I got off work at 4:30, but was running late and didn't get on the bike till 4:40. I wanted to pick up my Sigur Ros cds from the Borders at 130th and Maple. So I rode. Quickly.
I had to pick up Michelle from work by 6:30 so I knew I was gonna cut it close regardless. The leg out from UNMC was tough since it was into a wind. I took the Keystone to Boyd street, then the neighborhood route onto Old Military rd to hit 120th. I then hopped onto the shoulder of Maple and took that to Borders. I was HOT by the time I got there. I was wearing winterized helmet, balaclava, wool longsleeve baselayer, Voler themal longsleeve jersey, lobster gloves, bike shorts, Amfib bib-tights, knickers, wool socks and my clod-hopper Lake cycling boots. I was a sweaty mess, which was not smart since any collecting sweat froze rather quickly. I had an especially annoying glob of frozen sweat on the edge my cycling glasses, right on the edge of sight, so it was always there, haunting me.
I got to Borders, got my cds and was back on my way. The wind was mostly at my back, but now the sun was going down and the temp was dropping from a balmy 20 to the mid teens. All the sweat I had accumulated inside my Thermal jersey was starting to freeze also. So anytime I stopped at a light and moved around a little, it felt like I was wearing cardboard or something. Weird.
I made it home with 15 minutes to spare of having to leave to pick up Michelle. I didn't get a drink of water the whole ride since my bottle froze pretty much within 2 blocks of leaving work. Doh.
So the moral of the story is, I need to somehow dress warm enough for the single digit ride to work, but then not quite as warm for the 20 degree ride after work. Or MAMA NATURE COULD FINALLY TELL JACK FROST TO GO AWAY FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!!! grrr....
Tomorrow, I should be able to finally make the trainer night since Michelle doesn't work. Yay, more suffering on the bike.
11 comments:
Trainer night starts at 6 this week.
I feel your pain
Please tell me you rode nearly to my house only get a good, longish ride in ...
I hear ya, bro. I was also out last night, running home when it was 10F.
Do your worst, old man winter, I'm not afraid.
Bryan, well yes, I was in the neighborhood. It wasn't quite a longish ride, just really intense. Total ride time was probably an hour n 15 minutes. Distance was 20 miles, I just Google Earthed it. So that's almost 18 mph on a heavy commuter bike with hills, a headwind, and 20 degree temps. Oh, and the frozen bottle, no drink thing too. I'm realizing now how much your commute took out of you. Ugh. I'd like to say I could do a 20+ mile round-trip commute every day, but I'm not so sure now.
Even crazier was Tim Wilson when we were going to UNO at the same time. He rode from his moms at 160th and Center, to UNO, then down to his job at Henry Doorly Zoo (or was it Fontanelle Forest??) most days of the week. He was nearing 250 miles during the work week. I remember going on a couple rides with him on the weekends and not knowing where he got his energy from.
well, actually I meant this: you know there's a Borders on 72nd and Dodge, right? I was hoping you just rode to the other one to get a good ride in.
And yeah ... that commute was a bitch. It ended up being 28 miles round-trip. That's a hike.
The up and down temps make it a pain when planning the layers for morning and evening commuting. Hell, even a weekend ride and not figuring out the temps and how rapidly they could change. I was bright enought to do the Bellevue loop on Saturday and I am still flat on my back with a fever and tingling digits. I guess I needed more layers.
Bryan, I knew about the close borders, they didn't have the Sigur Ros cds in stock. And I'm sure I probably could have had the 130th n Maple one send the cds to the 72nd n Dodge street Borders. But hey, I felt like riding my bike. What can I say, other than, frozen sweat globs on glasses are quite annoying.
Josh, I hope you get well soon. Hey, maybe getting sick will put you in the lead on the '08 Weightloss Challenge? Your experience reminds me of a ride I had about 4 years ago with similar results. It was the first near 60 degree day in late winter/early spring. I decided to go ride the Keystone trail from Grover to Hwy 370 in shorts and a jersey, basically summer wear. All was fine and dandy till I turned around into a huge cold front billowing in. The temp dropped about 20 degrees in 15 minutes. I rode against a 20mph headwind (with temps still dropping) for about 5 minutes. I bailed at Cornhusker rd and called my mommy. There was this couple who came shuffling in from a run on the trail at about the same time. They were kind enough to let me stay warm in their car while I waited for my mom. We were all shivering for a while. Not so good times.
You know I have some male retard gene that doesn't allow me to reconize I need help or ask for it when I do.
As for the 08 weight drop, I only down 13lbs. This four day fever crap not only set me back 3 days at work but a few more pounds off of the scale, not wise I know but still weight lost.
Well Josh, either you or Ryan F are in the lead. I know Ryan was cutting out alcohol all together along with riding quite a bit. Last I talked with him, a few weeks ago, he was down at least 10 pounds. So he may be about the same place you are now. I guess I have some making up to do. I'm pretty much at the same weight. I dropped a couple, gained a couple, dropped one, gained one. I'm hoping that once the weather gets better and the sun stays out longer that I can really put a dent in the fat stores.
I usually check the weather at night to see wat the 7:00am and 6:00pm weather will be like. Then I bring a small camelbak with me and toss the extra stuff in it when I head back home and need less clothing.
It seems to work pretty good, and if I hit the morning temp just right, I rarely have to worry about having the right gear for the ride home. I also keep some chemical warmers for my toes and an extra wind shell in the pack JUST IN CASE.
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