Winter Sucks

[Art Deco]

around here there used to be icehouses,where you could cut ice off the ponds and some rivers and pack it in sawdust and have ice for your drinks most of the year,not any more,now we don't even get a mud season,on the whole I guess that's a good thing.

I can vaguely remember an icehouse down south that actually delivered big blocks of ice to people's homes in the neighborhood.

Wow, that was a long , long time ago. I guess that's why we still rate air conditioning by tons ... that was tons of ice equaliant cooling power.

 

[PedalUma]

Cutting, packing, and shipping ice from New England ponds was a big industry. Before the '50's everyone had an icebox.

 

[Gionnirocket]

When I purchased my house built in 1927 it still had the floor drain in the kitchen for the icebox

 

[PedalUma]

With an increase in Winter teps of 5 degrees in the upper Midwest and Northeast, that can be the difference between a white Christmas and a brown Christmas.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

33F and drizzling here, saw a dude out riding his bike in shorts on an ice-covered road!

 

[Rexlion]

Yes, sea cliff retreat is a huge problem all along the SoCal coast. Some resorts, 2 key stretches of rail corridor (in Del Mar and San Clemente), several key stretches of Coast Highway, and many homes are threatened.

Sea walls and riprap can slow it a bit, but nothing can stop it. And for homes, those defenses can no longer be added or even repaired.

Most of the cliff undercutting occurs at high tide in winter storms like these. And as you point out, El Nino events tend to make it worse. However, when an undercut cliff actually collapses is anybody's guess.

Black's Beach, eh? The beach got mega-stoned.
Maybe the cliff was trying to cover up the clothing-optional sunbathers.

 

[Roamers]

With an increase in Winter teps of 5 degrees in the upper Midwest and Northeast, that can be the difference between a white Christmas and a brown Christmas.

Current 2 week forecast in our area says brown/green for now. Heading to Florida after New Years for a week, so that's ok; i don't like contracting for snow removal.

 

[6zfshdb]

I took out some "Winter Insurance" this week. I bought a new snow blower so you can bet we'll get little or no snow here in the Northeast.

I did the green thing and bought a battery powered unit:

DEWALT 60-Volt 21 in. Maximum Cordless Electric Single Stage Snow Blower with Two 4.0 Ah FLEXVOLT Batteries and 2 Chargers DCSNP2142Y2 - The Home Depot

Move snow quickly from your outdoor space with this DEWALT Maximum Cordless Electric Single Stage Snow Blower with Two FLEXVOLT Batteries

www.homedepot.com

I already have a supply of DeWalt batteries, which I use on my ebike. Might as well put them to good use during the off season.

The battery powered unit won't replace my gas model for deep snow but we don't get big storms like we used to.

 

[kevinmccune]

I can vaguely remember an icehouse down south that actually delivered big blocks of ice to people's homes in the neighborhood.

Wow, that was a long , long time ago. I guess that's why we still rate air conditioning by tons ... that was tons of ice equaliant cooling power.

true.

 

[kevinmccune]

33F and drizzling here, saw a dude out riding his bike in shorts on an ice-covered road!

my kind of guy.

 

[Gionnirocket]

my kind of guy.

Dumb and open to physical abuse?

 

[Jim1348]

I already have a supply of DeWalt batteries, which I use on my ebike. Might as well put them to good use during the off season.

Interesting. I am invested in the Ryobi 40 volt ecosystem. Did you build your own e-bike or simply retrofit one to use DeWalt batteries?

 

[6zfshdb]

Interesting. I am invested in the Ryobi 40 volt ecosystem. Did you build your own e-bike or simply retrofit one to use DeWalt batteries?

I retrofitted 2 of my Pedego 52V bikes which tolerate the 60V DeWalt batteries.

 

[Jim1348]

I retrofitted 2 of my Pedego 52V bikes which tolerate the 60V DeWalt batteries.

Very nice!

 

[Art Deco]

I took out some "Winter Insurance" this week. I bought a new snow blower so you can bet we'll get little or no snow here in the Northeast.

I did the green thing and bought a battery powered unit:

DEWALT 60-Volt 21 in. Maximum Cordless Electric Single Stage Snow Blower with Two 4.0 Ah FLEXVOLT Batteries and 2 Chargers DCSNP2142Y2 - The Home Depot

Move snow quickly from your outdoor space with this DEWALT Maximum Cordless Electric Single Stage Snow Blower with Two FLEXVOLT Batteries

www.homedepot.com

I already have a supply of DeWalt batteries, which I use on my ebike. Might as well put them to good use during the off season.

The battery powered unit won't replace my gas model for deep snow but we don't get big storms like we used to.

I bought the dewalt lawn mower (two 20 volt batteries) and small chain saw (12 inch blade, one battery). They seem to have roughly the same power as the gas units they replaced. I haven't needed the snow blower for years now, so it won't be replaced.

 

[6zfshdb]

Very nice!

40V Ryobi tool batteries work well on 36V bikes using this adapter:

Amazon.com

48V bikes are difficult to power with tool batteries though but I have seen it done using three 18V batteries in series.

 

[kevinmccune]

Cutting, packing, and shipping ice from New England ponds was a big industry. Before the '50's everyone had an icebox.

Michagan as well.

Dumb and open to physical abuse?

some pain is good, you put a bandaid or butterfly strip if you cant make it to the eroom for stitches,usually if the wound is clean it will heal pretty good without stitches unless the artery needs to be cauterized,what I do not like is the initial plunge in 30 some degree water after awhile its not too bad if you can dry off and find a sunny spot or nice wood stove to hug.for awhile after a bit you understand why people with high north in their blood are not too worried about cold legs( gotta to get a kilt if I can find the right tartan plaid) the main thing is keep the brain and core warm enough, get tired of people commenting on my shorts in cold weather. However am not as cold tolerate as I used ti be 50 some years ago,construction and forestry work sort of acclimates one a bit.

 

[kevinmccune]

 

[PedalUma]

I am almost ready for the annual holiday lighted bike ride. I need to get there early to help out getting waivers signed. I recently installed a red bell, bells on the pedals and on the spokes and most importantly a cup holder for cheer. The wheel lights change colors. That is a wreath on the front. I got my lady actor friend a Macbeth tie this year. She can't say out loud what it is, because that is bad luck for actors.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I am almost ready for the annual holiday lighted bike ride. I need to get there early to help out getting waivers signed. I recently installed a red bell, bells on the pedals and on the spokes and most importantly a cup holder for cheer. The wheel lights change colors. That is a wreath on the front. I got my lady actor friend a Macbeth tie this year. She can't say out loud what it is, because that is bad luck for actors.
View attachment 168355

See, winter doesn't suck so much after all! Love the bike. We expect video.

The big Pacific storm that just gave NorCal a good (and well-deserved) lashing has given soutwest SoCal a few mild to moderate rains, mostly overnight. Last night's was the biggest, and it came with lots of thunder and even some offshore water spouts.

The thunder reminded me how much I used to enjoy the convective drama that comes with living in Colorado. Nothing like a big booming thunderstorm to make you feel alive.