January rides -- outdoors!!

[Thorn]

Ah, the "nose buff".

It is an invention of TE-er LPH (she of the cold north in Norway). Cut a old, ugly buff in 1/2 (one 1/2 for you and one for your spousal unit who will also need one). Fold your mini-Buff in 1/2 and then in 1/2 again. It is now about 1-2" in size -- rather like a head band. So, wrap it around the head so that it over your ears and your nose. Fold the part over the nose in half again so you can breathe. Voila. Nose buff.

The nose buff is amazingly effective. The nose stays warm; the cheeks are covered; the ears get a little more cover, but you have enough air flow so that it doesn't get nastily wet.

Over the years I've gotten many a great recommendation and ideas on TE, but the nose buff really rocks. And, apparently, found only on TE!

[I found a pick using google image ... http://blog.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/?attachment_id=5822 but the wearer is missing that extra fold on the nose ]

[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.

[ny biker]

Ah, the "nose buff".

It is an invention of TE-er LPH (she of the cold north in Norway). Cut a old, ugly buff in 1/2 (one 1/2 for you and one for your spousal unit who will also need one). Fold your mini-Buff in 1/2 and then in 1/2 again. It is now about 1-2" in size -- rather like a head band. So, wrap it around the head so that it over your ears and your nose. Fold the part over the nose in half again so you can breathe. Voila. Nose buff.

The nose buff is amazingly effective. The nose stays warm; the cheeks are covered; the ears get a little more cover, but you have enough air flow so that it doesn't get nastily wet.

Over the years I've gotten many a great recommendation and ideas on TE, but the nose buff really rocks. And, apparently, found only on TE!

[I found a pick using google image ... http://blog.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/?attachment_id=5822 but the wearer is missing that extra fold on the nose ]

I was actually going to experiment with something like this -- I hate hate hate having any clammy scarf or balaclava or neck gaitor in front of my mouth when it's cold, but sometimes my nose really needs to be covered. Thanks ladies!!!

[jyyanks]

Record idiocy for this commuter. The university I teach at wasn't closed so I had to go in. It was bike or bus....40 minutes by bike or stand on the bus corner for up to 20-30 minutes (because my bus is rarely on time).

So it was to work by bike...tailwinds on the way in; headwinds home. -11 with 13 mph winds gusting 20 for a -32 windchill. My retention on sanity was that I rode just off the bus route. If I ran into problems it would just be putting the bike on the bus.

But, no issues. Hands, feet, head and core were happy. Tops of my thighs and butt were cold. Interestingly it was the only part of me not clothed in wool.

I'm really, really looking forward to my trip to Tucson in March.

For a humorous look on the cold and snow http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/201...cold-shoulder/ It is worth reading to the end.

WOW!!!! I feel like a wus because I was complaining about walking to the subway in -10.

I'm beyond awed at your grit and daring.

[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

[emily_in_nc]

Finally a sunny and lovely day on North Padre Island! Got in a 28 mile ride on this 70+ degree but quite windy day. It was a blast on the way out, with wind at our back -- we were flying along at 19-20mph on the flats, which I almost never get to do any more with all the utilitarian rides we do (and usually on MTBs, but here we're on roadies). Of course, once we turned around and slogged back into the wind, our speed dropped to 11-13 mph. Just thankful to be able to get out in shorts in JANUARY! My biking tan lines are coming back!

[ny biker]

We had decent weather today. After the deep freeze earlier in the week, we had temps in the high 50s yesterday but with rain all day. Today it was a bit cooler, in the low 50s, but the sun was out. Unfortunately I had to work today, from 6:30 am to about 1:30, so I missed a chance to join an 11 am club ride with friends. Their route was 41 miles and I expect they had a good turnout.

I did manage to get out for a late afternoon solo ride. I did a slightly shorter version of the Wednesday evening hill training ride that I do from spring through fall. It was about 15.5 miles long with almost constant ups and downs, and it took about 1.5 hours. I made some changes to the route last August, and had only been able to ride the new portion after dark, so it was fun to see what the houses on those roads look like in daylight.

Since we've had a fair amount of colder-than-average weather this winter, the ground here is pretty cold, and that made today feel a bit on the chilly side. Part of my learning curve as I get used to riding in colder weather is learning how to dress for 50 degrees in January vs. 50 degrees in October or April. Today worked out pretty well, and I was comfortable for the whole ride. I continue to need more coverage on my legs and feet than on my core, arms and hands.

We're expecting another blast of arctic air this week. It is January, after all.

[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....

