Northern California - Brrrr - it was cold out today

Holy Moley (or however you spell that), twas cold out in the East Bay just after 8 this morning. I took this snap of a frost covered Moraga country club as I headed out this morning.

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2008_12_20Ride/DSC00372-1.jpg

I ended up putting in ~31miles essentially doing the first half of the East Bay Hills route we did a few weeks back, but man was it cold. My cheeks were stinging (the ones on my face, boys) - other than that I was fine - REI base layer, Champsys short sleeve jersey, Defeet arm skins, canondale LE bibs + Sugoi mid zero leg warmers, canari bright yellow jacket (oh yes) and my little PI calientoes. I normally have regrets about wearing my PI Gavia gloves due to overheating, but they were right on the money today.

Despite my having not got much riding time, this was a good little route for me - my quads thanked me afterwards, which I always take as a good sign. I spent the first 10miles feeling like my alarm clock had just gone off and I needed another 30mins in bed. Then I H'dTFU and pushed myself a little harder and felt much better.

Who else got themselves an up,close and personal visit from Frosty the Snowman today?

Like you, I got up early but moped around for a couple hours before getting myself out the door for a quick out and back up Diablo. For the top I wore a sleeveless mesh base layer, a long sleeve base layer, light short sleeve jersey, and a wind jacket. For the lower half, I wore padless tights over cycling shorts and windproof booties over the shoes. The hands got Craft winter gloves and I wore a balaclava under the helmet. I went up without the balaclava but needed to put it and another layer of windstopper armwarmers on for the downright frigid descent. Btw, I came up about a quarter mile short of the summit because of this (sorry for poor quality...taken with cell phone):

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p193997801-4.jpg

I did sleep in - I hooked up with a few TnT alums at Rockridge BART, and went up Tunnel Road, down Wild Cat, the 3 Bears, then back up Pinehurst. While it was noticeably cold, the frost had melted and we didn't see any snow!

Based on how I did, I'm really glad I didn't join Ron's Sierra Rd torture fest.

JB

Wow, you guys had a lot of snow and ice still. We didn't encounter any snow or ice, but it was still chilly.

My 37 mile 48 deg ride seems tame!

I did sleep in - I hooked up with a few TnT alums at Rockridge BART, and went up Tunnel Road, down Wild Cat, the 3 Bears, then back up Pinehurst. While it was noticeably cold, the frost had melted and we didn't see any snow!

Based on how I did, I'm really glad I didn't join Ron's Sierra Rd torture fest.

JB

Ran into some of your team on the other cold side of the bay.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/CarolineandShelly.jpg

Yeah it was. I was very thankful for all the warm stuff I bought this week.

I made it:

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/gb-122108-me.jpg

^^ Nice! Granite Bay?

I got a late 11:00 start from my brothers place in WC. Along with a friend of ours, we climbed up Southgate and down Northgate. Because of his time restrictions, we only got in 29 miles.

It was beautiful on the hill and the cars were outnumbered by cyclists. In fact, I don't think I was passed by one car going up.

BR

^^ Nice! Granite Bay?

Yep :D My friend lives near Cavitt so we ride out from his place. We were thinking of riding with FATRAC today as they had scheduled their Try The Divide Ride, but they canceled because they were afraid people would get hurt on the frozen over trails :\

Ran into some of your team on the other cold side of the bay.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/CarolineandShelly.jpg

Caroline and Shelley! they rode with us on Morgan Territory last year.

JB

That's a pretty picture, Beaker!

We rode at 9 w/the race team...it was 35* and the sun was shining. The ride included Mt. George but we passed as I had an appt. and was worried I'd not get home in time. We got in just over 38 miles; it was 49* when we got home, just before noon. When I ride stoker I don't dress in as many layers, since Cgallagh cuts the wind for me. :) I had a Nike seamless tank base, an Ibex wool jersey, a Cannondale jacket, PI Cyclone gloves, PI fleece long tights, SmartWool socks and PI booties, a Black Dot cotton/wool hat under my helmet, and a Survivor buff (Survivor Marquesas; I entered Chris in a contest to see the final episode at Central Park and we won!!! We all got a buff as a gift) for a neck gaitor/face shield. Yes, it's Fred, but it did the job and I wasn't cold.

