It has now gotten cold in eastern Germany. Humid polar air from the north brought 5 cm (2 inches) of snow and permanent frost since Monday, dense clouds, below -6 °C (21F) every night. The light wind has now turned East (from Poland/Russia) today. So it got even colder, but the cloud cover decreased daily. The station of the German Weather Service (DWD) on the outskirts of my city is currently reporting -10°C (14F); at my house near the city center it's -8 °C (17.5F). The sky is starry - beautiful. The temperature will continue to drop until sunrise at 8am. The weather stays the same over the weekend. Where the snow was not removed in time, it is now very icy on the paths. In my opinion, this is no longer weather for cycling: cold and too dangerous. But there are still people cycling through the city. I currently prefer (heated) trams and buses.
Next week the wind will first turn south, then south-west: Mediterranean and Atlantic air, no more frost. Everything melts away in a single day. Temperature rises to 3...6 °C (37...43F). That's what we call: "Christmas thaw" - a well-known and often lamented weather phenomenon that melts away the snow completely in the days before Christmas, should there be any.
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!
No, currently more like Swedish winter (although swedish one is much colder). We often have an Indian summer - we call it "Altweibersommer" ... (old women's summer) - from September 'til mid-, sometimes end of October. Only the leaves of the red oak never turn so bright red here. There are also not that many, and only a few small red oak forests - a planted migrant species.
It has now gotten cold in eastern Germany. Humid polar air from the north brought 5 cm (2 inches) of snow and permanent frost since Monday, dense clouds, below -6 °C (21F) every night. The light wind has now turned East (from Poland/Russia) today. So it got even colder, but the cloud cover decreased daily. The station of the German Weather Service (DWD) on the outskirts of my city is currently reporting -10°C (14F); at my house near the city center it's -8 °C (17.5F). The sky is starry - beautiful. The temperature will continue to drop until sunrise at 8am. The weather stays the same over the weekend. Where the snow was not removed in time, it is now very icy on the paths. In my opinion, this is no longer weather for cycling: cold and too dangerous. But there are still people cycling through the city. I currently prefer (heated) trams and buses.
Next week the wind will first turn south, then south-west: Mediterranean and Atlantic air, no more frost. Everything melts away in a single day. Temperature rises to 3...6 °C (37...43F). That's what we call: "Christmas thaw" - a well-known and often lamented weather phenomenon that melts away the snow completely in the days before Christmas, should there be any.
I have a friend who used to only own a motorcycle and lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it would snow and he would still have to go work on his motorcycle, one time a policeman pulled him over on the Interstate, highspeed hiways, and asked him what he was doing and my friend said 'going to work this is all I have' the policeman told he was absolutely crazy which my friend agreed too and rode off. He would go the toll-booth and the person inside would bolt upright in shock as my friend rode his bike up, paid the fare, and kept on riding to and then back home from work again. My friend said he actually preferred riding in the snow because it meant less crazy people out there.
I have a friend who used to only own a motorcycle and lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it would snow and he would still have to go work on his motorcycle, one time a policeman pulled him over on the Interstate, highspeed hiways, and asked him what he was doing and my friend said 'going to work this is all I have' the policeman told he was absolutely crazy which my friend agreed too and rode off. He would go the toll-booth and the person inside would bolt upright in shock as my friend rode his bike up, paid the fare, and kept on riding to and then back home from work again. My friend said he actually preferred riding in the snow because it meant less crazy people out there.
While there are still quite a few people in Germany who ride their bikes in winter when it is cold, even when it is slippery, etc., one can differentiate between two types: firstly, the older people who have been used to it since they were young. Many (in the communist East) did not have their own car before 1990, or it was customary to conserve it as much as possible (no short trips). At that time, many only owned a moped or a simple motorcycle and drove it all year round in all weathers, even on snow, even on overland routes. Nobody does that anymore today. Then there are the younger people, the committed green cycling extremists. However, people are generally very sensitive to the weather and the number of cyclists falls sharply in autumn and winter, while the trams are crowded in the mornings.
I've only met people who were totally crazy and completely pain-free as far as the weather is concerned in Trondheim, Norway. When it rains there every day in autumn, as usual, the parks are still full of joggers at the weekend, whether it's pouring lightly or heavily, whether it's cold or not, it doesn't matter. If the sun shines for a few hours, young people in T-shirts sit in street cafes in the city center and imitate 'La dolce vita' like in Italy, at 13..15°C (55...60F). In late autumn and winter there is often black ice (the city is close to the sea, rain showers on frozen ground). Many simply use rubber overshoes with spikes. And then you see cyclists and hear unfamiliar noises, a bright rattling or clicking noise. What is that? Bicycle tires with spikes. That's crazy. Such tires easily cost €80 each instead of €15 for a standard tyre. They are also sluggish to drive and you lose spikes on a snow/ice-free trail (there are spare spikes and repair tool). One wonders: do they have two wheelsets for summer and winter? Or do they pull their tires off the rims twice a year? I haven't seen anything like that in Germany. The Norwegians are the special breed of outdoorsy people.
