December rides

[Crankin]

Well, I don't think I am going to get to ride until the weekend. It's going to be warmer (43) on Saturday, but pouring rain. Sunday looks nice, but a high of 38. That is getting to my limit. But, I need to keep testing my saddle. There's a chance I could ride Friday afternoon, but not looking too promising.
I went to spin class yesterday, before work. When I joked with the instructor that I was there under duress, she was confused and asked me why. It appears she's never been on a real bike in her adult life. Sigh...

[ny biker]

The forecast for today was a bust -- it's been foggy and cloudy, which is keeping the temperature from warming up, and when I came in from getting lunch I could feel that the wind was already changed from the SW to the NW, several hours ahead of the forecast for that. But I have my AmFib tights and my Showers Pass jacket, which is quite warm, in addition to hats and gloves and base layers and a neck gaiter. So I will try to ride after work tonight anyway.

[Jolt]

No outside riding for me today either...or running for that matter. We had freezing rain last night so there was still a lot of ice around. So, I decided to try a spinning class at the gym for (if you can believe it) the first time ever. It was kinda brutal (but I felt really good afterward)! The temperature in the room probably wasn't helping...it got pretty hot and I was on the opposite side from the window. Plus, there was a lot of standing which is not something I usually do on the real bike unless I'm standing up to stretch/give my butt a break. A good workout for sure, and certainly more up my alley than the exercise classes that involve a bunch of choreographed crap that I can't do .

[azfiddle]

I'm really not gloating- it's unseasonably warm here in Arizona, so I got out after work for an hour- just a jersey and shorts - the temperature was in the 70's. It should be about 10-15 degrees cooler. At least we might get some rain tomorrow...

[ny biker]

AZ, please enjoy your beautiful warm weather for all of us who are cold.

I did get out and ride tonight. I realized it was the first time I've ever done a post-work ride in December. It turns out there are lots of nice Christmas light displays on the houses along my route.

Conditions were really not great. Temps were in the high 40s. Since the clouds hung around all day and didn't start to break at sunset, the roads (and the leaves that have fallen on them) were still wet when I started. At one point I could feel my rear wheel slipping as I stood up to ride up a steep incline. The wind was kicking up, which helped to dry the roads and leaves, but also was a bit gusty at times, and it was cold. The good news was that I was comfortable the whole time, not over- or under-dressed. In all I rode 17 miles, and was just a bit slower than I would usually average on the same route during the summer.

When I left work, I really wanted to just go home, and I pretty much had to force myself to ride. I just kept thinking -- don't think about it, don't think about the cold and wind, just do it and see how it goes. And it went well. I don't know if I want to ride when it's much colder, because I've got more layers for my torso but I don't have any more for my feet, and there's only so much my lungs can take before the asthma kicks in. But mid-40s with a bit of a north wind, that I can handle, even in the dark.

[Crankin]

Jolt, one thing that I've started doing in spin class (or when I use the trainer at home) is put Nuun in my bottle. The added electrolytes seem to do the trick for me. Just make sure you get the Nuun R Natural, without the preservatives. I realized that I often feel as crappy as I do when I ride outside in very hot weather; it's all related to overheating. Find a bike by a fan or open window/door. I always wear a sleeveless jersey, too.

[AppleTree]

On the trail yesterday for a sunny but VERY cold ride on the Sammamish River Trail. I thought, since this trail was less shaded we'd be safer from the frosty or icy areas, but there were still spots that were a little scary. The worst were the bridges and overpass areas (or underneath the overpass). One overpass was just encrusted with frost, which is somewhat better than ice, but I was careful not to do anything sudden...like brake or turn. It was 36 degrees when we started out and I didn't take off my heavy outer jacket and gloves until two hours later. Did stop and get warm in a few places along the trail. Stopped at Element Cycle in Redmond and noticed they were selling "12th Man" bicycle jerseys... I need to go back and get one of those for my son for Christmas! They were all out except for the display model. FUN! We also stopped for lunch at Starbucks and warmed up.

I did come across one area that was icy, a low area of the trail that was in the shade...I just turned and went another way around it, no way was I going to chance falling on ice.

Starting out when it is as cold as that is so much a mental effort. Once I am out there, I always think, "this isn't so bad!"...but just getting started is hard. I was very bundled up in layers and sure wasn't motivated to go very fast at first, ha. It was maybe low 40s when we got back to the car about 2:00 pm. But I enjoyed being out in the sunshine...ended up doing about 26 miles altogether.