I wonder if the Wisconsinites read this thread and think, "What wussies! 35* is spring thaw!"

Frankly, I feel pretty HTFU, like the rest of you, for braving this cold. :thumb:

Today was the coldest day since I bought my new UnderArmour base layer. I think I can go out almost any day with this stuff. It's magic.. I wore a wicking t shirt under my UnderArmour , plus the club jersey. Once I got going, I was too warm if anything. When we took off it was 37 degrees. WIth this fabric, I think I'll be willing to go out as low as 32 , no sweat with a good attitude.

Btw, I came up about a quarter mile short of the summit because of this (sorry for poor quality...taken with cell phone):

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p193997801-4.jpg

What time was that Alain? I was at Juniper about 9 and Summit Road was closed. Did you hop the barrier or had they opened it by then? I didn't realize there was much up there... no snow at all below 3000ft. (lots of frosty weeds though)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SU5qYlFSqTI/AAAAAAAAEwc/LH_jiVPfJ48/s800/PC200014.JPG

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p193997801-4.jpg

Geeez. I was going to say something about how cold it was going up Mt. Tam yesterday, but after seeing this picture, I think I'll just count my blessings. We had a crystal clear day up there. Could see the curvature of the earth, that's how clear it was.

That's a pretty picture, Beaker!

We rode at 9 w/the race team...it was 35* and the sun was shining. The ride included Mt. George but we passed as I had an appt. and was worried I'd not get home in time. We got in just over 38 miles; it was 49* when we got home, just before noon. When I ride stoker I don't dress in as many layers, since Cgallagh cuts the wind for me. :) I had a Nike seamless tank base, an Ibex wool jersey, a Cannondale jacket, PI Cyclone gloves, PI fleece long tights, SmartWool socks and PI booties, a Black Dot cotton/wool hat under my helmet, and a Survivor buff (Survivor Marquesas; I entered Chris in a contest to see the final episode at Central Park and we won!!! We all got a buff as a gift) for a neck gaitor/face shield. Yes, it's Fred, but it did the job and I wasn't cold.

I wonder if the Wisconsinites read this thread and think, "What wussies! 35* is spring thaw!"

Frankly, I feel pretty HTFU, like the rest of you, for braving this cold. :thumb:

I think you're right redrider - I thought to myself, "this is just a taste of what everyone else has to deal with every winter". It was 35F when I started out yesterday. I do think I need to invest in a balaclava though - the rest of my head didn't get too cold, but my face would have appreciated it.

Sheesh, I lived in Canada for a while - what happened to me? (no winter riding though) I did get to experience -45 once, so cold that it doesn't matter whether you're talking about F or C because they are the same at that point.

I didn't get out till about 11am when my wife got back from working out. It was quite nice, 47* according to my thermometer. I did a couple of runs up San Bruno mountain on the road bike and definitely got better times than with the Univega but nothing close to the finishing times listed in the 2008 results.

What time was that Alain? I was at Juniper about 9 and Summit Road was closed. Did you hop the barrier or had they opened it by then? I didn't realize there was much up there... no snow at all below 3000ft. (lots of frosty weeds though)


I took that picture a little after 12 noon. The gate after Juniper was closed just like in your photo and I was about to turn back at the cones diverting cars into the Juniper parking lot. But I saw a few cyclists coming down and asked them how far they got up and they described it as a mile or so before an "ice patch" in the shaded area covers the road. I thought, "what the heck..." and hopped the closed gate anticipating carrying my bike for a few yards to the sunlit summit wall once I reached the "ice patch".

Motorists did the same, hiking the remainder of the road to the top. It wasn't really a problem except for the pedestrian dodging descent :notamused:. Many thought that just because the road was closed, they could walk taking up both lanes.

I rode yesterday afternoon - it was still cold. Lungs constricted and I felt like I had asthma all day.

Its temps like this that make glad for my yoga and climbing passions! Just too cold for me when it drops below mid to high 40's. OTOH I'll never complain it is too hot.

This picture is a wire photo from Denver last winter.
I saved it as motivation for when I feel like it is too cold to ride.
I just look at this dedication and it gets me out on the road.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Cycling/Getoutthere.jpg?t=1230158634