The drive home, however, was not. We’re in the midst of Pappa Winter’s last ditch effort to put as many drivers in snow bound icy ditches as possible. He almost got Jami, too. She was driving about 45mph north on I-35 on a sounding lead straight line, when out of the blue she starts careening off to the left and towards the concrete barrier. I’m driving a few car lengths behind her at this point and watch as she compensates properly against the fishtail to straighten out… and then watch helpless as she over-compensates and starts sliding sideways back towards the ditch on the other side of the road. Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone else around us, and the only thing she hit was a guide pole with her rear bumper, and that not very hard at all.

I should point out that, aside from that slight overcompensation in straightening herself out the first time, she did everything right. She turned the wheel the right way, didn’t brake or accelerate, and she wasn’t going very fast at all to begin with.

I pulled over to the shoulder, put on my hazards and tried to call her but it was busy. I was about 200 yards ahead of her, and was about to get out when she started to move again. She had, apparently, gotten out and pulled the bent guide pole out of the ground and thrown it a away into the snowy ditch. Adrenaline can be a great thing… until it hits your stomach and puts it in knots.

I waited until I saw her pull out and pass before I pulled back into traffic. We slowly, and without further mishap, made it home.

Until then, my flowery language will have to suffice.

At better than 60°F this morning, cloudy and just slightly damp, it was a truly spectacular 5 mile ride in to work.

I couldn’t have driven even if I’d wanted to, as my car is in the shop getting it’s transmission and fuel system flushed, a tire repaired, and some drying and cracking belt that apparently runs lots of really important systems replaced.

Would I have driven? Maybe. I might have driven and brought with me a week’s worth of clothes so I didn’t have to pack each day. Then I would have driven again on Friday to take it all back home. This is an odd week, though… Nov. 11th is a holiday, and I have an early morning meeting on the 12th I have to drive in for. It’d be a weird week anyway. So I probably would have just packed the three days I’ll be riding and called it good.

What’s the real point of this post though? Even though my car is in the shop, I was able to easily make it to work without relying directly on anyone else, using skills and techniques that I’ve developed myself. We won’t get into the hair splitting exercise that I do, in fact, rely on countless people, including bike manufacturers, road crews, clothing designers and manufacturers, programmers, etc. We’ll just leave it with the idea that this morning, I got here on my own power.

In the end, I’m fortunate in that I don’t require my car at work today, but I’m prepared in that I don’t require my car to get to work. The gorgeous weather just adds icing to an already fortunately well-prepared day.

So, it’s time to take stock and make sure I’ve got everything I need in order to weather the cold air on the bike.

The Bike

It’s a nearly new bike, with only a few hundred miles on it, so there aren’t any major issues, and all the components are in top shape. A Kansas winter will be a good test of it.

Knobby tires: Well, sorta. The stock tires on my Kona Dew Drop are Continental CountryRide. They won’t do too well in standing snow, I don’t think, but they’re fine in wet conditions. With any tires, though, it pays to ride very carefully when it’s wet.

Fenders: Check. I don’t have the rear fenders on, but the commuter panniers I got from NashBar serve the same purpose. If it’s crazy wet, I’ll bolster their water resistance by lining some plastic on the inside.

Brakes: Check. Disc brakes, stock to the Dew Drop. One of the reasons I picked up that particular bike. They’ll serve no matter the weather.

Me

Body

Wind Breaker: Check.

Layers: Check. I have plenty from last winter. Wicking layers, thicker warming layers for when it gets really cold, and the wind breaker will serve. I can double up the under layers for those sub zero days. The key is to layer layer layer.

Legs

Layers: Check. My legs don’t get nearly as cold as my torso, so I don’t need as much. Winter leggings and thick sweats will do. Standard bike shorts under the leggings will serve as an extra layer as well where it counts.

Hands, Feet and Head (aka “extremities”)

My fingers and toes are the hardest to keep warm when it gets really cold, so I’ve devoted more energy and thought towards them than everything else combined.

Winter Gloves: Check. I have thin and thick fingered gloves for cool and cooler days, lobster gloves for cold days, and neoprene liners for very cold days.

Shoes: Check. They’re basic MTB shoes, if you consider $200 basic. At least I got them for half price.

