Tundra_Man I hope this is the last severe winter weather for the season.

I was going to take a weekend ride this weekend but events and weather conspired so I did 45 minutes on the stationary bike Sunday morning. I'll ride in the rain, snow and cold for commuting, but it's tougher to get motivated when it's just for 'fun'. I've been noticing that more and more on the days I don't ride (mostly Wednesdays, and one or both weekend days) my body feels like it doesn't 'come up to speed.' and I'm not so spry on the stairs or walking in the parking lot or out shopping. And then there's a corresponding lack of mental acuity, or so it seems. Perhaps it's all just late-winter SADS even though there's more sunlight since daylight savings.

So I was eager to ride today. We had a cold front blow through overnight Saturday to Sunday morning leaving snow and a high of 20-something. This morning the streets were dry with an outside temp of 11F...clear with no wind. I took a chance that there was no snow and ice on the commute routes and left the studs off the winter bike but still chose it for its weight and wide footprint. I had a little trepidation about dressing right, but I just stuck to what I knew and I was fine...warm and comfortable, but not too hot.

I did try something new, though. Usually with temps under 15F down to my limit of 5F I will wear long slightly breathable poly workout pants over my bike shorts and then some fleece-lined light nylon snow pant over those, which works, but is sometimes a little too warm as they don't breath as much. So this morning I wore my old pair of long poly workout pants over the new pair. It was okay for 11F, but if it were windy or any colder It wouldn't have worked for me.

The ride was refreshing, and I felt alive and sharp after arriving at the office.

The expected high today was only 38, but by the time I left for home it was sunny and 50F, dropping to 44 by the time I rolled into my backyard. On my heaviest bike and with the heavy 'everything' commute bag, and all the extra layers of office and bike clothes packed in it, I really felt the weight on a few minor uphills going home, but on the steeper hills I just dropped down to the super low first gear and took my time.

When the going gets rough, or I get bored I can easily tell my phone to play the news and I can listen to it in my right ear. But for the last few weeks the urge to hear the news is quickly followed by the realization that the news is no longer interesting...just depressing...so I just pedal a little harder and try to read what my body and the bike are saying.