Cold (22 F.) on the way out, but I doubled up on socks under my cycling shoes, tripled up on gloves (made shifting just a tiny bit tougher, but no real issues), and wore my jacket over polypro base layer and light wool sweater. Only one layer (over shorts) on the bottom--Reebok light running pants. Love 'em. Balaclava, but pulled the mask under my chin halfway there.

I noticed something on the morning commute. When I drive (which I have to do two or three days a week), on cold mornings, there's an intersection where the needle on the temperature gauge finally moves off "C" and I can turn on the heat. On my bike commute, I approach that intersection from a different direction, but it turns out that's the exact spot most mornings when I stop feeling at all cold. Two completely different modes of transportation but the same feeling, and for the same reason: the engine's warmed up.

The way home was warmer and I was feeling great, but had my first close call of 2012. Was going up a little hill to an intersection where I have to make a left. Got within about 100 feet of the intersection and looked to move off the curb and into the lane. Checked my mirror and saw a pickup pretty far back. He looked to be moving pretty fast, but he had plenty of time to see me (and I'm very visible--I'm a hi-viz geek). I signaled left and moved over. Got to the center line to give him room to pass me on the right if he wanted to. I guess I misgauged both his speed and what a tool he was, because within three seconds I get blasted with a horn and the dips**t blows past me on the left.

Felt the rage start to flow. Screamed out a loud, "WTF [uncensored version] and started to stand on the pedals, but thought better of it. At that speed, I'd need a rocket to catch him, and I didn't really want to deal with him.

Lesson learned? Watch out for the speeders. I assumed it was okay to move left because of the distance this guy was behind me, but I didn't watch him long enough to check his speed, which was way, way over the speed limit.

I was right, and that counts for something, but if he'd hit me, it would have been very bad news.

So, all things considered, not a bad day on the bike.