Shoe Covers: Check. Toe covers for cold days. Neoprene boots for very cold days. I can double up the toe covers and the boots for exceedingly cold days. For cooler days that aren’t quite cold enough for the boots, I have a stock of plastic bags I wear between the shoes and my socks to help keep the wind off my toes. It’s a very effective and very cheap method. I like the Target plastic the best.

Socks: Check. Wool. I need a couple more pairs, but I’m pretty good here.

Head Cover: See below.

Helmet: See below.

Eye Wear: See below.

What I’m lacking

There are a few things I’m missing, though. I need something for my head, and better riding glasses.

Where the head is concerned, I have some specific requirements that others might not share. I’m not a fan of the balaclava, b/c I don’t like my face covered. While it does get cold, even the coldest days last year didn’t make me wish for something over my face. It’s just a pet-peeve of mine, I guess. What I’d like is a hood that covers my whole head and neck, but leaves my face open. Something tight, made of neoprene, I think, would be nice.

I’ll also need a helmet that’s got a generous enough fit that I can wear it with and without the additional layer over my head. My current helmet fits my head fine, but when I start layering, it’s a little too small.

Finally, the glasses I’ve worn do a less-than-stellar job of keeping the wind out of my eyes. When it drops below 40 or so, it’s immediately apparent by the fact that it looks like I’m bawling like a baby. Tears just stream down my face b/c of the cold wind. I need some cycling glasses that do a great job keeping the eyes out of the wind. I almost bought some onion goggles, but they were a touch too small. That’s the idea, though.

Conclusion

So, I have a few things to procure before winter really sets in, but for the most part, I’m nearly completely covered. Last year taught me a lot of hard lessons with regards to staying warm in the freezing cold and wind. As I said, my fingers and toes are the hardest to protect. There were a few mornings when I was sure I’d take off the gloves or the socks to black frostbitten fingers. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, but the pain was still very real. I’m hoping that I’m prepared enough for that this year. My route is shorter by two miles, and it was during those last two miles last year that the most pain occurred, so I’m confident this winter won’t be as hard.

In the end, it’s all about preparation, and if you’ve not ridden in single digit weather before, you’re just going to have to accept that it’s going to be a trial by error process until you get it right.

Good luck!

Now, I know it’s only going to get colder, so I’m enjoying the 40′s while they last.

This morning, at 42°F, I was quite comfortable.

Some thoughts about my equipment:

Feet: Wool socks with plastic bags around my toes for wind breakage. And Shimano MTB shoes.
Torso/Arms: A moderately thick wicking layer, a thin wicking layer and a wind breaker.
Hands: Salsa N’AGUA™ Gloves.
Head: A thin head scarf pulled down over my ears and the standard helmet.

If I were to change a thing, it would be to eliminate the thin wicking layer. I got a touch warmish up top.

I think it’s time for a new helmet, too. I’ve had my Giro Atmos for a few years now, and I hear it’s a good idea to replace them periodically. With all the weather extremes it’s seen, I’m sure it’s ready to retire.

I think I’ll go for something a little cheaper, and with a little more breathing room for the head coverings I’ll be using this winter. I’m thinking about the Urbanize N Light, though I can’t help but think it looks pretty dorky. Then again, is there a bike helmet that doesn’t? Maybe I’ll pull out all the stops and go for the pink one.

Regardless, I won’t buy anything without trying it on, and the only place in town that appears to carry them is Waldo Bikes. Does anyone have any experience with this helmet? Any reviews worth reading? Any other ideas? My only requirements are that the helmet fit, and that front and rear lights can be mounted to it.

Preferrably blinky lights.

The TransIt Garment Bag works out a lot better on my Kona Dew Drop than it ever did on my (now deceased) Kona Fire Mountain (may she rest in peace). The rack just holds it in a much better position, and though the straps don’t hold it down quite as tight, it’s still plenty tight for urban/residential riding.

Oh, and I need to correct a previous post. The last time I rode to work last year was December 8th. Don’t know where I got that October 3rd date. So it really hasn’t been that long.

I dressed well for the chill 44°F air, and 12mph ENE wind. Naturally, I’m heading SE, so it was a head/side wind. The wind will undoubtedly shift so that it’s a head/side wind this evening.

