november rides....outside and inside

[ny biker]

Last night's post-work hill ride was rained out, but the sun was out today so I'm planning a ride tonight. It's been breezy today too so I hope that has helped to dry out the leaves on the roads.

I've got some new clothes to try out. I have an Endura fleece jersey that's hi-viz pink with lots of good reflective bits, but it's not windproof. Some months ago I scored a Gore windstopper base layer on sale from TE, so I'm going to try it tonight under the Endura jersey. I'm thinking I'll wear a lightweight wool layer under the windproof top.

[Crankin]

Temperatures are going up, but there is still quite a breeze, but not 40 mph gusts like yesterday. It was 33 at 8:30 AM, and even though it was predicted to be 40 at 10, when my rescheduled group ride starts, I knew the real feel would be less. I got the urge to go to yoga and I did...
But I came home and got on my heavy commuter tights, a heavy base layer, regular LS jersey, and my winter jacket. Wore my heated gloves. The wind, and increasing clouds did make it feel colder,and I was, for once dressed correctly. Just did a little 11 mile loop, to get fresh air and continue my mindful feeling from yoga. This helped me when I started feeling like complaining about my slow speed. In fact, when this happened, I slowed down, and in the end, ended up with same average I usually have at this time of year.
It is going to be warm this weekend, 50-60. Doing 25 with a friend tomorrow, and not sure about Sunday.

[ny biker]

I rode about 17 miles last night. My pace was slower than usual and my legs were feeling it at the end (and this morning). But after not being on the bike for almost 2 weeks and lots of sitting and eating during that time, I had no expectations of speed. This whole year has been a fitness yo-yo for me -- every time I reached a point where I felt I had built up some strength and endurance, something happened to keep me from riding and cause me to start all over again. But, what matters is just getting out and riding when possible and enjoying the experience of it.

The new outfit that I tried out -- lightweight wool long-sleeved base layer, Gore Windstopper baselayer, Endura fleece jersey -- would have been good for slightly warmer temperatures. It was 45 when I started and a few degrees cooler when I finished, probably closer to 40 in the middle of the ride when I was in neighborhoods with lots of trees and creeks and relatively little pavement. I started with a vest on top of it, was able to remove the vest about a third of the way into the ride, but had to put it back on towards the end. I was comfortable going uphill but cold on the downhills and when I picked up speed on flat roads. The Windstopper fabric does indeed block the wind, but the base layer has a mesh fabric in back and on the insides of the sleeves. This kept me from overheating, but it also made my arms cold. So I will probably not use this same outfit again until the spring when things start to warm up again. In the meantime I want to test the Windstopper base layer with a Pearl Izumi jacket that I have. The jacket has a fleece inside and a wind resistant outside. I always seem to need a vest over it in order to be comfortable, so I'm hoping this base layer will combine well with it.

[Crankin]

Rode 24 slow miles with my friend this afternoon. Really beautiful out, about 50 and sunny. The real feel was 47, but after about 10 miles, I had to take my head cover and glove liners off. My ears were a little cold, but I had already experimented with pushing it up behind my ears, and I was still sweating. Usually taking the head cover off is the only way to stop this, as I didn't have a heavy jacket on, just a light wind jacket, a thin fleece lined jersey, and a short sleeved base layer. My fingers were starting to get cold at the end, as the light full finger gloves I have are vented. Then I noticed a hole in the index finger.
I stayed behnid my friend for quite a bit, as I just felt dead, but in the end I did go ahead. Average was still really, really slow, but I planned it this way. It's going to be 60 tomorrow, so I want to be good for a long ride with DH.
I had a flu shot yesterday, so maybe I am a little achy from that? Last year, I felt kind of sick for a day after the shot, but nothing like that this time.