Dec 19 2008
Winter Riding
The people in Vancouver and Portland just don’t do very well when is comes to handling a little snow and ice. The drivers are inept and the news people start to wear on my nerves after about a week of beating the weather story to death over an inch of snow and freezing temps. Residents of more wintry regions would get a laugh over the reaction or should I say the over reaction to a little snow.
Inclement weather conditions during the winter has never kept me from doing what I need to do or going where I need go. But finally after a week of snow, ice, rain, and wind, I have finally had enough. Not enough of the weather, but enough of needing to wear all those layers of clothing to ride my bike. Last night after I arrived home I took off my layers showered then put on some board shorts to relax. It was then I noticed how much more comfortable I was, in fact it was probably the most comfortable I have been all week. I guess if I had been cold I may have a different outlook on this, but thankfully my winter riding gear has worked well. And most importantly my hands and feet stayed warm and dry.
It has been a busy week trying to get Christmas shopping done, commuting to work, and getting around by bicycle at times has been challenging. Most of the stores have been pretty empty and the roads were not all that bad, but the icy spots and the gravel they put on the road for traction has been a major nuisance and at times a hazard. Not only did I need to watch for slippery spots due to ice or gravel on the pavement, but the cars, trucks, and buses have been slinging the bits of gravel like tiny projectiles. Riding has been interesting.
According to the forecast there will be some snow and freezing rain over the weekend followed by warming into the 40′s by Tuesday. I have been warm and dry during this bit of snow and ice, but I am looking forward to just rain and balmy temps in the 40′s.
We used to get the same thing in Cambridge. Once there was under a inch of snow and the whole city ground to a halt. Not so here in NL. They just keep on cycling. It hardly touches the cycling rate here. However, that’s largely because the snow and ice are not allowed to make cycling dangerous.
I remember the chaos in the UK. My German friends think it’s hilarious that we described three inches as ‘drifts’ and people abandoned their cars when we had about half an inch of snow on the motorways.
Funny how people react to weather they are not use to.