billydonn

With sleet and ice predicted for the afternoon, I took the five-minute drive to the MUP late yesterday AM to get in some quick miles. Heading north into the City (into a mild headwind) from my usual starting point, the complete out and back would be about 16 miles- just what I wanted. It was 36 degrees, very gray, and misting when I took off, but kind of tranquil too as the MUP was almost completely deserted. Just under two miles out I made a major mistake and spaced off an ice patch that was shaded on the north side of an overpass. It was about 30-40 feet across it and there was nothing to do but hold on and curse! I nearly made it across the mini-glacier but my front tire finally caught in a frozen rut left by a previous rider.... and it was over in a flash. A brief post-crash examination (see pics) revealed no serious damage to organic or mechanical parts, although my pride was somwhat shaken! Anyhow, the rest of the ride was uneventful. The wind and rain picked up on the ride back south and my feet and hands were wet and cold by the end or my ride. It was good to be headed home to get warm and dry.

bdinger

Ouch! Unfortunately with ice it's not about if you fall, but rather when you fall, I've learned. I giggled a bit when you said "hold on and curse" because I've done that far too much this winter for my liking. Want to re-locate Nebraska to the equator with me?

Heh, great pics, and you've got one on me for toughing it out yesterday. I can do cold, and I can do wet. I just can't seem to handle both together. That's my cycling kryptonite, for whatever reason, I can't stand cold + wet.

</intolerance>

Love the pictures! Sorry you fell, but the pics are awesome! Glad to see you continued your ride after the fall. I don't know that I could have started riding at 36 degrees.

billydonn

In reply to Bdinger:
Shoot, I'm delighted to have been able to ride at all in late Dec. and Jan, so I kind of feel that I must go out if it's at all possible... to keep my status with myself as Historian has mentioned. And I sort or enjoy the wintertime solitude too. I totally agree that cold + wet = to be avoided, but when I began it was just barely misting. But a light mist turned into a steady drizzle throughout my ride. And it got colder too. (I did take my northern route on the MUP to be near some warm places in the event of a crisis... heading south out of town would not have been wise.) I just finished the ride in time to avoid getting really cold and having to drive home in icy conditions. Cars were crashing all over the place here yesterday afternoon... far too dangerous to drive IMO!

As to the crash... the ice patch was clearly visible and could/should have been avoided. I just wasn't paying attention until it was too late- and there was nothing to do but point and hope. As to relocating NE, just remember when they are broiling out west we can ride pretty comfortably all summer. Now if we could export some of our poliical leaders... that's worth working on!

seenoweevil

+1 . Sing it Bd. Here comes the choir on the chorus!

chewybrian 

I'm glad you were not hurt, but I just love that you went ahead and took photos while you were still laid out from the fall. It's quite the contrast to the Sunday ride pics I just posted. Way to tough it out and log some miles.

billydonn

Thanks intolerance. The ice that got me occurs in very predictable places and falling was totally due to inattentiveness on my part. As to temps, 36 around here is just fresh air if you are properly dressed... I really don't mind it at all. And say, all that sunshine in your blog photos kind of makes me get depressed! Could you darken the pics a bit???

billydonn

Thanks... I did have to roll over and wiggle my toes before snapping the pics though. And the ice eliminated any risk of serious road rash. Now Beanz would probably have gotten super good pics during mid-fall, while flying through the air!

vXhanz

That's a lotta ice! It took me a moment to realize you were taking the pic from the seated position! Glad you are both (you and the bike) well. All these cold weather pics are inspiring me to dress up and ride!

V