Re: Snowmelt season begins

On Mar 13, 6:22 am, Harry Brogan

hbrogan57_AT_NOSPAM_DOT_YAHOO_DOT_COM said:

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:57:58 -0700 (PDT), Ron Wallenfang

Quoted message said:

Temperatures in southern Wisconsin have finally begun making it over
32F on a daily basis, after a winter that, though not too much colder
than normal, was the worst ever for snowfall in some places and the
worst since the 1970s in others.  That's back when the spiritual
parents of today's global warming alarmists were "ice age" alarmists.

Quoted message said:

For us confirmed northerners, the regular change of seasons is an
indispensible part of the human adventure.  How monotonous it must be
after a while to have nothing but "another nice day"!

Quoted message said:

What does snowmelt season involve:  well, for openers, there are
freeze-thaw cycles every day, that leave a few icy patches in the road
to add spice to the morning bike commute; you just get a little wet in
the afternoon.  And of course, this means more potholes to avoid.

Quoted message said:

There's the joy of shedding a sweater, switching back to real biking
shoes, using thinner gloves, and looking forward to riding in bermudas
in a few more weeks.  Then there's arriving at work, and finding for
the first time in many weeks that mine is not the only bike in the
main racks where I work - two others this week en route to 10 - 15
during the summer.  And hopefully, by the end of this week, I can
resume riding the main bike trail north of downtown - it was still too
icy when I checked yesterday.

Quoted message said:

Along the commute, one can monitor the steady retreat of the snow,
begin with favored sunny locations and south facing slopes, then bare
spots around tree trunks that steadily radiate outwards, and so on
through grassy areas, small and large snowbanks, woodlots, and last of
all, the near glaciers that are piled up in parking lots.

Quoted message said:

As of today, the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers had a healthy flow,
but not yet a vigorous one, and most of that under ice (my
observations are at small falls).  With all that flow underneath, I
sure wouldn't want to be on that ice.

Quoted message said:

And of course it's time for the ice fishermens' shacks on local lakes
to come off.

Quoted message said:

The spring softball and soccer leagues are chomping at the bit to get
going, but in these parts, can't do it until April, and it's an
adventure then.

Quoted message said:

To every season, its time!

Yes....it's s sure sign of spring.  The snow here has, for the most
part, already melted away.  Save for the shady areas.  We are still
getting the cool nights and patches of ice occasionally.

What melt-off we now have is LOADED with sand, salt and other misc.
items that make it a pain in the old behind to go through a puddle of
any kind right now.

I have washed my ride a number of times already to keep the salt at
bay.  Hopefully that will work.  But I can't wait until the temps are
above freezing and actually STAY that way!!!!!
   __o   | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
 _`\(,_  | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) |                         ---H.G. Wells---- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ron, Where do you live? I am in Syracuse and whenever spring
seems to be here we get more snow and cold. I can;'t imagine
what that salt does to a bike. Love having daylight savings time
here. charlie

On Mar 13, 6:22 am, Harry Brogan

hbrogan57_AT_NOSPAM_DOT_YAHOO_DOT_COM said:

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:57:58 -0700 (PDT), Ron Wallenfang

Quoted message said:

Temperatures in southern Wisconsin have finally begun making it over
32F on a daily basis, after a winter that, though not too much colder
than normal, was the worst ever for snowfall in some places and the
worst since the 1970s in others.  That's back when the spiritual
parents of today's global warming alarmists were "ice age" alarmists.

Quoted message said:

For us confirmed northerners, the regular change of seasons is an
indispensible part of the human adventure.  How monotonous it must be
after a while to have nothing but "another nice day"!

Quoted message said:

What does snowmelt season involve:  well, for openers, there are
freeze-thaw cycles every day, that leave a few icy patches in the road
to add spice to the morning bike commute; you just get a little wet in
the afternoon.  And of course, this means more potholes to avoid.

