbow and Iron Bridge roads were “not that bad” but placed an asterisk next to it as not that bad is a completely relative term when it comes to any type of riding. Whether it is road or mountain, the difference in terrain and bikes makes a huge difference. For instance, you can ride sourlands on a downhill bike and its not that bad. However ride it with a rigid SS and it can become a whole different story. Ride hills with cross gearing and they aren’t that bad, throw on your TT 56t and die your legs will. So put that into the context that I had compact gearing (34 x 25 lowest gear) and it obviously make a huge difference over a standard 39 x 23 or 25, making my gear a full 5t lower. I like compact gearing because for most of the places I ride, I never have to go out of the 50t. On the ride I did last week, I left the 50t on multiple occasions. I have conditioned my motor for high cadences and seated and on low grade climbs and I can spin at 90 rpm without much issue (BTW, upping my cadence is the number one thing that has helped me in getting faster) . However, I don’t focus on low cadence or out of the saddle stuff much, so when the grade gets steep, I fizzle out.
Enter Fiddlers and Iron Bridge where you supposedly have 20 something % grades. The above stuff I mentioned about spinning a high cadence and such get thrown out the window almost immediately when hitting a grade like that. You then shift (pun intended) to simply turning over the cranks. My cadence on Fiddlers was somewhere around 50. But unless you are strong like that and probably even if you are, you don’t have much choice but to just crank it out. After reading what others have written about these climbs, I certainly built it up in my head that they were going to be really hard and they were, but not as hard as I expected, mainly meaning that 1, I didn’t black out at the top and 2, didn’t have to walk.
So this brings me to the other part of not that bad. And that relates to speed. This is one of the great things about riding, is seeing your progression on how fast you ride something. You can literally turn any road/trail into a torture chamber, other than maybe downhill where at some point you will spin out, but even at that, you can see what kind of cadence you can spin and hold. So flat roads and climbs you can push yourself as hard as you ever want to and it really never becomes any easier if you want to go faster. Climbs are naturally a good place to test yourself as if you stop pedaling; you are eventually going to roll backwards. You can climb any hill in the sourlands at 5 MPH and it is not that bad, up the pace to 15 MPH greater and you get to that point where you vision starts to go wavy. Again, my avg speed on Fiddlers was 7.something. If I tried to ride it at 9, my heart might beat out of my chest, which that would fall into the category of bad, possibly very bad if it actually came out.
So anyways, cold mornings have returned after a small break over the weekend, but it hasn’t been that bad. Actually not that bad at all, and this morning was the temps that Chainsaw categorizes as very cold. The moon was super bright but I am on the verge of a sinus infection, likely from the wind last week and I hit the snooze roughly 8 times, so missed most of the moon lite time. In any case, getting up that early is not that bad.
As I mentioned in my last post, I thought that Fiddlers Elbow and Iron Bridge roads were “not that bad” but placed an asterisk next to it as not that bad is a completely relative term when it comes to any type of riding. Whether it is road or mountain, the difference in terrain and bikes makes a huge difference. For instance, you can ride sourlands on a downhill bike and its not that bad. However ride it with a rigid SS and it can become a whole different story. Ride hills with cross gearing and they aren’t that bad, throw on your TT 56t and die your legs will. So put that into the context that I had compact gearing (34 x 25 lowest gear) and it obviously make a huge difference over a standard 39 x 23 or 25, making my gear a full 5t lower. I like compact gearing because for most of the places I ride, I never have to go out of the 50t. On the ride I did last week, I left the 50t on multiple occasions. I have conditioned my motor for high cadences and seated and on low grade climbs and I can spin at 90 rpm without much issue (BTW, upping my cadence is the number one thing that has helped me in getting faster) . However, I don’t focus on low cadence or out of the saddle stuff much, so when the grade gets steep, I fizzle out.
