not scooter related:
just a little wistful thinking on a winter day
Published by Crystal February 26th, 2008 in cold weather riding.
Before I got obsessed by scooters, I was obsessed with bicycles. And when I was obsessed with bicycles and moved to Vermont from San Francisco a few years ago, I started winter riding. I was trying to straighten up archived photos on my computer and found this fuzzy photo of my winter bike taken in December 2003. It’s a 14-inch steel Raleigh mountain bike that I outfitted with XT bits and either super-knobby or studded tires, depending on the situation. Seeing it again made me wish I could pull it out and ride.
I loved being a part of the icebiking community, even though I was not as hardcore as many of the people in the group. I also have to admit that I got into it not because I love winter, but because I can’t wait for it to be over, and riding was a way to help make winter more tolerable. I found that I could ride pretty comfortably down to 17 below zero - that’s the point where I couldn’t warm up my extremities no matter how hard I rode - but I preferred it at least a bit warmer. My best snow-riding experience was a simple one - riding along a snow covered road in January on my 40th birthday with a huge grin on my face, thinking, look at me, I’m 40 years old and I’m riding my bike in the snow! What more could a girl ask for?
Since I was hit by a car while riding my scooter a few years ago, I haven’t been able to ride any of my bikes - but I still have this one, slightly disassembled, in my basement, waiting for adventure again.
Crystal,
Just like you I enjoy riding bike - been off the bike for close to 8 months - use to look forward to ride with my group on weekends and such - both mountain and road. I have not been on my old Giant XTC wtih XT components - hard tail for quite some time but I know what you meant getting back on a bike. My other ride is a Litespeed - 10 year old Classic and still with almost all original components. I must say - when I shelled out big bucks for the Litespeed bike at the time I was told that I was crazy. My response to them - I wanted to ride this bike for at least 20 years; Now - I made it to the half way point and looking forward to keep on riding both bikes. I enjoy riding my scooter so much that it does keep me off my road and mountain bike. 2008 I will be back on my human power bike more often. Happy trails and ride safe on the roads.
Phil
I really loved riding my bike when I lived in Denmark. I’m trying to make myself love it again, but it’s so hard to find time with the kiddos. That and I’m not in great shape. Maybe I could find an exercise bike so that after this little one is born those biking muscles will be in good shape.