Quoted message said:

There's the joy of shedding a sweater, switching back to real biking
shoes, using thinner gloves, and looking forward to riding in bermudas
in a few more weeks.  Then there's arriving at work, and finding for
the first time in many weeks that mine is not the only bike in the
main racks where I work - two others this week en route to 10 - 15
during the summer.  And hopefully, by the end of this week, I can
resume riding the main bike trail north of downtown - it was still too
icy when I checked yesterday.

Quoted message said:

Along the commute, one can monitor the steady retreat of the snow,
begin with favored sunny locations and south facing slopes, then bare
spots around tree trunks that steadily radiate outwards, and so on
through grassy areas, small and large snowbanks, woodlots, and last of
all, the near glaciers that are piled up in parking lots.

Quoted message said:

As of today, the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers had a healthy flow,
but not yet a vigorous one, and most of that under ice (my
observations are at small falls).  With all that flow underneath, I
sure wouldn't want to be on that ice.

Quoted message said:

And of course it's time for the ice fishermens' shacks on local lakes
to come off.

Quoted message said:

The spring softball and soccer leagues are chomping at the bit to get
going, but in these parts, can't do it until April, and it's an
adventure then.

Quoted message said:

To every season, its time!

Yes....it's s sure sign of spring.  The snow here has, for the most
part, already melted away.  Save for the shady areas.  We are still
getting the cool nights and patches of ice occasionally.

What melt-off we now have is LOADED with sand, salt and other misc.
items that make it a pain in the old behind to go through a puddle of
any kind right now.

I have washed my ride a number of times already to keep the salt at
bay.  Hopefully that will work.  But I can't wait until the temps are
above freezing and actually STAY that way!!!!!
   __o   | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
 _`\(,_  | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) |                         ---H.G. Wells---- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ah yes, snowmelt season. More road salt than anything else, and the
slush is almost as good for bike handling as it is for the bike
itself. The only consolation is that it's almost time to break out
the kayaks and do the summertime "lazy easy rivers" in grade 2+
conditions.

Quoted message said:

On Mar 13, 6:22 am, Harry Brogan

hbrogan57_AT_NOSPAM_DOT_YAHOO_DOT_COM said:

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:57:58 -0700 (PDT), Ron Wallenfang

Quoted message said:

Temperatures in southern Wisconsin have finally begun making it over
32F on a daily basis, after a winter that, though not too much colder
than normal, was the worst ever for snowfall in some places and the
worst since the 1970s in others.  That's back when the spiritual
parents of today's global warming alarmists were "ice age" alarmists.

Quoted message said:

For us confirmed northerners, the regular change of seasons is an
indispensible part of the human adventure.  How monotonous it must be
after a while to have nothing but "another nice day"!

Quoted message said:

What does snowmelt season involve:  well, for openers, there are
freeze-thaw cycles every day, that leave a few icy patches in the road
to add spice to the morning bike commute; you just get a little wet in
the afternoon.  And of course, this means more potholes to avoid.

Quoted message said:

There's the joy of shedding a sweater, switching back to real biking
shoes, using thinner gloves, and looking forward to riding in bermudas
in a few more weeks.  Then there's arriving at work, and finding for
the first time in many weeks that mine is not the only bike in the
main racks where I work - two others this week en route to 10 - 15
during the summer.  And hopefully, by the end of this week, I can
resume riding the main bike trail north of downtown - it was still too
icy when I checked yesterday.

Quoted message said:

Along the commute, one can monitor the steady retreat of the snow,
begin with favored sunny locations and south facing slopes, then bare
spots around tree trunks that steadily radiate outwards, and so on
through grassy areas, small and large snowbanks, woodlots, and last of
all, the near glaciers that are piled up in parking lots.

Quoted message said:

As of today, the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers had a healthy flow,
but not yet a vigorous one, and most of that under ice (my
observations are at small falls).  With all that flow underneath, I
sure wouldn't want to be on that ice.

Quoted message said:

And of course it's time for the ice fishermens' shacks on local lakes
to come off.

Quoted message said:

The spring softball and soccer leagues are chomping at the bit to get
going, but in these parts, can't do it until April, and it's an
adventure then.

Quoted message said:

To every season, its time!