Enter Fiddlers and Iron Bridge where you supposedly have 20 something % grades. The above stuff I mentioned about spinning a high cadence and such get thrown out the window almost immediately when hitting a grade like that. You then shift (pun intended) to simply turning over the cranks. My cadence on Fiddlers was somewhere around 50. But unless you are strong like that and probably even if you are, you don’t have much choice but to just crank it out. After reading what others have written about these climbs, I certainly built it up in my head that they were going to be really hard and they were, but not as hard as I expected, mainly meaning that 1, I didn’t black out at the top and 2, didn’t have to walk.
So this brings me to the other part of not that bad. And that relates to speed. This is one of the great things about riding, is seeing your progression on how fast you ride something. You can literally turn any road/trail into a torture chamber, other than maybe downhill where at some point you will spin out, but even at that, you can see what kind of cadence you can spin and hold. So flat roads and climbs you can push yourself as hard as you ever want to and it really never becomes any easier if you want to go faster. Climbs are naturally a good place to test yourself as if you stop pedaling; you are eventually going to roll backwards. You can climb any hill in the sourlands at 5 MPH and it is not that bad, up the pace to 15 MPH greater and you get to that point where you vision starts to go wavy. Again, my avg speed on Fiddlers was 7.something. If I tried to ride it at 9, my heart might beat out of my chest, which that would fall into the category of bad, possibly very bad if it actually came out.
So anyways, cold mornings have returned after a small break over the weekend, but it hasn’t been that bad. Actually not that bad at all, and this morning was the temps that Chainsaw categorizes as very cold. The moon was super bright but I am on the verge of a sinus infection, likely from the wind last week and I hit the snooze roughly 8 times, so missed most of the moon lite time. In any case, getting up that early is not that bad.
Dicks, Assholes and the Like
Dicks, Assholes and the Like
I know at least one of you creeps thought this post was going to be about butt sex and the like, and if that is the case, you are going to be just flat out disappointed. If it wasn’t the case, then you are probably going to be disappointed anyways, so it seems there would be no pleasing yous on this cloudy day. On the bike this morning I was pondering if I am a dick, an asshole, rude or just plain mean. I have surely been all of the above in my days, and probably all of the above at the same time, but I am not sure what category I fall into. Many of you know I am perceived as a dick online and not as much in person, but if you hang around me enough in person, the online dick comes out. Many of you that I have met, our interaction has been short or during a ride or something. I would be a total asshole if I was a dick right off the bat, hence why many of you have not seen it in person. I also know most of the time when I am being a dick, which some people think you don’t have control over these things. Yes, maybe if you have some terminal illness that affects you r whole being, you lose the switch to turn your dickness on and off, but I don’t think (hope) that isn’t me. So anyways, let’s look into this more.
So in my research for today’s post, I googled dick, personality as dick slang didn’t exactly produce results that I was interested in. Turns out dick, personality turned up this article for the 9th result, which was the last thing I expected. I think google sometimes just messes with us and throws this crap in there. Hence, google is a dick, sometimes. So I changed it to dick, personality and came up with a definition and not the male body part some of you were no doubt hoping to see. So after pressing the “listen” icon roughly 30 times and giggling each time (actually the guy saying it sounds like a dick) I found what I was looking for:
dick
n. Slang
A detective.
dick 2
n.
1. Chiefly British A fellow; a guy.
2. Vulgar A penis.
3. Vulgar A person, especially a man, regarded as mean or contemptible.
tr.v.dicked, dick•ing, dicks
1. To take advantage of; cheat.
2. To have sexual intercourse with.
Phrasal Verbs:
dick around
1. To spend time idly; fool around.
2. To be sexually promiscuous.
dick up
To botch or bungle.
I don’t think people have mistaken me for a detective or a cheifly british fellow and I don’t take advantage of people but I have been known to dick around at times and have dicked up (insert giggle) a few things, but I was looking for this:
3. Vulgar A person, especially a man, regarded as mean or contemptible.
Damnit, every time I do this kind of stuff, I realize my vocabulary is contemptible as I wanted to see what contempt ment other than in a court room setting.
con•tempt•i•ble (k n-t mp t -b l)
adj.
