Having second thoughts about riding today

[JennK13]

Wow, Red! I admit, I got some good giggles from your post
I can relate to the mental reaction issue - when I get THAT cold, everything slows down for me. I have a problem with my hands freezing, so the cars better stop because I physically CAN'T brake - I have frozen claws at the ends of my arms!
We'll see today - was 26 when I walked the dog an hour ago. Supposed to reach 40; at least the sun is out, and my group riders have been bundling up to ride, so out I go!

[Crankin]

Red, that sounds like hypothermia to me. It's nothing to fool around with. Find a way to stay warmer on the bike, or stay indoors to ride!

[lph]

Do add an extra layer to your core, Red! And check out my post on the commuter thread about home-made toe covers from newspaper

I gotta admit I don't ride for pleasure at temps like these, but I do have plenty of experience commuting at around 15-20 F. And I have my clothing tuned well enough now that I get to work warm and just slightly sweaty. My toes and fingers may get cold underway depending on my speed and the wind, and while that may be a little painful, I'm still warm (and alert and all that) from inside.

Last time I misjudged the temps going home (the sun went down and the temp. dropped by at least 5 C, plus there was some wind) and skipped one layer of wool on top I could feel the same thing after a while. I got sluggish, bored and just a bit apathetic. Not good.

[nscrbug]

Well, I did manage to get out for a 41-mile ride this morning...ever so slightly inching my way towards my mileage goal. It was 31 degrees when I left the house at 8am, no sun, a brisk south wind, and very damp out with wet roads. Most of the snow and ice were cleared from the roads, with the exception of a few stretches of slush-covered shoulders. My hands were cold and numb, but that's nothing new for me...as they usually go numb even on a warm day. I should have worn a pair of warmer gloves. The rest of me was perfectly fine. The one problem I have when I ride in colder temps...I often forget to hydrate properly. I think I took maybe 3 or 4 sips out of my water bottle for the whole ride... I was home before 11am...so about a 3-hour ride. All in all, I'm glad I was able to get out today, as it very well may have been my last ride of the year. Sleet and snow moving in tonight, with high winds and bitter cold temps for the next few days.

[JennK13]

The one problem I have when I ride in colder temps...I often forget to hydrate properly.

All in all, I'm glad I was able to get out today, as it very well may have been my last ride of the year. Sleet and snow moving in tonight, with high winds and bitter cold temps for the next few days.

Forgetting to hydrate is common in the cold - I had to remind my riders on the group ride yesterday to drink - it was mid 30s, sunny, but the wind was chilly. Totally clear roads so we were keeping a good pace down the trail - 20 mph - certainly fast enough that they needed to be drinking as while we were comfortable, we were all working good and sweating some.

Good thing you got out - I saw da Bears game today.....how they play in that is beyond me!

[zoom-zoom]

Our weather is KILLING me! I have a brand new road rocket, but I don't see any point in the 15 day forecast that would be ridable. We already have ample snow and I live in a semi-rural community that plows only the most essential roads well, so many of our roads will be lucky to be clear before March--I wish I were exaggerating. Even once the snow and ice are gone we are left with sand and salt. It's kind of torture to keep looking at my shiny new ride...I refuse to take my first few rides on the trainer, though, so I won't be selling my "old" ride anytime soon, either.