Out Again for Another Season

Last year I got some cold weather gear so I could go out when it was colder.  So now I normally don't go out on my bike when it's below 40 degrees.  50 used to be my limit but now I could get out a little sooner in the year, on days a little colder. But then, last year, my season began in February and this year I thought, why not get out every month!  So as last winter turned out unseasonably warm, and the New Year holiday went by, I determined to make it out at least once every month in 2024. Alas, the weather did not cooperate.   

By January 29th I had not yet been out and the extended forecast didn't look like it was going to get above 40. So I decided to tough out the few degrees below 40 and get out anyway.  

We hadn't got much snow but there was still some left.  And the ponds around town were still frozen over.  But it was go or miss the goal.  So I went. I only got out once in January but I did get out.

February had a few more warmer days, I got out four times.  I even got Brombeere to go out with  me on one of those rides.  Still, there was plenty of snow and ice around.

When March rolled around it was still cold, plus we spent some time out of town visiting family, so I didn't get out a lot.  But I did get out some more.

When April got here we went on a big trip out to Oregon and had a great time. That was a longer trip so it took some time away from bike riding but it was well worth it. And, it was getting warmer at home.  I liked that!  I was even able to talk Brombeere into going out with me on another ride.  That was nice.

By the beginning of May the leaves were starting to get serious about coming on and the scenery was beginning to get nicer.

Once the leaves got started, they came on fast.  I liked that, riding gets really nice once the leaves are out.  In just a matter of a couple of weeks, the leaves were nearly fully out.

By the end of May, being out on the bike was very nice.

June was nice, mostly on the trails but sometimes out in the country, out of town.  Seeing more and more of the wildlife in the area.

During July I still got out a lot, even though it was getting hotter.  I also spent some time getting bikes for Schwarzbeere's kids working and going on several shorter rides with them. 

While they enjoyed riding their own bikes, they also liked playing on Brombeere's bike.  Mine was too big, they couldn't reach the pedals at all.  But it was fun going out with them when they were around and interested in going out.

We even got Schwarzbeere out with his kids a few times.  That was fun to see.  He fits Brombeere's bike much better than any of his kids. There was also one time when I was out with his oldest, racing to get back before it rained on us.  Yeah, One of us was more happy to have made it back than the other.

August was a nice month also.  Lots of pretty scenery, more wildlife.  Good times.

We also got in a fun ride with Blaubeere and her kids.  That was a challenge.  It began with scheduling difficulties, we had to reschedule a couple of times.  The ride itself also began with some mechanical troubles on one of the bikes.  But we got it taken care of pretty quick and got off to a very nice ride.

September was a busy month; Himbeere got married.  There was a lot of time spent getting ready for that and then enjoying the occasion, especially all the family that came for the wedding.  Every one of his siblings made it.  That was very nice.  But, despite all that was going on with the wedding, I still made it out several times.  Right at the end of September, Brombeere and I also took the time to go to a trail we'd been hearing a lot about. We made a little vacation out of it and enjoyed a real nice time.  

September also brought fall, the days were getting shorter, farmers were harvesting their crop. and the weather was getting cooler.  That was a nice thing.

October also brought the wonderful fall colors.  As fall was coming on we went back and forth about whether or not the colors would be good this year.  While they didn't make it to peak in time for the wedding, when they finally arrived they were spectacular this year.  Very nice to be out in.

The weather was also cooling down enough that I got my cold weather gear back out so I could keep riding.  Brisk but riding helps keep you warm.  

November arrived and I got out a few times but then winter arrived. It got cold and windy, more so than I liked to be out in.

We started getting frost in the morning ...

Then we started getting snow.  Not a lot, but it was definitely snow.  And wind.  Too cold to go out.  But the happy thing was, during November I reached 600 miles for the season.  A first! An all time best!

As December progressed and I kept watching the extended forecast, I began to wonder if I was going to evet get out; cold, wet, and windy day after day.  This December was looking like it was definitely going to be more like a normal December around here.  And I really didn't have the whole month to wait for a good day - we had plans that were going to make the last part of the month impossible to get out on the bike.

Finally a day came along that was warm enough but a bit more windy than I like.  It looked like I was going to have to "bend" the rules a little, just like I had last January.  So I planned a route that was long enough to qualify as a bike ride and minimized the time I'd be riding into the wind.

I wasn't the only crazy one out.  If you can see the water through the ice it's definitely not thick enough to be out fishing on it.  But there they were.

The route I had planned actually worked pretty good.  Only had to ride against the wind a little bit and for sure warmer than last January's ride.  There hadn't been any great accumulation of snow so that wasn't a problem.  It actually was a nice ride.  And it didn't need to be a long ride, either.  So I took an indirect route to the post office and back, and got my December ride in and some Christmas cards in the mail.  That meant I had been out every month all year.  Actually, I had been out every month since February 2023.  Not bad.  We'll have to see how January is to see if I am going to keep that streak going.  If this winter is going to be more normal than last winter was I may not get out in January next month.

It was a good season, got all my goals and enjoyed some very nice times out on my bike.  Not bad for an old guy.