1. Deserving of contempt; despicable.
2. Obsolete Contemptuous.
Well the second one is helpful as I thought you couldn’t use a version of the core word in the definition. Anyways, basically mean or despicable. So based on that, I don’t consider myself a dick as, while I may be mean at times, I certainly don’t think I am despicable. So on to asshole:
ass•hole
n. Vulgar Slang
1. The anus.
2. A thoroughly contemptible, detestable person.
3. The most miserable or undesirable place in a particular area.
Hmm, not an anus, we covered contemptible and I think I am able to be tested on. Oh wait, that would be untestable:
de•test•a•ble
adj.
Inspiring or deserving abhorrence or scorn.
F me, I seriously don’t know how I manage to have a conversation with anyone:
ab•hor•rence
n.
1. One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
2. A feeling of repugnance or loathing.
scorn
n.
1.
a. Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy.
b. The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision.
2. One spoken of or treated with contempt.
v.scorned, scorn•ing, scorns
v.tr.
1. To consider or treat as contemptible or unworthy.
2. To reject or refuse with derision. See Synonyms at despise.
v.intr.
To express contempt; scoff.
Holy crap, this is some crazy circular reference bullshit where the definitions just keep referencing the other definitions. The dictionary is a dick, it even has it in its name. In any case, asshole seems to be the next def con level of calling people names, so since it is higher than dick, and I have already determined I am not such, most of the time, I think this automatically disqualifies me from asshole.
Based on the last 20 things I just read the definition for, maybe I am just rude or mean:
rude
adj.
1. Relatively undeveloped; primitive: a rude and savage land; a rude agricultural implement.
2.
a. Being in a crude, rough, unfinished condition: a rude thatched hut.
b. Exhibiting a marked lack of skill or precision in work: rude crafts.
c. In a natural, raw state: bales of rude cotton.
3.
a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
b. Lacking education or knowledge; unlearned.
c. Ill-mannered; discourteous: rude behavior.
4. Vigorous, robust, and sturdy.
5. Abruptly and unpleasantly forceful: received a rude shock.
Finally a word I have been called. An old co-worker told me that I lacked:
couth
adj.
Marked by or possessing a high degree of sophistication; refined: "Many picnics manage without this sophistication, but we like to be couth and feel that the delicacies of gracious living enhance the chances" (John Gould).
n.
Refinement; sophistication: "The man has no couth" (Los Angeles Times).
Which is contained in one of the 50 definitions of rude (by the way, the sound bite for couth sounds like a sample from a boxing video game):
3. a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
So maybe all this time I am just rude or mean? Not like please and thank you rude, eh who knows. Based on my lack of knowledge of the actually definitions, I would think that every person has their own thresholds between, rude, mean, dick and asshole, which makes my little research experiment of waste of all of our time, which makes me writing this post rude in a sense, maybe mean, who the f knows. What I do know is that whatever I do is right and if you are doing something different, I am at least going to make fun of you in my head, oh wait, that would be dickish, scratch that, I am probably going to comment on it because just like assholes, everyone has opinions and what is the use of opinions if we just keep them to ourselves. I guess the non-dickish thing to do is to pick the time where those opinions are appropriate and while I have come a ways in that department, but there is still plenty of time for improvement, hopefully 60-70 years worth, so what’s the rush?
Dicks, Assholes and the Like
I know at least one of you creeps thought this post was going to be about butt sex and the like, and if that is the case, you are going to be just flat out disappointed. If it wasn’t the case, then you are probably going to be disappointed anyways, so it seems there would be no pleasing yous on this cloudy day. On the bike this morning I was pondering if I am a dick, an asshole, rude or just plain mean. I have surely been all of the above in my days, and probably all of the above at the same time, but I am not sure what category I fall into. Many of you know I am perceived as a dick online and not as much in person, but if you hang around me enough in person, the online dick comes out. Many of you that I have met, our interaction has been short or during a ride or something. I would be a total asshole if I was a dick right off the bat, hence why many of you have not seen it in person. I also know most of the time when I am being a dick, which some people think you don’t have control over these things. Yes, maybe if you have some terminal illness that affects you r whole being, you lose the switch to turn your dickness on and off, but I don’t think (hope) that isn’t me. So anyways, let’s look into this more.