The only thing I’d change is the panniers. The TransIt Garment Bag is a great bag, and I’d recommend it to anyone, though I would stress trying it on for size first. On every back stroke, my heels scraped the front of the bag, and it’s set on the rack about as far back as it’ll go. Were the strap on the front of the bag that ties it to the seat tube a little longer, it might work better. As it is, though, it’s going to scrape.

So, tonight I’ll bring clothes for the rest of the week in to work (I have to come back up here anyway – and yes, I’ll drive due to the schedule and the various buildings I have to visit), and try to figure out something to do with the panniers.

The digs in the new building aren’t ideal, but I’ll make it work.

All in all, it’s damn nice to be back on the saddle again.

I’ve thought about taking her out on the trails, but I’m still a little leary of those for some reason…

I’d take advantage of the best weather of the day for a ride, but that’s reserved for walking the Plaza with a Very Special Person (henceforth to be known as VSP). I’ll brave the cooler morning temperatures to make room for that.

Shit. It's cold.

Blah. Doesn’t matter. I’m home now, and it’s snowing out. Today would have been a fantastic day to ride! But the way it’s snowing, I’m sure I’ll have tomorrow as well.

BTW, the answer to yesterday’s question is Steven Brust. I *love* the communication style between his characters.

And perhaps most distressing is that somewhere in there, I missed Fall. When I tore down the Fire Mountain (pics), it was warm. I was wearing shorts. When I pick up the Dew Drop, it’ll be cold, and I’ll be wearing long layers. That’s really only a shame for my fan club here at work that likes to watch me ride off… they’ll have to wait until Spring for the Good Stuff again. Back to the point at hand, what happened to it? Where’d Fall go? Granted, I’ve been a little bit preoccupied with personal stuffs around here, but still… I thought I’d notice when Fall stepped aside for Winter. One day it was nice, the next it was freezing at night, and barely hitting 60 at the height of the day. And here I was, completely oblivious. I mentioned to a friend, aghast, that it had hit 27°F the night before. She looked at me, clearly bored, and told me it’d done so for the last several nights.

I missed the first freeze of the year! I just wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t have to. That makes me sad.

I can’t wait for the Dew Drop to get here so I can start paying attention again. After all, I really can’t until it arrives, can I? I mean, what would be the point?

And now another thought occurs to me… I wonder how the Dew Drop’s smoother tires will handle the harsher weather that those of us around here know that Kansas can deliver? Should I invest in another set of wheels on which to put knobbies for the harsher days? Or should I just buy new tires and swap them out? New wheels would cost some cash, what with the wheels, and the tires, and the freewheels, and the mech brakes, but would it be worth it? Tell you what. I’ll figure out the cost and post another one of them survey things. I’ll let you decide what I should do.

Speaking of surveys, the last one got quite the response (considering the back woods corner of the web I occupy here), with an overwhelmingly positive slant towards “Yes, he can, so long as he has either George Clooney or Marky Mark’s help, or that he enlist Jack Knoff and Drew Peacock as wing men.” It was an interesting survey. I’d post a fancy chart, but it would be one big block of color. Boring.

Ok. Ok… here you go…

I think the answers are too long for Google to handle them well, so those miniscule, too small to read words say: “Yes, of course he can!” and “Needs George Clooney’s Help. (Marky Mark is optional).”

So, there you have it.

Random Musings…

I can’t help but appreciate this.

And I’m not the only one that found this one particularly moving. I misted up a little myself…

And I love that windbreaker too, btw… it’s brilliant!

Tell me…

On the other hand, those of us who choose alternate forms of transportation can benefit from checking the weather. In fact, if we don’t make it a normal part of our daily routine, then there’s a chance we’ll pay dearly for it. Or at least pay a little bit, anyway. Over the summer, I’ve fallen out of the habit of checking, since pretty much every day was warm enough not to have to worry about it. On those days it rained, it was pretty obvious from looking out the window and I adjusted accordingly. I was lucky in that there were very few days with dry morning rides and wet evening rides. However, I can’t rely on mornings being warm any more.

Take this morning, for example.