[emily_in_nc]

I feel so very fortunate reading posts from those of you who live north. We enjoyed another upper 60s-70-degree day yesterday, and I rode 40 miles on my road bike for the first time in over a year (I think). I've done that distance on my MTB a couple of times in the past year but am not sure about the roadie since I haven't been tracking my miles until this year when I decided to get back to tracking on bikerides.com.

It was windy but nice, and I enjoyed wearing my new high-viz quick-dry top I picked up at Walmart for a cool $8.97. It's Danskin brand. Normally I don't shop at Walmart for athletic wear, but it was an impulse buy since I had no long-sleeve high-viz stuff and wanted to make sure drivers could see me while riding around here. Although the vast majority of this ride was on the road, we rode a short stretch on the packed sand of the Padre Island National Seashore -- beach bikes would be really fun here!

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[ny biker]

I feel so very fortunate reading posts from those of you who live north. We enjoyed another upper 60s-70-degree day yesterday, and I rode 40 miles on my road bike for the first time in over a year (I think). I've done that distance on my MTB a couple of times in the past year but am not sure about the roadie since I haven't been tracking my miles until this year when I decided to get back to tracking on bikerides.com.

It was windy but nice, and I enjoyed wearing my new high-viz quick-dry top I picked up at Walmart for a cool $8.97. It's Danskin brand. Normally I don't shop at Walmart for athletic wear, but it was an impulse buy since I had no long-sleeve high-viz stuff and wanted to make sure drivers could see me while riding around here. Although the vast majority of this ride was on the road, we rode a short stretch on the packed sand of the Padre Island National Seashore -- beach bikes would be really fun here!

Attachment 16888

I am jealous!!

Yesterday was the halfway-point for meteorological winter -- 45 days down, 45 to go. (Meteorologists track the seasons by calendar month -- winter is Dec 1 - Feb 28 (or 29), spring is March 1 - May 31, etc. I like to celebrate the arrival of spring on March 1, rather than waiting for the equinox.)

I have tentative plans for an outdoor ride this Sunday, to test out the new AmFib tights.

[emily_in_nc]

Another 40-miler to the national seashore and back yesterday. Almost a carbon copy of Tuesday's ride -- stiff breeze on the way there and nice tailwind on the way back. Temps in the upper 60s with bright sunshine. Today is a bit cooler, upper 50s, with a stiff NE breeze. DH is doing a recovery ride as he did 55 miles yesterday. I just did a 45-min walk/run on the gym treadmill and some light weights today as I had no desire to fight the wind on a cooler day. And my butt is tired of the saddle, so it's nice to have a break.

I was really pleased not to have any pain yesterday from my nearly 9-year old pelvic fracture. It continues to ache at times when I ride, mostly when I do a lot of hills or don't get off the saddle to stretch frequently enough. Yesterday was a good day, especially for the amount of time in the saddle (3 hours).

Hope everyone will be seeing warmer weather soon!

[azfiddle]

I'm in awe of you in the cold winter zone who find a way to ride!!

I've gotten in 10 rides for 407 miles - but that is thanks to great weather and the end of Christmas vacation with free time the first week of January.

I posted a long report of my 210k ride from yesterday in its own post, so I won't do it here. Off to take advantage of the MLK day holiday for a 20 mile recovery ride shortly.

[lph]

Ah, the "nose buff".

It is an invention of TE-er LPH (she of the cold north in Norway). Cut a old, ugly buff in 1/2 (one 1/2 for you and one for your spousal unit who will also need one). Fold your mini-Buff in 1/2 and then in 1/2 again. It is now about 1-2" in size -- rather like a head band. So, wrap it around the head so that it over your ears and your nose. Fold the part over the nose in half again so you can breathe. Voila. Nose buff.

The nose buff is amazingly effective. The nose stays warm; the cheeks are covered; the ears get a little more cover, but you have enough air flow so that it doesn't get nastily wet.

Over the years I've gotten many a great recommendation and ideas on TE, but the nose buff really rocks. And, apparently, found only on TE!

[I found a pick using google image ... http://blog.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/?attachment_id=5822 but the wearer is missing that extra fold on the nose ]

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.

My "nose buff" is just a regular buff (full-length), pulled up over my nose all the way to under my eyes, with a hole carefully cut out for my nose and mouth. (Cut carefully and just a little at a time, the hole expands quite quickly). I use it on really cold days when I need to cover the skin on my cheeks and face all the time, but need to breathe freely. I keep it there by using a little vaseline under my eyes and "gluing" the buff to it...

Congrats on a brand-new winter gear idea!

lessee if I can find a photo... here's one. In this one I'm wearing a thin merino balaclava over a green Buff.