November rides: bringing in the chill

[Crankin]

Decided to take a little recovery ride in the dark this morning. Went out about 5:30, or maybe a bit before. It takes so long to get ready for a cold, dark ride, despite laying out and charging everything last night. I did the flattest ride I can, with no add ons which have hills, about 10 miles. Felt great on the way out, but coming home, my legs felt tight and my average was quite low for this ride.
I wore the new Nox Gear safety light vest we got on sale. I can't really describe it, but it's very cool, with multiple flashing colors to choose from. There's a light (pretty big) on your back and very thin plastic tubes you slip your arms through that also light up. There's just one very light weight clip in the front that holds it on. I noticed cars staying far away. It's very busy on Main St from my street until they all get onto the highway, about 2 miles, so it was a good test. It's so light, you cannot even feel it.

[north woods gal]

Might have to check out that vest. Thanks. Been such a long time since I've ridden in the dark, but was a daily thing, back in my commuting to work days. Some of those early morning in the dark rides before the traffic built up were quite pleasant. Not all of them, of course, but have good memories of some of them.

[Crankin]

Well, I am not riding in city traffic, but it's considerably busier than in the last 2 places I lived. However, it's really only when I do this ride. Sometimes, I just want to be outside on a flat road. I didn't see any other riders today, which was weird, as it was not that cold (42) and there's a considerable number of clubs that ride out this way, as well as commuters.
The good thing is, it was almost fully light when I got back at 6:15.

[north woods gal]

We got our snow, today. Not a lot, about 3". Still, it was enough to have a real snow day of fat biking on the Norco Sasquatch (great bike). Got out on our neighborhood roads before they were plowed and did 6 miles. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but remember this is pushing a fat bike through the snow. Good workout, anyway.

Got back home and then did 4 more miles, this time on my trails, with Star keeping me company, as usual. No thaw in sight, so good chance I won't see the grass on our lawn till late April or even May.

[Crankin]

Love that pic, NWG.
We had winds, with gusts up to 40-50 mph for most of today, so no riding. I went to a new class at the gym; thought it might be awful, but it was fun and similar, but different enough from what I do in the early AM. It's at 11 AM, a bit late for me, if I am not doing something outside on a weekend. I didn't have any other stuff to do until tonight, so it was not an issue today. So, if I can't ride, x country ski, snow shoe, or hike, I have something to do. DH went for a walk, but I am sick of that, except on my easy/rest days.

[north woods gal]

Thanks.

A little more snow, today, maybe a little more, tonight, then a a mostly dry week, next week. All in all, not bad. Can still ride both our local roads and my trails. The roads may clear enough to allow me to ride the skinnier tire bikes at some point. Hope so, because I don't want to mothball them, yet. The trails, though, are likely to be fat bike, only, for the rest of the winter, though. Not much melting back in the woods. I may be able to also ride the Krampus with its 3" tires when I get enough hard pack from riding over the trails a lot, but not going to take chances. Be dumb to take a fall because i wasn't riding a fat bike.

Today, all riding, road and trail, was with the single speed setup Pugsley. Very pleased that I'll be able to ride it all winter, except when the snow gets deep and slushy. Gearing is just right for hard pack snow. Don't want to give up my single speed riding till spring. That would drive me nuts.

[Crankin]

We had a beautiful sunny day today, so we forced ourselves to get out there and ride. I am glad I did. Did the longer version of my early morning rides, 19 miles. It was actually warmer than I thought, as the weather was showing some wind still around, but we couldn't feel it much, as we had a tailwind going out, but then kind of a persistent and annoying crosswind on the way back. I was overdressed, but not horribly; I decided to wear my winter jacker with the pit zips, so at 9 miles, I unzipped them and pushed my head cover a little up on my ears. It was not necessary for me to be wearing my Ibex tights, but that did not bother me.
Every ride now until the roads get sloppy is a gift, so onward. It's going to be a high of 34 and a low of 19 on Wednesday and I am not sure if I can handle the group ride if it's in the low 20s at the start. it's going to be hilly, so I'd get warm quickly, but we will see.