Well how about that?
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Well how about that?
Yesterday's 05:30 a.m. ride home was a tad cool and very rainy.
Being tired of waiting for good riding weather and wise enough to know that in the NorthEast all weather needs to be considered good riding weather, I took the long way home. After a fashion it either stopped raining or diminished to the point where it was barely noticable and the ride became quite pleasant.
I was well dressed wearing bluejeans, a "T" shirt, a flannel hooded over shirt, a lined denim jacket and my work boots. I wore a dew-rag and a head band covering my ears. Rain gear consisted of a Hi-Vis rain jacket much like you would see a police officer or construction laborer wearing, a pair of inexpensive rain pants, and a helmet cover. On my hands I wore unlined leather gloves.
I rode conservatively enough to not overheat and was quite comfortable except for my poor old hands, they got wet and very cold.
About 15 miles into my 20 mile ride I decided to stop and get my other pair of gloves out of my backpack, which was behind me tucked away in a big plastic bag in the milk crate bolted to my rear rack. It seemed kinda sur-real as I pulled off the gloves, they seemed stiff. They should have felt soft and supple as they were soaked through. I just assumed that the arthritis in my hands was acting up due to being cold, after all they were wet and I was creating some wind chill. After a fashion I got the gloves off.
My next suprise was the crackling sound I thought I heard as I worked my way through the plastic bag to get into my back pack. I found my other gloves right where they were supposed to be without having to take my light off the handlebar, yes it's still dark out.
My hands warmed right up and the last five miles was almost dream like. It started raining hard again just as I was putting the old Trek into the garage. I headed down to the basement and peeled off all the wet clothes before going up stairs.
After saying good morning to my lovely bride I looked out the window and checked the thermometer. Mystery solved. The leather gloves were stiff because they were starting to freeze! The plastic bag was crackly because the rain water had started to freeze onto it!
Well how about that?
Being tired of waiting for good riding weather and wise enough to know that in the NorthEast all weather needs to be considered good riding weather, I took the long way home. After a fashion it either stopped raining or diminished to the point where it was barely noticable and the ride became quite pleasant.
I was well dressed wearing bluejeans, a "T" shirt, a flannel hooded over shirt, a lined denim jacket and my work boots. I wore a dew-rag and a head band covering my ears. Rain gear consisted of a Hi-Vis rain jacket much like you would see a police officer or construction laborer wearing, a pair of inexpensive rain pants, and a helmet cover. On my hands I wore unlined leather gloves.
I rode conservatively enough to not overheat and was quite comfortable except for my poor old hands, they got wet and very cold.
About 15 miles into my 20 mile ride I decided to stop and get my other pair of gloves out of my backpack, which was behind me tucked away in a big plastic bag in the milk crate bolted to my rear rack. It seemed kinda sur-real as I pulled off the gloves, they seemed stiff. They should have felt soft and supple as they were soaked through. I just assumed that the arthritis in my hands was acting up due to being cold, after all they were wet and I was creating some wind chill. After a fashion I got the gloves off.
My next suprise was the crackling sound I thought I heard as I worked my way through the plastic bag to get into my back pack. I found my other gloves right where they were supposed to be without having to take my light off the handlebar, yes it's still dark out.
My hands warmed right up and the last five miles was almost dream like. It started raining hard again just as I was putting the old Trek into the garage. I headed down to the basement and peeled off all the wet clothes before going up stairs.
After saying good morning to my lovely bride I looked out the window and checked the thermometer. Mystery solved. The leather gloves were stiff because they were starting to freeze! The plastic bag was crackly because the rain water had started to freeze onto it!
Well how about that?
#2
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I hope you saved the plastic bag. I know the Europeans have been doing stuff like this for decades, but I just recently figured out that if you take a plastic bag and stuff it down the front of your jersey, it makes a world of difference when you get cold and wet.
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Congrats, Mr Cranky! Maybe neoprene gloves??
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Aww!! The way you set the story up with "it was a tad cool", I was thinking mid 40's. I wasn't expecting the bomb that your hands were freezing! Good thing you were prepared and had the extra pair of gloves. You certainly toughed that out!
I live in the NE too (NJ), but I don't tolerate the cold well. I went out for a ride yesterday, but being new I was unsure of what to wear. I believe it was 50's, some wind. I chose a long sleeve under armour, a windbreaker, and leg warmers. After 5 miles instead of warming up, I actually started shivering pretty badly. I wimped out, turned around and went back home.
Nice piece of writing, by the way.
I live in the NE too (NJ), but I don't tolerate the cold well. I went out for a ride yesterday, but being new I was unsure of what to wear. I believe it was 50's, some wind. I chose a long sleeve under armour, a windbreaker, and leg warmers. After 5 miles instead of warming up, I actually started shivering pretty badly. I wimped out, turned around and went back home.
Nice piece of writing, by the way.
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Although I waited until 8:30 AM to ride here - it was still cool. I waited until the rain stopped, it was about 38 here. Just layered up and headed out. SO far only one morning ride below 32 this fall - that will soon become a regular ocurrence.
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I won't complain about riding to work yesterday morning with the temp in the low 30's but nice and dry. Fingers a bit cold for a few miles but I'm not complaining.
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Several years ago I was out on one of the MTB rides on a cold morning. Kept the ears- hands and feet well covered but we stopped at Fuscardi's for coffee and Pie on the way back and it was so cold- we sat inside to keep warm. Wasn't long before the problem of "De-Frosting" came about. When cold hands warm up-----They hurt. I was in agony but help was on the way. One of the waitresses is Latvian and she gave me a hand massage. They know how to deal with cold weather over there and that massage worked wonders.
So if you are out for a ride on cold mornings- Make certain you select your rest stop so that you can get some relief from the Staff. But make certain that you keep the feet well covered and warm. Don't think a foot massage would be as readily available.
So if you are out for a ride on cold mornings- Make certain you select your rest stop so that you can get some relief from the Staff. But make certain that you keep the feet well covered and warm. Don't think a foot massage would be as readily available.
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I always carry extra clothing ,esp. gloves. Worked out well for one of my coworkers. She split her pants at work, so I loaned her my full coverage rain pants, so she could finish the shift.