I have done two total solo overnighters. So no expert. I am yet to camp in a place where it is only me. Both times I have taken a popular rail trail to a Caravan and Camping park, surrounded by other holidayers. You can find someone to chat with, or keep to yourself. And feel safe(r). Hearing expected others milling about as you try to sleep is better than silence being broken by who knows what. That being said I am working myself up to do a solo camp out, in a free camp area that will be a gamble on company, and have no amenities like showers.
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 6:01:17 AM UTC+11 George Schick wrote: > This post about Nordic skiing (aka nowadays as either cross-country or > alpine skiing) makes me harken back to the days when I used to do that > during the Winter months while I was living in NE Indiana. I no longer use > those skis and associated equipment so anyone reading this in the Chicago > area who might like them are welcome to them for the asking. Bare in mind > that these skis, etc. are not only "waxable" but are about 45 years old. > Anyway, here are the goods: > > 1 pair 205cm Fischer fiberglass skis w/ 3-pin toe bindings > 1 pair bamboo ski poles > 1 box w/ various waxes for differing snow conditions incl. glide wax > 1 pair size 41 (metric) x-country ski shoes > 2 pair heavy wool socks > 1 pair battery heated socks > a couple of scrapers and wax spreaders > a wall mountable ski hanger > 2 pair gators > > Will be happy to deliver any or all of the above within a reasonable > distance from a Western Chicago suburb > > > On Monday, January 26, 2026 at 12:00:29 PM UTC-6 Brady Smith wrote: > >> My winter riding is mostly limited to Zwift in the garage and my regular >> e-cargo bike commutes. Even in this unseasonably spare Utah winter, though, >> I have found enough snow for nordic skiing, which is great prep for spring >> brevets, and thankfully includes my dog and occasionally child, pictured >> below. >> >> (A few days ago I encountered a few people riding this road on gravel >> bikes, which is both poor form, in that it damages the surface for skiers, >> and probably not a good idea, given that you do have to go down, having >> gone up). >> >> Brady, jealous of everyone's winter, in SLC. >> >> >> [image: B8508385-C4DC-49E2-AA80-DF257EA5B906_1_105_c.jpg] >> >> On Monday, January 26, 2026 at 7:46:37 AM UTC-7 ascpgh wrote: >> >>> My commuting is what keeps hope lit and my mind objectifying even the >>> littlest return to conditions permitting recreational riding. >>> >>> This storm (forgive me for not recalling the NWS nomenclature) is just >>> the latest of nature's "daily specials" . The snow fell with temperatures >>> in the teens after several days of single digits. It sat on the pavement >>> like snow on a frozen lake; with no physical force of connection to the >>> underlying surface. Like riding on a gym floor covered in loose sheets of >>> copier paper, frustrating starting, stoppinng and steering. Even the little >>> directional adjustments you make discreetly to keep upright are challenged >>> by the snow your tire is on, sticking to your tire but not the surface it's >>> on. Still in the "OK" range for the trip to work yesterday since there were >>> no vehicles on the road and I could ride through unbroken snow where it was >>> only 3-4". It was 8°. >>> [image: The trip in.jpeg] [image: Storm selfie.jpeg] >>> >>> When released after 14 hours when appropriate staffing was verified, I >>> bundled up and went out to meet the full 15"-ish accumulation of powder at >>> 14°. It took four times longer but only put a foot down a couple of times. >>> You really have to square your turns at intersections, drivers trying to >>> replicate normal weather arcs left or got stuck in deep tractionless ruts. >>> I rode straight until in the actual crossing path of the cross street then >>> made a 90° turn so I didn't go into the deep ruts of powdery snow. I first >>> met the 15" for the first time when I reached my driveway and the hub deep >>> walk to the back porch. >>> [image: IMG_6760.jpeg] >>> >>> >>> My mindless little commute resonates from this time of year to remind me >>> of what better conditions are and how much I'll enjoy them, since I still >>> find fun in my limited, practical riding at this time of year. >>> >>> Andy Cheatham >>> Pittsburgh >>> On Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 9:24:53 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding >>> Ding! wrote: >>> >>>> January is 576 days long. I miss biking season, so I have determined to >>>> use this time to plan for more biking during bike season. A year ago, this >>>> was not a thought. I had no idea what I was missing; I was either a lone >>>> wolf riding around doing Leah Things or I was a club rider riding around >>>> with different groups in the club. And on those club rides people would >>>> say >>>> to me, “Got any bike trips planned?” and I never did. What’s that Hobbit >>>> line? “We [Petersons] are very respectable and never have any adventures >>>> at >>>> all.” >>>> >>>> Mostly their bike trips were fully supported rides with some theme or >>>> specific purpose, and I wasn’t all that interested. No one was talking >>>> touring or bike camping, and anyway, Leah Peterson doesn’t camp. I was >>>> pretty (self) limited, just riding around doing the same things most weeks. >>>> >>>> Ok, well, summer of ‘25 my college boy wanted to try bike camping, and >>>> inept as we were, we got the gear, planned some routes, rode them, camped >>>> and toured and LOVED it. See here: >>>> https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/lT31xPiKVKk/m/ENio65vuAQAJ >>>> >>>> And now I’m hooked. I miss everything about bike touring; even the hard >>>> things, like rainstorms and hills and exhaustion. Must I really wait until >>>> spring? Like, April??? >>>> >>>> I had two amazing trips summer of ‘25. We saw gorgeous Lake Michigan >>>> shoreline. Niagara Falls. Fell asleep to waves lapping the shore of our >>>> campsites. My boy is a dream; he’s good for stimulating conversation or >>>> companionable silence. Sometimes we each had an audiobook going and we >>>> rode >>>> along with our books in our ears,, pedaling in rhythmic silence. The >>>> perfect bike touring companion, I had him, but he’s going to get a job and >>>> leave me. So now I’m in limbo; I want him as my bike partner but he is >>>> unsure where he will be this summer. I want to plan trips but I don’t want >>>> to do them alone. You would think the bike club might render me a pal. But >>>> their bikes do not haul like ours. I have one friend who did the GAP with >>>> me, but she could only carry her clothes; she had no capacity to carry a >>>> tent or panniers on her carbon bike, so we stayed at Warm Showers. And >>>> even >>>> if you find a pal, you need what I call RIDING CHEMISTRY. You cannot just >>>> go with any rando; you must be in similar shape, want to see the same >>>> sights, have similar disposable incomes, value gourmet coffee… >>>> >>>> I’ve thought of setting off alone. But I wonder if that’s safe or will >>>> even be fun. Part of doing these trips is having someone to enjoy them and >>>> relive them with. Plus, how scared would I be alone in my tent at night >>>> when the animals come out? What if something happens like a mechanical or >>>> a >>>> crash? >>>> >>>> Ideally, one would do this with a spouse, but mine is not a cyclist. >>>> Where do you meet people you might like to travel with? I’m sure there are >>>> plenty on this forum who can at least empathize. And with the next winter >>>> storm barreling towards us, what else have we got to do? >>>> Leah >>>> SW Michigan >>>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/fa31b589-84c6-488b-a648-1223a964f507n%40googlegroups.com.
