Coldest ride this year. It isn't so cold in absolute temperature, 0 degrees F, but the news people were saying the windchill is between 20 and 30 below. I didn't believe it looking out my window and driving to the ferry, but once on the NY side... whoa. Very strong and gusty wind right in the face. And yeah, more than 20 below windchill. You can kinda tell the real cold because it doesn't FEEL cold, it feels like you are being burned. Very tough, and slow, first 3 miles. Had my balaclava over the lower part of my face (even though I hate that because I can't breath well) I just had no choice. It's a long, gradual uphill for the first mile and a half. Add that brutal wind, and this was an XCC for the record books.