Friday, Nov. 3 rides

[Tater]

Rain all last night made for sloppy roads on the ride in. Thank goodness for rain pants, as I arrived dry, but splattered with road grime. Thirty-seven degrees seemed downright balmy after the nineteen degrees of a couple mornngs ago.

Fredwina, I hope your flat woes are taken care of. Now that I said the 'f-word' I'll most likely get one! Grr! Haven't had one for awhile.

[Haudlady]

I rode from home this morning, then drove myself to work (too much to do today, must stay late, have to have the car ). (Darn it! My late appoinment just cancelled... I could have done the regular commute! Bugger! She said she had been meaning to call me ALL WEEK to cancel... why, oh why can't people be more responsible???)

Anyway, the ride was nice. Not very long - 14.5 miles - but nice anyway. VERY COLD though! When I got home, it was 33 degrees. Brrr. (19 degrees, Tater? How ever do you do it???) I did okay, layering wise, but my poor toes were cold. I lost them about four miles into my ride, and didn't rediscover them until I was in a hot shower.

So, number one on my "to do" list this weekend is... install cleats on new winter shoes! I had been procrastinating, but it's time!

[Geonz]

Chilly this morning - about 25 degrees. Got my Land's End order so my feet were warmer 'cause I had cotton ragg socks, but my hands were cooler because I tried the one-layer gloves. Fortunately once I was riding myhands warmed up, but I was hesitating to ride hard because something in the front wheel was making a little bit of noise, just a little like the noise the hokey spokes made just before one of 'em came loose and took out a spoke rattling around. I checked them and they seem secure, so maybe it was just that playing card int he spokes being harder because it's colder.

Four or five other cycles on the way in so I'm not alone out there.

THe orange socks definitely absolutely clash with this red skirt, so I'm glad I stopped and went back to get knee-highs :-)

[Tater]

(19 degrees, Tater? How ever do you do it???)

It wasn't that bad, really! Layers, good socks and gloves do the trick for me. Besides, 19 isn't that cold, ask Geonz about her excursion in four degree weather! Now that takes chutzpah!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Fortunately once I was riding myhands warmed up, but I was hesitating to ride hard because something in the front wheel was making a little bit of noise, just a little like the noise the hokey spokes made just before one of 'em came loose and took out a spoke rattling around. I checked them and they seem secure, so maybe it was just that playing card int he spokes being harder because it's colder.

Geonz- I've had that noise in my front wheel several times this Fall, and it was always a piece of dry leaf that got stuck between the brake calipers and my front tire. Check it out, it's happens 3 times to me and makes that playing card in the spokes kind of shushing sound.

[Geonz]

Oh, that *would* make sense. I'll check before I head home, thanks!!

Last night I had students 'til closing, and a bike advocacy thing at 5:30, so I had to zip home in just two layers. My poor legs are dried out and crying now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I did a nice 19 miler this morning in the 40 degree weather.
I had plenty of toasty layers on top and double tights so my whole body was warm. But my toes got a bit cold- have to change shoes soon.
Biggest problem was my fingers FROZE and were HURTING! This with two pairs of full-fingered gloves on! But happily when I got home there was a package waiting with my new Ibex high tech ski gloves. Can't WAIT to wear them! They seem great and are nice and soft and flexible. I may even put on some smartwool liners inside them as well when it goes below freezing. No more freezing fingers for me!
While riding today, it was rather festive when it started snow-hailing....hard little fluffy snowflakes that bounced off me. Made me feel all Yulestice-like for the first time this year. I tried a new route today and it was pretty nice. Drivers were extra courteous too- a good day!

[Geonz]

I've noticed that some routes seem to create a courteous atmosphere, so maybe it's a keeper! Or could have been the weather.

Over at bikejournal there's a challenge to ride further than the temperature at least twice a week. Hmmm...

[Fredwina]

well, I'm probably going to get virtual rotten tomatoes thrown at me, but here goes:
It was 78 when is started, so I was in shorts. went and did some climbing. Things went well , but when I descend back down into the valley, the marine layer had blown in. No sun - colder weather (well, down in to the 60 ) I turned to go home and had a good headwind. beats going to work.

[Fredwina]

Fredwina, I hope your flat woes are taken care of. Now that I said the 'f-word' I'll most likely get one! Grr! Haven't had one for awhile.

Actually , I've been with a spell of "FalloffthebikeItits", one of which resulted in a fracture I'm better now, but a little nervous about group riding, which is not good, since I have century with 5,000+ riders in tow weeks (Tour De Tucson)