Freezing Saddles: Winter Bike Challenge (sign up open)

[TwoWheelsDC]

@consularrider 40494 wrote:

Guess you should have left a little earlier, winds were calm from 7 to 8 am. :p

I almost did, since the dog was up earlier than normal. But it was still dark at 7am and I like to have at least one end of my commute be during daylight for sanity’s sake. My commute is primarily in a WNW direction, precisely where the wind was coming from, so I got to ride up hills AND into the wind. It didn’t help that my legs were still a little toasted from Mt. Weather.

[consularrider]

@TwoWheelsDC 40495 wrote:

I almost did, since the dog was up earlier than normal. But it was still dark at 7am and I like to have at least one end of my commute be during daylight for sanity’s sake. My commute is primarily in a WNW direction, precisely where the wind was coming from, so I got to ride up hills AND into the wind. It didn’t help that my legs were still a little toasted from Mt. Weather.

So it will be downhill with a tailwind in the rain for the ride home?

Was it foggy up on Mt Weather?

[Greenbelt]

@consularrider 40494 wrote:

Guess you should have left a little earlier, winds were calm from 7 to 8 am. :p

However, I did feel a drop in temperature along the Potomac after crossing under Memorial Bridge heading towards Roosevelt Island. The NWS reports the temperature has started dropping since it peaked at 61° this morning and I expect I will be underdressed when it is time to ride home.

We also missed the wind — got downtown by 7:30am. However, I’m going to have to ramble this evening to stay warm — I saw “High of 60 degrees” and dressed for that!

[DismalScientist]

@consularrider 40496 wrote:

Was it foggy up on Mt Weather?

Don’t know about that, but it was foggy all the way to Purcelville and back.

[KelOnWheels]

@consularrider 40494 wrote:

Guess you should have left a little earlier, winds were calm from 7 to 8 am. :p

I dunno where YOU were at – I had a headwind all the way up the MVT and a crazy crosswind by the Big Pencil coming up 15th

@consularrider 40494 wrote:

However, I did feel a drop in temperature along the Potomac after crossing under Memorial Bridge heading towards Roosevelt Island. The NWS reports the temperature has started dropping since it peaked at 61° this morning and I expect I will be underdressed when it is time to ride home.

Yeah, I lugged my ELITE pants and my jacket & gloves along for the ride home. Having a giant backpack on keeps one rather toasty as well.

I srsly need some fenders!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@consularrider 40496 wrote:

So it will be downhill with a tailwind in the rain for the ride home?

Was it foggy up on Mt Weather?

My route is sort of undulating, so it’s basically the same amount of hills either way, but I’m hoping the wind helps a bit.

I started my Mt. Weather ride in Airmont, and it was cold and overcast, but by the time I got to the top of the first big climb, it had cleared off and was perfectly sunny the rest of the day. The roads were a bit wet from the snow melting, but otherwise it was a perfect day…mild temps, clear skies, and no wind. I rode from Airmont, through Bluemont, over Mt. Weather, up to Naked Mtn, then back over Mt. Weather to Route 7. My wife was gracious enough to come with me, and she parked the car at Bearsden Park and hiked a bit of the Appalachian Trail with the dog. The elevation profile from her hike looked just as crazy as my ride, as the trails traverse several steep little valleys along the northwest side of the mountain.

[KelOnWheels]

Oh and just sayin…

•935 rides
•12047 miles
•18296 total points earned
Last update at 12:48:05 on 01/14/13

TWELVE THOUSAND MILES YOU PEOPLES.
(and 47. that was me. )

[vtben]

@consularrider 40494 wrote:

Guess you should have left a little earlier, winds were calm from 7 to 8 am. :p

However, I did feel a drop in temperature along the Potomac after crossing under Memorial Bridge heading towards Roosevelt Island. The NWS reports the temperature has started dropping since it peaked at 61° this morning and I expect I will be underdressed when it is time to ride home.

I was going to say, I was on the MVT going north around 7:15am and crossed the 14th St Bridge a little later and didn’t notice any appreciable head/cross-winds. It does seem like there’s always a headwind in the afternoons going south on the MVT approaching Gravelly Point, but that may be in my head

[bikenurse]

@Greenbelt 40497 wrote:

We also missed the wind — got downtown by 7:30am. However, I’m going to have to ramble this evening to stay warm — I saw “High of 60 degrees” and dressed for that!

Felt cooler on the way home (just got home a few min ago). Dryer/cooler north wind in my face. Certainly not cold though (even for you, Greenbelt). And no rain at all!

[acc]

Eminva felt kinda bad about not getting a lot of miles in December. So she went on a ride today. She is adding more than 120 miles to her team tonight. Is she amazing, or what?

[Subby]

@acc 40553 wrote:

Eminva felt kinda bad about not getting a lot of miles in December. So she went on a ride today. She is adding more than 120 miles to her team tonight. Is she amazing, or what?

EPIC.

My team captain >>>>>>

[KelOnWheels]

@acc 40553 wrote:

Eminva felt kinda bad about not getting a lot of miles in December. So she went on a ride today. She is adding more than 120 miles to her team tonight. Is she amazing, or what?

Captain my captain! Sriracha power!

[ATTACH]2276[/ATTACH]

[Greenbelt]

7 or 8 teams within 150 points. Pretty excellent handicapping, I’d say.

[ronwalf]

Oh man, proof of my dork-hood is now forever etched into the interwebs:
Freezing Saddles: Virtual contest pushes area cyclists to rack up real mileage

[Certifried]

Very cool!

[Author]

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