Conference noted::bicycle

    
    RE: "What do cyclists do in winter?"
    
    Avid cyclists are energetic, quite physical people.  
    What could they do during those long, cold, dark evenings?
    I leave it to your imagination.  :-)
    
    Aside from that, consider the following:
    
      - Off-road mountain biking: very heat-producing, 
        lots of aerobic benefit for even a couple hours' workout,
        fun in the snow and mud (according to the aficionadi).
    
      - Cross-country skiing - similar description to the above,
        except for the mud.  Notice I did not mention downhill...
    
      - Bike-building/repair/maintenance: cozily before the hearth,
        you can repair the half-dozen tubulars you've flatted during 
        the season; repack every last bearing on your bikes; build up
        a new bike for next season; change the handlebar tape; ...
    
      - Bike-withdrawal support groups, encounter sessions, and 
        group therapy - probably available in a town near you,
        with entertainment such as watching old TdF videos.
    
      - Group indoor rides: I'm serious, a local bike shop here has
        a ride at 6pm every Monday inside their shop. You bring your
    	bike and trainer; they provide the videos.
    
    Of course in Carolina, I can get out for a good hour at lunch,
    during the week, which sets me up for good if sometimes frosty 
    riding on the weekends.
    
    -john
    

    	Paul,
    
    	I'm not sure where you are.
    
    	Ed Fisher is the president of Granite State Wheelmen. If
    	you're in the southern New Hampshire area, he's the fella
    	to talk to.
    
    	Scott

    Get out  the  polypro  tights, sweaters, full-fingered gloves, and
    helmet liner. I'm still commuting to work by bike 3 days a week. I
    may  get  a  polypro  balaclava (Nashbar stocks them) when it gets
    colder. I'm told that a ZZipper fairing helps keep you warm, but I
    haven't tried that yet.  (I live in the Greater Maynard area.)

--David

    IMHO, the best thing to do is take a sabatical in New Zealand.
    
    However, for those of us with more limited means, I advise
    wind trainers and running.
    
    ed

    
    	Snowboard.
    
    	Roger

Ice climbing :-), just noticed some of the roadcuts near Merrimack are 
forming up this morning....
                        ken

I agree with .3, though joing a club is usually beneficial.  My club takes to
hiking in the period where it is too cold to bike, but there isn't enough snow
on the ground to cross-country ski.

Rich

    XC skiing and hiking - and don't wait around in Massachusetts
    for the snow to fall, otherwise you might be waiting a long time.
    
    We go north to the White Mountains in NH or the Green Mountains
    in Vermont almost every weekend for snow and XC skiing/hiking.
    

    
    	How would I find out about the clubs in my area? I live
    in Holland,(next to Sturbridge). CLub names would be helpfull.
    	
    		Thanks, Paul
    
    

  OPEN Bicycling /CLASS=recreation
    
                     -< Welcome to the Bicycle conference >-
    
  DIRectory /ALL /TITLE=wint
                                    Bicycling  
Created: 14-APR-1986 15:47         1780 topics        Updated: 13-NOV-1990 07:28
                     -< Welcome to the Bicycle conference >-
 Topic  Author               Date         Repl  Title

