A Feel Good Accomplishment

[Woodog]

Last Saturday one of my regular riding buds wanted to ride an approx. 40 mile ride on Wednesday, but I couldn't do it that day. We settled on Friday as the high temps were forecast to be in the mid to upper 60's. A pleasant, slightly warm, late fall day, right?

WRONG!

As Friday got closer it was looking like the bottom was going to fall out of the temperature, and I tried to wiggle out but suggesting that it was going to be too cold (18 degrees F at start). He said 'oh that's chilly for sure, but not *that* bad, besides... I've got 2 other folks coming'.

I have ridden year round with temps as low as -5 for my 1.5 mile commute to work and 3 mile grocery shopping rides, but I had never ridden distance with the temp below 60. I knew sweat was my enemy. What to do?

I went out and bought some cold weather specific gear from the local bike shop. Paid full retail too (HURT MY FEELINGS) since it was by now Wednesday night, stores were closing for Thursday (turkey day) and we were set to leave early Friday morning. The gear was Pearl izumi therma fleece tights and Underarmor upper coldgear. This is what the store had, so it is what I got (no real time to shop or research or anything). I already had a balaclava and leather gloves. WORTH EVERY PENNY even though it made me look like a twisted middle aged poser.

I learned that a distance ride can be done comfortably in the cold weather, and I'll do more now. I really feel like I've accomplished something. Just got back an hour ago and had to share.

Woo

[Gojohnnygo.]

:beer: Way to go! Welcome to the dark side.

[huhenio]

I am just starting to do cold riding and I am liking it a lot. The hardest part is to figure out how to work the layers.

[Woodog]

GoJohnnyGo - Thanks, I've lived on the dark side in many areas of my life, this is a natural progression!

huhenio - I'm in the same boat with the layers thing. I figure experience will help me sort it out. Even though the ride start time was 8:30am, I got dressed at 6:30am and went out to try out different things.

First try was long underwear, two socks, tights and sweat pants for lower.... underarmor, long sleeve t-shirt, cycling jersey, wind-proof jacket for upper body..
balaclava and beanie for the head. Pearl iZumi thermal cycling gloves for the hands/fingers.

I settled on my old leather/thinsulate gloves. They worked much better. I returned the PI gloves to the store late yesterday.

After a couple of times out and back sprinting up a couple of hills close to home I knew this was waaaaaay too warm.

I ended up with cycling shorts and tights for the legs, one pair of socks and shoe booties, underarmor, a short sleeve t-shirt and a lightweight, 'drafty' jacket for the upper body, and just a balaclava for the head. During the ride the balaclava was sometimes over the nose/mouth, other times just the mouth. It was MUCH more comfortable breathing through the mouth.

I think that if you start out feeling a bit chilly you've dressed right. Those specialty fibers that wick the sweat away from the skin are amazing!

After the post above I crashed for an afternoon nap. That ride really took it out of me. The legs are fine, just the rest of me bonked. I'm thinking riding in the cold is more demanding of the body? Maybe I was just having a 'low energy' day.

I feel really good about doing it though.

Woo

[Gojohnnygo.]

Riding in the cold can be more demanding. The air is dense (Hard to cut threw it) More gear is also a drag causing even more air flow to be blocked.



Johnny