Conference noted::bicycle

>    ... What are *you* doing?
    
Ice climbing; isn't *everyone*? :-)

                                                           ken

    I get most of my exercise finding conferences in CA, FL, and HI
    which just must be attended and then lugging my belongings through
    airports, 2 suitcases, and a bike case.
    
    ed

    I usually ride when it's warm enough for me (> 40 deg).  When riding
    is not an option I ride a stationary bike or go hiking.  I also
    weight train 3 days per week.
    
    Mark

    (1) Charlotte's winter is cold enough to be uncomfortable (brrrr...)
        biking, but not snowy enough to prevent it - so brave souls go
        out and do road-work.  Another good idea is Mountain Biking,
        perfect for winter in Charlotte because it generates so much
        more heat, and there's generally enough mud to make the whole
        thing worthwhile.  People look for business trips to ZK, in 
        order to get in some skiing.
    
    (2) On the Cote d'Azur, cyclists retreat gradually from the Alps
        as the snows advance, like mastedons during the Ice Age (well...).
        2000m passes become impassable, and 1000m climbs become quite
        icy and cold (especially risky with shadow-inducing gorges and
        tunnels, plus the switchbacks), which leaves the coast, where
        there is *occasional* frost, and the southern faces of the 
        lower mountains, where the warm Mediterranean sun can do a 
        good job even in winter.  (Nice-Monaco-San Remo is a good
        example of such an outing.)  In short, it's as though NH and FL
        were a couple dozen miles from each other.  Handy.
    
        -john

    I just put my homemade studded tires on my mountain bike and go
    for it.  The more snow the bigger the challenge.  A few miles through
    a foot and a half of snow will feel like a double century.  Don't
    worry to much about keeping warm your working plenty hard.  I also
    do roller training, skate skiing, nordic trac and weight training.
    
    norm

    I take sauna's.
    
    It's the ONLY way to work up a sweat in the winter.
    
    	-Nancy
    

    
    		Water skiing
    

    	The Granite State Wheelmen, in the Merrimack N.H. area
  are planning on riding on Saturday Mornings at 11 a.m. each weekend
    thru the entire winter.  Ride lengths will depend on the temperature
    and road conditions.  We have been averaging about 40 mile rides,
    since each Saturday has been fantastic so far.  We try to encourage
    people to show up in any weather by asking them to bring their bike
    or their X-C ski's and depending on the conditions well do one or the
    other as a group.  Anyone that is interested in participating can just
    show up, you don't have to be a GSW member.  Rides leave from
    Alexanders on route 101A in Merrimack/Amherst N.H., just down the
    road from MKO.  We have been averaging about a dozen riders each
    week that break out in two to three groups doing variuos milages.
    Fast group averages about 18 mph and the turtle bregade is about
    15 mph.  Help make our pace lines warmer by joining us some weekend.
    						
    						Jerry

    The Seven Hills Wheelmen is now in its active hiking season and
    will continue until snow comes.  Each weekend during December there
    are hikes of about 15 miles.  The Massachusetts Mid-State trail
    has been most popular.
    
    steve

I don't suppose I should mention the obvious cold-weather activity that 
requires no equipment other than spice.  (That *is* the plural of 
"spouse" isn't it?)  :-)

- Dick

    Come on, lets stop discussing what to do for alternate winter
    activities.  Be real men (and women), get on your bike and just
    ride for pete's sake.  Who cares if the wind chill is -30 and there's
    a foot of snow on top of 2 inches of ice on top of the pavement.
    By the way, in response to .-10, there's always a tandem :-)
    
    abc
    

< Note 936.0 by 29169::J_BUSH >
                             -< winter activities >-

I really admire all of you cold weather riders.  Your dedication is 
remarkable.  I think we need to transplant some of you to the west coast to do 
some seminars on keeping warm.   People out here were decked out in tights and 
gloves today.  I think it was 60 with the wind chill.

Unfortunately, we do suffer from nearly the same lack of daylight hours that 
you do....so rollers and VCRs are necessary here too.

    RE:.12
    
    You work on the federal grant to pay for the study.  I'll volunteer
    at great sacrifice of life and limb to go out and see if the
    transplant can possibly be successful.
    
    ed

    I was riding outside untill this past weekend. We had a light dusting
    of snow. It isn't the snow that bothers me or the puddles, it's
    the SALT. I will not ride outside untill there is a good rain storm
    and it doesn't look like there is going to be one till next spring.
    
    I would love to ride all year if I had a salt-bike. It would be
    a nice old racing bike that is now painted with RUSTOLEUM.
    
    I do XC-ski. I was a former down hill skiier, but the cost of going
    and the lines took the fun out of it. I XC-ski on the weekends and
    ride a Mag-Turbo on M,W,F. This year a friend asked me to work
    out with him in his cellar, after the holidays I'm going to start
    that.
    
    Tom DeLoriea

    re .7	On second thoughts.....
    
