[Arlingtonrider]

Getting back to the happy hour . . .

[Arlingtonrider]

No post deadline sign ups!

That is the rule, which is engraved on hard stone, buried next to a big tree in a secret place deep in a forest in Moldavia.

[Arlingtonrider]

@bsnbsn9 101160 wrote:

i will buy at amazon

One more thing – I don’t think you can get Moose Mitts on Amazon. Bar Mitts are easily available on Amazon and are about $30 less expensive. Moose Mitts are best ordered during the summer. They’re handmade by a small independent bike shop (awesome people there!), but there’s often a 2 or 3 month waiting list in the Fall/Winter.

[Arlingtonrider]

@KLizotte 102715 wrote:

I am loving my new Pearl Izumi women’s elite softshell gloves. Very, very warm (though for twice as much you can get the waterproof version) even without my moose mitts. They cover up the wrists as well. Best riding gloves I have found so far. I got mine at HTO in Pentagon City.

http://shop.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=133&product_id=2247729&outlet=&color_code=021

Thanks for the review. I bought a pair of those a couple of months ago and haven’t used them yet. Good to know!

[Arlingtonrider]

I have both (as a result of a gift), but you don’t need both. I think I’d be perfectly happy with either.

I like the Bar Mitts (neoprene) a little better in rain or wind. I like the Moose Mitts better if it’s a little warmer out or if I think I might be taking them off/putting them on again. Both are easy to put on and take off, but Moose Mitts are probably a little quicker.

All the above applies to the flat bar versions. Might be different with drop bar.

[Arlingtonrider]

I loved last night’s rainy commute too. Most recent change – I’ve decided to completely stop buying expensive gloves for wet or cold weather. I just use light Fall gloves now with Bar Mitts. I might not trust that yet for a really long ride in a cold rain, but I know it works well for my commute. Light gloves feel more comfortable to me and I like having more dexterity. My hands were warm and (as I recall) dry when I got home last night.

[Arlingtonrider]

[Arlingtonrider]

@DismalScientist 102667 wrote:

Do you realize how difficult it is to keep up with you after HDCC?

If I didn’t have such a good time hanging out with you all, I wouldn’t have to rush to work after long HDCCs on meeting days. Btw, according to Strava, my ride in after HDCC last week was 9 mph avg. Anyway, Chris might be right about the scones.

[Arlingtonrider]

lol – no apologies needed! No queen bee either. That was a fun day at Hains Point and it was great to see and visit with you there!

Thanks for supporting the HP100, and welcome to Freezing Saddles!

Kathy

[Arlingtonrider]

If you want to play the game with us and fully participate in the fun of Freezing Saddles, don’t be a slacker. You don’t have to be ultra competitive to play. Just ride a few times a week. Even one mile a day! I am not a competitive type or super high mileage rider and I’m registering for a non-slacker team.

Mr. Cannon – I thought your post was great, but your last sentence may bring back some of the confusion.

[Arlingtonrider]

Newbies (and others) –

If you haven’t already, please let me know by a post or PM (private message) if you plan to come to the Jan 8 happy hour. Best place to post that is on the happy hour thread. If I click “like” it means I have you on the list (in addition to liking, of course!).

Cap City cuts us a break on room reservations and does individual checks, but it helps them a lot when I can provide a good head count at least a few days in advance. (We also try to tip well )

Thanks, everyone! And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

p.s. I’ll add bike and car parking info to the first post in the happy hour thread later today.

[Arlingtonrider]

Welcome to all of you who have posted here so far, and thanks for the introductions!

Just in case any of you are in town and looking for an early bike ride the morning of Christmas Eve (or any other Weds), please know that you’re invited to join us at Weds. “Hump Day” coffee club at Best Buns in Shirlington. These usually run from 7 am until about 8, but many of us are working a short day this Weds., so it’ll probably run a lot longer than usual. We’d be delighted to have you join us!

[Arlingtonrider]

Announcing a NEWBIE GOLD NUGGET AWARD (partly a cross-post from the Volunteers thread)

At the initial happy hour on Jan 8, in addition to the original Gold Nugget award for most miles ridden on Jan 1, there will also be a separate Newbie Gold Nugget award for the *FS newbie* who rides the most miles on Jan. 1. Competing for these awards is a great way to work off holiday treats as well as to make yourself an instantly valuable member of any team you’re assigned to.

Please let me know your Jan 1 mileage by Jan 3 if you think you may be a contender for either (or both) of the Gold Nuggets, so that I can determine who the winners are. (Newbies not yet familiar with all the features of the forum- If logged on, you can private message (PM) that info to me by clicking on “Notifications” in the upper right corner, above.). We would really like winners and close contenders to be present at the Jan 8 happy hour when we make the Gold Nugget awards. However, if you absolutely can’t make it, you can designate a proxy to accept the award for you.

Please, as always, ride safely and have fun!

[Arlingtonrider]

Thanks for the suggestion, Hozn, but as the initiator of the award (for which last year was the first year), I don’t think we’ve gotten to the point yet where we need to do something like that.

Last year’s Gold Nugget winner was a 2014 newbie who rode 141 miles, and the two runner ups rode between 100 and 120(?) as I recall. Adding a newbie-only award helps address the issue you mention, and it might be won by someone riding many fewer miles than that, depending on the competition among the newbies.

One caveat I forgot to mention, and it applies to FS overall – please stay safe everyone, and don’t ride in conditions you don’t feel you have the right equipment and/or experience for. This is all just for our fun!

p.s. Congrats again to Vicegrip for last year’s win!

[Arlingtonrider]

Announcing a NEWBIE GOLD NUGGET AWARD

In addition to the Original Gold Nugget award for most miles ridden on Jan 1, I also volunteer a special new Gold Nugget award for the *FS newbie* with the most miles ridden on Jan. 1.

Please let me know by Jan 3 if you think you may be a contender for either of the Gold Nuggets, so that I can determine who the winners are. We would really like for you to be present at the Jan 8 happy hour when we make the Gold Nugget awards, although if you absolutely can’t make it, you can designate a proxy to accept the award for you. I’ll post details about these awards on the happy hour thread as well.

Oh, and I also volunteered to handle the award for the most Hains Point laps over the course of the competition. Happy hours too.

[Author]

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