Spring? ... Spring? ....

In article <[email hidden]>,

TomCAt said:

Help, Help, Help, .... I live in the Northeast USA.

It is so bad, the groundhog came out to see his shadow and got on a plane
for Florida.

Why do I do this to myself? Why do I live here?

I suppose it could be worse; Canada? No wonder the Canadians are loved all
over the world.

If is sympathy.

My bicycle looks like a flower basket. It sits, and sits, and sits, and
waits and waits.

I could go on but I need to shovel the snow, chop the ice, dig out the car,

I lived 11 years in Ann Arbor and I know what you mean. I suggest
finding an affordable hotel at a nice riding location in southern
California and a cheap plane ticket. There are dozens of great
locations and it's spring all winter. I can ride out my door at
400 feet elevation in LA and be at 6000-7000 feet in 30-35 miles.
Have to bring rain gear on mountain rides but it's still great
riding and the low areas are warm enough to ride in shorts (today
I rode at 4pm and it was 67F and windy). LA, Santa Monica, Santa
Barbara, Solvang, and numerous coastal towns south of LA are all
possibilities. I like the El Capitan, and Refugio state camp grounds
near Santa Barbara (north of Goleta). For a real knee breaker and
a great view, go up Refugio Rd to the antennas. In another month
it will be just as nice up in the central coast, San Luis Obispo,
Montana de Oro state park, Jalama Bay, etc. Riding is nice around
the Santa Margarita Lake camp ground as well, warmer than the coast
and very pastoral, rolling hills good for base miles.

An early spring training camp would also be fun if you can find
one to suit your budget and interests.

--Paul

Paul Southworth said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
TomCAt <[email hidden]> wrote:

I lived 11 years in Ann Arbor and I know what you mean.

Yes, I first started to enjoy winter cycling when I moved to
East Lansing. We would ride out to the lake for some
ice boating and then use the ride back home to get warmed up
again. Of course I moved there from North Dakota, so I
considered the climate to be almost tropical.

Quoted message said:

I suggest
finding an affordable hotel at a nice riding location in southern
California and a cheap plane ticket. There are dozens of great
locations and it's spring all winter.

....

Quoted message said:

I like the El Capitan, and Refugio state camp grounds
near Santa Barbara (north of Goleta).

I tried to camp at El Capitan a couple months ago and found that it
was closed down for the winter. I had to ride on to Refugio and camp
there instead - it has a nicer Hiker/Biker camping area anyway.
Both are almost directly west of Goleta and on the coast.

If the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is anything like the University
of Wisconsin, there are at least hundreds of bikers who keep going right
through the winter. No need to [censored] and moan; just dress warmly, get out
there and ride. After the first 5 miles or so, you should reach an
"equilibrium" and feel fine; it can feel cold before then.

"Paul Southworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

TomCAt said:

Help, Help, Help, .... I live in the Northeast USA.

It is so bad, the groundhog came out to see his shadow and got on a plane
for Florida.

Why do I do this to myself? Why do I live here?

I suppose it could be worse; Canada? No wonder the Canadians are loved
all
over the world.

If is sympathy.

My bicycle looks like a flower basket. It sits, and sits, and sits, and
waits and waits.

I could go on but I need to shovel the snow, chop the ice, dig out the
car,

I lived 11 years in Ann Arbor and I know what you mean. I suggest
finding an affordable hotel at a nice riding location in southern
California and a cheap plane ticket. There are dozens of great
locations and it's spring all winter. I can ride out my door at
400 feet elevation in LA and be at 6000-7000 feet in 30-35 miles.
Have to bring rain gear on mountain rides but it's still great
riding and the low areas are warm enough to ride in shorts (today
I rode at 4pm and it was 67F and windy). LA, Santa Monica, Santa
Barbara, Solvang, and numerous coastal towns south of LA are all
possibilities. I like the El Capitan, and Refugio state camp grounds
near Santa Barbara (north of Goleta). For a real knee breaker and
a great view, go up Refugio Rd to the antennas. In another month
it will be just as nice up in the central coast, San Luis Obispo,
Montana de Oro state park, Jalama Bay, etc. Riding is nice around
the Santa Margarita Lake camp ground as well, warmer than the coast
and very pastoral, rolling hills good for base miles.

An early spring training camp would also be fun if you can find
one to suit your budget and interests.

--Paul