    	R
    
    	{dammit, the lakes are getting all scabby looking}
    

    RE: .-2 (Salt Free Diet)
    
    I agree in principle... but on the weekend I again took to the
    mountains and was thankful for what salt there was.  Up high, at
    3000 feet, it is warm, sunny, and dry... but down in the gorges, at
    600 feet, where the sun never reaches this time of year, frost
    just builds up and builds up.  At one point I was on a road so
    minor they didn't salt it (or remove the fallen boulders)... and I
    had to walk gingerly - the mild salting back on the "main" road was 
    quite welcome.
    
    Of course back at the ranch, it was time for bike desalinisation.
    
    	-john

    I do a lot of 12 ounce curls in the offseason!  You know, body by
    Budweiser.  
    
    I'm a winter wimp when it comes to riding in the cold.  I find no
    joy in being bundled up in Polypro, Neoprene, wool, etc. just to
    go for a ride.  So, I ski, play hoop, work out with weights, and
    occasionally glance at my bike perched on top of its windtrainer
    over in the dark corner of the basement.
    
    Mountain biking is a good option, but since I don't have one, I
    crack open a brew and see which football game is on the tube!  As
    you can see, I don't ride much once it dips below 50 degrees.
    
    Judging by the lack of interest in this notesfile lately, I'd say
    a lot of others do the same thing.  After all, who wants to talk
    about headset adjustments or the latest trend in deraillers (sp?)if
    you can't get out and ride?
    
    Yours in sloth,
    Dave

    Re: .10
 
    I don't suppose I should mention the obvious cold-weather activity that 
    requires no equipment other than spice.  (That *is* the plural of "spouse" 
    isn't it?)  :-)
    
    True sir, very true. Minor technicality here though...
    
    Your choice of equipment for cold weather activities is heartwarming,
    but your wording...  Are you suggesting that more than one spouse be
    utilized for this activity? Heartwarming indeed...
    
    I need to find A spouse first!
    
    Until then, I guess I'll just have to keep pedaling!
    
    								Face

    Lately I've been using fenders on my second bike (some plastic things
    made by ESGE, I think) - and am sold on them.  They really do
    cut down 90 percent of the mess when there is sand, salt, or puddles
    on the road.  I used to dread early spring riding...

    - Jim

    	I finally cobbled up a wind trainer of sorts using 1) a Sears
    rear wheel stand (part of cheap excerciser), 2) and old RacerMate
    - the kind that clamped to the seat post, and 3) the DeFelice recumbent
    that my streamliner riders have used as a training bike. 
    	I can now ride a wind trainer in comfort.  90 rpm at 80 gearinches
    (20 mph) is just about right for a half hour workout for me (= wimp)
    with occasional bursts of 85 gearinches (22.4 mph).  Wish I could
    average these speeds on the road, but there's all these hills and
    headwinds and ...     - Chris
    ps. The Sears big $$  recumbent excercise bike is for sale, CHEAP!
    (linear resistance, 8" wide crank axle)  - C

	Now that the northern hemisphere is getting more daylight each day
its time to start planning rides again.

	January 1st will be a sunday, I predict the following:-

a)	Most of the nasty cyclist hating motorists will be
		i)	Nursing a sore head
		ii)	Planning to watch little images of people in
			brightly colored clothes kick balls around.  
			They will do this through brown or green 
			telescopes to magnify the images on small
			flourescent screens.
		iii)	Some combination of i and ii above.

b)	It will be warm and sunny in Massachusetts, my forecastes are as
	good as anyone elses.

	I therefore propose a  "We hate football"  century.  We could start
at a GMA facility;  say Stow, Boxborough or Littleton and do the hilly route
through Harvard to Wachusett (via Princeton) and hook up with the Fitchburg
club's usual century loop.  It should be warm enough to start at 10, we'll 
be done before dark, even allowing the extra hour for breakdowns.

	Who's up for it ?

	Reg	{on his new node, where he shouldn't be doing notes}

PS	I realize that most of us are riding fixed this winter, but we 
could let any freewheelers start say an hour early.  All those "mechanisms"
that tend to break down a lot can cause delays and freewheelers are probably
even more outta shape than we are:-^)

    Well, if it's nice like *this morining* I'd do some riding.  I did a
    hundred last newyears - it was in the 40's then, and the roads were clear.

    But if it's in the 20's, forget it; I'm not a masochist.

    Fortunately I also have a bike with fenders, though it's a bit heavy and
    slow it does wonders for messy roads.

    I did ride out to the end of Long Island and back from Port Jefferson
    this Christmas while down visiting...

    - Jim

< Note 936.21 by ULTRA::BURGESS >
>                -< Lets start riding the roads again, EARLY ! >-


      
>	Who's up for it ?
>
>	Reg	{on his new node, where he shouldn't be doing notes}

>PS	I realize that most of us are riding fixed this winter, but we 
>could let any freewheelers start say an hour early.  All those "mechanisms"
>that tend to break down a lot can cause delays and freewheelers are probably
>even more outta shape than we are:-^)


 	Reg, I wish I had a fixed gear bike. I have been riding every Saturday
about 10-20 miles. I spray WD-40 on the bike before I ride and clean the thing
when I get home. A fixed gear would be alot easier to clean. Maybe I can find
an old frame and make one cheap.