So in my research for today’s post, I googled dick, personality as dick slang didn’t exactly produce results that I was interested in. Turns out dick, personality turned up this article for the 9th result, which was the last thing I expected. I think google sometimes just messes with us and throws this crap in there. Hence, google is a dick, sometimes. So I changed it to dick, personality and came up with a definition and not the male body part some of you were no doubt hoping to see. So after pressing the “listen” icon roughly 30 times and giggling each time (actually the guy saying it sounds like a dick) I found what I was looking for:
dick
n. Slang
A detective.
dick 2
n.
1. Chiefly British A fellow; a guy.
2. Vulgar A penis.
3. Vulgar A person, especially a man, regarded as mean or contemptible.
tr.v.dicked, dick•ing, dicks
1. To take advantage of; cheat.
2. To have sexual intercourse with.
Phrasal Verbs:
dick around
1. To spend time idly; fool around.
2. To be sexually promiscuous.
dick up
To botch or bungle.
I don’t think people have mistaken me for a detective or a cheifly british fellow and I don’t take advantage of people but I have been known to dick around at times and have dicked up (insert giggle) a few things, but I was looking for this:
3. Vulgar A person, especially a man, regarded as mean or contemptible.
Damnit, every time I do this kind of stuff, I realize my vocabulary is contemptible as I wanted to see what contempt ment other than in a court room setting.
con•tempt•i•ble (k n-t mp t -b l)
adj.
1. Deserving of contempt; despicable.
2. Obsolete Contemptuous.
Well the second one is helpful as I thought you couldn’t use a version of the core word in the definition. Anyways, basically mean or despicable. So based on that, I don’t consider myself a dick as, while I may be mean at times, I certainly don’t think I am despicable. So on to asshole:
ass•hole
n. Vulgar Slang
1. The anus.
2. A thoroughly contemptible, detestable person.
3. The most miserable or undesirable place in a particular area.
Hmm, not an anus, we covered contemptible and I think I am able to be tested on. Oh wait, that would be untestable:
de•test•a•ble
adj.
Inspiring or deserving abhorrence or scorn.
F me, I seriously don’t know how I manage to have a conversation with anyone:
ab•hor•rence
n.
1. One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
2. A feeling of repugnance or loathing.
scorn
n.
1.
a. Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy.
b. The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision.
2. One spoken of or treated with contempt.
v.scorned, scorn•ing, scorns
v.tr.
1. To consider or treat as contemptible or unworthy.
2. To reject or refuse with derision. See Synonyms at despise.
v.intr.
To express contempt; scoff.
Holy crap, this is some crazy circular reference bullshit where the definitions just keep referencing the other definitions. The dictionary is a dick, it even has it in its name. In any case, asshole seems to be the next def con level of calling people names, so since it is higher than dick, and I have already determined I am not such, most of the time, I think this automatically disqualifies me from asshole.
Based on the last 20 things I just read the definition for, maybe I am just rude or mean:
rude
adj.
1. Relatively undeveloped; primitive: a rude and savage land; a rude agricultural implement.
2.
a. Being in a crude, rough, unfinished condition: a rude thatched hut.
b. Exhibiting a marked lack of skill or precision in work: rude crafts.
c. In a natural, raw state: bales of rude cotton.
3.
a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
b. Lacking education or knowledge; unlearned.
c. Ill-mannered; discourteous: rude behavior.
4. Vigorous, robust, and sturdy.
5. Abruptly and unpleasantly forceful: received a rude shock.
Finally a word I have been called. An old co-worker told me that I lacked:
couth
adj.
Marked by or possessing a high degree of sophistication; refined: "Many picnics manage without this sophistication, but we like to be couth and feel that the delicacies of gracious living enhance the chances" (John Gould).
n.
Refinement; sophistication: "The man has no couth" (Los Angeles Times).
