Consecutive bicycle work commute number 2040:

Bitter cold this morning. Air temp was -7°F with a 12 mph headwind, making the wind chill -26°F. Brrrr. Before I got warmed up my eyes were watering and my tears would freeze my eyelids shut when I blinked, causing a conjunctivitis-like feeling when I would open them. Didn't hurt, just felt kind of weird.

I rode the winter bike with studs. There was hardly any ice on the pavement that would require studded tires. The biggest reason I chose this bike was because it had bar mitts and platform pedals. Riding my hybrid bike would have been slightly faster, but I would have a lot colder hands and feet. I opted for the slower bike.

I was about 3/4 mile from home when I realized I'd forgotten to take my morning heart medication. Normally I would turn around and go back to the house, but I didn't have the motivation to do it in this cold weather. I think I was so preoccupied with the pending sub-zero bike commute that I completely spaced off my normal routine which included taking my meds. Oops.

By the time I arrived, my quads and upper hamstrings were on fire from the cold. Thankfully the work order that was submitted last week was completed, and there was hot water again in the locker room. I took a nice shower to warm myself back up.

The client is closed for MLK day, but my company isn't closed. I kind of like these days, as I still rode to the client's office. I'm the only person in the building. With nobody else around I'm lounging around wearing sweats and no shoes as I work with no interruptions.

The high temp today is supposed to be -5°F, then the temp is supposed to plummet even further. My ride home will be chilly, but I should have a tail wind. Tomorrow morning the temp is supposed to be well into the double-digits below zero, not accounting for the wind. Flesh freezing temperatures. I'm probably going to do my first split commute of the season where I ride 1 1/4 mile to the bus stop, put my bike on the rack as I bus downtown, then pull my bike off the rack and ride another 1/2 mile to the office. The bus routes and schedules have all changed since last winter so I'll have to double check the website to make sure I don't miss the bus, but also that I don't arrive too early. Standing stationary for too long waiting for the bus is even colder than if I'd just ridden the entire distance.