When conditions are favorable for experiencing what you folks up past the Arctic Circle (Mason-Dixon line) deal with in winter, such as was the case this morning, it's incumbent upon me to hunker down and do it. Temps were about 19 F , chill factor about 10 F. In characteristically true form, I underdressed.

My first sensation was a predictable brain-freeze on descent. Nothing new here, except that that was followed by ear-freeze, cheek freeze and leg freeze.
Still not a problem, since I knew it was only temporary. Again predictably, my first good climb drove all the freeze away. Now I was feeling good.

But my next descent sent me right back into freezer-burn. No problem, I thought, my next climb will set me right. Sure enough, it did. But I soon realized that the numbness accumulating in my ears, face, forearms and toes would be more difficult to get rid of than my mother-in-law (just kidding, Angela! ) Finally, I accepted the fact that my best friend on this ride was not going to be the heat I generated, because that wasn't getting to my outer appendiges, but my best friends and companions became my mind's ability to wander and my body's ability to numb itself.

Next time, I'll wear a tad more. Great ride, though!