Which is contained in one of the 50 definitions of rude (by the way, the sound bite for couth sounds like a sample from a boxing video game):
3. a. Lacking the graces and refinement of civilized life; uncouth.
So maybe all this time I am just rude or mean? Not like please and thank you rude, eh who knows. Based on my lack of knowledge of the actually definitions, I would think that every person has their own thresholds between, rude, mean, dick and asshole, which makes my little research experiment of waste of all of our time, which makes me writing this post rude in a sense, maybe mean, who the f knows. What I do know is that whatever I do is right and if you are doing something different, I am at least going to make fun of you in my head, oh wait, that would be dickish, scratch that, I am probably going to comment on it because just like assholes, everyone has opinions and what is the use of opinions if we just keep them to ourselves. I guess the non-dickish thing to do is to pick the time where those opinions are appropriate and while I have come a ways in that department, but there is still plenty of time for improvement, hopefully 60-70 years worth, so what’s the rush?
Dusty the Whale
Mr.Chainsaw
GFY if you think I'm gonna read this crap. What a dick move to make a post this long
Where does "cock" fit in the hierarchy?
Honestly I think dick is lesser than mean. So in increasing order:
rude
dick
mean
asshole
total f'ing douche bag
I think "dick" implies that there are some good qualities about you but you also do dick things. Such as, standing around hanging with your friends then you just cock punch someone out of nowhere. Like, you are a nice guy sometimes, but you do dick things occasionally. It's not mean, because you can't help yourself. But it's still a dick move.
Mean would be cock punching them again after that, then maybe kicking them. But then people probably wouldn't hang out with you.
Also, where does "douche" fit? I think you're scale sucks, cock monkey.
Honestly I think dick is lesser than mean. So in increasing order:
rude
dick
mean
asshole
total f'ing douche bag
I think "dick" implies that there are some good qualities about you but you also do dick things. Such as, standing around hanging with your friends then you just cock punch someone out of nowhere. Like, you are a nice guy sometimes, but you do dick things occasionally. It's not mean, because you can't help yourself. But it's still a dick move.
Mean would be cock punching them again after that, then maybe kicking them. But then people probably wouldn't hang out with you.
Also, where does "douche" fit? I think you're scale sucks, cock monkey.
hmm, did not take into considering cock, or cock monkey. Always need things to ponder in the dark on bicycles. I also prefer hotdog over cock punch, cock punch just sounds mean. Hotdog is fun, like, I just tagged you in the nuts, haha.
in my high school, it wasn't a punch, it was a 'get as close as you can without touching' and scream in a deep voice "GRANDPAHHHHH".
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
WTF?
You guys would have been better off smoking dope behind the dumpster, like the dudes I grew up with.
Ugggh, things just got alittle weird even considering we were talking about cock punches and hotdogs
Actually I was one of those guys at the dumpster.
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
Made me think of this thread
http://www.theonion.com/articles/attractive-woman-surprised-to-learn-coworker-a-dic,34634/
http://www.theonion.com/articles/attractive-woman-surprised-to-learn-coworker-a-dic,34634/
Too Cold or Not Too Cold, That is the Question
Too Cold or Not Too Cold, That is the Question
Actually it isn’t the question. The question is whether or not you want to ride in the cold. This year has brought some legitimately cold weather and for a period of days / weeks, which is atypical for the weather patterns over recent years. Like during last year BIYF competition, I think the avg ride temp was like 40 degrees. This year we have had at least 20 days where the temp didn’t even get out of the 20’s, which has people dropping like flies in this year’s comp (the addition of snow was the killer). Cold is similar to riding in the rain, as when you get out, you realize it isn’t that bad. The difference with the cold is that if you have the wrong gear, your ride can easily go to hell in a hand basket faster than you can say, well something that is really fast to say. Rides can go from fun to painful in a matter of minutes and not the pain we intentionally inflict on ourselves. Unfortunately, there really isn’t any way to know what to wear unless you experiment to see what works for you. In this process you will no doubt get cold on a ride from too little clothes or overheat from too many clothes and in the end, either way you end up cold. You also need to do some investing in specific winter stuff as layering 5 summer jerseys is not going to take the place of a single piece with windstopper.