I donned my normal riding clothes… that is to say, those clothes that are normal for me on warm days, stepped into the garage and opened the door. I noted that it was a touch on the chilly side, but I didn’t sweat it too much. I figured I’d be chilly at the beginning, but warm into the ride the closer I got to work. That, strictly speaking, was true. I did warm into it, and went from outright cold, to uncomfortably cold. What felt chilly standing in my garage out of the wind, turned into downright cold once I got going.

But did I turn around immediately and get warmer clothes?

No. Of course not! That would have meant… well… turning around! Turning around means admitting defeat, and I was not going to admit defeat. No way. So, as the temperature hovered around a downright chilly 45°F or so, with my speed pushing the wind chill down into the 30′s (and even the 20′s if that chart is to be believed), I bravely pedaled on in my shorts, sleeveless workout jersey, and thin (but long fingered) gloves.

I saw two others out this morning. Both were bundled up as if facing an arctic morning. Quite the contrast to my free and easy summer gear. “Silly people… I bet they’re hot and sweaty in all that” I thought, shivering to myself.

Looking now at the weather, tomorrow morning appears to be much the same as today. Mid 40′s in the morning, mid 70′s in the afternoon. Maybe I’ll consider wearing something more appropriate tomorrow.

49°F at departure this morning.

I distinctly remember moments last February and March when a 49°F morning would have been a welcome relief from the below freezing temperatures. 49 sounded warm. Not quite toasty, but definitely warm. It meant not having to bundle up in layer upon layer just to keep the air from freezing my breath. It meant being able to wear just my helmet without worrying about my ears. It meant not having to worry about my toes or fingers. It meant being able to put on the standard cycling gear and just riding.

This morning, 49°F felt cold. And it was cold compared to the mid 70′s we’ve had in the afternoons. I wore my trusty windbreaker and long fingered BG Gel gloves. I was a touch warm up top, but only barely, and my fingers were chilly. Everything else warmed up fine once I got moving.

I’ve been able to ignore the weather for the last few months. That luxury is coming to an end as dressing for the temperature becomes a necessity once again.

My clothes being already at work, and the bike being all packed up, all I had to do was get dressed, grab a towel (for to dry off with at work), and ride. Since I got a late start (as has been the trend lately), there was more traffic than I normally see. The downside is that I have to worry a little more about cars seeing me, a possibility enhanced by the rain, which in turn tends to exacerbate the stupidity of most drivers. The upside is that with more traffic, the chances of being stuck at a stubborn red light are greatly reduced. There will always be a car there to trip the switch for me.

It was a wonderfully relaxed ride in. I took it slow and easy, both to enjoy the rain, and because I had to. See, my shoulder and hip are still protesting nearly every movement, and it’s only the knowledge that keeping them in motion will keep them from stiffening up teenage boy in the back seat on prom night. There were a few times where my speed topped 25mph, but only b/c I was going downhill. Those were the least pleasant moments, because the rain slapping my face actually stung.

Everything was going well. I was targeting puddles and just enjoying myself when suddenly, around mile 5 of 8, my eyes started burning. Badly. The only cause I can come up with is that rainwater was running through the pads of my helmet and picking up a summer’s worth of sweat and grime, and depositing it in directly in my eyes. It kinda sucked, actually, having to blink away both the rain and the burn.

Still, all in all, and all things considered, it was still a fantastic ride through the rain. I wonder if his brief foray into my world persists through today…

So imagine how drastic the temperature change was to me, when the last time I rode home from work it was nearly 70°F in the morning, and over 90°F in the evening! Today it was 62°F at departure, grey and drizzly. All in all, a rather dismal day.

I was going to take the long way home by way of Indian Creek Trail, and grabbing Gary Haller trail where it intercepts 127th near Ridgeview. That plan changed the instant I walked outside and felt the chill in the air. Rather than enjoy a leisurely ride home, I hammered it pretty well (against a fell wind) the short way home.

I’m really going to have to get back in the habit of paying attention to the weather. I’ve enjoyed being able to ignore the temperature all summer, but methinks those days are over, at least until next summer. We may have another warm spell, but I picture colder and colder days from here through the end of the year. It makes me sad.

Also out enjoying the weather today was Megan Hottman, the owner/operator of Defined Fitness Training, the club I’m a member of. She raced in the women’s criterium being run in conjunction with the Tour of Missouri. Unfortunately, I don’t know how she did yet, but I’ll post it here once I find out.