	Century ride is too far for a fatty like me. I'd like to go on a 50
miler. I could meet you half way?

Tom 

P.S. I'll do the 100 if the temp is in the 70's and there is a 15 mph tailwind.

< Note 936.21 by ULTRA::BURGESS >
>                -< Lets start riding the roads again, EARLY ! >-

Hmmmmm, I'd be up for 20 if it's halfway decent out.  Can I meet up with
you in Princeton someplace?

Kathy

    I agree with Kathy - I'd be up for 20 if it's warm out.  This is
    coming from the girl who has been on her bike twice since
    mid-September.
    
    And, so as to not get away from the theme of this ride, I promise
    to ride real slow so that I will miss all the football games.
    
    	-Nancy

>>        And, so as to not get away from the theme of this ride, I promise
>>    to ride real slow so that I will miss all the football games.

    That's a heck of a lot a' coffee/hot chocolate breaks to do only
    20 miles and miss all the football games.
    
    Let's see if we start before the Saturday night Bowl games and
    ride through the Sunday night ones, we:
    
    a) would get in 300 miles or so
    
    b) would freeze our xxxx's
    
    c) would be crazy
    
    d) all of the above
    
    e) is football that bad?
    
    ed

    	And then for the wimps, there's always our traditional New Years
    Day ride starting at the Acton-Boxborough Junior High just off Rt.
    111 at about noon on the 1st.  It's normally only about 10 to 15
    miles with a hot drink stop somewhere along the way.  Nashoba Valley
    Pedalers have been doing this ride for over 10 years. Our esteemed
    notefile moderator and club president is the leader and can give
    the exact time (it may not be noon) if he's in.  Otherwise, call
    me in the evening at (508) 772-0784.  - Chris
    ps. non-members are always welcome!

re .21  and its underwhelming lack of +'ve response...

	Well, if anyone happens across an old guy on a white Schwinn
Madison anywhere on the Fitchburg club's usual century loop, or
between that loop and Stow, Hudson, Littleton, Boxborough on sunday, 
just Yell at me and we can link up.  The weather IS going to
cooperate, I promise !!! 

	Reg

{PS, its off if there's sleet - I'll play my pinnnanno instead;
anything to get away from the f/ball on TV, even Frantz_Joseph.Lst}

The Charles River Wheelmen annual New Years Day 20 mile ride had
	_125_ people, and it was 25 degrees.

Winter riding is no longer just for crazies, or maybe more of us are 
crazies.  Come join in the fun, give it a try!

	~Mike

    The Granite State Wheelmen had 25 riders, same weather.
    
    ed

      
> Winter riding is no longer just for crazies, or maybe more of us are 
> crazies.  Come join in the fun, give it a try!

>	~Mike

    I've just read discussion #12, specifically reply #26.
    
    On Jan. 15th, there'll be another sunday frostbite ride.
    Starting point is the Lexington green (in Lexington)? 10:30 am?
    
    Are six layers enough for pedaling this time of year??
    
    Do people still pedal even if it snows? Mountain bikes, if so?
    

> Winter riding is no longer just for crazies, or maybe more of us are 
> crazies.  Come join in the fun, give it a try!

>	~Mike

    I've just read discussion #12, specifically reply #26.
    
    On Jan. 15th, there'll be another sunday frostbite ride.
    Starting point is the Lexington green (in Lexington)? 10:30 am?
~It's on as noted in 12.26.  Lexington, MA.

    Are six layers enough for pedaling this time of year??
~Only you can decide, too many for me.  If you're not sure,
	have room to store unneeded layers.
    
    Do people still pedal even if it snows? Mountain bikes, if so?
~Neither cold, nor rain, nor sleet, nor darkness...nor snow either.
~Mountain bikes -- some do, some don't.  In rough conditions they do 
~handle better.

~If my answers seem vague, it's because only you can give a definate
~answer for you.  Try it and see.    
~(you're gonna feel cold for the first 5 minutes no matter what you wear).

	~Mike

    	Well, I've participated in two of the frostbite rides, and both
    	were most enjoyable. A good pace is had by all, because whatever
    	pace anyone wants to ride at is fine. That was a relief for me.
    
    	I didn't freeze either, even without spending $150 on a Gortex
    	suit. I just used thermal underwear, top & bottom, a pair of
    	sweat-pants, two pairs of socks, and three more layers on top.
    	I have a full length ski mask, which is backed up by the hood
    	on my windbreaker. Put on a pair of ski mittens (the warmest),
    	and a helmet, and these sunday rides are a breeze.
    
    	See ya' next sunday in Brighton...
    
    							Face.