I have a friend who used to only own a motorcycle and lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it would snow and he would still have to go work on his motorcycle, one time a policeman pulled him over on the Interstate, highspeed hiways, and asked him what he was doing and my friend said 'going to work this is all I have' the policeman told he was absolutely crazy which my friend agreed too and rode off. He would go the toll-booth and the person inside would bolt upright in shock as my friend rode his bike up, paid the fare, and kept on riding to and then back home from work again. My friend said he actually preferred riding in the snow because it meant less crazy people out there.
While there are still quite a few people in Germany who ride their bikes in winter when it is cold, even when it is slippery, etc., one can differentiate between two types: firstly, the older people who have been used to it since they were young. Many (in the communist East) did not have their own car before 1990, or it was customary to conserve it as much as possible (no short trips). At that time, many only owned a moped or a simple motorcycle and drove it all year round in all weathers, even on snow, even on overland routes. Nobody does that anymore today. Then there are the younger people, the committed green cycling extremists. However, people are generally very sensitive to the weather and the number of cyclists falls sharply in autumn and winter, while the trams are crowded in the mornings.
I've only met people who were totally crazy and completely pain-free as far as the weather is concerned in Trondheim, Norway. When it rains there every day in autumn, as usual, the parks are still full of joggers at the weekend, whether it's pouring lightly or heavily, whether it's cold or not, it doesn't matter. If the sun shines for a few hours, young people in T-shirts sit in street cafes in the city center and imitate 'La dolce vita' like in Italy, at 13..15°C (55...60F). In late autumn and winter there is often black ice (the city is close to the sea, rain showers on frozen ground). Many simply use rubber overshoes with spikes. And then you see cyclists and hear unfamiliar noises, a bright rattling or clicking noise. What is that? Bicycle tires with spikes. That's crazy. Such tires easily cost €80 each instead of €15 for a standard tyre. They are also sluggish to drive and you lose spikes on a snow/ice-free trail (there are spare spikes and repair tool). One wonders: do they have two wheelsets for summer and winter? Or do they pull their tires off the rims twice a year? I haven't seen anything like that in Germany. The Norwegians are the special breed of outdoorsy people.
I agree the Norwegians are 'special!! LOL
I've seen the studded tires for bicycles here in the US before but as you said the first dry patch of road and they loose their pointiness and then the next slick patch are less effective. My dad had studded winter tires on their own rims for his car that he swapped out Fall and Spring, he too had to replace them every 4 to 5 years though as the snow plows here on the East Coast of the US try to get the snow etc off to dry pavement making the studs wear out faster. He only had them for the rear tires but finally got rid of them when he got a front wheel drive car.
I used to have a front wheel drive VW and my wife had a rear wheel drive Volvo, she was scared to drive the Volvo in the snow and ice so we often switched cars when it snowed. She got stuck once in the VW and I had to come get her in the Volvo and pull her out, she still didn't want to drive the Volvo in the snow.
I used to drive fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances in the snow etc so driving a rear wheel drive vehicle didn't bother me at all. NOW though I own a 4-wheel drive pick-up, I like it because it hauls all the home stuff etc but we never go off-road with it or even drive it in the snow and ice because both my wife and I are retired and don't need too. My wife has a 4-wheel drive suv and said that's the only kind she will get in the future too.
And so the "Weather" channel takes up "Car Talk"..... ;)
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!
Wind chills to 30 below zero (F) Wed/Thursday of this week in middle of the US (Kansas).
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!
Tom M wrote: Tuesday
)
Having passed by us in California, yes, if we didn't suck all trillion gallons out of it.
Gary Charpentier wrote: Tom
)
ROTFL
It has now gotten cold in
)
It has now gotten cold in eastern Germany. Humid polar air from the north brought 5 cm (2 inches) of snow and permanent frost since Monday, dense clouds, below -6 °C (21F) every night. The light wind has now turned East (from Poland/Russia) today. So it got even colder, but the cloud cover decreased daily. The station of the German Weather Service (DWD) on the outskirts of my city is currently reporting -10°C (14F); at my house near the city center it's -8 °C (17.5F). The sky is starry - beautiful. The temperature will continue to drop until sunrise at 8am. The weather stays the same over the weekend. Where the snow was not removed in time, it is now very icy on the paths. In my opinion, this is no longer weather for cycling: cold and too dangerous. But there are still people cycling through the city. I currently prefer (heated) trams and buses.