It feels like 65°!
No way.
Yes way!
No. No way. It’s probably 75°, and just feels cooler b/c it’s been so hot lately.
Ok. I can live with that.

So I did. I lived with it joyously all the way into work. Right as I left at about 06:10, a truly gorgeous sunrise was in the works. All flame, it lit the world around me with that pinkish orange glow that I’ve seen nowhere but Kansas. While I do love the mountains and the ocean, nothing offers sunrises and sunsets like the Midwest.

The only frustrating part of the ride was the stoplights that wouldn’t change. Scofflaw that I am, I waited my typical two cycles and rode through them. The same thing happened to me last night at 79th and Nieman. The light simply wouldn’t change, though there was a line of cars behind me ready and willing to trip the trigger. We waited probably 3-4 minutes before I scoffed and rode through, followed immediately by numerous cars.

On the way, I saw a four fellow cyclists, none of whom were heading my way, or even heading in such a direction as to notice me. Well, the two women heading north on Lamar were, but they were deep in conversation about babysitting, so they didn’t notice me passing by. I really expected far more cyclists out by now. I’m sure there are, but my route and when I ride it probably isn’t that popular.

When I arrived at work, a little on the muggy side, I checked the weather, and my first inclination was correct. It read 67°F. In early August.

I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts… which looks to be for the foreseeable future… have we already seen the hottest days of the year?

I, of course, love riding in the rain. Sure, it means more maintenance on the bike (extra lubing and whatnot), but the joy that is a ride in the cool rain, especially after so many tortuously hot days is indescribable. So I won’t bother trying to describe it. That would be silly.

I took the Kona in, because it has fenders, and it’s proven itself in the rain. I’ve been told that the Campy Record Triple bottom bracket that I had installed on the Torelli has sealed bearings and is OK to ride in the rain, but I just don’t trust it. It was hella expensive, and I’d rather just ride safe than sorry with it.

When I first contemplated the Kona last night, I had a moment of regret. I’ve been spoiled with the Torelli, but the truth is (and this happens every time I switch out) once I get on the Kona, it’s like putting on an old pair of sneakers. Sure, they’re a little worn, but they’re so comfortable and easy to wear that it’s easy to forget how long it’s been since they were last trod in.

The GF asked me a couple of days ago how I can go between the two bikes so easily. I didn’t think about it much at the time, but the ride this morning brought it back. The answer is actually very simple. I’ve had the Kona for 15 years now, and have ridden it for most of that. I’ve had the Torelli for 2 and a half years, and have ridden it a *lot* in that time. Both bikes are extremely familiar to me, and both have styles that, though different, I enjoy. The old pair of sneakers might not be for anything but mowing the lawn and doing yard work anymore, but they do the job and do it wonderfully without complaint, and quite comfortably. The new pair is nicer looking and tends to allow me to run faster, but it’s best to keep them out of the grime. Both pairs slide on and instantly feel like they belong.

So today, it was the old pair of sneakers in the rain and the puddles, and they reveled in it, happy as hell to be needed.

Most notable sight of the morning: Indian Creek is running so high the trail that runs along it is flooded in at least one, and probably many many places. I might try to take it tonight on the Kona, just to see what it’s like…

Very strange.

Getting up that early gave me plenty of time to putz around and switch everything I needed over to the Kona. Why the Kona, and not the Torelli, you are certainly asking?

Rain. Glorious, cooling rain.

Those of you that pay any attention here at all know that I love riding in the rain. Given the heat we’ve had the last week or so, the rain this morning was even more fantastic than normal. I got out at around 5:50 or so and thoroughly enjoyed myself, taking it easy and enjoying the ride. I saw no other bike commuters, but was a little surprised at the number of cars that were pulling out of driveways as I passed. More today, 30 minutes earlier than my norm, than I recall ever seeing before. It was kinda weird.

Another benefit of the rain is when I got to work, though I was soaking wet, it felt cleaner than had it been 80-85°F out and humid. It was easy to dry off and just go, rather than spend 15 minutes cooling down. I miss the cooler weather, but I know that right around the corner from that is the colder weather.