Yes....it's s sure sign of spring.  The snow here has, for the most
part, already melted away.  Save for the shady areas.  We are still
getting the cool nights and patches of ice occasionally.

What melt-off we now have is LOADED with sand, salt and other misc.
items that make it a pain in the old behind to go through a puddle of
any kind right now.

I have washed my ride a number of times already to keep the salt at
bay.  Hopefully that will work.  But I can't wait until the temps are
above freezing and actually STAY that way!!!!!
   __o   | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
 _`\(,_  | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) |                         ---H.G. Wells---- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ron, Where do you live? I am in Syracuse and whenever spring
seems to be here we get more snow and cold. I can;'t imagine
what that salt does to a bike. Love having daylight savings time
here. charlie

I hedge with XC skate skiing.

Ben

Green is flood

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

yellow is kayakville

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ahps/

and yes, down 50% from last look I took-30 days ago?

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/

butbutbut not completely accurate

http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/reports/default.cfm

http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7943303

Edward Dolan said:

[...]
But what good is summer I ask you when winter shall soon return. The summers
go by like Tom Sherman on his low-rider,[...]

Hey Ed,

The correct term is "lowracer", e.g. this is one of my lowracers:
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939602865/>.

A "low-rider" is a bicycle built purely for show.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

if one looks low at the snow cover map, see an animation link.

when snow melts into the ground, dust, IC particulates are left
drifting into the air and off course into your lungs. The stuff is
waaaaayyy more than a cartoon of butts, enough for preserving Cheops'
ham.

yawl need to walk thru the fields more, feel the sun embrace the land
not whine about your fate.

Edward Dolan said:

"Tom Sherman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Edward Dolan said:

[...]
But what good is summer I ask you when winter shall soon return. The
summers go by like Tom Sherman on his low-rider,[...]

Hey Ed,

The correct term is "lowracer", e.g. this is one of my lowracers:
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939602865/>.

A "low-rider" is a bicycle built purely for show.

I have actually only seen a couple of lowracers in my life and never ridden
one. They are very rare.

I can't say that I care for the breed much. However, they do look comfy and
fast. It is mainly the high BB that puts me off. I wonder if some day you
too may not find that the high BB on both of your Sunsets, including your
Dragonflyer trike, may give you numb feet. I think the older you get the
more likely this is to happen.

Wide enough shoes and stiff soles are essential.

Quoted message said:

I like the way you have your tires configured on your various bikes. Very
sensible! The bikes all look so clean, I wonder if you ever ride them?

Well, SS0003 has a 28-406 Conti GP on the back, which I soon replaced
with a 47-406 Comp Pool. The skinny Conti may have been fine for "Little
Barbie" (the previous owner) who is about a foot shorter and much
lighter than I am. The occasional gravel road is much better dealt with
using the wider tire.

The pictures of Dragonflyer are from the eBay auction [1] and were taken
by the previous owner. Similarly, the pictures of SS0006 were taken when
the original owner had the bike for sale. The picture of SS0003 was
taken the first day I owned it.

Quoted message said:

By the way, which stem-handlebar configuration do you like the best on your
Sunsets? Aren't your arms a bit stretched too much on No. 6?

I prefer the T-bars with the RANS Flip-It stem of SS0003 (thank you Earl
aka "Lowbike"😉.

[1] A great disappointment to Larry Varney, since he was one of the bidders.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Mr. Dolan, you should get out more and develop new interests.
I live in paradise on the beach at Cape Canaveral. The educated and
rich people here are mainly interested in smelling [censored]. If your
interests run to that sort of thing, common down!

AH NO ed.

I am now under attack from Cape Canaveral for writing people here are
interested in [censored] smelling. Posts adverting watchs maybe related
as my truck is under attack. A prior attack, of which the people of
Florida are proud of, was wiping acid on my 544's radiator. The people
here brag and support the WTC terrorism. After that say what, right?
Butbutbut what is true is true. The area sports several mobile
loudspeaker systems hearable over 1 mile or more, occasionally a
ship's hailer system is used.
One loudspeaker topic is [censored] smelling. The truck or car carrying
the system will cruise the area advising the public, this is at
150-180 db, on whose [censored] smells and whose [censored] doesn't smell:
24 hours a day. For example, if you speak to a woman, a loudspeaker
will show up and begin advising you on the woman's genital hygiene.
As many locals work at KSC, I assume preoccupation with [censored]
smelling is somehow related to rocketry.
Top that in Minneapolis ?