Next week the wind will first turn south, then south-west: Mediterranean and Atlantic air, no more frost. Everything melts away in a single day. Temperature rises to 3...6 °C (37...43F). That's what we call: "Christmas thaw" - a well-known and often lamented weather phenomenon that melts away the snow completely in the days before Christmas, should there be any.
"Indian" Summer?
)
"Indian" Summer?
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!
Tom M schrieb: "Indian"
)
No, currently more like Swedish winter (although swedish one is much colder). We often have an Indian summer - we call it "Altweibersommer" ... (old women's summer) - from September 'til mid-, sometimes end of October. Only the leaves of the red oak never turn so bright red here. There are also not that many, and only a few small red oak forests - a planted migrant species.
Scrooge McDuck wrote: It has
)
I have a friend who used to only own a motorcycle and lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it would snow and he would still have to go work on his motorcycle, one time a policeman pulled him over on the Interstate, highspeed hiways, and asked him what he was doing and my friend said 'going to work this is all I have' the policeman told he was absolutely crazy which my friend agreed too and rode off. He would go the toll-booth and the person inside would bolt upright in shock as my friend rode his bike up, paid the fare, and kept on riding to and then back home from work again. My friend said he actually preferred riding in the snow because it meant less crazy people out there.
mikey schrieb:I have a
)
While there are still quite a few people in Germany who ride their bikes in winter when it is cold, even when it is slippery, etc., one can differentiate between two types: firstly, the older people who have been used to it since they were young. Many (in the communist East) did not have their own car before 1990, or it was customary to conserve it as much as possible (no short trips). At that time, many only owned a moped or a simple motorcycle and drove it all year round in all weathers, even on snow, even on overland routes. Nobody does that anymore today. Then there are the younger people, the committed green cycling extremists. However, people are generally very sensitive to the weather and the number of cyclists falls sharply in autumn and winter, while the trams are crowded in the mornings.
I've only met people who were totally crazy and completely pain-free as far as the weather is concerned in Trondheim, Norway. When it rains there every day in autumn, as usual, the parks are still full of joggers at the weekend, whether it's pouring lightly or heavily, whether it's cold or not, it doesn't matter. If the sun shines for a few hours, young people in T-shirts sit in street cafes in the city center and imitate 'La dolce vita' like in Italy, at 13..15°C (55...60F). In late autumn and winter there is often black ice (the city is close to the sea, rain showers on frozen ground). Many simply use rubber overshoes with spikes. And then you see cyclists and hear unfamiliar noises, a bright rattling or clicking noise. What is that? Bicycle tires with spikes. That's crazy. Such tires easily cost €80 each instead of €15 for a standard tyre. They are also sluggish to drive and you lose spikes on a snow/ice-free trail (there are spare spikes and repair tool). One wonders: do they have two wheelsets for summer and winter? Or do they pull their tires off the rims twice a year? I haven't seen anything like that in Germany. The Norwegians are the special breed of outdoorsy people.
Scrooge McDuck wrote: mikey
)
I agree the Norwegians are 'special!! LOL
I've seen the studded tires for bicycles here in the US before but as you said the first dry patch of road and they loose their pointiness and then the next slick patch are less effective. My dad had studded winter tires on their own rims for his car that he swapped out Fall and Spring, he too had to replace them every 4 to 5 years though as the snow plows here on the East Coast of the US try to get the snow etc off to dry pavement making the studs wear out faster. He only had them for the rear tires but finally got rid of them when he got a front wheel drive car.
I used to have a front wheel drive VW and my wife had a rear wheel drive Volvo, she was scared to drive the Volvo in the snow and ice so we often switched cars when it snowed. She got stuck once in the VW and I had to come get her in the Volvo and pull her out, she still didn't want to drive the Volvo in the snow.
I used to drive fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances in the snow etc so driving a rear wheel drive vehicle didn't bother me at all. NOW though I own a 4-wheel drive pick-up, I like it because it hauls all the home stuff etc but we never go off-road with it or even drive it in the snow and ice because both my wife and I are retired and don't need too. My wife has a 4-wheel drive suv and said that's the only kind she will get in the future too.
And so the "Weather" channel
)
And so the "Weather" channel takes up "Car Talk"..... ;)
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!
Wind chills to 30 below zero
)
Wind chills to 30 below zero (F) Wed/Thursday of this week in middle of the US (Kansas).
A Proud member of the O.F.A. (Old Farts Association). Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® (Garrison Keillor) I want some more patience. RIGHT NOW!