Sunday Oct 21, 2018
North Georgia mountains
35°F at ride start time with 10 MPH wind out of the northeast

Normal road shoes with Swiftwick Persuit 4 socks
Castelli Nanoflex bib knickers
Under Armor Cold Gear mock turtlneck base layer
Rapha Classic Jersey 2
Castelli Alpha ROS jersey
REI Powerwool gloves and Smartwool PhD beanie

Maybe too much caffeine on the drive to the start location but I froze my rear-end off for the first half hour of the ride. Shivering and almost quit. Thumbs and big toes were numb.

Then I started a 16 mile climb but the first half was on the west facing slopes of the mountains where the sun had not yet come up. I finally warmed up half way up the climb where it got steep and broke a sweat. I wasn't completely comfortable until I descended back toward the car in the valley later in the afternoon. It was about 50° in the lower elevations by then and felt really good.

Every year I have to re-learn how to ride in the cold. Windblock gloves and toe warmers were the lesson that day. I also didn't bring enough food. Gels and blocks are great for quick energy but I should have brought a turkey wrap or something substantial so that digestion could generate heat from the inside.


-Tim-