Harry Brogan said:

Yes....it's s sure sign of spring. The snow here has, for the most
part, already melted away. Save for the shady areas. We are still
getting the cool nights and patches of ice occasionally.

What melt-off we now have is LOADED with sand, salt and other misc.
items that make it a pain in the old behind to go through a puddle of
any kind right now.

On Friday the 14th we saw 95 F here in Austin. Today-- Saturday-- we
got 84 F. Not a bad March weekend all in all.

I can't reckon why y'all would live someplace that stayed so
inhospitable for so much of the year. Human beings came from East
Africa, you know.

Chalo

WEATHER IS CRITICAL.
Florida's endless summer promotes youth and health. Also as was
written: a plugged up toliet.
Middle school kids burst with health in January.
As for the midwest? Fort Myers boasts a large midwest, or at least
Ohioan population. They're polite, somewhat reserved, excellent
drivers, and dress funny in pastels. Their body language is wierd.
Almost like they came from another planet. Somewhat humorless, stunned
by the tropical climate.
With a NE background, I can tell one joke, get a long puzzled look.
Here on the west side highway, I can tell the same joke and get a
laugh.
Those midwest rides are all downwind, right?
I'm swimming on Monday.

again

Green is flood

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

yellow is kayakville

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ahps/

and yes, down 50% from last look I took-30 days ago?

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/

butbutbut not completely accurate

http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/reports/default.cfm

http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7943303

Chalo said:

Harry Brogan said:

Yes....it's s sure sign of spring. The snow here has, for the most
part, already melted away. Save for the shady areas. We are still
getting the cool nights and patches of ice occasionally.

What melt-off we now have is LOADED with sand, salt and other misc.
items that make it a pain in the old behind to go through a puddle of
any kind right now.

On Friday the 14th we saw 95 F here in Austin. Today-- Saturday-- we
got 84 F. Not a bad March weekend all in all.

I can't reckon why y'all would live someplace that stayed so
inhospitable for so much of the year. Human beings came from East
Africa, you know.

Chalo

Some of us would consider 95F to be inhospitable.

When I lived in Dallas (TX), I concluded that summer in Dallas was like
winter in Winnipeg. Seriously. Consider: in Winnipeg, in the winter I
go from climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. In Dallas, in the summer I went from
climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, (un)dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. Yes, the temperatures were (wildly)
different, but my behaviour was the same.

I went to East Africa once. I could see why the ancestors left.

TEXAS is brutal. Late Septmember,I came down the hill into ? Houston,
drove into the rest area, got a gallon of poisonous water, poured
water over myself, laydown on the grass to die.

HOWEVER, what happens over the long run, the skin surface loses fat
gaining A/C capillaries supplied by an increased capacity subdermal
blood supply supplied by an increased capacity everything and uroff to
greater Krebs Cycle efficencies.

AND NOW off course yawl been sittin' round on urbehinds for ? months.
So yagotta start all over again like last year.

datakoll said:

TEXAS is brutal. Late Septmember,I came down the hill into ? Houston,
drove into the rest area, got a gallon of poisonous water, poured
water over myself, laydown on the grass to die.

HOWEVER, what happens over the long run, the skin surface loses fat
gaining A/C capillaries supplied by an increased capacity subdermal
blood supply supplied by an increased capacity everything and uroff to
greater Krebs Cycle efficencies.

AND NOW off course yawl been sittin' round on urbehinds for ? months.
So yagotta start all over again like last year.

What I use in Florida to keep cool:
http://www.50degree.com/

I can ride all over town without cracking a sweat, until . . . I get
into some A/C and then I am like a glass of iced tea.

I've been using this for about 4 years now. I get a few odd looks since
it looks like a bullet proof vest.

