Nov 18 rides/Sunday

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Didn't see a thread for today yet....

DH and I rode 2 hours this morning. It was sunny (thank goodness) but pretty cold. (some people here I know ride in much colder conditions!)
We started out at 23 degrees F, but by the end 3 hours later it was about 38. We had a breakfast fuel-up first, as usual.

I had to really pull out the heavy artillery for this morning- especially for my hands and feet.
From the head down:
1 thin silky balaclava.
3 layers merino long sleeve zip turtlenecks.
1 hi-vis yellow windbreaker vest.
2 pairs glove liners (1 cashmere, 1 polarfleece)
1 pair men's windproof ski gloves.
SheBeest Tech tights with chamois.
SportHill winter tights over those.
3 pairs merino wool thick socks (one of them wool knee-high ski socks).
Thinsulate Hi-Tec Hiking boots.

I could have ridden another hour with that layering on. We climbed a few long hills and had some cold windy descents. I was never too hot and occasionally felt a bit chilly but not bad. My fingers and toes felt fine, a little cool once in a while but they never got very cold. I love it when I pick the right clothes for the weather.

[emily_in_nc]

Lisa, you are one tough cookie! 23F finds me in front of the fire with a steaming mug of coffee or hot chocolate. No chance of riding in that for this wimpy gal!

We had a beautiful, warm day here in NC -- highs in the upper 60s with sunshine! DH is out of town, so I pulled out my mountain bike and rode on the single track trails on our property. Only 40 minutes, but it's very aerobic, and I could tell I hadn't done it for awhile from the burning in my quads and lower back! It was so much fun, though, and I conquered the one climb that always freaks me since there's a rocky, steeper section with a little ledge that I have to get a good bit of momentum to make up without falling. It's always scary, but I made it! I posted some photos of the gorgeous trees/leaves in our woods on my blog tonight (see link below). Such a beautiful time of year to ride in the woods!

After the ride, I put the bike up on the work stand outside (too pretty to be indoors!) and gave it a good cleaning. I'd been riding on very park dusty trails earlier this fall and never bothered to clean it b/c my chain seemed to stay fine, and the bike would just get coated in grit again on the next ride. After all, it's a mountain bike, it's supposed to be dirty, right!? Couldn't get the grit out of my chain with it on the bike, so I decided to attempt removing it. It has a master link, but I have never done this, only watched my DH do it.

Getting it off and cleaning it was a breeze, but getting it back on...!!! I had to go look at one of our other bikes to even figure out how to thread it through the rear derailleur, and then after managing to wrestle the master link back on (not easy for me!), I realized I'd routed it wrong through the pulleys in back. So, had to take it off and try again, and this time I really had to fight to get the master link back on because in the interim, I'd lubed the chain with Prolink, and that puppy was slippery. In a moment of triumph, I finally got it and cheered out loud. I am woman, hear me roar!

Emily

P.S. When I talked to DH tonight on the phone, he was very proud!

[Blueberry]

Emily-

Congrats on your ride - lovely pictures

No riding for me, sadly. Trial tomorrow, which meant work all weekend.

Lisa-

That's amazing. I'll ride to the mid-30's, but have generally been a wimp below that! Thanks for sharing your layering details - might have to try some of them - though I seriously doubt I could fit 3 pair of thick socks in my hiking boots

[emily_in_nc]

No riding for me, sadly. Trial tomorrow, which meant work all weekend.

Oh CA, that is just a sin on a day like today. I am so sorry!

Emily

[mixie]

That sucks CA I had to work allll day saturday and we had gorgeous weather here in So Cal.

First I warmed up pre riding the bike course for a tri Im doing next weekend. I would have just kept riding that loop a few times but they had some sort of street luge competition setting up. So I left the lake and went for a nice 28 mile ride on our local river trail.

I am very happy to say my new bike and I celebrated our 100th mile together today

[withm]

52 miles with a lot of wind - 20-25KT from the east. In the summertime they call it a "sea breeze" which usually means for temps 10o colder than inland. In the wintertime I just call it cold - a bitter cold wind. Did the first mile, and went back home for my balaklava, and glove liners. Would never have survived the ride without them. Cloudy, occasional bursts of sunshine punctuated by gusts that could knock you sideways. On the bright side, I saw 2 foxes (about 3 miles apart). Life is good.

Martha

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa-

....I seriously doubt I could fit 3 pair of thick socks in my hiking boots

I have one winter pair of insulated hiking boots that I bought about 1/2 size large specifically so I could wear really thick wool socks inside them. I like to go walking in the winter, and snow shoeing, so these boots are particularly good for that. And for cold biking. The biking is the most brutal on the toes since you create your own wind chill factor as opposed to walking or snowshoeing.

[bmccasland]

OK, I meant to ride, but I looked at the wind in the trees and knew it would be worse on the levee. I hate riding in the wind.
So I popped in the Yoga for Cyclists DVD and did that instead. Parts of me still got a pretty good work out.

[SouthernBelle]

I had originally planned a nice afternoon ride but woke up with a sore throat and a slightly fat gland on the left side of my neck. So I decided staying out of the wind was for the best even though it was a very pretty day.

Hopefully the weather will be decent over the long holiday weekend and I can ride.

I'm jealous now.