October Rides

[emily_in_nc]

Emily- where are you located now?

Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, where we spent last winter. :-)

[Crankin]

I commuted yesterday, for the first time in 3-4 weeks. Left at 6:30 AM, and still hit a bit of a traffic build up going into Concord Center. However, it was uneventful, though 43 degrees . I was dressed appropriately; my new Terry commuter tights are awesomely warm. They have the same minimalist tri-type chamois as my capris, which I thankfully brought for the way home. It was about 60, and the sun was almost down, but despite having the capris, no base layer, short gloves, and thinner socks, between my thermal jersey and wind jacket, I was sweaty.

[Crankin]

Today I sort of did a club ride. It started in the next town, so I rode, to the start, 8.2 miles. Along the way, unbeknowst to me, I picked up another rider, riding to the ride, who was drafting me . I saw him when I was entering the round a bout in Concord Center, but, when I got onto the next street, I didn't see him. That is, until I turned onto the street that gets you to the meeting place. I must admit I was going at a good pace, for me (an average over 15), but I wish people would at least ask if they can do this, becuse he scared me when I turned the corner and he was there. There was a huge group for the ride. I had made the decision to do the shorter, 27 mile ride and not go to the lunch. Indian food at noon time, on a Wednesday does not cut it for me! The longer ride is becoming a sufferfest and this is not what this group is supposed to be. I can't do 40-60 hilly miles at their pace without feeling like dying, hence my choice. As soon as I put my GPS n the route, I remembered that I have had lots of issues when I download rides. Long story short, I lost the memory card a couple of months ago, and DH replaced it with an Open Source card. It does not work, won't go into details, let's just say it was a good thing I was with this group, in my own area. We got separated at the beginning by a stoplight, but the leader waited at about mile 4 or 5. After that, it was non-eventful. I stayed at the front and did 2 turns as a human arrow. On the last one, one bitc*y woman yelled at me, that she couldn't see me, or my bike. Sure, with my my front light flashing. I may have let an F bomb out, but she was already past me. After that, I caught up with the sweep and slower people at the end, passed them, and decided to take my shortest way home. I ended up doing 30 miles, which is fine for a midweek ride.
It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day. Chilly at first, but about 65 when I got home. So, even though I was mildly irritated about a few things, I am very glad I went.

[emily_in_nc]

So, even though I was mildly irritated about a few things, I am very glad I went.

LOL, this sounds like most rides I do!

[ny biker]

I've been there too.

Crankin, your commute the other day describes the reason I rarely wear thermal jerseys. I often need the flexibility of multiple thin layers as the day warms up (or cools down, depending on when I start). I only really need thermal tops in December -January when the sun is low in the sky and least strong. However it's the opposite for my legs and feet -- last winter I wore my AmFib tights often and rarely had warm feet when I rode. I bought some Gore booties toward the end of the season and am hoping they help this year.

Meanwhile. I did my hill ride tonight after work, just shy of 20 miles. Temps were in the high 60s and it was dark when I started. I wore a thin wool base layer with long sleeves, a short sleeved jersey and capris. I was too warm sometimes, chilly a few times and sweating almost the hole time. I guess on average I was dressed right.

[lph]

However it's the opposite for my legs and feet -- last winter I wore my AmFib tights often and rarely had warm feet when I rode. I bought some Gore booties toward the end of the season and am hoping they help this year.

NY, my experience is that my feet need more layering before my legs do. Not as much as my dh, who has skinny feet and uses his winter bike boots year-round on cool days, but still. So I'll start using booties and even switch to winter boots before changing from regular long tights to AmFib winter tights.

Ditto with hands and upper body, but not quite as obvious, there the wind chill on my chest is more of a factor.

[Crankin]

I have different layers of thermal jerseys, as well as some long sleeved jerseys that are just jerseys. Three kinds of base layers, too (LS,SS, sleeveless), to give me lots of choices. In a couple of weeks, when I am more used to temperatures in the 40s, I might have chosen a different jersey weight, or even a ss jersey with arm warmers and a base layer, which works at times. My issue is the first almost 2 miles of my commute is downhill, and even if I go slowly, it is freezing. I absolutely have to have warm hands and feet! I didn't wear my winter boots Tuesday, because I knew I'd be wearing capris on the way home and that would be weird, so I wore my warmest wool socks, chemical heaters, and booties. I would have worn my heated gloves, if I knew where DH put them, so I wore my Mavic thermals, with a very thin wool liner. I still can't wear my Amphib gloves, without fear of getting them caught in the shifter, which happened once, and that was enough. In retrospect, since I had bought my work clothes to work the day before, I should have brought a lighter jersey. I have not been riding my Guru with the pannier, so my little napsack can only hold so much. I need to start riding that bike again... it is lonely. Riding it up the hill, with a packed pannier just kills my back. When I move to the condo, it will be a totally flat 3 mile ride.