It gets even more complicated when clothing companies definition of cold varies. For instance, some companies, and at least one of the online places, started putting a temp range to their clothing, which helps alittle but it only really a guide as every person’s perception of cold varies. For instance, I have the rapha classic winter tights and Rapha says these are good for a range of 2 degrees Celsius to 12 (35-54 F). I have found these are good to the high 20’s up to the low 40’s, but 54, even with rain and wind would have you sweating in these. Now for their deep winter, they don’t give any temp range but I have worn these in the low teens and that have been great. Also, they bill these as for cold and wet conditions, yet if it were wet and below freezing, you generally wouldn’t be on the road bike as much, so that leads you to think not much below freezing is the limit. Another example is Castelli nano flex leg warmers (which are superb, btw), which Castelli has a range of 46-60? 60 degrees? People like MattyB practically ride naked at that temp, let alone wear leg warmers. Personally I don’t wear these until the temps dip below 40. However note they say cool, not cold. Anyways this shows that cold really isn’t what I would say is cold, so it is hard to know what you are getting until you get out there. Also, windstopper comes in like 5 different varieties now, so even that is hard to judge.
The other downside is that really none of the good winter stuff is cheap. Yes I have been almost wholly consumed by the Rapha machine, but there were days before Rapha when I established my cold weather creed. I started off from humble Performance Bike beginnings, not unlike other people as the gear is moderately priced and sales are abundant. Sometime during the early days of my road riding, my x(insert your favorite phallic word here) was so cold I was sure it was going to be black when I returned home and at that point I knew something had to be done. And then I purchased a Gore Bike Wear Phantom jacket from Halter’s and a craft base layer or two and that really changed everything. Being able to ride the road into the mid-teens with just a base layer and a windstoppered jersey was the end to layering as I previously knew it. So for a few years I bought and sold numerous Gore jackets and ended up coming back to the Phantom in the end. Note that Gore intends this to be for temps where you can take the sleeves off, but I don’t touch this until the low 30’s, even with a lighter base layer. You will; also see people comment that is it good down to 40? WTF? Any kind of effort will have me boiling in this thing at 40. So again, it is hard to judge the temp range.
Although, even the seasoned winter people goof once and awhile and have a cold ride. Sometimes it is under estimating the effect of wind on a certain article of clothing but mine typically results from not picking the correct glove combination resulting in cold thumbs and fingers. I have linked this to wishful thinking as you check the temp before your ride and your brain refuses to acknowledge that you want to ride in this weather and instructs you to dress with less clothing and then laughs all the way home as it is sending pain pulses to your frozen finger tips. Take that robot, I control this ship, fucker, I also intentionaly dictate your atrocious use of commas, thanks, your brain,,,,.
In any case, get out there and ride, it isn’t that bad*, or at least it won't be right up until the time it is.
Too Cold or Not Too Cold, That is the Question
Actually it isn’t the question. The question is whether or not you want to ride in the cold. This year has brought some legitimately cold weather and for a period of days / weeks, which is atypical for the weather patterns over recent years. Like during last year BIYF competition, I think the avg ride temp was like 40 degrees. This year we have had at least 20 days where the temp didn’t even get out of the 20’s, which has people dropping like flies in this year’s comp (the addition of snow was the killer). Cold is similar to riding in the rain, as when you get out, you realize it isn’t that bad. The difference with the cold is that if you have the wrong gear, your ride can easily go to hell in a hand basket faster than you can say, well something that is really fast to say. Rides can go from fun to painful in a matter of minutes and not the pain we intentionally inflict on ourselves. Unfortunately, there really isn’t any way to know what to wear unless you experiment to see what works for you. In this process you will no doubt get cold on a ride from too little clothes or overheat from too many clothes and in the end, either way you end up cold. You also need to do some investing in specific winter stuff as layering 5 summer jerseys is not going to take the place of a single piece with windstopper.