          ESIS::FEASE        12-SEP-1990    2.284  Exercise Bike - Great for Winter!
        DUGGAN::HUPPERT       2-NOV-1989    3.41  Looking for winter road bike
        LSMVAX::MILLER       30-JUL-1986  109.8  !!!winter plans!!!!!
        EUREKA::REG_B        22-SEP-1986  116.31  Winter is for planning next season ?
        MENTOR::REG           5-APR-1988  124.12  Back to it this spring  (well it was still winter)
        EUREKA::REG_B        24-SEP-1986  149.1  See winter training note;  I was on the TACX last night...
          NOVA::FISHER       13-FEB-1987  211.5  yes, but all done for this winter.
        EUREKA::REG_B         8-MAY-1987  306.3  Endurance, long term fatigue and winter; Bah !
         TUNER::FIGLER       29-DEC-1987  342.9  Winter Hours??
        HPSTEK::EKOKERNAK    21-JAN-1988  342.10  Same in the winter.  No lines
           NAC::CAMPBELL     17-AUG-1987  427.2  Winter rides huh....
         SUSHI::KMACDONALD   11-SEP-1987  458.6  winter riding gear ....
          NOVA::FISHER        7-JUL-1988  462.38  no the questions are easy but we don't do wheels till winter
   473  TRFSV1::ONEILL       22-SEP-1987     6  Winter Training Schedule??
        EUCLID::PAULHUS      30-OCT-1987  492.3  Jones for custom winter gear
        MOSAIC::WASSER       18-DEC-1987  505.2  I hardly ever ride fast in the winter.
   901    STAR::TEAGUE       20-OCT-1988    12  Winter Storage Question
   936   29169::J_BUSH        7-DEC-1988    33  winter activities
         SUSHI::KMACDONALD    7-DEC-1988  936.1  The only rational thing to do in winter ...
        WLDWST::SHROYER      11-DEC-1988  936.12  Winter Wimps
        CTCADM::ROTH         28-DEC-1988  936.22  greenhouse winter riding
        GSFSWS::JSMITH       18-AUG-1989  1285.24  Winterize your bike with Yukon Jack 
  1321  SYSENG::BITTLE        2-OCT-1989     3  ATB fun during New England winters?
        SUBWAY::SCHULMAN     13-OCT-1989  1341.2  Winter riding doesn't have to hurt.
         SUSHI::KMACDONALD    4-DEC-1989  1341.17  Winter bike touring, anyone?
        TALLIS::JBELL        17-OCT-1989  1343.3  winter stuff
          NOVA::FISHER       20-OCT-1989  1346.8  I could stand to lose a few myself and it ain't even winter yet.
          NOVA::FISHER        4-DEC-1989  1365.26  It's gonna be a long cold winter.
         VERVE::BUCHANAN     18-DEC-1989  1383.9  Maybe it's just "winter legs"
  1410   BOOKS::MULDOON      15-JAN-1990    16  Bike Shop Winter Overhauls
         WAV13::DELORIEA     30-APR-1990  1509.25  So thats what winter is for
         SUSHI::KMACDONALD    8-AUG-1990  1690.4  sled dog waiting for winter...
  1780  SA1794::PIERMARINI   13-NOV-1990     0  what to do in Winter.
[ End of requested listing ]

  CLOSE
  EXIT
$!
$ SET NOVERIFY
    
    Sorry for the lengthy listing, this conference is getting quite huge.
    Oh, by the way, there's only 2 "L's" in helpful, not 3.  Okay, okay,
    I ain't no teacher, so I'll shut up.
    	Check your local bike shops for info on clubs in your area. Hit
    more than one, some shops are hipper than others. Also, check the
    Boston Globe on fridays. Most bike clubs, at least in the Boston
    area, list their weekend rides in it. I'm not sure which section,
    perhaps the metro/region section?
    	Also perform a directory, or search for, the text "cold". I've
    seen alot of notes in this file pertaining to cold weather riding.
    
    						Best wishes, Face

I like to practice specific skills in the winter - it's a great time
to get better ballance and learn to become coordinated.  I ride a 
mountain bike all winter and have a blast.  This reminded me of a 
note I wrote long ago, to give you a good example of what to practice
for and how.  Hope it helps...

mark


          The Subtle Nuances of Crashing


          Riding a mountain  bike  can  provide  some  of  the  most
          entertaining  and  exhilarating  exercise  available.   Of
          course, as with everything in life, there is often a price
          to pay for these fun times, and in this case that price is
          called "crashing".  It really spoils an  afternoon's  ride
          to wind up in Out-patient with a broken collar bone, or to
          carry a broken bike  15  miles  out  of  the  woods.   The
          sadists  among  us seem to measure the quality of the ride
          in proportion to the quantity of blood that  was  spilled.
          How  could  you  have  a  good ride if you didn't draw any
          blood?  My perception is that this  attitude  is  probably
          not  good  for  the industry (and my body knows that it is
          not good  for  my  flesh  and  bones).   Do  not  despair,
          however,  for  there  are  ways  to  maximize  the fun and
          minimize the bruises if you understand what constitutes  a
          fall and learn how to take that occasional dive.

          First, we should define some terms.  I contend that  there
          are  only two types of falls; Up hill and Down hill.  This
          doesn't mean that you won't fall on the level, but the way
          you  fall  will fit into one of these two categories.  The
          Down hill fall is typically the worst, as you are  in  the
          process  of  harnessing  all  the  potential energy of the
          morning's climb and are cruising at a  substantial  speed.
          The appropriate fall, in this case, is called an "endo" as
          you should find your self end-over-end.  I say appropriate
          because  (if you must fall) you should strive to fall this
          way.  If you don't endo, or you  don't  clear  the  handle
          bars  when you endo, the "hard slam" will result.  In this
          case, you will be entangled with your bike and some unseen
          force  will  seem  to  slam you to the ground.  You cannot
          control  the  fall  and  will,  generally,  do  damage  to
          yourself and the bike.

          In the Up hill crash, the speeds are much slower,  so  the
          resultant  damage  is  minimized.   In  these  falls,  the
          rough-rider is playing the  balance  between  lifting  the
          front  wheel  and keeping traction on the rear wheel.  One
          result when this equilibrium is broken is the simple  back
          flip.   But a back flip can hurt if you are on the edge of
          a 10 foot drop.  Another is the result of a missed step on
          the pedal.  Men's voices have been known to change octaves
          and women again outsmarted the men  by  building  bicycles
          specifically to avoid the injuries this fall can cause.