Jeff said:

Consider: in Winnipeg, in the winter I
go from climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. In Dallas, in the summer I went from
climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, (un)dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. Yes, the temperatures were (wildly)
different, but my behaviour was the same.

There's a significant difference.

In Dallas, if you make brave and spend most of your time in the heat,
your body will acclimate nicely-- becoming stronger and cleaner and
allowing you to be comfortable outdoors. I don't run my air
conditioning until the temperatures rise deep into the 100s or else
the humidity becomes so high that my papers get limp and soggy.

In Winnipeg, if you wholeheartedly subject yourself to the cold, you
suffer chilblains, frostbite and/or death.

Hmmm... a healthier body, or disabling injury and death? To each his
own, I guess.

Chalo

Chalo said:

Jeff said:

Consider: in Winnipeg, in the winter I
go from climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. In Dallas, in the summer I went from
climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, (un)dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. Yes, the temperatures were (wildly)
different, but my behaviour was the same.

There's a significant difference.

In Dallas, if you make brave and spend most of your time in the heat,
your body will acclimate nicely-- becoming stronger and cleaner and
allowing you to be comfortable outdoors. I don't run my air
conditioning until the temperatures rise deep into the 100s or else
the humidity becomes so high that my papers get limp and soggy.

In Winnipeg, if you wholeheartedly subject yourself to the cold, you
suffer chilblains, frostbite and/or death.

Hmmm... a healthier body, or disabling injury and death? To each his
own, I guess.

Chalo

Chalo, you are right. If you are willing to brave the heat and the
cold you will eventually get used to it. At least enough to survive.
However, there ARE those days where it's not a great idea to venture
out. Whether that be too hot or too cold. There are those very few
days that I don't venture out.

With that said. I'll throw in that there is a professor here at the
University who has not missed a day of teaching in more than 30 years.
He rides his bike in the roughest weather that we have. I have to say
that one has to be impressed with this as he's the better part of 80
and looks about 60. The newspaper here does a story on him every so
often.
__o | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
_`\(,_ | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) | ---H.G. Wells---

Dolan on WW1 and 2

Harry Brogan said:

Chalo said:

Jeff said:

Consider: in Winnipeg, in the winter I
go from climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. In Dallas, in the summer I went from
climate controlled building to climate controlled car to climate
controlled building, (un)dressing for the weather and spending as little
time as necessary out doors. Yes, the temperatures were (wildly)
different, but my behaviour was the same.

There's a significant difference.

In Dallas, if you make brave and spend most of your time in the heat,
your body will acclimate nicely-- becoming stronger and cleaner and
allowing you to be comfortable outdoors. I don't run my air
conditioning until the temperatures rise deep into the 100s or else
the humidity becomes so high that my papers get limp and soggy.

In Winnipeg, if you wholeheartedly subject yourself to the cold, you
suffer chilblains, frostbite and/or death.

Hmmm... a healthier body, or disabling injury and death? To each his
own, I guess.

Chalo

Chalo, you are right. If you are willing to brave the heat and the
cold you will eventually get used to it. At least enough to survive.
However, there ARE those days where it's not a great idea to venture
out. Whether that be too hot or too cold. There are those very few
days that I don't venture out.

With that said. I'll throw in that there is a professor here at the
University who has not missed a day of teaching in more than 30 years.
He rides his bike in the roughest weather that we have. I have to say
that one has to be impressed with this as he's the better part of 80
and looks about 60. The newspaper here does a story on him every so
often.
__o | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
_`\(,_ | I no longer despair for the human race.
(_)/ (_) | ---H.G. Wells---

Dunno. I walked to work (3.5KM) every day this winter. Usually arrived
sweating (I dressed for the weather). I saw folks cycle to work almost
every day this winter (I would have but the fork on my bike wasn't up to
it - however, just picked up a new Kona Dew Plus this evening - biking
to work tomorrow - yay!).

I happily run out doors as long as the temperature is above -25C (-13F).
I hate going out doors when the temperature is above +25C (77F) - way
too hot for a civilized human being.

bip