Saturday March 8 Rides

[SheFly]

It's a sincere question I have...HOW do you do that? What kind of gear kepts you adequately warm at that temperature in a pouring rain!

Thankfully, Gore-Tex helped, but only to a point. I had on a Gore-Tex jacket with wool underneath, and "water-resistant" pants. Also had on my Lake MTB shoes (and there is a reason the call them that ), and some water-proof/resistant gloves. When I started to complain of cooling off some, DH would say "OK, we're gonna race from here to that sign. Ready? Go!" And we'd spin down the path like gerbils, at about 140 rpm!

BTW - he always wins . Truthfully, I didn't really get cold until we were headed home and the downpours had truly started. This created HUGE puddles on the path, and in my shoes and gloves. The warm shower when I got home was great though.

SheFly

p.s.
I think the wind on today's ride was worse.

[KSH]

We had awful rain most of the day and now we have wind gusts up to 50mph! I rode in the basement, 25 miles on the rollers and the trainer. Watching dvds makes it tolerable, but I think this was about my limit. KSH, I don't know how you went for 2.5 miles!

HA! Great job!

Well, my first hour was spent chatting on the phone with a gal pal. I had my blue tooth headset on and she did most of the talking. My coach would kill me if he heard this though, as I should be focused on my riding.

The next 45 minutes was spent watching some TV shows I had recorded.

The last 45 minutes was listening to music... and counting down the time.

That's 2.5 hours... right?

Was it fun? Eh, not really. Was it completely miserable... naw. Riding outside in 28 degree weather would have been miserable.

I just had to do it. It was on my training plan, so I did it.

At least it wasn't 4.5 hours like I did one Sat. in February! I hope I don't have to do one of those again!

[KSH]

You are INSANE!!!! Do you use those toe warmers you can stick in your shoes? I know those help keep my toes toasty warm on cold days. Although I don't ride when it's below 50 these days.

And COLD. It was ~10F when I started. My water froze in less than an hour. My toes hurt so much at the grocery store I had to sit down until they thawed. After that first miserable hour, it warmed up, and I fell into a rhythm of pedaling and wiggling my toes. Pedal-wiggle wiggle left, pedal-wiggle right, pedal-wiggle wiggle left. (My left toes froze faster than my right toes. They were also less coordinated wigglers.)

[Melalvai]

You are INSANE!!!!

I know I've done something right when I hear those words...most days, I do!

Do you use those toe warmers you can stick in your shoes? I know those help keep my toes toasty warm on cold days. Although I don't ride when it's below 50 these days.

I admit I did not check the weather before I left, or I might have changed my mind, or at least worn wool socks.