          Now  that  we  have  characterized  the  fall   types,   a
          presentation  of how to avoid them is in order.  First and
          foremost, get a helmet.  This will save you in  the  event
          that  you  cannot control the fall, and in the case of the
          endo, it can be used as a landing pad (of  sorts).   Next,
          don't  ride  out  of control too often.  But this is great
          fun, so when you do, stay loose.  Let the bike go where it
          needs to as it travels over the trail.  Look further ahead
          and guide the course of the bike  rather  than  trying  to
          avoid  specific  pebbles  which  get in the way.  There is
          always a larger  rock  just  ahead  of  the  one  you  are
          avoiding!   Keep  your  center  of gravity low by lowering
          your seat and leaning into the handlebars.  Don't run into
          trees (they hurt).

          When you do fall, it happens very fast, but  try  to  keep
          that loose attitude.  If you have foot straps, keep them a
          little loose and practice pulling your  feet  back-and-out
          rather  than  just  out.  Incidentally, the "rat traps" do
          give you better control (and  incentive)  to  apply  pedal
          power,  giving  you  more  balance, and a better chance of
          avoiding the crash in the first place.  Get clear  of  the
          bike,  if  possible.  This is where the endo is so useful.
          I know you just dropped  a  month's  pay  on  that  custom
          machine,  but it can generally take the crash well as long
          as your weight isn't stuck there in the middle  trying  to
          bend  the  frame.  A bent stem can easily be replaced, and
          chipped paint can always be  fashionably  covered  with  a
          thick layer of macho mud.

          Now that you have all these techniques available  to  you,
          there  is  one  more  important step.  Practice!  Yes, you
          should try falling now and then in a  controlled  area  to
          get  the  feel  of  how easy a crash can be.  I like to do
          this on the  snowmobile  trails  in  the  snow.   This  is
          wonderful  for  the  endo practice; you just wander out of
          the tracks, and the deep snow will take care of your  bike
          for you.  It is also great fun and how often have you seen
          the Abominable Snowman riding a Fat Chance?  This practice
          will  minimize  the  trips  to  the hospital and make that
          spectacular crash a laughable affair.
    

    What he said.....
    
    Plus:
    
    The outback alligator swish.  Made popular in the areas of the U.S not
    forced into frozen disability (Florida at least).
    
    While spinning (at moderate to high speed) through a liquid filled
    depression your axle and part of your headset submerge.  The liquid has
    the effect of skewing the rear end around - about as fast as a train
    wreck.  The aforementioned endo will normall occur next.  
    
    (liquid = black, oozy, ditch water with a fine covering of
    sun fed green slime, featuring occasional undefined swirls)
    
    
    Ah, florida.....winter riding is like summer riding except the humidity
    is 80 % instead of 95 %.
    
    Come on down!
    
    bob

Some of us even continue doing recreational riding during the 
winter.  It's fun and much less boring than riding in your dining 
room.  Trust me.

How:  Just like skiing, you dress for it.

Usually the roads are clear and dry.  But a little snow here and 
there makes a ride more interesting.

If being with a group would help, many clubs have winter rides.

In Eastern Mass, The Charles River Wheelmen has a ride every Sunday 
of the year.  Our New Years Day ride starting from Boston Common 
typically has 100 participants.  Call 617/325-BIKE for CRW info.

	~Mike

    	I would rather wait until January or February to tell you
    guys how we do winter training in California.  Can you put the
    discussion on hold and come back to it then?
    
    					John

    I'll be riding with the Orange County and San Fernando Valley Wheelmen
    this weekend ... and then again in a few weeks.
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    
    Hey, Ed ... bon voyage ... I hear you're heading out east beyond
    California.  :-)
    
    -john

    Yep, LA, Tokyo, HK, Taipei, LA, home.  Leaving the 2 wheeler in
    LA and picking it up on the way home.  :-)  With a few rides
    thrown in to finish out the UMCA year.
    
    ed

    
    Ok, I'm curious.  Which UMCA rides have you been able to find?
    Some centuries?  The Californians in this conference and the
    Californians who won BMB painted glowing pictures...
    
    -john

    There're centuries on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.  I must miss
    the latter because I leave LAX at noon on Wednesday.
    
    ed

Back to the winter discussions.

The Granite State Wheelmen will continue the Tuesday and Thursday rides
from the Sheraton Tara in Nashua at 11:30.

You must call to be sure we haven't whimped out (ice and severe cold - less
than 20 degrees F will do me in).

I do Thursdays   DTN 381 - 2583
Joe does Tues    DTN 381 - 2936

WE've been the only ones recently.  If you can't reach one of us try the other.



Dani