Since this is the first time I’ve ridden the Kona in weeks, I paid a bit of attention to the effort I was putting forth. It felt a little sluggish, but then I realized that I’d been keeping it in the big ring the whole time. Not once did I feel like I needed to downshift into the middle, much less the small ring. All this riding is definitely paying off.

Riding the Kona has another, somewhat unexpected affect. I feel more like a bike commuter on it than I do my Torelli. Sure, the *only* difference is the bike beneath my butt, but for some reason, taking it feels more “commuty” than taking the Torelli. Riding the one bike vs. the other puts me in a completely different state of mind. On the Torelli, I’m taking corners hard, pushing myself and trying to best previous times. On the Kona, I’m more relaxed, upright and (at least these days) taking my time.

Not that it mattered. I woke up to thunder, lightening and rain. I’m not sure what I would have done had I a car at home, but without one, I started preparing the all-weather Kona for the ride in. It was pretty easy. I have mounts for the headlight and taillight on both bikes, so moving them over is literally two snaps. I have to move the frame/battery bag over, but that’s easy enough with four Velcro straps the only thing standing in the way. The panniers are already packed with the flat kit, and since my clothes were already at work, I didn’t have to worry about that. The rain cost me all of about 4 minutes. In reality, it cost me nothing, b/c (Recumbum may appreciate this) I waited until the lightening and thunder passed before heading out.

The ride in was, as always, uneventful. There was a yellow mustang driven by a rather attractive blonde that hung back and let me keep up with her until about halfway up the bridge taking Quivira over I35. It was fun watching the Hondas and SUVs tear away while this ripped and toned Mustang hung back to see what I could do. I’m sure she was just admiring my Edge 705 and Cat-eye Triple Shot… I can only imagine how well I would have done on my Torelli. I may have been able to keep up for another 20 or 30 entire feet!

The most harrowing event this morning was the pinched nerve that flared up violently in my upper back while I was still at home swapping out lights. I’ve had pinched nerves before, but never so acute and so sudden. Fortunately, while the ache is still there, and I don’t have full range of motion yet w/o pain, it seems a relatively minor episode compared to some I’ve experienced. My Father dealt with this, and his father before him. I hope my sons and/or daughters don’t. It’s no fun.

Maybe I excited the nerves moving the weight bench from a friends house to mine. I’m committed to selling the Weider Max (pics here), due to a preference for actual weights vs. tension bars. Last night I picked up a weight bench with weights a friend of mine wanted to get rid of. It’s been waiting for me for months now, but until the garage sale, we had no room. It’s not as big, has actual honest-to-goodness weights, and it was free. Score.

Ok… back to the auditors…

1. I have a time trial tonight at 18:00. I thought it might be a good idea to save my legs for it.
2. Related to that, it’s freakishly windy this morning. Fighting the wind, as an endeavor unto itself, holds little appeal to me right now, much less while I’m trying to save my legs.
3. I got to bed very late last night, on account of Pool League running long. I’m running low on sleep, so I would likely exhaust myself against the wind, and be that much cantankerous about it, and bet both tired and of the wrong mindset to ride my best tonight.

It can be argued that my critical lack of sleep is, by itself, cause for concern where my performance tonight goes. I choose to ignore that argument because LOOK! An eagle!!

The weather people have predicted major storms this afternoon, including tornadoes, lightening, and some form of amphibian bombardment. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’ll manage if the time trial is rescheduled for next week.

Got home, drenched, but feeling great, and made an evening of 8 ball pool league.

While we were at the pool hall, the sky fell. Torrential rain and hail tore through the area, tearing down limbs, whipping signs and trees around, and generally making a mess of things. There was fire. That was the only fire, however, at least as far as we were concerned. We did pretty badly last night, winning only 1 of 5 rounds. *sigh*

This morning, I woke to more storms. The dogs were restless, and I’m not sure which woke me to be honest. The dogs pawing at the bedroom door, or the dramatic lightening and thunder.

When it was actually *time* to get up, I had a much better time than yesterday. I took it easy on the way in, enjoying the views of the back of the thunderhead as it made it’s way across Missouri. It was awesome.

Two cyclists this morning. Both on the street. Riding road bikes. Happy and jealous all at the same time.