January rides -- outdoors!!

[ny biker]

I like the idea of using vaseline for "glue."

I rode today and did not need a nose buff or anything else on my face. It was a bit chilly at the start, around 45 degrees, but it was 60 in the sun by the time we finished several hours later. It was a club ride, planned distance of 42 miles but actual distance of 46 due to a missed turn (which occurred near the place where John Wilkes Booth hid out after shooting Lincoln -- it's an interesting, historic part of southern Maryland). There were seven of us to start, and after about 15 miles two riders took a short cut back to the start while the rest of us continued on the longer route. We had a great time.

I tested out several things today, including new pedals (with a longer shaft, to solve a problem with my heels hitting the cranks), new warmer tights and new shorts. The pedals (Speedplay X-2 with custom shafts) were great. The tights (Sugoi Subzero) did a good job keeping my legs warm -- I have more problems with cold legs and feet than most people, so I was happy that they were warm enough for me at the start but did not feel too warm later in the day. The shorts (Gore Oxygen) were okay but I think the chamois is too padded to be comfortable for me on longer rides. I also tested putting shearling insoles in my shoes. My feet were nice and warm, but the shearling was a bit too fluffy around the toes. Still I would consider using them again for shorter rides on cold days.

The ride started at a grocery store parking lot, which for some reason was full of sea gulls this morning. They were mostly just sitting on the pavement. It was odd, and of course made me think of "The Birds." A few miles from the end we passed a house where a man makes wood carvings of large animals using a chain saw. There was a horse, a pig, a giant lizard, and a big chipmunk out on his lawn. He makes benches, too, and they're all for sale, though he said it was just a hobby.

[emily_in_nc]

It was SO windy today, I had to abort my idea of riding to the Padre Island National Seashore, which we'd planned on. Instead, I did 21.9 miles in the slightly more sheltered neighborhoods. At least then I could turn to get out of the stiff south wind now and then to get a break instead of heading for 15 miles straight into it!

Also did about the same mileage on Saturday as a recovery ride. Looks like the cooler weather is finally heading our way here on N. Padre, so I probably won't get in so many rides, if any, in the coming week. Glad to have the gym to go to for the less nice/cooler days.

Stay warm, everyone!

[Thorn]

I am so flattered! Suddenly came over this. But I have to say - this may be inspired by me, but is actually your own invention.

What can I say? I'm an engineer and we always take great designs and try to tweak them. And, as I tell my students, always credit your sources, even if you modify the design; you have to make sure you give credit where credit is due.....so, thanks!

It has been such a cold winter here this season that I've been making good use of the design. So cold that today it was 7F (-14C) and it was feeling almost balmy. Of course, at that temp, the nose buff, the goggles, enough clothing to look like the Michelen Man are all part of the outfit.

[Fredwina]

I took my hybrid in for a tune-up, but did a few laps of the park:

[SheFly]

We went out again last night here in Maine on the fat bikes. Temps in the late afternoon were around 18F, but falling FAST. We dressed much the same as we had for our colder ride earlier in the week, and set out to see what the trails were like.

In a word, I can only say, the conditions were AWESOME! The snowmobile trails had been recently groomed, and it was so much FUN. Unfortunately, that dropping temp provided some big challenges - we had over-dressed and then hit a couple of big climbs reasonably hard (stupid Strava), so were wet. Worse was that my feet were starting to freeze, and we still had a long way to go to get back home. We rode the sweetest downhill trail imaginable to the road, and slogged it back from there. The entire time, I was making balls with my feet to try to keep circulation flowing and get my feet away from the cleat area.



We made it home safely to find the temp was now at 9 degrees. Everything was toasty with the exception of my feet. We were both a bit disappointed - the conditions were so good that we wanted to just keep on going!

Oh - and DH has just manufactured a rack system for the fat bikes such that he (we) can ride to go and ski . This is what happens when your DH is "retired".



SheFly

[ny biker]

Oh - and DH has just manufactured a rack system for the fat bikes such that he (we) can ride to go and ski . This is what happens when your DH is "retired".



SheFly

Are those rain gutters? They look like rain gutters.

I have recently discovered the miracle that is shearling insoles. I have them in several pairs of boots and in my sneakers. They're pretty fluffy when new, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to get them tamped down enough to fit them in my bike shoes and still have room to wiggle my toes. I think that would be a game changer.

[SheFly]

Are those rain gutters? They look like rain gutters.

I have recently discovered the miracle that is shearling insoles. I have them in several pairs of boots and in my sneakers. They're pretty fluffy when new, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to get them tamped down enough to fit them in my bike shoes and still have room to wiggle my toes. I think that would be a game changer.

Yup - rain gutters. He was planning on using PVC, but this solution was less expensive. When we loaded the bikes into the truck to head north this past week, it looked like rocket launchers on the back .

The shearling insoles sound like a good idea, but I'm not sure those would fit into my shoes... Let me know how you make out with that!

After another day of rain and ice in Maine (and a thwarted attempt at riding the trails on Saturday - too icy for me to manage), we headed back south yesterday morning hoping to connect with our teammates for a road ride. For those of you that know the area, I emailed the team at 10:06 am from I-95 in Newburyport that we would TRY to intersect with them at the five corners intersection in Stowe/Acton at 11:45 - and we had to stop at the house first to unload, change, and gear up! We managed to leave the house in Bedford at 11:03, rode like maniacs, and connected with the team at 11:48 I was already pretty much totalled at that point, but that was just the ride to the ride!

Like ny biker, we had nicer temps yesterday - probably mid 40s, but it was windy. We ended up with almost 65 hilly miles (3700 feet) in just over 3.5 hours. I was DONE by the time we got home, and thankful that I was able to sit an watch the live feed of CX Nationals the remainder of the afternoon.

SheFly

[Crankin]

Yah, no wonder you were toasted. I know how long it took me to get to that intersection on my former commute....

[AppleTree]

Thanks Thorn! This is a great tip actually. I have an old buff I can use too.

I have to admit that this is what came to mind at first though. Hahaha.