11/22 rides

[Crankin]

It was supposed to be a sunny day, around 50 degrees. We headed out around 12:30, and rode to the beginning of the Minuteman Bike Path. DH had never been on it. It was cloudy, breezy, and never got above 48 all day. We thought we were so prepared to spend a leisurely afternoon, eat lunch, shop, and even put the Carradice bag on DH's bike, with our shoes to change into. Alas, we forgot the lock! So we rode to Arlington and determined that we would ride back to Lexington, where we might find a place we could get take out or sit and watch ou bikes closely. We ended up getting a sandwich at Bertuccis. But, as soon as we stopped, it got colder and cloudier, and windier. I was freezing! We ate quickly and got back on the trail. Thankfully, at the terminus in Bedford, we were able to speed up and warm up a bit, once we got out of the neighborhood and on the main road back to Concord. And, we had a tailwind. When we got home, it was 43 degrees out, so I was not imagining that it had become colder. Why does riding in the cold feel harder?
A real assortment of characters on the trail today. Some people were bundled up in balaclavas and we saw several in shorts. Only one sort of rude interaction with a couple, where the man was swerving all over the trail, into the opposite side and the woman had a little dog in a basket. DH called out to the guy that he was passing (nicely) and then I came by.The woman started swearing at me! We followed proper etiquette, so not sure why she was mad.
The Minuteman is really a commuter trail. No pretty scenery, but good opportunity for us to get to some favorite restaurants by bike.
A total of 35 miles.