October Rides

[ny biker]

I rode 20 miles after work on Wednesday night. Same weather conditions as the previous Wednesday -- temps in the low 60s-high 50s -- but the prior week it was more humid and this week it was pretty dry. And it made a big difference. I was downright cold for the first few minutes until I reached the first hill and was cold again after I stopped for a snack. But while I was riding I was okay, zipping and unzipping my vest as I went up and down the hills.

Up next for me is a metric century on Sunday morning. The ride is being organized by the bike advocacy group in Anne Arundel County in Maryland, the county police and their parks and rec department. It starts way earlier than I would like given the cold weather we're expecting, but it's a chance to explore an area that I'd like to check out, including some trails as well as roads into Annapolis. I'm trying to figure out what to wear for temps ranging from 40 to the low 50s with late October sun, which is still fairly strong and warming. If it were December I'd wear my warmest tights and booties, but this weekend they might be too much. Decisions, decisions.

One thing is for sure -- this will be my last early morning ride of the year. I'm a big fan of starting rides later on cold days to give the sun a chance to warm things up as much as possible.