It gets even more complicated when clothing companies definition of cold varies. For instance, some companies, and at least one of the online places, started putting a temp range to their clothing, which helps alittle but it only really a guide as every person’s perception of cold varies. For instance, I have the rapha classic winter tights and Rapha says these are good for a range of 2 degrees Celsius to 12 (35-54 F). I have found these are good to the high 20’s up to the low 40’s, but 54, even with rain and wind would have you sweating in these. Now for their deep winter, they don’t give any temp range but I have worn these in the low teens and that have been great. Also, they bill these as for cold and wet conditions, yet if it were wet and below freezing, you generally wouldn’t be on the road bike as much, so that leads you to think not much below freezing is the limit. Another example is Castelli nano flex leg warmers (which are superb, btw), which Castelli has a range of 46-60? 60 degrees? People like MattyB practically ride naked at that temp, let alone wear leg warmers. Personally I don’t wear these until the temps dip below 40. However note they say cool, not cold. Anyways this shows that cold really isn’t what I would say is cold, so it is hard to know what you are getting until you get out there. Also, windstopper comes in like 5 different varieties now, so even that is hard to judge.
The other downside is that really none of the good winter stuff is cheap. Yes I have been almost wholly consumed by the Rapha machine, but there were days before Rapha when I established my cold weather creed. I started off from humble Performance Bike beginnings, not unlike other people as the gear is moderately priced and sales are abundant. Sometime during the early days of my road riding, my x(insert your favorite phallic word here) was so cold I was sure it was going to be black when I returned home and at that point I knew something had to be done. And then I purchased a Gore Bike Wear Phantom jacket from Halter’s and a craft base layer or two and that really changed everything. Being able to ride the road into the mid-teens with just a base layer and a windstoppered jersey was the end to layering as I previously knew it. So for a few years I bought and sold numerous Gore jackets and ended up coming back to the Phantom in the end. Note that Gore intends this to be for temps where you can take the sleeves off, but I don’t touch this until the low 30’s, even with a lighter base layer. You will; also see people comment that is it good down to 40? WTF? Any kind of effort will have me boiling in this thing at 40. So again, it is hard to judge the temp range.
Although, even the seasoned winter people goof once and awhile and have a cold ride. Sometimes it is under estimating the effect of wind on a certain article of clothing but mine typically results from not picking the correct glove combination resulting in cold thumbs and fingers. I have linked this to wishful thinking as you check the temp before your ride and your brain refuses to acknowledge that you want to ride in this weather and instructs you to dress with less clothing and then laughs all the way home as it is sending pain pulses to your frozen finger tips. Take that robot, I control this ship, fucker, I also intentionaly dictate your atrocious use of commas, thanks, your brain,,,,.
In any case, get out there and ride, it isn’t that bad*, or at least it won't be right up until the time it is.
Last edited:
Like most things, it never sucks until it does. In that, I agree.
The snow has really turned me off a bit this year because the roads we live near now are not terribly wide, and there is ample traffic. It's not the end of the world, but combine that with the rapid plummet in temps and the fact I'm not used to getting up at 5:00, and it's been hard for me to be outside the past few weeks. I'll get there. Maybe.
Also, there's an effort level variable involved in dressing for this stuff. Going hard versus easy makes a big difference. You sort of need to commit to 1 or the other, in that if you go hard then back off, it's almost a guarantee you'll get cold.
The snow has really turned me off a bit this year because the roads we live near now are not terribly wide, and there is ample traffic. It's not the end of the world, but combine that with the rapid plummet in temps and the fact I'm not used to getting up at 5:00, and it's been hard for me to be outside the past few weeks. I'll get there. Maybe.
Also, there's an effort level variable involved in dressing for this stuff. Going hard versus easy makes a big difference. You sort of need to commit to 1 or the other, in that if you go hard then back off, it's almost a guarantee you'll get cold.
This is a good point. On a couple of the slow snow rides I did, I realized that the way I dress is for medium to hard effort as when i went for a slow ride, I was cold.