I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Holly on February 9, 2011 at 8:39am

I just added air to my rear tire and fuel to my tank. (Bike tire and stomach, that is!) I guess I'm riding today and getting a very late start at that.

It's been brutal just walking around with dogs this morning, but I can do it, right? By 4, I'm going to be an ice cube.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah G on February 9, 2011 at 9:00am

I started out this morning at about 8:15am with my daughter. We were both happy riders the whole time, she was singing in her trailer and I was singing on my bike (softly, I hope!).

I usually wear a windwall jacket and today I decided to also put on my raincoat for added wind protection. I was worried about my hands mostly but I was warm and kept my fingers moving and they were fine (granted, I got lobsters and I also have glove liners in there). I managed to do a short ride and two long ones (each 1/2 hr) today so far and it wasn't too bad. My eyes were tearing up behind my glasses but the tears just rolled into the fleece covering my face.

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Permalink Reply by Brendan on February 9, 2011 at 11:32am

Does anyone else have trouble with their bike being harder to pedal when it gets really cold? I've noticed this year that when the temp is much below 25, there's greater resistance. I am thinking I have water or something that is freezing on my chain.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 9, 2011 at 2:01pm

Has anyone mentioned it was pretty cold today?

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Permalink Reply by Holly on February 9, 2011 at 2:06pm

I'm not going to lie. I WAS VERY COLD!

I wore the dumb ski pants. But then I was too hot. I had to stop on Milwaukee and whip them off and change to the windproof rain pants. For 10 seconds I had on no boots and black wool long underwear. Then, had the rain pants on and was back on the road. Frozen within a 1/2 block. Had about 2 3/4 miles to go. North. In the wind. It wasn't all that great.

Made it through, though!

(P.S. How gross is your gator (gaitor? gaiter?) on a day like this? Mine is really gross.)

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on February 9, 2011 at 5:03pm

I rode to and from my indoor training session, It was the first time I can remember feeling the beestings on my thighs, even though bike tights and bike shorts.....

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/67507338

Oh, and the garmin/power meter does not like the cold

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 9, 2011 at 6:08pm

If you use oil it will stiffen up, use grease, graphite or Silicone but at 5 degrees even the bus moves slow.

Brendan said:

Does anyone else have trouble with their bike being harder to pedal when it gets really cold? I've noticed this year that when the temp is much below 25, there's greater resistance. I am thinking I have water or something that is freezing on my chain.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 9, 2011 at 6:11pm

My face! Went from Wacker/Michigan to Division/Clark and decided to take the bus.

Then from 2500 west to 3300 west and was hating it by 2800, only 3 weeks left, I hope!

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on February 10, 2011 at 2:42am

A little cold this morning.

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on February 10, 2011 at 2:47am

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Permalink Reply by igz on February 10, 2011 at 2:52am

yesterday was a breeze. but i came down with something so today im bed ridden. hopefully ill fell better cause i got groceries to get. and hopefully the temps will be in the positive values by then.

i too have to start bagging the feet. i have these awesome goretex boots but the 'stuff' has worn away and now it seems the leather and fabric are perpetually wet. ill dry them in front of a space heater but by the time i get through my yard and to the train, the accumulated snow melts and gets the boot wet again. i purchased the waterproofing spray stuff. waste of money.

and i too have been having issues with more difficult pedaling, but i think its more related to the layers. it hampers my mobility it seems.

stay warm, folks